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.

she was caught off guard by Moira’s cruel treatment of Jeffrey, her deceit

this realization, Rachel felt

expression chilling, she addressed Moira directly, saying, “I need to leave with Jeffrey today. Moira, we can

get

would have confronted

let them walk away without

ordered sharply, “Block her way. She cannot take

commanding tone, was

back, seeking refuge

felt his fear and realized

“What happened today, Jeffrey? Tell me

Jeffrey finally let his emotions

aggrieved. “Bad… she accused me… I didn’t take… her

a steely look. “I’m warning you, Moira. My

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

a

and

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

she said, clasping his hand as they started

darkened as she shouted,

several maids encircled

us,” Rachel exclaimed,

gaze caused the maids to falter, unsure whether

just standing around? Grab

there was a loud

chilling smirk, she warned, “Unless you want

scoffed, doubting

meant what she

tipped over

hand was a cherished jade sculpture, a legacy from

we continue?”

resolve wavering. After a tense moment, she conceded. “Alright, take

the sculpture down cautiously only

to assume

they traveled, Jeffrey dozed