?Chapter 230:


    “I…” she replied, but the line went dead, suggesting he was in a rush.


    In bed, she writhed from the unbearable pain.


    Eventually, she managed to dress herself.


    Descending the stairs, she hailed a taxi.


    On the way to the hospital, she pulled up a map and indicated a specific location.


    Struggling with the localnguage, she attempted to give directions.


    Luckily, the driver could speak English.


    With a weak smile, Rachel pointed again at the map. “Could we go this way? I’d like to drive past here.”


    She had directed him to pass by Brian’s office in the city.


    As they approached, Rachel peered intently at the building. Despite her hopeful scrutiny, it remained dark; all lights were off.


    She repeatedly eyed the building as the taxi pulled away.


    Her gaze lingered, head turning to maintain sight as they distanced.


    Indeed, the buildingy dark, not a single light visible.


    A sense of destion gripped her heart.


    She had hoped even one lit window might have offered countless reasons to believe he was still at work.


    Yet, all her hopes were dashed, utterly.


    Drawing a deep breath, she winced in pain, biting down on her lip and clenching her fists as she braced against the surging agony.


    Every story starts at galn   ovels ;


    Upon reaching the hospital, the taxi driver remarked on the challenge of navigating foreign medical systems alone. Moved by her condition, he stepped in to assist.


    With the driver’s help, Rachel managed to get admitted.


    After treatment began, she felt a slight easing of her symptoms.


    Waking at 5 AM, soaked in sweat, she reached for her phone.


    Two new messages caught her eye. She was confronted with a provocative message from Tracy.


    The image showed Brian beside her.


    Following that, another message said, “Whenever I’m at risk, Brian will always side with me. I will forever hold a space in his heart. He will obsess over me, his one irreceable. Can you live with me in your marriage indefinitely? Don’t kid yourself. You won’t manage it. Just let him go and let us be.”


    Rachel’splexion drained of color.


    At that moment, she struggled to make sense of whaty before her.


    Her body throbbed with pain, yet the ache in her heart was sharper.


    She yearned to confront Brian, to ask why he raised her hopes only to dash them.


    Only months remained, yet even the facade ofmitment seemed beyond his will.


    Perhaps he thought he masked his deceit well, or perhaps he felt the deceit insignificant.


    By nine in the morning, Brian likely had returned.


    Finding her absent from the hotel, he called her.


    .


    .


    .