Requiem of a Broken Heart

Chapter 3

Chapter 3:

Brian gave a slight nod. “Go ahead.”

Rachel drew in a deep breath, steadying herself. “If, after two years, you’re still unwilling to acknowledge our relationship, I’ll walk away without a fuss. All I ask is that you don’t stand in my way when I choose to leave you.” Her voice wavered, each word feeling like a thorn lodged in her throat.

“Alright. I agree.”

Yet, even as the words left his lips, an unsettling feeling crept into his chest—a quiet, formless panic, like a storm brewing on a distant horizon.

“Good,” she whispered, curling her fingers into fists, letting the sharp bite of her nails anchor her to the moment.

Two years. That was the limit she had set for herself.

From the age of fifteen, she had loved him—eight long years of devotion, of chasing shadows and hoping for warmth. Two more years, and it would be a full decade.

It was enough time to shake the firmest convictions, to erode even the most unyielding hearts.

If by then Brian still couldn’t love her, she would step back and give him the freedom he never had to ask for.

But deep down, she prayed—prayed that day would never come, that she would never have to walk away from the life she had built around him.

As soon as Brian left for work, Rachel’s phone rang. Seeing the caller was Brian’s grandma, she quickly answered.

“Rachel, are you off today?” Carol White’s warm, familiar voice filled her ears. “Come home quickly, I had your favorite dishes flown in fresh this morning!”

𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙪𝙥𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙨.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Rachel couldn’t help but smile. “Alright, I’ll be there soon.” After a quick touch-up, she set out immediately.

Upon arriving at the White family’s estate, she stepped out of the car—only for the world to tilt unexpectedly. A wave of dizziness washed over her.

The driver beside her reacted swiftly, steadying her. “Be careful. Are you feeling alright?”

fast. My blood sugar tends to drop at times, but it’s nothing

knew she hadn’t been in the best of health lately. Perhaps it was all the late nights catching

wedding just around the corner, she had to

living room, Rachel’s eyes immediately landed

greeted, keeping

to mask her distaste, merely glanced at

you for lunch, don’t you? Look at the time—punctuality clearly isn’t your strong suit.” Her

momentarily at

warmth enveloped

leaning on her cane, clasped Rachel’s fingers and turned to Debby with a mild yet firm expression. “Rachel has always been thoughtful. If she was delayed, I’m sure

never known a mother’s love—her own

as for her father? Cold and distant, he wasn’t worth

warmth she had ever

them, she might never have known what

a grown woman now. You can’t keep coddling

“I will protect her—as long as I draw breath. Anyone who

she guided Rachel to the seat beside her.

suppress her rising frustration. A bitter jealousy festered within her—after decades of marriage into the

because she resembled Carol’s long-deceased daughter, basked in

considering her own son was marrying an illegitimate daughter. The injustice of it all burned in her

Debby’s mood darkened while Carol lovingly filled

with concern. “You’ve grown so thin.

food? They’ve

her meal in silence, thinking of the condoms in her bedroom. She understood their

warning glance, but Debby pressed on defensively, “I’m only stating facts. They’ve been together forever, and my son’s health is perfect. Other women conceive within weeks, yet after a year, still nothing. You could have had a great-grandchild by now if he were with

of the words struck home

balcony, Carol broached the

hide anything. If there are health concerns, modern medicine offers many solutions. Even IVF is

heart swelled with

Overwhelmed,