《Bound To Love You Domineering CEO》 Chapter 1: Why Do You Care? By the ink on her mothers will, Crystal Smith had be an outsider in her own house and had to live with her mothers toyboy, Nathan Davis, under his guardianship. What the Hell was she thinking about? Crystal seethed. She held the steering wheel and turned back to Nathan, whose expression had not changed a bit. Did that woman die under your enormous c*ck? It would exin why her mother had left her inheritance to a bloodless man rather than to her own daughter. I want you to get out of my house, Crystal said. Nathan raised his eyebrow curiously, What if I say no? he asked. Crystal was a little stunned by his direct words. She held his life in her hands now, but it really did seem like he didnt care if his words would piss her or not! She frowned and brought the vehicle up to 220 mph. The cars next to them disappeared behind them like shes of light as Crystal ran red lights and Stopped Signs with no concern for their or anyone elses safety. Without warning, Nathan leaned over her and put his hand on the lever, covering Crystals hand. He suddenly jerked the gear shift and turned the steering wheel hard with his free hand. The wheels squealed as they burnt rubber, and then there was a loud crashing sound as the Mercedes hit a Buick Regal and ran it off the curb and into the railing on the side of the road! They were both thrown forward, and the airbags exploded to save them from near-certain death. Are you all right? Nathan asked her with a grave expression on his face. And then he unfastened Crystals seat belt and said, Get out of the car. Ill handle this. Crystal did as she was told. This is so surreal C she thought as she stumbled out of the vehicle. Crystal walked over to the Buick and knocked on the window. A few minutes passed, but no one answered. And because the ss was tinted, she couldnt look inside, nor could she hear anybody, so she assumed that the vehicle was empty. Then, just as she was turning away, the window rolled down, and Carlos C her boyfriend C was sitting in the front seat. Carlos was not adequately dressed, his hair was messy, and there was a scratch on his neck. It should have been happy and exciting to run into him, but all she felt was suffocating C breathtaking anxiety. Crystal tried to speak, but all she could do was stare. Her brain hurt suddenly, and it felt as if it was exploding. She remembered how, on a red rose petal path and under a setting sun, Carlos had held her hands and said, Crystal, you are the apple of my eyes. Ill love you forever. Ill give you the worlds most unique love. Out of this love, Carlos had once driven a hundred miles to buy her favorite food for her. And to make her happy, he had purchased a license te with her birthdate on it. Time had passed, though, and while the license te remained the same, the love he had felt for her had changed. At the time of the rear-end, Carlos was making love to another woman in this damn car. It must be an exciting experience for them C Crystal thought absently.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Carlos smiled awkwardly. Crystal? he askedmely. Is that you? He stepped out of the car nervously and began to fix his clothes. Car sex? You are really busy, Carlos, Crystal asked sarcastically. How exciting is that?!?!! She was angry, but she tried not to show it because she didnt want him to know that he had that kind of power over her. She wanted him to think that their rtionship meant even less to her than it had to him. Carlos looked at the ground and shuffled his feet. Look, he said. Im sorry. Crystal frowned. He was still behaving gently and politely, but he didnt even bother to exin it to her. Obviously, he could not deny that something had been going on. When Crystal peeked her head into the car, she saw the other woman was in a state of undress. Her ample bosom had been on disy, despite how shed tried to hide them while, at the same time, attempting to cover her neatly trimmed mons pubis. Crystal couldnt see the womans face. She raised her hand to p Carlos, but he grabbed her hand. Enough, he said forcefully. Were breaking up. You can go now. Cry on your own time if you need to! Crystal was astonished, and her eyesses over with the tears she wished that she could have held back. His sudden cruelty had shocked her just like a p would do to her. The woman stepped out of the front seat. Crystal Smith? sheughed. What are the odds of running into you like this? She was wearing a yellow tight strapless T-shirt. She had gotten dressed, but the shirt was too tight that her breast bulged out so much, and her apparel was nearly as vulgar as her state of undress had been. But Crystal didnt need to see the woman to recognize her. She would have recognized her half-sisters voice anywhere. For fucks sake! C Crystal seethed C Joyce Henry! They shared the same father, but they had different mothers. The triumphant smile on Joyces face was bright and dazzling. Joyce spat on the ground, and then she sneered, Do you know why Carlos broke up with you? Crystal shook her head, Im not interested. Joyceughed, Youre clever, she said. And smart. You should already know the answer C and you may not believe this, but I actually sympathize with you. Your father hates you, and your mother died, leaving her entire estate to a stranger. Boohoo! Poor Crystal Smith. Youre such a joke. You think youre still a princess, but youre not. Youre garbage. Human filth, and that is why Carlos didnt want to have anything to do with you. Youre a loser. Look at me, though. Joyce used her hands to hoist up her heavy breasts, and she shook them in Crystals face. Im a winner, and with me by his side, Carlos is going to go ces! Yeah Crystal argued back. ces like straight to Hell! Youre a slut, and hes an asshole; what a perfect match between you two! Joyces words had wounded her deeply, but Crystal didnt show it. No matter what you say, Carlos and I have been together for a long time. It was just a matter of time before you found it out. And now that the cats out of the bag, Im so d because you wont be around to haunt his life anymore! Crystal stared at her half-sister coldly. Her father had abandoned her and her mother because of Joyces mother, and now her boyfriend was doing the same thing as her father had done. At least my lifes consistent- Crystal thought bitterly. She looked at Carlos and asked him if it was true, that theyd been messing around behind her back for a long time. Before he could answer, though, Joyce cut in. She said, Why do you care? Didnt you spendst night on Nathans bed? And hes supposed to be your GUARDIAN! How messed up is that? Were you fucking him, or were you looking for evidence to use against him? Chapter 2: Have I Caught Your Attention? Crystal froze, How how did you know?! she stammered and backed up a few steps. Her face was as pale as a piece of white paper. Carlos had known about her n, but she had never imagined that he would tell anyone her secret or use it against her. Now that she thought about it, though C Hadnt the whole thing been Carlos idea all along? You could climb onto Nathans bed, Carlos had suggested. Make it look like youve had sex. Once the evidence is clear, the Guardianship Order will no longer be legal, and the case regarding your inheritance will be reopened. Crystal, he pleaded, This is the only option. You have to pretend to have sex with him. I know that youre not a frivolous girl, but you have to do this! She had always trusted Carlos, so she had done as she was told. Crystal forced herself to recover from the shock. She clenched her teeth and said, word for word, Mr. Foster, thats so kind of you. Should I say thank you? You dont have to, Carlos replied cheerily. After all he looked at Joyce. were practically family! This was the third time that Carlos had attempted to break up with Crystal, so it shouldnt have shocked her to discover that he was cheating on her. After all, she truly had been haunting (Joyces word) Carlos life, hadnt she? Carlos had tried to break up with her the first time when the Foster Group had been about to go bankrupt, and then again right before the SAT exams. Each time, Crystal had convinced him to stay with her and that she could change C for him. Crystal began to tremble slightly, but she took a deep breath and clenched her fists hard for fear of being noticed, and her pointed nails sank into the palms of her hand. I cant STAND you! she hissed as she turned away from him and walked back to the Mercedes. What are we going to do? C she thought as she approached the wreck C this will never happen Suddenly, a brand-new limited-edition silver-gray Maybach stopped by the Mercedes. A driver in a formal suit came down from the Maybach and respectfully handed a key ring to Nathan. On seeing the Maybach, Joyce shouted at Crystal, Tut, tut, tut. My dear sister, your mother, was so generous. Her lover drives a Maybach and wears private-customized clothes. I can see why she left everything to him! Hey, stop it, Carlos shouted. Im just telling the truth, Joyceughed. Look at that Maybach. It is worth tens of millions of dors, and his suit, I bet its more expensive than the car. Do you believe that? Crystal refused to acknowledge that. She opened the door to the Maybach and got in quickly. By then, Nathan had taken his seat behind the wheel. He turned to her with a curious expression on his face, Boyfriend? Crystal denied it coldly, adding, Hes just a rat, a breeding pig! He has terrible taste in women, Nathan eximed. That girl was nothing but a dirty slut. Youll get no argument from me on that, Crystal agreed, Not only does he have bad taste in women, but he also has poor business sense. What does that mean? Nathan asked casually. If you want to do well in business, you need to know how to present yourself, Crystal exined. Look at you, for example. The vehicle you drive, the clothes you wear, the way you cut your hair, the way you talk and hold yourself: that is all a part of the package that you need to sell to a potential client before they even look at whatever it is that your selling. In the case of Carlos, he doesnt look the part, so he can never be a sessful businessman C but I am sure none of this is new to you, Mr. Davis! Obviously, you have been sessful, likely in business and with women. Am I right? Well, you arent wrong, Nathan replied, and then heughed out loud. What about you, have I caught your attention? What does it matter? Crystal replied. Im just a poor orphan. You can get nothing from me. Crystal paused and sneered. Mr. Davis, dont waste your time on unprofitable people. Is that really how you see yourself? Nathan asked, Crystal Smith, dont underestimate yourself! Crystal observed Nathans expression and found he didnt tease her, she said, I dont get it. Millions of other girls are better looking than I am, smarter, and with more money to their name. Surely you see that! Nathanughed, and then he said, You are so young, no wonder you dont see your own potential. Impatiently, Crystal cut short his words, Save it. Just tell me what you want from me. Nathan raised his lips, Marry Me. Crystal was so caught off guard by his words that she began to cough, and her cough began to choke her so severely that her face turned beet red. She could barely breathe. Tears streamed down her face, and when she bent over at the waist, her forehead hit the dashboard. Nathan pulled over as soon as he was able, and he turned to her with a concerned expression. As he rubbed her back, he said, There, there. Take it easy. Are you okay? Crystal pushed Nathans hand away and red at him. What did you just say? You arent happy with the Guardianship Order, Nathan exined. That is obvious. So, why not marry me? Then we can turn this passive father/daughter rtionship that is typically between a guardian and his charge and have an equal husband-and-wife rtionship instead? Dont you think that if we did that, it would be both preferable and profitable? If we did that, then you could also have an equal share of my property, which you could use to p your ex-boyfriend and half-sister in the face. Who would turn down such a deal! I would, Crystal blurted out. I would! I can forget Carlos C she thought C but how would I know if Nathans property is clean enough for my tastes? Or if he is an honest person Crystal hadnt known Nathan for long, nor did she know much about the rtionship that hed had with her mother. His offer seemed sincere, but her gut was telling her that he was ying some tricks. And if that was true, then the only reason her mother had left everything to him was that he must have somehow pulled the wool over her eyes. And if that is true, how many other women have been deceived by this exceedingly handsome face?Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Well Nathan opened the car door. Be that way if you must. He jumped out of the car, walked around to where Crystal was sitting, and ordered her out of the vehicle. Why? Crystal asked. She looked over his shoulder and saw that theyd stopped in front of the University where she attended. Im not going! I dont feel good! she shouted. Im on my period! Chapter 3: What A Goody-Two-Shoes? The ss was just about to start, so there werent many seats left unupied by the time Crystal arrived at the room. She looked around, and when she found one, she saw that it was next to her friend, Serenity, who was sitting in an aisle. Typically, Serenity chose the aisle seat on the third row in the middle, which provided the best view of the professor, so as Crystal took the seat beside her, she had a funny feeling that something wasnt quite right. As Crystal leaned over to whisper- Good morning C to Serenity, she heard her name called from the front of the ssroom, and as she looked up, some of the other students snickered. How kind of you to join us, Nathan said sarcastically. She looked to the tform and instantly frowned. What is he doing here? C a voice in her head moaned. Is he a professor here? Has he always been one of my teachers, and I am only now noticing it? Nathan had his hand on the teachers desk, and his sleeves were rolled up so that they revealed an expensive watch on his wrist. He was looking straight at her in a manner that suggested he was expecting something from her, but she knew not what. The man had natural energy about him that was powerful and undeniable. As soon as Nathan was into the rhythm of teaching, Serenity leaned over and whispered to Crystal: He cant be as bad as youve made him out to be! Can he? He is! Crystal replied emphatically, and worse! You cant judge a person by how he looks or by the way they portray themselves in public. Most inherently evil people hide their true nature from the world. As Crystal finished talking, Nathan asked everyone to hand over their homework projects to the Lesson Representative. Who is the Lesson Representative? he asked. Raise your hand if that is you. Crystal raised her hand, and he said, Okay, Crystal. Collect the assignments. You can bring them to my office after ss. All of the other girls were envious of Crystals ce of seeming privilege, but it was a burden that she would have happily given up to her. However, one of these girls, Cindy, seemed particrly keen to take over the task, so after ss, Crystal approached her. Hey, Cindy, she said. Could you help me take these to the office? Cindy shook her head shyly and said, As much as Id like to, I shouldnt. As you know, Professor Davis is particr about these things. If he wanted me to bring the assignments to him, then he would have named me Lesson Representative. s, though, he did not Cindys response annoyed Crystal a lot, and she found herself thinking C What a goody-two-shoes. Had I liked to push her into a fire pit? C and she was startled by the vile poison that her mind had dredged up. Crystal asked another ssmate the same question, but this one also said no. I cant, he said. Im going to the library with my girlfriend. Fine, she sighed. I guess Ill have to do it myself. When Crystal arrived at Nathans office, she knocked twice, but no one answered, and she couldnt hear any soundsing from the room. No one was there, she realized. I better just go in quick, put the papers on his desk, and skedaddle! When she opened the door, though, she was shocked by what she saw: Nathan had one of her other teachers, Ms. Ford, bent over his desk, and he was fucking her from behind. She was bracing herself with her hands, and her head was down, so she couldnt see that they hadpany. Nathan had one hand on the teachers shoulder and the other on her thigh. Her top was open, and her bra had been pushed up over her medium-sized breasts so that they were fully exposed, and every time his manh**d plunged into her, they shook violently. And Nathans eyes were closed. Crystal scolded herself for looking. For watching! I should get out of here before Im seen! She thought. But she was frozen in ce, and before she could move, Nathan opened his eyes, and when he saw her, he grinned. It was the smile of a Cheshire cat, with teeth like a shark, and the demented look in his eyes broke the spell that the scene had over her. Crystal quickly trotted over and threw the papers on the desk. Well, she said, Im just going to put down the assignments. Sorry to interrupt you two Crystal was just about to leave when Ms. Ford began to moan, and she realized that the older woman was about to climax, and as much as she knew that the right thing to do was to leave, Nathan had not ordered her out, and she was deeply curious about the female orgasm. Of course, she had some knowledge of her own body, but she hadnt ever experienced anything like The Big O, as it was called when it was whispered and giggled about in bathrooms and changing areas. Thus, instead of leaving immediately, Crystal closed the door and remained inside. Unfortunately, just as things were getting really exciting, Ms. Ford happened to look up from the desk, and when she saw Crystal standing there, she shouted at her: What the fuck is wrong with you? Are you some kind of pervert? Youve handed in the assignments! Now get out of here! Yes, Ms. Ford, Crystal replied meekly, and she quickly slipped out of the room. Once Crystal was in the hallway, she leaned against the wall, and after a few seconds, she slid down it and found herself,ically, in an ufortable sitting position. Crystal was breathing heavily, and her cheeks were hot, but she was also feeling other things. She shivered, and her arms broke out in gooseflesh, and when she wrapped her arms across her chest, she noticed that her small- oh so small, whenpared to Ms. Ford breasts felt somehow heavier, and they were sensitive to the touch. As discreetly as possible, she explored that and was startled by how hard her nipples were. They were so hard that she could feel the Montgomery nds on her ares even through her shirt. There was also a warm, tingly sensation that had started in her groin and seemed to have since saturated her bloodstream. And she could barely think with the throbbing in her head. I wonder if it had felt like to be Tiffany, with Nathan inside her C Crystal wondered C Like this, maybe? Only with a sense of satisfaction, perhaps? Am I even close on the right track? She had no real way of knowing one way or the other, and her worldview suddenly felt like it was off-kilter. She wondered how a seventeen-year-old girl couldpete with a teacher like Ms. Ford, and she had to remind herself that she didnt want topete with Ms. Ford! And she thought Now that he has her, maybe hell leave me aloneProperty belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Tiffany had countless suitors at school. Students jostled over the opportunity to get into her ss, and many media outlets called her one of the ten most gorgeous teachers in the country. They said that she was Sexy. Out of nowhere, Crystal was suddenly struck with an insane kind of Jealousy, and she stood up in a huff and barged back into Nathans office. Chapter 4: Would You Please Let Me Go? Ms. Ford and Nathan were putting on their clothes when Crystal barged in, and Nathan raised his eyebrow questioningly. Before he could say anything, though, Crystal looked him in the eye and demanded to know if he was attracted to her. Nathan, she shouted, are you fascinated with me? If thats the case, Im afraid that someone will be jealous. She eyed Ms. Ford and then turned back to Nathan. So, I suggest you make it clear. Make what clear? Nathan asked. Crystal gasped, and then she said, That you have long been infatuated with me and that we are in love with each other. Ms. Ford looked at Crystal incredulously and said, What a joke! You and Nathan? Come on! As I remember, you attend our school as an elerated student. Have you evere of age? Look at your tits! Have you even hit puberty? I dont think you deserve Nathan! Crystal puffed out her handful-sized breasts with pride and said, Excuse me for a moment, but I am Nathans type! What would he want with an old crone like you? As Ms. Ford flinched away from Crystals harsh words, Crystal walked over to Nathan. She took his hand, and when she pressed it against her pubic mound, he gasped. This was a fatal temptation, she knew, and a cruel test for a man with normal physical needs, but it was even more tempting for a man with a penchant for younger adolescent girls. As Crystal applied more pressure to Nathans hand, she moaned gently, and he turned to Ms. Ford and said, Tiffany, Im really crazy about Crystal, and she is more my type. You should go. Nathans surprising words made Crystal palpitate. She felt butterflies flitting about in her stomach, and her face turned red as her mons pubis warmed to his touch. Ms. Ford frowned and stamped her feet, and then she barged out the door, mming it behind her. And the moment she was gone, Crystal pushed Nathans hand away from her moist sex. I want him-she admitted to herself C but I will not let him know it! I did you a big favor, Crystalughed. How are you going to thank me? Crystal turned to leave, but Nathan wouldnt allow it. He grabbed her wrist, twisted it painfully behind her back, and pressed her against the wall. Crystal struggled to get away, but there was no hope of escape. Please, dont, she whined. If you let me go now, I will introduce you to other girls at another time, and they will be like me, except they will be eager! Nathan leaned around Crystal with his free hand and put it back where Crystal had put it, only this time he slid it into her jeans so that the only thing between it and her wet core was her thin damp panties. And as he applied pressure, now directly to her clitoris, he whispered in her ear: Other girls, you say? For a threesome? No! Crystal cried in pleasure and frustration. I could be a matchmaker for you! I could befriend girls my age and send them your way! Nathan twisted Crystals arm a little harder, and at the same time, he began to move the fingers of his other hand in slow circles, mixing pleasure and pain in equal measure. And one voice in Crystals mind screamed for him to stop, while another voice begged him to C NEVER STOP! And then, without warning, Nathan ceased his ministrations and whispered into her ear: And what kind of girls do you think I would like? Rather than reply, Crystal threw her head backward, and there was an aggressive THUD as the back of her head connected with his forehead. Shit! Nathan hissed. You bitch! But he didnt let her go. And now I am really in for it! C Crystal realized, and she began to squirm harder than ever. Crystal wasnt able to get away but to keep his hold on her, Nathan was forced to pull his hand out of her pants, and her senses were overwhelmed by the musky/sweet scent of her sex on his fingers as he used that hand to push her shoulder against the wall. As she struggled, Nathan pressed his engorged member against her buttocks, and she could tell that the more she resisted, the more aroused he became, so she forced herself to go limp in his arms. Be still C shemanded her body C be passive. Once Nathan realized what was going on, he released her shoulder and hooked his thumb into the waist of her jeans and the stic in her panties so that he could push them down and force himself on her, but just as the jeans dropped past her ass and fell to the floor, the door opened, and someone gasped. And someone, a ghost-male, said, Geez You You dirty man! And with a student!!!!!!N?velDrama.Org content. Nathan frowned and turned his head. Get out! he shouted. The door closed quickly then, without Crystal knowing who the intruder had been. And as soon as they were gone, Nathan began tough. You would think that after being interrupted once, he said, I would have thought to lock the door! After a second, Crystal took a deep breath and said, Would you please let me go? Yeah, why not? Nathan replied. He let her go, and once shed pulled up her pants and panties, she turned around to face him. Nathan looked at Crystal seriously and said, Just dont try to tell me that you didnt like that! He was wearing the same grin, now, that hed had on when shed walked in on him fucking Ms. Ford. It was half Cheshire cat, half-shark. He winked and added, This is just one of the benefits of being under a Guardianship Order! Crystals mouth dropped open, and she was struck dumb. She wanted to deny his im over her, but she could not. After all, if he could drive her to such a state of arousal once, he could certainly do it again. Crystal looked at the clock suddenly and realized that she was runningte for her next ss. She told him that she needed to go and why, and this time he let her go. As she turned to leave, though, Crystal nced at Nathans white shirt to wear a strand of hair hung stubbornly to an amber button. She reached for the hair, held it in the air, and let it fall. See you tonight, she whispered seductively, in a tone pregnant with implications. Chapter 5: I Didn鈥檛 Kiss Him As Crystal headed to her next ss, she happened to run into her friend Serenity, who was sitting on the floor beside her locker. When Serenity saw that Crystal was in a hurry, she asked what her rush was all about. Before Crystal could reply, Serenity noticed that her face was red and that her clothes were disheveled. Are you okay? she asked. Your lip is swollen. Crystal scrambles for an answer, and when she begins to stammer, Serenity knew with certainty that something was up with her, and she suspected that she knew what it was. What is the matter with you? she asked reproachfully. Does it have something to do with You Know Who? No! Crystal replied argumentatively. She bit her lips nervously and said, Maybe I got attacked by a cockroach! Did you think of that? Its Professor Davis, isnt it? Serenity said. After a moment, she lowered her voice and said, It was! You kissed Professor Davis. She giggled. What a tramp! Serenity didnt mean this literally. It was just a joke between two friends. I didnt KISS him! Crystal said, and she touched her lips thoughtfully. I wonder what it would be like to kiss Nathan? C she wondered C and would I let him kiss me if he tried? Didnt know She didnt know Well, if you two didnt KISS, what did you do? Serenity squeaked, her voice rising several octaves. Just now, she was guessing that there had been some forey that maybe included heavy petting or under the shirt but over the bra action, but her imagination didnt take her anywhere near what had actually happened. Crystals face turned red when she heard Serenitys question, so Serenity knew she was on the right track, but she would have never guessed the full extent of the liberties her professor had taken with her friend. Well, she said, if you can get him to be infatuated with you, you may find a chance to get your mothers inheritance back. Jesus, Serenity! Crystal hissed. Did you take the ss for nothing? No way, Serenity replied. I am listening very carefully. Look at yourself, though; youre one to talk! Youve been daydreaming all semester. Crystalughed, and Serenityughed along with her. Fine, she admitted. I havent been concentrating, but you watch: Ill concentrate next time.N?velDrama.Org content. Serenity got up, and the two girls walked to their next ss together, which was philosophy, and they took their seats as the teacher walked to the podium. Serenity opened her book while Crystal twirled her pen out of boredom. I didnt even want to be here today C she told herself C so why should I bother paying attention! Furthermore, although the teacher worked hard to make the lessons easy for the students to understand, Crystal remained absent-minded, and the fact that she was two years younger than the other students was a constant disadvantage to her. Crystal managed to endure until ss was over, though, and as she gathered up her books, she and Serenity discussed what to have for lunch. Unfortunately, before they could make any headway, there was a sudden cry at the door: Crystal, the president wants you to go to his office! Crystals mind went nk, and she had to ask Serenity, What did he say? Serenity looked at her friend curiously and said, Where is your mind today?!?!? He said that the president wants to see you. Youd better go quickly! Maybe it is about another schrship. If it were, it wouldnt be the first time that Crystal had won a schrship. She had never received one from the president before, though, so she didnt think that that was what this was about. My mind was elsewhere, thats all, Crystal exined. She handed her books to Serenity and said, Can you take these for me? Ill meet you in the cafeteria after this meeting. Without waiting for a reply, Crystal left the room, and since she was in a hurry, she rushed down the hallway towards the office. And when she entered the office, the secretary looked up from her desk and said, You can go right in, the president is waiting for you. When Crystal entered the office, she said hello to the president. He said hello back, and he told her to close the door, which she did. There were two seats in front of the presidents desk. One was empty, and the other was taken by Ms. Ford. The president pointed toward the empty chair and told Crystal to take a seat, which she did. And as she did, she noticed the name tag on the presidents desk and gasped. His name was Mr. Ford! He was Ms. Fords Father! What the fuck is going on?- her thoughts began to spin out of control C This must have something to do with Nathan! Am I in some kind of trouble? Mr. Ford, she said nervously. What can I do for you? Youre Crystal, arent you? he said. It wasnt a question, but she nodded her head as if it had been. You are the first student to be rmended for admission to our school through the Advanced Program for High School Students, and your schstic record is outstanding. Although there is not much schoolwork to do right now, it will increase, and I hope you will give full priority to your study. You are still young, and I hope you dont ruin your future unnecessarily. Is that a threat? Crystal asked herself. His tone was t, and his facecked expression, so she had no way of knowing if this was anything more than friendly encouragement. Im sorry, Mr. Ford, but could you be more specific? What unnecessary things are you talking about? I dont quite understand. Ms. Ford turned to Crystal and scowled. What my Father C Um What Mr. Ford said, she hissed, was about you and Professor Davis. I told him all about your little rtionship with him, and that is not the kind of thing a young student like yourself should have time for! Actually C Crystal wanted to say the RELATIONSHIP takes up very little time, thank you very much! C but she remained silent, obeying the more reasonable voice in her head that was saying C Let the adults talk, and then you can go on your way, living your life in whatever manner you please. After all, you arent beholden to this dysfunctional woman or her father in any way! Chapter 6: He Was Adopted Mr. Ford stood up so that he was standing over Crystal. Crystal, he said, our school does not object to students falling in love, but we try to encourage our teachers not to enter into sexual rtionships with students, and if they must, then they should at least wait until the students are of legal age. Surely, you must understand that if this got out, it would tarnish the reputation of the school. Ms. Ford whined, Dad Mr. Ford, I mean Her behavior has already been a bad influence on other students. Furthermore, although she keeps saying that she and Professor Davis are in love with each other, it is clear that she is the one who seduced Professor Davis, and not the other way around! Young girls have ways of mesmerizing men, as I am sure even you know, so how could he resist the provocation of this naughty vixen?!?!? I think that since this kind of thing has never happened in our school with a girl so young, it is necessary to make an example of her. Mr. Ford nodded approvingly and asked, What do you think is an effective way to control something like this? Should we circte a notice of criticism? Off with her head! C Crystal thought wildly, and she was barely able to contain herughter. Thats too serious, Ms. Ford replied. I think it would be better to expel her. Mr. Ford looked at Crystal thoughtfully and said, These are some heavy charges that have been made against you. But I know that you have been through a lottely, what with your Mothers death and your Fathers remarriage, so I dont want to be too quick to give up on you, particrly because of your previous exemry record. Do you have anything to say on your behalf before I pass judgment? Crystal looked first at Ms. Ford and then at Mr. Ford. This is hard to talk about, she admitted, but my rtionship with Professor Davis is not one that isparable to that of the love that is sometimes made between a man and a woman, but - Ugh, I knew youd say that, Tiffany interrupted cruelly. She rose and grabbed herptop, plugged in her hard drive, and an image of her and Nathan appeared on theputer screen. He had her pressed up against the wall with her arm twisted behind her back, and his free hand was down the front of her pants. What excuse do you have now, Miss Crystal? Isnt this evidence of a rtionship between a man and a woman or a man and a little GIRL, as is the case? Mr. Ford looked away in disgust and said, Geez! You really are shameless. You will disgrace our school. I have made up my mind: for seducing a teacher, you are being expelled. You can empty your locker! Having nothing to say, Crystal stood up and left the office. On the way out, Ms. Ford yelled at her to STOP! but Crystal paid her no mind. After all, now that she was no longer a student here, the staff no longer had any hold over her. What a bad day C she thought to herself C my boyfriend cheated on me. My guardian sexually assaulted me. And now Ive been expelled from school. Damn it! What is the point of even living? Crystal found Serenity in the cafeteria, and she ordered arge lunch for herself. Why despair when you can eat?!?!?! When Serenity saw how much food shed purchased, she nearly choked. Did Mr. Ford offer you a double schrship? she asked. No, Crystal replied tly, he expelled me. This isnt a celebratory meal! It is a constory meal! Cant you tell the difference?!?!!? Serenity frowned, and tears welled up in her eyes, and Crystal felt bad for speaking to her friend in such a harsh manner. Im sorry, she said. Im upset, but it wasnt fair to take it out on you. Its okay, Serenity replied. I forgive you. We all have bad days, and yours sounds particrly bad. Why did the school expel you, though? Because of Nathan, Crystal replied. Serenity: So, your affair with Professor Davis was exposed? Crystal: It isnt an affair. I may have been a bit of a cock-tease, but he sexually assaulted me, and theyve turned me into the viin! Serenity: Why dont you ask Professor Davis to exin it to them? Maybe theyll let you stay in school. Crystal: The evidence is conclusive. How could he exin it away? Lets end this talk, shall we? I want to eat my lunch. When Im full, then I will have the strength to think about what to do next. As they were eating, Crystals big brother, Evan Henry, came and sat with them. Crystal looked at him ufortably and asked him what he was doing. Surprised to see me? he asked. He was wearing a light blue shirt and ck pants. Shouldnt I be? Crystal replied. Not really, Evan replied. Who did you think Dad would send after he discovered that you were expelled? He cares about you. You know that, dont you? Cut the crap, Crystal replied coldly. He does! Evan insisted. And he ns to contribute five million dors to this institution to keep you enrolled, and I finally persuaded Mr. Ford to reduce your sentence from expulsion to probation. How about if I ept the dismissal, and he can transfer the money to my ount, Crystal replied snarkily. How does that sound? And why would a man that didnt want to raise his own daughter set aside five million dors to keep her in school? Can you answer that question for me? Serenity listened quietly, not daring to interrupt. She had heard Crystals story about their family and felt sorry for her. Evan frowned and said, Crystal, you cane to me if you need money. Dont be angry at Dad. He has his reasons for abandoning you, and they are reasonable. Can you believe me? Crystal rolled her eyes and said, Of course NOT. Evan nodded as if he hadnt expected any other answer from her, which he likely hadnt Dad hasnt been feeling welltely, he said. Go and see him whenever you can. Crystal was about to excuse herself by saying she wasnt avable, but Evan saw through her. He said, Dad asked that youe and see him tomorrow. Your Mother left something at his ce for you to have.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Then, without saying goodbye, Evan rose and left. Is he your half-brother? Serenity wondered. No, Crystal replied. He was adopted. Chapter 7: Can Elaborate On That Mr. Ford was at a loss about what to do with Professor Davis. He knew that Ms. Crystal Smith had been responsible for what had happened between them, but that didntpletely exonerate him. After giving it much thought, he called Nathan into his office and said, Professor Davis, you may have been rmended by the board of directors, but that doesnt mean you can do whatever you like with the students! You should pay a little more attention to your behavior, and perhaps you need a little discipline to help you keep your mind out of the proverbial gutter. Ms. Ford was also there, and she stood up for Nathan, saying, Dad, dont me Professor Davis. The girl is a tramp and a trollop. Professor Davis cant help it. Ms. Ford gave Nathan an irritated look and added: Isnt that right, Professor Davis? Nathan folded his long legs, shrugged, and smiled calmly. Because Mr. Ford was being paid five million dors to cover this up, he decided that the penalty for this teacher would be slight. Just be careful you dont let anything like this happen again, he said. This is a matter of honor for the school, so I hope that you will cooperate. Oh? Nathan lit a cigar and asked, Can you borate on that? On what it means to cooperate with you? By that, I mean, what are your expectations of me? Mr. Ford sighed and said, The school frowns upon rtionships between teachers and students. If that wasnt obvious before, it should be now. If you need a girlfriend, I can introduce you to plenty of girls. You can choose whichever one you want. You dont have to ruin your career over a student. At this point, Tiffany pretended to cough. Nathan flicked the ash off his cigarette and said, What if I said that I dont want anybody but her? Mr. Ford was stunned for a moment. Then, he frowned and asked, What do you mean?Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Nathanughed. I thought I had made myself clear. Are you so dense that you didnt get my meaning? You really are an insolent prig, arent you? Mr. Ford hissed. He pounded his fist on the desk and said, You will abide by my word, or Ill have to ask you to leave C and note back! Try it, Nathan said disapprovingly. Fire me. If you dare! Well, you asked for it, Mr. Ford shouted. He sat up straight, and he was about to call the board to report the arrogant man in front of him when, suddenly, there was a knock at the door. The door opened, and a man of about fifty entered, followed by three men. Nathan nodded his head and said, Hello, Mr. Wilson. Mr. Wilson paid Nathan no mind as he turned to Mr. Ford. Ill take care of Professor Davis myself, he said. You can rest assured that we would never tolerate a teacher like Professor Davis at this school! Mr. Fords face turned pale, and he asked, So, what are you going to do about it? To prevent something like this from happening again, I think we should publicize the scandal, replied Mr. Wilson. Hopefully, his punishment will act as a deterrent to others. Mr. Ford gasped. Such a scandal would be bad news for the school and his bank ount C but he didnt know what he could say to reverse the course of this conversation. As ast-ditch effort to turn the tide, he red at Mr. Wilson then asked, Who are you anyway? One of the men who hade in with Mr. Wilson said, This man represents Mr. Owen Lane, the man who is standing beside him. He is the Vice President of Saint University. He is here to take care of Mr. Davis. And you. Owen nodded to Nathan and said, Nice to meet you, Professor Davis. Mr. Ford looked at Owen in desperation and asked, What is going on right now? I am so confused! Mr. Wilson snorted, From today on, he said, Mr. White will take over all of your work. As to how the board of directors will handle you, you will be informed. He smiled slyly. You should never offend a man like Professor Davis. Why dont you apologize to Mr. Davis? If you are sincere, then maybe you will get off with a lighter sentence. Mr. Wilsons words were like a p in the face to Mr. Ford, but he had no other choice but to lower his head and do what he was told to do. His face turned red, and he said, Er, Professor Davis, forgive me for being rude to you and being too hasty in dealing with this matter. I am terribly sorry. I pray to god that you will give me one more chance. Tiffany just stood where she was, too scared to say a word. Nathan: Mr. Lane used to be the youngest professor at Saint University, and I am sure his participation will certainly bring more advanced teaching ideas to our university. Also, your decision to expel Crystal is too hasty, but that is not the main reason why you will be stepping down as president. Mr. Ford: Quite so, Professor Davis, but please be lenient to my misbehavior, Nathan: Im sorry, Mr. Ford. Im just a teacher. Mr. Wilson will take care of it. Without giving Mr. Ford a chance to beg for mercy, Nathan left the room. After a few minutes, Owen caught up with him, and once he had his attention, he said, Nathan, Im a Green Horn here, but I gave you what you wanted. Arent you going to give me something in return? Nathan put his hands in his pants pockets and asked, What do you want? Owen: Can I ask anything? Nathan: Spit it out. You can ask for anything, but that doesnt mean youll get it. There was one thing that Owen really wanted, but he was scared to ask for it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained C he thought, and after a moment of deliberation, he said, Can I have the painting? As he had expected, Nathans eyes went cold. Those familiar with Nathan knew that he would give up his life before he gave up his favorite painting, which was the one he assumed Owen was asking for. It was one of his own paintings, and even though it wasnt a masterpiece, it was worth over two hundred million dors. The reason that it was worth so much was that it was hisst painting. A collector had already offered him two hundred million dors for it, but he had rejected the offer without hesitation. Nathan was never short of money, so even though he had a great talent for painting, he had firmly announced that he would never paint again. Thus, there would be no more works by the famous Nathan Davis forting. You should know better than to ask for that! Nathan hissed. There was a moment of silence, and then Owen apologized, and they moved on to another C safer-topic. Chapter 8: Don鈥檛 You Believe Me? Susie had already prepared dinner, and when she saw Nathan enter the door that evening, she hurried to put out slippers for him. Mr. Davis, she said, dinner is ready, but Ms. Crystal hasnte back yet. Would you like to have dinner first or wait for her? Ill wait for her, Nathan said. Susie, you can go home now. Susies daughter-inw was pregnant and needed to be cared for, so Susie had to go home every night. So after Susie left, Nathan took a shower and went straight to the study, where he waited until nine oclock, which was what time it was when Crystal arrived home. Nathan heard a noise at the door, and then the study door was pushed open. Crystal staggered through the door. Her cheeks were glowing, her eyes were dim, and there was a murderous look in her eyes. When Nathan saw her, he frowned and asked her if she was drunk. Rather than answer the question, though, Crystal pointed her finger at him and shouted, You! You! You! You What about me? Nathan asked innocently. And when she didnt reply, he asked her how much shed had to drink. What about YOU?!?!?! Crystal hissed. Your question is hrious! And then she grabbed an ashtray and threw it at Nathans head. Nathan dodged the porcin projectile, and it smashed through the French windows behind him. What gives you the right?!?!!?!? Crystal? Nathan cried as she began to pick up other things to throw at him: a cell phone, a book, a pack of cigarettes; anything that was within reach, and not attached to something, seemed to be fair game. Whats gotten into you? As Nathan took shelter behind his desk, a deck of cards hit him in the forehead, and he cursed. A potted nt hit the bookcase that was beside the window, and a rain of shrapnel came down upon his head and shoulders. You bastard! Crystal bellowed. It is all because of you. You got me kicked out of school and stole everything from me. Why are you doing this to me? Why? What did I ever do to you to deserve this treatment? Eventually, Crystal ran out of steam. She began to weep, and she copsed on the floor in a fit of despair. What do you want from me? she cried. Why cant you just move out? I dont want anything other than this house. This is the only home I have. I grew up here, and all of my memories are here! Why dont you move out? It would be best if you werent my guardian. Im almost eighteen! Why do I even need a guardian? We dont even know each other! Now that it seemed safe toe out, Nathan crawled over to where Crystal was sitting with her knees drawn to her girlish-t chest, bawling like an infant. Nathan grabbed Crystal by the arms and forced her to look him in the eyes. Her tiny face, he saw, was wet with tears, and only then did he realize how much she hated him. Do you want me to move out? he asked hoarsely. Truly? Crystal shed her innocent eyes and nodded without hesitation. Nathan: Do you want me to have the Guardianship Order overturned? Crystal nodded again. Nathan: Okay. I will. I promise. Wait a minute, she said. Id like to record that. Crystal found her phone. It was on the floor, near Nathans desk. Shed thrown it at him, but it still worked. She found her camera App, quickly pointed it at Nathan, and said, Could you please say that again? Nathan scowled. Dont you believe me? he asked. You dont need the camera. Look me in the eyes and see if Im lying. Crystal looked Nathan in the eyes, and when she didnt see any lies in them, she put her phone away and said, Professor Davis, I hope that you keep your word. Nathan smiled and said, I always keep my word. Crystal: You swear that you will give up custody of me and move out. Nathan: I swear it! You impossible girl!. Crystal sighed and thanked Nathan. Maybe this will all finally be over, she told herself. But she was afraid to count her chickens before they hatched. That being said, for the first time since her mother had died, she was hopeful. All of a sudden, Crystal felt ustrophobic- I cant breathe. I need to get out of this room! She stood up quickly, and without saying another word to Nathan, she ran to her room. Once Crystal was in her room, with her door closed and locked behind her, she called up Serenity to tell her the good news. Dorris had been plotting to get rid of Nathan for a long time, and his concession was like a dreame true, and she felt silly for drinking the two beers earlier and getting drunk when all shed needed to do was ask him to leave with conviction so that he knew she was serious. When Crystal told her friend about the fit shed had and how she destroyed his office and hit him in the head with a deck of cards, she was stunned. And after all that, hes giving you what you want? Serenity couldnt believe it. And hes just going to give up custody and move out? she asked incredulously. Just like that? It sounds too good to be true. Do you think hes tricking you? Its crossed my mind, Crystal admitted. I looked him in the eye, though, and I didnt see any lies there. Anyway, whose side are you on? You are a real bummer Serenity apologized and said, Of course, Im on your side. I was just ying the Devils Advocate. I am your friend, and I dont want you to get your hopes up, just to be let downN?velDrama.Org content. Dont worry, Crystal sighed. I am just trying to stay positive: hope for the best and expect the worst, you know? There was a moment of silence, and then Serenity said, Lets change the subject. Did the thing I ordered for you online arrive? Crystal looked at the package on the dresser. Yes, I got it this morning. Whats in it? Serenity: Just open it and see. Crystal: Well, Ill open itter. Im going to take a shower now. Talk to youter. Bye. Serenity: Bye-bye. After turning off her phone, Crystal took off her T-shirt and jeans and stood in front of her long mirror, naked except for her pink cotton Hello Kitty underwear. She raised her hand and rolled up her hair, mped it in ce with her other hand, and turned to look at the package lying quietly on her dresser. Whats in it?