Requiem of a Broken Heart

Chapter 13

Chapter 13:

Rachel’s heart trembled with desperate hope. If he chose her now, in this critical moment, she could forgive every past wound, every painful memory. Even if Tracy still held his heart, his protection in this life-or-death moment would be enough to sustain her.

Hope bloomed in her chest as she waited.

Tracy’s face darkened with displeasure, her fingers curling into tight fists.

Rachel’s easy acceptance of the proposal had caught her off guard.

Composing herself, Tracy softened her voice. “Rachel, spare me your noble gestures. I’m not sacrificing myself out of some grand principle—I simply don’t want Brian caught in an impossible position.”

A bitter smile twisted Rachel’s lips. “How touching. Your devotion truly brings tears to the eyes.”

She had to acknowledge that Tracy’s masterful way of claiming the moral high ground was something she could never match.

“Enough stalling,” Maddox snapped, his patience wearing thin. “Are you switching places or not?”

“Yes,” Tracy declared firmly.

As she stepped forward, Brian’s hand shot out, catching her wrist.

“Brian?” Tracy’s voice wavered.

He pulled her behind him protectively. “This is my battle. Don’t put yourself at risk—stay safe. I couldn’t bear to see you in danger!”

His words pierced Rachel’s heart like shards of glass.

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He couldn’t bear to see Tracy at risk—the truth of where she stood in his heart crystallized with brutal clarity.

No comparison was needed anymore.

Rachel said nothing. After all, what words could describe the ache of realizing she meant less to someone than she had hoped?

Her silence, however, didn’t go unnoticed.

voice softer now. “Rachel, I’m sorry. I will save you, but not like this. I can’t sacrifice Tracy’s safety for yours. I can’t trade one

a bitter smile tugging at

him to value her life the same

to Brian, his voice rising to a shout. “If there’s no switch,

no one who’s threatened me has lived to

burst from Maddox as he tightened his grip on the knife. “Then you leave me

blade pressed against

didn’t beg or plead. Instead, she closed her eyes to shut out the world. The cold metal against her skin made her think of

thought of such an ugly death pained

would be devastated

than the impending blade. Drawing a steady breath, she made one final request. “Maddox, for the sake of our years working

“Say it,” Maddox demanded.

anywhere else—my waist, back, stomach—just one

cruel sneer. “Very

aiming for her stomach

desperate shout pierced the air as his

limbs as she landed face-down on the cold floor. Tracy’s panicked cry shattered the

and the blade. The knife tore through her back, crimson blooming across her

as security burst in, subduing

to Rachel’s side, helping her up.

Rachel shook her head.

had happened too

still piecing

tried to save her, but it was Tracy who saved

irony tasted bitter—Tracy’s position in his heart would surely

the art of seizing such

Rachel’s thoughts. “Tracy Haynes is so transparent. I saw everything clearly. Maddox’s attack was amateur—Mr. White

in deliberately. He never needed her protection.

anticipated as

head injury needs attention. I’m taking you

Samira nodded. “Alright.”

the exit, they encountered Brian cradling Tracy, his face etched with

wavered. “Are