Chapter 224 You Can Lean On My Shoulder
Natalia was utterly drunk, her emotions a raw, exposed nerve. She wept, a torrent of
heartbroken sobs.
Rachel reached out, her hand a gentle solace, wiping away the tears that streamed down Natalia’s face. Again and again, her tender movements repeated, a silent rhythm of
comfort.
Yet, in that moment, Rachel’s own heart ached with a silent, mirroring grief. She knew, with a sharp pang, that she was just as insignificant in Brian’s heart as Natalia felt in hers. Despite the years she’d spent by his side, despite her unwavering, selfless love, she was nothing more than a footnote.
A bitter taste rose in her throat, and Rachel took a small sip of wine.
The liquid burned as it slid down, a sharp, fiery sting.
That burning sensation spread, a wild flame consuming her stomach.
But the real pain, the unbearable ache, remained locked in her heart.
As she continued to wipe Natalia’s tears, she spoke, her voice soothing. “Natalia, you know now, so don’t let it destroy you. You’re wonderful, and you have everything going for you. One day, you’ll find the one, who will love and cherish you.”
Natalia, her face flushed and her eyes glazed with drunkenness, looked at Rachel, a flicker of hope in her dazed expression. “Really?”
“Of course.”
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“But…” Natalia’s lips formed a pout, her voice thick with grievance.
Before she could finish her thought, fresh tears welled up, and she began to sob again. She collapsed against Rachel’s shoulder, her sobs uncontrollable, a messy mix of tears
and snot.
“I’ll drive you ladies to your hotel,” Andres offered, stepping forward.
Chapter 224 You Can Lean On My Shoulder
Rachel’s eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you!”
In the car, Natalia drifted in and out of consciousness, her drunken ramblings filling the silence. She only quieted as they approached their destination.
But the moment they arrived at the hotel, Natalia retched. Her sudden sickness resulted in some of the vomit landing on Rachel,
Rachel remained calm, her composure unwavering.
Only after Natalia had finished did Rachel guide her to the bathroom.
She cleaned Natalia as best she could, then helped her into bed before taking a shower
herself.
Once she had settled everything, she reached for her phone, intending to thank Andres properly.
As soon as she unlocked the scre Andres’s message popped up. “How’s Natalia? Need
my help?”
The message had just been sent.
He hadn’t left.
Rachel opened the door, and there he was, waiting.
He leaned casually against the wall, his tall figure a striking presence in the dimly lit hallway.
The moment he heard the door open, he stepped forward.
“Mr. Garrett, I thought you’d gone back,” Rachel said, her voice genuinely surprised.
He quickly extinguished the cigarette in his hand, hiding it behind his back, his demeanor instantly polite. “Natalia drank too much. I was worried you might have trouble handling her alone.”
“She’s asleep now. She should sleep soundly.”
“It’s been a long day. You must be exhausted. You should rest.”
“Alright. You should go back too.”
With that, Rachel turned to go back inside.
“Rachel…” Andres called out, stopping her.
Chapter 224 You Can Lean On My Shoulder
She turned back, a question in her eyes. Andres offered, “If you’re not too tired, would you like to take a walk? I remember this hotel has a beautiful garden.”
Glancing down at her casual loungewear, she hesitated, then nodded. “Alright.”
After a brief walk, they found themselves on a secluded path.
Though night had fallen, the path was brightly illuminated.
Blooming flowers lined the pathway, their delicate fragrance carried on the gentle breeze, a soothing and refreshing presence.
A silent understanding passed between them, and they walked in comfortable silence.
After a while, surrounded by the lush greenery, Rachel felt a chill. She instinctively wrapped her arms around herself.
In the next instant, a jacket was draped over her shoulders, its fabric carrying a crisp, clean scent.
“You…” She looked up, a hint of embarrassment in her voice.
He gently stopped her hand as she tried to remove the jacket. “I’m not cold. It’s just a jacket–no need to rush to return it.”
He gestured toward a nearby bench. “Let’s sit and rest for a moment.”
Rachel nodded.
The gentle breeze continued to stir as they sat side by side on the bench.
The moonlight, soft and luminous, cast a serene glow over them.
“If you’re feeling sad, you can lean on my shoulder,” Andres said suddenly.
Rachel froze, her body stiffening. She had always believed she concealed her emotions well, acting so convincingly that she almost fooled herself.
Yet, somehow, Andres had seen straight through her.
His voice was softer than the night breeze. “All this time, it’s been Natalia drinking and pouring her heart out to you. She’s devastated, but I know you’re in greater pain. And yet, you still put on a brave face, comforting her. Rachel, if anyone deserves to grieve tonight… it’s you.”
Maybe it was the gentleness in his words. Maybe it was the warmth in his voice. Or maybe it was simply that, after carrying the weight of her pain for so long, Rachel could
Chapter 224 You Can Lean On My Shoulder
no longer hold it in.
A single tear slipped down, landing on the back of her hand.
Under the glow of the streetlamp, it refracted into tiny shards of light.
Shattered.
Just like her heart–cracked, scarred, yet still beating.
Andres shifted closer. He didn’t speak, didn’t press. And this time, Rachel didn’t pull away. She leaned against him, just slightly, letting herself rest–just for a moment.
With her eyes closed, her chest ached with the bitterness of a truth she had always
known.
She had never mattered to Brian the way Tracy did. She also knew that, as his so–called girlfriend, she was insignificant next to his first love.
But knowing and witnessing were two different forms of cruelty.
Watching him choose Tracy and abandon her with her own eyes was a different kind of pain entirely.
That pain was like a knife carving into her heart.
As time passed, the night breeze grew cooler.
When Rachel opened her eyes again, she lifted her head from Andres’s shoulder.
“It’s all in the past now.”
Then, glancing up at him, she offered a small nod. “Thank you. For everything tonight.” Andres studied her for a long moment before simply nodding. “It’s late. Let’s head back.”
“Alright.”
When they reached the door to her room, Rachel turned to bid him goodnight.
But before she could step inside- A familiar figure appeared from the shadows. Brian.
The sight of him sent an instinctive jolt through her, her body tensing, her fingers tightening on the doorknob. Her first thought was to retreat. To slip inside, close the door, and shut him out completely.
But Brian moved quickly, catching her wrist before she could escape.
“I know you don’t want to see me,” he said, his voice edged with urgency. “I just need to say a few words. That’s all. After that, I promise I won’t bother you again.”
Rachel studied him, searching for insincerity in his face. But there was none. Still, her voice remained cool. “Go ahead.”
Brian exhaled slowly, as if bracing himself. “Earlier… at the pool… I didn’t know you had fallen in too.”
Rachel let out a quiet, humorless laugh. “And?”
His brows furrowed, his tone growing solemn. “If I had known… I wouldn’t have left you behind. I swear, Rachel, I would never-”
She cut him off, her voice like ice. “Maybe you’re right,” she said. “Maybe you would’ve saved me. After all, I’ve been by your side for so many years. Even a dog raised that long would inspire some attachment, wouldn’t it? How could you just let it drown?” “But in the end,” she continued, her words slow and deliberate, “your first instinct will always be Tracy. Always. Only after ensuring her safety would you even think to look for me- whether I lived or died.”
This time, she didn’t phrase it as a question. Because it wasn’t one. It was the truth.
