blank a few minutes later I heard the sound of sirens approaching I opened the front door and let the paramedics in they immediately began checking Ashley’s condition we’ll transport her to Massachusetts General Hospital the paramedic said I nodded clutching Ashley’s hand tightly Mom I’m scared Ashley said weakly it’s okay I’m here with you I desperately encouraged her just before getting into the ambulance Rachel came down the stairs what happened she asked looking surprised Ashley suddenly got sick we’re going to the hospital I answered
briefly I’ll come too Rachel started to say but I shook my head no stay here explain the situation to Daniel when he gets back in the ambulance I held Ashley’s hand tightly watching The Journey to the hospital amidst the blaring Sirens my head was filled with anxiety and fear upon arrival at the hospital Ashley was immediately taken to the treatment room I waited in the waiting room feeling overwhelmed with worry after a while Daniel rushed in out of breath Meg how’s Ashley’s condition we don’t know yet the doctor
is examining her now we clung to each other waiting for the doctor’s report time seemed to stretch on forever finally the doctor appeared and approached us his expression was serious and my heart began to race Mr and Mrs Foster your daughter’s condition is critical the doctor said she’s showing symptoms of acute poisoning we haven’t identified the cause yet but it’s likely she was exposed to some kind of toxin Daniel and I were speechless poison how could Ashley have come into contact with such a thing we’ve started
detoxification treatment the next 24 hours will be crucial the doctor continued we nodded at the doctor’s words but our minds were in chaos when we were led to Ashley’s room we saw our daughter surrounded by various medical equipment I couldn’t help but burst into tears how could this happen Daniel muttered at that moment I suddenly realized something Rachel hasn’t come yet Daniel looked a bit surprised and said oh right I should call her while he was calling Rachel I sat by Ashley’s bedside holding her hand hang in there
Ashley Mom and Dad are here with you you Daniel came back with a slightly confused expression Rachel says she has something to do she can’t come today I frowned what kind of errand could be more important than her niece’s life being in danger as the night wore on we didn’t leave Ashley’s side nurses came regularly to check on her offering words of encouragement however the anxiety in my heart wouldn’t disappear looking out the window I could see the Boston night skyline a view that would normally be beautiful didn’t touch my heart at
all I just continued to pray for Ashley’s recovery as Dawn broke and a new day began Ashley’s condition continued to fluctuate doctors and nurses were monitoring her around the clock but without knowing the cause they couldn’t provide fundamental treatment Daniel and I took turns taking short naps never leaving Ashley’s side with fatigue and anxiety our sense of time became increasingly blurred in the afternoon there was a knock on the hospital room door two unfamiliar men entered the room Mr and Mrs Foster one of them
asked when we nodded they showed their identification we’re from the hospital security department could we have a word with you with a mix of anxiety and curiosity we followed them they led us to a room in the hospital actually we noticed something concerning in last night’s surveillance camera footage one of the security staff said it’s footage from the parking lot when your daughter was brought in they pointed to a monitor it showed footage of the nighttime parking lot we could see the ambulance arriving and Ashley being brought
in and then is that I almost cried out a familiar figure could be seen near the ambulance Rachel Daniel said in a surprised voice indeed the figure looked like Rachel she seemed to be wandering around the ambulance what is this I started to say when the room’s door opened and two police officers entered Mr and Mrs Foster were were detectives Johnson and Parker one of them introduced themselves we have a few things we’d like to confirm regarding your daughter’s case we nodded but our minds were in turmoil was the situation serious enough
to involve the police actually we received a tip detective Johnson said there might be important information about the cause of your daughter’s poisoning symptoms detective Parker continued there’s some evidence in the Next Room Mrs Foster I’m sorry but could you take a peek discreetly bewildered I followed the instructions I approached the door and cautiously peaked inside what I saw took my breath away in the center of the room was a large monitor showing Rachel it clearly showed her approaching the ambulance with something in the parking
lot various photos and documents were pinned to the wall upon closer inspection there were photos of toxins reportedly found in Rachel’s car and records of Snapchat exchanges between her and Ashley in my mind various memories raced through like a montage the event since Rachel came to our house her rapid intimacy with Ashley her unusual interest in Daniel’s work everything started to connect Mrs Foster detective Johnson’s voice brought me back to reality when I returned to the room Daniel looked at me worriedly Meg what
happened what did you see I was at a loss for words just shaking my head my body started trembling and I couldn’t stop it Mrs Foster are you all right detective Parker asked concernedly I took a deep breath trying to calm down but my mind was still in chaos Rachel she I could barely squeeze out the words Daniel put his arm around my shoulders and gently asked Meg calm down what happened with a trembling voice I began to explain what I saw in the room Rachel’s actions the evidence of toxins the Snapchat messages when I finished speaking a
heavy silence fell over the room Daniel’s face was pale and he seemed to to be at a loss for words too is this real Daniel finally spoke detective Johnson answered quietly we find it hard to believe too but the evidence is clear but why I asked in a desperate voice why would Rachel detective Parker began to explain carefully choosing his words at this point it’s speculation but it seems Miss Rachel had a different motive she was at that moment my cell phone rang loudly looking at the screen I saw it was a call from
