章 2: Chapter 2. Drunk Driver

"Rachel, this is a great opportunity for you to get into an acting career," her manager tells her, handing her a script for an upcoming K-drama. "This role will be huge, and people will be talking about it."

Rachel takes the script, reading through it carefully. It's certainly different from the typical K-drama fare—no love triangles, problematic exes, or suicidal game themes. Instead, the story focuses on the lives, jobs, and relationships of two male characters.

The setting and storyline are intriguing, and Rachel is excited at the prospect of working alongside more seasoned actors and actresses. However, her enthusiasm is tempered by a few key details in the script, namely a full-blown make-out scene between her character and one of the male leads.

Rachel knows this will be a sensitive issue for her wife, Harper, who has previously asked her to avoid such intimate on-screen moments. The two women have navigated the complexities of their relationship in public, and Harper's discomfort with Rachel's necessary acting requirements is understandable.

As Rachel considers the opportunity, she can't help but weigh the potential career-advancing benefits against the potential strain it could put on her marriage. She's worked hard to build a successful K-pop career, and this could be a chance to expand her repertoire and showcase her acting chops.

Yet, the thought of betraying Harper's trust or causing her any distress is deeply unsettling. Rachel values their bond above all else, and she knows that clear communication and compromise will be key to finding a resolution.

"I need to talk to my wife about it first," Rachel finally says.

"Why? Your wife has nothing to do with your career!" her manager retorts, his voice rising.

Rachel levels a determined gaze at him. "She paid for almost all of my living costs when I started my career. You know that I'm the only trainee who didn't have any debts with the company for daily expenses? She paid my apartment fees, my school fees, everything! Don't you dare say she didn't do anything or that she has nothing to do with my career—you know nothing!" She spits out the words, her frustration palpable.

The two are meeting in a restaurant in downtown Miami, where Harper has been settled for a few months, enjoying the winter in her expensive campervan parked in one of the premium camper parks.

Rachel takes a deep breath, trying to rein in her emotions. "Look, I appreciate this opportunity, but Harper has always been my priority. She's sacrificed so much to support my dreams, and I deserve the courtesy of discussing this with her first. My wife's needs and concerns come before anything else."

Her manager shifts uncomfortably in his seat, suddenly aware of the depth of Rachel's commitment to her spouse. He opens his mouth to argue further, but the steely determination in Rachel's eyes silences him.

"I'll let you know my decision after I've talked to my wife," Rachel says, her tone brooking no argument. She gathers the script and rises from the table, leaving her manager.

"Just a reminder: you being married to a woman is already a thorn in your career, Rachel." Her manager reminded her, but Rachel chose not to listen to him.

Harper sits in front of her computer, typing furiously. In addition to being a renowned YouTuber, she's also one of the most celebrated writers in the USA, with several of her books having been adapted into Hollywood movies and web series. Harper is known for her thrilling and ghostly tales, set against the backdrops of diverse locales around the world.

Three of her ten published books have already been turned into feature films, making her a very wealthy woman. In fact, she's even among the top 100 most influential women, according to Forbes.

Rachel loves Harper with every fiber of her being. When her friends call her love for Harper an "obsession," she doesn't care. She's been smitten with her wife since the moment they first met in Los Angeles, when Rachel was just 13 years old.

"Hi, baby," Rachel says softly, toeing off her shoes and walking closer to Harper. She wraps her arms around her wife, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek.

"Hi, love." Harper returns the greeting, pausing her work to give Rachel her full attention.

Harper is Rachel's wife; they are legally married under state law. Whatever happens, they have each other.

"Can I talk to you about something?" Rachel's serious tone immediately catches Harper's interest. Hearing the gravity in her wife's voice, Harper sets aside her computer and turns to face Rachel, her expression filled with concern.

"What is it, babe?" Harper asks quickly, her brow furrowing as she prepares herself for whatever Rachel is about to share.

Rachel then shows Harper the script for the drama she's been offered and the one she's auditioning for. She's spent the last two years rigorously training in acting, eager to expand her horizons beyond her successful singing career.

"Isn't this great? What's the problem?" Harper asks.

Rachel then opens the script, revealing several scenes where her character is required to engage in intimate make-out sessions with one of the male leads. Harper reads through the details, the color slowly draining from her face.

"Rach- I..." Harper struggles to find the words, her voice trembling.

Hearing Harper use her nickname, Rachel feels her heart sink. The last time her wife had spoken to her that way was a year before their marriage. "No, please, wait, let me explain," Rachel pleads.

"I didn't prepare myself to have a wife who will receive kisses from someone else, whether they are acting or not. It's not that I don't want to support you, Rachel. I've been supporting you all these years," Harper's voice cracks with emotion. "I can endure all the gossip, false news, and even hiding you as my wife. I can endure it all. Peck? Fine. On the lips, I can still bear with it. But a full-blown make-out?"

"Baby, come on, listen to me first." Rachel tries to soothe her.

"But not this. I can't support you in this; I'm sorry." Harper's eyes start to brim with tears. "You brought this to me because you want to do it, but you need my permission. I can't give that."

"Baby!" Rachel reaches out, her own eyes shining with empathy.

"You'll do it anyway, so why did you even need to ask me?" Harper starts to cry in earnest now. "Wait, let me get some fresh air." Harper grabs her phone and walks away from the house.

Harper stands abruptly, needing to escape the weight of the moment. Rachel watches, her heart breaking, as her wife withdraws to compose herself. But then Harper isn't going inside—when Rachel looks for her wife outside, Harper is nowhere to be found.

Panic-seizing her, Rachel quickly calls her sister and tells her that Harper is missing, even though it hasn't been an hour. Her sister told her to wait before calling the police to give Harper some time. And so she waits, and waits, until it grows dark, but her wife still has not returned home.

It's eleven at night, eight hours after Harper left their home and never came back, when Rachel's phone suddenly rings with her wife's name on the screen. "Baby!" She answers the call on the first ring, her voice laced with relief and worry.

"Oh, are you her wife?" A stranger's male voice rings in her ears.

"Who's this?" Rachel can feel her heart drop.

"Your wife is in the emergency room at Miami Mercy Hospital. She didn't have any ID, just a phone. She was sitting on a bench near the beach when a drunk driver hit her. You'll need to come here quickly, ma'am. She's in critical condition, and we need you to sign some consent forms," the man says rapidly.

Rachel's world seems to tilt on its axis. Harper, her rock, her soulmate, was lying badly injured in a hospital bed.