?Chapter 355:


    She shrugged off his hands. “Let’s set one thing straight—we’re not together anymore. Moreover, my friendships are my own to decide. You don’t get to dictate that.”


    His tone grew firm as he said, “This isn’t just anyone—it’s Natalia. The Carpenter family is not to be messed with.”


    His disapproval only fueled her defiance. “What are you really worried about? That I can’t handle the Carpenter family, or that Natalia’s interest in you mightplicate things if we’re friends?”


    Brian asked, “Is that what you think?”


    “What else should I think? That you’re concerned for me, that you care as you do for Tracy? I’m not that gullible. I know my ce and have no illusions.”


    With no further words, Rachel forced him out the door.


    His pleas continued from the other side, “Please open up. We need to talk.”


    “That’s enough! Let’s keep things strictly professional. Please don’t reach out to me again.”


    She dreaded the heartache that might follow. More importantly, she dreaded the thought of hesitating when it was really time to say goodbye.


    After closing the door, a sudden, sharp pain overwhelmed Rachel. In moments, she was wracked with an unbearable agony, leaving her speechless with pain.


    “Rachel, Rachel…” Brian’s voice echoed outside.


    Despite his calls, Rachel found herself unable to reply this time. Overwhelmed by pain, she felt her energy fading rapidly; she slumped to the floor, defeated. She tried to signal for help, to knock on the door, to call for him. Her arms, however, refused to cooperate, remaining lifelessly by her side.


    As shey on the floor, suffering, sweat dripped slowly from her brow. The room’s excellent soundproofing meant that Brian, just outside, remained oblivious to her suffering. Separated by just a door, Rachel was sprawled on the floor, her gaze fixed emptily on the ceiling above. The overhead light was blinding, yet a chill and dread were all she felt. Her body ached terribly with each breath she took. A deep sense of helplessness overwhelmed her.


    Tears flowed freely as she wept from the depths of her despair. Fear consumed her. She feared that Jeffrey would wake up to find her lifeless body, never to witness her smile again. She imagined him holding her, repeatedly whispering her name, his world growing smaller in his grief.


    And she was afraid that herst conversation with Brian, tainted by disagreement, might have been thest time they saw each other. If only she had known, she would have held him close, ensuring their parting was filled with love, urging him, “Brian, may you find happiness.”


    If she could, she would have added, “Please, don’t forget me too quickly.” But now, it seemed all opportunities had slipped away.


    Outside, Brian’s persistent knocking slowly ceased, fading into silence. Overwhelmed by pain, Rachel could bear it no longer and copsed onto the floor with a resounding crash. The room reverberated with the noise of her fall.


    Startled awake by themotion, Jeffrey leaped from his bed and dashed to her side. He found Rachel motionless on the floor, panic seizing him as he rushed to her side and called out in rm, “Rachel, please, wake up!” After repeated calls with no response, he frantically grabbed his phone and dialed for an ambnce.


    The paramedics arrived quickly and swiftly lifted Rachel into the ambnce. Holding her hand throughout the journey, Jeffrey wept silently. As the ambnce raced on, Rachel faintly sensed her surroundings and fluttered her eyes open. “Jeffrey…” she whispered weakly.


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