Requiem of a Broken Heart

Chapter 5

Chapter 5:

Rachel finally registered the gravity of her provocative words as they hung in the air between them.

“I didn’t mean it that way,” she stammered, heat rising to her cheeks as she struggled to explain herself.

Brian’s imposing figure loomed closer as his fingers wrapped around her wrist. Something stirred within Rachel, and she found herself leaning into him, her arms encircling his frame with gentle desperation.

Her eyes sought his, luminous with unspoken pleas. “Brian, please don’t keep Tracy as your secretary,” she whispered, clinging to him. “If you truly want to help her, find her a position at another company. Otherwise, I cannot help but feel jealous.”

The warmth between them shattered as Brian wrenched his arm away.

His expression hardened into something unrecognizable. “I’ve always admired your generous spirit. But your treatment of Tracy seems unnecessarily mean. She’s newly returned and struggling to find her footing. I’m merely offering assistance.”

Rachel’s teeth worried her lower lip as the fight drained from her.

The stark contrast between love and indifference had never felt more apparent.

“You’re determined to help her, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” came his unwavering reply.

Rachel gazed at him, her heart splintering beneath the weight of his conviction. She pressed a hand against her chest, a bitter smile twisting her features. “Tell me, am I truly such an unreasonable, small-minded partner in your eyes?” His silence cut deeper than any words could have.

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Something snapped within her. She seized a pillow and hurled it at him, tears streaming unchecked down her face. “You’re right about everything! I’m jealous, hot-headed, and intolerant. That’s who I am, petty to the core. Just leave! I can’t bear to look at you anymore!” Another pillow followed the first.

Brian caught it deftly, his expression darkening as their eyes locked in a silent battle of wills.

In all their time together, Rachel had been his refuge of endless patience and affection, rarely displaying such raw anger.

Even during their disputes, she had always been the first to extend an olive branch.

would only embrace him and whisper, “I’m sorry, it was my fault,” he

three, she remained resolute in her stance. His jaw tightened, his features carved from ice. “Rest well. Someone will take you

slammed behind him with such force that it bounced back, remaining

swept across her exposed skin—skin that his hands had

the blankets, seeking warmth against the chill

satisfaction at his obvious anger. “Son, did you have a fight

shouldn’t be spoiled excessively. Rachel should count herself fortunate to have caught your eye. You mustn’t indulge her so much. Today she even

through her words, “I’ll handle my relationship as I see fit. This doesn’t

mother. How can this

without acknowledgment, descending the stairs to light

everything, some part of him still waited, hoping

past, she would have descended those stairs with bare

with puppy-like

Inevitably, his anger would dissolve, and he would gather her into his arms,

always culminated in passionate embraces,

desires, accommodating his every wish and preferred position

strived to please him, allowing him to draw forth her tears

left him deeply satisfied in both body and

a stark departure from their established pattern. Rachel seemed transformed into someone

his idling car for thirty minutes, but

engine was on, but

gas,” Brian commanded,

a commotion would draw her

him,

absence felt like a physical

his body

assistant, shifted uncomfortably. “Sir, we’ve

to notice him, to pull her

the tactic reeked of childishness. Ronald knew it.