- she wondered. She was curious. It felt like too much effort to tear off the packaging to see what was inside of it, but her curiosity finally got the better of her. Crystal brought the package to her bed. She sat down and made herselffortable, cross-legged on herforter, with her back against her headboard. She ced the package between her legs, and then she began to pull at the tape. Chapter 9: The Amazon Parcel The parcel was from Amazon, which meant that the box opened easily. The package was rectangr, and there was a single strip of packing tape holding it shut. Crystal pushed one side of the box in, hooked her finger underneath it, tore it, pulled it away from the box, and tossed it into the wastebasket beside her bed. After sitting up straight again, Crystal pulled open the cardboard and wasnt surprised to discover that the box was half-filled with bubble wrap. Just like Amazon to use an oversized box and stuff it with bubble wrap- Crystal thought C What a waste. It is no wonder the package was so light! Crystal pulled out the bubble wrap, and when she saw what was underneath it (Serenitys gift!), her face immediately turned red, which made her feel extremely hot, and she pushed the box away from her as if it were a gue nket. What the hell? she gasped. Crystal thought that Serenity was a carefree, innocent little girl, but she was actually a slut. How dare she think that I would have any use for such a thing! C she thought angrily. Crystal thought that Serenity must have done a lot of secret research, though, before being able to send her such a gift, so she wasnt able to stay angry for long. What a bohemian girl C Crystal thought, and sheughed. Even if it was a prank, this thing was too much, or was it? Crystal found her eyes inexplicably drawn to the box and its foul contents, and she admitted to herself that disgust had not been the only feeling shed had when shed pulled away from the bubble wrap. There had been hunger, too. Hadnt there?- she wondered. Forget about it!- she told herself sharply C Get rid of it! When she considered its shape, she realized that it had been embarrassing just to look at it. It made her think of how Nathans body had felt this morning, naked and pressed against her. Crystals heart began to beat fast, and her eyes returned to the box. Are you thinking what Im thinking? C a voice in her head wondered. I AM NOT! another voice snapped back THAT THING IS DIRTY! And you ARE NOT a dirty Girl! Crystal swallowed hard and patted her head to calm herself down. She turned and looked in the mirror. Her chest was flushed, and her nipples were hard. She brought her right hand up to her left breast, clutched it, gave it a good squeeze, and then she frowned at her own reflection in the mirror at the end of her bed. Oh, Crystal, she cried. What the hell are you thinking about? And she grabbed her clothes and ran naked down the hall and into the bathroom. After closing the bathroom door, she turned on the shower and threw her clothes into the basket by the toilet. As she took off her panties, she tried hard to ignore the damp spot. at the front, but the musky, sweet odor made it impossible. I am horny, she finally admitted to herself, but as soon as the words were out, the voices in her head began to mor for her shouted attention. AM NOT! AM NOT! AM NOT! C they shouted. I am not, she muttered in agreement. Crystal turned the water to cold before climbing in, and the freezing water brought her back to her senses, and by the time she started to turn up the heat, shed all but forgotten about the Amazon box on her bed. Then, as the hot water washed over her naked body, Crystal began to rx. She waspletely sober, but it had been a long day, and she was tired. While she scrubbed a two-in-one shampoo/conditioner into her hair, she reyed the highlights. There was her failed attempt to trick Nathan into thinking that theyd had sex, her car ident on the way to school, discovering her boyfriend was cheating. on her and that Nathan was her teacher, him sexually assaulting her, getting drunk at the bar, throwing a fit in his office, and Serenitys gift. Crystalthered her armpits with her shaving gel, and suddenly, as she reached for the razor, the lights went out, and she screamed out of reflex. As a child, Crystal had been terrified of the dark. Although she had eventually gotten over the phobia, to have it sprung upon her unexpectedly like this still made her nervous. There was some light, though,ing through the half-open door, but then it closed, and the bathroom became pitch ck. Crystal couldnt even see her fingers. Crystal turned off the water, pulled the curtain aside, found her towel, and wrapped herself in it. She had been extremely afraid, but now that her nudity had been covered, some of her courage returned. Crystal stepped out of the tub, dried off, and began to make her way towards the door. The bathroom wasnt very big, and she quickly found the door handle. She pulled the door open, but it didnt help. That was because it was as dark in the hallway as it had been in the bathroom. Perhaps there has been a power outage-she thought to herself C if that was the case, though, then who closed the bathroom door? Crystals first reaction was to go back to her room and get her mobile phone. However, as she turned around, she banged her knee on something. Crystal shouted as she dropped to the floor in pain. And as she grabbed her throbbing knee, she didnt even realize that shed dropped her towel.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. When the pain finally began to subside, Crystal realized that she was sitting in the hallway-naked- and she began to feel around on the floor for it. It couldnt have gotten far, she thought, but she couldnt find it. Crystal began to crawl along the hallway, feeling for a towel. She made it about two feet when she came upon a foreign object, Whats this? She muttered, and she began to feel it to get a sense of it, starting at the ground and slowly making her way up. Eventually, she came upon something sack-like, hairy, and gushy, but it wasnt until she found the hard, tube-like projectile above it that she realized that shed discovered Nathan and Nathans prick! Chapter 10: Don鈥檛 Be Afraid It鈥檚 Me Crystal screamed at the realization that she had been, for all intent and purposes, ying with Nathans genitals, and she pulled her hand away quickly, as a child might do after identally touching a hot burner. But, like a cruel mother who thinks that her child hasnt quite learned their lesson yet, Nathan grabbed her hand and held it where it was. Whos there? Crystal shouted as she tried to withdraw her hand. Its me, Nathan replied, and then he began tough. Who else would be wandering the hallway with their dingus hanging out?!?!? Crystal stopped screaming and stammered in confusion: Prof Professor Davis?Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Yes, Nathan replied. Dont be afraid its me. Crystal began to calm down, and she was surprised by how easily Nathans words had settled her nerves. The feelings she got when he spoke were like those shed had when she was climbing a tree as a child. When she got too high toe down, her grandfather had always stood under the tree, reached out his hands to her, and said, Crystal, dont be afraid. Grandpa is here. In another way, Nathans voice also reminded Crystal of her Mothers. Crystal remembered how, when shed walked for the first time on her own, her Mother had taken her little hand C just like Nathan had her hand now C and said, Darling, dont be afraid. Mommy is here. And it seemed like, with Nathan, Crystal had suddenly found a safe ce. Without thinking it over, Crystal stood up and threw. herself into Nathans arms. I am a little bit afraid of the dark, she admitted as he wrapped his arms around her. Crystal felt her naked body against his naked body and found that the urge to pull away from him had disappeared. That being said, his prick poked ufortably at her belly, causing her to frown. She looked up at Nathan shyly and said, Your thing is hard, even harder than before You did that, Nathan said. It got harder when you were touching it. As hard as Nathans manh**d was now, it very much reminded her of the gift that Serenity had sent her. So, maybe it isnt as disgusting as Id initially thought it was- Crystal thought absently, and the idea of it inside her made her quiver. Momentarily, the lights flickered, and then they came back on, and suddenly the position that they were in felt very wrong to Crystal. She pushed Nathan away and was surprised to see that he wasnt naked. He was wearing a bathrobe, and hed simply opened it up. He closed it quickly now, and Crystal realized that she was naked, and he was not, and she was humiliated. She could feel his eyes on her. He is taking a mental scan of my body C Crystal realized so that he never forgets what I look like naked! Crystals skin was white and pink, like a babys skin. Her wet hair stuck to the back of her slender neck and flowed, unruly, over her round, sexy shoulders. Under her beautiful corbones, there were two perfect arcs, each like a peach. Her breasts are small but perky. Her skin was tight, and her nipples were puffy. She had slender arms, and a small, barely noticeable pouch of fat over her stomach that rose and fell with each breath. Her hips were girlish still, and her pubic hair was sparse and light, which allowed Nathan to see through it to herbia. Clothed, Crystal was nothing special to look at; naked, though, that was another story, and to Nathan, she was a masterpiece, a woman child, and unlike any other student that hed been with before. When Crystal saw his eyes down there, she covered herself and turned around, inadvertently giving him a good look-over on the other side. Her buttocks were slightlyrger than one would expect for a girl her size, but they were tight. And although she wasnt very tall, her legs were slender. As Crystal turned around, she spotted her towel to the left of her, pressed up against the wall. How did it get there? C she wondered C and how did I miss it? Crystal grabbed the bath towel, wrapped it around her body, and tried to get back to her room. But, unfortunately, she had to get past him to get there, and he was not ready for her to y her disappearing trick on him again. Nathan smiled at her, and his eyes were cruel. He grabbed her by the arms, threw her against the wall, and pressed her wrists against the wall. He leaned in to whisper in her ear, and she could feel his prick pressed against her once more. What is your game? he hissed. One minute, youre practically jerking me off, and the next, youre acting like I have the gue. Dont you realize that if you keep this up, I will eventually take what I want? Or is that what you want me to do? Do you like it rough? No! Crystal cried. Tears began to run down her face, and she said, It isnt like that. It was an ident. The lights were out, and I was looking for my cell phone! I dont know that you will alsoing out from your room, And you think Little Nathan, down there, feels like a cell phone? No, Crystal groaned. I mean, I was looking for my towel so that I could go for my cell phone What about the vibrator in your room? Nathan sneered. You must be hungry for the D! So why settle for a toy when you could have the real thing?!?!? Crystal reeled. fucking Serenity C her mind screamed C I didnt even use the toy, and look at how much trouble its gotten me into already! Crystal had no idea how she would get herself out of this predicament, but she thought that shed kill her friend the next time she saw her. fucking Serenity C she thought again, this time with less angst C fuck! fuck Fuck. Chapter 11: Do You Like It? Crystal was at a loss for words, and she didnt like the feelings ofplete helplessness that were washing over her in waves. She recognized that her heart was racing, though, and that was one thing that she could control. She began to slow her breathing, and she counted backward in her head- ten, nine, eight, seven, and so on C hoping that if she could think straight, she could find a way out of her current predicament. Crystal didnt know what to say to Nathan. It seemed like whatever she said, he twisted her words and used them against her. It doesnt help that hes much smarter than I am C a voice in her head whines so much smarter. After all, he is a teacher! After a minute, Crystal said, That vibrator was a gift from Serenity. Didnt you notice that it was still in its packaging? I dont use those.. Never have. They disgust me! If youve never used one, how do you know that you wont like it? After saying that, Nathan kissed Crystal on the lips, but she turned her head away immediately. How dare you, Crystal shouted. You didnt even ask! She stared at him angrily. And besides, Im under 18! Arent you afraid of going to jail?!?!? Nathan seemed to think about that for a moment, and then he let her go. I can wait a little longer to soil your virtue properly. After all, your birthday isnt that far away. Nathan turned in the direction of his room, and as he walked away, he said, Have fun with your toy, and then he began to mimic the sound that it likely made: Bzzzzzzz bzzzzzz bzzzzzzzzzzz. And then he began tough hysterically. Before he disappeared into his room, Crystal shouted after him: What about your promise to move out and leave me alone? Nathan stopped, turned his head, and with an unfathomable expression, asked, Are you so eager to let me go? I am, Crystal said firmly. If you need to, you can stay here for two more days, but only if you need to, and for no longer than that! Nathan: What if I cant find a ce to live in, in that amount of time? Are you prepared to throw me out onto the streets?!?! Crystal: Dont worry, I can help you find an apartment online. What are your prerequisites for where you want to live? Nathan: What prerequisites? I hadnt considered such things I am used to being taken care of. Crystal: How about I figure it out for you? Nathan didnt say anything and turned away in silence. Now that that was settled, Crystal walked back to her room. She changed into her pink cartoon pajamas and sat cross-legged on her bed with her iPad. She turned it on and began to look for ces where Nathan could live. Almost immediately, she found a half-dozen ces that seemed suitable, and she started to sing happily. Then, with her iPad clutched to her chest, she hurried to Nathans room and knocked on the door. Nathan told her to enter, and she found him sitting on the sofa, reading his email. Crystal sat down beside him, and she showed him the. results of her search. Look at this one, she said. It has three bedrooms, one living room, one kitchen, and one bathroom. It is well decorated. Although it is a little far from the school, you wont have any trouble. There is also this two-bedroom apartment. It is a bit small, but its right next to the school, and it would be more convenient for you because you would just have to cross the street in the morning, and you would be at work! Crystal showed Nathan each of the ces she found, enting the advantages and downying the disadvantages. Anything to get him out of the house C she thought this mother-fucking pedo has got to go! As Nathan watched her, though, he began to realize exactly how much he didnt want to move out and be away from her. And she couldnt make him leave if he refused. Crystal noticed Nathans cold expression, and she asked him what he was thinking. Nathan looked Crystal in the eye but said nothing. He could smell the scent of her shampoo mixed with her uniquely sweet, girlish bodys fragrance, and he realized that he was bing aroused again. The inexplicably hot feeling in his groin began to swell. Only the scent of Crystals body, he knew, could provoke all the desire buried in his body in this way. Crystal brought with her a life experience that he had never had before but had wanted for a long time. Nathan calmly pushed away from the iPad in her hand, and then he showed her his notebooks desktop picture. It was a French-designed vi. The vi stood in the forest that was located on the edge of the city, and a sea of colorful flowers surrounded it. As the wind blew, the flowers swayed with the wind. The whole vi was made ofrge pieces of ss, which had neat modern lines, but came with a fresh romantic feeling. It looked extraordinarily atmospheric and luxurious. Crystal was utterly shocked by that. The house had actually been built ording to her favorite style! She hadnt expected to find such a beautiful ce in Huston. Do you like it? Nathan asked. Crystal nodded her head, and then she said, It doesnt matter what I think, though. What do you think? Nathan smiled and said, I choose this one. Can you afford it? Crystal asked hesitantly.N?velDrama.Org content. She needed to know the answer, but she didnt want to offend Nathan by asking about his finances. A voice in her head spoke up, saying C He has enough. He has all of the money that your Mother left him! If he takes this house, he will squander it all!!! Crystals face froze, but she had no way of venting her anger. After all, this man had just promised her to move out. Whats wrong? Nathan asked her. Nothing, Crystal sighed. The ce looks nice. If you like it, you should take it. The phone rang suddenly, then, and Nathan stood up. Ill answer the phone first, he said, and then Ill make up my mind. Chapter 12: Didn鈥檛 You Send It To Me? As Nathan stepped out of the room, Crystal took the opportunity to peek into his more personal belongings. She looked around. This room that Nathan lived in had initially been a guest room in Crystals home, and the patterns of ck and white tones had not changed. Nathan had few personal belongings, she noticed. There was a book and a pen on the coffee table, though, which was something. Crystal leaned over, picked it up, and was disappointed to discover that it wasnt a diary or journal. The title on the books jacket read: Howards Amazing Adventure- and ording to the back cover, the book told the story of an alien rabbit that had identally broken into the earth. Crystal picked up the book, turned a few pages randomly, and finally put it down indifferently. Nathan had walked out to the balcony, and Crystal tried to read his bodynguage. He was in a state of deep concentration, and it seemed like it would be safe to rummage through some of his even more personal things. After making sure that he wasnt looking, Crystal opened the top drawer of his dresser, where she found a transparent stic bag filled with some paper documents and receipts. Crystal did not see anything that might be useful to her. After closing the top drawer, Crystal then pulled open the bottom drawer, where she found a red diary. Crystal gasped, and her heart began to beat fast. Then, after hesitating for a moment, she opened the journal. The yellowed paper was filled with delicate handwriting that she recognized immediately as belonging to her Mother!! Before she could read more than a few words, she heard Nathan returning, and she closed the book, acting as if she hadnt recognized it for what it was. Nathan stood above her and, looking down probably down my shirt, she thought he asked her. Do you want to sleep together tonight? No, Crystal replied. After putting the book away, she stood up and said, Im going back to my room.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Have it your way, Nathan said, and he began tough as she fled into the hallway. Once Crystal was back in her room, she closed and locked the door behind her, and then she leaned against it and exhaled deeply, thinking C I am safe now. Crystal had always been a level-headed girl, so she didnt know what was wrong with her recently or how Nathan was able to get under her skin so easily. It is probably because his aura is too strong-she thought wearily C if you let your guard down before you know it, he will have his sharp fangs in you. Crystal thought back on the situation in Nathans room, and she didnt understand why she had left without her Mothers diary. In retrospect, her intuition told her that it must contain the information she wanted. I must get it- she realized- If I go back tonight, though, he will definitely think I want to have sex with him But she had missed such an excellent opportunity just now, and there shouldnt be another chance tonight. In an attempt to distract herself, Crystal sat down with her phone and used WhatsApp to start a video chat with Serenity, and after exchanging pleasantries, she said, Serenity, you are such a slut, how dare you send me such a gift? Nathan saw it, and now Im about to die from embarrassment. All because of you! When Crystal thought about the vibrator, she couldnt help thinking about how Nathans prick had felt when hed pressed it against her, and her body burned with an inexplicable heat that seemed to start in her groin and spread out to every other part of her body, making her limbs feel weak and her thoughts hazy. Serenity: Embarrassed? Why are you so embarrassed? Its not a shameful thing to have. Everybody uses them, and once you try one, you will know why! Look at your face, though, It is so red. Why is that? Is Professor Davis on your bed? Shut up! Crystal hissed. Nobody is on my bed. My face is red because I am angry. Your gift almost got me assaulted tonight! Serenity frowned. I just sent you some masks, she said. Why are you so angry? How could a couple of masks get you assaulted? What are you talking about? Crystal shouted. Im talking about the masks that I sent you, Serenity replied. What are you talking about? Crystal rushed to her dresser, picked up the vibrator, and waved it in front of the camera. And when Serenity saw it, sheughed. With such a handsome man in the house, the real thing! I cant imagine why you would settle for a toy. Where did you get it? Crystal: Didnt you send this to me? Serenity: Absolutely not. I dont even use one of them on myself, so why would I give one to you? Crystal: Well, if it wasnt you, then who?!?!!? Serenity shrugged. How should I know? But when you do find out who sent it to you, what will you do? Crystal: I will fuck him! Serenityughed again. And what if it is Professor Davis? Crystal: Then I will let him y for us. Serenity: Oh, girl, you are so evil. I love it! After happily chatting with Serenity for a long time, Crystal ended the call. It waste, and she was tired. She got up and began to get ready for bed, but as she was braiding her hair, she was struck with the realization that if Nathan moved out the next day, he would take her Mothers journal with him, and she would never see it again. No way am I letting that happen! C a voice in her mind argued so I guess he cant move out until after I have the diary. It shouldnt be too hard to get it. I could pick the lock on his door while hes away or hide in his closet. Or, if worse came to worst, I could negotiate with him for it These were the thoughts that followed Crystal into her dreams and kept her tossing and turning all night long. Chapter 13: I Want You The next day, when Crystal came down for breakfast, Nathan was already sitting at the head of the table in the dining room. And to the right of him, there was a man in a ck suit. The stranger was standing over Nathan, slightly bowed, and he was handing a document to him. From the way that the stranger carried himself in Nathans presence, it was apparent to Crystal that he was subordinate to him. When Nathan heard Crystals footsteps, he looked up from the papers and ordered her to join him at the table. Once she was seated, he introduced the man in ck to her. This is Mike, he said. Mike is mywyer. Say hello to Mike. Suddenly Crystal felt like a child, which, she supposed, she was, at least as far as these men were concerned. Her cheeks turned pink, and she looked at her shoes. Hello, Mike, she said shyly. My name is Crystal Smith Mike reached his hand out politely towards Crystal. Crystal hesitated for a moment, and then, as she brought her hand up, Nathan brushed it away. No time for that, he said impatiently. You and Mike have some details to finalize. What documents? Crystal asked skeptically. Here, Mike said as he pushed some papers in front of Crystal. Miss Smith, this document is a real estate transfer certificate. Mr. Davis is transferring this house to your name. The other document is a statement of Mr. Davis renunciation of your custody. The minute you sign it, it will take effect. As Crystal looked at the pages, a thousand thoughts crowded into her mind, and she couldnt think straight. Things were moving much faster than she had imagined they would, and everything that was happening seemed too easy. Too good to be true C a voice in her mind cried out C Be careful! Its a trap! If it was a trap, though, it was very cleverly hidden. Mike looked at Crystal curiously. Miss Smith, if there is no problem, please sign here and this ce: on the dotted line, he said. Mikes words interrupted Crystals thoughts and forced her hand. She took the pen, brought it to the paper, and began to sign where he had indicated. Crystal was halfway through her signature when she seemed to remember something. She stopped, looked at Nathan, and asked, Can I add a condition to this agreement? Nathan raised his eyebrows and said, You can ask for one, but I probably wont agree with it. You! Crystal gasped. Nathan: You want that diary, dont you? Well, too bad! I am taking it with me! Crystal: Why? That belonged to my mother! It should belong to me now! Nathan: Unfortunately for you, she didnt leave it for you. She left it for me! Upon hearing these words, Crystal felt as if she had been punched in the stomach, and she began to gasp for air. Panic Attack! C her mind told her C You have a Panic Attack! Before things could get any worse, Crystal forced herself to finish signing her name, and she pushed the papers away from herself. Mike took back the documents. He handed her another set of documents and said, Miss Smith, this is your real estate certificate, and, from today on, Mr. Davis is no longer your guardian. Crystals breathing began to slow, and she thanked Mike. Now that Nathan was no longer her guardian, she could finally rx. If theres nothing else, she said, I would like to go and make my breakfast now. Crystal got up without waiting for an answer, but Mike stopped her. He said, Wait a minute, Miss Smith, there are still some procedures to be done. Procedures? C her mind reeled now?!?!!? Crystal turned back to the table as Mike began toy out some other papers on the table. As he ced them where she could see them, he exined what they were: This is the authentication certificate for the Night Lotus Vase, which is cdon and belongs to thete Yuan Dynasty and the early Ming Dynasty. This one is for the Multi-colored Peach Pattern Olive Vase, which was produced in the Kangxi period. And this is for the Banana Leaf Hollowed-out Vase from the Qianlong Qing Dynasty Crystal frowned and said, This Im not interested in antique collections, not to mention art that I cant afford. Mike sighed and said, Miss Smith, on behalf of my client, Mr. Davis, I must formally impensation from you. Compensation? Crystal hissed. Whatpensation? Crystal looked at Mike with a dumbfounded expression on her face, and then she looked at Nathan.N?velDrama.Org content. Mike: Miss Smith, please stay calm and be reasonable. You broke several items from Mr. Davis collectionst night. These are the assessments of worth and authentication certificates. The total amount of damage adds up to four hundred and eighty million dors! Upon hearing this, Crystal began to panic again. Her heart began to beat rapidly, she began to gasp for breath, her head began to spin, and tears began to fall from her eyes like rain on the legal documents below her. What did you say? she cried as she remembered throwing a vase against a wall. It had felt so satisfying then, but now? Not so much. I must not have heard you right. Nathan looked at her, and through Cheshires grin, he said, You owe me four hundred and eighty million dors. How would you like to pay for that? Crystal looked at Nathan in disbelief. He was: cool and calm, and she wanted to rush over and tear him into pieces. Mike: Considering that Ms. Smith and Mr. Davis have no guardianship rtionship, I hope Miss Smith can make restitution as soon as possible. Crystal: I cant afford it Mike: If you cant afford it, your house will be sold. The profits will go to him, and your wages will be garnished until your debt is paid in full, plus interest. In all likelihood, your debt will not be paid off in your lifetime, and it will be passed down to your children, and perhaps to your grandchildren as well. I have no future C Crystal realized C and I am about to be homeless, penniless, and alone. I wont even be able to pay my tuition fees Crystal would have cried then if she werent already crying. You set me up! Crystal shouted spitefully. Nathan chuckled and said, Did I ask you to throw those things? Was I the one that asked for the Guardianship Order to be terminated? No. You did that. You made your bed, and now you have to lie in it. Nathans words rang true in Crystals ears, and she was struck dumb by them. He masterminded this- she told herself- but he is too smart for me to see how or what to do about it! Crystal forced herself to calm down by taking slow, deep breaths and counting backward in her heart, from C Ten to nine Eight Seven And so on. Finally, she was able to look at Nathan with some semnce of control. Nathan Davis, what do you want? she asked. You are a smart enough woman, he replied. Dont tell me that you dont know what I want: I want you! Chapter 14: He Must Be Pretending All you want is to fuck me? Crystal asked skeptically. And then you will forgive my debt? No, not just fuck, Nathanughed. I want you to give yourself to me, fully, as my wife! Crystal gasped as Mike produced a marriage certificate. Nathan hadid a much bigger trap for her than she could have ever imagined. Crystal contemted the proposal for a moment before addressing Mike, hiswyer. I only have two questions, she said. The first question is this: if I sign it, does it mean that I dont need to pay my debt? Mike: Yes. And your second question? Crystal: Okay, I havent reached the legal age for marriage yet, so even if I sign it, it wont take effect. Is that right? Mike was just about to open his mouth to answer the question when he was interrupted by Nathan. Nathan raised his hand and said, If I say that it is effective, no one will dare to say that it isnt. Do you believe that? I suppose so, Crystal admitted. She hesitated for a moment, and then she signed the marriage certificate. What other options do I have?- she asked herself C None! Mike was overjoyed as he gathered the papers, and as he left, he kept saying, I will help you two with the rest of the procedures. Congrattions to you, Mr. Davis. And Ms. Smith, I wish you a happy life with Nathan. Crystal sighed as Mike left. I had better start making the most of my situation C she told herself, after all, who knows what the future will hold for us? And even though we are married, we may get a divorce in the future. Just then, Susie appeared with a bowl of oatmeal for Crystal, but shed lost her appetite. Im sorry, Susie, she said, but Im runningte. I have to go. Crystal grabbed her backpack from the living room and rushed out the door. I am married! C Crystal realized as the sun hit her face. She had promised herself that she would only marry for love C but now look at me! And at that moment, all of the energy in her body left her, and she copsed on the ground. She was crying harder than she ever had in her life, but she was barely aware of it. Her mind had gonepletely nk. And after a moment, she lost consciousness altogether. After a while, Nathan came out and joined her. He sat down beside her, picked her up, and ced her in a sitting position on hisp. He wiped the tears out of her eyes, ran his fingers through her hair, and eventually, Crystal came back to him. And when he saw the light return to her eyes, he said, There, there, do you think being my wife will be so terrible? I do, Crystal admitted. You have been so cruel to me. I dont know why my mother left this house to you or why she would leave me in your care - Nathan suddenly reached out to grab her chin. She was caught off guard, and she had no recourse when he kissed her delicate lips. Next, he kissed her sensitive eyelids, and then he began to kiss away her tears. His lips were soft, and his actions were tender, but they did nothing to alleviate the profound helplessness and unhappiness that Crystal felt at that moment. And even though Nathan intended tofort his new, young wife, his gesture was just another form of ra*e, and perhaps it was even more intrusive than the way he had sexually assaulted her in his office the day before. I am not a bad man, he whispered as he kissed his way along her neck. You will see, and you wille to love me. No, Crystal cried, and she tried to push him away. Crystal began to panic again when she realized that Nathan wasnt going to let her go, and she began to look around for help when she suddenly realized that she was in his room! Apparently, when hed found her on thewn, he had carried her inside, and she had been out of it to realize what was happening.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Nathans room was exactly as she remembered it: it was neat and tidy. The floor was spotless, and there was no hair anywhere. His clothes were as he liked them, ironed and smoothed t. A man like this C Crystal realized C with an obsessivepulsive disorder would have no reason to want to be with me. He must be pretending! And she hoped that he wouldnt be able to maintain the charade for long. Finally, Nathan let Crystal go. I have to go to work now, he said. He cupped her left breast in his right hand, gave it a gentle squeeze, and said, but we can pick this up tonight, where we left off. Dont worry about going to school if you dont want to, not on the day of your wedding. Nathan escorted Crystal out of his room and locked the door behind them, and he left her there without another word. Thepany that Nathan worked for was called Brilliant Group. It was located in the center of the city, and it was so tall and robust that it dwarfed all of the other buildings around it inparison. Nathan wore a pure ck suit, andpared to the otherpany elites, he was as majestic as an emperor. When Nathan got to work, he went straight to his office and called for his assistant, Andy, who came straight away. Even though Andy had worked with Nathan for five years, he was still intimidated by Nathan. Thus, when he arrived, he was nervous. I am here, boss, Andy said, with a slight tremor in his voice. He thought that, since he had been called to Nathans office, he had done something wrong, and he was afraid that he was about to lose his job. Nathan asked Andy to close the door and take a seat, and then he asked Andy how long hed been married. Married? Andy stammered. The question had been so unexpected that he was struck dumb by it. His boss had never asked about his private life before. In fact, he hadnt even known that his boss knew that he was married. How long have you been married, Andy? Nathan asked again. And he sounded somewhat annoyed to have had to ask twice. One one year, boss, Andy stammered. Thats interesting, Nathan said contemtively. Can you think of a reason why a woman wouldnt want to marry someone? Chapter 15: It Is All Legit Before today, Nathan had beenpletely confident that every woman in the world would want to marry him if they were given the opportunity. He had good looks, poprity, and money. What more could a woman want? C he wondered. The sight of Crystal crying on thewn had thrown him for a loop, and nothing about the things shed said had made any sense to him C But maybe Andy knows a little bit more about this than I do C he thought C After all, hes been married for a year! Nathan eyed Andy impatiently as he waited for an answer. Finally, Andy said, There There are many reasons why a woman wouldnt want to marry someone. For example, if they were short, ugly, fat, poor,zy, opinionated, stubborn, violent, or if they were a disgusting pervert. But I have none of those shorings, Nathan insisted. It must be something else. One thought urred to Andy, but he doesnt say it C Perhaps she sees what everyone else around here sees: that youre a homosexual. Andy honestly could not imagine there is a woman who wouldnt want to marry Nathan, except for this reason. Andy squirmed a little bit in his seat, and then he said, Well President Davis, if there is anything wrong with my work, you can just tell me directly Answer my question, Nathan bellowed, or I will hold you personally responsible if my rtionship fails! Well fuck! C Andy thought-and if I told him what I really think, hed probably fire me! Finally, he said, I Im sorry, but I cant think of any reason why a woman wouldnt want to marry you A man as perfect as yourself, any woman would want to marry you with your assets and qualifications. But is there a chance that shes holding out for love? I have heard that some women like to do that After speaking, Andy closed his eyes nervously. He had the feeling that after what hed just said, his boss might want to kill him. A few minutes passed, though, and when Nathan still hadnt physically attacked him, Andy dared to open his eyes. Then, Nathan said in a low tone of voice, So, Crystal doesnt love me That is what youre saying? Any swallowed hard. No, no, he said. I dont mean that. I was just saying that that is another reason why a woman might not want to marry a specific man. I didnt mean to imply that this was Crystals reason for not wanting to get married to you! After saying this, Andy really did want to die. Nathan silently waved his hand and said, Get out. Andy ran out of Nathans office as fast as he could. He felt like he had just been released from prison or like hed gotten a new lien on life. Unfortunately, that feeling soon disappeared. Crystal doesnt love him- he thought to himself- But of course, she doesnt! Back in his office, Weasley was having simr thoughts. He knew that Crystal didnt love him, but he didnt see what that had to do with anything. **** Crystal sat in detention with her head on her desk. Even though Nathan had told her she didnt need to go to school, shed gone anyway, and then shed gotten in trouble for beingte. Again. So, after the final bell had rung, shed gone to the detention room. Serenity was also supposed to be in detention too, but she hadnt arrived yet. Thus, once shed taken her seat, she put her books on the desk next to hers to save them for her friend. Crystal hadnt slept well the night before, and her morning had been exhausting, so she was very tired, and almost as soon as she put her head on her desk, she fell asleep. It wasnt long after that, though, that someone sat beside Crystal, and when she half-opened her eyes, she was surprised to see that it wasnt Serenity. It was Frank, one of her schoolmates. He was handsome, and when he smiled, two shallow pear-shaped dimples appeared. Excuse me, Crystal said sleepily, this seat is reserved. There is no name on it, Frank replied belligerently. I am too tired for your shit, Crystal sighed. Im ufortable with you sitting there, and there are many other vacant seats. Please choose one of them. This one is reserved for my friend, Serenity. Franks face turned red suddenly, and he said, I know, I came here just to But before he could finish speaking, he saw Serenity walk in. He stood up quickly and banged his knee on the desk. fuck! he cursed as he switched seats. Serenity was baffled by Franks actions. Well, what happened? she asked. Why did he run away like that? Did he want to flirt with you? Who knows! Crystal snapped. Dont talk to me. I need to sleep for a while. Serenity: Okay, you can sleep if you want, but I will continue with my questions. Please let me go to sleep, Crystal wined. Serenity: How can you sleep? Havent you heard the news about our new headmaster?Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Crystal. Whatever. I dont care. Serenity: Do you think that it has something to do with you? Crystal: Dont be ridiculous. I dont have that kind of power. And why would I want to fire Mr. Ford? He was a good enough principal. And if I did have that kind of power, I would make myself principal, not somebody else! Serenity: Come on, you are not suitable to be a headmaster. Anyways, its too coincidental when you think about it: Mr. Ford is being fired right after epting a five-million-dor bribe! Crystal: That actually makes sense. They say that the new headmaster used to be the vice-chancellor of Saint University. Are you hoping that he is more handsome than Mr. Ford? I would settle for younger people, Serenityughed. Crystal: Dont be silly. There are no young headmasters! Suddenly Serenity remembered why Crystal was in detention. She asked her friend why she had beente, but Crystal said that she didnt want to talk about it. Unfortunately, Serenity was too nosey to let it go. Did it have to do with Professor Davis? she wondered. Crystal frowned and said, He forced me to marry him this morning. Serenitys jaw nearly hit the floor when she heard this. But you are too young, she said. You arent even of legal age. Can he get away with this? He likes em young, Crystal replied bitterly, and Im young. Since Im still a child, I guess he can do whatever he wants with me. At first, I thought that he couldnt get away with it, but on the way to school, I checked with the Civil Affairs Bureau. It is all legit. Oh, it is so annoying. I dont want to be married to anyone, let alone Nathan Davis. He really makes my skin crawl! Serenity shuddered and said, I wouldnt want to be in your shoes when hees to consummate the marriage. Crystal cursed so loud that everyone heard, and when she realized what shed done, she covered her mouth and apologized to the ss. Then she leaned over to Serenity and said, I hadnt thought of that The ounting teacher/Dungeon Master, which was what the students always called the Detention Monitor, interrupted them then, saying, Crystal, Serenity, if you have any questions, you can discuss them at the podium. Otherwise, keep silent. This ss is for detention, not recess. Lets keep that in mind. Finally, the day was over. Crystal said goodbye to Serenity and prepared herself to pay a visit to her Fathers Mansion. Evan had told her that her mother had left some things there for her, so she had to go and fetch them. Chapter 16: What鈥檚 The Difference? The Henry household lived in an independent vi with a big courtyard, and when Crystal arrived, the European-style patterned iron door was tightly closed to her. After taking a deep breath, Crystal put her hand on the doorbell, but before she actually pressed it, she found herself hesitating. press it or not to press it, that was the question. She would not be here except for the fact that her father had said that her mother had left something important for her. None of the people living inside the vi had a good rtionship with her. Her father hadnt even picked her up after her mother died. Her Stepmother, Jessica, had been the reason why her father had abandoned her and her Mother. Her half-sister Joyce had stolen her boyfriend, and Evan was Jessicas son from her first marriage, so they werent even rted by blood. Out of all of them, she hated Evan the least. That being said, behind his golden frame sses, she thought she saw the eyes of a venomous snake. Lucy, the housekeeper, happened to be taking out the trash, and when she saw Crystal, she said, Oh, look! Youre here! She finished her task, walked over to the gate, and after giving Crystal a once over with her eyes, she said, My poor child. You look thinner than ever. You should eat more and take better care of yourself. Lucy had worked for the Henry household for almost twenty years, so she knew everything there was to know about their family, and she felt sorry for Crystal, so much so that when Crystals Mother had passed away, her heart had nearly broken for the poor girl. Did youe here to see your Father? She asked. No, Crystal replied meekly. I was just passing byN?velDrama.Org content. Lucy looked at Crystal curiously and said, Are you sure about that? Master Evan said that you would be stopping by today to collect something that was left here by your Mother and here you are!. Crystal sighed and said, Never mind. I doubt its important Lucy: Youre here already, you may as well take it with you C whatever it is. Dont you think so? Jessica came around the corner just then. She said, Well, lookee here, our wild child has returned. Fancy that! and Lucy and Crystal turned their heads in her direction. Jessica was a delicately dressed woman with neatly permed hair. She had a crazy obsession with evening dresses. Even at home and at all hours of the day, she wore evening dresses. She was always magnificently decked out as if she were a queen that was about to attend a banquet. She was theplete opposite of Crystals mother, Elsa, who had always been unkempt. Thus, every time she saw Jessica, she somewhat understood why her father had abandoned her mother and her. After receiving no response from Crystal, Jessica became annoyed. She puckered her scarlet lips and went on provoking Crystal. She smirked at the poor girl and said, I heard that your Mother left her legacy to some gigolo. You. must be here to ask your father for money! Jessicaughed with scorn as she opened the gate. Jessica led Crystal across thewn and into the house. Crystal hadnt originally intended to go in, but now that Jessica had inserted herself into the equation, she felt like she had no choice. As they walked, Crystal began to smile as a thought urred to her. She looked at the back of Jessicas head and said, Youre right. Ive run out of money, and I was hoping that my father would help me and I think that he will. After all, he recently said that he wants to leave the Henry Group to his three children when he dies. He said that he hopes that one day we will find a way to get along. Does it bother you to know that he doesnt n on leaving you anything? When Jessica heard these words, she faltered and nearly tripped over her own feet.. She turned and scowled at Crystal. Bullshit! she hissed. Mark my words: Not a single dime will fall into your hands! Crystalughed and said, Dont be so sure. I am, after all, his biological daughter. You have some nerve toe into my house and talk to me like this! Jessica shouted. What a sharp tone! One day, Ill tear your mouth apart, you you motherless. wild child! A motherless wild child? C Crystal couldnt believe that Jessica had gone there. Crystal didnt think that it was nice to speak ill of others, especially if they were dead. That being said, she didnt want to escte the situation, so she kept her mouth closed and allowed it. Jessica led her into the living room, where Carlos and Joyce were. They were sitting on the sofa flirtatiously, kissing each other as if no one was present. Joyce was sitting on Carlos legs, facing him, with her long, white legs exposed. She wiggled her waist coquettishly and moaned shamelessly. Crystal put on a pair of slippers and stomped on the floor to get their attention, but they didnt care that she was there. After a moment, Joyce nced at Crystal triumphantly and began to exaggerate her movements and the sound of her satisfaction. When it became apparent to Crystal that they would not stop, she took out her mobile phone. Then, she opened her Instagram ount so that she could send a voice message to her friend. Serenity: Serenity, she said, do you know the difference between humans and animals? Serenity: Whats the difference? Crystal: Humans know how to choose the right ces to make love. As for animals, they can copte anytime and anywhere. Serenity: Ha-ha! Thats a fabulous speech! Dont tell me; C youre referring to that scumbag, Carlos, and that bitch, Joyce, arent you? Instead of sending a verbal response, Crystal sent her friend two Thumb Up emojis. Carlos didnt even look at Crystal, so Joyces slut face and the back of his cheating head were all she could see. Its like High School all over again C Crystal thought wearily. Chapter 17: Who Would Visit Me Here? Crystal had always sat behind Carlos in ss, so this was a familiar view of her. In the self-study sses, they had worn the same style of headphones, and Crystal had often stared at the back of his head for the whole ss, with no sense at all of the passing time. Crystal looked away in disgust, and when Joyce saw that she no longer had an audience, she quit performing. After a few minutes, she looked at Crystal and said, I heard that you almost got kicked out of school. yesterday sheughed. If it werent for Daddys money, you would be long gone. Isnt that correct? Unlike Joyce, Carlos was a little embarrassed by the situation, and now that the two girls were talking, he nudged Joyce back onto the couch, and his cheeks turned pink as he covered his pants with a pillow. Joyce patted the cushion yfully and said, Isnt it exciting to stage a Passion y? When you dated this prude, she wasnt even willing to kiss you in public. What a phony. I knew all along that she was the biggest slut of us all! Joyce turned to Crystal and said, Im sure, you were just afraid of losing face, and the professor was just a rebound, but look how much it is going to cost you! You didnt have to do that, my dear sister. Trust me. Youre still young. You will find someone better than Carlos, Crystal: Thank you for your concern. And youre correct. It wont be hard to find someone better than him. Joyce: Well, youre right. Its too bad, though, that you settled for that gigolo. It would be best if you were careful. I know that youre afraid of being abandoned, but you are going to piss away what little value you have if you dont start making some changes in your lifestyle! I must ask you something, though, my dear sister: Why would you have thought that once your money ran out, Carlos would still want to be with you? He was obviously using you C and everyone saw it except for you! Crystal was prepared for a counter-attack, but Carlos interrupted her assault. He looked at her with a cold expression on his face and said, Crystal. Mr. Henry is waiting for you in the study. Youd better not keep him waiting. After giving bitch and the scumbag a disdainful nce, Crystal slowly walked toward the study. Theres a sofa in the middle of the study. Todd Henry sat on the couch with his legs crossed and a cigarette between his fingers. White-grey smoke rose slowly and gradually filled the room. Crystal, he said, e and sit here. Crystal sighed and said, No, thanks. I dont think were close enough to sit together and talk about the old days. Im just here to get my moms stuff and go. Todd leaned forward and pushed a photo album across the coffee table that was in front of him. Crystal picked it up and turned to the first page, and then she quickly flipped through it. Unexpectedly, every photo was of her. Her first smile. Her first steps. And in each picture, she was slightly older than in the previous one. Some of the photos had notes underneath them, recording things like her weight and her first words. Is it an illusion?- she wondered.N?velDrama.Org content. She felt that the photo album had beenpiled with love C but if my mother loved me so much, why did he leave me in the hands of a man like Nathan Davis C she wondered. Crystal closed the photo album and forced her face to remain emotionless. She watched her father as he took hisst drag off his cigarette, and after hed snuffed it out in the ashtray, he said, Your mess at the university has been taken care of, but you need to understand that five million dors is no small sum, not even for the Henry Group. I helped you this time, for your Mothers sake. I hope that youve learned your lesson and that you can behave yourself from now on because this is yourst bailout. Todd pulled a contract out of a drawer in the coffee table and handed it to Crystal. After what I have done for you, Todd. continued, It is only right that you sign away your rights to any of my post-mortem rights to the Henry Group. So, this is why he invited me here C Crystal thought to herself and why he bailed me out of trouble with the university. He is trying to pay me off so that I wontpete with Evan and Joyce for shares in hispany after hes dead! What a bastard. He has gone too far this time! Crystalughed and said, You neednt have gone to so much trouble. Ive never intended to take a penny from the Henry Group. Myst name is Smith, not Henry C you havent been my Father for a long fucking time. You stopped being my Father the day you abandoned my Mother and me! Todd shrugged and said, In that case, lets call the contract a safety precaution. After scanning the contract, Crystal stooped to pick up the pen, and she signed her name without hesitation. Now that Todd had what he wanted, he was suddenly in the mood to celebrate. He looked up at Crystal, smiled, and said, Would you like to stay for dinner? No, thanks, Crystal replied. Trust me, you and your family wont be happy having dinner with me, and I wouldnt be happy having dinner with you and yours either. Trust me. And now that Ive signed the contract, I see no reason to associate myself with you. Todd frowned and said, Have it your way, then. You can see yourself out. Before Crystal had reached the door, though, Lucy appeared. She looked at Crystal and said, Mistress Crystal haspany. Who would visit me here? C Crystal wondered And for that matter, who even knows that Im here? Chapter 18: Wasn鈥檛 Davis Her Mother鈥檚 Gigolo? Crystal was taken by surprise, and she was bewildered. She looked at Lucy, the housekeeper, and said, Who woulde to see me, HERE?!?!? Lucy: Im not sure. He didnt say. He has a lot of belongings with him, though. He brought a coffee table, a sofa, and all kinds of famous brand bags and cosmetics like Chanel, Dior, and Louis Vuitton. Upon hearing that there was a guest C a stranger! -in his house, and that it sounded like he thought he was moving in, Todd stood up quickly and rushed into the next room, with Crystal, Carlos, and Joyce following right behind him. And as Todd turned the corner, he gasped. Principal Ford, he whispered, what are you doing here, and what do you want from my daughter? Todd quickly regained hisposure, and before Mr. Ford could reply, he asked, What happened? Didnt Evan make it clear that were willing to invest in the university? I know that Crystal has brought a lot of trouble to the school and shamed the schools good name. Im very sorry that that happened, and I am ashamed to have such a daughter. I had hoped, though, that you could do me a special favor and give her a second chance. Of course, if she does something wrong again, you could consider expelling her then. Shame the university ashamed to have such a daughter C These words ricocheted through Crystals mind. They were like ps across her face, and they were extremely hurtful. Mr. Ford sighed, and he said, No. Mr. Henry, its all my fault: everything is. I shouldnt have expelled Crystal. The university has withdrawn the decision, and Im here to apologize to Crystal in person. I am returning the money to you. Some of it was spent, and these things you see before you are the things that I purchased C except for the handbags and cosmetics, which are gifts for Crystal. You should know, too, that I have been relieved of my position at Saint University, and I am being relocated to a remote mountain where I will teach younger students. Todd: Isnt demoting a headmaster of a well-known business university to a teaching position in a remote region equal to killing him? Mr. Ford: It is. But it is what it is and it all happened very quickly. All I can say is that Mr. Davis must know some very powerful people to have pulled this off! I tried to do a background check on him, but I couldnt find anything. I dont even know who hired him or if he has legitimate teaching credentials! Todd: That is terrible, but I still dont see what this has to do with Crystal or why you would buy her all of these beautiful/expensive bags and cosmetics. Mr. Ford: I heard that girls like cosmetics and bags, and - Before Mr. Ford could finish his sentence, Joyce interrupted him by shouting to her Mother: Mom,e and see! She held up one of the bags from the pile. This is Chanelstest model! Ive wanted it for a very long time, but its always out of stock! Jessica walked in slowly as if she were putting on a performance. She was wearing an evening dress, and her perfume was so strong that it caused Crystal to sneeze twice. After that, she rubbed her nose, leaned against the stair rail, and said, I dont think that Principal Ford did anything wrong. And besides, I didnt even care that I was expelled, so this is much ado about nothing. When Ford heard what Crystal had said, he began to panic. He turned to Crystal and said, Although you did something wrong, your mistake was not that serious. You should never have been expelled. I admit that I made the decision for personal reasons. I hope that you dont take this affair to heart. Joyce smirked and said, Tut! Tut! Something is seriously wrong with this world if seducing a professor in a university is not a serious enough offense to get expelled for! Mr. Ford looked at Joyce and said, After our investigation, weve confirmed that Crystal and Professor Davis are in love with each other, and our university is a strong advocate for democratic civil rights. Professor Davis? Joyce scoffed. Wasnt Davis her Mothers gigolo? And you say that they are in love with each other?!?!?!? What a joke! Mr. Ford. Anyway, I didnte here to talk about Professor Davis, Im no longer the principal anyway. The reason I came here was to return Mr. Henrys money and apologize to Crystal. Joyceughed and said, It sounds to me like you are afraid of Mr. Davis! Mr. Ford began to sweat, and Crystal felt terrible for him. She knew what it was like to be on the receiving end of Joyces abuse. She turned to him and said, Principal Ford, I appreciate your apology, and if it is forgiveness. that you are seeking, then I give it to you freely. You neednt have purchased all of these gifts. I am sorry to hear that you are being relocated. You were good at your job. Is there anything that I can do for you? I cant help but feel responsible for what is happening to you You dont owe me anything, Mr. Ford replied, but if you could put in a good word for me with Professor Davis, I would appreciate it. Consider it done, Crystal replied. I do have two requests, though. Mr. Ford: Name it, and if it is within my power to do so, it shall be done.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Crystalughed and said, Please return all of these bags. Crystal had roughly calcted the cost of all of the bags and determined that their total value was over a million dors C and it didnt feel right to keep them. Mr. Ford: And your second request? Crystal: Your daughter, my teacher, Tiffany, she was very abusive to me. She is the one that owes me an apology, not you. Mr. Ford: Done and done. And thank you very much! Chapter 19: Don鈥檛 Be So Sure About That After Mr. Ford left, Crystals Father confronted her about the true identity of Nathan Davis. He believed that because she had signed away her rights to his fortune, that there must be something about him that she wasnt saying- and Venessas constant grumbling only made matters worse. She had assumed that the expensive handbags that Mr. Ford had brought were for her, and it had been hard for her to watch when hed taken them away with him. After all, there was one bag in particr that she had wanted for a very long time. As she and her Mother watched Crystal leave from an upstairs window, Joyceined to her mother, saying, Mommy, did you see how arrogant that bitch was? Who would have thought that the presents would be for her! And that Principal Ford must be a fool, otherwise why would he have begged Crystal for help! After all, what could she do for him?!?!? I agree, Jessica murmured. We invested in the university to help the little skank, and she didnt even thank us! But at least she signed away her rights to Daddys assets, so we are finally done with her. Joyce: Whatever. She wouldnt have gotten much anyway. Jessica: Dont be so sure about that. Your grandpa liked her a lot when he was alive. I heard that he left a secret will that is supposed to be opened on her eighteenth birthday. If he didnt leave her much, why would he keep it a secret? Joyce: In that case, I am convinced that he left millions behind- and when Crystal learns the truth, it is going to drive her crazy! You are so clever! Jessica: Of course I am! It wasnt easy to talk your dad into asking Crystal to sign that contract, but now that its done, I can finally give your Father the son that hes been asking for. Joyce was thrilled when she heard that she would have a new baby brother, and she hugged her mother, and she told her how much she loved her. Meanwhile, outside their window, Evan and Crystal were talking. Hed caught her on her way out and was curious to know how things were going. She told him everything that had happened, he told her that shed been a fool to sign away her share of the family fortune, and when they parted ways, they were both frustrated. Evan told Crystal that she woulde to regret her decision, and as she walked away, she couldnt help but wonder- Will I regret my decision? Of course, for now, there was no way of knowing, so she tried to put the question out of her mind. Crystal did know, though, that it felt good to have finally severed all ties with her Father. Now, if only I could do the same with Nathan C she thought glumly.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Crystal hadnt gone far when she noticed that there was a piece of chewed gum stuck to the sole of her shoe. Gross-she thought as she began to scrape her shoe on the sidewalk in an attempt to scrape it off. Unfortunately, it did not want toe off. She had just aboute to terms with the fact that shed have to pull it off with her bare fingers when Carlos appeared with a tissue. Let me, he said, and then he hunkered down to remove the pesky piece of garbage. Once the gum was off her shoe, Carlos stood up and walked the tissue over to a nearby trash can. Crystal watched him for a moment, and then, without even thanking him, she turned around and began to walk away. Before she got more than three steps from where shed been, though, Carlos grasped her arm and gave it a good, hard squeeze. Crystal turned around and, without hesitation, she pped Carlos across the face. The street was quiet, making the p sound very loud, and Crystal assumed he would let her go. But he didnt. Please let me go, she said with a tone of voice that was indifferent and emotionless. I just want to talk, Carlos said. Crystal spat on the ground and said, I dont think we have anything to talk about. Crystal, he whined, e on and be reasonable. Crystal: What do you want me to do? Go on dating you behind Joyces back, as if nothing had happened? No way! Im not like you that way! Carlos: Listen to me, Crystal. The reason why Im with Joyce is that the Forster Group needs the Henry Groups investment. Furthermore, I never wanted you to climb into Nathans bed. That was all Joyces idea. She said that she would invest one hundred million dors into the Forster Group if I could get you to do that, so I hope you can see that I had no choice Crystal stood akimbo and scowled at this pathetic man that stood before her. She looked straight into his eyes and said, Fine. Whats done is done. So, what is this all about? What do you want? C-C-Crystal Carlos stammered. D Dont t-talk to me like that. I know that Im very selfish, and I dont expect to get your C forgiveness. B-But can you wait for me? When the Forster Group gets back on track, Ill As Carlos unrolled his proposal, Crystals jaw nearly hit the floor. She could not believe the gall of this man. She had once thought that no matter what happened, as long as they faced it together, everything would work out C but he had gone and fucked it all up! After a moment of silence, Crystal smiled and said, Okay. If you want me to wait for you, then I will wait for you. Carlos was so stunned by her reaction that for a minute, he could not react, but once he regained control of his faculties, he burst out into gales of joyousughter. Really? he wondered. Are you really willing to wait for me? Chapter 20: Never Mind Them Carlos stepped forward to hug Crystal, but she stepped backward. She gave him a look of disgust and said, Did you honestly think that I would wait for you? Carlos flinched at her words as if hed been struck. I know that my proposal is very selfish, he mumbled, but why are you so hard on me? Is it because of Nathan Davis? Are you two serious? I know youre not actually together. You just want to make me jealous, right? Crystal, an unreliable man like him, is not suitable for you. He will never take you seriously! Hes unreliable? Crystal hissed. Compared to you, he is a saint! Carloss face turned white as Crystals words sunk in, and he finally let her arm go, and when Crystal walked away from him, he made no further attempt to pursue her. I hate this! C Crystal thought to herself, as she crossed the street at the next corner- it wasnt supposed to end this way for us! By the time Crystal arrived home, the sun had set, and when Susie saw her, she walked out of the kitchen to greet her. After exchanging formal greetings, the housekeeper said, Your husband, Mr. Davis, has gone out for dinner. There is food in the kitchen. My husband-Crystal thought morosely. Thank you, she replied. Susie, she added, do you have a spare key to all of the rooms in the house? Susie: Yes. I have a ring of keys in the locker in the storage room, Ill get it for you. Susie went back to the storage room and took out a ring of keys. Before leaving, she said, Crystal, hurry up and eat, or your food will get cold. Im not hungry, Crystal replied. Thank you, though. Ill heat itter.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Thats fine, Susie replied as she returned. with the keys. Ill put it in the fridge for you. Crystal took the keys from the housekeeper with thanks and then went up to Nathans room. The door to his room was open, as it usually was, so Crystal went right in. The room was neat and tidy, and the bedside tables bottom drawer was locked uptight. Fortunately, she had a key. Crystal hunkered down and began to try the keys one by one. Some were too small. Others were too big, but she finally found the one that fit perfectly. She turned the key nervously, and once she heard the click that meant the lock was open, she pulled at the drawer, only to discover that it was empty- EMPTY? And the diary was gone! How can this be? she cried. It was just here! Crystal cursed Nathan in her mind C That fucking lowlife! That scum! That perverted child fucker! That good-for-nothing wh*re-of-a man! C but the drawer remained empty, and all of her effort and anger was for naught. Once Crystal had regained herposure, she returned the keys and went into the kitchen to get her dinner. Then, just as she was taking the food out of the refrigerator, her phone rang. She took the phone out of her pocket and answered the call: Hello? A soft and ttering voice sounded through the receiver: Hello, is this Crystal? My name is Tiffany Ford. Im one of the teachers at the university you attend. Anyway, at my fathers request, I have called to apologize to you. What happened yesterday was all my fault. I would like to invite you to have a meal with me so that I can apologize to you in person. When are you avable? How about right now? Crystal rolled her eyes and said, Im busy. Ive only just now arrived home. Tiffany: How about I drive over and pick you up? If you just got home, you must not have eaten yet. You must be hungry. There is a restaurant very close to your home. Please, give me a chance to apologize in person. I feel terrible about what happened. Crystal did not want to go out again after the tiring day that shed had, but she didnt know how to refuse Tiffanys sincere attitude, especially because she was one of her teachers, so she felt like she had to ept the offer. Okay fine, Crystal said. Tiffany was there in under ten minutes, and she took her to the Rossini Restaurant, where she had booked a private room in advance. The room was called The Aries Room. Meanwhile, Nathan was throwing a Wee Back party for Owen, and as irony would have it, he was runningte. He was the host, and he was going to be thest one to arrive! Owen thought that it was delightfully hrious, and he couldnt wait to tease Nathan about it. While he waited, he leaned back on the sofa, took a grape from the fruit te, and threw it into his mouth. Nathan had originally only invited a few old ssmates, but someone had spilled the beans, and the guest list had grown exponentially, and their enthusiasm moved Owen. Unfortunately, after meeting with a few of his female ssmates, it seemed that they were not all that interested in him after all. They had onlye because they wanted to see Nathan. And the other two or three male ssmates were there to talk about business with Nathan. Thus, Owen felt decidedly Unwee at his Wee BackParty. Nathan was a low-key guy, and he didnt like suchrge gatherings, so Owen was trying to think of ways to make Nathan feel less ufortable. Unfortunately, he didnt have many ideas, and when the crowd arrived, chaos ensued. Everyone got up, and they all began to mor for his attention. One person said, Oh, my god! Nathan! Nathan Davis is here! A second person said, Hes getting more handsome by the day! How can he be so good-looking? A third person turned to one of thedies and said, Amy Fowler, why dont you say something? Amy said nothing, and a fourth person said, She is entranced by Nathan. Everyone knows Amy has liked Nathan since High School. Amy stared at the man at the door. Hes more dazzling than ever! C she thought The aura around him was too powerful and charming to be ignored. Nathan sensed Owens difort, and he patted him on the back, saying, Never mind them. They are like cool clocks strung up too tight, and they will never get what they want. You wouldnt want that kind of attention. It is pathetic and annoying! Do you see what I see? I suppose so, Owen replied without much conviction. Chapter 21: Was It Your Wife? Nathan thanked everyone foring to wee Owen back, and then the two men took a seat on the sofa, with Owen on Nathans left and Amy on his right. Once they werefortable, Amy took Nathans hand and asked him what he had been up totely. You have so much going on, she said. You must not have a lot of free time. Am I right? Busy, busy, busy, Nathan agreed, but you have been busy too, yes? I saw your broadcasting show yesterday on TV. Who would have guessed that you would be a television anchor? I am proud of you. When will you introduce us to your boyfriend? Owen winked at Amy and said, Come on. Be serious. Amy is a very popr television star. She can afford to wait for her dream man toe along. Amy was somewhat embarrassed by what Owen had said, and she didnt know whether she should deny what hed said or admit that it was true. So, instead of saying one thing or the other, she remained silent and smiled instead. Of course, none of the other guests cared about this conversation. They were looking for their own opportunities to talk to Nathan. Unfortunately for them, Nathan was not a man that was easily cornered. Owen handed Nathan a cigarette and lit it for him. Are you in a good mood today? he wondered. Nathan nodded, but before he could reply verbally, the vice-president of Brilliant Group interrupted their conversation. I heard that yourpany is about to make some big moves, he said, Will you be unveiling some new projects in the near future? Brilliant Group was the leading enterprise in the country. Big project? Nathan took a drag on his cigarette and exhaled the smoke from his mouth. There is indeed a big project underway, he said. Can you share some of the details with us? the vice-president wondered. It must be a great project. Otherwise, I am sure you wouldnt be involved with it. At the very least, could you tell us how much youve invested in it?Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Sure. Nathan smiled. He shrugged and said, Its a four hundred and eighty-million dor project, and I am the primary investor. The vice-president gasped, and then he called for everyones attention, Hey, guys! he shouted. Nathans got a hundred and eighty million-dor project underway! Nathan frowned, but everyone was so caught up in the excitement that only Owen noticed his mood shift. For Nathan, this project wasnt as big of a deal as they were making it out to be, nor was his expenditure, and he would never have mentioned it to the vice president if hed known that this is what hed do with the information. Nathan had never been a fan of this kind of attention. Amy put her hand on Nathans leg and said, Nathan, congrattions on the sess of your project. Cheers! Amy lifted a ss of wine flirtatiously, took a sip, and offered a sip to Nathan. Much to her dismay, though, Nathan turned her offer down, exining that he did not usually clink sses with women. The triumphant expression on Amys face froze instantly, but she recovered quickly. She put down the wine ss, pretending not to be embarrassed, and said, Oh, Im sorry. I dont know. Its no wonder that everyone says youre: a good man. As she spoke, she noticed that Nathans sleeve was dirty. Oh, Nathan! she eximed. Your sleeve is dirty. Let me help. you Suddenly, everyone in the room turned to look at Nathans sleeve. It was well known to all of them that he was meticulous about clothing and personal hygiene and that all of his suits had been hand-made and customized in Italy. Thus, they were surprised to discover that there was a stain on his sleeve. Nathan pulled his arm away angrily, Leave it alone, he hissed. Someone did this to me this morning, and I dont want to talk about it! The room went silent suddenly. Who would do such a thing? C they were all wondering. They all looked at each other with astonished expressions on their faces. They couldnt believe that someone would do such a thing to such an important man. Was it your wife? someone suddenly asked. Was your wife the one who caused the stain? When Amy heard this question, her face turned red, and she asked to be excused-and she went to thedies room. A few people chuckled as she left, and then they turned back to the question at hand. One of them said, Thats impossible. No one thought that Nathan was married, but they were all very curious to hear how he would respond to the question. He didnt say anything, though, and the room fell into a long silence until one person turned to another and asked, Is Nathan married? If he is, its news to me, one person replied. One of the women gasped and said, Theres no way our dream man could have gotten married without our knowledge! A second man said, You guys are really behind the times. People like to call their girlfriends their wives all the time now. Is that so? a third man wondered. But everybody says that Nathan doesnt even like women that hes a homosexual A fourth man scowled and said, Shh! Watch out. He could hear. Owen was thest among them to speak. He looked at Nathan and said, I didnt know you were married. Why didnt you tell me? I thought we were friends? Nathan still remained silent. After a moment, Owen said, Shit! Tell me its not true! Is she the girl in the picture? I only asked you for a painting. There was no need for you to make her unavable so quickly. You didnt even give me a chance As he spoke, he nced at Nathans dirty sleeve. What the hell is that thing on your sleeve anyway? And why havent you cleaned it yet? Its snot and tears, Nathan answered casually. Owen was so startled by Nathans answer that he began to choke on his wine, and some of it shot out from his mouth and nose. Chapter 22: Your Choice As chance would have it, Crystal and Tiffany were dining at the same restaurant where Owens Wee Back party was being hosted, and they were arriving at the same time that Amy was rushing off to the Ladies Room. Once they were seated, Crystal excused herself to use the washroom, and as she finished at the sink, she was osted by Amy, who was justing out of one of the stalls. Hey! someone shouted at Crystal. Stop it! Crystal looked up and saw the woman behind her in the mirror. The woman wore a ck Chanel silk dress, and she was frowning at her.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Amy was annoyed after having been humiliated twice by Nathan, and she saw the appearance of the meek girl as an opportunity to vent her anger. You got water on my dress. just now! she hissed. My dress was imported. from France. Now youve made it dirty. It is ruined! Are you able to pay to rece it? Im sorry, Crystal replied, but I think youve made a mistake. For one thing, I did not do anything to your dress. And for another: its only water. It will dry. Dont give me any of your lips! Amy shouted. Im attending a very important party, and this dress is made of silk. But you spilled water on it! You can see how ugly the water stains are! Amy red at Crystal, crossed her arms beneath her breasts, and stepped between her and the door. Crystal knew that this woman would be hard to get rid of, so she began to try to figure out how she would do that. Before the altercation could get out of control, though, another woman walked into the restroom, and Crystal was able to get out of there while Amy was distracted. What a bitch! C Crystal thought as she returned to her table- I wonder what crawled up her ass and died! As Crystal sat down, Tiffany closed the menu. and pushed it to Crystal, Crystal, what would you like to eat? Crystal looked over the menu, and when the waiter came, she ordered several dishes at once, and then she handed the menu back to the waiter. Once that was taken care of, Tiffany poured her a ss of water and started to tter her. You know, she said, when I first saw you, I liked you. You looked pretty, and you seemed intelligent enough. If it wasnt for that misunderstanding, we might have be friends. Crystal smiled politely. She knew what kissing ass looked like and that Tiffany was not sincere. Crystal took a sip of the water and said, You should know that the rtionship between me and Professor Davis is not what you think it is. She deliberately paused to observe Tiffanys reaction to her words. Tiffany: Oh, I understand. You dont need to exin anything to me. I am the one that owes the apology. If I knew you were in that kind of rtionship with Nathan, I would never have had sex with him. Lets forget the past and have a toast to our new friendship! Tiffany drank her ss of water to thest drop and immediately added, Could you do me a favor, now that were friends? Would you plead my Fathers case with Professor Davis? My Father is not young anymore. If he is assigned to the remote mountain regions, he wont live long. So, please Tiffany seemed sincere, which made Crystal a little hesitant to say what shed nned to say. She wasnt unwilling to plead for Principal Ford, but she doubted that Nathan had the power to do what Tiffany and her Father wanted him to do. In fact, she didnt even understand why Mr. Ford had been demoted in the first ce. Crystal took a sip of her water and said, This is all a big misunderstanding, Mr. Davis is my guardian. Tiffanys pupil suddenly erged. Do you mean that Professor Davis is your guardian legally? Crystal nodded but said nothing. Tiffany lowered her voice and whispered, Crystal, stop joking with me. Dont worry, you can tell me the truth, and Ill keep your secret. The food arrived just then, and after Crystal had taken her first bite of food, she looked up at Tiffany and asked her if she liked Nathan. Tiffany did note right out and say that she did, though, and instead, she said, Professor Davis is handsome and able. I believe no woman could resist his charm. Crystal nodded in approval. Indeed, Nathan had a charming appearance. Crystal believed that that was why he had been able to cheat her of her Mothers legacy so easily. She also thought that many other rich and naive women had been enchanted and deceived by him. If you really like Professor Davis, she said, I can create opportunities for you to get to know him better. Really? Tiffany was overjoyed, but she immediately realized that she had acted too obviously. She forced herself tough and said, Youre such a naughty girl. Please dont tease me. Its unkind. Im serious, Crystal said sincerely. Crystal hoped that if she could help foster a rtionship between Nathan and Tiffany, he might allow her a divorce, and since Tiffany came from a wealthy family, he might also let her retain control over her Mothers legacy-or at least enough of it to meet her daily needs. Tiffany frowned suddenly and said, I have implicated my dad because of what happened between Nathan and me. This indicates to me that Professor Davis doesnt have a crush on me I appreciate the thought, though. Thank you for that. All I want is for my Father to be able to keep his job. Crystal smiled cunningly and said, Dont worry, Ill handle it. And in the meantime, you can start thinking about ways to win Nathans heart. Okay? Tiffany smiled hopefully and said. Okay. I trust you. As they were talking, Crystal received an Instagram text from Serenity asking about her whereabouts. She texted her back when she was able, saying, Im at Rossini Restaurant? Crystal took a quick photo and posted it below her reply, and almost immediately, ament from Nathan appeared below it. It said, Im in the Aries Room at the Rossini Restaurant. Come find me! Crystals heart suddenly skipped a beat. She had thought that Nathan didnt use Instagram, so hisment caught her off guard. She would have been more careful about what she posted if she had known that he would be watching her every move. Tiffany saw that something was wrong, and she asked Crystal what it was. Crystal said that nothing was wrong, and she closed her phone, determined to ignore his summons. After only a few minutes, though, her phone rang C and the call was from Nathan! After hesitating for a moment, Crystal answered her phone, and before she could even open her mouth, Nathans voice came through the speaker, loud and clear and cold: Youe here right now, or I wille to your room tonight. Your choice! Chapter 23: Come Here Crystal did not want Nathan to visit herter that night, so she agreed to visit him at his table. She sighed as she put her phone away and turned to face herpanion. She smiled and said, Ms. Ford, as chance would have it, Professor Davis is also here at the Rossini Restaurant, and he has invited us to join him. When Tiffany heard this, her face lit up, and she said, Really? Lets go. Tiffany immediately grabbed her bag and took the lead. In the Aries Room, no one except Nathan knew that Crystal wasing, so when Crystal and Tiffany entered the room, they were surprised, and they focused their attention on the two women that stood before them. One looked mature and intellectual, and the other looked in and malnourished. Nathan looked towards Crystal, whose hair was unexpectedly braided, revealing her thin neck, and when Crystal felt his eyes on her, she turned to look at him and frowned. She didnt appreciate the manner in which hed summoned her. Nathan raised their eyebrows slightly and smirked lightly. His bright eyes were like zed tiles, and his lips looked like theyd been carved with a thin gold pen, and in a room full of people, he stood out. He smiled at Crystal and said, Come here. Nathans voice sounded like the echo of a ghost, and it would not be denied. Crystal immediately understood Nathans intentions. She turned to his guests and said, Hello, everyone, my name is Crystal. I am one of Professor Davis students. She put stress on thest word, so there would be no question about her rtionship with Nathan. Crystal gave Nathan acent nce. Nathan naturally knew what she was up to, but he did not get angry. Instead, heughed, and the smile lines in the corners of his eyes stood out as evidence of his good humor. He didnt say a word, but his smile caused Crystal to tremble uncontrobly C and when she heard about their marriage agreement, she felt faintly ufortable. One of the men looked at Crystal and said, Wow, she is so beautiful. I thought she was the wife of a god. Who would have guessed that she was just a student? A second man turned to the first and said, Thankfully, she is just a student. That means that we still have a chance with her!Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Some of the other people turned to Tiffany, and one of them said, So, this must be Nathans wife? Wife? C Cold sweat appeared on Crystal forehead. Did he already announce our marriage? C Crystal wondered C I thought he was going to keep this on the down-low Tiffany immediately shook her head and said, No, I am not. One of the women said, Stop staring at her, or she will be shy. She turned to Owen. Owen, you are close to Nathan. Is this other woman his wife? Owen only knew Crystal from Nathans painting, and he had only seen the canvas once, and that had been a few years ago. It seemed to him that she must be his wife, but he couldnt confirm it. I dont know, he admitted. Crystal hadnt been listening to the conversation. She was only thinking about how to get herself out of the private room as quickly as possible. Crystal recognized the woman that had just spoken to Owen. Her name was Amy, and she was the one whose dress had gotten wet in the bathroom. At that moment, Amy was staring at Tiffany and giving her the Evil Eye. It was apparent to Crystal that Amy was interested in Nathan, and she saw the other woman as a rival. From the way Amy was looking at Tiffany, Crystal thought that she wanted to strangle the other woman half to death. Crystal had not expected that bringing Tiffany over would cause such a disturbance. It didnt bother her, though, because the most important thing to her was keeping her identity from being exposed. Furthermore, Tiffany seemed to be happy to be the center of attention, so this was a win-win situation for them both. When Crystal saw the way that Amy was ring at Tiffany, she raised her eyebrows and happily smiled at Nathan. After a moment, she said, Professor Davis, I identally sshed some water on thisdys dress in the bathroom, and she was unhappy about it. I want to apologize to her again and help her dry it. Her dress looks quite expensive. She had originally wanted me topensate her, but I cant afford to. Some of Nathans guests turned to Crystal, and they felt some sympathy and pity for her because of her innocent tone. Amy frowned when she saw the way everyone was looking at Crystal, and she said, Its fine. Dont worry. Its just water. It doesnt matter. Didnt you say that its made of real silk? Crystal asked. You said that it would be ugly if the watermarks didnte out. You also said that it was imported from France, specifically for this party Amys face turned red. She hadnt wanted anyone to know that the dress was new or that shed purchased it specifically for this party C and now that the cat was out of the bag, she was so embarrassed that she felt like ripping off her clothes and standing naked in front of everyone. Nathan did not appreciate the way that Crystal had shamed Amy, and after apologizing to his guests, he turned to Owen and said, Get on the phone with the Chanel Dress Company and order thedy a new dress! Owen: Boss, the one you want is out of stock. Nathan: Then have the designer brought here tonight from France so that a new one can be made! One woman gasped and said, Wow! Not only is hepensating for the cost of the dress, but he is sending it to the designer from France to make her a new one. He is so charming. I wish that water had spilled on my dress, another woman said. I would also like a new designer dress! Despite Nathans attempts to smooth out the situation, Amy was still upset that Crystal had shamed her in front of her friends, and she was determined that she would not let the matter go so easily. She turned to Crystal and said, Crystal, you are lucky that your Professor has your back. I suggest that you raise a toast in his honor. Chapter 24: I鈥檓 Not In A Hurry Everyone turned to Crystal, and they began to demand a toast. They banged their fists on the table in unison and shouted, Toast! Toast! Toast! Toast! Amy handed Crystal a ss of wine, and she epted it nervously. She lifted it in the air and said, A toast to Professor Davis, but Nathan refused to raise his ss. Owen looked up at Crystal and said, Nathan wont ept your toast. Crystal: Why? Owen: Because you are a woman. The room went silent, and Amy smirked. She was unable to hide her pride or her feelings of victory over Crystal. Amy watched as Crystal stood awkwardly with her ss held in the air, and because Nathan didnt raise his ss, no one else raised theirs either. No one understood why Nathan wouldnt drink. Just as Crystal began to put the ss down, though, Nathan took it from her, and he drained it in one long sip. Everyone gasped. He had just told everyone that he didnt ept toasts from women, so this made no sense. A million questions ran through Crystals mind: First, the dress, and now the Toast; why does he keep helping me? Does this have something to do with my Mothers legacy? Or with our marriage? Or something else entirely? Crystal stood behind Nathan, and she was thinking about this problem when she heard him say, Its gettingte. Im going to go now. Have fun, you guys. Nathan left the room, and Crystal and Tiffany followed him. Once they were out of the private room and the door had been closed behind them, Nathan stopped. He turned to Tiffany and said, You are free to go. I will ensure that Miss Smith gets home safely. Tiffany frowned. She did not appreciate being dismissed so casually, but she had no recourse other than to do as shed been directed. Fine, she muttered. She turned to Crystal and said, I had a good time with you tonight. Ill see you at school. Crystal said goodbye, and once Tiffany was gone, Nathan turned to Crystal and said, I was surprised when you introduced yourself as my student. I didnt realize that you liked being my student so much! Nathan took two steps towards Crystal. She took two backwards and quickly found herself pressed against one of the restaurants walls. A cold feeling came upon her when she realized that she had nowhere to go. Crystal pressed her palms against the wall and looked up at Nathan stubbornly. She looked him in the eyes and said, I thought the idea of being with a student might excite you. Nathan rested his hand on top of her head. He looked down on her, smiled, and said, Dont you think that having a sweet young thing like you as a wife is all the excitement I need?N?velDrama.Org content. Crystal was surprised when she realized how tall Nathan was. He was so tall that she had to look up at him. She tried to return his smile, and she said, Although its exciting, I still havent adapted to our new rtionship yet. Nathan shrugged his shoulders and said, We have enough time for you to adapt. Im not in a hurry. I will wait a lifetime if thats what it takes. When Crystal Heard these words, her toes curled up nervously, and her whole body trembled. Her face remained calm, though. A lifetime is a long time, she said. Who can say what will happen? After Crystal finished speaking, she tried to push Nathan away, but he refused to budge C and instead of moving away, which is what she wished that he would do, he pressed his body against hers so that she was sandwiched between him and the wall. Crystals heart began to beat faster. Suddenly, an idea urred to her. She took a deep breath and said, Professor Davis, do you! want to make love to me right here? Nathan: What if I say yes? Crystal: Then we should. Why not? Nathan grinned wolfishly, and Crystal felt his manh**d grow hard against her. She looked at the waiters nervously as they came and went. She had assumed that he wouldnt want to have sex in a public ce. But what if I was wrong? C she thought as she realized that she very well could be. Nathan put his hands against the wall, one on either side of her head. He had a fearless expression on his face, and his smile was yful. He said, Kiss me. Crystal: What? Nathan: Weve never had sex before, so Id like you to kiss me first. Crystals face turned red. She felt trapped, and not just by the wall but by her own innuendo. She retreated a little, pursing her lips in shame. She didnt want to take the next step. Nathan: Oh? Are you afraid? Crystal: Im not afraid. I just dont want to. Nathan stared at Crystal intently, and she felt as if he could see into her soul. No, he said, You are afraid. I am not, Crystal said, and before he could argue his point, she stepped up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. She had meant it to be a chaste kiss, but before she could pull away, he had the back of her head in the palm of his hands, and he held her close to him. He opened her mouth with the force of his kiss, and he pressed his tongue past her teeth. This is nice C Crystal realized, but her body would not allow her to enjoy the moment. As he kissed her, she began to panic. She felt like all of the oxygen in her body had been plundered by him. She had only kissed him to prove a point, but it had not been a point worth proving because Nathan had no scruples. Not only that, but he was a very experienced man, and if something didnt happen quickly, it was very likely that he would fuck her right there, up against the wall, for the whole world to see. Crystal tried to calm down so that she could think clearly. Nathan had his left hand around her waist, and his right one was on her left breast, above her shirt, cupping the fatty tissue, squeezing, and ying. She struggled against him, but he paid her no mind. In fact, he seemed to find pleasure in distress, and his kisses intensified. He is going to assault me C Crystal realized C right here, with all of these people watching! Chapter 25: Didn鈥檛 You Say That You Will Perform Well? It urred to Crystal, then, that her situation was hopeless, and she stopped struggling. Then, instead of fighting off his advances, she began to return them. Her hands began to climb up his neck, her fingers passed through his hair, and she returned his kiss with vigor-and they continued to kiss passionately until they were both breathless. Crystals lips were red and swollen, and when Nathan brought his hand up to touch them, she bit down hard on his fingers. Nathan shouted out in pain and anger as he pulled his hand away. You bitch! he hissed. Are you a dog? Is that the reason why you like biting people so much? Crystal growled and said, I am a she-wolf, and I do like biting very much, but I never bite humans. I made an exception for you, though, because youre not much of a man! Nathanughed and said, If you are a wolf, and I am some sort of humanoid beast, I can only imagine the love we will make when I have you on all fours! Crystal red at him. You pervert! she yelled, and if looks could kill, he would have been either dead or dying at that moment. Finally, Nathan took a step backward. This isnt over, he said. **** On the way back to the hotel, Crystal looked at Nathan and asked him, Will you actually have a designer brought in from Paris to rece Amys dress? Nathan: Of course. What would be of you if I didnt? After all, you cant afford to rece it. Crystal: Its not a big deal. I am a big girl. I canpensate her for her losses myself. Anyway, it was just a few drops of water. Nathan: Didnt you say that you couldnt afford it? Crystal: Sure, I dont have money, but you do. And since were married, whats yours is mine. I can benefit from our marriage, right? Nathan saw the reasonable and vigorous look in Crystals eyes, and heughed. So, he said. At this moment, you will admit that whats mine is yours? Crystal stared at Nathan but said nothing in reply. Nathan rarely smiled. He always looked like a ten-thousand-year-old iceberg;- so cold. that it could make an in-home air-conditioner useless. Since he was in a good mood, she said, I was thinking about Mr. Ford. What is to be of him? I dont care, Nathan replied. I will never change my decision. Crystal didnt know why Nathan was so stubborn, but she thought she might get the results she desired if she changed her tack. She curled up beside him and said, Wouldnt you reconsider, for my sake, or the sake of our marriage? For the sake of our marriage, you say? Nathanughed. We havent even made love yet! What kind of a marriage is that? Crystal: But I havent taken yourst name yet. Marriage isnt legal until I have yourst name! Nathan looked at Crystal skeptically and said, Be that as it may, Mr. Fords future is in my hands, and what I do with it relies entirely upon your willingness to please me and your performance. Performance? Crystal wondered C what does he mean by Performance? To Crystal, it sounded like he was hinting at something specific, but she didnt know what it was. Nathan was looking at Crystal seductively, and she was forced to admit, if only to herself, that he was a skilled master when it came to the art of seducing women. His wicked smile was heavenly, alluring, shocking, and charming. Crystal pulled her eyes away from Nathans soul-stirring smile. She reminded herself about Mr. Ford and the promise that she had made to Tiffany. She clenched her fists at her sides and said, If it is a performance that you want, then I will give you a performance that you will never forget! I had hoped you would say that, Nathan said. He wrapped his arm around Crystals waist and drew her even closer than she had been. He ran his finger up her bare leg, under her skirt, and halfway up her thigh. Crystal shivered, and her skin broke out in gooseflesh. Nathan: Are you afraid of me? Crystal: No. Nathan brought his hand up a little closer to her panties, gave her leg a gentle squeeze, and said, Why dont youe and sit on myp, then?Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Crystal nodded nervously and pushed herself off the seat and into hisp. The temperature of his legs was hot, like fire, and she could feel his hard manh**d pressed against her buttocks. His heat quickly spread to her skin, her blood, and her bones until every molecule in her body felt like it could boil over at any minute. Crystals scalp felt numb, and when she realized how embarrassingly damp her panties were, her back stiffened suddenly.. She felt as if a bolt of lightning had hit her, and her entire body was tingling all over. Crystal had not expected that his body temperature would make her feel so unbearably hot. She could feel the side of her left breast pressed against his chest, but she didnt care. Her nipples stood out like sore thumbs, and they ached. Crystal turned to look out the front window, and her face turned red when she realized that the driver was watching them. She tried to pull away, but Nathan restrained her. Didnt you say that you will perform well? he asked her, and after shed nodded her head dutifully, he said, Well. Then perform. Crystal closed her eyes tightly to block out the drivers hungry eyes and to keep back the tears. Sheughed suddenly, and the sound of her voice seemed insane to her. Is this how I always sound? C she wondered as she forced herself to get control of herself. She tried to smile like a normal person, and she asked Nathan, How do you want me to perform? Like this? She nibbled on his earlobe. Or this? She began to kiss her way down his neck. Maybe this? She ran her fingers down his chest. Nathan turned his head and said, Just like that, sweet one. Keep going. Chapter 26: It Doesn鈥檛 Matter To Me Crystal raised her eyebrows as she ran her cold fingers across the top of Nathans silky shirt. She paused in the middle when she came to the top button, and she rolled it like a gem between her thumb and forefinger. She looked him in the eyes, smiled, and slipped the button free from the eyelet. One button C she thought to herself, and then two. Nathan raised his lips into a yful, sexy smile. Three buttons C Crystal was counting each in her head and using it as a device to keep herself calm- Keep Calm and Chive On- she told herself.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. The tip of Crystals finger identally touched Nathans chest muscles as she exposed them to the air, and he flinched- Four Buttons. His chest was t and hard, and it felt very hot. Suddenly, Nathan grabbed Crystals hand, and she couldnt move. She looked up, and tears appeared in her eyes. She cried out, Professor Davis, your pulse is racing too fast. Be careful. You could be in danger of having a heart attack! Nathanughed cruelly when he heard that. He said, My sweet young thing, you are so na?ve. I am not going to have a heart attack. The reason that my heart is racing so fast is because of how badly I want to fuck you! Right here, on the spot! Crystal froze. She didnt know how to react. It felt like no matter what she did, she ended up in one of his traps. After a while, Nathan leaned back into the seatzily. He frowned frivolously and looked at her quietly, Crystal felt a little concerned about what might happen next. She looked into his aphrodisiac eyes and said, You wouldnt. A wicked grin appeared on Nathans face, and he said, I would. Wouldnt you? And why not? This is a good quality car! In the back of her mind, Crystal asked herself, is this some sort of a test? Is Nathan trying to test my boundaries? The scary thing was that Crystal didnt even know where her boundariesy. I must have some limits though, she told herself-surely, I do! Crystal felt like she had a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. The Angel was shouting at her to get away, to Get out while you still can! But the Devil was singing a much sweeter song, one of lust and depravity, and of hunger sated C and then there was Mr. Ford to think of. If she gave in to her carnal desires, she would also be doing something noble for a good man- but that isnt right, or is it? Crystal wanted to help Mr. Ford, but she didnt want to get in trouble. What am I to do? Without making a decision, she popped open the fifth button, and Nathans navel was clearly visible. She could see a turf of hair and a trail that led further down his abdomen. The sixth button was thest, and after popping it, Crystal spread open Nathans shirt so that she could get a good look at his chest. Nathan radiated masculinity. He was lean and powerful, and there wasnt a trace of fat on him. His body was a chiseled work of art, and. Crystals fingers were drawn to the master lines that defined his pectoral and abdominal. muscles. But when she ran those fingers along the waist of his pants, he hastily grabbed her wrist. Youre ying with fire, he admonished her. Maybe, she sighed, but I feel like Im fireproof right now. Crystal began to pull Nathans shirt off his shoulders, but hemanded her to stop. Nathan looked up at the driver and said, Pull over and stop the car! The driver slowed down, and once hed pulled over, Nathan looked at him in the mirror and said, Get out! Now! The driver saw impatience in Nathans eyes and got out as quickly as he could. Go get a coffee, Nathan said. Ill call you if I need you. Otherwise, find your own way home. The driver nodded as if this was routine, and then he took off down the street. Once Crystal and Nathan were alone, she looked at him nervously and asked, Are you angry? It seems that you werent satisfied with my performance? Where did you learn to perform so well? Nathan asked. I taught myself, Crystal replied nervously. Nathan scowled, and he said, I dont believe you. A girl cannot just learn to behave like this. She needs to be guided by a man. Did Carlos teach you these tricks? He did, Crystal admitted. You cant get angry, though. I may be damaged goods, but I never imed not to be! If you want to return the goods, you are free to do so. Carlos has already told me that he would take me back! Return the goods? Nathan gasped. He couldnt believe what he was hearing. Without warning, an unquenchable fire began to rage within him, and he felt like he could quickly lose control if he werent careful. Of course, I can return the goods, he growled, but before that, I want to inspect the goods and sample the merchandise. Nathan grabbed Crystals hand as he had in his office, and he twisted it violently behind her back, causing her to cry out in fear and pain. Her back arched, and his eyes swept over her body, and a wolfish grin appeared on his face. He chuckled and said, So, my sweet young thing isnt as sweet as I thought she was. Crystal had been through a lot with Nathan, and she had finally reached her breaking point. She pushed her face close up to Nathans and said, Fine! Inspect the goods all you want. If you do, though, then I get to check your goods C tit for tat! Is it a deal? Nathan sat back for a moment. He was intrigued. Sure, he said. Its a deal. Crystal hadnt expected him to agree so readily, and his sudden amicable attitude gave her an idea. She leaned forward and gave him a quick, chaste kiss. Then, as she pulled away, she whispered into his ear: Professor Davis, do you like to be kissed with your eyes open because Id like to kiss you with your eyes closed. Nathan shrugged. It doesnt matter to me, he said, and he closed his eyes dutifully C and the minute his eyes were closed, Crystal opened the door of the car, grabbed Nathans shirt, and rushed out into the street. Chapter 27: I Don鈥檛 Need Anyone鈥檚 Charity Nathan knew immediately what was going on, and he reached out to grab Crystal, but he was yanked back into the car by his seatbelt. And before he knew it, she was free. He shouted after her, Crystal, get back here! Nathan quickly undid the seatbelt, and even though he was half-naked, he got out of the car. Crystal was about half a block away from him, and she was waving his shirt in the air so that, instead of a shirt, it looked like a victory g C not only had she escaped his clutches, but now she was mocking him! The cold wind blew hard, it hit Nathans bare chest, and he flinched away from it. He had never been outside without a shirt before. However, from his education, he knew what would happen if he did not rectify the situation quickly. Furthermore, if one of his peers were to see him, he would be deeply embarrassed. Nathan watched in dismay as Crystal threw his shirt into a trash bin. She spread her hands innocently, smirked, and just as he was about to rush towards her, she stopped a taxi and quickly got into it. Crystal! he shouted. He was so angry that when he punched the Maybachs window, it shook, and a small crack appeared. A convertible car passed behind Nathan, and a morous, sensual,rge-breasted woman whistled at him. She batted her eyshes and said, Hey sexy, do you need a ride? Nathan turned and red at her. fuck off! he shouted. I dont need anyones charity! The woman was so frightened by the look in Nathans eyes and his tone of voice that she stepped on the cars elerator and took off like a bat out of hell. Nathan ran around to the drivers side of the Maybach, climbed in, started the car, and took off after Crystals taxi. Crystal turned in her seat, and when she saw Nathan following after her, a cold chill ran down her back. She had thought she would be safe in the taxi, but she didnt feel safe C and she was afraid. Crystal looked out the window and tried to distract herself by watching the scenery as it passed by her, at the people, the stores, and the intersecting streets. The things she saw through the window were fascinating, but they made her feel tired. Her eyes began to droop, but before she could fall asleep, the driver cursed and pumped on the brakes. The car jerked, and Crystal was thrown forward into the back of the front seat, and the seatbelt she was wearing across her chest bit into her shoulder. Ouch! she cried. What was that all about? She looked up and saw Nathans silver-gray Maybach parked horizontally in front of the taxi. The car cut me off, the driver exined. He pumped the horn twice and frowned. He turned to look at Crystal and said, And now hes refusing to move. The driver was angry, but he hadnt lost his temper yet. He calmly opened his window and shouted at the Maybach, What the hell?!?! Do you have a death wish?!?!? What were you thinking?!?!?! Get out of my way, asshole!!!! The door of Maybach opened, and Nathan stepped out of the vehicle like a king emerging from his chariot. His facial features were: impossible to read, but there was an undeniable rage burning behind his eyes, and as he walked slowly over to the taxi, the drivers curses died in his mouth. Keep your mouth shut! the driver told himself- this man is not safe!N?velDrama.Org content. Crystal opened her door and tried to run, but Nathan was faster than she was, and before shed made it more than a few steps, hed grabbed a fist full of her hair. He pulled her backward, and she screamed C in pain, indignation, horror, and rage C as he reigned her in. Nathan pulled Crystals head backward and gripped her chin with his free hand. Damnit, he growled. Dont you know that it is dangerous for a woman to ride in a taxi alone after midnight? What? Crystal was a little confused. She had thought that he would scold her for teasing him. Is it possible that he was looking out for my safety all along? C she wondered. Before Crystal could properly process this thought, the taxi driver leaned out of his window and said, Miss, can you please pay your fare? Ive got it, Nathan said as he released Crystal. He took out his wallet from his right trouser pocket, pulled out a twenty-dor bill, and threw it through the window. That should be more than enough. Now get lost. The driver thought that Nathan was a madman, and he was more than happy toply. Now that Nathan knew that Crystal was safe, he was able to rx. He took out a cigarette and lighter from his back pocket. With a click, a burst of fire lit up the night, and Nathan lit his cigarette. He brought it to his mouth and took a long drag off his fag. The smoke rose from between his fingertips, and he blew it off into the night. Even though Nathan was topless, he maintained his usual carefree demeanor. He took another drag off his ciggy, made an O with the smoke as he exhaled, and smiled. He turned to Crystal and said, So, have you had enough fun for one evening, do you think? Crystal stared out into the night and didnt answer for a while. So much had happened in a very short amount of time, and there were many things that she was confused about. Finally, she took a deep breath and said, I suppose so. But what about Mr. Ford? Nathan smiled and said, Based on your poor performance, I see no reason to change my mind, but if you want to try again, then I might reconsider. Do you care to rejoin me in the car? Crystal grumbled in dissatisfaction, but in the end, she saw no choice but to do as he suggested. After all, if she wanted to help Mr. Ford, Nathan had made it clear that this was the only way. Crystal climbed into the passenger seat of the car. Nathan walked around the car and jumped into the drivers seat, and as he started the car, he nced at Crystal through the rearview mirror. Crystal looked him in the eyes and said, Professor Davis, I have naked pictures of you. She opened her phone and showed him a series of photos of him topless that shed just taken. Chapter 28: Is Nathan A Painter? Nathan looked at the topless pictures of himself on Crystals phone andughed. So what? Arent you afraid that I will upload them to my Instagram ount? Crystal asked. Nathan smirked and said, If you do, then you will have to exin why you were in a car with a half-naked man, and you will face more ridicule than I will! Crystal was surprised by Nathans quick answer. She sat silently back in her seat and pouted all the way back to the house. As the car was stopped in front of the yard, Nathan gently touched her hand, and then he mped his fingers tightly around her wrist. He stared into her eyes and said, The past is over. It is better. to look forward to the future and enjoy the present.N?velDrama.Org content. Crystal tried to pull her hand away, and when he wouldnt let her go, she began to panic. Even if he got away from him, now that they were home, there was nowhere for her to go, and if he wanted to force himself on her, she would not be able to escape. Even God cant help me now-she realized, and she swallowed softly. Crystal smiled gently and asked Nathan if he wanted her to get him a shirt, but he said, No. Dont bother. I would just have to take it off, so why would I put one on? Crystal: Dont you know how charming you are when youre fully dressed? And besides, its more fun to put clothes on than to take them off. Furthermore Nathan: Furthermore, what? Crystal: Furthermore, Im very good at at taking clothes off. Nathan: Ah. *** Once they were inside, Nathan led Crystal to his bedroom. Heid down on his bed, on his back, and pulled Crystal on top of him. He looked at her excitedly and said, Lets get started. Crystal: Get started? Nathan forced Crystals hand to Armanis belt around his waist and said, You said that youre good at taking off clothes, and now you have to prove it! With no other options at her disposal, Crystal undid the sp on Nathans belt. Once it was open, she looked at him nervously, and he nodded his head. Go on, he prompted. Crystals hands trembled a little, and as she pulled the zipper on his pants down, her fingers brushed along the length of his stiff manh**d, and she pulled away as a reflex. Nathan didnt give her a chance to retreat properly, though. He leaned into her and kissed her lips, and while she was distracted, he grabbed her hands and subdued her. Crystal struggled, but Nathan was too strong, and she could not escape. Nathans kiss was fierce and domineering, and Crystal had to admit that he had an excellent technique. Even if she had never kissed a man before, she would have been able to recognize his superiority. Crystals head began to spin, and she lost all sense of time. Eventually, though, the kiss did end, and by that time, she had no idea if the saliva in her mouth was hers or his. Crystal had given up struggling, and shey softly on Nathans body. She stared at him for a long while. She felt lost C as if she were in a trance, and she was utterly fascinated by his natural smile. Nathan gripped Crystals buttocks and raised his hips so that she could feel every inch of him as he pressed his girth hard against her mons pubis. Crystal shuddered, but she didnt pull away, and Nathan gave her a curious look. Are you afraid of seeing it? Yes, I am afraid, she admitted. Nathan looked into Crystals innocent eyes. He patted her butt and said, If you dont want to continue, then get up. We can stop here for today. Crystal uttered a sigh of relief when she heard Nathans words. She quickly got up, but as her feet hit the ground, a thought urred to her. She turned to Nathan and said, You said that if I performed well, you would forgive Mr. Ford. Have I performed well for you? Of course, Nathan replied, and as he said this, he suddenly realized that Crystal was aplete mystery to him. She was sometimes choleric, sometimes sultry, sometimes cute, and asionally stubborn. Most women were unpredictable and given to quick changes in moods, but, in that regard, Crystal was worse than any woman he had ever met- and she was full of surprises! Crystal went into the kitchen and poured herself a ss of milk. She offered Nathan one, but he said, I dont drink milk. Could you make some coffee, though? Crystal smiled meekly, and she lowered her head. Yes, my lord. Ill make it for you. Nathan looked at Crystals breasts and said, Wait. I want you to drink the milk first. And put a lot of sugar in it. Milk is good for you. You should be drinking more of it. And when you make my coffee, dont forget that I like it cold! Crystal picked up the ss of milk on the table, added five spoons full of sugar, and brought it to her mouth. After taking a sip, she said, The taste is so sweet that I can practically feel my teeth preparing to fall out. Nathan nodded, and Crystal obediently drank the rest of the milk. After that, she hurriedly drank several sses of water to get the taste out of her mouth. After that, Crystal prepared a pot of coffee for Nathan. When it was done, she filled a mug with ice cubes and poured the coffee over them. It was the first time that she had met someone who liked iced coffee, so she wanted to make sure there was enough ice. Crystal brought Nathan his coffee, but he didnt drink right away. Instead, he raised his head from his notebook and said, I am hungry. Crystal clenched and unclenched her fists. Okay, she said. Ill cook for you. Before she could leave, though, Nathan grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her onto hisp. She was shocked, and she tried to get away, but he wouldnt let her go. Arent you hungry? she asked him. What do you want to eat? Nathan: You. Crystal: Nathan: Just stay like this for a while. Crystal quit resisting, and Nathan slowly loosened his grip on her wrist. She red at him, but he paid her no mind. His attention had returned to his notebook and his lesson preparations. After a while, Crystals gaze softened, and she began to appreciate Nathans handsome face for what it was. She finally understood why so many women were so eager to be with him C why they were so crazy about him. If it werent for his tricks, few people would be able to resist his charm. Nathan seemed to feel her eyes on him, and his focus shifted back to her. Crystals face turned red, and she looked away. She noticed for the first time that hed cleaned up his study, but without the things shed broken, the room seemed strangely empty. She looked at the paintings on the wall. Their style was mature and smooth, and the transition between the shades of colors was extraordinarily natural and stunning. She looked at the bottom left corner of one of them and saw Nathans name printed there, and she was startled. Is Nathan a painter? C she wondered. She thought about it for a moment and realized that if he was, it made sense. After all, if he wasnt good at music and art, how could he have won the heart of a rich woman like her mother? C It seems that I have underestimated him! Gradually, Crystals eyelids began to feel heavy. She rested her head on Nathans shoulder, and without meaning to, she fell asleep. Chapter 29: You Should Ask Me What I Don鈥檛 Like With her head resting on Nathans shoulder, Crystal dreamt that she was a young girl again. She had been afraid of the dark, and her Mother wasforting. Her Mother gently hugged her, patted her on the back, and hummed a luby. Crystal wanted more of her Mothers warmth, so she pressed her body against her and nuzzled her head against her chest. She could smell mint on her breath, and she began to feel dizzy. Why does my Mother smell like mint? C Crystal wondered. Her Mother had never smelled like mint before! When Crystal opened her eyes, she found herself in her bed, with Nathan hovering over her. And she began to panic. She tried to get up, but Nathan had her pinned down. She watched in horror as he lowered his head. What are you doing here? she cried. Nathan smirked and said, Ask yourself. Crystal had no idea what had happened after shed fallen asleep. What had happened, though, was that by the time theyd arrived at her house, shed been so soundly asleep that he hadnt been able to wake her, so hed had to carry her inside her and tuck her into her bed. Then, when hed tried to leave, shed grabbed his hand and refused to let him go. Thus, he had been forced to spend the night with her. It wasnt until shed begun to wake up that shed finally released her hold on Nathan, and by then, his hand had gone numb. Crystal took a quick look under the nkets and was pleased to see that she was still dressed. Nathan seemed to misunderstand her intent, though. He said, You seem a little disappointed to see that you are not undressed. You were so insistent that I be. with youst night. Where did that passion go? Crystals face turned an embarrassing shade of red, and she said, I didnt do anything to youst night, did I, dear Professor Davis? I suffer from Sexsomnia. It is a medical condition that causes me to engage in sex acts while in NREM sleep. It is not something that I can help with! I guess youll never know what happened. Nathanughed, and then he asked her if she would have sex with him for Mr. Fords sake. Crystal sighed and said that she would. He brought this on himself, Nathan reminded her. If you could intercede for him in another way, though, would you prefer that? Crystal swallowed and said, I dont know. Mr. Ford is in his fifties, which is still very young. Perhaps the move would actually be good for him. He could use the exercise, thats for sure. Oh? Have you given up on pleading for him? Nathan asked, surprised. Yes, Crystal replied. I quit. She could not bear being subservient to Nathan for even one more minute. He had been pushing his luck for a long time, and it had finally gotten to be too much. As a consequence of her decision, Mr. Ford would be demoted, and Tiffany would not help her, but she thought she could live with that and she could find someone else to help her get a divorce. Nathan frowned and said, Its not like you to give up so quickly, Crystal. Its also not like me to do things that go against my conscience! Crystal snapped back. Or to put up with bullshit! Nathan gave Crystal a serious look and asked, What do you like? Crystal looked him in the eyes, smirked, and said, You should ask me what I dont like. Nathans frown deepened. It was clear that he was what Crystal was referring to C she did not like him! Nathan slowly released her and got out of bed. He walked out and mmed the door behind him. The door made a loud BANG! Sound and Crystal found herself staring at it. What is Nathan up to? C she wondered C Had he always intended to let me go? It was a long time after that before she finally got up and went downstairs, and by then, Nathan was gone. Thank God for minor miracles! Susie was vacuuming the carpet in the living room, but she turned off the machine when she saw Crystal, and she said, Good morning, Crystal. I hope you slept well. Crystal: I did, thank you Susie, how is Alice doing these days? Susie: Shes fine. She is going to have a baby. Her legs are a little swollen, though, and she cant walk much. Crystal: Boy or girl? Susie: Well, we dont know yet. Of course, it doesnt matter if it is a boy or a girl, so long as he or she is healthy. But we hope it is a girl so that she can be as pretty and smart as you. If its a boy, though, that is okay too. He can be handsome and upright like Mr. Davis. Crystal: Maybe shell have twins! A boy and a girl! Susie: You are so sweet, Crystal. Oh, wait a minute. Mr. Davis asked me to give you this. Susie wiped her hands with her apron, and then she handed Crystal a white paper bag. Crystal epted the bag and opened it up. Inside, there was a white box with a mobile phone inside of it. On the night that shed gotten drunk, not only had she broken four hundred million dors worth of antiques, but she had also broken her cell phone, so this was a pleasant surprise.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Is it a cell phone? Susie asked. Mr. Davis is very attentive to your needs. He has an ulterior motive, Crystal muttered. He always does. She sat on the sofa and opened the box. She was hesitant to ept any gift from Nathan. But if he can take my Mothers legacy, why cant I use his phone? she asked herself. Crystal took the cell phone out of the box, plugged it into the wall, and began to scroll through her contacts. Nathan had already taken the liberty to download everything she needed from the Cloud, and when she saw her husbands name, a chill ran up her spine. She tried to delete the contact, but it was locked, and she was unable. What kind of stupid phone is this? she grumbled. I cant even edit my Contact List!!! Chapter 30: Could You Do Me A Favor? Crystal started and restarted her phone, but she was still unable to edit her Contact List, so she posted her problem to Instagram, and within minutes she was flooded with suggestions. Re: What is the phone model? Why cant you edit it? Try rebooting the phone and try again. Re: Look at the manual and click on the Contacts. You are supposed to edit them directly from there. Re: Show me the model. Crystal took a picture with her old phone and added it to thements, and the replies continued to fly in. Re: Isnt this thetest and most expensive model? Re: Yes. Its an iPhone Princess Plus! Re: The phone is studded with diamonds! Wow! It is so beautiful. Re: It is iid with 318 expensive diamonds! Re: Crystal, stop showing off! Crystal was frustrated because the problem was being ignored. Now that shed posted the photo, all anyone wanted to talk about was how expensive the phone was. Thats not the point at all, she wrote. All I want to do is edit the Contact List. Do any of you know how to solve this problem? When it came to the critical question, nobody seemed to have a solution to her problem. In the end, The Electronic Maniac wrote: I think there is something wrong with the program. You should contact a seller and ask them to solve it. By the way, did you buy it yourself, or did someone else give it to you? Crystal: Someone gave it to me. The Electronic Maniac: He may have set this up intentionally. If so, he should have a program that would resolve the issue. Crystal thought about that possibility and quietly turned off Instagram. If Nathan had tampered with her Contact List, she wondered if there were any other programs that he had tampered with. If so, she would not dare use the phone, not if she couldnt guarantee her privacy. Crystal sighed as she put the phone back in the box. Despite the new phones fancy features, she preferred her old one. Crystal had no sses in the morning, so she called Serenity and asked her to go with her to get her old phone fixed. Crystal had just woken Serenity up, but she agreed to go. If you get there first, she said, wait for me. Ill get up right now. Serenity hung up and went back to sleep. Thus, Crystal arrived first. The mobile phone store was in an old alley near her school. There was a big te bluestone road, and the store was between two rows of old houses. Out of all the buildings in the downtown area, this was one of Crystals favorites. It had been built in the 1800s, and it had been preserved because of its historical value. As Crystal approached the store, a bicycle braked and stopped beside her. It was Frank. He looked at her and said, Hey! Crystal, are you waiting for someone? Crystal: Im waiting for Serenity. Frank: My friend owns this store, and I happen to have business with him. Why dont I take you in? You can wait inside for Serenity. That is what I was going to do, Crystal said, and they went into the store together. Other than the owner, Frank and Crystal were the only people in the store. The shop owner leaned on the counter and said, Hey, Frank! Is this your girlfriend? Frank blushed and said, Dont be ridiculous, Reg. She is my ssmate. Her name is Crystal. Crystal took out her cell phone and showed it to the shop owner. The shop owner was very polite, and he offered them some water to drink while he looked at the phone.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Crystal noticed that Frank was blushing, and she asked him if he was nervous. Frank said that he wasnt, but Crystal didnt believe him. Why do you get so nervous every time youre with me? Crystal asked. Frank ignored the question. He turned around and said, Im going to go look at phone cases. He had only taken a few steps, though, when he stumbled and almost fell. To Crystal, he looked like a shy young boy with a childhood crush. Wait a minute! Crystal said. Could you do me a favor? Frank nodded, and Crystal walked up to him. May I borrow your cell phone? she asked. Frank shrugged and said, Sure. Then he took his phone out of his pocket, unlocked it, and handed it to Crystal. As soon as Crystal had the phone, she turned on the camera, grabbed Frank, and asked, Would you like to take a selfie with me. Frank was startled, and he pulled away. Crystal chuckled. If you dont want to take a picture with me, Ill find someone else. I want to! Frank sputtered. You surprised me. Thats all. Frank stood next to Crystal, and she held up his phone to take the selfie. Then, after taking a few pictures, she paused to look through the album. She selected one that she was rtively happy with and posted it on Instagram, along with a photo of her broken phone and another of the iPhone Princess Plus that Nathan had given her. Beneath the images, she wrote, All I that women want is a happy destination to call their own, or a mobile phone C whatever suits them best! Almost immediately, people began toment on her post. Someone asked her what was going on, and another person wished her happiness. She waited for half an hour, and then she deleted the post. By then, she assumed that Nathan had seen the pictures, which had been the posts purpose. Once that was done, she deleted the photos from Franks phone and handed them back to him. . After examining Crystals phone, the shop owner said, I can fix this, but your mobile phones essories are out of stock. I can have them in by the end of the day. I hope that isnt too much of an inconvenience. Its fine, Crystal said. Ille and get it tonight. Thank you. Chapter 31: It Sounds Fine Crystal took the phone card of her old phone and inserted it into the iPhone Princess Plus for temporary use, and as soon as it was installed, the phone vibrated, and a text message from Serenity appeared. It said: Crystal, Are you insane?!?!?! Crystal: Calm down and tell me what happened! Serenity: You posted a selfie with Frank on Instagram! What were you thinking?Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Crystal: What are you talking about? There isnt a photo with Frank and me on Instagram! Serenity: Oh! What happened to it? Is it gone? Did you feel so guilty about it that you deleted it? Crystal: Never mind that. Where are you? You should have been here already. Serenity: Have no fear. I am on my way. But dont try to change the subject. We have Professor Daviss ss soon, and then you will be on your own, so good luck with that! **** When Serenity arrived at the shop, she ran up to Crystal and gave her a big hug. Crystal knew it was Serenity, so she did not struggle, but when they parted, Crystal said, I just found out that youre a secret agent and that youre working for Nathan. What is your purpose in approaching me? Tell me! Crystals usationpletely caught Serenity off guard. What are you talking about? she asked. You know that I am a big fan of Professor Davis, but I am here because you called me and asked me toe! Furthermore, we have been close friends for a long time. Your usation hurts me. Still, I would like to know what you thought when you posted that selfie with Frank Crystal shrugged and said, I just wanted to y a little trick on Professor Davis. What do you think? Serenity: I think that youre trying to find out if Professor Daviss feelings towards you are sincere. Frank and Professor Davis are not on the same level, though. Frank doesnt have the self-control that Professor Davis has. Crystal: Maybe, but Frank is the cutest boy in our ss. Now that I think about it, what self-control are you talking about? You really are a nymphomaniac. How about I pack them for you, Professor, into a box and give them to you as a gift? I bet youd like that! Serenity: No, I wouldnt. In fact, I would refuse your gift. Crystal: Then stop iming to be Professor Daviss biggest fan. The two girls left the store,ughing, and walked down the street to a nearby restaurant. Crystal ordered a bowl of spaghetti, a beef soup, an egg, and two pieces of barbecued pork, while Serenity ordered a hamburger and a coke. Geez, youve been eating a lottely! Eximed Serenity. Crystal: You dont need to make such a fuss over everything I do! Its annoying! Crystal picked up her fork and began to eat. Serenity looked up from her food and said, You and Nathan are the right size for each other. There is no room between you guys for me. When Crystal heard what Serenity had said, she was so surprised that she almost blew her spaghetti out of her mouth. Serenity! she eximed. Shut up! Serenity: Fine. Seriously, though C Ive decided to go back to my old business. Crystal: As a procurer? Serenity: Of Course! Will you help me? Im afraid that Professor Davis would whip me if I acted as a procurer for you. Crystal: Well, are you going to run errands? Serenity: Yes. What else can I do? Im not like you. You may not be a dependable character, but youve got good grades and a high IQ! Serenity: How can you mention the word Character to me? I remember how you pretended to be pregnant so that you could lecture your mistress. How did that go? Crystal smirked, and in a sarcastic tone of voice, she asked, How did it go? Maybe you should answer your own question! Serenity was still embarrassed by what had happened that day. She had excitedly told Crystal that she had received a big order, but Crystal had told her not to take it. No matter how much Crystal had tried to dissuade Serenity, she did not listen. Serenity lowered her head and said, Forget it. It was an ident. It doesnt matter anymore. Crystal: Fine, tell me about this new opportunity. Serenity: Its nothing special. I just take orders, part-time, to help people run their errands. Crystal: Okay. It sounds fine. Serenity: Im going to work part-time to make money. Why arent you giving me the warm support that I need? I always try to support you, dont I? But you never support me! Crystal: Of course I support you. This meal is on me. How about that? Crystal took a sip of her beef soup, then she wiped her mouth and said, You should take care of yourself better, though, and find a normal full-time day job. Crystal thought that Serenity was too money-hungry, and she didnt fully consider the ramifications of the orders she took. Of course, role-ying was a piece of cake for Serenity, and she was a taekwondo master, so, technically, she could take care of herself-still, Crystal couldnt help but worry about her friends safety. After eating, the girls made their way to school. Their first-ss was with Professor Davis, and because they were runningte, the only avable seats were at the back of the ss. The front row seats were dominated by pretty girls who were only there to attract the teachers attention. Crystal pursed her lips, set her books on her desk, and was about to put her head on her desk to get some sleep when she caught sight of Frank sitting alone at the other end of the room. Their eyes met, and Frank shyly turned away. Crystal whispered to Serenity, Come with me. Serenity was confused, but she obeyed. Crystal took her books and led Serenity to the other side of the room, to where Frank was sitting. There were two empty desks beside him, and she asked if they could sit with him. N-not at all, Frank stammered. Nobody is sitting here, so they are all yours. Frank didnt often get any attention from girls, and his face had turned a shy shade of pink. Chapter 32: You Asked For It When Serenity saw how nervous Frank was, she snickered and said, Hey, Frank, dont be so nervous, or people will think were bullying you, and then theyll take your seat. Crystal red at Serenity and said, Dont scare him. Youre a banditpared to him. Do you know that? She turned to Frank. Dont be afraid. Ive got your back. With that said, Crystal made herselffortable behind the desk that shed chosen.N?velDrama.Org content. After a moment, Frank said, Thank you for taking the selfie with me. Crystal: Youre wee. You know that it doesnt mean anything, right? I was just using you to make someone else jealous. Frank: I know, and I dont mind. Crystal: Thats good. I would hate for there to be a misunderstanding between us. Serenity was twirling her pen between her fingers when suddenly it slipped, and it flew under Crystals desk. Crystal bent over to pick it up, and then she threw it back to Serenity. Here you are, she said. Serenity took the pen and set it on her desk. She was bored, so she checked the schools forum on her cell phone, and she saw a post that startled her so badly that she nearly dropped her phone. The post was titled: A Beauty Performs An Indecent Act in ss. And under the header, there was a series of pictures of Crystal and Frank. In one photo, Crystal and Frank wereughing and talking and gazing into each others eyes. In another, Crystal was lying on top of Franksp, with her face in his crotch and his crotch in hers. Serenity might have been skeptical if the post had been about someone else, but Crystal was sitting next to her, and she knew what was going on between her and the Professor. Serenity looked up, and she realized that some of the students were staring at Crystal, and she was so angry that she mmed the phone down on the table and stood up in a rage. Who posted this? Serenity shouted. Crystal looked at Serenity as she shouted at her ssmates. Serenity yelled: Whoever did this is a scumbag, and they will not get away with it! Crystal took Serenitys phone and saw the photos, and she tried to figure out who could have taken them. After a minute, she turned to Serenity, smiled, and said, Forget about it. This isnt a big deal. Youll see. Serenity rolled her eyes and said, Why are you smiling? Professor Davis will Before she could finish her sentence, she suddenly realized that people were standing beside her, and she choked back her angry words. Im not worried about Professor Davis, Crystal said. In fact, Ill forward the post to him myself. And it wasnt long before everyone in the school had seen the photos. When they reached the Presidents office, Owen retreated quietly in the direction of his desk. Once he was behind it, he picked up the phone, called his assistant, and he told her to delete the posts on the school forum and locate the posters mobile phone so that they could find out who had posted the pictures. Nathan joined Owen shortly, and he made himselffortable on the couch across from the Presidents desk. Owen had known Nathan for years. He knew that Nathan was calm and decisive. It was almost impossible to get him to fly into a rage and expose any sign of weakness. Nathan pulled his phone out of his pocket and leaned forward so that he could show Owen the message that Crystal had sent him. It contained the URL for the post with the pictures of them together. Below that, shed written: How does it feel to be a cuckold? Geez! Owen eximed. This girl has quite the personality! How dare she challenge you like this? Nathan turned the phone back around and gazed at the offending line of text. Owen sneaked around behind the sofa and craned his neck to see what Nathan would do. Nathan was tantly coerced into being a cuckold, which was a unique experience he did not want to share. That being said, Owen would never miss an opportunity to have a goodugh at Nathans expense C but Nathan only stared at the screen. He did not do anything. Owen was about to remind him that it was almost time for his ss and urged him to deal with it when Nathan jumped to his feet. He put his phone back in his pocket. Nathan walked out of the principals office, down the hallway, into his ssroom, and immediately began to take attendance. Crystal wasnt paying attention, though, and when he came to her name, Serenity had to give her a shake. Professor Davis is calling your name, she whispered. Crystal raised her head and said, Here. After Crystal answered, there was an eerie silence as Professor Davis walked up the aisle to where she was sitting. He turned to look at Frank and said, Frank. Frank looked up, Here he said. His face was flushed. Nathan: Go to the lectern and repeat thest lecture. Frank was very obedient. He stood up fearfully. His whole body stiffened, and he walked to the podium. Then he opened his books and his notes and began to read mechanically. Nathan sat down in Franks ce. He looked perfectly natural as if he hade to audit Franks performance. The moment Nathan sat down, his arm touched Crystals arm, and she winced. Nathan ignored her disgruntled expression, and he rested his hands on the desk. Once Frank had been talking for a few minutes, Nathan turned to Crystal and whispered, Hes nice. He is, isnt he? Crystal said. She leaned her elbows on the table, looked him in the eye, and added: I have a good taste, dont l? She nced at Nathans Adams apple, and when he didnt reply, she smiled. Nathan pointed to where Frank was standing and said, Crystal, go to the front and take over for Frank. Crystal was a little overwhelmed, and she was about to refuse Nathans order when he whispered to her, If you dont want him toe down, you can refuse. Crystal: Dont go too far! Nathan: You asked for it! You need to learn a lesson about what happens if you dont behave like a qualified wife. Crystal wanted to say something more, but she could sense all of her ssmates watching her, and she knew that they expected her to obey the Professors orders. Chapter 33: He Is So Handsome Crystal stood up, but when she tried to pass Nathan, he blocked her way. She gave him a dirty look and said, Professor Davis, would you please make way for me? Nathan immediately slid out of the way, but as she took her first step, she tripped on his foot and sat on Nathans leg. Crystal was wearing a thin skirt, so when shended on Nathan, she could feel the heat of his body through the delicate material. She felt his hot breath on her neck when he opened his mouth; when he said, Youre getting good at this. Crystal, of course, understood the words dual meaning, but she was not in the mood to have a fierce battle of the tongue with him in front of her ssmates, mainly because some of them C especially the girls C thought that she had fallen on his leg on purpose. Crystal sprang to her feet, and Nathan stood up to stand beside her. He looked at her and said, Sorry. As a gentleman, I should have stood up first. Finally, Nathan sat back down, and Crystal walked to the podium. She relieved Frank, and he left his notes for her to read from. Then, after ncing at his notes, Crystal picked up the chalk and drew a k-line pattern on the ckboard to represent the market, starting with the basic pattern and moving on to the various technical patterns. She was calm, professional, and clear-thinking. Then, as she finished a deep technical form, she went to the right side of the ckboard and stood on her toes to draw an icon in the top right corner. Unfortunately, it was too high for her to reach, even when she stood on the tips of her toes. She was about to give up when Nathan came up behind her. Crystals back stiffened when she sensed his presence. Crystal was afraid, but she didnt dare to move. Luckily, she wasnt good at dealing with what she viewed to be ambiguous behavior. That being said, it wasnt until Nathan pressed against her and reached out to help her draw the icon that she allowed herself to breathe. Then, as he stepped away from her, she turned and hurried back to her seat. As Nathan began teaching, Serenity whispered to Crystal: The two of you look perfect together! Crystal: But we are a tragedy. Serenity: Come on. It isnt that bad. Serenity noticed that a group of girls was giggling and watching a man outside the window. Look whos out there! one of them said. He is so handsome. Crystal and Serenity looked out the window and saw that a strange man was looking at them. Serenity looked at the man. Indeed, he was a handsome man. He had curly bangs, a straight nose, and he was wearing a long white suit. I recognize him from somewhere, Serenity whispered, but I cant ce where. She thought about it for a moment, and then she realized where she had seen him! Serenity quickly covered her face with her book, and when Crystal saw that, she leaned over and whispered, Whats the matter with you? Were still in ss. What are you doing? Serenity: Shh Crystal: Are you all right? Serenity: Leave me alone. Tell me when the man is gone. Crystal looked out of the window. The man was gone, so she said, The coast is clear. Hes gone. Serenity checked to see if the man was really gone, and then she set her book on the desk. Crystal twirled her pen skillfully and said, You look like youve seen a ghost. Who was that? Its a small world, Serenity replied, not answering the question. How did he find me? Crystal set her pen under Serenitys chin and used it to lift her head. Its obvious that you know who he is, she said. Spill the beans. Serenity: Hes the handsome guy I metst time. Crystal rolled her eyes and asked, Which time? but before Serenity could answer, Crystal realized that she thought she knew who the man was. Is he who I think he is? Serenity nodded her head and said, He is. Crystal put her hands on her face and said, Is he here for you? If so, your ass is grass! Tears began to well up in Serenitys eyes, and she said, Dont I know it? Crystal thought for a moment, and then she said, Wait a minute, you apologized to him, didnt you? Its okay. Dont worry. Im sure hes forgiven you. Maybe he just happened to be passing by. Did you see how he looked? He must not be a student. I think hes here to sell insurance or credit cards or something.N?velDrama.Org content. Serenity thought about how she had dislocated the mans shoulder. Later, when she realized that she had hit the wrong person, she panicked and fled. No, she admitted. I didnt apologize. I ran away. It had been months since that happened. Serenity had no idea that the man was so narrow-minded. If shed known, she might have forced herself to go back and apologize. She wondered if the man had a grudge against her and wasing after her. Crystal gasped. What? You ran away without saying sorry? Crystal suddenly realized that her voice was getting loud, so she adjusted it and whispered, you are too timid. Serenity: I was caught between two men. Would I have survived if I had stayed there? By the way, did he see me? Crystal: I dont think so. How could he have seen you with your head behind a book? Serenity: Phew! As long as he doesnt see me, I can go into hiding until he moves on. Of course, I cannot go with you to get your phone tonight. Im sorry, but I am afraid of being ambushed. You should ask Frank to go with you. Crystal: Why are you so afraid of him? Is he a monster? Serenity: Im afraid hell pick on me. If he asks me to pay for my medical expenses, where would I get the money? Crystal: I will take care of that, but you owe him an apology. Serenity: No. I would rather just avoid him. Crystal shrugged and said, Its your funeral. Sure enough, as soon as the ss was over, Serenity went straight to the dormitory without looking back. Considering the fact that she was a taekwondo master, Crystal could not believe how timid she was. Crystal thought about asking Frank to go with her to pick up her phone. In the end, though, she decided to go by herself. After all, the shop was only a ten-minute walk from the school. She selected some songs on the phone Nathan had given her, put on her headphones, and listened as she went. Chapter 34: This Man Must Have A Death Wish When Crystal arrived at the cell phone store, she saw a nervous boy standing by the door, and as she approached, she was surprised to discover that he was Frank. Crystal took off the headphones and said, Hey, what are you doing here? Well, Im waiting Waiting for you, Frank replied. Youre waiting for me. Crystal said. Whats up? She looked up and saw that the sign on the stores door said, CLOSED. Frank: My friend Reg called me and said that he is hosting a dinner party tonight at a nearby restaurant. He asked me to take you there so that he can give you your phone. He would have called you, but you didnt leave your number. Crystalughed and said, Well, that was silly of me. Its no big deal, though. I dont want to interrupt your friends dinner party. Ill get the phone tomorrow. Are you sure? Frank asked. He pointed across the street. Thats the restaurant. Its not far from here, and hes expecting you Crystal smiled and said, Alright, lets go get my phone. Frank led Crystal to the restaurant, and they walked through the door together. The ce was busy, and Crystal found the loudughter and the smell of wine a little overwhelming. Luckily, Regs table wasnt far from the door, and he waved to them as they approached. When they got to the table, Reg looked at his guests and said, Everyone, this is Crystal. She attends school with Frank at Olman University. There were seven men at the table, including Reg. His guests were dressed casually in jeans and t-shirts, and they looked somewhat like ruffians. When they saw Crystal, they smiled, and one of them began to flirt with her. He said, Nice to meet you, Miss Crystal. You are very pretty. I saw a top-rated movie recently, and you look just like the films heroine. Why dont you and Frank join us? Thats a kind offer, Crystal said, But I am here to get my cell phone. Once I have it, I should get going. Reg: Take your time, Crystal. You just came from school. You must be hungry. Why dont you sit down and have dinner with us? Crystal: No, thank you. Ill take my phone and go. Frank turned to Reg and said, Reg, just give her the phone. Reg red at him. No wonder you cant get a girlfriend, he said. Youre such a pussy. Do you know that?!?!?! Crystals brow furrowed when she heard Regs words. If you dont give me my phone, she warned, Ill call the police. Reg smiled face and took the phone from his shirt pocket. He handed it to her and said, Well, here you are. Come on. Its not a big deal. You dont need to call the police. Crystal ignored him. She stuffed her cell phone in her bag and turned to leave. As she turned, though, Reg touched her bare shoulder. How annoying! C she thought Ill teach him! But when she tried to p him, her hand refused to move. Her vision began to go hazy, and she started to panic. What did you do to me?!?!? she cried. Regughed cruelly and asked, What do you think?Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Almost as soon as the words were out of Regs mouth, Frank pushed him to the ground, and they began to fight, but Crystal couldnt make out the details of what was happening. She shook her head in an attempt to clear her head, but the more she shook her head, the dizzier she became. Her bodys temperature began to increase until she felt as if shed been plunged into a natural hot spring. Regs friends stood up and tried to pull Frank and Reg apart. Dimly, Crystal heard Regs voice. He said, Frank, stop it! Im helping you, you punk! Why dont you tell her that you like her? You have pictures of her all over your room, and you even bought her an electric sex toy. Crystal gasped when she realized that Frank had sent her the sex toy, and she felt vited. She tried to verbalize her outrage, but when she opened her mouth, the room began to spin, and she forgot what she was going to say. Frank: How much of the dr*g did you give her? She cant take it. Reg: You have nothing to fear. Shell live, but I had to give her enough so that she wont remember anything when she wakes. Frank: Reg! You will get me into big trouble! What the fuck? Reg eximed. It seems that you genuinely like this girl, but you are too timid and cowardly to make a move. Man up, Frank! Frank: I cant do what you want me to do. Not like this. Dont you know that its against thew? We will all get into trouble. Reg: Rest assured. No one will find out. about what we are about to do. Crystal could no longer make out anything that they were saying, and she lost consciousness as she slowly staggered and fell to the ground. *** The senior management of The Brilliant Group was holding an important meeting in a luxurious conference room when Nathans phone vibrated in his pocket. He had received a text message, and a troubled expression appeared on his face when he read it. He mmed his phone on the table, startling the senior executives. They all turned to look at Nathan. They could see that something was deeply disturbing him, and they were dumbfounded as to what it could be. After all, he had been fine just a second earlier. There was a moment of silence, and then Nathan grabbed the phone and ran out of the conference room without a word of exnation. The vice president called after him, shouting, Boss, will the meeting continue? But Nathan did not reply. The executives all looked at him with confused looks on their faces. They had been in the middle of some critical business, and usually, their boss never answered his phone during a meeting, nor had he ever walked out on them like that. Not knowing what else to do, the vice president dismissed the executives and told them to return to their workstations. *** Nathan sprinted all the way to the underground parking lot, jumped into his car, and took off like a bat out of hell. How dare someone dr*g my woman? he roared. This man must have a death wish! He used his left hand to steer and his right. hand to dial a number on his cell phone, one that he knew by heart, and when the numbers owner answered, he said, Look up the address that I am about to give you and eliminate its owner! Nathan gave the man the address. Then, just as he was hanging up the phone, he hit a traffic jam. fuck! he shouted as his hand mmed on the horn. fuck! fuck! fuck! fuck! Crystal manically tore at her clothes. She felt sick all over. She felt like thousands of ants were eating her. Her whole body itched. It was maddening. She was hot, and her face was sweating. She was dizzy, and the room seemed to be spinning. Her breath was short, her mouth was dry, and she was so weak that she couldnt move a muscle. Crystal was very thirsty, and she longed for a drink of water. Crystal was alone in the dark, and the silence was terrifying. But when someone called her name after what seemed like an eternity of quiet nothingness, she had the feeling that she was about to go from the frying pan into the fire. Chapter 35: I Want Your Heart As Crystal gradually awoke, she began to smell the mint fragrance that she associated with Nathan. Then, when she opened her eyes, they confirmed her suspicion. For a moment, she stared nkly at Nathans thin lips, and the longer she looked at him, the more attracted to him she felt. Nathan put his left arm under Crystals knees and wrapped his right arm around her waist, and she put her arms around the back of his neck. Then she pressed her hot lips on Nathans. Crystal felt like she was drowning, and she turned to Nathan and looked at him in the way that one might look at a Life Buoy. Nathan frowned, and he stifled his male physiological response as Crystal touched him and kissed him recklessly. He had never seen Crystal like this, and a voice cried out in his mind C Get out of here! Quick!Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Nathan knew that he could not resist this temptation for long, so he picked Crystal up and carried her into the washroom. He ced her in the bathtub and turned the shower on, ensuring that it was as cold as possible. Crystal shrieked as the water hit her, and she tried to get out of the tub, but Nathan would not let her. Nathan thought that Crystal looked like a delicate rose in the rain. Her lips were blue and trembling, and she had a tuft of hair stuck between them. She looked so adorable that the sight of her nearly took Nathans breath away. He moved closer to take the hair out of her mouth, but before he could, Crystal wrapped her arms around him. Crystals body was so cold that her embrace shocked Nathans system, so when she kissed him, he was unable to resist her. Her lips were sweet and soft, like ice cream, and after a minute, Nathan could not get enough of them. Crystal held him with her left hand and tugged at his belt with her right hand. It wasnt long before she had his buckle open, and she slid her hand into her pants and underpants. Nathan was surprised at her bold move, and as Crystal stroked his swollen member, his brain turned to mush. Thus, when she took his hand and pressed it against her pubic mound, he did what came naturally to him. Nathans endurance had worn thin. The veins on his forehead sprang up, and beads of sweat trickled down his chin. They fell on her skin and mixed with her sweat. Crystal moaned and leaned back, pulling Nathan with her, and for the first time, he was struck by the full force of the freezing watering from the showerhead, and his arousal died immediately. He grabbed Crystals hand, pulled it out of his pants, and pressed it against the wall. He looked her in the eyes and said, Listen, this is wrong. I want you, but not like this. Youre drunk, and I want you when youre sober after youve made a conscious decision to be with me. I want your body, but, more than that, I want your heart! Crystals mind was foggy from the alcohol. She couldnt make sense of what Nathan was saying, but his rejection hurt her, and she began to cry. Nathan turned off the water, undressed her, and helped her dry off. Then he brought her to her room, dressed her in a nightgown, and tucked her in bed. *** The next day, when Crystal woke up, she had a terrible migraine headache, and even though there was a curtain over her window, the light that passed through them stung her eyes. She forced herself to sit up. Every part of her body hurt, and she felt weak. She rubbed her eyes and tried to rey the events from the night before in her mind. She looked down and saw that she was wearing a light-colored nightdress. Beneath that, she was naked. She did a quick body scan, taking stock of her aches and pains, focusing on herher regions. She had not been vited C Thank God for that! But why was acting so amorously?- she wondered C That is not like me at all. Nathan had undressed her, and he had had the opportunity to vite her C so why didnt he? It didnt make any sense, but then Crystal recalled what Nathan had said to her: I want you, but not like this I want your body, but, more than that, I want your heart. There was a knock on the door, then, and Crystal looked up. Who is it? she asked. Its me, Serenity replied. Can Ie in? Crystal: Come on in. Serenity pushed open the door, and when she saw that Crystal was still in bed, she asked, How are you, Crystal? Are you feeling better? Crystal: Im fine. I cant remember what happened to me yesterday, though. Can you help me fill in the gaps? Serenity: Have you forgotten? Wow! Reg tapped you on the shoulder when you went to get your phone, and he slipped you some Ecstasy, Frank called me, and then I called Professor Davis. Fortunately, Professor Davis arrived in time and saved you. Crystal: I remember being dr*gged, and I feel terrible. Serenity: If Professor Davis had note, we wouldnt have known what to do. You dont know how scary and thrilling the situation was. Crystal: What situation? Serenity: Professor Davis rushed over in his car, and he was breaking trafficws left and right. Eventually, he attracted the attention of the police. He hadnt pulled over when they put on their sirens, which led to a big car chase. You wouldnt believe how many squad cars he had following him! Crystal listened in silence as Serenity provided her with the details. Her heart began to beat faster as she tried to figure out why Nathan would go to so much trouble to save her. Crystal frowned and asked, What happened to Reg? Serenity swallowed and said, Have you ever seen a helicopter hanging someone upside down and dangling them in the air? Well, Nathan did that to Reg. His legs were tied to thending skids, and the helicopter headed out to sea. The rumor is that Reg was thrown into the sea to be fed to sharks. Crystal: What about Frank? Serenity: Professor Davis sent someone to Franks house to arrest him. When they broke into his rented house, they found a room full of pictures of you and sex dolls modeled after your appearance. And a collection of sex toys! Now you know who sent you the vibrator. It was from Frank! It turns out he is a real pervert! Crystal grimaced, and she felt sick to her stomach at the thought of Frank using her image as a sexual aid. Chapter 36: I Would Love That Crystal looked at Serenity and asked, What did Nathan do when he saw Franks shrine to me in his house? Serenity: Professor Davis nearly blew a gasket. He tore up the photos and the intable dolls, and then he burned the pieces in the backyard. He is usually calm and polite, so it was pretty scary to see him lose control of himself like that. Crystal shook her head and said, Youve got it all wrong. His calm and polite persona is just an act. The way you saw him when he was angry is what he is really like. Serenity: That cant be true. After all, Professor Davis said that he didnt feed Frank to the sharks. As you know, Frank is one of his students. Professor Davis fired him, though, and then he threw him into a mine. It will take Frank ten years to dig himself out, which is punishment enough. Dont you think? Professor Davis is my Prince Charming. He saved you as I expected he would. Hes so handsome, isnt he? When Crystal didnt reply, Serenity waved her hand in front of her face and said, Earth to Crystal. Earth to Crystal. What are you thinking? Are you stunned? Are you touched? Crystal pushed Serenitys hand away from her face and said, Im tired. Could you please leave me alone? Ill talk to youter. Serenity: Sure, sure. Ill go downstairs and let you rest. Call me if you need anything. After Serenity left, Crystals room seemed unusually quiet, and she had so many questions going through her mind that she felt dizzy. The most persistent question was- Who is Nathan Davis? Was he the Saint that Serenity made him out to be, or the Hell-spawn she had thought that he was? Crystal sat in bed for a few minutes, then she got up to change her clothes and went downstairs. Nathan was standing in the living room, talking on his cell phone. His slender figure was leaning against the sliding ss door. He had one hand in his trouser pocket, and he looked defiant. Crystal coughed, and Nathan turned around. Their eyes met, and Nathan frowned, and he abruptly ended his phone call. Crystal knew that she should thank Nathan for saving her, but he called her to him before she could. Crystal obediently walked over to Nathan, and she allowed him to wrap his arms around her. What do you want to say to me? he asked her. Crystal suddenly felt very nervous. His body pressed against hers felt too warm, and it made her ufortable. Despite her difort, though, she was able to smile, and she said, Thank you for everything that you did for me yesterday. Is that it? Nathan asked. His chin was resting on her head, and he rubbed it gently. The faint scent of Crystals hair reminded him of yesterday, when shed been naked, and how hed dried her with a towel. With the fabric between them, he had touched every intimate part of Crystals body, and yet, he hadnt touched her at all. Crystal was startled by Nathans implication. She looked up at him and asked him what else he wanted, and he said that all he wanted was her to use the phone that hed purchased for her. If you do that, he said, Then Ill be content. Crystal didnt know how to respond to Nathans request. He had saved her life, so it shouldnt be a big deal, but she valued her privacy. After a minute, when she still hadnt answered, Nathan asked if her hesitation had to do with the fact that hed altered the settings on the phones Contact List. Crystal didnt want to admit that she didnt want his number in her phone, so she denied it and said, The phone is too expensive. I couldnt ept such avish gift. And besides, I like the phone I have. Nathan nodded thoughtfully and said, So all I am going to get is a verbal thank you? Crystal was puzzled by the question, and she could not think of any other way to thank him. She thought for a moment, and then she had an idea. She smiled and said, Why dont I treat you to dinner?Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Nathan: That doesnt sound like a sincere gesture of gratitude. Crystal: What if I cook for you myself? Would that be sincere enough? Nathan: I would love that! Crystal was relieved by Nathans answer. She rested her head against his chest, and she could feel his rapid heartbeat pounding against her cheek. After a minute, Nathan kissed her on the forehead and let her go, and the second she was free, she ran into the kitchen. Crystal pulled open the fridge, but all that she found was a few slices of toast and some cheese. She remembered that Susie had been busy that morning and had not gone grocery shopping yet. Gotta do it myself- she thought. Crystal went to the door to put on her sneakers and get ready to go, and on the way out, she shouted, Hey! Theres no food in the house. Im going to the supermarket. Wait a minute! Nathan yelled back, and he ran out of the bedroom with a key in his hand. Ill go with you. Crystal looked at Nathan and realized that he was wearing a dark gray casual suit. She was used to seeing him in tailored suits and dress shoes, so she was surprised to see him dressed like a yuppie. Crystal shrugged and said, Lead the way. Once they got to the car, Nathan opened the door like a gentleman and let Crystal in, and once she was settled, he reached across her chest and fastened her seat belt. After that, Nathan closed the door, went around to the front of the car, and got in the drivers seat. Then he started the car and pulled away from the curb. Then, as Nathan merged with the traffic, he turned on the stereo, and soft music began to y through the speakers. Crystal could tell that he was in a happy mood, and she didnt want anything to ruin the good time that they were having together, so she smiled and said, Lets not talk about our marriage, okay? Chapter 37: Apologize To Her Nathan met Crystals eyes in the mirror, and his brow furrowed furiously. What is your problem? he shouted. All he knew was that Crystal wanted to divorce him. I would think that the advantages of being married to me would outweigh the disadvantages, but not only do you not want to talk about our marriage, but you want to keep it a secret! Whats up with that? How long until we cant make our marriage public? We can make it public after I graduate, Crystal replied. Nathan: That will do. It was a ten-minute drive from their home to the supermarket, and when they arrived, Nathan followed Crystal into the store. They got a cart to put the groceries in, and as they were walking through the produce section, someone pushed Crystal against Nathan, and her hand brushed against his. Nathan took this as an invitation to hold hands, and he smiled as he took her hand into his own. It was the first time Crystal and Nathan had held hands, and her palms began to sweat, and her heart skipped a beat. Crystal tried to pull her hand away, but Nathan increased the pressure on her hand instead of letting go. There were not very many people in the supermarket, and Crystal tried to focus on pushing the cart one-handed. After a while, she began to whistle softly. Crystal loved shopping at the supermarket. There was a wide variety of goods in the supermarket, delicious snacks, exciting toys, and fresh ingredients, and all of these things together put her in a good mood. She turned to Nathan and asked, Is there anything in particr that you want to eat? Before Nathan could reply, she added: Ill give you three seconds to think. One. Two. Three. Sheughed. All right, times up. Nathan grinned and said, You are so naughty. You didnt give me a chance. Crystal: I did. I counted C One. Two. Three, and you didnt say anything. You give up? Okay, Nathanughed, but I wont forget this! Crystal was selecting onions. She looked up and asked Nathan what he meant. I wont forget what you did to me, he rified. Be content. Im going to buy food for you. I seldom cook for anyone. Hey! Look at this onion. It looks so familiar. Crystal held the onion against Nathans cheek and said, Mercy me! This onion is your long-lost brother onion. Crystal giggled, and then she nearly burst into tears withughter. What do you think?Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. What do I think? Nathan grabbed the onion and held it in front of her. If that is the case, it is your husbands younger brother, he replied. Come on, say hello to it! Crystal grabbed the onion and put it in the shopping cart, and said, No, I refuse. She reached forward to get a piece of ginger, and as she ced it in the cart, a man identally scraped the wheel of his cart against her heel as he passed her. Ouch! she cried. She turned to the stranger and shouted, Watch where youre going! The man turned briefly, and then he walked away as if nothing had happened without even offering Crystal an apology. She was about to scold him again, but before she could, Nathan stepped forward and grabbed his arm. He twisted the strangers wrist savagely, spun him around, and pinned him against a shelf. With his free hand, Nathan mashed the mans face against the ss jars and canned vegetables on the ledge C and several items fell and smashed on the ground. The strangers face was pale, and he was trembling. Nathan twisted the mans wrist until he felt it break. There was a loud CRACK, and the man shrieked. However, the shriek onlysted for a second, and the sobs of a broken man reced it. Nathan leaned in behind the man and whispered into his ear: Apologize to her. The stranger turned to look at Crystal and cried, Im sorry. Crystal turned to Nathan and said, I think youve made your point. Im fine. Now let him go. Nathan let the stranger go, and he held up his arm in dismay. His hand hung loosely at his wrist. He was in a state of shock. After a minute, he began to walk to the front of the store, and Crystal thought that he looked like a man emerging from a war zone. She sighed and said, I hope hes okay. Never mind him, Nathan said. He got what wasing to him. Now lets take a look at your ankle. Nathan crouched down in front of Crystal and began to untie her shoce. Crystal tried to pull away, but he gripped her ankle and took off her shoe and sock. Nathan frowned at the pink indentation from where the cart had hit her. Does it hurt? Crystal shook her head and said, No. Not at all. She heard someone giggle, and when she looked around, she realized that theyd begun to attract the attention of several other shoppers. One person asked her if she was alright, and she said that she was, but everyone else seemed to be more interested in Nathan. Two teenage girls were standing near a giant box of watermelons. One had blond hair, and the other had brown hair. The blond girl said, Wow! He is so cute. His girlfriend is so lucky. She is, the brte agreed. What a hottie! The blond: He looks like a million dors! My, my! Im going to secretly take a picture of him and post it on my Instagram ount so that my friends can see what a perfect guy looks like. Crystal red at them. There were too many nymphomaniacs out there. They admired Nathan, and they envied her, and they were super annoying. You can have him! C Crystal thought to herself C If only getting rid of him was that easy The girls put away their phones when they saw Crystal ring at them. They rolled their eyes at her and curled their lips. And Nathan sniggered. Crystal scowled at him and asked, Why are you smiling? Dont you realize that if we are photographed together, our rtionship will be made public? And we just agreed to keep our marriage a secret until after I graduate! For a second, Nathan stopped smiling. His hand stiffened as he put Crystals shoe back on. He had thought that she was jealous of the attention he received from the nymphomaniacs, but it turned out that all she cared about was keeping their rtionship a secret. And that hurt. Chapter 38: What Are You Thinking? A store manager came around the corner as Nathan was standing up. He looked at Nathan, then at Crystal, and finally at the mess on the floor. She smiled nervously and said, Excuse me, sir, but are you responsible for this mess? Nathan stood up and turned to look at the girl, and when she saw his face for the first time, she gasped, and her jaw nearly hit the floor. The girl wore the blue and red uniform that was a requirement of all supermarket employees. She had a symmetrical face and a pretty smile, and when she saw Nathan, her face flushed. She immediately lowered her head, held out a book with both hands, and said, I dont need to ask you to pay for anything. I know you didnt break it on purpose. I just want you to leave us your phone number. That way, if there is an investigation, we can contact you. Nathan stared at the book and didnt take it. After a moment, Crystal grabbed the book and said, Im sorry, but my boyfriend doesnt have a phone. If you need any information, you can call me. I saw everything, so I can answer your questions just as well as he can. Crystal scribbled a few numbers in the book. Then she took two hundred-dor bills from her pocket and put them in the book. Here you are. I would like to take responsibility for the broken goods and the inconvenience it will cause your staff to clean this mess up. Anyway, I know that this was all a charade. I can understand why you would want my boyfriends number, but it is unfortunate that your Mother didnt teach you how to attract a mans attention without behaving like such a hussy! The store manager took the book without a word. She looked down at the mess on the ground. She frowned, and her face turned red. Crystal sighed when she realized that shed hurt the girls feelings. She said, You know what? Im sorry. I shouldnt have been so hard on you. How about this, you can have him after we break up? When Nathan heard that, he grabbed Crystal and threw her over his shoulder. What the fuck?!?!?! Crystal shrieked. Unhand me, you ruffian! Fine! Nathanughed. You asked for it! And he sat her in the front shopping cart, where mothers usually put their toddlers to keep them out of trouble. How dare you talk about breaking up?!?!? he shouted. I just wanted to give her some hope, Crystal cried. No one should have to live without hope. What if shes depressed? Cant you see that shes almost crying? When Crystal realized that she was in the shopping cart, she said, Hey, hey, stop! Are you crazy? Im not a kid. I cant sit in a shopping cart. Nathan: Dont move. As heavy as you are, you could tip the cart! Are you calling me fat? Crystal asked as she grabbed the sides of the cart and tried to climb out.