Chapter 49 Stephen looked at Melanie helplessly and explained, "I need to drive her home later." Others kept quipping and asking him to drink, so Melanie said, "It's okay. You can drink. I can call someone to send you home." Stephen shook his head and insisted, "I promised to give you a lift." Melanie knew she could not convince him. She was not familiar with everyone there, so no one pressed her to have a drink. It was boring to just drink. After a while, Simon suggested playing a game. Everyone gathered around the table. Melanie was talking to Stephen when she felt someone sitting next to her. When she turned, she saw Eugene and Viola. Melanie had just noticed Viola. Viola did not greet her and hid behind Eugene. Simon brought a stack of poker cards over and placed it on the table. "A card game of dares. Everyone knows the rules, right?" It was indeed a simple game. The one who got a Joker card could give out a punishment for all the others. Melanie drew a few rounds of cards and escaped a few rounds of 'punishments'. She glanced at her card and drank the fruit juice in her glass, thinking she might only have to sit aside and do nothing again this time. "King of spades…" Simon got the Joker card this time. He was bold in the game and purposely dragged his voice. Melanie's grip on her glass tightened. Her card was king of spades. "Choose either three of diamonds or eight of hearts and kiss that person!" That was the boldest punishment so far. Everyone was curious about who the three were. Melanie put down her glass and her card on the table. Her voice was cold. "King of spades." No one expected it to be her. Everyone was excited. Before they could cheer, Melanie heard Stephen say, "Mel, you're lucky." He flipped his card and continued, "I'm three of diamonds." Simon whistled before everyone could cheer. "Stephen, I didn't give you that card on purpose. Start kissing. I'll be watching." She sounded aggrieved, and her words hinted at Eugene not to play. Everyone knew what she meant. Just as Melanie was about to speak, Eugene cuddled Viola and flipped the card on the table as he said lazily, "Don't choose me. My girlfriend will be jealous, and I'll have to coax her." Everyone started teasing him, and Simon said, "Eugene, you're now a hen-pecked man. You weren't like this before." Eugene said, "I had no one I cared about before this." Melanie was a little speechless. She took the wine glass and looked at Simon, saying, "I'll drink three glasses of wine as a punishment and skip this round of the game." Simon could give way to Eugene, but it didn't mean he would be nice to Melanie. He said in displeasure, "Melanie, you're so boring. Can't you play the game without Eugene?" Chapter 50 Title: A Fated Encounter In "A Fated Encounter" by CrushReels, a captivating modern romance unfolds. Emma Brown finds herself entangled in a complex web of family obligations when her father, Henry, pressures her to marry Tommy Anderson in place of her sister Bella to salvage their struggling business. As Emma navigates this unexpected turn of events, she discovers that Tommy is not the man rumors portray him to be. Their relationship evolves beyond mere obligation, revealing layers of depth and emotion amidst the backdrop of societal expectations and personal desires. This novel delves into themes of duty, love, and self-discovery as Emma grapples with conflicting emotions and the realization that fate may have a different plan in store for her. With nuanced character development and a unique twist on the conventional romance narrative, "A Fated Encounter" stands out as a compelling tale of love and sacrifice. Experience this engrossing story online at CrushReels and immerse yourself in a world where destiny intertwines with the complexities of the heart.