Rachel All Eyes in the room focused on my phone I looked at the detectives faces and after seeing them nod I answered the phone with a trembling hand hello Rachel my voice was shaking Megan listen Rachel’s voice was filled with tension I’m coming there right now I need to talk about Ashley I made eye contact with the detectives detective johnon gave a small nod so I continued the conversation Rachel what what did you do to Ashley my voice was a mix of anger and fear on the other end of the phone I heard Rachel gasp you know her voice became
thin why I asked trying to suppress the urge to scream why Ashley Megan listen Rachel said desperately this is all a misunderstanding I never meant to hurt Ashley at that moment I heard the sound of sirens in the background I could hear Rachel inhale sharply Rachel where are you now I asked in the hospital parking lot her voice was trembling Megan I suddenly the call cut off the room was once again enveloped in heavy silence she’s here detective Johnson said quietly our colleagues are already on their way to the scene Daniel stood up we have to
go we need to see Rachel I stood up too but my legs were shaking I’m going to detective Parker said cautiously both of you this could be dangerous can’t you leave it to us but Daniel and I were determined Rachel is our family Daniel said we need to be the ones to meet her the detectives hesitated for a moment but finally agreed all right but please follow our instructions strict ly we hurried to the parking lot in the elevator I gripped Daniel’s hand tightly his hand was cold and trembling too when we arrived at the parking lot
there were several police cars parked and in the center one car Rachel’s car Rachel Daniel called out the car door slowly opened and Rachel appeared her face was pale and her eyes were filled with tears Daniel Megan her voice was trembling I I want to explain police officers approached Rachel she showed no signs of resistance just staring at us why I asked again why Ashley Rachel took a deep breath I I didn’t mean to hurt Ashley what I wanted was at that moment her words trailed off Rachel’s eyes widened and she
clutched her chest collapsing Rachel Daniel rushed to her police officers and paramedics responded immediately and Rachel was placed on a stretcher and rushed into the hospital we stood there stunned by the scene everything felt surreal lacking a sense of reality detective Johnson approached us Mr and Mrs Foster it looks like we’re in for a long night let return to your daughter’s room we’ll explain everything there we nodded silently and headed back to Ashley’s side our minds were full of questions and anxiety but one thing was certain
the truth that was about to be revealed would change our lives forever back in Ashley’s hospital room the sight of our daughter greeted us she was still unconscious surrounded by various medical equipment every time I saw this scene my heart felt like it was being squeezed detectives Johnson and Parker quietly entered the room their expressions were grave reflecting the seriousness of what they were about to say Mr and Mrs Foster detective Johnson began Rachel’s interrogation is complete she confessed to everything Daniel and I held our
breath the moment to learn the truth had arrived detective Parker continued Rachel’s motive was to steal confidential information from your company Mr Foster Daniel’s face contorted with surprise and confusion my companies you yes detective Johnson nodded Rachel had been envious of your success for years it seems she was trying to sell information to a rival company of CER my head was spinning and I couldn’t find words I couldn’t believe Rachel would go that far but why Ashley I asked in a trembling voice Detective Parker carefully
continued his explanation Rachel gradually poisoned Ashley to divert the family’s attention by doing so she was trying to steal work rated information from Mr Foster while the family was in chaos the moment I heard those words I felt something collapse inside me Daniel seemed to be feeling the same way almost collapsing into to his chair but why go that far Daniel said in aoar voice detective Johnson let out a deep sigh it seems Rachel had been suffering from jealousy and feelings of inadequacy for years your success it seems had been
eating away at her heart I approached Ashley’s bed with a mixture of anger and sadness for something like this our daughter my words caught in my throat Daniel placed his hand on my shoulder his hand was trembling too Meg suddenly the door to the room opened and a doctor hurriedly entered Mr and Miss Foster Rachel’s condition has suddenly changed we looked up at in Surprise come to think of it why did Rachel I asked the doctor the doctor hesitated a bit before answering it seems Rachel was also exposed to the poison probably in the process of
poisoning Ashley she accidentally ingested some herself it’s likely due to her carelessness and ignorance in handling the toxin hearing those words we were at a loss for words Rachel to is her life in danger I asked in a voice surprisingly calm even to myself the doctor nodded she’s currently being treated in the Intensive Care Unit however the situation is critical a heavy silence fell over the room even the detectives seemed bewildered by this unexpected turn of events Ashley’s treatment Daniel anxiously asked the
doctor we’re doing our best right now with the information we obtained from Rachel we can now provide more appropriate treatment the doctor answered in a slightly hopeful tone I let out a deep breath it’s difficult to have hope in this situation but we must look forward what will happen now I muttered detective Johnson quietly answered we will continue our investigation there are still many points to be clarified such as the connection with the Rival company Daniel looked up and said with a determined expression I’ll take