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Nathan held her down and said, Dont move. Ill buy the cart if I have to. Hey! Stop! Crystal barked. People are watching. Could you help me out? This is embarrassing! Please Let me out. Nathan added watermelon to the cart and said, I wonder what you like to eat. Hmmm. Ill give you three seconds to tell me. One. Two. Three-toote! Ha! Ha! How do you like that, eh? Paybacks a bitch, aint it? Crystals face turned red. Quit making fun of me!!! she hissed. After a second, she pointed to the snack section and said, Hey! Push me there. Nathan brought Crystal over to the snack section, and after she selected several packages of crisps and cookies, Nathan reached out and rubbed her head gently. He smiled and said, Good girl- so adorable. I could eat you up! Crystal frowned and said, Were almost done shopping. Can you help me out? You cant check out with me in the cart like this! Nathan said, Sit still, and he began to push the cart towards the front of the store. When they got to the cashier, he gave them a funny look, so Crystal looked up at Nathan and asked, Why is the man staring at me, Daddy? Nathan red at Crystal but said nothing. Then, as he opened his wallet to pay, the cashier smiled and said, Oh! Shes your daughter. You look too young to have such a big daughter. Crystalughed and said, Im younger than I look. I hit puberty when I was eight. When that happens, its called precocious puberty. The cashier handed Nathan his change and said, That must have been hard. It sounds like your father raised you well, though. You are fortunate to have him. When Crystal and Nathan were back in the car, he eyed her breasts andughed. You may not have developed early, he said, but when you did finally blossom, boy, did you bloom! Crystal gave Nathan a dirty look as she crossed her arms across her chest to hide her bosom. You are a hooligan! she said. You know that? Nathan shrugged and said, I do. Then, when he leaned over to do up her seatbelt, he paused to kiss her on the mouth. He loved the feeling of her lips against his own, and he thought that the way her cheeks turned pink when he kissed her was adorable. Crystal thought that Nathan was dangerous. She knew that if she got too close to him, it would give rise to sexual urges that were out of her control. She grunted as she pushed him away. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Crystal pretended to check her seat belt, and she adjusted her sitting position. What are you thinking? Nathan wondered, now that he had returned to his own seat. I was thinking about how easy it would be to poison your food, Crystal replied sarcastically. When Crystal and Nathan arrived back at their home, the gates to themunity were closed. They called the Gate Master, and he told them that a gas line had broken, and they wouldnt be allowed in until after 5 p. m. Chapter 39: Who Wants A Private? Crystal frowned and said, Oh, no! What a pity. I was going to cook a big lunch for you. I am so sorry! What now? Nathan shrugged, and as he turned around, he said, We can go out to eat, and you can cook for me tonight or another time! Yes! Crystal eximed. We can go out for lunch. My treat. And then Ill make dinner for you tonight! Sounds good to me, Nathan said. They hadnt driven far when Nathans phone rang. He epted the call through the cars Bluetooth. It was Andy, Nathans assistant. After exchanging pleasantries, Andy said, Mr. Grant just arrived with a contract. You have an appointment with him at noon. Did you forget? Nathan frowned and said, I suppose I did. Please apologize to Mr. Grant for me as I wont be able to make it. See if you can get him to reschedule for next week.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. But Mr. Grants schedule is very tight, Andy said. If we cancel this meeting, then the contract may not get signed, and Mr. Grant might walk. Andy was practically sweating bullets. It was out of character for his boss to casually ept the loss of a multi-billion-dor order, so he felt very nervous. Nathan: I said cancel it and try to reschedule. If he refuses to reschedule, so be it. Do you need me to repeat myself? Andy: No, sir. I understand. Nathan: Since Ive got you on the phone, I need you to make a reservation at Air Cosme Restaurant. I need a table for two. And you can let them know that Im on my way now. When Crystal heard where they were going, she felt like shed been punched in the stomach. The average cost of eating at Air Cosme was over ten thousand dors a te, and you usually had to book a table for six months in advance. Nathan saw the troubled expression on Crystals face, and he asked, Whats the matter? Dont you like Air Cosme? Crystal was embarrassed, and her face. turned red. Its fine, she said, but I cant afford to eat at a ce like that Nathanughed, and he said, No problem. Its my treat then. If you insist, Crystal said. She would have preferred to go to a small restaurant where she could treat him, but she felt trapped. Air Cosme was in the middle of a busy street, and because it was built 108 meters above the ground, they had to take an elevator to get to it. As Crystal and Nathan made their way up, Crystals phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw that shed received a text message from Serenity. It said: Have you eaten yet? Would you like to join us for lunch? Crystal: Sorry. I would love to, but Im already going out for lunch with Nathan. Serenity: Wow, you guys are moving so fast! Crystal: Dont be ridiculous. Its just lunch. Ill exinter. The elevator door opened, and Crystal put away her phone. They were met by a waiter almost immediately, and he led them to their table. The restaurant had a unique shape, and its interior was plush with antiques. Andy had gotten them a seat by the window, and they could see the whole city stretched out below them. Everything looked small from this height, and when Crystal looked down, she felt rxed and happy. The city is small, she thought-and my problems are even smaller. The waiter brought them menus and took their drink orders, and after a minute, Nathan asked Crystal, What would you like to eat? Crystal flipped through the menu nervously. The prices were very intimidating. Im not very hungry, she said, so something small, I guess. How about the lobster bisque? Nathan nodded, and when the waiter returned with their drinks, he ordered for both of them. As he listed off the things he wanted, Crystal looked at him funny. He was ordering way too much food for one person! When Nathan saw the expression on her face, heughed and said, Once you try the food, you will realize that you are hungrier than you thought, so Im ordering extra to share. And, anyway, who goes to Air Cosme and only orders soup? Thats ridiculous! After the waiter left, Crystal looked at Nathan and said, Professor Davis, that was very thoughtful of you. Thank you. Nathan scowled and said, What did you call me? Crystal sighed and apologized. Nathan, she said, That was very thoughtful of you. Thank you. Nathan: Good girl. Try to call me husband next time. Crystal: No. Nathan: Thats fine, so long as you dont spend time with any other men, not even friends or ssmates. This is bullshit! C Crystal thought angrily C What gives him the right? Even if he is my husband in name, he cant tell me who I can hang out with! After all, Im not a child, and hes not my Father! *** Joyce and Carlos followed the restaurant manager into the restaurant. Joyce was furious. The table that they had reserved, six months in advance, had suddenly be unavable. The restaurant manager looked miserable. He said, Im sorry, Miss Henry, but we identally double-booked that table. I feel terrible about any inconvenience this is causing you. We will get you seated at the next avable table, and your meal today will be at the house. How is that? Crystal recognized Joyces voice immediately, and she frowned. Joyce and Carlos were thest people in the world that she wanted to see right now. She could hear Joyce yelling at the manager, but she refused to turn her head, hoping that her half-sister wouldnt recognize her. Joyce: I want a seat now. Not a free seat. An immediate seat! Dont you know who I am? I am the daughter of Todd Henry, of the Henry Group. Why would I need you to give me a free meal? The manager: Well Joyce: Ill give you five minutes to find me a seat, and then Im going to go talk to the press about this abominable service! The manager: Miss Henry. Be reasonable. We can get you a private room if youd like. Joyce: Who wants a private room? I want a window seat. Do you understand? The manager pointed to the window and said, As you can see, the window seats are all taken. I can get you a window seat, but you will have to wait for one to be avable. Im sorry, but there is nothing I can do about that. Joyce frowned as she turned in the direction the manager was pointing, and when she saw Crystal and Nathan, she froze. What is she doing here? she hissed. Why? She is a guest of the famous Nathan Davis, the manager replied. Chapter 40: Call Your Boss Joyce walked over to where Crystal and Nathan were seated. She looked over the table and out their window and then at Crystal. Well, well, well, she said. Since when can just anyone get a table at Air Cosme? She turned to the manager, I want this table. You can ask them to leave. I will pay double for everything I ordered. The manager sighed and said, Im afraid that is not the way we operate here. As long as Mr. Davis is here, this is his table. No, Joyce whined. I want this table! She stomped her feet. I want it! I want it! I want it! Suddenly, Carlos grabbed Joyces arm. His face was red, Lets eat somewhere else, he said. Youre causing a scene, and its embarrassing. Joyce turned to Carlos and said, Shut up. Then she sat down in the empty chair next to Crystal. She looked across the table at Nathan. Hello, Mr. Davis. Since we are all acquaintances, do you mind if we share a table? Crystal turned to the Manager and said, We dont know them very well. We dont want them here. The restaurant manager had never seen such an unreasonable and difficult woman, and he didnt know how to deal with this one. Beads of sweat began to gather on his forehead as he tried to figure out what to do. He looked at Nathan and said, Mr. Davis, Im very sorry. Ill get this straightened out right away. Nathan waved to the manager and said, Its fine. They can stay. Then he turned to Carlos and touched the chair beside him. Have a seat, please. Crystal frowned. She had hoped to enjoy her meal, but now she wasnt even hungry anymore. She straightened her knees and tried to get to her feet, but Nathan forced her to stay seated. Crystal red at Joyce. Carlos knew that Crystal was distraught, and he was very embarrassed by Joyces behavior. He looked at Nathan, then at Crystal, and then said, Mr. Davis, Crystal, Im sorry to interrupt you guys like this. Crystal looked out of the window and said nothing. When the waiter came, the neers ordered, and Joyce said, Ill take care of everyones bill. Not everyone can afford to have a meal in a ce like this. Joyces tone, though light, was tinged with an innate sense of superiority. That is very considerate of you, the waiter said, and then he left them alone. As soon as the waiter was gone, Crystal turned to Joyce and said, I cannot allow you to pay. This is our table, and you are our guests. Allow me to take care of everyones bill. Joyce smirked, and she said, Thank you, Crystal. Joyce thought that Nathan was just a boy toy, without much money, so she had already assumed that Crystal was paying his bill. It wasnt long before their meals were brought out from the kitchen, and Crystal cringed when she realized how much Joyce had ordered. And everything she had selected Italian alba truffles, almas caviar, and bluefin tuna C was very expensive. All of the dishes cost over ten thousand dors, and one of them was almost one hundred thousand dors! My favorite truffle is the Italian white truffle, Joyce eximed. It is very difficult to grow by hand and is basically wild, and the bluefin tuna from this restaurant is also my favorite. At thest gourmet auction, the management spent $736, 000 on bluefin tuna. She raised her ss. A toast to my sister! Crystal red at Joyce- She must know that I cant afford this! The waiter came again, and Nathan ordered a 1956 Screaming Eagles wine bottle, and Joyce looked stunned. Mr. Davis has a good taste, she said. A bottle of 66 Screaming Eagle is worth hundreds of thousands of dors. I cant imagine how much a 56 is worth! Nathan: Never mind. The price is just a number. Crystal felt like she had been punched in the stomach, and she thought she might be sick. Of course, the price meant nothing to Nathan. He wasnt the one footing the bill! By now, Crystal knew that she was up shit creek without a paddle, and she didnt know what to do. Even if she maxed out her credit card, she would not be able to pay for such avish meal. Crystal forced herself to calm down. Think! she told herself C There must be a solution to this problem! Suddenly, Joyce turned to Nathan and said, You know, I still dont know what you do for a living Nathan shrugged and said, I dont think youd be interested in my career, as it involves a variety of fields. Nathan seemed distant and reluctant to say much about his profession. Joyce smiled and said, The important thing is to make enough money so that you can take care of a woman. Ive always thought that a kept man is no man at all. Crystals face turned white, and Joyce noticed immediately. She looked at her half-sister and said, Whats the matter, Crystal? Why do you look so pale? Dont worry. Im not talking about Mr. Davis. Your mother trusted Mr. Davis enough to leave her legacy to him and hand you over to him. I am sure he is a real stand-up guy. Thest sentence was dripping with sarcasm. Crystal couldnt believe the audacity of her half-sister, and she felt like ripping her eyes out. But she didnt. She knew that if she got angry, she would fall right into Joyces trap. Crystal smiled and forced herself tough. She looked at Joyce and said, You are such a kidder. The way you talk, if I didnt know any better, I would think that you had a low opinion of Nathan and me. Crystal touched Nathans hand and stroked it affectionately. Of course, we all know that what you are really after is my man. But you cant have him! Crystal and Nathans intimate gesture made Carloss heart suddenly tighten, and the jealousy in his eyes was apparent to everyone at the table. It seemed that Crystal only had eyes for Nathan from where he was sitting, who broke his heart. He tried to get up, but Joyce pushed him back into his chair. She red at him and said, Sit, Carlos. We havent eaten yet! Crystal gasped. Even though she was no longer with Carlos, she felt bad for him. Unfortunately, Joyce sawpassion in her eyes, and sheughed. How does it feel to have your boyfriend and ex-boyfriend sitting at the same table with you? she asked. Why do you look so dreadful? Look at Carlos! It seems that he is still crazy about you. Crystal reached across the table and pped her half-sister across the face. Joyce, she said in a voice that was calm and firm. Thats enough! Joyce stood up and tried to rush around the table to hit Crystal, but Carlos held her back. After a minute had passed, Nathan calmly called the waiter over to the table and said, Call your boss. The waiter disappeared, and within seconds, the manager ran out of the kitchen. When he arrived at the table, he looked at Nathan and said, Mr. Davis, I heard you wanted to see me? Nathan took a ck card from his wallet. What is that? C Crystal wondered. From the looks on Carlos and Joyces faces, she knew they didnt know what it was either.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Nathan looked at the manager and said, I want everyone cleared out of this restaurant within the next ten minutes. Would you mind charging all of their expenses to me? The only way I am going to be able to enjoy the rest of my meal is if I have some privacy! Chapter 41: Where Is Mine? The restaurant owner took Nathans ck credit card, turned around, and told the waiters to invite all customers to leave politely. It wasnt a surprise, of course, that some of the customers were dissatisfied. A man in a ck suitined to his wife, saying, Money is not everything. Im enjoying my dinner A man from the next table asked him, How much did they give you to leave? A million dors, the man in the suit replied. Me too, the other man said. What the fuck! Who is that man? If he is paying each table a million dors to leave, it will cost him over ten million dors to clear the ce out -plus, he is paying for our meals! At this time, the waiter walked over to Nathans table. He looked at Joyce and Carlos and said, Excuse me, Sir and Madam, Mr. Davis has booked the whole restaurant. Im sorry, but I will have to ask you both to leave. Joyce frowned when she heard this, and just as she was about to start arguing, she noticed the two bodyguards that had followed the waiter. They were standing behind him, tall and strong, with their arms folded across their chests. Joyce thought about how embarrassing it would be to have the guards drag them out, kicking and screaming, and she knew it was pointless to argue. So, instead, she smiled and said, Everyone else has receivedpensation. Where is mine? Nathanughed and said, To be eligible forpensation, you need to be human. In my opinion, you are sub-human, so forget about it! Carlos red at Nathan and said, Mr. Davis, watch your mouth. Nathan: Youre not qualified to teach me how to talk. I want to thank you for one thing, though. Thank me? Thank me for what? C Carlos stared at Nathan doubtfully as the man cuddled up to Crystal and kissed her on her forehead. Nathan: Thank you for breaking up with Crystal. If you hadnt, I wouldnt have had the opportunity to woo such a priceless treasure. Carlos suddenly felt as if he couldnt breathe. He clenched and unclenched his fists at his sides, and his fingernails turned white. He felt as if a heavy rock had been ced on his chest, and he could not remove it. Carlos was and had always been unwilling to admit his feelings for Crystal. He had thought and hoped that the love he felt for her would eventually fade. After all, love neversts forever. So, he had tried to treat Crystal like a sister, and he was trying to love Joyce, not for who she was, but for the benefits that came from being with her. Only now did he realize his mistake. Crystal really was a priceless treasure, and hed blown his chance with her. A priceless treasure, these three words echoed in his mind. Carlos stood up and pulled Joyce out of her seat. Lets go, he said. I can tell when Im not wanted. Once Carlos and Joyce were gone, Crystal pulled away from Nathan. She gave him a dirty look and said, That was a waste of money. You didnt have to do that. Why? Does your heart ache? Nathan asked. Ive already lost my heart, so thats not possible, Crystal replied. However, her heart did ache not because of Carlos but because of the three years of her youth that she had lost. And though Nathan didnt know why her heart ached, he saw through her lie easily. Instead of saying something tofort or tease Crystal, Nathan looked deeply into her eyes. On the outside, he looked calm and collected, but he was doing the Jitter-bug on the inside. Crystal: The money Can I pay you back when I am able? No, Nathan replied. There is no need. You cant afford it anyway. Although Nathan was speaking the truth, his yful attitude and arrogant tone pierced Crystal heart like an ice pick. Of course, I cant afford it! C Crystal thought scornfully. But whose fault is that? If her mother hadnt given her inheritance to Nathan, Joyce would not be able to look down her nose at her, and she would not have had to endure the inborn superiority of the man in front of her. The restaurant owner returned and gave the ck card back to Nathan. Even though these cards came with exorbitant fees, they were in high demand because they allowed their carriers to enjoy this kind of first-ss service globally. ck cards were not publicly issued, nor could they be applied for. The banks would take the initiative to select a few people from among the tinum card users and invite them to join the program. Furthermore, one would not get a ck card just because they were rich. Typically, they were reserved for dignitaries, billionaires, and celebrities. ck cards used the real name initial system. On Nathans card, though, it said ES on the lower-left corner, which was not the abbreviation for his name. Instead, it was that of Crystals Mother, Elsa Smith C and when Crystal saw that, she was furious. Unfortunately, though, she couldnt do anything. Her mother had left everything to Nathan, so he was within his rights to use her Mothers money in whatever way he wanted. Crystal still didnt understand why her mother had left everything to Nathan. Unfortunately, it was not the right time for her to take action against him, not if she didnt want to wake a sleeping dog. After all, even if Crystal discovered the truth, she couldnt do anything about it. At the moment, the only thing that she could do was to try to live with this man as tranquil as possible. Once the waiter was gone, Crystal grabbed the ck card and said, How dare you swipe this card as if it were your own! How do you sleep at night? Quite peacefully, Nathan replied. He leaned back on the chair, took a slight sip of his red wine, and asked, Is it important who the card belongs to? When Crystal heard that, her fingers trembled, and she became so angry that her eyshes shook. She had not expected him to admit his sins so readily. But why would I expect anything different from him? Asked herself C Is it because he saved me yesterday, and he didnt take advantage of me, even though I was dr*gged? Is it because of what happened in the supermarket? Or is it because he said that I was a priceless treasure? Crystal quickly hid her disappointment and put the card lightly on the table. She pushed it forward and said, Of course, it is not important. I was just surprised when you paid everyone to leave. It must be nice to have so much of someone elses money.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Nathan didnt understand why Crystal was so sensitive about the credit card, and he thought that she was acting like a hedgehog. Chapter 42: Try It If You Want Nathan thought for a minute, and then he took another credit card from his pocket. He smiled and showed it to Crystal, but she scowled and said, Big deal! The card was more impressive than her mothers, but she refused to be impressed. So what? This is my sry card, Nathan exined. From now on, its yours. Crystal smiled wryly and said, Youre not afraid that Ill take your money and run? Nathan, Try it if you want. If you seed, then theres nothing I can do about it. It is a risk that I am willing to take. Crystal pushed the card away. She didnt want to have anything to do with this man, financially or emotionally. To her surprise and dismay, though, Nathan aggressively grabbed her hand and pped the card against her palm. Crystal took the card, then she ground her teeth together and tried to destroy the card. Much to her disappointment, though, the card was much more durable than it looked, and it would not break. Nathan knew what she was thinking and added: If I were you, I would take as much of your mothers legacy back as you can. By the way, the password is my birthday, so it should be easy to remember. Maybe for you C Crystal thought. She sighed and put the card in her pocket without thanking Nathan. I wont even use it C she told herself C After all, I dont even know his birthday! Crystal casually nced at the bill and made a mental note of how much Nathan had spent so that she could repay himter. She had said that she would pay for their meal, and she intended to be true to her word. As Nathan drove away from the restaurant, Crystal watched the world go by outside. The sun shone through the window. It warmed her face, and it helped her rx. Gradually her eyes closed, and she fell asleep. When Crystal woke up, she felt dizzy. She was still in the car, and she could hear Nathan talking on the phone. The window on the drivers side was open, and Nathan was resting his arm on the window frame. He held a cigarette between two fingers, and he was talking with Andy through the cars Bluetooth. Andy sounded nervous. He said, Mr. Davis, Ivepleted my investigation. The people who are stalking you are not members of the media. They are Private Investigators. They have beenmissioned to take photos near the Beverly vi. Nathan: How long have they been there? And what do they want? Andy: Two hours. Luckily, the bodyguards discovered them. They are investigating your marital status. Nathan: Dont drive them away yet. Give them four more hours and then drive them away. Andy: Ah? Okay I got it, Andy could not imagine why his boss would allow the Private investigators to remain for four hours, and that made him so nervous that the hand holding the cell phone was sweating. His boss had always valued his privacy, so this decision was out of character for him. Andy got more and more confused as he thought about his bosss decision. As Nathan ended the phone call with Andy, Crystal closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep. Nathan: Are you awake? Crystal didnt answer Nathan, and she continued to pretend that she was sleeping. Nathan stared at Crystal. He thought that her skin looked fairer in the sunshine. Her eyshes slightly quivered, and they reminded him of a cicadas wings in motion. Her skin was as fair and delicate as porcin. She had a small, high nose, curling full lips, and was cunning and smart. Not only that, but her provocative eyes were also very attractive. Of course, he knew that most people thought that Crystal was ugly, and he didnt understand why they didnt see her the way that he did. Nathan took a drag of his cigarette and blew the smoke over Crystals face, and she began to cough so hard that tears appeared in her eyes. Crystal sat up, red at Nathan, and snatched the cigarette out of his fingers. Nathan glowered, but he held his tongue. He was curious to see what she would do. Crystal held the cigarette between her index: and middle finger. She smirked at Nathan and brought it to her lips. She struck a sexy pose, and then she took a drag off the fog. Normally, Nathan wouldnt have let Crystal smoke, but watching her now, he found that he was too aroused to scold her. Damnit! C he thought C Doesnt this woman know that shes ying with fire? Crystal leaned forward as she took a second drag, and Nathan was able to see down her shirt. Her smallish breasts were pale, and her push-up bra gave them a look of fullness that generally wasnt there. Then, as he leaned forward to get a better look, she blew a lung full of smoke into his gaping mouth. After exhaling the smoke, Crystal had nned to retreat. To her surprise, though, Nathan seized her hand and pressed her body against the cars door. An eye for an eye, Crystal squealed. Thats fair! Nathanughed and said, Life isnt fair! Crystal raised her chin and asked, Whats your point? My point is that I dont want you smoking, Nathan said. He lifted his hips, pointed to his crotch, and smiled. If you want to suck on something, you can suck my dong. Crystal couldnt help but look where he had pointed, and her face turned red. You bully! she shouted. Hooligan! Scoundrel! Beast! I am not going to smoke or suck anything. A wicked smile appeared on Crystals face suddenly. She bared her teeth and chomped down on the air in front of her. But if you offer me the chance again, I might BITE!Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Nathans face turned white, and he flinched. A few minutester, he pulled over, turned off the car, and said, Get out. Crystal looked around with a confused expression on her face. She looked at Nathan and asked, Where are we? She thought that they were going to the Beverly vi, but hed parked outside an upscale mall. Does he want to go shopping? C Crystal wondered. That seemed unlikely. After all, Nathan didnt like shopping. And he had never brought her to the mall before! Chapter 43: Not This Time When Nathan saw the expression on Crystals face, heughed and said, Obviously, were not here to shop for me. Were here so that you can get some practice using a credit card. Nathan led Crystal into the mall, and their first stop was a luxury brand store that had a good reputation in the fashion world. When the salesgirl saw Nathan, she got excited. After working for the store long enough, the salesgirls had all learned to tell who hade in to spend money and who was just Window Shopping. The salesgirl approached Nathan and Crystal and asked if she could help them. Nathan pointed to Crystal and said, Wrap up everything she wants. Money is not a concern of mine.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Crystalughed and said, Youre making me feel like a mistress. Nathan bit Crystal ear and whispered, So, you want to be my mistress, do you? Nathan! someone behind them suddenly shouted. Nathan straightened up, turned around, and walked towards the woman. Crystal turned and saw a forty to a fifty-year-old woman who must have possessed great beauty in her youth. Crystal thought that she looked very familiar. Whos that? she asked one of the salesgirls. The salesgirl smiled and said, Thats Elena Laurent! Shes an actress in a night-time drama. She ys a wicked woman, but in real life, shes very nice. There is gossip, though, that she keepspany with a sugar baby. Crystal frowned as she watched the older woman interacting with Nathan. Nathan was standing with his back to her, so she couldnt see the expression on his face, but side by side, they looked exactly how she thought a sugar momma might look with her sugar baby. Crystal rolled her eyes and turned to take several dresses into a fitting room. Nathan took the ck card out of his pocket and exchanged it with Elena for another card. Thest time they had dined together, there was a mix-up, and theyd identally ended up walking away with the wrong credit cards, I made a few purchases, Nathan admitted. Send me the bill when you get it, and I will have my ountant make the payment. Elena: Oh, dont worry about it. Were family. Nathan: No, I insist. Elena smiled and let the matter go. They chatted for a few more minutes, and when they were about to part ways, a salesgirl emerged from the back of the store. She looked at Nathan and said, Sir, thedy you came in with is requesting your help in the fitting room. Nathan thought for a minute and concluded that Crystal must have an ulterior motive for summoning him. He smiled knowingly and said, Aunt Elena, please excuse me. Elena nodded, and instead of leaving, she followed Nathan into the shop. Once they were at the back of the store, Nathan pushed open the fitting room door, where he found Crystal, neatly dressed and waiting for him. Nathan frowned and asked, Is this a trick? Crystal quietly walked towards the door and leaned against it. It is, she said. Is there a problem? Leave your sugar momma outside and stay in here with me. Or are you afraid of what she might think? Im not afraid, Nathan replied. Arent you going to take off your clothes? Almost immediately, Crystal began to doubt the wisdom of the trap shed set. I-I d-dont want to ch-change yet, Crystal stuttered. Suddenly Nathan made her think of the proverbial fox in the henhouse, and the hungry expression on his face scared her. Nathan: If you dont want to change, then why did you summon me? Crystal crossed her arms beneath her girlish breasts and said, Cant you see? Im here of course to seduce you! Cheshires grin appeared on Nathans face, and as heughed, he said, I know! Lightning quick, Nathan grabbed Crystals wrists, twisted them, and pressed them to the wall above her head. There was a loud THUMP, and outside the fitting room, Elena and the two salesgirls looked at each other in astonishment. The salesgirls opened their eyes wide and made eye contact with each other. Elena was very embarrassed. She had watched Nathan grow from a child into the man he was, and in her eyes, he was a cultivated gentleman, strict with himself in words and deeds. Today, though, it seemed that Nathan was intent on shattering his aunts good opinion of him in this public space. Elena took a nervous step forward and knocked on the door. She said, Nathan, do you need any help? On the other side, Nathan was sucking on Crystals neck, bringing up the little bruised marks that would identify her as belonging to him. He still had her hands held above her head, and she was struggling with all her might. After a minute, without warning, he released her. Crystal lost her bnce, then fell, and hit the bench with a CRASH that was louder than the THUMP. The three people outside the fitting room were too frightened to look at each other. They could all easily imagine what was going on, and no one dared to stop it. Nathan helped Crystal to her feet inside the fitting room, and then he ripped open her T-shirt. He smirked as he ran his finger along the top of her exposed breasts, Nice figure, he said. Crystal stared at him and scolded him, calling him a beast. You think Im a beast now? Nathan scoffed. Ill show you what a beast looks like! As he spoke, he stripped Crystal naked, bowed his head, and began to suckle her breast. And the minute his lips found purchase against her nipple, she lost control of her body and began to moan. Outside the changing room, Elenas face had turned as red as a beet. She had heard the two young lovers crash against the wall, the sound of Crystals clothes being torn from her body, and the low moaning noises that they were both making. She coughed twice in an attempt to cover up the embarrassing sounds, but the sounds did not stop. When Crystal heard Elena coughing, though, it brought her back to her senses. By then, Nathan was as naked as she was, and she could feel his swollen member pressed against her belly. Crystal raised her knee with the intent of attacking Nathans crotch, but he blocked her and seized her thigh, and pulled her closer. He wrapped his free hand around her buttocks and slightly lifted her; then, as he lowered her, he tickled her clit with the tip of his manh**d. Put it on me, Crystal moaned. Not this time, Nathanughed. He pushed her away and said, You thought that you could get the better of me and seduce me, but you are just a child. You are not qualified to seduce me. Now put on your clothes before you catch a cold! Chapter 44: Good Men Are Rare Once Nathan and Crystal were dressed, he pulled her out of the fitting room. Ignoring his aunt, he handed the clothes shed brought in with her to a salesgirl and told her to ring it up for them. After paying for these items, Nathan dragged Crystal out of the store, across the mall, and into an elevator. Once the doors had closed behind them, Crystal red at Nathan and said, What did you mean when you said that I wasnt qualified to seduce you? Nathan smiled, and instead of answering her, he pressed her against the wall. After a moment, he cupped her left breast in his right hand, gave it a gentle squeeze, and said, Your tits are too small. Crystal frowned, and her cheeks turned pink. They are as big as they were ten minutes ago, she said, and they seemed to suit you just fine when you were sucking at my nipples! The elevator reached the first floor, and Nathan let go of Crystals breast as the door opened. Some people boarded, and Nathan leaned into Crystal so that he could whisper into her ear without being overheard. When I said that your tits are too small, he said, I meant that you are too young. Dont you know that I could go to jail for having sex with a minor? The elevator stopped again, and Nathan stepped away from Crystal. Then he walked out of the elevator, and she followed him into the parking lot. He had long legs, so she almost had to run to keep up with him. In the car, neither of them said a word at first. Crystal was ashamed of what had happened in the fitting room, and she wanted nothing more than to put it behind her. And as soon as the car stopped at the vis courtyard, she couldnt wait to unfasten her seat belt, unlock the door, and rush into the house. When Susie heard that theyd returned, she rushed out of the kitchen and shouted Crystals name. Crystal turned and asked, Whats up? Susie sighed and said, Miss Tiffany Ford was waiting here almost all afternoon. She just left! Crystal stopped, thought for a moment, and said, I wonder why she came here without telling me first. She must havee for an update on her fathers affair. Well, it must not have been that important if she didnt leave a message. Crystal went straight to her room, and Susie watched her with a scowl on her face. Susie wasnt sure whether Crystal had understood her words. She stood still and thought about what she should do. A momentter, Nathan walked through the door. Susie walked quickly to the door and took the bags from his hands. She wanted to repeat what she had just told Crystal, but unexpectedly, Nathan was one step ahead of her. He asked, Has Miss Ford gone? Susie: Yes, sir.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Nathan made a Hmm sound, and then he went into his study. Susie noticed some tension between Nathan and Crystal, but she couldnt tell what was wrong. After a moment, she went back into the kitchen to continue the dinner preparations. The main dish would be a hamburger. She took out a piece of meat from the fridge, put it on a cutting board on the counter, and began to chop it up with a Henckel 8 Chef Knife. By now, Crystal had changed into a set of sweats. She walked into the kitchen, reached out to take the knife out of Susies hand, and said, Susie, let me try. Susie: No, Ill do it. You dont want to dirty your clean clothes. Its fine, Crystal said. Let me try. And she grabbed the knife and started to chop the meat. With each slice, she chopped harder and harder until the meat was flying all over the table and floor. Susie was a little frightened by this. To her, Crystal did not look like she was chopping pork. Instead, she looked like she was carving out the guts of a mortal enemy. Finally, Crystal put down the knife and spread out her arms. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, and with a hint of mischief in her voice, she asked, How do you like my cutting skills? Susie helped her clean up the meat, smiled, and said, Maybe You should stick to your day job. Crystal stuck out her tongue yfully. In truth, it wasnt that she wasnt good at cooking, its just that she hadnt taken the task seriously and had been more interested in venting anger, and now she felt a lot better. As Crystal washed her hands carefully with liquid soap, she turned to Susie and asked her if her mom and Nathan had lived together. At the time of her Mothers death, Crystal had been living on campus, and she hadnt gone home very often. In retrospect, she felt guilty about that. If she had known that her mother would die, she would have made more of an effort. Her mother hadnt allowed her to be with Carlos. She had said that Crystal would eventually be betrayed and hurt by someone as ambitious and heartless as Carlos. Crystal had been rebellious, and she never listened to her Mother. To be with Carlos, Crystal had been willing to give up everything, and that included her life with her Mother. Time had proved her Mother right, but now it was toote to apologize. Susie put the minced meat into a bowl, and then she said, No. I never saw him until after your Mothers funeral. He moved here on the same day that you did. Crystal: Oh Susie: Your Mother spoke highly of him, though. I remember she mentioned once that Mr. Davis was a rare and good man. Good men are rare, Crystal murmured. He must have been good, though. Otherwise, my mother wouldnt have left him my inheritance. Dont you think so? He wouldnt be my guardian after all, Susie: Indeed, but lets change the subject Chapter 45: Please, Don鈥檛 Mention It Susie turned to Crystal and asked, What did Tiffany want? Crystal: I think she wanted to thank Nathan for helping her Father. I should probably call her to find out for sure, though. Please excuse me. Crystal left the kitchen and went back to her room. Once the door was closed behind her, she took out her mobile phone and quickly dialed Tiffanys phone number. When Tiffany saw who was calling, she answered right away and said, Crystal, I waited all afternoon for you at your home! Where were you? I was with Nathan. What is the matter? Crystal asked. I just wanted to thank you. Thanks to you, my Dad can stay in Huston. I was going to thank you both today, but you werent home! Crystal lied and said, I didnt do anything, actually, so there is no need to thank me. Nathan just changed his mind. She didnt want Tiffany to know how shed degraded herself. It was too embarrassing to talk about. Tiffany: You are lucky to have a guy like that around. I am so lucky to have the opportunity to try to win his heart! Youre not regretting your decision not to pursue him, are you? Crystal sighed. Do I regret my decision not to pursue him? she wondered. I suppose I do, but so what? Tiffany was startled. She hadnt expected Crystal to be so frank. She forced a hollowugh and said, Its toote for you to change your mind. Are you going to pester him? Crystal asked. Tiffany: As long as the Professor doesnt explicitly reject me, I will be on him like white on rice. Crystal was not surprised by Tiffanys direct approach. She was silent for a moment as she thought about the predicament she now found herself in. If Professor Davis and Tiffany finally hooked up, her situation would improve. Nathan would havemitted adultery, and he would have to give her the divorce she thought she wanted. It sounds like a n, Crystal said. Really? Tiffany probed. Then would you mind if I stayed at your house for a few days? Of course, I dont mind, Crystal replied indifferently. Okay, Tiffany said. I will see you soon. Crystal was shocked by Tiffanys efficiency when, an hour after receiving her approval, she arrived at the Beverly vi with all of her luggage. In the courtyard, the setting sun was slowly going down, but Tiffany was just getting started. Crystal watched as sheboriously dragged and pulled her suitcases up the sidewalk. Crystal walked to the door. The door was several steps higher than the yard, and from her angle, Crystal could see Tiffanys voluptuous breasts shaking inside the ck strapless one-piece dress she wore-and it made her painfully aware of her smaller, pubescent breasts. Nubbins, is what Carlos had affectionately called them when they were together, but Nathan had shamed her for them. Tiffany struck a seductive pose from time to time, and as she panted, she said, I did not expect these suitcases to be so heavy. Crystal leaned against the door. She did not intend to help her. Suddenly, Nathan appeared at Crystals side. He stepped into the yard and took the suitcases from Tiffanys hands, and as he did this, their fingers briefly touched. Tiffany withdrew her hands shyly and held them in front of the chest, like a super-fan who is reluctant to wash their hands after shaking hands with their idol. She smiled and said, Thank you, Professor Davis. My Father is traveling overseas. Dont worry. I will go home in a few days. Its just that I am afraid to be home alone. Crystal is so understanding. She invited me to stay with you. Im sorry for any inconvenience I might cause you Nathan did not give any sign that he had heard a single word that Tiffany had said. Tiffany turned to Crystal next, and she said, And thank you, Crystal. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Its not a problem, Crystal replied. Please, dont mention it. Tiffany: Okay. Anyway, I need to go back and get the rest of my luggage. As Nathan made his way towards the door, Crystal stepped back and leaned against the door to make way for him. As he passed her, though, he suddenly turned to look at her. The sudden movement scared Crystal and forced her to take a step back. Unfortunately, there was not much space between her and the door, and she practically fell into it. There was a loud BANG as her head hit the wood.