Chapter 251 Coughing Up
Blood
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.
Brian’s gaze softened, and his voice took on a quiet, almost vulnerable tone. “Have you ever considered that maybe I helped you because I wanted to? And I couldn’t stand watching you get pushed around? Maybe I did it simply because I felt it was the thing to do.”
.C
Rachel’s lips pressed together, a flicker of emotion crossing her face before she masked it. “You don’t have to say that just to make me feel better.”
Brian’s eyes darkened slightly, but his words remained steady. “I’m not trying to make you feel better, Rachel. I’m telling you the truth. Everything I said, I meant.”
Rachel let out a soft, hollow chuckle. “That’s not something to joke about. I’m tired, and I really need to sleep now.‘
Without waiting for a response, she turned away, pulling the blanket up around herself, trying to shut out the conversation and the emotions that threatened to flood her.
Her eyes fluttered closed, but despite her efforts 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 quiet pressure as if he were searching for something in the stillness of the night.
<Chapter 251 Coughing Up Blood
“Rachel…” Brian’s voice broke through the silence.
Rachel, unwilling to let the tension stretch any further, turned slightly, her voice calm but resolute. “I really need to rest.”
Brian’s silence lingered for a moment before he spoke again, his tone softening, tinged with concern. “Rest well. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call.”
“Okay,” Rachel murmured, her voice faint but steady. “I prefer complete darkness when I sleep. If that’s all, I’ll turn the lights off.”
“Alright,” Brian said with a simple nod. He turned off 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 that neither of them could fully embrace.
Rachel, finally able to breathe in the quiet, allowed her guard to slip a little.
The moonlight poured through the window, bathing the room in a soft, silvery glow that lent a quiet beauty to the space. But even in the peaceful stillness, neither of them could sleep. The weight of the night seemed to stretch on endlessly as they lay there, each of them fully awake but pretending otherwise. The air between them was thick with unspoken thoughts.
Then, suddenly, a soft, sharp cough broke the silence.
Rachel coughed again, then again, her throat tightening with each breath. She sat up, ed pulling the robe tighter around her, but it did little to ease the discomfort that w over her with each wave of coughing.
Minutes passed, but the fit wouldn’t stop. The pain in her chest intensified with every breath, a suffocating weight pressing against her ribs. She could feel her body trembling slightly as she struggled to catch her breath, her chest tight and raw.
“Why are you coughing so much? Are you coming down with something?” Brian’s voice cut through the darkness, laced with concern.
Before Rachel could respond, the bedside lamp flickered on, casting a warm light that revealed Brian’s face, etched with worry. He reached for a glass of water and handed it to her. “Here, drink this. It’ll help.”
Rachel accepted the glass, taking slow, careful sips. The cool water soothed her throat, and for a moment, the tension in her chest eased. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice
soft but sincere.
Brian’s voice, tinged with frustration, broke the silence. “Rachel, you don’t need to be so
<Chapter 251 Coughing Up Blood
formal with me.”
Rachel had thanked him so many times that day, as if she felt obligated to acknowledge every little thing he did. The repetitive gratitude, which seemed to hang between them like a barrier, grated on him.
“Rachel,” Brian said, reaching for her hand. His touch was gentle, but firm. “I need you to understand something. Even though we’re no longer together, you’re still someone my grandma cares deeply for. And after everything we’ve been through, it’s only natural for me to look after you.”
Rachel’s gaze shifted, her expression quiet but resolute. “Have you ever heard this saying?” she asked, her tone even but firm.
“What saying?” Brian responded, sensing the shift in Rachel’s words.
“A good ex should be out of sight, out of mind,” Rachel replied, her voice clear and unwavering.
At that, Brian’s face tightened, his expression shifting abruptly at the weight of her
words.
“Since we’ve ended things, it’s better to make a clean break,” Rachel continued, her voice calm but firm. “Now that you’ve chosen Tracy, there’s no reason for us to stay entangled. The only reason I stepped in today was to keep Carol from being upset, nothing more.”
