?Chapter 266:


    Tonight, the room felt colder, even though the air remained still. The bed, wide and spacious, felt like a chasm between them. Each of themy facing away from the other, the physical distance an almost tangible barrier. There were no quiet breaths shared, no unspokenfort in their proximity. It was as if an invisible wall stood between them, silent and unyielding.


    Rachel and Brian didn’t feel the slightest bit drowsy. Lying on their sides, they stared nkly in opposite directions, their eyes wide open, lost in their own thoughts. The silence in the room was so heavy that when Brian’s phone rang, the sound felt deafening.


    Rachel was still awake, so she heard Tracy’s voice clearly through the speaker.


    “Brian, you’re back, aren’t you?”


    “Yeah,” he replied.


    “That’s great! I’ve missed you these past few days. We haven’t had a meal together in so long. Can we go out tomorrow?”


    Her voice carried an ease that felt far too natural, and her words weren’t just casual; they sounded like those of a girlfriend, not a secretary.


    Brian hesitated for a moment before responding in his usual deep tone.


    “What do you want to eat? I’ll have someone book a table.”


    “How about Japanese?”


    “Alright. I’ll ask Ronald to make the reservation.”


    “Perfect! See you tomorrow.” Her voice was bright, filled with joy and anticipation. “Bye.”


    Listening to their conversation, Rachel couldn’t suppress the emotions building inside her. She felt sorry for them. For all these years, she had been standing in Tracy’s ce, holding onto something that was never meant to be hers. She had wasted so much time—both her own and theirs.


    If only she hadn’t chased after Brian back then… If she hadn’t insisted on being with him, maybe Tracy and Brian would have already been together—happily in love, maybe even with children by now.


    The phone rang again. This time, it was Rachel’s.


    A steady, gentle voice came through. “I hope I didn’t make things worse tonight?” It was Andres.


    L?τ??τ ch?ρτ?rs ιn g??l??ov?ls.????


    “No. Actually, I should thank you. Otherwise, I might have kept holding on to an illusion.”


    It was better to wake up now than to stay blind forever. Even if it hurt, at least it freed her from a dream that was never real.


    Under the covers, Brian’s hand clenched tightly, his jaw tensing. So, to her, being with him was nothing more than holding on to an illusion, huh? Then what did she call being with that man? Did she see that as finding her happiness? The thought of it sent a surge of frustration through Brian’s chest, making it impossible to stay calm.


    That night, neither of them moved, as if silently agreeing to keep their distance. Brian thought Rachel was asleep, and she assumed the same about him. But neither of them knew the other was lying there, just as sleepless.


    Rachel barely slept that night and kept tossing and turning in restless half-sleep. When she woke up, it was still dark outside, not yet morning. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t go back to sleep. Even though their backs weren’t touching, she could still feel his warmth, reminding her he was there.


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