Requiem of a Broken Heart

Chapter 652:

Brian lowered his head, unable to meet her gaze. He wasn’t refusing to explain, but he knew that the truth would only deepen her disappointment.noveldrama

Carol, ever perceptive, read the truth in his silence. “It was Tracy Haynes, wasn’t it?” she said—not as a question, but as a fact.

“What exactly happened to her?” Carol pressed, her voice controlled, her dignity unshaken despite the storm within.

“She was kidnapped… her life was at risk,” Brian admitted hesitatingly. “She was almost three months pregnant, but the baby was weak and fragile.”

Carol felt the world spin; her body nearly gave out from the shock. She lifted a trembling hand. “What… what did you just say?”

Brian straightened, reaching out to steady her. “Grandma, please don’t get worked up. The baby isn’t mine.” Carol stared at him, her chest constricting as if she’d forgotten how to breathe.

“I swear, Grandma, I’m telling the truth. That baby isn’t mine,” Brian said firmly.

At his reassurance, Carol finally relaxed, letting out a quiet sigh.

“Then who is the father?” she asked skeptically.

“Her ex-husband,” Brian replied bluntly.

“Ex-husband?” Carol’s eyebrows shot up.

𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨: 𝙜Ɐ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⸬𝙘𝙤𝙢

“Yes. She was married while living abroad, but by the time she returned, they were already divorced.”

The more Carol heard, the angrier she became. “What can I even say? You’ve disgraced yourself—and this family—over a divorced, pregnant woman! Brian, how could you be so reckless? How did I end up with a grandson like you?”

Her voice trembled with regret as she sighed. “This isn’t your fault—it’s mine. I made a terrible mistake. I truly believed Rachel loved you and that you loved her. That’s why I favored her and pushed for your marriage, hoping you’d start a family. But I was blind. I didn’t see that you were still holding onto Tracy. I forced this marriage, and now Rachel is the one who suffers. You don’t deserve her.”

Though her breath came in short gasps, Carol pressed on, determined to finish. “Fortunately, there’s still time to fix this. If you don’t love Rachel, let her go. When she wakes up, divorce her. Give her half of everything you own—that’s what the law demands. As for Tracy, that’s your choice. But hear me: if you marry that woman, I will never find peace. Now go. I’m exhausted.”

Brian grasped her hand tightly, tears spilling over as he pleaded like a child. “Grandma, no! It’s not like that. I finally married Rachel—I don’t want to let her go. I only felt sorry for Tracy. We were together for years, and when I heard about her baby, I was just concerned. I don’t love her anymore!”

“And Rachel? Do you love her?” Carol’s eyes bore into him, sharp and unrelenting.

“Grandma, I really do care about Rachel, and I genuinely want to spend my life with her.” Brian’s eyes held a sincerity he had never shown before.

Carol looked at him, disappointment etched across her face. With a weary sigh she said, “You made a terrible mistake, Brian, and this time no one can fix it for you, not even me. If Rachel chooses not to forgive you, I will not help you. If she wants a divorce, I will support her decision. This is the result of your own actions; you must face the consequences. Now leave. I’m exhausted.”

With that she closed her eyes, completely drained. Brian released her hand in silence. He stepped back, knelt beside the bed, and bowed his head to the floor three times in deep remorse.

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