Requiem of a Broken Heart

Chapter 6

Chapter 6:

Debby let out a sharp, sarcastic laugh, shaking her head as if she had just heard the most absurd thing in the world. “Rachel, you really won’t believe it until reality slaps you in the face, will you?”

“Maybe!” Rachel shot back with a shrug.

Still, if the day ever came when Brian told her to leave—if he said he wanted Tracy instead, that Tracy was the one he truly loved—she wouldn’t beg. She would walk away without looking back, vanishing from his world completely.

But that day hadn’t come yet. And right now, she had no intention of letting Brian go.

The days stretched into an abyss of silence between Rachel and Brian.

Neither reached out, pride and pain forming an invisible barrier.

Concerned Brian’s grandma might sense her turmoil, Rachel fabricated an excuse to return home the following day.

Though she had planned to resume work the following Monday, fate had other plans.

Early Friday morning, her assistant’s urgent call shattered her solitude. “Ms. Marsh, Titan Innovations has suddenly rejected our design. The contract signing is in jeopardy.”

“This can’t be happening!” Rachel’s professional instincts kicked in. “I’ll be there immediately.”

She rushed to the company, her usually immaculate appearance somewhat disheveled from haste.

The elevator doors parted with a soft chime, and Rachel stepped inside before registering the occupants.

Her heart stumbled in her chest—Brian stood there with Tracy at his side.

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Pride kept her rooted in place; she had done nothing wrong to warrant retreat. She turned away, presenting her back to them as silence descended like a heavy curtain.

The lingering scent of tobacco wrapped around her senses, a reminder of Brian’s recent smoke.

Tracy’s honeyed voice pierced the quiet. “Brian, I know you smoke for social occasions, but it’s harmful. Please try to cut back.”

will,” Brian

like a knife

be rebuffed with his cold response: “Men don’t appreciate being controlled

bitter taste

the rising numbers of the elevator display. A few more floors. Just a

shattered

maintained her silence,

have you two quarreled? If I’m the cause, I should apologize. Don’t let

not about you.” Brian’s gentle tone felt like another betrayal. “Don’t

of staying in that confined space a second longer than

everything went black. A split second later, the elevator lurched violently and began

stopped. Panic surged through her, and without thinking,

fingers grasped at empty

called,

what’s happening? Are we

made her chest tighten, cold sweat breaking out along her spine. She had always

body trembled violently, her breath shallow, her heart hammering so loudly she could barely hear anything

steady voice cut through.

caught. Without hesitation, she reached out, waiting for that familiar warmth to

But she was wrong.

Her hand grasped nothing.

plummeting. Rachel curled into herself, pulling her knees

she bit her lip, anchoring herself

her head, the harsh fluorescent glare revealed a scene that pierced her heart—Tracy nestled in Brian’s protective embrace, dabbing

distance himself

bear the sight any longer, Rachel

the time she reached her office. Yet the physical agony paled in comparison to the emotional torment that gripped her

Rachel had removed her shoes, revealing an angry

filled with concern as she rushed forward. “Oh, God! Your ankle looks terrible! Let me get some

Titan Innovations situation takes priority,” Rachel insisted, pushing

expression grave. “We’ve uncovered something disturbing. A small company has presented an almost identical design at

hands trembled as she examined the designs. This wasn’t mere inspiration—it was

have their