Chapter 188 Brian’s Late
Aron and Debby stood paralyzed, their breaths caught in their throats as fear gripped them. The air felt heavy,
charged with desperation, but Aron managed to summon a thread of rationality. “Stop! Doris, think about Brian. You two have always shared something special. If you go through with this, he’ll never forgive himself. Do you really want to leave him with that burden?”
Aron’s plea seemed to stir something in Doris. Doris paused, her fingers tightening as she slowly turned to face them. Her eyes shimmered with tears, her voice trembling as she whispered, “You have already informed him. Has he shown up yet? No. He’s about to get married, and his whole world revolves around Rachel now. There seems to be no place for me in his heart anymore.”
The moment the words left Doris’s lips, her composure crumbled. Tears cascaded down her face, each one a testament to the profound sorrow tearing her apart.
Debby stepped closer, her voice urgent yet firm. “Don’t think that way, Doris. Brian isn’t heartless; he would never turn his back on you. It’s Rachel who’s clouding his judgment. She’s the one pulling the strings. Don’t let her deceive you.”
Aron joined in, his tone calm but earnest. “Doris, you’ve always been precious to Brian. He would never walk away from you. You have to hold onto that.”
“It that true?” Doris asked, her voice fragile, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“Of course,” Aron reassured her, his words steady. “He’s likely stuck in traffic. You know how unpredictable it
can be.”
Debby, however, wasn’t convinced. She shot Aron a sharp glare, her frustration bubbling over. “How can you still make excuses for Rachel Marsh at this time? She probably found out about Doris’s misery and deliberately kept Brian away. This is exactly the kind of scheming she’s capable of.”
Aron exhaled deeply, his voice tinged with exhaustion. “Debby, Rachel is about to join our family. You need to let go of these negative thoughts about her.”
“They haven’t even finalized the marriage yet.” Debby retorted, her tone biting. “And when I ran into her at the hospital, she didn’t show an ounce of concern for Doris. Instead, she was outright disrespectful to me.”
“If you met her at the hospital, she must not be feeling well. It’s right for Brian to visit her.”
This explanation, however, sparked a dispute between Aron and Debby.
In the midst of their argument, Doris felt a growing turmoil within her. While Aron’s care for her was apparent, his readiness to accept Rachel into the family wounded her. Doris believed she should be the sole recipient of the White family’s love and attention. The idea of sharing that affection with Rachel was something she found completely unacceptable. She resolved internally that this was a situation she could not and would not come to
terms with.
“Please don’t argue,” Doris murmured, her voice fragile but sincere. “Brian will always mean the world to me.
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Whatever he chooses, I’ll never resent him. I’m just sorry… sorry for failing you both.”
As she spoke, her hands slipped away from the ledge, her body tilting perilously toward the open window.
Debby’s eyes widened in horror, her mouth agape as if to scream, but Aron acted swiftly, covering her mouth
with his hand. “Debby, keep quiet for now. Stay put. I’m going over,” he whispered urgently, his voice barely audible as he steeled himself to sprint towards Doris and pull her to safety.
However, at that critical moment, the door to the hospital room swung open unexpectedly. Brian burst in, his expression fraught with concern. Spotting Doris on the window ledge, with most of her body dangling perilously outside, he cried out in alarm, “Doris, please come down from there. Don’t do this.”
Doris’s eyes shimmered with tears as Brian entered, her voice trembling with mixed emotions. “Brian… you finally came. I was afraid you’d forgotten me, that you no longer cared about me.”
Rushing to her side, Brian’s tone was urgent and soothing. “Doris, you’re my family; how could I ever stop caring? Please, get down from there carefully.”
Relieved by his presence, Doris attempted to descend, but her limbs, numb from sitting too long, failed her, causing her to slip.
“Doris!” Brian and Aron shouted in unison, their voices raw with panic as they surged forward.
Debby, paralyzed with fright, was silent. Relief washed over her only when she saw Brian secure a firm hold on Doris. She touched her chest in relief, whispering, “Oh, thank heavens. That was horrifying.”
Aron, pale and sweating, quickly joined them, helping Brian pull Doris back to safety. Overcome by the ordeal, Doris broke down, weeping uncontrollably in Brian’s embrace.
Her tears began as a quiet trickle, but soon they surged forth in an uncontrollable torrent. “It was so frightening. I’m sorry; I acted recklessly, foolishly. I almost hurt you. I promise I’ll never do anything like this again.”
Doris continued to pour out her guilt, her sobs raw and unrestrained, each cry a release of the anguish that had consumed her.
Meanwhile, Rachel watched the resolution of the crisis from below, maintaining her calm demeanor. I assured you she’d be alright,” she commented nonchalantly.
The nurse, intrigued by Rachel’s apparent foresight, quipped, “Ms. Marsh, you seemed so certain. Are you some sort of clairvoyant? Could you perhaps foresee my future, too?”
With a rueful smile, Rachel replied, “I possess no mystical powers nor any special foresight. My confidence was in the man upstairs, not in divination.”
“I see,” the nurse replied, sensing Rachel’s reluctance to elaborate and choosing not to press further. Back in Doris’s room, after comforting Doris for a few minutes, Brian finally witnessed a gradual calm wash over her. Her tears dried, and her breathing normalized, signaling a moment of tranquility after the storm. Debby’s gaze shifted between Aron and Brian, both visibly worn and burdened by anxiety. Turning to Doris, her tone grew firm and serious. “Doris, you must give me your word; no more impulsive decisions. If anything were to happen to you, we would carry that guilt for the rest of their lives. What just happened was far too close a call. If they hadn’t reached you in time, the outcome would have been unbearable for them.”
Doris, recognizing the serious tone in Debby’s voice, knew the gravity of the situation. Having lived with the
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White family for so long, she was acutely aware of the intricate relationships at play. Carol and Hector’s
affection for her stemmed from Aron’s deep attachment; their love was a reflection of his.
Brian treated her like family, and their bond was strengthened by years of shared moments and mutual care. But Debby was different. Debby’s kindness toward her was born of duty; Aron had brought her into their home, and societal expectations required a certain level of warmth. Yet, in Debby’s heart, Brian always held the highest priority.
Doris was aware that her relationship with Debby hinged on how her actions affected Aron and Brian. A step too far could shift Debby’s forced affection to outright resentment. It was a delicate balance, one that Doris now understood she must manage carefully to maintain Debby’s empathy and concern rather than tipping it into disfavor.
Doris grasped the seriousness of the moment and spoke with heartfelt sincerity, “I’m deeply sorry. This was entirely my doing; I let my emotions take over. But I promise, I’ll regain my composure and live my life
purposefully so you won’t have to worry about me anymore”
Brian nodded in agreement, his voice calm but resolute. “I’ve already looked into it. The flaws of your nose and chin are minor. I’ll arrange for a top specialist to handle your treatment.”
Doris managed a grateful smile. “Thanks. It means a lot.”
As they thought the crisis was resolving, Debby couldn’t resist expressing her residual frustration, “I’m utterly exhausted and soaked in sweat from the panic. Honestly, this is all Rachel’s doing. If she hadn’t deliberately delayed you, you wouldn’t have been so late.”
Surprised by the accusation, Brian immediately defended Rachel, “Mom, that’s not fair. Rachel had nothing to do with my delay today. It’s wrong to blame her.”
Watching Brian defend Rachel so steadfastly only fueled Debby’s irritation. Her expression darkened as she shot back, “How can you say that? If Rachel hadn’t exaggerated her condition to keep you at the hospital longer, you would have been here sooner.”
Requiem of A Broken Heart
