Requiem of a Broken Heart

Chapter 1168:

Yvonne’s fingers froze on her phone, her heart plummeting as she stared at the screen. The loan repayment date glared back at her, days past due.

Panic clawed at her throat. The trip with Norton—the beaches, the laughter, the fleeting escape—had swept her so far from her troubles that her debts had slipped her mind entirely.

The absence of debt collectors at her door these past weeks baffled her.

A sharp rap at the door shattered her thoughts. When she eased it open, Norton stood there, a glass of milk in his hand.

“Here, drink this,” he said, brushing past her with a casual stride.

Yvonne’s lips curved into a faint smile. She took the glass and settled at the table. For a moment, she pushed her fears to the corners of her mind.

Norton leaned against the counter, watching her with a quiet intensity. When she drained the last of the milk, he tilted his head, a grin tugging at his mouth.

“That’s my wife,” he murmured, his voice low and warm.

She was not accustomed to this

the edge of the bowl, and she ducked her head, muttering a shy, “Goodnight.” She shuffled to her room, her heart a

sleep betrayed her. In the depths of her dreams,

The pounding of fists on the door

through the wood—grim, hollow-eyed debt collectors, their voices a chilling chant. “Why have you

reached for her, cold

her body tensing as she battled the specters

slipped into her room, part of his nightly ritual to check on

knelt beside her

next chapter awaits

touch seemed to reach her, and the tension in her face

the dream’s

she searched for the right moment to ask Norton for help with

her phone buzzed, a flurry of notifications lighting up the screen. She frowned,