Requiem of a Broken Heart

Chapter 58

Chapter 58:

Brian was completely stunned. He had spent years with Rachel, yet only now did he realize how little he actually knew about her.

To him, she had always been a part of the Marsh family. Even if she wasn’t the most cherished, he thought, she should have at least led a life without struggles. The Marsh family was undeniably wealthy, after all. Her life might not have been as glamorous as those high-society debutantes, but it should have been far more comfortable than that of an ordinary person.

But at this moment, Brian saw just how mistaken he was. Her childhood was far more painful than he had ever imagined.

Looking at the bustling crowd, Rachel suddenly went quiet.

“Will you tell me more about your childhood? I want to know about it,” Brian asked softly, wrapping his hand around hers in a firm, reassuring grip. In that small gesture, he was offering her silent strength.

“Alright.” That one word took all of Rachel’s strength to say. It meant digging up old wounds—memories of a childhood filled with pain, loneliness, and cruelty.

“My mom died while giving birth to me and my twin brother. After that, my dad remarried, and that’s when Moira came into our lives. Later, she had Kate. From that moment on, my brother and I were no longer important. Even though we were still part of the Marsh family, we were treated worse than a stray dog. Moira fit every cruel stepmother stereotype. When I was young, she and my father constantly argued, and each time, she would unleash her fury on me.” Rachel’s voice faltered, and her eyes burned with unshed tears.

“She used to whip me with leather straps, smack me with wooden rulers, and even pour boiling water over me. My body was a map of bruises and scars. Back then, Jeffrey was still healthy. Since he was the only boy, our grandma protected him, so Moira didn’t dare lay a hand on him. Instead, she took out all her anger on me. I was beaten so badly, my skin was bruised and raw. Eventually, my brother couldn’t stand it any longer and told our father. The marks on my back were undeniable proof. My father and Moira had an explosive argument.”

After a brief pause, Rachel continued, “After that, Moira got smarter. She no longer left visible marks but found other ways to make me suffer. She made me bathe in ice-cold water during the winter, cut off my allowance, and barely gave me enough warm clothes to survive the cold. At that time, even a little pocket money felt like a luxury. This street was always crowded and full of life, but I could never buy anything. Everything I wanted was too expensive. No matter how much I longed for them, all I could do was stand there and watch. I walked this street so many times, carefully counting every coin, until I realized—the tacos here were the only thing I could afford to quiet my hunger.”

When Rachel finished talking, she felt a surprising sense of relief. It turned out that time really did help heal wounds. Remembering those moments still left a dull ache in her heart, but it wasn’t as painful as before. Now, she could even talk about it without breaking down.

with unmistakable sorrow. How could she speak of such a painful past as if it were

asked, his voice

But now, I’m trying to let go, to find peace. As long as she stays far away

now on, you’re not alone. I won’t let her lay a hand

feel the sincerity in his words. But deep down, she knew life was unpredictable, and no one could truly foresee what

soft breeze drifted by, brushing a loose strand of hair from Rachel’s face. The rain had stopped, and

here for a moment,” Brian

Rachel could react, he was already heading toward the taco

glance at the ingredients, he stated, “Give

beef with that?” the vendor offered. Brian gave a nod, but as he watched

Use all the ground beef you’ve got,” he ordered. The vendor hesitated, ready to protest, but Brian

hundred. It was only fair—they had taken up space

it all, Brian suddenly took her hand and pulled her up so

are we going?” she

forward, guiding her through the crowded street. The city buzzed with energy, yet somehow, the crowd seemed

long coat swept behind him as he held onto her hand. Her hair flowed like silk in the wind, the two of them moving in perfect sync. The

idea how far

street, Brian stopped. Without a word, he wrapped his

car arrived,

her mouth to speak, but Brian spoke first. “Be good. I