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.

waited, certain that if she would only embrace him and whisper, “I’m sorry, it was my fault,” he could pretend this fracture had never

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

with such force that it bounced

across her exposed skin—skin that his hands had uncovered

blankets, seeking warmth against the chill of

Brian encountered his mother, Debby, who poorly concealed her satisfaction at his obvious

always said women shouldn’t be spoiled excessively. Rachel should count herself fortunate to have caught

his glacial tone cut through her words, “I’ll handle my relationship

can

turned away without acknowledgment, descending the stairs to light two cigarettes in quick

waited, hoping to

descended those stairs with bare feet flying,

would have clung to him with puppy-like devotion, tears

to pierce his defenses. Inevitably, his anger would dissolve, and he would

reconciliations had always culminated in passionate embraces, their bodies intertwined as if separation was

accommodating his every wish

strived to please him, allowing him to draw forth her

had left him deeply satisfied in

marked a stark departure from their established pattern. Rachel seemed

idling car for thirty minutes, but the stairwell remained empty of her

was on, but the car

the gas,” Brian commanded,

a commotion would draw her

behind him,

like

demanded, his body

Miller, his assistant, shifted uncomfortably. “Sir, we’ve reached the engine’s

to force Rachel to notice him, to pull her

childishness. Ronald knew it.