Chapter: 1692

"Are you really going to let go of the past? Will you be okay to see her marry another man?"

Alberto didn't answer the question and just said, "Victor is already dead to her, and she wants to keep it that way."

This was why he didn't return as Victor and kept his real identity hidden.

Because the moment she knew, she would leave her again, and Alberto didn't want that.

Even though he couldn't be with Rachel as Victor, he didn't want to see her marry someone else. So, he wanted to stay by her side for a longer time, even as a stranger.

"Victor..." Suddenly, Rachel stirred in the bed and opened her sleepy eyes at his face.

Alberto's first instinct was to grab his mask, but Rachel's eyes already caught his, making him stiff.

He pressed his lips into a thin line as he gazed down at her wordlessly.

Rachel's sleepy gaze remained on him until her eyelids felt heavy. As her eyes closed shut, she murmured, “Is this a dream again?"

The silence in the room was so profound that each word Rachel whispered was like stones hurled into the lake of Alberto's heart, creating ripples.

Again?

Wasn't it the first time she had dreamt about him as Victor?

Alberto's insides thundered with a mixture of surprise and elation.

He couldn't believe she had dreamt about him, too.

Rachel was awake for just a few seconds, then drifted back into a deep sleep. It must have been just exhaustion and her subsiding fever that caused her sudden delirium.

It was only then that Alberto breathed a sigh of relief. But as a precaution, he grabbed his mask and put it on.

After making sure Rachel was sound asleep again, Alberto carefully touched her forehead. The antipyretics must have kicked in as her body temperature dropped a little.

He continued putting the wet towel on her forehead, every couple of minutes wetting it again and wringing dry before reapplying.

Rachel's sleep wasn't entirely peaceful. She kept tossing and turning while mumbling a word or two.

Alberto tried to listen carefully to what she was trying to say, but Rachel would drift back to sleep before he could discern her words, leaving him smiling wryly.

He glanced at the basin of water and thought of fetching a fresh one, but Rachel suddenly grabbed his hand as he was about to stand, catching him off guard.

"Don't go..." Rachel croaked.

Alberto looked at Rachel's fingers clutching his as his heart skipped a beat.

"Rachel?"