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

felt no reason

saying, “I need to leave with Jeffrey today. Moira, we can settle the issue of him

immediate concern was to get Jeffrey out and

would have confronted the issue head-on

about to let them walk away without a

way. She cannot

hearing Moira’s commanding tone,

seeking refuge behind

and realized he was

today, Jeffrey? Tell me

Jeffrey finally let his

he stuttered, pointing at Moira, his expression aggrieved. “Bad… she accused me… I didn’t take… her

“I’m warning you, Moira. My brother would never steal from you. Make another false claim, and

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

a derisive

them, it seemed wealth and advantage were

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

said, clasping his hand as they started to

darkened as she shouted,

maids

ahead, try to stop us,” Rachel exclaimed, shielding

maids to falter, unsure

Why are you just standing around? Grab them,” Moira

was a loud

shards scattering everywhere. With a chilling smirk, she warned, “Unless you want your

scoffed, doubting Rachel’s

what

over a

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

continue?” Rachel

resolve wavering. After a tense moment, she conceded.

stayed vigilant, setting the sculpture down cautiously only after they were safely

Moira’s character, it was prudent to assume she might retract her

they traveled, Jeffrey dozed off, resting