Requiem of a Broken Heart

Chapter 42

Chapter 42:

Brian wasn’t going to accept that Rachel would stop loving him.

Rachel was his—always had been, always would be.

That night, he didn’t stop until she was utterly exhausted, every ounce of energy drained from her body.

By the time he finally let go, they were both covered in sweat.

Rachel was so spent that she slipped into a deep, unconscious sleep, completely unaware of anything that happened after—whether it was a shower or slipping into fresh pajamas. She slept soundly.

It was the harsh sunlight spilling through the window that finally stirred her from sleep.

As soon as she shifted slightly, an arm tightened around her waist.

That was when she realized—Brian was still in bed.

Even in deep sleep, his grip around her remained firm.

In that moment, memories from the night before rushed back to her.

She shut her eyes, willing herself to shove those memories aside.

As she got up, Brian casually asked her to help him choose his clothes.

Rachel nodded quietly and picked out a casual outfit.

“And grab a watch for me while you’re at it.”

“Sure.”

Her quiet obedience didn’t bring Brian the satisfaction he expected—it only left him oddly frustrated.

Explore more on g Ɐ lnσ ν? ℓs․com

He cupped her chin, tilting her face up with just enough force. “Are you still upset about last night?”

Rachel said nothing. She quietly fastened the watch around his wrist and smoothly changed the subject. “Anything else?”

Brian deliberately stretched out his foot, and she instantly got the message. Without a word, she grabbed a pair of sneakers for him.

“Dressing me for a workout? Are you implying that I should work out a lot to improve my stamina?”

past, whenever Brian threw in a teasing remark, Rachel would

he intentionally provoked her, she

put on his shoes without

did she speak, her voice calm. “If I’m not mistaken, you have a golf match

tension at breakfast was

irritation

the food wasn’t to his

put, nothing was good enough for

would have hurried to take care of it, even warming the

time, she pretended not

of utensils. Rachel finished a few bites of her sandwich, took a

a brief pause, she looked across the table at him. “There’s

mid-air, his

petty behavior

her gaze, his

that as long as she forgave him, as long as she stopped being angry, they could return

asked for—a raise, a promotion, or any gift—he was willing to

was what she said next. “I want to go on a business trip.

request even more pronounced, each word striking his

she caught the flicker

glass tightened so much it

onto hers with an icy

She met his gaze head-on, her expression calm and unwavering. “I’d like

against the

outburst,

he didn’t say anything, she went

is doing well, and you have capable people managing everything, both at work and in your personal life. There’s an important project in Amberfield, and as the head of the design department, I believe

carefully, making sure they

braced herself for this confrontation, but one

furious Brian became, no matter whether he approved of it or not, she was going on this

distance between

Brian finally gave in, just as Rachel was beginning to

his gaze was sharp and icy, like a blade slicing through the air. “You want time? Space? To be away from me? Fine. I’ll give you that. But don’t forget—so long as I

had no intention of dragging this conversation out

she headed upstairs

halfway through when Brian suddenly

there, tall and composed, with a cigarette between his fingers. He took slow, deliberate drags,

he stood there, lost

minutes, she