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Nathan leaned in and whispered into Crystals ear: Are you allowing me to be with another woman until youe of age? Thats so generous of you! Crystal gasped, and her mind went nk, and by the time she had thought up a witty retort, he had disappeared up the stairs. Crystal felt a sudden rush of terror grip her heart. No matter what she did, Nathan always seemed to be two steps ahead of her. As soon as he saw Tiffany, he knew why Crystal had invited her into their home, and now he would use it against her! The smell of a strong perfume permeated the air as Tiffany reappeared with two more suitcases, one in each hand- and her face lit up with joy when she saw Crystal. She smiled and said, Professor Davis is really handsome, and hes a gentleman too. Ill pursue him to the best of my abilities and mark my words: he will be mine! If youre not willing to help me, thats okay, I can do the work myself. Who told you Im not willing to help? Crystal asked. Really? Tiffany eximed. Thank you so much! Tiffany stretched her long, charming neck, and she kissed Crystal. By then, Nathan hade back downstairs, so Tiffany moved to stand at his side. She looked up at him and said, Professor Davis, thank you again for everything! Tiffany stood in front of Nathan, smiling. She was one and a half heads shorter than him, petite and lovable. Chapter 46: I Hope You鈥檒l Like It Nathan helped Tiffany carry in the rest of her luggage. He brought it upstairs and put it all in the empty room next to his own. While he was doing that, she made herself at home, helping herself to a coke bottle. And when Nathan finished, she went up to her room to unpack. Once that was done, she came back down and went into the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee. Crystal was watching TV in the living room. She kept her eyes on the screen, but she watched Tiffany from the corner of her eye and kept track of what the woman ate and drank. After a few minutes, Tiffany came out of the kitchen. She cleared her throat to get Crystals attention and said, I heard that, Professor. Davis likes coffee. I made a cup of Blue Bottle for him. I hope hell like it.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Crystal sighed and changed the channel. She turned to face Tiffany and said, He likes iced coffee. Tiffany smiled and said, Yup. I know that. And he takes it ck. He also likes to wear Italian handmade ck shirts, he likes to wear Patek Philippe watches. Dont worry. Ive investigated all his hobbies. Ive got my bases covered. Crystal was startled by Tiffanys full understanding of Nathan, and she could not think of anything to say. I also know that his birthday is on the 7th, next month, Tiffany added. If not for the fact that Crystal had personally signed the marriage agreement, she wouldnt have believed that Nathan was her husband. With Tiffanys uncanny knowledge of his likes and dislikes, she seemed much better suited to be his wife. Crystal watched as Tiffany walked to the study, knocked at the mostly closed door, and pushed it open. Once she was inside, she closed the door behind her. Inside the study, Nathan was concentrating on hisputer. He had his back to the French windows, and he did not look up. Tiffany knew that he was focused on his work and that he didnt like to be disturbed, so she moved as quickly and quietly as possible. Gently, she put the cup of coffee on the table and whispered, Professor Davis, I made you a cup of iced coffee. If it does not suit your preference, I can make you another cup. Nathan nced at the coffee and quickly turned back to theputer screen, and his silence made Tiffany ufortable. He didnt even thank me! C she thought indignantly. She didnt know whether to retreat or stay, and she ended up standing there for almost five minutes. In the end, Nathan could no longer bear her presence. In a low voice, he said, Miss Ford, your perfume is making me sick to my stomach. Tiffany was shocked by what Nathan had said. After the way hed helped her Father, she had expected him to be more respectful of her. And more weing. Furthermore, she had deliberately chosen the most seductive perfume she had. It was called Opium and was also known as Liquid Diamond. A lot of female celebrities liked to use this expensive perfume. Unfortunately, Nathan thought her well-chosen perfume smelled like shit. I didnt know that you dont like perfume, she said. While I am here, I wont wear any. I understand why you think the bodys natural fragrance is the best perfume. As she spoke, she pulled her cor down, revealing her deep cleavage. When Nathan heard the words bodys natural fragrance, his hands paused on the keyboard. The words made her think of Crystals girlish fragrance, which was sweet as oranges, and he began to feel aroused. Tiffany was disappointed when Nathan didnt seem to notice her breasts, and she worried that she might be pushing him too hard. After all, she wanted to use her sexuality to reel him in. She did not want to push him away. With this in mind, she bent down and looked at Nathan. Im not going to bother you anymore, she cooed. Ill be in the living room. Call me if you need anything. Sheughed. While Im here, Ill be your Huckleberry. Nathan did not answer. He didnt even blink. Thus, Tiffany could only twist her slender waist and walked away. Before she reached the door, though, Nathan called out to her: Wait! His voice activated all the cells in Tiffanys body, and she felt her sex begin to heat up and dampen. She had always believed that no man could resist her charm. She turned around expectantly. Nathan looked to the sofa and said, Sit over there. With great anticipation, Tiffany walked over to the sofa. She sat down as she had been told and undid the top three buttons of her blouse. In the living room, Crystal was channel surfing and shifting positions restlessly. She wasnt concerned about what was on the television. All she could think about was what was going on in the study. Tiffany had been in there for fifteen minutes, and she still hadnte out. Another five minutes passed, and then ten more, and Tiffany still hadnte out. Finally, Crystal couldnt stand it anymore. She threw the remote control down on the coffee table and tiptoed upstairs. Crystal felt like a thief in the night as she pressed her ear against Nathans office door. Unfortunately, Nathans office had been soundproofed, and all she could hear was muffled noises, which could have been anything, or nothing at all. On the other side of the door, Tiffany was still sitting on the sofa, twiddling her thumbs. She looked at the clock on the wall and saw that nearly forty-five minutes had passed since shed brought Nathan his coffee. Her eyes found Nathan for what seemed the millionth time. He hadnt said a word to her since he ordered her to sit there, nor had he even nced in her direction. C I need to get his attention- she told herself. Tiffany bent down, grasped her ankle, and let out an exaggerated moan. Nathan looked up, and she said, Professor Davis, my foot has cramped up. Before he could reply, they heard a cell phone ringing in the hallway. They both turned in the direction of the hall, and Nathan said, You can leave now. There is an ice pack in the freezer. You can use that on your ankle. Chapter 47: You鈥檝e Got It All Wrong The minute Crystals phone began to ring, her face turned red, and she scurried back down the hallway and into her room. Once she had her door closed and locked behind her, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and checked the Caller ID. The call was from her friend, Serenity Jordan. As soon as Crystal answered the phone, she began to scold her friend. Serenity Jordan! she hissed. I know its you! Could you put a little thought into your timing before you call me? You always pick the wrong time to call! Do you do this on purpose? Serenity: Give your head a shake, girl. Dont be ridiculous, I have no way of knowing if it is a good time or not. Why dont you take a deep breath and tell me what happened? Did I interrupt some sort of sexual activity? Crystal: As a matter of fact, you did, and not just any sort of sexual activity, but extreme sexual activity! Serenity: Oh! My bad. Carry on. Next time dont answer the phone! Ill call youter. Wait! Crystal eximed. Im not the one thats having sex! She walked to the window, put on her slippers, and sat down on the windowsill. Serenity giggled at said, If hes not having sex with you, then who? Or is he pleasuring himself? Crystal: Hes having sex with Miss Ford. Serenity: Which Miss Ford? Tiffany Ford? Our English teacher? Crystal said that she was the same Miss Ford and Serenity squealed, forcing Crystal to pull her phone away from her face. Crystal scowled, and when she brought the phone back to her face, she said, Settle down, girl! Serenity: Okay, okay, but you have to tell me what happened? Why is Miss Ford hooking up with Professor Davis again? I thought that ended. I wish I were there. Then I could take a picture! Crystal: Are you addicted to catching people in the act? Serenity ignored the question. Professor Davis is your legal husband, she said. Please tell me that youre not thinking of divorcing him. Are you? Dang! You are, arent you! I should have guessed. Thats why you took a photo with Frank-to force Professor Davis to divorce you. Crystal: Youve finally figured it out. It took you long enough! Crystal looked out the window. Outside the courtyard, a few children were picking the roses that Nathans privatendscaper had nted. A child looked around, and when he was confident that no one was looking, he tried to pick a rose and immediately withdrew his hand. He had been bitten by one of the thorns. Crystal chuckled, Thats what you get, you little hoodlum! After a minute, Serenity said, Professor Davis is pretty good, and hes handsome, but if youre not happy, youre not happy. Im not happy, Crystal admitted. Serenity: Well, if you divorce him, can you get half of your mothers legacy? So, there is that Where are you, anyway? Crystal wondered. Shouldnt you be at work? Im on my way to sub in for my cousin, Serenity replied, so lets not talk about it. Im annoyed right now. I dont like clubhouses. Crystal: Maybe clubhouses dont like you either. Serenity: I dont care. Would I get more money if clubhouses liked me? Crystal: Youre such a miser! Try hard to sell more bottles of wine for your cousin tonight. If you do, youlle to love that kind of ce. Serenity: I suppose youre right. If I sold eight to ten bottles of 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, I would be rich! I dont know why I never thought about it before?. Crystal: Are you mad? A bottle of 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild is worth about one hundred thousand dors! Get real! Serenity sighed gloomily and said, Forget it.. Youre right. I dont have the kind of luck it takes to be sessful. I havent even won the lottery once. Anyways, Im at the clubhouse now. Ill talk to youter. Crystal hung up the phone, leaned against the wall, and gradually fell asleep. When she woke up, it waspletely dark outside. She stretched out and walked out of the room. She went downstairs, and when she walked into the dining room, she nearly walked into Tiffany. Tiffany was dressed in a maids uniform, and she was setting the table. Crystal scowled and asked her what she was doing, and she exined that shed baked a pizza. It will go well with the steak and pasta, she said. Its almost time for dinner. Wheres Susie? Crystal asked. Whatever game Tiffany was ying, she didnt like it. I told her that she could go home early, Tiffany replied. Suddenly, Crystal felt like she was the guest, and Tiffany was the hostess. Tiffany spun around to show off her dress and asked, Crystal, what do you think of my dress? The wind lifted the skirt suddenly, and Crystal saw her garter stockings andce underwear.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Crystal: So-so. Tiffany rolled her eyes at Crystal and said, You should know that men like women in uniforms. Men prefer naked women, Crystal argued. Tiffanyughed and said, Youve got it all wrong. Just wait and see! A timer went off in the kitchen, and Tiffanys face lit up. Dinners ready! Tiffany called Nathan down to eat, but he didnt even look at her when he emerged from his office. Crystal was already seated at the table, and he went and sat beside her. When Tiffany saw this, she refused to let it defeat her. She smiled and said, Professor Davis, I know that you like steak and pasta, so I cooked both especially for you. It is my first time cooking these dishes, so I hope that youll like them. And I also made pizza! Nathan casually looked at the delicately set the table, and then he looked at Crystal. He put some food on his te, cut the tender meat into small pieces, and put one into his mouth. He chewed, swallowed, smiled, and said, Not bad. Tiffany smiled and said, If you like it, Ill make it for you again some time. The friendly banter between Tiffany and Nathan irritated Crystal, and she glowered at her food. She held her fork in one hand and her knife in the other, and her grip was so tight that the blue veins in her hands stood out. When she cut her streak, the pressure of the de against the te squealed, but Nathan didnt even seem to notice the noise. Crystals steak had been cooked to medium-rare, so when the blood oozed out of the grey-brown beef, it pooled on her te like a poorly handled period. She gave Nathan a naughty look as she brought a sliver of the pink flesh to her mouth. Then, smiling, she let out the tip of her tongue, and she licked at the meat as one would lick a lollipop or in the manner that a man might taste a woman. In her mind, Crystal was as alluring and enchanting as a vampire. When Nathan saw this, he could not pull his eyes away from her, and he stared at her seductive, blood-stained, jelly-like, pink lips. He felt the temperature of his body rise as blood rushed into hisher regions, causing his member to swell and harden. At that moment, all he could think about was pressing Crystal against the table and entering her body as fiercely as possible. Chapter 48: Are You Jealous Of Her Because of Nathans good looks, he was often thought to be unapproachable, and especially by women. His assistant was a man, and women were generally unable to arouse his interest. Thus, it was rumored that he was a homosexual. Crystal was the only woman who had ever broken Nathans barriers and ignited his carnal desires. He watched closely as her tongue ran up the length of the rawest meat, and at thest minute, before she put it in her mouth, he snatched the fork out of her hand and said, You cant eat that. It is too bloody. Its bad for your stomach. By now, Nathan had lost his appetite. He was still hungry, but not for food. Tiffany frowned and said, Im sorry. I didnt know that. Crystal, dont eat the steak. Why not have a slice of pizza or some pasta instead? Tiffany handed the pasta to Crystal. Crystal shrugged, but she did not make the pasta. Instead, she got up and snatched the wine ss out of Nathans hand. When Tiffany saw that, she said, Careful, Crystal. Professor Davis has already drunk from that ss. Crystal ignored her. She put her lips where Nathans had been and finished the red wine that had been in the ss. I am not interested in eating any of this, she said. She pointed to the pasta and then the pizza. The wine was good, though. I wont disturb you guys. Im going upstairs. Enjoy your meal. As Crystal walked away, she noticed that Tiffany and Nathan were eating, and she began to fret. Then, when she got back to her room, she flung herself on her bed. She didnt know why, but she was suddenly very angry. Crystal closed her eyes and reyed in her mind what had happened between her and Nathan in the dressing room at the mall. She remembered how his teeth on her breasts had made her nipples sensitive to the touch. Crystal grabbed her pillow and clutched it against her chest, and tried to siphon her anger into it, but it didnt work. I will have to take more drastic steps-she realized.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Crystal quickly thought of something. She jumped out of bed and slipped quietly into Nathans room. During her previous excursion, time had only permitted her to look for her Mothers diary on the bedside table. Now, she hopes to do a more thorough search. The first ce Crystal looked was in the closet. There was a built-in safe there, on the ground. She tried her Mothersbination and was surprised to discover that Nathan had changed it. What now? C she asked herself- it could be anything! As Crystal tried to figure out what thebination was, she heard Nathans footsteps approaching and froze. If she left now, she would be discovered C and who knew what he would do to her if he found her there! The only thing she could think to do was crawl into the closet and hide behind the clothes. *** As Nathan ate, all that he could think about was the way Crystal had looked while she was manipting the raw meat with her tongue. She had awoken every cell in his body, and he was so aroused that he couldnt think straight. Finally, in order to suppress his desire, he decided to go upstairs and have a shower. When Nathan got to his room, he went to his closet to get his bathrobe, but he saw a pair of pink slippers when he looked down. He quickly swept the clothes to one side, and Crystal was exposed. Crystal began to panic. She had been discovered. She tried to step past Nathan so that she could run back to her room, but Nathan grabbed her and threw her on his bed. And as she fell, she suddenly felt dizzy; whether it was from the wine or the sudden excitement, Crystal knew not. Crystal was wearing a white dress with a low neckline, and when she hit the bed, it pulled tight, exposing one pale white breast. When Nathan saw this, his heart rate began to go up. His face and chest flushed, and his eyes could not look away. Nathan leaned over and nuzzled his face in Crystals neck, but before he lostplete control of his body, a thought urred to him, and he pulled away. He red at her and said, You seem too experienced for someone your age. Who taught you how to seduce men like this? Was it Carlos? Crystal thought that Nathan would have questioned her about why she was hiding in his closet, so she was surprised by his line of inquiry. Luckily, she was a quick thinker. She said, I thought you said that I couldnt seduce you because of my age, but I guess you were wrong! Anyway, Im d that you left Tiffany alone downstairs. Nathan: Why? Are you jealous of her? Crystal: Not hardly. I invited Tiffany here so that she could seduce you. Are you not satisfied with her? You said Im too young for you. Is she too old? Or maybe we are both too young C Crystal thought in dismay. She had seen the way he was with Elena, and if that was the age bracket Nathan was most interested in, neither of the girls had a chance with him. Nathan snorted, Do you want me to date, other women? Crystal: Yes. Im very generous. I am all for an Open Marriage. You may have sex with whomever you like. What happened next was outside of Nathans control, and he regretted it afterward. Hed heard what Crystal had said, and the next thing he knew, she had her hand to the side of her face, and she was crying. Hed hit her, he quickly realized. I-I d-d-didnt m-mean it, he stammered. Nathan couldnt bear to look at Crystal. He felt too ashamed of what hed done. Im sorry, he said. I didnt mean it. Really! Without waiting for a reply, he ran out of the room, down the stairs, and out of the house. Once he got to his car, he jumped in, turned the ignition, and sped off into the night. Chapter 49: Take A Load Off Alex Jordan met Nathan at the club, and he was shocked when his old friend asked him to find him some sexy prostitutes. After all, Nathan was famous for being disinterested in women. Once he got over his disbelief, though, Alex assured Nathan that he could arrange it for him. Nathan and Alex were led to a VIP box. They sat across from each other on the sofa, and Nathan undid the buttons on his shirt, revealing his attractive chest muscles. On the table in front of him, there was a bottle of red wine. Nathan quickly finished half of it. He poured himself another ss, lifted it in his hand, offered a toast, and finished it in one go. Within seconds, the waiter was there to refill it. Alex was shocked by Nathans behavior. They had grown up together, and in all the years theyd known each other, he had never seen his friend behave like this. It must be a girl-he reasoned probably Crystal! Alex took a sip from his own ss, and then he said, Youve got to get over this girl. There is plenty of fish in the sea, right? And most of them are much better looking than Crystal. You dont need to drown your sorrow in alcohol, not when there is so much to be positive about! When Nathan heard Crystals name, he red at Alex as he downed another ss of wine. Alex sighed and said, Try to see things from her side. You stole her inheritance, moved into her house, and made her your child bride. Surely you see that you came on way too strong! Nathans hand twitched, and Alex flinched. He was afraid that if he said the wrong thing, Nathan would beat him. Nathan did nothing, though, and Alex took that as a sign that it was safe to continue: Crystal is stupid. Why would someone as rich as you care about such trivial things as a teenagers inheritance? But she still doesnt know your true identity yet, does she? By the way, why havent you told her the truth? Nathan scowled and said, If you value your life, youll stop asking questions. Alexs face turned red, and he pretended to pull a zipper across his lips. In an attempt to change the subject, he asked Nathan if he was excited about the prostitutes. He said, Ill find you some of the most beautiful, spiciest, purest wh*res avable. I could even find you one that looks like Crystal if that is what youd like? Nathan nodded but said nothing. He was anxious to find a woman to let him vent his lust. She didnt need to look like Crystal, though. Any port would do. After a while, a knock came from outside the box. The waiter walked over and opened the door, and several sexy women walked in. One of them looked at Alex and said, Master Smith, it has been too long. I thought you forgot about us. She sat beside him and kissed his neck. She put her right arm around his waist and ced her left hand high up on his thigh, mere inches from his groin, and gave it a light squeeze. Alex touched her chin, and with a roguish smile, he said, How could I forget you? My dearest, you haunt my dreams. Anyway, lets get down to business. The old rules still apply, okay. If you please, my friend, to his satisfaction, you can choose whatever you want from my shop: Smiths 4S shop. The girls eyes lit up when they heard that. There were thousands of luxury cars avable at Smiths 4S shop, and if they each had one, it would change their lives. They all turned to look at Nathan, and they couldnt believe their eyes once they had a good look at him. He was the most handsome, well-built man that they had ever seen C and a few of them recognized him too! The woman beside Alex turned to him and said, Your friend is THE Nathan Davis? The second richest man in Huston? The mystery, in the flesh! Alex: Could there be another Master Davis? Several of the women looked at each other with confused expressions on their faces. These girls had never heard of Nathan, but they were quicklying to understand that he was an important person C and that was really all that they needed to know. Youdies are lucky, Alex said. Many girls have tried to get into this mans pants, but only a very few have been sessful. In fact, so be a homosexual. But, as youdies will soon see, he is definitely not. Despite Alexs words, the sight of these women eye-fucking Nathan disturbed him a little, and he asked himself Couldnt these wh*res act a little bit reserved?This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. He was embarrassed because they looked too eager to take off their clothes and have Nathan inside of them. A small part of Alex was Jealous of Nathan. Nobody had ever treated him with this much reverence or deference It wasnt fair, or so he believed. Alex looked at the girls and said, Dont count your chickens before theyre hatched. The prize goes to those that have earned it. If Nathan isnt satisfied, nobody gets anything! Are you done talking yet? one of the girls asked. I am, Alex replied. Hes all yours. Then, like the pride of lionesses, the wh*res leaped upon their prey. One of the women sat next to Nathan, and she ran her finger down his chest. Before she had even gotten to his belt buckle, though, Nathan shouted, Go away! The woman was so terrified that her whole body began to shake. She looked into Nathans hard eyes and said, M-Master D-Davis, y-you look unhappy. Perhaps you would l-like to share a d-drink with m-me? Yes, one of the other women purred, more confidently than the first. The alcohol will calm your nerves. Lets all have a drink. What can you say? If you are unhappy, a third woman said, you can tell us your troubles. Take a load off. Sometimes, talking can help. A fourth woman eased herself into Nathansp. She ran her tongue seductively along her upper lip, smiled, and said, Of course, there is nothing like a proper shag to chase away the blues! The first woman squeezed in closer and leaned into his ear. What do you want? she whispered. Will you let us take care of you? Chapter 50: Do It By Yourself Nathan gave the whore in hisp a disgusted look, and when he stood up, she tumbled to the floor. The woman cried out in pain, indignation, and rage. What the fuck?!?!? she shouted. Alex was just as confused as he saw the woman on the floor. He looked up at his friend and said, Nathan, what are you doing? Didnt you ask for me to get these women for you? To have sex with? I changed my mind, Nathan said. I guess Im not this desperate. Theyre all yours. Have at em. And without another word, Nathan turned to leave. Where are you going? Alex shouted. Without turning around, Nathan said, I need some fresh air. *** Back at the Beverly vi, Crystal was taking a bath. She rubbed her hair with a towel as she came out of the bathroom. Tiffany was sitting on her bed, but she ignored her as she walked over to her dressing table to get her hairdryer. Tiffany casually took one of the pillows from Crystals bed and hugged it. She sighed and said, Professor Davis has not returned yet. Does he usually stay outte? Crystal plugged the hairdryer in, adjusted the heat to the highest level, turned on the switch, tested the temperature, and said, No. Since he moved in, this is the first time. Tiffany: Is this because of something that I said or did? Crystal didnt answer. Instead, she ignored Tiffany and let the sound of the blower drown her voice. Tiffany waited patiently for Crystal to dry her hair. She needed to know Nathans routine so that the probability of offending him would be lower. She hugged the pillow tighter. Eventually, she got bored, and she turned on Crystalsptopputer. Crystal was still drying her hair, but when she saw that Tiffany had herputer, she turned the hairdryer off and set it aside. Then she walked over to her bed, grabbed theptop, and began to shout at Tiffany. Can you please get out of my room? she roared. If you want to know more about Professor Davis, why dont you go to his room and wait for him, then you can ask him directly? Tiffany gave Crystal a curious look and thought about what shed just said. A momentter, she said, Crystal, why are you looking for a divorcewyer? Crystal clutched theptop to her girlish breasts, gave Tiffany a curt look, and said, Its none of your beeswax! Tiffany: If you need one, I know many local professionalwyers. Do you need me to introduce you to one of them? Crystal: Dont bother. Tiffany examined Crystals face, and after a moment, she asked, Are you and Nathan married? Crystal: Are you kidding? Or are you dumb?? I am just a child and far too young to get married!Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Tiffany shrugged, put down the pillow, and stood up. Okay, she said. I wont disturb you anymore. Ill go back to my room. Or maybe to Nathans. Anyway, good night. Good night, Crystal replied, and as soon as Tiffany was gone, she closed and locked the door behind her. Crystal sat on her bed and opened herptop. She had already found severalwyers, but she hadnt had time to contact any of them. Then, when she finally had the time, Tiffany had interrupted her. Oh, well-she thought there was no time like the present. Crystal pulled out her cell phone and turned it on, but before she could do anything productive, she saw that shed received an Instagram message from Serenity. It said: Crystal, Professor Davis is in a private box at the Merah Club. He has ordered a lot of wine, and his box is full of prostitutes. Crystal was stunned. She was so shocked that her phone fell from her hand C and for a full minute, she was unable to move. Once she recovered, she messaged Serenity to say that she was on her way. Then she changed her clothes, grabbed her phone and backpack, and rushed out of the house. It was not easy to catch a taxi at night, so when Crystal finally stopped a car, she urged the driver to go as fast as he could. Fortunately, the traffic was light, and it took her less than twenty minutes to get to the club. Serenity was waiting at the door for her. She was wearing a blue one-piece bathing suit that pushed up her breasts, blue bunny ears, and a ck bow tie. When she saw Crystal getting out of the car, she immediately ran to meet her. Before she could say anything, though, Crystal looked her up and down and asked, What are you wearing? This is my uniform, Serenity replied. It helps promote wine sales. Thats creative, Crystal said. Anyway, whats going on with Nathan? Serenity: Hes in the box, and the wh*res are still with him. Crystal cringed. Thats so gross, she said. By the way, where is your dressing room? Why do you want to go to the dressing room? Serenity asked. Are you hoping to beat those sluts at their own game? Crystal smiled and silently nodded. Serenity: Alright. Lets do it. My cousin works here, and hell set you up. We also have a world-ss, famous cosmetician here. I can ask him to help you with your makeup. By the time he is done, you will stand out as being far more: beautiful than the prostitutes. Several tables were leaning against the wall in the dressing room, and there were many outfits strewn about the ce. Several women were lounging about. They wore heavy, gorgeous makeup, and they smoked cigarettes as they made idle chit-chat. When Crystal and Serenity came in, they took a look at them and then turned back to their conversations. In the corner of the room, there was a man in a tight ck T-shirt. He was leaning on his chair and sleeping. Serenity ran over and touched his shoulder. He flinched and started toin: Oh, hey! I had a marvelous dream. I was out on the Shuswaps in British Columbia, driving a yacht, skipping across the water, and there were beautiful, bare-chested men in speedos all around me Forget about your pretty boys, Serenityughed. They can wait. I need you to help my friend with her makeup! No, I am off work, the cosmetician said. Do it by yourself. But then he looked up, and when he saw Crystal, he changed his mind. I can see that you need a lot of friggin help, more than Serenity could provide C and I like a challenge. Ill do it. Chapter 51: I Want To Look Beautiful And Sexy My name is Downey, the cosmetician said. He pointed to a seat that faced a mirror. Why dont you have a seat? As Crystal sat down, Downey asked her what her name was, and she said, My name is Cristie. I really appreciate what youre doing for me. Serenity was relieved to hear Crystal offer an alias in lieu of her real name. She thought C In a ce like this, the fewer people that knew her real name, the better it would be. After all, Crystal wouldnt want to be mistaken for a Working Girl. Downey: Cristie? Thats a cute name. Like Cristie The Night Beauty! Before we get started, do you have any ideas about how youd like to look? I want to look beautiful and sexy. Crystalughed. But I would also like the makeup to serve as a disguise, she said. If possible, I would like to look like apletely different person. Anything is possible, Downey said. Most people dont know this, but I used to do makeup in Hollywood! So, of course, this is my strength. About half an hourter, the makeup was finished. Downey stepped back to see his final work, and he was so satisfied that he almost apuded his genius skills. Serenity looked at Crystal and said, Wow, I really cant recognize you. Crystals eyes had been widened, his sockets deepened, and she had been given chestnut-colored contact lenses. Her skin color had been changed so that she looked like a person with a multicultural background, and a mole had been ced in the corner of her eye. She had initially looked in, but now she was gorgeous and sexy. If she stood outside, even the club owner would have to step out of her way. Crystal looked at herself in the mirror with satisfaction. Even she couldnt recognize herself. Crystal pulled out her phone to take a picture, and when she saw what time it was, she realized that her time was running out. Sadly, she had no time to appreciate her sudden beauty. She turned to Serenity, grabbed her arm, and dragged her into the dressing room. And once they were alone, she said, Serenity, take off your clothes. Serenity: What? Crystal: Arent you in charge of the private boxes tonight? If I am wearing your clothes, I can go straight in. That makes sense, Serenity admitted, and she began to undress. And while Crystal was dressing, Serenity told her everything that she needed to know about the private boxes. And please, be careful! Crystal: Dont worry. Even if I am recognized, I will be fine. Anyway, Professor Davis wont hurt me. By the way, he didnt recognize you, did he?Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. No, Serenity replied. The lights inside the boxes are very dim. She put on her street clothes as Crystal adjusted her bunny ears and straightened her bowtie. Crystal was a little taller than Serenity, and Serenity was slightly fatter than Crystal. The bunny girl uniform was originally tight on Serenity, but it fit Crystal perfectly. The blue uniform was decorated with whitece trim and ssical pink embroidery. It showed off Crystals legs, and the bust was designed to make her breasts look more prominent and entuate her cleavage. In addition, half of Crystal long hair was tied up, which took advantage of her babys face and made her look cute. Serenity led Crystal to the private box, and as they walked, Crystal worked hard to maintain her bnce in the high-heeled shoes shed been given. Finally, Serenity offered her arm for support, and Crystal asked her if the clients would be asking for drinks. Serenity: No, unless Crystal: Unless what? Serenity: Unless you encounter a difficult or aggressive customer. If someone asks you to drink with them, they might want to take advantage of you. Crystal: I thought about this. I should be safe because Nathan is inside, but what should I do if it happens anyway? Serenity: You can tell the client that you will only drink with him if he orders a bottle of Lafite. Our guests are pretty stingy, so if you remember that, you should be fine. And I dont think that there is anything to worry about when ites to Professor Davis. Just go in, take a picture, and get out. Crystal nodded, thanked her friend, pushed on the door, and went in. Under the colorful lights in the private box, the guestsughter and charming voices were exaggerated. They created a festive atmosphere that was heightened by alcohol and other illicit dr*gs. When they saw Crystal, they assumed she was staff, and they paid little attention to her. One of the women said, Come on, Master Smith; just one more drink. Another said, What, well isnt it my turn? Suddenly someone noticed Crystal and said, This girl has a slim figure. Because the lights were dim, Crystal couldnt make out anyones face, but she felt their eyes on her like fire ants crawling on her skin. Crystal inched a little closer to the table and nced around the room. In the corner, she noticed a handsome man in solitude. There was at least a foot of space on either side of him, and he seemed out of ce. Its a pity that he is drinking alone C she thought. And she suddenly felt inexplicably lucky- But why? The door behind her was suddenly pushed open, and, unfortunately, she did not have the time to explore this abnormal emotion. Several people walked in. In front of the group, there was a very handsome man in a mostly unbuttoned burgundy shirt. He held a goblet in his hand, and as he walked, the liquor swooshed up to the rim of the ss. The man had deep facial features, exquisite eyebrows, and a clear red lip print on his neck. Unlike Nathans cold aura, this mans aura was dripping with arrogance and hubris. One of the women looked up, smiled, and patted the seat beside her. Master Bush, she said, Come sit. Before Bush could move, though, a trio of women stood up and embraced him and then led him to another seat. The first girl frowned but said nothing. Chapter 52: What Do I Do? Eric Bush sat down on the corner of the sofa, leanedzily on it, and put one of his arms on the back of the leather sofa. He looked at the man in the corner, lifted his ss with his free hand, and said, To Master Davis. When Nathan didnt reply, hezily pointed to thedies. You seem unsatisfied with the wh*res. Would you prefer something younger? Someone virginal, perhaps? When Nathan still didnt respond, Bush grabbed the closest prostitute and threw her at him. Nathan caught the girl as shended in hisp and when he tried to push her off him. She did not want to go, though, and she made herselffortable on hisp. I just arrived today, she said. I was brought in, especially for you, because of your unique penchant for young virgins. Nathan looked the girl in the eyes, and in a firm tone of voice, said, Go away! His cold re frightened the girl. She quickly got up and went to stand behind Bush. Crystal stood in the corner. Her intuition told her that this position was the safest, and she could clearly see Nathan from there. She nned to wait for something of pornographic nature to happen and sneakily take a few photos. She had taken a few pictures of him when the girl was on hisp, but the angle was terrible, and nothing explicitly sexual had happened. Crystal watched Nathan from the corner of her eye, and she could see that he was watching Bush. A tension between the two men felt dangerous to her C and palpable, like Mount. Vesuvius, in the dark hours, before it exploded and took out half of Pompeii. Crystal tried to ignore the feelings of impending doom. She did not care about the rtionship between these two men. At the moment, she had bigger fish to fry. The other girls could also sense the tension, and one of them said, Werent we talking about ying another game? Why dont we get back to that? The virgin pped her hands together and said, Yes, lets. Here, Ill turn up the music. And as the volume of the music went up, the atmosphere lightened. Under the colorful lights, the oldest woman C she was in herte twenties C smiled charmingly. Then she stood up, walked in front of Bush, raised her hand, and gave him a hard push. Bush cried out as he fell backward in his seat. Crystal thought, Wow! And upon seeing such a hot, sexy scene, the other girls cheered. Bush pushed himself up on his elbows and smirked evilly. The sly old foxs eyes narrowed slightly, and he eye-fucked the woman who had pushed him down. The woman did a slow, sexy dance, and when she knew that she had everyone on the edge of their seat, wondering what she would do next, she went down on her knees between Bushs legs. Her pink tongue stretched out and coquettishly licked her upper lip. She waited a moment for dramatic effect, and then she lowered her head and undid the zipper on his pants with her teeth. Once Bushs zipper was down, the woman stretched her tongue out again and licked the cold metal zipper from its bottom to its top. Her hands came up, and she was about to undo his belt buckle when Bush sighed and said, That will be enough. If the game goes any further, I will have no choice but to eat you out, right here on the table. With this image of cruelness in everyones mind, except for the sound of the music, the box fell silent. There was a long pause, and then Nathan began tough. Whats so funny? the older woman asked. She smirked and said, I think it is time for us to see how well you y the game! Nathan looked at the two wh*res; the young one first and then the old. Then he turned to the corner where Crystal was standing. He lifted his hand, curled his finger Ce hither and said, Come here.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Crystal froze in ce, and her mind began to race. This is not what I came here for C she thought C What do I do? What would Serenity do if she were in my shoes? If I tried to run away, would they even let me through the door? Before this moment, Nathan hadnt even looked at her, and she hadnt been sure that he had noticed her. Now she knew that he had, and he had summoned her, and she did not know what to do. Crystals face drained of color, and her body began to shake. She was so scared that her toes curled up in her shoes, and she didnt know where to put her hands. Crystal looked around the room and discovered something that she had already suspected: Everyone was watching her. She could feel her heart rate rapidly increasing, and she suddenly found it hard to breathe. The room began to spin, and she felt like she was going to vomit. Wow, what a beautifuldy, the older prostitute said. She turned to Bush. Where did shee from? Bush shrugged. Where does anyonee from? he asked. Never mind that, the woman beside him said. It turns out that Master Davis likes this type. That is all that matters. Then why wasnt he into me? the younger girl pouted. You never can tell about these things, Bushughed. He took a long look at Crystal, and then he said, She seems familiar. Why does she seem so familiar? You must have seen her in bed before, replied another one of the girls. Sheughed, adding, Am I right? Bush brought a fag up to his mouth, lit it, took a drag, and exhaled a perfect O. He poked his finger through it, smiled, and turned to the girl who had just spoken. He red at her for a moment, and then he said, If you value your life, you wontugh at me like that. I-I w-was j-just k-kidding, the girl stammered. Never mind, Bush said. Then he turned his attention to Crystal. Youre up now, kitten. Daddy wants to hear his little girl purr. Chapter 53: He Prefers Married Woman Crystal walked towards Nathan and sat down next to him. He put his arm around her waist, and after looking at her for only a second, he said, Master Bush is right. You do look familiar. He really doesnt recognize me! C Crystal couldnt believe it. I have that kind of face, Crystal admitted. People tell me that all the time. You remind me of someone in particr, Nathan said, but you are more beautiful than she is. Crystals body shook a little. She didnt feel happy about thatpliment. She touched his arm and pouted. Who is she? she asked, You can tell me. It doesnt matter who she is, Nathan said as he began to rub her back. You are the only one that matters to me right now. The thought of Nathan flirting with other women sent a chill up Crystals mind, and she shivered. Of course, she didnt want to give away her true identity, so she smiled sweetly and said, That is nice of you to say. Do you want me to apany you forever? Nathan looked at the mole in the corner of Crystal eye and said, Sure. How much will it cost? Crystal: Why dont you make me an offer that I cant refuse? Nathans hand slid down Crystals back, and it slipped beneath the stic of her mini skirt and her thin cotton panties. He gripped her buttocks with hisrge hand and traced the crack of her ass with his thumb. How about ten million dors. he suggested. a night? Crystal gasped, and she thought Ten million dors for one night? That is a lot of money! I would like to take you up on your offer, Crystal said, especially because I want to see you lose control. Its a pity, though, that Crystal stared intently at Nathan as she deliberately dragged out thest word. Nathan: Whats a pity? Crystal: Its a pity that I cant y! Why? Nathan asked. His voice was casual and only half-serious. Are you married? Are you afraid of cheating on your husband? Or youre afraid to be enchanted by my charm, Crystal looked around the box, and it suddenly urred to her that most of these girls were married. The realization that Nathan, and other men like him, had forced them into prostitution broke her heart into thousands of disgusting flies, and she was unable to drive them away. Am I right? Nathan asked. His face was static, but there was a sh of amusement behind his eyes. Is he ying with me? C Crystal wondered C He must be! She certainly felt like the mouse in a game of Cat & Mouse. Of course not! she eximed. I am far too young to be married. Anyway, your conditions are all very attractive. And you can see that Im shaking with excitement at the thought of being with you, but Nathan suddenly interrupted her. He said, I will give you ten million dors for one night, and I will buy all of the wine that you sell. How about it? Crystal offered Nathan an enchanting smile and asked, Where do you want to do it? Nathan had a captivating smile, and his voice was charming. He pressed his lips to her ear and said, Im d that youve epted my proposal. Where does your husband like to fuck you? We can do it there. Crystal clenched her hands into fists. Does Master Davis prefer married women? she asked. Its no wonder that he said I am too young C she thought- He prefers married women! Crystal sighed and said, I hate to disappoint you, but I am a virgin. Before Nathan could respond, she whispered into his ear. I want to tell you a secret. Nathan smiled and looked at Crystal with an expression of expectation. After a moment, she whispered six more words into his ear: My husband cant maintain an erection. Suddenly Nathan began to cough, and after about thirty seconds, he was hacking so hard that his face began to turn blue. Crystal rubbed her back. Whats wrong? she asked him, but he was unable to reply. Once Nathan had recovered, Bush invited Alex to join them, and he asked him and Nathan if they wanted to y cards. They both said that they did, and Nathan invited Crystal and one of the other girls to join them. The girls name was La. Bush dealt the cards, and the prostitute exined the rules of the game. In the end, she said, the person who has the trump card will have The Supreme Right and can give any order that they want. Alex won the first round, and after proudly disying the trump card, he said, Anyone who has three must show the color of their underwear to anyone who has a four. After he announced his instructions, everyone looked down at the cards in their hands. Luckily, Crystal did not have a three. She looked around the table and smiled as La ced the three Spades on the table. This is a good show! the youngest prostitute eximed. Now, who has the lucky four? Bush turned his card out to reveal the four of Spades. La: Interesting. How does Master Bush want to proceed? Suddenly, Bush lunged across the table. He grabbed La, pulled her out of her seat, and hoisted her onto the table. The cards on the table went flying as he reached beneath her light yellow dress and dragged her panties down her leg until they hung like a limp slingshot between her ankles. The panties were white, and they hadce trim. La screamed indignantly. These are not the agreed-upon rules! she shouted. Several people whistled, and a few othersughed, and La was so embarrassed that she didnt know what to do. If she lifted her legs to pull up her underwear, her wet core would be revealed. Thus, she had no choice but to kick her panties to the floor.