Requiem of a Broken Heart

Chapter 40

Chapter 40:

Rachel held her silence, which prompted the nurse to reiterate her concern.

“Your condition is quite serious. You’ve had a high fever for the last two days, and it hasn’t let up. It would be safest if your boyfriend could be here with you consistently.”

Shaken from her reverie by the nurse’s words, Rachel muttered in agreement, “Okay, I’ll speak with him.”

“That’s wise. Please call him as soon as you can. I’m genuinely concerned about your wellbeing,” the nurse replied.

Once her IV was set and the nurse had exited, Rachel reached for her phone and dialed Brian.

He answered quickly, his tone revealing his fatigue. “Why are you up so late?” he asked, his voice rough with tiredness.

“Brian, are you still with Tracy Haynes?” she inquired.

“I am. She caught a nasty fever after getting caught in the rain. I’ll visit you tomorrow,” Brian responded.

Her hand clenched around the phone, loosening and then tightening again as she processed his words.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she struggled to find the right words to respond. The pause during their phone call was excruciating until he finally spoke up.

“If that’s all, try to rest.”

“Okay.” Her response was automatic, yet immediately she felt a pang of regret.

How could she just pretend everything was fine?

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She was about to end the call but stopped herself.

“Hold on, Brian. There’s something important,” she blurted out, her words rushing to escape. “I also developed a fever last night. The doctors were really concerned—they said I went into a deep stupor. It’s pretty serious, and I really need you here.”

Her pulse thundered in her ears as she finished speaking, waiting anxiously for his reaction.

She held her breath, awaiting his reply with a mixture of hope and dread. Unexpectedly, a soft chuckle came through from Brian’s end, leaving her startled.

His laugh, cold and tinged with skepticism, rang through the line. “Rachel, playful banter and little whims between us are one thing. I can indulge and even spoil you, but not under these circumstances. You know now isn’t the time to compete for my attention.”

At that moment, everything became painfully clear to Rachel.

What more was there to be confused about?

Brian believed she was fabricating her illness just to pull him away from Tracy. Was this how he saw her? As someone manipulative enough to fake a medical emergency?

you,” Rachel quickly

her in the

a constant presence, bringing her meals thrice daily with

lingered as she asked Ronald, “Has

made excuses for Brian’s

the next day, she no longer held any

she nonchalantly inquired, “Do you think he’ll show

he has been extremely busy

Busy?

bitter laugh

Yes, busy indeed.

to Tracy, being by

temperature spiked once again, refusing to

rush to find Brian,

“Don’t bother, Ronald.”

“But this is serious.”

said, turning away, her

trying to get his sympathy, to make him pay

wasn’t worth it. Better to have no expectations at

few hours, Rachel’s condition finally stabilized. It was well past

moment, she thought she glimpsed Brian’s form, a faint, ghostly presence in the dim

she blinked again, the figure had

expected, nothing

been in

was beginning

her health improved, she

there to escort

time Brian got to

who was here?” he

must be Rachel Marsh’s boyfriend, right? Where were you the last few days? Did you know she was suffering from high fevers and fainting spells? She faced it all by herself, terrified yet

the spot, struck by

“Didn’t you know? After she fainted the first time, I urged her to

sense of emptiness overwhelmed Brian as

had misunderstood

she had indeed fainted and been at

His reaction? Utterly inadequate.

his actions, he realized his

dialing Rachel’s number, but

he found it

and didn’t return until it was

with no lights illuminating the