Brian’s eyes, dark and intense, met hers as he asked, his voice calm yet carrying a weight, “Have you finished? May I speak now?”
Rachel nodded, her voice soft but steady. “Go ahead.”
Brian didn’t waste time, his next words cutting through the silence with an edge of curiosity. “Who told you I’m with Tracy?”
Rachel froze, the air between them suddenly feeling heavy. So, he wasn’t with Tracy after all? But the confusion only deepened. Tracy and Brian had always seemed… closer than friends. She struggled to find the right words. “But… you two…” She trailed off, unsure of how to continue.
Brian leaned forward slightly, his expression steady but firm. “We’re friends. A superior and subordinate, but not a couple. That’s all.”
“Really?” Rachel asked, her voice barely above a whisper, a trace of disbelief hanging in the air. She wanted to believe him. Really, she did. But the uncertainty that lingered in her chest made it hard to shake the feeling that Tracy, even if not officially in his life as a partner, would always be there, a shadow casting over whatever they could have.
< Chapter 251 Coughing Up Blood
Even if they weren’t a couple now, it felt like only a matter of time. And Rachel wasn’t
sure how she felt about that.
“Let’s just sleep,” Rachel said, her voice tinged with exhaustion. She patted her chest, took a shaky breath, and lay back down, hoping to quiet the storm inside her. But the moment her head touched the pillow, another fit of coughing wracked her body, violent and unrelenting.
“I’m sorry,” Rachel whispered, her voice hoarse. “I didn’t mean to keep you awake.” Not wanting to disturb him further, she slipped out of bed and hurried to the bathroom. Leaning over the sink, she coughed again, her body trembling. This time, she thought she saw faint streaks of blood, though they vanished with water.
The sight sent a chill through her. She knew what it meant, what it always meant. Blood was a harbinger, a cruel reminder that time was slipping through her fingers.
As Rachel emerged from the bathroom, she was taken aback to find Brian waiting just
outside the door.
“What are you doing here?” Rachel asked, startled. She lost her balance for a moment, but Brian was quick to react, catching her effortlessly.
His brow furrowed as he looked at her, concern deepening in his eyes. “You look pale. Are you still feeling unwell? If the coughing keeps up, I’ll call a doctor.”
Rachel shook her head, her voice calm but tinged with exhaustion. “There’s no need to bother anyone. I don’t want to worry Carol.”
Brian’s expression softened, but the worry in his eyes remained. “Then at least go back to bed and rest.”
“Okay,” Rachel murmured, nodding. As she took a step towards the bed, she suddenly felt herself lifted off the floor, her body instinctively tensing as she was cradled in
Brian’s arms.
His low and comforting voice reached her ear. “You look weak. It’s safer if I carry you to bed so you don’t fall.” His words were simple, but they had a warmth that made her heart tighten.
In just a few long strides, he had already crossed the room, and before she could protest, she was gently placed on the bed. He carefully pulled the blanket over her. “Sleep well,” he said softly, his eyes lingering on her for a moment before he turned to leave.
But Rachel’s hand shot out, gripping his sleeve. “Wait,” she whispered, her voice fragile.
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He paused, his gaze softening as he looked down at her. “Is something wrong? Are you
still uncomfortable?”
She shook her head, her voice weak but steady. “No, it’s not that… there’s something I
need to ask. A favor.”
Her words were slow, but they carried a weight that she hadn’t anticipated. She thought of Myrna, her classmate’s health growing worse with each passing day. Time was running out for Myrna, and this might be the only chance Rachel had to make a difference.
Brian’s expression remained neutral, but his attention was focused, his eyes searching hers. “What do you need?”
Rachel exhaled softly, the heaviness of her request hanging between them. “The pharmaceutical research department is hiring. I have a friend from school, Huey Dury. He’s having trouble finding an opportunity. Could you… could you consider him for the position?”
<Requiem of A Broken
