Requiem of a Broken Heart

Chapter 74

Chapter 74:

She couldn’t afford to break down—not now.

Over and over, she told herself to stay in control.

Losing it wouldn’t help Jeffrey—she had to think clearly.

But when the officer delivered that indifferent response, something inside her cracked.

She dropped to her knees, her hands gripping her head, and she sobbed as though the weight of the world had finally crushed her.

Overwhelmed by desperation, she tugged at her hair, her nails digging into her scalp, as if the pain could drown out the unbearable guilt.

This was all on her. Every bit of it.

If she had been more vigilant, if she had fought off exhaustion, Jeffrey wouldn’t have wandered off alone.

her lips, raw and

then silently handed

hands, her voice barely above a

herself to push past the emotions. Breaking down wouldn’t bring Jeffrey

her phone and dialed Yvonne. As soon as the call

“What? How? What happened?”

sharpened with alarm. “Wait—where are you? Are you in

won’t file a case until he’s been gone 24 hours,” Rachel’s throat

full of

I’m on my

on the light and started changing out of her

brightness made

insisted, the two had returned to the family estate that day and

annoyed look at Yvonne. His tone was impatient as he asked, “What the hell are you doing at this

already on edge, Yvonne snapped, “Not now! Jeffrey’s missing, and Rachel’s losing her

got his full attention, and