Requiem of a Broken Heart

Chapter 509:

Her gaze met his—steady, clear, and heartbreakingly distant. It was as though she were speaking about someone else’s story, not her own.

Brian felt a lump in his throat, rendering him momentarily speechless.

Rachel, sensing his discomfort, shifted the topic with gentle resolve. “Thank you for managing the situation with the trending topics. I know it was the PR department, but it was your instructions that set it in motion. And I also know you did it to shield Carol from unnecessary worry. But anyway, I still owe you thanks.”

A bitter, almost rueful smile tugged at the corners of Brian’s mouth, but his eyes were distant, betraying a deeper turmoil. “What if I told you it wasn’t just about my grandma?”

Rachel’s confusion was palpable. “What do you mean?”

She looked at him more intently now, searching his face for some clue, but his expression was guarded, unreadable.

I helped you because I wanted

emotion crossing her face before she masked it. “You don’t

his words remained steady. “I’m not trying to make you feel better, Rachel. I’m telling you the

a soft, hollow chuckle. “That’s not something to joke about. I’m tired, and

blanket up around herself, trying to shut out the conversation and the emotions that threatened to flood

to focus on the soothing quiet of the room, Brian remained there, standing behind her. His presence was too close, too palpable. The weight of his gaze felt like a

let the tension stretch any further, turned slightly, her voice calm but

for a moment before he spoke again, his tone softening, tinged with

you need anything,

voice faint but steady. “I prefer complete darkness when I sleep. If that’s

the lights, plunging the room into a thick, enveloping darkness. The absence of light made the world feel distant, almost unreal, the air heavy with a calm

finally able to breathe in the quiet, allowed her guard