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

twisted like a knife

rebuffed with his cold response: “Men don’t appreciate being controlled by women.

bitter taste

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

voice shattered

maintained her silence,

to Brian, her voice laden with concern. “Brian, have you two quarreled?

about you.” Brian’s gentle tone felt like another

of staying in

flickered—then everything went black. A split second later, the elevator

through her, and without thinking, she reached out in the darkness,

fingers grasped

called, her voice

sobbing. “Brian, what’s happening? Are we going

made her chest tighten, cold sweat breaking out along

heart hammering so loudly she could

steady voice cut through. “Don’t be afraid. Give

breath caught. Without hesitation, she reached out,

But she was wrong.

Her hand grasped nothing.

Rachel curled into herself, pulling her knees close to her chest, as fear swallowed

her clothes as she bit her lip, anchoring herself against

the elevator lights sputtered back to life. As she lifted her head, the harsh fluorescent glare revealed a

distance himself from Tracy’s fragile

bear the sight any longer,

or an injury sustained during the elevator’s plunge, searing pain shot through her ankle by the

Rachel had removed her shoes,

“Oh, God! Your ankle looks terrible! Let

Titan Innovations situation takes priority,” Rachel insisted, pushing aside her discomfort. “Brief me on what’s

disturbing. A small company has presented an almost identical design at a significantly

the designs. This

have their company