Chapter 145 She Was Ending It All
Rachel and Brian didn’t feel the slightest bit drowsy.
Lying on their sides, they stared blankly in opposite directions, their eyes wide open, lost in their own thoughts.
The silence in the room was so heavy that when Brian’s phone rang, the sound felt deafening
Rachel was still awake, so she heard Tracy’s voice clearly through the speaker.
“Brian, you’re back, aren’t you?”
“Yeah,” he replied.
“That’s great! I’ve missed you these past few days. We haven’t had a meal together in so long. Can we go out
tomorrow?”
Her voice carried an ease that felt far too natural and her words weren’t just casual; they sounded like those of
a girlfriend, not a secretary.
Brian hesitated for a moment before responding in his usual deep tone. “What do you want to eat? I’ll have
someone book a table.”
“How about Japanese?”
“Alright. I’ll ask Ronald to make the reservation.”
“Perfect! See you tomorrow.” Her voice was bright, filled with joy and anticipation.
“Bye.”
Listening to their conversation, Rachel couldn’t suppress the emotions building inside her.
She felt sorry for them. For all these years, she had been standing in Tracy’s place, holding onto something that was never meant to be hers. She had wasted so much time, both her own and theirs.
If only she hadn’t chased after Brian back then… If she hadn’t insisted on being with him, maybe Tracy and Brian would have already been together–happily in love, maybe even with children by now
The phone rang again. This time, it was Rachel’s.
A steady, gentle voice came through. “I hope I didn’t make things worse tonight?” It was Andres.
“No. Actually, I should thank you. Otherwise, I might have kept holding on to an illusion.”
It was better to wake up now than to stay blind forever.
Even if it hurt, at least it freed her from a dream that was never real.
11:15
Chapter 145 She Was Ending It All
Under the covers, Brian’s hand clenched tightly, his jaw tensing. So to her, being with him was nothing more than holding on to an illusion, huh? Then what did she call being with that man? Did she see that as finding her happiness? The thought of it sent a surge of frustration through Brian’s chest, making it impossible to stay
calm.
That night, neither of them moved, as if silently agreeing to keep their distance.
Brian thought Rachel was asleep, and she assumed the same about him.
But neither of them knew the other was lying there, just as sleepless.
Rachel barely slept that night and kept tossing and turning in restless half–sleep. When she woke up, it was still dark outside, not yet morning.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t go back to sleep.
Even though their backs weren’t touching, she could still feel his warmth, reminding her he was there.
She thought that this might be the last time they would ever share the same bed. Once morning arrived, they would truly go their separate ways.
Saying she was ready to let go now was nothing but a lie. Ten years of love and devotion–how could it all disappear in a single night?
She could pretend for his sake, but deep down, she couldn’t fool herself.
As she turned over, she told herself–this would be the last time she ever stared at his back. She wouldn’t
chase after him anymore.
Back in their school days, he had always walked ahead, never looking back. His long strides carried him farther and farther away, and all she ever saw was his back. But she had loved him too much to give up. So every time, she would run after him, like a shadow that refused to disappear. It took time to catch up, but she always did -reaching for his arm, calling his name, pleading softly, doing whatever it took to make him stay.
Back then, people had scolded her, saying, “Rachel, don’t you have any self–respect? Why do you always run after him after every fight? Can’t you stand up for yourself just once?”
She had wanted to. She had longed for him to hold her instead. But the fear of losing him, the fear of breaking up, was far stronger, So she never took that risk.
And when someone asked her the same question again, she lifted her head, her eyes filled with hope and dreams. With a determined smile, she had said, “Just wait. Everything I’m doing will be worth it. One day, I’ll win his heart, and when I do, he’ll be the one chasing after me–making up for every time I had to run after him. Just watch!”
Looking back now, Rachel saw just how naïve and overconfident she had once been.
Now, those words came back to bite her, stinging like an old wound. The irony of it all was almost laughable.
She had spent so many years–more than a decade, in fact, chasing after something that was never hers.
And yet, in all that time, his heart had remained locked, holding space for no one but Tracy. He was unwavering, loyal to a fault–how could she have ever thought he would love her instead?
11:15
Chapter 145 She Was Ending It All
She had certainly given herself far too much credit.
“Don’t go…” A murmur slipped from Brian’s lips, low and indistinct.
It was faint, barely a whisper, but Rachel caught it. Even in his sleep, he was afraid of losing Tracy. No wonder
his greatest wish was to rewind time, to relive those years with her.
If he had the chance, he would give anything to change the past–to hold on to Tracy.
He had already lost her once. This time, Rachel wouldn’t stand in his way.
She reached out, her slender fingers lightly running over his back through the thin fabric of his nightshirt.
It was as broad and warm as always, a source of comfort she had leaned on so many times, but it would never be hers again.
Her touch was delicate as she traced invisible letters.
“Bye.”
Goodbye, Brian.
This time, she meant it.
She was ending it all–the love, the regrets, the endless back–and–forth between them.
Everything. The joys and the sorrows–would end with the first light of day.
By morning, they would be strangers again.
So she whispered her farewell now, before the moment slipped away.
In case fate didn’t allow them one last goodbye, at least she wouldn’t leave with regrets.
Maybe he sensed something in his sleep because Brian shifted slightly.
Startled, she pulled her hand back in an instant.
But even as she did, she couldn’t stop staring at his back.
She lifted her hand once more, but this time, she hesitated, unwilling to touch him again.
Instead, she traced the words in the air-“I love you.”
At dawn, Rachel got out of bed and changed her clothes.
Brian was already dressed in his suit.
Their eyes met, but neither of them spoke.
Silently, they walked downstairs together. The moment their eyes fell on the breakfast table, they spoke at the same time, as if reading each other’s thoughts.
“Let’s eat together.”
“Okay.”
They nodded in silent agreement.
11:15
Chapter 145 She Was Ending It All
They ate quietly, and without thinking, Rachel reached for an egg.
She peeled it like always, setting the egg white in his bowl while keeping the yolk in hers.
It was muscle memory, something she had done too many times to count.
Brian had always been particular–he only ate the egg whites, never the yolks.
But Rachel didn’t like yolks either. Still, for years, she had done it anyway–setting aside the part he liked without a second thought.
It wasn’t about preference or habit. It was simply love, and she had been more than willing.
“Ah… sorry. It’s just a habit.”
The moment she realized, she hesitated before quickly taking the egg white back into her own bowl.
Requiem of A Broken Heart