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

realization, Rachel felt no reason to restrain

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

immediate concern was to get Jeffrey

confronted the

about to let them walk away without

way. She cannot take

hearing Moira’s commanding tone,

shrank back, seeking

and realized he

gently asked, “What happened today, Jeffrey? Tell

Jeffrey finally let

she…” he stuttered, pointing at Moira, his expression aggrieved. “Bad… she accused me… I

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

was mistaken. But you must understand, taking Jeffrey with you could jeopardize your marriage to

gave a

and advantage were all

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

Jeffrey,” she said, clasping his hand as they

as she shouted, “Block

maids

to stop us,” Rachel exclaimed, shielding Jeffrey with her body

gaze caused the maids to falter,

standing around? Grab them,”

then, there was a loud

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

doubting

what she

over a decorative

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

continue?”

tightened into fists, her resolve wavering. After a tense moment, she conceded. “Alright, take him—but be

vigilant, setting the sculpture down cautiously only after they were

character, it was prudent to assume she

Jeffrey dozed off, resting