Chapter 303
In Chapter 174 of “Dreams Folding Into Broken Time,” Reese grapples with the intense emotions surrounding his brother Roman and his fiancée Savannah. He finds their obsessive love perplexing and feels a sense of nausea at their constant declarations of affection. Despite his own past relationship with Penny, he never experienced the same level of infatuation, which leads him to feel somewhat superior in his rationality amidst the chaos of their emotions.
As Reese attempts to escape the emotional turmoil in the house, he is drawn back by Savannah’s heart-wrenching sobs, which reveal her deep-seated fears and insecurities, particularly regarding her recent negative pregnancy test. This moment of vulnerability contrasts sharply with the strong persona he is accustomed to seeing in her, stirring uncomfortable feelings within him. Despite his usual detachment, he feels compelled to confront the situation, indicating a shift in his emotional landscape.
Feeling overwhelmed, Reese decides to leave the house to find answers, suspecting that Savannah’s emotional state hints at deeper truths. He visits a drugstore to buy pregnancy tests, a decision that underscores his desire to take action and provide clarity. The act of gathering the tests symbolizes his growing concern for Savannah and his desire to support her, even if he struggles with emotional expression.
Later, Reese receives a call from Penny, who reveals that she has been removed from the defense team, a situation that amuses him but also highlights the complexity of their relationship. Despite feeling a pull to comfort her, he remains guarded and aware of his own emotional limitations. This chapter illustrates Reese’s internal conflict, as he navigates his feelings for Savannah, his past with Penny, and the pressures of familial loyalty, all while confronting his own struggles with empathy and emotional connection.
**Dreams Folding Into Broken Time p>
**Chapter 303 p>
**Chapter 174: All Of Them p>
**Reese p>
The concept of two people being so utterly consumed by one another has always eluded my understanding. My brother, Roman, and his fiancée, Savannah, are a perfect case study in obsession that defies all reason.
It’s an endless stream of “Roman this” and “Savannah that,” and honestly, it makes me feel a bit queasy. I swear, if I ever find myself that wrapped around someone’s finger, someone just needs to put me out of my misery.
Even during the time Penny and I shared, I never found myself in a state of infatuation. Sure, there were moments, but nothing compared to what Roman feels for Savannah. He’s completely and irrevocably smitten, if I can put it that way without feeling nauseated.
I had planned to sneak upstairs earlier, hoping to avoid the chaos below, but then I heard it—the sound of heart-wrenching sobs resonating through the kitchen. The noise was loud, raw, and filled with a pain I couldn’t ignore. I didn’t even need to ponder the cause; she must have thought she’d let him down because the pregnancy test had come back negative.
As if that were even remotely possible.
Roman would sooner defy the laws of physics than allow Savannah to feel like she’d disappointed him. Yet there she was, slumped over her sandwich, sniffling like a puppy that had just been scolded.
It was unbelievable.
With a heavy sigh, I leaned against the counter, feeling the weight of sanity pressing down on me. I was, without a doubt, the only rational one in this house. Well, perhaps me and that quirky girl, Elizabeth. The rest of them? They were all a few fries short of a Happy Meal.
“Will you cut that out? You’re driving me insane,” I snapped, my frustration bubbling over before I could rein it in.
Savannah’s head jerked up, her eyes puffy and red-rimmed. I braced myself for one of her usual sharp retorts, but instead, she simply murmured, “Sorry p>
That response threw me for a loop, more than anything else could have.
“Shit,” I muttered under my breath, rubbing the back of my neck in frustration. I was hopeless when it came to comforting someone. Empathy? Emotional support? Those were foreign concepts to me. I had only ever opened up that side of myself to one person, and that person was now six feet under.
But something felt distinctly wrong with Savannah. This wasn’t the fiery Savannah I knew—the one who could hurl insults like daggers.
No, this version of her looked small, fragile.
Miserable.
I wasn’t accustomed to seeing her like this. She was meant to be the strong one—the one who drove my brother crazy. Now, she appeared so breakable, and the sight of it stirred something soft within me that I despised.
Elizabeth glared at me from across the counter, her eyes daring me to speak again. I chose silence, pushing my plate away with a sigh.
Savannah blinked at me, confusion etched on her face. “What’s wrong? You don’t like it p>
“I’m leaving,” I replied curtly, grabbing my phone, wallet, and keys. “I need to get something p>
As I turned to walk out, I heard Elizabeth mutter something that sounded like, “Don’t pay him any attention, Sav p>
Yeah, yeah. As if I were the villain in this scenario.
