Rachel Foster walked into the office and didn't see Jasper Reed. Just then, Oliver came in from outside. "Oliver, where's Mr. Reed?"
Oliver replied, "Mr. Reed went out for business. He said he wouldn't be back to the office this afternoon."
"Oh."
Rachel returned to her own office, sitting at her usual workspace with a large blue floor-to-ceiling window behind her.
Leaning back in her chair, she pondered for a few minutes until her assistant brought several documents to her.
"Miss Foster, this is an invitation to a real estate business summit hosted by the city government next week. It invites Mr. Reed and you to attend."
A government-hosted business summit usually means the government is preparing to sell land, inviting all real estate developers in the city to attend, and then bidding. The highest bidder gets to develop the land according to the government's requirements. This requires precise investment acumen; bidding high and failing to recoup costs could be a huge loss while bidding low and reaping great rewards post-development could be highly profitable.
Silverstone Holdings would attend such summits but generally refrain from bidding. The company prefers steady progress in the real estate market without assuming risks.
"Okay, please coordinate with Oliver to schedule this for Mr. Reed and me."
"Yes."
She spent the entire day at the office. In the evening, Jasper called to say he would pick her up for dinner, reminding her of their morning plan to dine out together.
Sam drove her to an upscale Italian restaurant, leaving her slightly stunned. Neither she nor Jasper were particularly romantic, and they rarely dined at such atmospheric Western restaurants. Tonight seemed different.
Upon entering the restaurant, she was again taken aback by the scene.
Jasper stood in the center of the first floor, dressed in a black suit with a formal bow tie, looking handsome and charming. He smiled at her as the surrounding lights dimmed, highlighting his tall and elegant figure. Romantic and melodious classical English songs played in the background, and the faint fragrance of a large bouquet of roses on the table filled the air.
Jasper picked up the enormous bouquet from the table and slowly walked towards her.
A spotlight focused on her, making her the center of attention, though she still wasn't sure what was happening.
"Rachel, these are for you," Jasper's voice resonated.
She blankly accepted the roses, her mouth slightly open but unable to speak.
"Are we on the same wavelength? Did you dress up for tonight?" Jasper lifted a lock of her hair by her temple, gazing deeply into her eyes, his gaze dreamy.
She rarely wore dresses, but today, she wore an elegant mauve dress with light makeup, looking extraordinarily graceful and beautiful.
"You look so beautiful tonight," Jasper couldn't help but lightly kiss her cheek, genuinely admiring her.
She was at a loss, aware that all eyes in the restaurant were on them.
The next moment, Jasper produced a red velvet box from somewhere and opened it with a snap. The dazzling diamond inside was so brilliant that it almost blinded her.
She was stunned, suddenly realizing what Jasper intended to do tonight.
"Rachel, I've been thinking about the perfect place to propose to you or to say these important words, but then I realized those details aren't what truly matters. What matters is giving you happiness beyond your expectations. If you allow me, I'll strive to make you happy for the rest of my life." Jasper Reed knelt on one knee, holding up a ring, his intense black eyes filled with longing and hope as he looked at her. "Rachel Foster, will you marry me?"At that moment, the lights brightened, and the room was filled with people applauding, their faces beaming with smiles of blessing.
No one noticed Rachel's slightly stiff expression as she stood in a daze, her mind blank.
"Marry him, marry him..."
The chorus from the crowd echoed around her, but her ears buzzed.
Jasper gazed at her with an intensity that couldn't be ignored.
She had never hesitated about marrying Jasper, yet at this moment, she couldn't find her voice.
The voices of blessing grew louder, and she felt panicked and lost. Her pale face lifted to look around. Why couldn't she immediately nod her head?
She looked at the people on the first floor, then at the second floor...
As if by fate, a couple was sitting by the glass railing on the second floor. In the dim light, the man, handsome in appearance, wore a finely tailored black suit. The woman, in a white dress, sat across from him, speaking softly. He smiled while talking to the woman, casting a lazy glance.
Her eyes inadvertently met his, and she visibly flinched.
She wasn't sure if she had seen it wrong, but she thought she saw a slight smile on his lips.
As the world awaited her nod, she looked at Kingsly Scott upstairs.
Time seemed to stop at that moment, and the surroundings dimmed, leaving the spotlight on her and Kingsly.
Jasper's proposal echoed in her ears, and the countless moments shared with him played in her mind. Yet... the setting sun, Kingsly carrying her on the road home, saying he would have her for a lifetime, and she shyly kissed his handsome cheek.
That scene felt as if it had happened just last night.
She was on the first floor, he on the second, just a few meters apart, yet it felt like a world apart.
His lazy and casual gaze shifted away from her as he spoke elegantly with his wife. The look he gave his wife was full of devotion and tenderness, indicating that his earlier glance downstairs was only because the commotion had disturbed their dining.
Her nose tingled with a familiar ache, reminiscent of the feeling she had three years ago when she learned he had married abroad.
Three years ago, she knew that her world was drifting further away from him. The story of Rachel Foster and Kingsly Scott had ended long ago, and Rachel could never marry Kingsly Scott.
The two of them, like their current positions—one above, one below—are parallel, never intersecting.
Tears that hadn't fallen for seven years streamed down at that moment...
"I do."
Her voice was choked and hoarse, and everyone thought she was moved by Jasper.
Jasper stood up, holding her tightly.
She leaned into Jasper's warm embrace, letting the tears flow uncontrollably, unable to stop.
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..."