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.

softer now. “Rachel, I’m sorry. I will save you, but not like this. I can’t sacrifice

a bitter smile tugging at

to value

a shout. “If there’s no switch,

steel. “In all my years, no one who’s threatened me has

knife. “Then you leave me

pressed against

or plead. Instead, she closed her eyes to shut out the world. The cold metal against her skin made her think

an ugly death

would be devastated to lose her so

she made one final request. “Maddox, for the sake

“Say it,” Maddox demanded.

strike my neck. Choose anywhere else—my waist, back, stomach—just one clean stab. Grant me a

lips twisted into a cruel sneer. “Very well,

aiming for her stomach with

pierced the air as his body launched forward with lightning

crashing to the floor. Pain radiated through her limbs as she landed face-down on the cold floor. Tracy’s panicked cry shattered the moment. “Brian,

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

just as security burst in, subduing

helping her up. “Are you

Rachel shook her head.

happened

still piecing

it was Tracy who saved him

tasted bitter—Tracy’s position in his

never mastered the art of seizing such

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

in deliberately. He never needed her protection. It’s

anticipated

attention. I’m taking you to

Samira nodded. “Alright.”

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

voice wavered.