Requiem of a Broken Heart

Chapter 20

Chapter 20:

Rachel followed the maid down to the basement.

Upon discovering that Jeffrey had been locked in there, she was seething with anger.

With a forceful kick, she burst through the door and entered.

“Jeffrey?” she called out, scanning the room but finding no sign of him.

Eventually, she spotted him hidden under a heap of discarded items.

The sight of his pale, frightened face and wide, scared eyes intensified her fury.

“It’s me, Jeffrey. You’re safe now,” she reassured him as she enveloped him in a comforting embrace.

In the dim basement light, Jeffrey recognized her and clung to her, his tears flowing freely and soaking through her clothes.

“Don’t worry, Jeffrey. You’re not alone anymore,” she reassured him. “We’ll leave this place soon, okay?”

He nodded eagerly, his face breaking into a relieved smile.

“Alright, dry those tears. We’re heading home,” Rachel coaxed.

“Okay,” he murmured.

Hand in hand, they walked back up to the living room.

Once there, Rachel said to Moira, “Jeffrey is coming with me.”

“What did you just say?” Moira gasped, leaping from the couch. “Rachel, have you lost your mind? Jeffrey is nothing but trouble. Do you really think Brian will marry you if you’re saddled with such a burden? Will the White family ever accept you? Go ahead, ruin your own life, but leave the Marsh family out of it.”

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Rachel’s gaze was cold as she retorted, “I’ve warned you about using ‘burden’ to describe him. And I mean it—Jeffrey is coming with me today, no matter what.”

Had her father and Moira not clung so stubbornly to Jeffrey’s custody, Rachel would have rescued him much earlier.

It was only after her family discovered her impending marriage to Brian and repeatedly assured her of their good intentions toward Jeffrey that she allowed herself a sliver of comfort.

Moira’s cruel treatment of Jeffrey, her deceit

felt no reason to

Moira directly, saying, “I need to leave with Jeffrey today. Moira, we can settle the issue of him being locked in the basement

was to get Jeffrey out and soothe

would have confronted the

was not about to let them

sharply, “Block her way. She cannot

Moira’s commanding tone, was

back, seeking refuge

felt his fear and realized he was

gently asked, “What happened today, Jeffrey? Tell me everything, and I’ll

let his

at Moira, his expression aggrieved. “Bad… she accused me…

you, Moira. My brother would never steal from you. Make

a weak smile and said apologetically, “Perhaps I was mistaken. But you must understand, taking Jeffrey with you

gave a derisive

it seemed wealth and advantage were all that

the Whites, fearing the marriage might fail and leave them empty-handed. They didn’t realize Rachel wasn’t one to

his hand

as she shouted, “Block their

several maids encircled

exclaimed, shielding Jeffrey with her body

maids

Why are you just standing around?

then, there was a loud

smashed a vase on the floor, its shards scattering everywhere. With a chilling smirk, she warned, “Unless you want your cherished possessions destroyed, let

doubting

what

tipped over a

in her right hand was a cherished jade sculpture, a legacy

we continue?” Rachel

tightened into fists, her resolve wavering. After a tense moment, she conceded.

sculpture down cautiously only after they were

it was prudent to assume she might retract her permission

they traveled, Jeffrey dozed off,