Twisted Fates: A Game of Love and Retribution

The entire city had quieted down, with the red car lights tracing long arcs and the surrounding neon flickering, casting alternating light and shadow on Rachel Foster's face.

Jasper Reed drove, glancing tenderly at her as she leaned back against the seat, her eyes closed. He freed one hand to place hers on his thigh. "You haven't said much tonight. Is something bothering you physically?"

She shook her head. "Just a bit tired."

Jasper lifted her hand and gently kissed its back. "Tonight, I'm thrilled."

She turned to look at him, offering a faint smile. This should indeed be a happy occasion.

Jasper kept her hand tightly in his, wrapping her in warmth. "Do you know how many years I've waited to call you my wife openly?" His voice was husky, filled with the deep affection accumulated over the years.

She leaned on Jasper's shoulder and said, "You're so wonderful. I'm the lucky one to marry you."

Unable to resist, he kissed her forehead again, his arm holding her tightly.

--

Back in her room, she lay exhausted on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought. After a while, she rose to pour herself a glass of red wine, then sat alone by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the distant sky, downing the entire glass.

The wine wasn't intense, but it made her throat feel like it was on fire, a sensation that was uncomfortable and made her gag.

Leaning against the window, images of Kingsly Scott and Luna Bennett dining lovingly in the restaurant flashed through her mind...

He already had someone he loved, and she had someone she needed to be with. There was no possibility between them anymore. She hadn't fantasized about such a possibility in years. From the moment she decided to leave him, she knew this would be the outcome, yet even today, it still hurts.

Wiping the tears from her cheeks, she sniffled and poured another glass of wine.

With this bottle, she would mourn her lost love, letting them become strangers who forget each other in this world!

As the second glass burned down her throat, she felt like it might tear apart; clutching her mouth to stop vomiting, tears streamed down her face.

A knock sounded at the door. She could barely stand, her consciousness fading as she staggered to open it.

As soon as the door opened, Jasper saw her nearly collapse and hurriedly tossed aside the bowl of silver ear lotus seed soup to catch her.

"Rachel, Rachel..."

Jasper was startled, only realizing she was drunk, when he smelled the alcohol. He carried her to the bed, but before he could lay her down, she had already vomited and then sobbed incoherently.

He had never seen her so disheveled, constantly wiping the tears from her cheeks.

She lay on the bed, eyes closed, yet tears continued to slip from the corners of her eyes, piercing him deeply. "Rachel, what happened?" Unable to help himself, he held her close, kissing her hair. "Tell me, what's wrong?"

Rachel was already unconscious, limp in Jasper's arms, murmuring, "Kingsly... Kingsly..."