I climbed into my car, started the engine, and drove off, my mind racing with thoughts. If Savannah was feeling this emotional, it was likely she had an inkling of the truth. And if she suspected something… she needed solid answers.
The kind that came in those little white sticks.
It didn’t take long for me to locate a nearby drugstore. I parked, walked inside, and was immediately met by a young redhead at the counter who flashed me a smile that practically screamed, “Please flirt with me p>
Too bad her interest evaporated the moment I asked, “Where are your pregnancy tests p>
Her smile vanished, replaced by a look of shock.
She led me to an aisle, rattling off brand names as if I cared. Honestly, they all looked identical to me. Unsure if I should buy one, three, or a dozen, I opted for the only logical solution—I grabbed every brand she pointed out.
When in doubt, overcompensate.
I exited the store with a bag full of test kits, tossing it onto the passenger seat with a sense of accomplishment. Just as I began to feel a sense of relief, my phone buzzed to life.
I glanced at the screen. The time read 2:57 p.m., and the name flashing across it made my jaw clench involuntarily.
Penny.
I almost didn’t answer. But arrogance has a way of pushing you into corners.
“Penny,” I said, leaning back in my seat, my voice laced with feigned nonchalance. “Didn’t realize you still had my number p>
Silence hung in the air for a moment before her voice broke through, soft and trembling. “Can you come see me? Please p>
A smile crept onto my face, unbidden. “Why, sweetheart? How did the hearing go? I’m sure you were a star in there p>
Another pause lingered before she whispered, “I was taken off the defense team, Reese p>
I nearly burst into laughter. Of course she was. Who knew the kind of chaos she had unleashed that morning? I would pay good money to witness that disaster unfold.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” I drawled, a smirk playing at the corners of my mouth. “That must’ve been a tough blow for Senator White’s boy p>
She didn’t respond, instead letting out a shaky breath on the other end of the line. “I need you, Reese. Can you come over? Please p>
For a fleeting moment, I felt the urge to give in. The crack in her voice tugged at something deep inside me. But then I reminded myself of who I was, of what I was doing.
In the whirlwind of emotions that enveloped Reese, the reality of his relationships began to crystallize. Witnessing Savannah’s vulnerability shattered his preconceived notions about love and obsession, forcing him to confront the depth of his own emotional detachment. The sight of her fragile state stirred something within him, a flicker of empathy that he had long suppressed. As he drove to the drugstore, his mind raced, not just with thoughts of Savannah but with the haunting presence of Penny, whose voice echoed in his mind. The juxtaposition of his brother’s fervent love and Savannah’s despair against his own emotional barriers revealed a profound truth: he was not as immune to the complexities of love as he had believed.
When Penny’s call interrupted his thoughts, it was a reminder of the connection he once cherished, now tainted by loss and regret. Her plea for help was a stark contrast to the chaos he had just witnessed, nudging him toward a choice that felt increasingly monumental. Would he allow himself to step back into a world of emotional entanglement, or would he retreat into the safety of his self-imposed isolation? As he grappled with these feelings, Reese stood on the precipice of change, a moment where dreams of connection and the fear of vulnerability collided. In this moment of reckoning, he realized that the only way to break free from the cycle of his own emotional prison was to embrace the very chaos he so despised.
**What to Expect in Next Chapter p>
As we delve into Chapter 304, the tension between Reese and Savannah will reach a boiling point, forcing him to confront not only his feelings for her but also the precarious state of their intertwined lives. With the pregnancy tests weighing heavily on his mind and the emotional turmoil surrounding Savannah, readers can expect a whirlwind of revelations and unexpected confrontations. Will Reese finally shed his armor of indifference and step into the role of the supportive brother, or will his innate cynicism push him further away from the family he seems to be drifting from?
Moreover, the unexpected call from Penny looms large, hinting at unresolved issues that could alter the course of Reese’s life. As he grapples with the weight of his past and the complexities of his present, the chapter promises a deeper exploration of his character. Will he choose to embrace vulnerability and reconnect with Penny, or will he remain trapped in his self-imposed isolation? The stakes are high, and as the narrative unfolds, readers will be left on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the choices Reese will make and the consequences that will inevitably follow.
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.