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!”

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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?”

too fast. My blood sugar tends to drop at times, but it’s

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

corner, she had to start

living room, Rachel’s eyes immediately landed

Debby,” she greeted,

her distaste, merely

invited you for lunch, don’t you? Look at the time—punctuality clearly isn’t your strong

gaze, momentarily at a loss

warmth

“Rachel has always been thoughtful. If she was delayed, I’m sure it wasn’t intentional. Besides,

slightly. She had never known a mother’s love—her own mother had died on

and distant, he wasn’t worth dwelling

had ever known came from Brian’s

she might never have known what it felt like to

grown woman now. You can’t

breath. Anyone who dares to trouble her will answer to me first—and I

seat beside her.

left no room for argument, forcing Debby to suppress her rising frustration. A bitter

Carol’s long-deceased daughter, basked in boundless affection. How could Debby not feel

marrying an

meal, Debby’s mood darkened while Carol lovingly filled

must be working too hard lately,” Carol observed, noting Rachel’s pallor with concern. “You’ve grown so thin. Please eat more. If Brian isn’t taking

finally erupted. “What good is all this food? They’ve been together ages with no sign

bedroom. She understood their eagerness for a

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

first half of the words struck

Carol broached the subject

concerns, modern medicine offers many solutions. Even IVF

heart swelled

love remained steadfast. Overwhelmed, she embraced