Requiem of a Broken Heart

Chapter 64
Chapter 64:
As soon as Doris saw Carol, her composure shattered completely. She collapsed into uncontrollable sobs, her body wracked
with pain and emotion, struggling to even speak through her tears. “I...” She couldn’t continue. The words stuck in her throat,
replaced by sobs that left her gasping for air.
At first, Carol’s heart ached with sympathy, but when her gaze landed on the scratches across Doris’s face, her concern turned
to alarm. Her chest tightened. “Doris, come on, get up!” she urged, her voice firm but gentle.
She wrapped an arm around Doris’s shoulders, helping her to her feet. “What on earth happened? Tell me everything!”
Clutching Carol’s hands tightly, Doris’s tear-streaked face was the picture of devastation. Her body trembled with every sob, and
her words came out in broken gasps.
“I’m so sorry,” she choked out between sobs, her voice trembling with guilt and despair. “Today is your birthday, and I’ve ruined

everything. I didn’t mean to cause trouble, but... my face...” Her voice cracked again, and her sobs intensified as she tilted her
face to show the worst of the scratches, as if seeking validation for the pain that marked her.
Carol’s heart tightened at the sight of the bruises and cuts, but she remained composed, gently holding Doris’s trembling
shoulders. “There, there. Just tell me what happened,” she said softly, her voice full of compassion and understanding.
Doris sniffled, her sobs quieting slightly as she tried to compose herself. She timidly lifted her head, her eyes flickering toward
Rachel briefly before returning to Carol. “Carol, I don’t know how to explain this,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
Carol could already guess much of the story, but she knew it wasn’t the time for assumptions or judgment, especially with so
many eyes on them.
She said, her voice steady but gentle, “Whatever happened, it’s okay. I’m here. Tell me the truth, no matter how hard it is.”
Guilt etched across Doris’s face, her gaze lingering on Rachel. Her voice trembled as she spoke, “Rachel... I’m so sorry. I know
this isn’t how things should be. You’re going to be my sister-in-law, and I never wanted to cause you trouble. But...”
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The words faltered, and Doris’s tone shifted suddenly, giving way to fresh sobs, deeper and more sorrowful than before. “Your

brother Jeffrey... he... he tried to take advantage of me. I was just walking down the hall when I bumped into him. He asked me
where the restroom was, and I told him, thinking he was just asking for directions. But... I never expected he would try to take
advantage of me.”
“That’s impossible,” Rachel interjected quickly, her voice sharp and disbelieving. The accusation seemed so out of place that she
couldn’t hold back.
Despite being in his twenties, Jeffrey was still innocent when it came to matters of the heart. There was no way he could have
had any improper intentions toward Doris. Her claims didn’t make sense.
Doris’s face crumpled, her hurt intensifying at Rachel’s interruption. Her eyes welled with fresh tears as she tried to explain
herself, but the words caught in her throat, leaving her more vulnerable than ever.
The tension in the room grew thick, the air heavy with unspoken discomfort. Just as Rachel was about to say something more, a
voice behind her caught her attention.
“Brian’s back,” came the soft whisper.
Rachel felt a flicker of relief, the suffocating weight on her chest lifting ever so slightly. If Brian were here, he would surely stand
up for her and Jeffrey. He would see through Doris’s lies and set things right.
.
.
.