Requiem of a Broken Heart

Chapter 8

Chapter 8:

In the blink of an eye, Brian’s long strides brought him closer, his face etched with concern.

Tracy, sensing his concern, quickly reassured him. “Brian, please don’t worry. It was all my fault earlier. I wasn’t holding the cup properly. Rachel had no part in this.”

Rachel’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile, her eyes cold with disdain. For a brief moment, when Brian had approached, she had allowed herself to believe that he might actually care, that his concern was for her.

Her heart had softened, only to be shattered by the realization that she was wrong.

He wasn’t here for her, only rushing to protect Tracy.

Rachel’s expression hardened, her voice devoid of emotion as she finally spoke. “This has nothing to do with me,” she said, her tone calm but cutting. “If I had wanted to hurt her, the whole cup of coffee would have been thrown at her, not just a few splashes.”

Brian’s expression darkened, an unreadable intensity settling in his eyes. Before he could stop himself, his hand reached out, fingers curling firmly around Rachel’s wrist. “Rachel…” he murmured, his voice husky, laced with an unfamiliar hesitation.

The sound of his voice, once a balm to Rachel’s soul, now sent a jagged ache through her chest. She steeled herself, masking the storm beneath her calm exterior. “Release me,” she said quietly, though the faint tremor in her words betrayed her.

Brian, however, didn’t release her. Instead, his grip only tightened.

Rachel inhaled deeply, forcing herself to meet his gaze. “Alright then,” she said quietly, her voice carrying the weight of something unspoken. “Tell me, do you even know what I’m afraid of?”

“You…” Brian faltered, taken aback by her question. He was momentarily lost for words, realizing how little he understood her.

Lᴀt𝑒st chαptєrs in ɢ𝓪lnovels.𝑐𝑜𝑚

“Forget it,” she said quietly, her hand slipping from his as she pushed him gently away. “I must have been asking for too much.”

Rachel turned away, her footsteps steady, yet each step carried the weight of an unbearable truth. She didn’t glance back, unwilling to reveal the turmoil within. Though her exterior remained composed, the pain had already carved deep wounds in her heart.

Brian had always remembered everything about Tracy; her fears, her anxieties, the little details that made her who she was. He knew she was afraid of darkness and confined spaces. But he…

the dark, that the sensation of

and her twin brother had entered the world on the same day, but from the beginning, their lives had been shaped by loss. Their mother had died during childbirth,

comfort. The harsh words and cold indifference stung less with him by her side. At least she wasn’t completely alone. But everything changed the day he was diagnosed with autism.

enduring, adapting, and expecting nothing from anyone. Everything worsened when Moira Haynes became their stepmother. Eager to keep his new wife content, their father ensured Rachel and her brother remained invisible. They were forbidden

like secrets, too shameful to acknowledge, they spent their days locked in attics, cellars,

another, erasing all sense of space and time. Yet Rachel couldn’t risk turning on a light. Visibility meant discovery, and discovery meant punishment. If Moira ever found out about them, the consequences would be severe. A beating would be the least of their worries. Surviving

It was the raw, visceral terror that seeped into her bones, a fear so deep it

herself, Rachel kept walking, forcing herself forward as

of the elevator, she unexpectedly bumped into Ronald. His expression was one of surprise. “Ms. Marsh, why are you leaving?” he

obvious Brian had sent him to buy the ointment for Tracy. Yet, the sting of that realization still hit her with a sharp

limp in Rachel’s stride, her unsteady and strained gait. He frowned and asked,

she answered, “You should go. Brian is probably

office, he quickly realized that the ointment was

approached Brian’s desk, Brian looked up at him, his tone casual but purposeful. “Ronald, apply this for

her hand, her tone playful yet insistent. “Brian, I only

him shifted. With a quiet sigh, he handed the ointment to Tracy instead. “Use your

eyes narrowing with frustration. “If it’s too much trouble, I can have Ronald take you to the hospital,” Brian offered, his voice calm,

taking over.

attention, perhaps a sign of connection. But as she watched Brian immersed in his work, his concentration unshaken, a familiar sense of frustration began

and with a deep sigh, she decided to leave. There

arrived at the modest office,

and looked as though she had just stepped out

looked up in confusion. “I’m sorry, but

the table, her gaze unwavering as she locked eyes with the woman. “I think you recognize this,” she said, her voice calm

widened in surprise as she examined the draft. “How did you know?” she

it’s also an infringement of my intellectual property.” She paused, giving the woman time to absorb her words. “I expect you to

stunned silence, her expression a mix of confusion and

Rachel, her curiosity piqued. “What’s happening? She seems lost. Do you think she’s feigning ignorance, or

remained composed, her eyes never leaving the woman. “Let’s wait and see. We’ll know soon

“Alright,” Samira replied.