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.

sorry. I will save you, but not like this. I can’t sacrifice Tracy’s safety for yours. I

nodded, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. “I

could she ever expect him to value her life

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

expression hardened to ice, his gaze sharp as steel. “In all my years, no one who’s threatened me has lived to

maniacal laugh burst from Maddox as he tightened his grip on the knife. “Then you leave me no choice. I warned you. If I

blade pressed against Rachel’s

shut out the world. The cold metal against her skin made her think of the pain to

thought of such an

be devastated to

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

“Say it,” Maddox demanded.

my neck. Choose anywhere else—my waist, back, stomach—just one clean

a cruel sneer. “Very well,

aiming for her

desperate shout pierced the air

into Rachel, sending her crashing to the floor. Pain radiated through her limbs as she landed face-down on the cold floor. Tracy’s panicked cry

a blur of white, Tracy hurled herself between Brian and the blade. The knife

as security burst in,

to Rachel’s side, helping her up.

Rachel shook her head.

had happened

still piecing it

to save her, but it was Tracy who saved

in his heart

had never mastered the art of seizing

I saw everything clearly. Maddox’s attack was amateur—Mr.

threw herself in deliberately. He never

anticipated

needs attention. I’m taking you

Samira nodded. “Alright.”

Brian

Tracy’s voice wavered. “Are you…