All Chapters of Ask Not the Wine of Lost Years: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

"Don't be mad at Jake, Cassie." Erica quickly came forward in a childlike manner to hold my hand, and she stuck her tongue out in a cutesy way to apologize. "He lost to me in a game of rock, paper, scissors, which was why he promised to drink my wine. Why don't you have a round with me, and I'll let Jake drink your wine if you win?"Jake's expression softened as he looked at Erica dotingly. "That sounds great. You should play a round with Erica, and I'll drink your wine if you win."His voice was not loud, but it was enough for everyone around to hear what he said. I closed my eyes, feeling a little frustrated. "I quit."A look of delight flashed in Erica's eyes. She cleared her throat and said, "Then that counts as my victory. That means I should be given a prize, right? My mom told me that after drinking the wine, we have to pray for a child at the church."Many people present inhaled sharply. This was a tradition of the town. After drinking the marriage wine, any new couple wh

After leaving the Sanders' family home, I headed straight to my house. This time, I packed my luggage faster than I did last night and threw out anything I did not plan to take with me. I did not have many clothes. All I had were a few sets of working clothes.I did not hesitate to get rid of the items on the table that were associated with Jake. I took down our picture from the wall and slammed it face down on the table. There were even trinkets in the drawer that he had brought home while on a business trip, and a few notes he had written.My heart remained calm as I looked at everything. That was when I realized it was difficult to pull yourself out of a long-term relationship when both parties had gone through so much together. Even so, throwing materialistic objects away was an easy thing to do.The sky slowly turned dark. I was halfway through my stuff when Nina texted me: [Have you gone home, Cassie? They're having another rowdy night on the mountains. I can't believe that Ja

Jake was stunned to find out about this. I had kept that wine for 28 years and refused to let anyone touch it. He knew better than anyone else what that meant. Nina looked at him and said slowly, "She trusted the wrong person once with something she truly cherished. It won't happen a second time."With that, she turned and walked back into the house without giving Jake another chance.That afternoon, Erica came to see Jake again. She brought along medicine and some food, then continued with her gentle, obedient act as she asked if Jake was troubled over what had happened with me.Jake would have drunk it all in if this were before, but Erica's appearance only reminded him of the vat of wine in the day, the church at night, and how they crossed the line in that room. When Erica noticed something different in his reaction, she said softly, "If you really can't let Cassie go, I don't mind taking a step back. I just don't want everybody to end up in an unhappy situation."That was

My family started to prepare for my wedding after I was officially engaged.As for Jake, his efforts to reach me were futile. He started by trying to find information about my whereabouts, even waiting outside my family home more than once to try to see me, but he was denied the opportunity. However, he refused to give up and tried asking for Nina's help instead. Unfortunately for him, Nina only felt disgust for him. She would either kick him out or throw sarcastic words at him. She refused to pass any of his messages to me.The more Jake failed in his attempts to reach out to me, the more he started to reminisce about the days we were together. The first few years after leaving our hometown, we rented a basement as it was the cheapest accommodation we could find. It was humid during summer, and freezing during winter. I was worried about his gastritis and would always make sure that he was properly covered with the only thick blanket we had.Jake remembered how I went everywher

My wedding date got closer, and my family and the Peytons became even busier. As for Jake, he seemed to be stuck in the same place. He no longer tried to stop me and no longer created any commotion outside my family home, but he did seem to go into decline as days passed by.It was only later that I found out that he kept thinking about the past during this time. He had gotten so used to life with me that he had taken it for granted. Now that I had suddenly vanished from his life, he finally realized just how big a hole I had left behind in his life.Jake's mother was finally silenced as well. She knew how much I had suffered all those years I was with Jake, and knew how much financial responsibility I had shouldered for Jake and his family. After I was gone, she started to realize what was missing from her home.However, it was too late for regrets now that things had turned out this way. The night before the wedding, the entire town made last preparations for the big day. Crates