(Flash back continues)
"Rachel, you're too drunk. Let me get you to bed,"
As he laid her down gently on the bed, Rachel had reached out, her fingers brushing against his shirt, her hand grasping for him like a lifeline.
"Don't leave me," she had whispered, her voice laced with a mix of desperation and longing, her eyes locking onto his with a pleading gaze.
Richard had hesitated, his face a mask of concern, his eyes filled with a deep sadness.
"You need to rest, Rachel. You're not thinking clearly," he had said, his voice soft and gentle, his words a tender rebuke.
But Rachel had been relentless, her inebriated state amplifying her longing.
With a sultry smile, she had pulled him closer, her hands wandering over his chest, her fingers tracing the contours of his muscles.
"Stay with me, Uncle Richard," she had pleaded, her eyes half-lidded with a seductive gleam, her voice husky with desire. "Make me forget."
Richard's breath had hitched, a look of torment crossing his features, his eyes flashing with a mix of desire and guilt.
She had felt his body react to her touch, his restraint teetering on the edge, his muscles tensing beneath her fingers.
But even as her hands roamed and her words slurred with desire, Richard had gently but firmly pushed her away, his hands encircling her wrists, his touch a tender but unyielding barrier.
"Rachel, I can't," he had said, his voice strained, his eyes filled with a mix of longing and regret. "You're not yourself right now, and this isn't right. You deserve better than a drunken encounter."
She had felt a sting of rejection, her heart aching, her soul feeling naked and exposed.
"Why not? Don't you want me?" she had whispered, tears blurring her vision, her voice cracking with emotion. "Don't you find me attractive? Desirable?"
Richard had cupped her face, his touch tender despite the tension radiating from him, his fingers tracing the contours of her cheeks with a gentle reverence.
"It's not about wanting you, Rachel," he had replied, his eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and resolve, his voice low and husky with emotion.
"It's about respecting you, and myself. You're my nephew's wife, and you're not in your right mind. I can't take advantage of you, no matter how much I.. I...care for you."
The last words had been whispered, as if he was afraid to acknowledge his true feelings.
He had left her then, retreating from the room and leaving her to her thoughts. She had felt both frustrated by his restraint and grateful, perhaps for his integrity.
(Flash Back Ends)
Now, standing in the present, Rachel's heart swelled with emotion as she looked up at Richard. This was a man who had respected her boundaries even when she had tried to break them.
A man who had shown her more kindness and respect in that single moment and every other moments than Derek had in their entire relationship.
Richard's annoyance was evident as he pulled back slightly, his eyes narrowing, his jaw tensing.
"You don't like me pecking your cheek? You prefer my nephew?" he asked, his voice tinged with irritation, a hint of hurt beneath the surface.
Rachel jolted out of her thoughts, realizing she hadn't responded to his kiss, her mind racing to rectify the situation.
"No, Richard, it's not like that," she stammered, trying to reassure him, her hands reaching out to touch his arm, her eyes locked onto his with a pleading expression. "I was just lost in thought, that's all. Your kiss caught me off guard."
To prove her sincerity, she leaned in, her lips just a breath away from his, her heart pounding in anticipation.
But before their lips could meet, Richard's phone rang, shattering the intimate atmosphere.
He groaned, clearly frustrated by the ill-timed interruption. His eyes apologetically met Rachel's as he answered the call, his tone brusque.
"Yes, what is it?" He listened for a moment before his expression softened, his gaze returning to Rachel.
"I have to go," he said, his voice gentle, his eyes conveying a promise. "We'll continue this later."
With a tender smile, he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
Rachel nodded, trying to hide her disappointment. She had never really consciously kissed him before.
"Alright. Have a good day at work," she said, her voice steady, but her tone barely concealing her longing.
Richard turned back, his eyes locking onto hers, and gave her a small, genuine smile, his expression soft and reassuring.
"You too. Take care," he said, his voice low and gentle, as he walked out the door, leaving her with a sense of warmth and a hint of promise.
Rachel watched him go, her emotions a whirlwind. She took a deep breath and decided to leave the room as well, her mind still replaying the tender moment with Richard.
As she stepped into the hallway, she spotted the maid who had taken the juice to Derek earlier, her cart filled with fresh linens. "Hey," Rachel called out, stopping the maid, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"What did you do with the juice I asked you to give Derek?" she asked, hoping to hear she poured it away based on Richard's order.
The maid looked nervous, her eyes darting around the hallway as if fearful of being overheard, before she answered in a hushed tone.
"The fifth young master, he... he drank it himself," she said, her voice trembling slightly, her hands fidgeting with the linens. "He seemed very angry, his face all red and twisted."
Rachel's eyes widened in shock, her mind racing with the implications. "Richard drank it?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes, ma'am," the maid confirmed, her eyes downcast, "he took it from me and drank it right there."
Rachel felt a mixture of relief and worry, her emotions tangled like a knot in her chest. Thankfully, it wasn't poison, but she had intended it for Derek, not Richard.
"Alright," she said, trying to keep her voice calm, her tone neutral.
As the maid scurried away, Rachel sighed, her eyes closing momentarily as she gathered her thoughts.
"Well, this is going to be interesting," she muttered to herself, her voice barely audible, her mind racing with the potential consequences.
She had no idea how Richard would react to the substance she had added to the juice, and she hoped it wouldn't cause any serious issues.
She then remembered he was going to work and who knows? Might as well have meetings all lined up to attend! 'Oh no! That can't be good,' she thought, her inner voice laced with a hint of panic.