Requiem of a Broken Heart

Chapter 2

Chapter 2:

The memory of how she and Brian had come together flashed vividly in Rachel’s mind.

It had been a tumultuous beginning. Back then, Tracy had left him for another man, moving to a different country. The betrayal had shattered Brian. In his despair, he had drowned his pain in alcohol, losing himself in a haze of anger and heartbreak.

On that fateful night, consumed by raw emotion, he had pinned Rachel down. She had sobbed and trembled beneath him, but he hadn’t stopped. Driven by a desperate, almost primal need, he had taken her again and again as if trying to fill the void Tracy had left behind.

The following day, as the weight of the previous night hung between them, Brian turned to her with a somber expression. “After everything, are you still willing to be with me?”

She had nodded, her voice trapped in her throat. And just like that, their relationship began—not out of love, but as an impulsive outcome of a night together.

Now, as Brian stood before Rachel, her heart aching with the weight of unspoken questions, she wondered if he felt anything for her at all, if there was even the faintest trace of affection or tenderness in his heart, or if she had simply been a placeholder for the love he had lost.

Brian’s eyes lingered on Rachel, his voice tender yet firm. “Our wedding is just around the corner. Soon, you’ll be my wife. I’ll love and protect you, always.”

A sudden chill brushed her lips, and without thinking, she placed her fingers gently over Brian’s lips, halting his words. “Brian, please,” she murmured, “I already understand. You’ve been up all night, and you’re exhausted. Go change before you head to the office. I’ll bring your clothes.”

Her voice was calm, but as she turned, tears began to fall uncontrollably.

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Brian had spoken in such tender tones, filled with promises of care and devotion. Yet, all she could feel was the emptiness behind them. His reassurances were sweet, but they lacked the sincerity she longed for.

If it were truly love, there would have been no need for such grand declarations. A single, honest word would have been enough. The more he tried to convince her, the more his words seemed to reveal the truth—that love was something he hadn’t offered.

At that moment, Rachel found herself unable to bear any more. She turned away, unable to listen further, feeling a deep ache settle in her heart.

As she reached into the wardrobe to fetch a suit, a familiar embrace enveloped her from behind, pulling her close. Brian’s chin rested softly on her head, and he held her hand gently, his voice filled with concern. “It’s not cold, yet your hands feel so cold.”

chest weighed down with an unspoken ache. She struggled to find the right words, unsure of how

Brian turned her around,

gaze meeting his. The vulnerability in her eyes stirred something deep within him. Unable to resist, he cupped her face and kissed her, hard and desperate, as if trying to consume her, to make her a

flushed, and her breathing became erratic, caught between the rush of emotions and the intensity of the moment. But amidst it all, a subtle sweetness began to stir in

quiet, intimate exchanges did Brian show her any sign of wild passion. It was

Rachel whimpered, her voice trembling as she struggled for

seemed to snap out of his trance, releasing her with a sudden shift in demeanor. His words, heavy with desire, were thick with regret. “If it weren’t

and warmth sweeping through her. She gave him a gentle

yet gentle. His gaze didn’t waver as he looked at her with unwavering resolve. “What does it matter? You’re

respond, she felt something cool and smooth slide onto her wrist. She looked down and saw a stunning bracelet, its ruby centerpiece catching the light and sparkling brilliantly. The gem’s deep red

me?” Rachel asked, her

a soft smile playing at the corners of his

the bracelet back to

lips. “I thought it would

but smile. “I really

not satisfied, he raised an eyebrow and pointed to his lips. His playful yet earnest look

understood the silent plea, though hesitation lingered in her heart. She wasn’t accustomed to being

walk out the door.” He let

of emotions. Without thinking, she closed

kiss, his fervor leaving no room for hesitation. It wasn’t until she gasped, clutching at his clothes, that he pulled

pale, tired face. “Stay home for a few days. You can visit my grandparents when you’re feeling better. Don’t worry about going back to work until

still hazy from the intensity of the

degree in fine arts, she joined White Group and quickly rose to become the department manager of the design division. Yet, the truth of her relationship with Brian remained a secret from her

dedication had never wavered, the stress had taken its toll recently. Severe headaches, dizziness, and occasional bouts of nausea were her body’s way of demanding a break. Had it not been for these signs, she would have never taken time off. But she planned to slow

of the moment hanging between them.

curved into a faint, amused smile. “I

us? Everyone knows I’m getting married, but no one knows to whom. They’ve been teasing me, asking