?Chapter 506:


    Brian turned toward her, his expression earnest. “That’s not what I meant.” He hesitated, a flicker of something passing through his eyes before he continued. “I just… have a question.”


    Rachel met his gaze, her eyes calm but curious. “What is it?”


    “How did you know it was Tracy calling?” Brian asked, his curiosity tinged with an underlying unease.


    A faint, bitter smile yed at the corners of Rachel’s lips. “Maybe you’ve forgotten, but you set a special ringtone for her, one that’s different from anyone else’s.” Her words hung in the air, quietly poignant.


    The kind of attention Rachel had once longed for now felt like a distant echo. She remembered how she had repeatedly asked him to set a special tone just for her. That way, the moment he heard it, he would know it was her calling. But he never agreed. Over time, the request faded into nothing, a forgotten wish.


    It didn’t matter, or so Rachel convinced herself. The yearning eventually subsided. But now, seeing Tracy with that same special ringtone, Rachel couldn’t help but feel a sharp sting. Everything about it seemed so absurd, so out of ce.


    Brian’s hand clenched around his phone, and the weight of her words hit him harder than he expected. He struggled for a moment to exin himself, his thoughts tangled. “When she first came back, her mental state wasn’t in a good state.”


    “I was worried she might do something reckless, so… I set the ringtone for her. I thought it would make it easier to be there for her if she needed me.”


    Rachel didn’t look away, her gaze unwavering andposed. Her voice remained calm, but it wasced with a quiet strength. “You don’t owe me an exnation. You have every right to make your own choices. I’m not here to question them.”


    At that moment, Brian felt as though a crushing weight had settled on his chest. The pressure was so suffocating that even drawing a single breath became a challenge. It was as if Rachel no longer cared—about him, his life, or his existence. The thought hurt him deeply. A foreign, unbearable ache gripped him, pounding relentlessly in his chest. Just then, Tracy’s third call came in.


    Rachel knew Tracy wouldn’t stop until she got what she wanted. “You should answer it. I’ll step out,” she said softly, rising to leave the room and leaving Brian alone on the balcony. “Hello, Tracy.”


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    “Brian, you finally answered! You sound drained. Is something wrong?”


    “Nothing much. Just a little tired.”


    “Oh, how’s Carol doing? Is she still upset?” Tracy asked carefully.


    “I’ve settled her down. She’s resting now.”


    Tracy’s face lit up with relief. “That’s good! Her well-beinges first. But after what happened, she must be really disappointed in Rachel. Brian, you should focus on spending more time with Carol these days.”


    “Why would she be disappointed in Rachel?” Brian’s brows furrowed, his tone sharp with suspicion. “What do you mean by that?”


    Tracy stiffened, momentarily caught off guard. “I- I mean… Didn’t you say she was livid after seeing the trending topics about Rachel?”


    “She was—but not at Rachel. She was furious with me for failing to protect Rachel and allowing her to get hurt.”


    Tracy froze, her breath hitching in disbelief. “Wait… are you telling me Carol was upset because she cares so much about Rachel—and she actually called you home to scold you?”


    “That’s pretty much it.”


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