Rachel turned away, arms wrapped around herself. She couldn't look at him.
Slowly, he nodded. Without another word, he turned and walked out. The door clicked softly behind him.
The sound echoed in the sudden silence.
Rachel stood frozen for a moment, staring at the closed door, half-expecting him to come back. To knock. To say something that would fix this.
He didn't.
Her legs gave out. Rachel collapsed onto the couch, pulling her knees to her chest, and the sobs came; deep, wrenching sounds that seemed to tear out of her chest. Mr. Darcy appeared from the bedroom, curling into her lap with a concerned meow.
Derek had won. One photo and one lie. And everything had shattered.
Rachel didn't know how long she sat there crying. Long enough for her throat to go raw. Long enough for the sun to shift across the floor. Long enough for the tears to dry on her cheeks, leaving them tight and itchy.
Mr. Darcy stayed pressed against her the whole time, purring steadily.
She should eat something. She should take a shower. She should do literally anything except sit here replaying the look on Mac's face when she'd told him to leave.
But she couldn't move.
Her phone was across the room on the kitchen counter where she'd left it. She could hear it buzzing periodically, but she didn't have the energy to check it.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Stop,she thought.Just stop.
It didn't.
Finally, when the sun had shifted low enough to paint the room in orange light, Rachel forced herself to stand. Her legs were stiff from sitting curled up for so long. She walked to the kitchen counter on autopilot.
Seven missed calls. Mac.
Twelve text messages.
Her hand trembled as she unlocked the phone.
Mac:Rachel, please. I'm so sorry.
Mac:You were right. I should have believed you immediately.
Mac: Of course Derek was watching you. Stalking you. I should have seen that.
Mac:I let him get in my head and I hurt you. I'm so stupid.
Mac:Please call me back.
Mac: I know you're angry. You have every right to be.
Mac:I love you. That hasn't changed.
Mac:I'm not giving up on us. I just need you to know that.
Mac:Please, Rachel. Just let me know you're okay.
Mac:I'll give you space if that's what you need. But please answer.
Mac: I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
