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.”

gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s．çоm takes you away

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.

guard by Moira’s cruel treatment of Jeffrey, her

this realization, Rachel felt

Moira directly, saying, “I need to leave with Jeffrey today.

concern was to get Jeffrey out and soothe his

confronted the issue

to let them

sharply, “Block her way. She

hearing Moira’s commanding

back, seeking refuge behind

and realized he was deeply

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

finally let his emotions

his expression aggrieved. “Bad… she accused me… I didn’t

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

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

gave a derisive

and

primary concern was securing a profitable union with the Whites, fearing the marriage might fail and leave them empty-handed. They didn’t realize Rachel wasn’t one

said, clasping his

expression darkened as she shouted,

several maids encircled

exclaimed, shielding Jeffrey with her body and

caused the maids to

Why are you just standing around? Grab them,”

then, there was a loud

scattering everywhere. With a chilling smirk, she

doubting Rachel’s

what she

over

her right hand was a cherished jade sculpture, a legacy from her father, Thorpe

continue?”

After a tense moment,

sculpture down cautiously only after they were safely

assume she might

they traveled, Jeffrey dozed