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Chapter 54: Where Else Should I Be? Alex raised his wine ss and shouted, Next round! The older woman joined them, and in the next round, she drew the trump card. She held it out for all to see and said, Number seven must drink from number twos mouth! The youngest prostituteughed and said, Come on, guys! Who has number two and number seven? Im number nine, La said, so its not me. Crystal: Its not me. I have five.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. The was a moment of silence, and then Bush leaned back, took a drag off his fag, and slowly revealed the seven of Spades. Who is left? C Crystal wondered. She looked around the table. She had five. The older prostitute had the trump card. La had nine. Bush had the seven C That leaves only Alex and Nathan! She couldnt believe it! Alex smiled as he tossed the three Spades on the table, and everyone turned to Nathan. Nathan sighed as he casually revealed the two of Spades. Crystal was delighted by this turn of events and couldnt help butugh. Number seven must drink from number twos mouth! she eximed. I cant wait to see this! Crystal pulled out her phone and turned on her camera App so that she could take a video of the whole thing. Crystal was so excited that at first, she didnt realize that everyone was staring at her, and when she did notice, her smile froze. Why are you all looking at me? I got the five of Spades. Youre Nathans date, one of the prostitutes exined, so youre going to feed Eric for Nathan. You dont want to watch two guys kiss, do you? That would be pretty sick if you did. But its up to you. Im not Nathans date, Crystal argued. I work here! Why dont we get Erics date and Nathan to y it instead? Nathan winked at the woman with the trump card in her hand, and she said, Technically, he doesnt have a date either, so you are not going to get out of this that easily. If you refuse to feed Eric, you can feed Nathan. How about that? You can choose between Nathan and Bush. Crystal looked at Nathan helplessly and said, Nathan, would that be all right? Nathan smiled, lifted his ss, and said, No problem. No one in the room cared who Crystal chose. Either way, it was a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. That being said, they were surprised that Nathan was agreeable. Nathan was known to be very sexually reserved. Bush looked at Crystal and grinned wickedly. This isnt right, he said. The rules of the game stipte that it must be you and me. No substitutions. When Nathan heard that, his face turned red with rage, he turned to Bush and said, In that case, you must feed me! Is that what you want? Everyone looked to the older prostitute to rify the rules. She had the trump card, so it was up to her to decide what was copacetic. And after a moment of deliberation, she said, Either or is fine. Nathan scowled, and Bush smirked. Crystal sighed as she picked up the wine ss on the table. She stood up and walked over to Bush. La: Oh, boy! Its like Donkey Kong! Crystal stopped in front of Bush. With her yboy outfit and expertly done make-up, she looked like a seductress. She winked at Bush, and then she filled her mouth with wine. She bent over slowly and pressed her mouth to his. The expectation was that their mouths would open simultaneously, and the wine would be transferred from Crystals mouth to Bushs mouth. When that happened, Bush would slip into Crystals mouth. They would make out like a couple of beasts, without restraint, and then he would fuck her right there, on the table, while everyone watched. Just the thought of it was making everyone randy. Alex had an erection. He was clutching it with his hand, and he was stroking it as he watched the show. And all of the girls had their hands pressed tight against their cunts. Before any of them could get off, though, Crystal pulled away and sprayed the wine evenly across Bushs face. Everyone gasped, and except for the sound of the music, the box fell silent. They were all stunned, and no one was more stunned than Eric was. No one had ever dared to do anything like this to him before. This woman is ying with fire! C he thought angrily. Bush tried to p Crystal, but she took a step back and avoided his open palm. Master Bush! she eximed. I tried to give you the wine with my mouth. Why didnt you open your mouth? Look at this mess! What a waste! Everyone except for Nathan began tough. This woman C Nathan thought C is incredibly bold! Eric sprang to his feet, and when Nathan saw that his shirt was also wet, he stood up. If Bush touches one hair on this womans head-Nathan vowed C he wont get out of here alive! Crystal saw the rage in Bushs eyes, and she ran out of the box and into the dressing room. Bush was about to chase after her, but Nathan stopped him. Dont worry about her, Nathan said. Be cool. After saying that, he left the box and ordered his men to search for the girl. Ten minutester, his men returned. Unfortunately, they had turned the ce upside down, and no one could find the girl. Nathan: What a bunch of good-for-nothing you guys have turned out to be. Keep looking for her. While Nathan waited, he pulled out his cell phone and called Crystal. Crystal answered on the third ring, and he asked her where she was. Crystal: I am at home. Where else would I be? Nathan: Youre not at the Merah Club? Crystal: The Merah Club? Ive never heard of it. Anyway, Im sleepy. Goodnight. Ill talk to youter. Crystal let out a deliberate yawn, and she hung up the phone. Chapter 55: Block All The Information About Her Nathan couldnt believe that Crystal had had the nerve to hang up the phone on him. He called her again, but this time his call went straight to voicemail. He did not leave a message. Once Nathan was out of sight, Bush grabbed Ls phone. L tried to pull away, but it was toote. He had already seen the photo that shed taken, and she watched helplessly as he transferred the image to his phone. From there, Bush transferred the photo to a third party, and he included a text: Find out everything that you can about this woman. Pronto. Once that was done, he stretched out on the sofa andughed. L picked up her phone and tried to leave, but Bush grabbed her and pulled her into hisp. He looked at the other girls and shouted, Get out of here! And within seconds, the room had cleared. The girls had been frightened, and theyd only needed to be told once. Once the other girls were gone, he pushed L down on the sofa and yanked her skirt above her waist. She wasnt wearing any panties, and he could clearly see every detail of her vag*na. He ran his index finger between herbia and smiled. Then, without any dy or forey, he pushed down his pants and underpants, parted her legs with his knees, and proceeded to assault her. **** Crystal was hiding in the dressing room behind the clothes racks, and when she felt like she was safe to leave, she quietly pulled the clothes out of her way and was followed by Serenity. Once they were outside the changing room and in the dressing room, she turned to her friend and asked, Have they gone? I guess so, Serenity replied. Its been nearly two hours. I doubt they would be willing to waste the entirety of their night looking for you. Thatsforting, Crystal replied as she changed her clothes. Then she took the makeup remover from the dresser and slipped into the bathroom to remove her makeup. Once that was done, she swaggered out of the clubhouse, and as she had expected, no one stopped her. As Crystal stepped out the door, though, she saw a silver Maybach parked on the curb, and she froze. Nathan was leaning against the car with his hands in his pockets. Crystal turned around to go back into the club, but Serenity grabbed her and led her toward Nathan. Serenity waved at Nathan and said, Hey! Professor Davis. Please make sure that Crystal gets home safely. My taxi ising, so Ive gotta go. Goodbye, Crystal. Goodbye, Professor Davis. Then Serenity secretly twisted Crystals arm and ran away. What a traitor! C Crystal thought as she rubbed her sore arm. She grinned at Nathan and said, What a coincidence! Professor Davis! I am surprised to see you here. Are you? Nathan scoffed. Does she really think that didnt recognize her? C he wondered. He forced himself tough. And why is that? I told you where I was over the phone, but you said that you were in bed. Why are you here? Is it possible that you are sleepwalking? Perhaps. Crystal sighed, and she began to walk towards Nathan. Sheughed and said, Not actually, though. Serenity called me after you did. She woke me up and asked me to meet her after work, which is how I ended up here. It wasnt long before they were face to face. Nathan gently touched Crystals arm. He smiled softly and said, I heard that your husband is bad in bed. That must be difficult. Crystal swallowed hard, and she was too embarrassed to look him in the eyes. What is he doing? C she wondered C What game is he ying. Did he recognize me and then pretend not to know me? Is that supposed to be funny? Crystal: What do you mean? I dont understand what youre saying? Nathan: Didnt you say that you wanted to watch me lose control? Crystal: So you knew it was me all along? Nathan: Crystal, did you think you could hide your identity behind ayer of makeup? Thats pretty dumb. And now, you will be held ountable for the things that you said. Do you understand? Crystal stared nkly at the man in front of her. She felt lost, suddenly, like a pr bear adrift on a quickly melting salt of ice. She dropped her eyes and said, Im sorry. Nathan: Sorry for what? Crystal: I shouldnt have ruined your evening. Ruin my evening? Nathanughed. Because you were there, my night was better. I do have one question, though.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Crystal: Well, what do you want to know? Nathan: Why did youe here tonight? Crystal took a step back, but he gripped her arm. Just tell me, he said. I wont hurt you. Crystal took a deep breath as she wrenched her arm free. She looked at him defiantly and said, Fine. I will tell you. This is the truth: Serenity said that you were here with a bunch of prostitutes, so I came to have a look. And in the end, it turned out that you were with prostitutes, so it should be you apologizing to me and not the other way around. Nathan took a good hard look at Crystal. You must think youre pretty sly, he said. Crystal smirked and said, Sly enough. Nathan opened his mouth to reprimand her, but he was interrupted by his driver before he could say anything. Mr. Davis, he shouted. Eric Bush is investigating Mrs. Davis. Block all information about her, Nathan shouted back. Bush and L were naked and entwined on the sofa in a private room in the Merah Club. Bush had bronzed skin and the fresh scratches on his back added to his masculinity. Under his bodyy L. She had been ravaged, and her senses remained disconnected. She had scratched at Bushs back as hed forced himself on her and bit into his shoulder multiple times, but none of it had helped. There was a knock at the door, and Bush shouted irritably, Come in. Chapter 56: Are You In A Relationship With Some Riffraff Woman Erick Bushs bodyguard walked into the box. He saw Erick and La on the sofa, both naked, post-coitus, and though he did not approve of his bosss behavior, he did notment on it. He lowered his head and quickly turned away so as not to shame the poor girl further. Bush saw the look on his bodyguards face, and it amused him. He grabbed Las nipple and gave it a sharp twist. La cried out in pain, and the bodyguard turned without thinking. The bodyguard scowled and turned away again, and La shyly covered her face with the back of her hand. Bush was stillughing when he pulled her hand away. Are you shy? he asked. Thats rich! A shy wh*re, He gave her other nipple a rough twist. Lucky for you, he sneered, I enjoy the sound of you crying! And before long, he was hard again. Bush was like a beast whose hunger could not be sated. Heughed as he forced his manh**d back into Las vag*na, and he began to fuck her with vigor, not stopping until he had spent his seed. Bush grunted as he came, and then he rolled over and wiped himself with a tissue. He put on his clothes, but before he left, he turned to La and asked, Whats the matter? La: Eric, we looked everywhere for that girl, but no one even knew her. I dont think well ever find her. You are a good-for-nothing wh*re! Bush eximed. What do you know? As he said this, he kicked the table and the wine bottle. tipped over and rolled off the edge to shatter on the floor. In my world, nothing is impossible! *** Nathan drove Crystal home, and then he returned to the Davis mansion. He parked his car and walked up to the house. Through the window, he could see the living rooms bright crystal chandeliers. The front door was unlocked, and he walked right in. When his mother, Belinda Davis, saw Nathan, she asked him why he was sote and if he had eaten. She approached him, and when she smelt the alcohol on his breath, she asked him if hed been drinking. Then, without waiting for an answer, she turned to Carol and asked her to make her son a bowl of sobriety soup. Nathans Father, Amos Davis, was in the living room with a man and a woman that he didnt know. Amos: Nathan,e here. I was hoping you could meet your Uncle Fowler and his daughter, Amy. Uncle Fowler is the president of Fowler Urban Construction Group. Nathan was surprised. He looked at Amy and her Father and offered them a cold nod of his head as a greeting. Amy: Uncle Davis, Nathan, and I went to high school together. We lost touch when Nathan went overseas to study. Amos: Well, it sounds like you were destined to meet again. Many high school ssmates never see each other again, but here you both are. Belinda happily walked over to hold Amys hand. She sighed and said, My son, unfortunately, is not fond of social interactions. He has never been. He has few friends. You cane to our house when you have time, though. You are always wee here C Mi casa es su casa. Amy: I will stop by when I can. I happen to be busy at the TV station these days. Ille when Im free. Im afraid that I might bother you, though. Belinda: Why? Wed love for you to visit. Nathan is busy all day, and he seldomes home. Your uncle and I are home alone every day, and we get bored. We would love to have somepany! Amy: You and Uncle Davis have a great rtionship. Nathan was not interested in their conversation and wanted to go upstairs and take a shower, so he tried to excuse himself, but his father would not allow it. Stay! Amos: ordered. Cant you see that our guests are still here? Sit down! Amos had always been strict with Nathan. Nathan froze, and he did not look back. Amos: Son, have you forgotten your manners? Nathan remained silent. Amos: You will be in trouble if you go on behaving like that. Nathan: Like what? What do you mean? Amos: Are you in a rtionship with some riffraff woman? Nathan: What are you getting at? Amos: I know all about what happened in the fitting room. It is all over the inte. We havepany, though, so I wont go into details, but I will give you a warning: Not everyone is fit to be in our family. Nathan: Thanks for reminding me, but I will take care of my own affairs. Mr. Fowler: Nathan has always had excellent tastes. Any girl that he has a crush on cannot be bad. You cant trust everything that you read on the inte. Amy: Uncle Davis, Nathan, and I were in high school together for three years. He is famous for his good character. Many girls like him, but he doesnt pay any attention to them. If he likes a girl, she must be respectable. Im sure you dont have anything to worry about. Amos: Sit down, Nathan. When will the design for the Santarosa sitee out? Your uncle Fowler has a lot of experience in architecture. You can ask him for advice. Nathan: Santarosa? I dont want to develop that site for a while.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Amos: Dont be silly. Why would you want to let such arge piece ofnd turn into a wastnd? Do you know - Nathan: Dad, how about I give you the Brilliant Group? You! Amos hissed. He gnashed his teeth in anger, and water spilled from the water cup in his hand. Mr. Fowler: Calm down. Nathan has his own way of investing. He has already expanded the size of the Brilliant Group to ten times what it was. The younger generation is promising. If he doesnt want to expand it, he must have his own ideas. He has grown up. Dont embarrass the child. Mr. Fowlers persuasion helped Amos calm down. He knew that his child was very independent and had been since he was very young. He also knew that once Nathan had made up his mind, he wouldnt change it, so it was pointless to argue. Chapter 57: You Sound Very Experienced Belinda turned to her son, smiled, and said, Why dont you go upstairs and have a bath. Ill have Carol bring up your sobriety soup when its done. Nathan nodded, thanked his Mother, said goodbye to his Uncle and his cousin, and went upstairs. Once he was gone, Belinda looked at her guests and apologized for her sons behavior. Nathan is not usually like this, she said. In fact, Ive never seen him drink. He must have had a really bad day. He has been so busy at worktely, so it was inevitable that he would eventually need to unwind. Im still surprised, though, because, at ourst party, he was a total teetotaler. Belinda looked at her niece. The girl was sweet and gentle, and Belinda loved her very much. They chatted for a long time, and she told Amy a lot of funny and embarrassing stories about Nathan. Eventually, Carol came out of the kitchen with a bowl of sober soup, and she was about to take it upstairs when Belinda spoke up. She said, Carol, Amy will deliver it. She turned back to Amy and grinned wolfishly. Amy, you and Nathan were ssmates. Why dont you remind him of how charming you are? Amy knew what Belinda meant, and she didnt need to be asked twice. She smiled at Belinda, got up, and took the sober soup.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. The door of the study was not shut. Amy took the soup, knocked politely, pushed the door open, and walked in. Nathan was sitting behind his desk, leaning back on his chair. His eyes were closed, and he was rubbing his temples. Amy: Nathan, if you have a headache, maybe some sober soup will help. Nathan looked up and was surprised to see that Amy had brought him his soup. He picked up the bowl and poured its contents into the garbage can next to his desk. Anything else? Amy asked coldly. Nathan: No. You may leave. And take the bowl with you. Amy: Nathan, I got a message from my colleague today. She said that the entertainment department is following you. Amy took out her mobile phone and showed Nathan a series of candid pictures of Tiffany inside and outside the Beverly vi. Nathan: Are you sure that you werent the one who took these photos? Amy: Im sure. A lot of people are curious about you, though. They want to know who you are. Thus, ourpany is looking for first-hand information. Nathan: So? Amy: So? So, Im going to give you all the pictures. Nathan: And what do you want in return? Amy: Absolutely nothing. Not really. I just want to tell you that I have had a crush on you. for a long time, and I want to ask if I can be your girlfriend. Nathan: No. Dont even ask. Its not gonna happen. Amy: Why not? I looked into Tiffany. Shes just a normal teacher. Even though her father is a college President, she doesnt deserve you. Plus, were cousins, so you know that you can trust me! Nathan: So, you think youre the only person in the world thats good enough for me? Amy: No but we are rted, so Nathan: Take your phone and get the hell out of here. Amy couldnt believe how quick Nathan was to reject her, and she med Tiffany. She thought of Nathan as a God, and it broke her heart to think that she would never get a chance to make him happy. Amy grabbed the soup bowl off his desk, and as she left his office, she turned back onest time. She smirked and said, Dont do anything stupid. If you do, you will be sorry, and you cant afford that. *** The next day, Crystal woke up at ten clock, stretched, and went downstairs. When Tiffany heard her, she rushed out of the living room and shouted Nathans name excitedly. Then, when she saw that it was Crystal, she went back into the living room. Crystal sighed and went into the kitchen to get some breakfast. She took a sandwich from the fridge and went into the living room where Tiffany was. Tiffany was wearing a long, loose, light blue mens shirt. Most of the buttons were undone, and it hung off her shoulders to reveal her delicate shoulders. She wore no pants, and Crystal could see most of her white legs and almost all of the way up to her panties. If shes wearing panties C Crystal thought. And it seemed like a big IF. Crystal began to fret as she thought about Tiffany walking in front of Nathan dressed like this. Inparison, what do I have to offer? C she worried. She looked at the womans blouse, which had a unique letter embroidered in its breast pocket. Are you wearing Nathans clothes? she asked. Tiffany stretched out on the couch, and the hem of the shirt crawled another inch up her thighs. I am, she admitted shamelessly. Crystal frowned and sat down across from Tiffany. I got my clothes dirty, Tiffany exined. I asked Susie to have them dry-cleaned, and Professor Davis lent me his clothes for the time being. Crystal looked at Tiffany skeptically. Tiffany had brought many suitcases full of clothes, so she shouldnt have had to borrow anything from anybody. Crystal was going to reach for a tissue from a box on the coffee table, but suddenly her hand froze, and she couldnt move. She kept on smiling and pretended to be rxed. Thats nice, she said. He has so much clothing that he often donates some to relief stations and homeless people. Tiffany: Most homeless people are men. Did you know that men like to make women. wear their shirts and wear them the way that I am wearing this one? Tiffany shifted positions, and the shirt opened to reveal her bare breasts and a hint of her light brown nipples. You sound very experienced, Crystal said. Are you? Tiffany: Experienced in what? Crystal: You know: What I was inexperienced in. Tiffany took off her slippers and put her legs on the coffee table. Come on, why are you asking me that? she asked. I have no experience. Chapter 58: Answer Me Crystal began tough, and Tiffany scowled at her. Stop it! she shouted. What are youughing at? Crystal: Imughing at you, of course! What else would I beughing at? Tiffany crossed her arms under her breasts, and they billowed even further out of her shirt. Her light brown nipples were fully exposed now, but she was pouting, and there was nothing sexy about her posture. Why are youughing at me? she asked. Crystal: Youve put in so much effort into seducing Nathan, but if you have no experience, he will not be interested in you! Tiffany gave Crystals words some serious thought, and then she said, I do have some experience Whatever you say, Crystal replied. She shrugged, stood up, and just as she was about. to walk away, Susie walked in. Susie was carrying a few bags of groceries, and Crystal quickly got up and went to help her. Susie: Thank you, Crystal. What would you like for lunch? Crystal helped Susie put the groceries in the kitchen, and she took out the vegetables and put them in the sink to be washed. Susie came in, opened the cupboard, and took out an apron. You can make whatever you like, Crystal said. I will call Nathan and see if hell be home for lunch. That sounds good, Susie said as she unpacked the meat. As Crystal moved on to the pantry items, she said, Susie, can I ask you a question? Susie: Go ahead. If I can answer it, I will. Susie: It doesnt matter. How long will Miss Ford be staying here, anyway? She gave me a bunch of clothes to dry clean, but I think theyre all pretty clean.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Crystal: Why are you doing Tiffanys dry cleaning? Shes a big girl. She can do her ownundry. And you arent her personal ve! That didnt surprise Crystal. I dont know how long shell be here, she replied. I guess its none of my business. Susie: Miss Ford is not Mr. Daviss girlfriend, is she? I think Miss Ford is very keen on Mr. Davis. Crystal took a cucumber out of the sink and took a bite of it, and as she chewed, she thought about Susies question and how she should answer it. Then, just as she was about to reply, Susie interrupted her. Whats the matter with me? she asked. What would you do if Mr. Davis got together with Miss Ford? Crystal: What would I do? If they got together, I would wish them well. Susie: I dont think Miss Ford is good enough for Mr. Davis. Crystal: Susie, how long have you known Mr. Davis? Why do you think so highly of him? Susie: Mr. Davis is a man of excellent birth. He is educated and handsome. If I were your age Hey, forget it, Im just talking nonsense. Crystal: Susie, Ill talk to youter. I am going to go to my room to try to catch up on my sleep. A mosquito kept me up all night. This was a good talk, though. Thank you. Susie: Its almost lunchtime. Are you sure you want to go back to bed? Crystal: Sure. And if you cant wake me up, leave me alone. Susie: How will that work? You have to take care of your health. Ill be okay, Crystal replied, and she threw the rest of the cucumber in the garbage as she walked away,pletely forgetting her promise to call Nathan. *** Crystal woke to the sound of Tiffanys voice above her head: Crystal, are you awake? Crystal didnt know how long she had been sleeping. Her brain felt foggy, though, so she pretended that she was still asleep. I guess not, Tiffany whispered. Tiffany was standing over Crystal, and Nathan was standing in the doorway. Whats going on? Nathan asked. Tiffany: Crystal said she was tired, and she went to bed. Tiffany thought Crystal was still asleep, and she left her room to talk to Nathan in the hallway. She closed the door behind her, but Crystal could hear what they were saying. Tiffany: Professor Davis, do I look different today? Nathan: Whats different? I dont see anything different. Tiffany: Im wearing your clothes. I hope that you dont mind. My clothes are all dry-cleaned, and Crystals clothes are not the right size, so she suggested I raid your closet. Anyway, as you know, shes always trying to y matchmaker for us. Nathan: Get out of here! Tiffany: Ouch! Crystal didnt know how Tiffany had been hurt, but she felt a sense of satisfaction when she heard her rival cry out in pain. She could hear Tiffanys footsteps as she went back down the stairs, and she could hear Nathan breathing in the hallway. Tiffany is really cunning C Crystal realized C To me, she said that Nathan had lent her the shirt. Then she turned around and told him that I was trying to set them up, and she said that I asked her to wear the revealing shirt. She deserves an Oscar for her performance! Crystal slowly sat up. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, and just as she was about to get up, her door popped open, and Nathan barged in. He stood akimbo and red at her. I hear you want to set me up with Tiffany! Because Crystal had a record as a matchmaker, she could not expect Nathan to believe her if she denied his usations. Of course, this situation was all her fault. After all, she was the one who had invited Tiffany to stay with them. Answer me! Nathan yelled. Suddenly, Nathan saw a stack of papers that Crystal had printed off and ced beside the bed. They were divorce papers, and when Nathan saw that, his face turned red, and the veins on his forehead stood out. Alongside the papers were the photos shed taken at the club. Nathan walked towards the bed, and Crystal flinched away from him, but she was not what he was after. Nathan grabbed the paper and the pictures, and he tore them into a million tiny pieces and threw them into Crystals face. Chapter 59: You Want To Divorce Me, Don鈥檛 You Nathan red at Crystal. His hands clenched and unclenched at his side, So, he said, you went to the barst night to take pictures and gather hard evidence so that the court would grant you a divorce? I-ICI Crystal stammered. She didnt know what to say and or how to defend herself. Suddenly she could not even look at him. Shecked the courage to look up. Nathan grabbed Crystal by the arm and yanked her out of bed. Then he pinched her chin, forcing her to look at him, and shouted into her face: You want a divorce, dont you? Without waiting for an answer, Nathan began to tear Crystals nightgown to pieces, and by the time she was naked, he was so angry that he was unable to appreciate the sight of her fully undressed. Nathan leaned forward, and as he gripped her buttocks with his left hand, he bit her lip. Then, he began to attack her right breast with his right hand, pressing and pulling, and twisting. No, Crystal cried. Stop it, Nathan. She hoped that Nathan would realize that he was hurting her and stop, but her pain seemed to fuel his passion. Furthermore, because Nathan was used to being in control, he could not permit Crystal to live if he could not dominate her. Nathan gripped Crystals neck with hisrge hand. He pressed her against the wall, and he began to kiss her; first her lips, then her neck C Next, her corbone, and then her nipples, his right hand was still on her left breast, but now he ran his fingers down her stomach to her pubic mound. He brushed his fingers through the faint fresh growth of tangled hair that was there. Crystal squirmed, and she tried to cry out, but she was not able, not with his hand wrapped around her throat. Stay still, Nathan hissed. You want to divorce me, dont you? There was a sudden knock on the door, and Nathan turned and red at it. Susie called out pleasantly from the hallway: Crystal, lunch is ready. Nathan gripped Crystals pubic hair, and Crystal silently squealed. He leaned into her, and as he released her neck, he whispered, Be good. Or else! Nod your head if you understand. Crystal nodded. Her skin was as red as cherry blossoms where he had kissed it, and it was damningly hot. Susie: Crystal? Are you up yet? Iming in. Crystal: No, please donte in! Im not decent. Ill be down as soon as Im dressed. Nathan was still angry, but he had regained control of his body. Once Susie was back downstairs, he pushed Crystal on the bed and turned away. He knew that if he didnt leave now, he would lose control of himself again C so he left her without saying another word. Once Crystal was alone, she pulled a sheet over her naked body, and she remained motionless for a long time. It didnt bother her that Nathan knew about the divorce papers. After all, he would have found out sooner orter. Behind his anger, though, shed seen pain, and that gave her cause to pause. It had never been her intention to hurt Nathan. After all that he had done to her, she knew that she had no reason to feel guilty, but she did, and she hated that feeling. Crystals phone rang, and she ignored it, but as soon as it stopped, it started up again. She sighed, rolled over to reach her phone, brought it to her face, and said, This had better be important! There was a long moment of silence, and then Serenity said, Crystal? Are you okay? You sound upset. Did you get into a fight with Professor Davis? Crystal: You must have been a fortune teller in yourst life. Otherwise, you wouldnt be able to guess so urately all the time. Serenityughed and said, I wasnt a fortune teller. You are predictable. Thats all. Shut up, Crystal groaned unhappily. Serenity: Sorry. That was unkind of me. Why dont we go shopping? That will cheer you up. Thats a great idea! Crystal eximed as she jumped out of bed. She got dressed, grabbed her backpack, and left her room. ***Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. By the time Crystal arrived at the mall, Serenity was waiting for her with a package under her arm. Crystal greeted her friend with a hug and pointed to the package. Whats that? she wondered. Serenity passed the package to Crystal and said, Here you are. This is your birthday present. Crystal began to open the package, but Serenity told her to wait until she got home. So, Crystal shrugged, thanked her friend and put the package in her backpack. In Serenitys free hand, she had a tray with two coffees on it, and she said, Therge one is yours. Crystal took the coffee and suggested they find a ce to sit where they could talk. The food court was nearby, so they went there, and once they were seated, Serenity got right down to business. What happened between you and Professor Davis? she asked. Do you really want to divorce him? Crystal said that she didnt want to talk about it, so they moved on to lighter subjects, and once their coffees were made, they went into a luxury bag store. Inside the store, they saw several beautifully dressed women shopping. They looked like they were wealthy, and the attendants were enthusiastically following them around. Meanwhile, Serenity and Crystal hadnt even been greeted by a single sales clerk. Crystal looked at a few of the price tags and saw that the cheapest thing in the store cost over ten thousand dors, and she assumed that because they were modestly dressed, the staff concluded that they couldnt afford to buy anything. Thus, they were being ignored. Suddenly, one of the beautifully dressed women touched Crystals shoulder from behind and said, Crystal? What a surprise it is to meet you here. Crystal nearly jumped out of her skin. She turned around right quickly and recognized the woman almost immediately. Her name was Gigi. There had been a time when theyd been friends, but when Crystals financial situation had changed, shed been ostracized by the social group that they both belonged to. Chapter 60: An Orphan Like You Don鈥檛 Belong To Our Circle Gigi smirked at Crystal and said, I heard that your mother died and left her fortune to a fair-faced gigolo. And you got nothing. I cant imagine what you are doing in a store like this. Did you have the money to buy an expensive thing here? She looked at her friend andughed. I guess its free to look, right, Kendyll. I pity her, Kendyll: Well, if shes looking for a Bargain Bin, she wont find one here!Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. There were other women their age in the store, and they began to surround Crystal and Serenity. Their eyes were full of mischief, and they barely masked their mirthfulughter behind fingers held in front of their lips. Crystal was younger than these girls, but because she had skipped two grades, she had ended up in the same sses with them. But, then, because of her youthful appearance and good grades, she had been very popr with the teachers and the boys in the ss, including Carlos. She was not popr with the girls, though, and part of that had to do with Joyces constant backstabbing. You talk as if you were rich, Crystal said. Let me see what you bought. I dont see you carrying a bag. You were bragging about how rich you are. Whats the matter? If you like these bags, you should buy them. Dont you like these bags? Or is the problem that you cant afford them? She cant let these spoiled girls look down on her. Gigi: We are richer than you, and my daddy loves me very much. He gave me a huge monthly allowance, and how about you? Crystal wanted tough at her, Your daddy? Im sorry to interrupt, but do you mean your sugar daddy or your biological daddy? Gigi stomped her foot in frustration, and her face turned red. Serenity burst outughing as Crystal finished her question. Crystal was cynical and brilliant. Gigi: What are you talking about? Hes my biological father, of course, the chairman of the Comlink Group. Anyway, forget about it. You are too dumb to understand. An orphan like you dont belong to our circle, Crystal leaned into the woman and sniffed her jacket. Comlink Group? She said. Their smugglers! Its no wonder you smell so bad! Gigi: Shut up! Whats the point of saying youre rich? Crystal asked. She pointed to a bag that was locked in the best ce on the counter. This bag is a limited edition, and even popr celebrities need to reserve it in advance. Dont tell me you dont like it. If you really have money, buy it. To a rich person, its not very expensive. Its only two million dors. The clerk saw that Crystal was trying to convince Gigi to buy the purse, so she echoed her words, saying, Shes right. This bag is a status symbol. Many of the top socialites want to have one but cannot have one. You are lucky that we have this one in stock. The beautiful women looked at each other. They were hesitant to buy a two-million-dor bag. Gigi shrugged. She was anxious to prove Crystal wrong. Its just a bag, she said as she took out her credit card. But Ill take it. The clerk took the card and was about to swipe it when someone shouted, Wait a minute. Everyone turned to see who had spoken. It was Cecilia, Joyces best friend. Cecilia smirked and said, Buying a bag doesnt prove anything. I have a better idea: Lets check the bnce on our cards and see who has the most money avable to them! Crystal froze in ce. She only had a few thousand dors on her card. Thus, she could notpete with any of these women. To make this more interesting, Gigi said, how about if, the person who has the least amount of money, has to buy the purse for whoever has the most? I like your idea, one of the other women said. And if anyone gives up, they have to put the bag around their neck, take a photo, and post it on Instagram. By doing this, they will show everyone that they are willing to sell themself for a bag! Yes! Cecelia agreed. And if any of you run away, we will take photos of you, photoshop them to make you look ugly, and put them on all of our Social Medias! One by one, each of thedies said that they were in until Crystal was the only one who hadnt. Gigiughed as she turned to Crystal. Well, are you in or not? Fuck Crystal thought. She was trapped. Finally, she nodded her head and said, Im in. Gigi was so excited that she almost pped her hands. She turned to the clerk and said, You have an ATM, dont you? The clerk nodded and pointed to the front of the store, and as they made their way towards it, Serenity whispered in Crystals ear: Hey, Crystal, youre not really going to go through with this, are you? Crystal: What other options do I have? Id rather lose than run away or give up. If I lose, it will be a mary loss, but if I flee, I will be disgraced. When they got to the machine, Cecilia took a gold card from her purse and said, Since this was my idea, Ill go first. She inserted the card, entered the password, and deliberately stepped aside so that everyone could clearly see the bnce: $3, 950, 712. 12. Wow! Serenity whispered. Thats a lot of money Crystal elbowed her friend and told her to hush up. One by one, the other girls showed their bnce, and each one was over four million dors, which meant that Celia had the lowest ount bnce among them. Of course, Crystal hadnt gone yet, and neither had Gigi. Gigi went before Crystal. She pulled out a ck card, and everyone gasped. Gigi smirked and said, Pay close attention, Crystal. This is the closest youll evere to this kind of money! Chapter 61: I Can鈥檛 Accept Such A Gift Gigi put her ck credit card into the machine, typed the password, and stepped aside so that everyone could see the bnce: $23, 759, 114. 64.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. The entire store went quiet. Gigi almost had as much as all of the other womenbined, and there was no doubt in anyones mind who would be winning a free bag. And most of them were also certain about who would be paying for it: Crystal. Kendyll looked at Crystal with a shark-like Cheshire grin on her bitchy face. Youre up, she said. Good luck beating that. Lol. If I were you, Id run away. As ugly as you are, its not like you have much to lose anyway. Crystal wanted to scratch out Kendylls eyes and force her to eat them. Maybe you should run, Serenity muttered. The purse costs two million dors! You would be out of your mind to carry on with this charade. Shut up! Crystal hissed. I know what Im doing. She looked at Kendyll and said, It is never good to count your chickens before theyre hatched. Fine, Kendyllughed. Hurry up and crack a few eggs. Were all anxious to see how many chickens youve got. I doubt youve got more than a couple thousand. Crystal slowly opened her bag and took out her wallet. There were several cards there, and she flipped through them until she came to thest one. Combined, all of the other ones wouldnt amount to jack-shit, but thest one, the ck card that Nathan had given her, was an entirely different card. Crystal smiled as she drew it, adding a bit of flourish for dramatic effect. The other woman gasped when they saw the ck card C even the store clerk was surprised. None of them had expected her to have a ck card. Crystal put the card into the machine and typed in the password. Nathan had said it was his birthday, and Tiffany had told her when his birthday was. After she entered the password, she pressed the green OKAY button, and a long list of numbers popped up. Oh! My! God! C Crystal could not believe what she was seeing. She stepped aside so that everyone could see the number: $362, 452, 886. 93. For a long moment, nobody said a word. Nobody could believe what they were seeing, but Serenity was the first to vocalize her disbelief. She said, This cant be right. Can it? Do you really have an avable bnce of over three hundred and sixty dors? Serenity counted the digits thrice more and came up with the same conclusion every time. Cecelias face had turned white. She said, Its impossible! She had just realized that she had the least amount of credit avable, and thus, she was the loser. It wasnt the losing that hurt, so much as it was losing to Crystal. It seemed inconceivable. How did Crystal attain such good credit C Cecelia wondered C Its not scientific! She shook her head in disbelief and pointed a trembling finger at Crystal. It must be a trick. Crystal, you are tricking us. Thats not possible, Crystal said as she took the card out of the machine, wiped it, and put it back into her wallet. Come on. Are you kidding me? Can a bank card be faked? Can the bnce on an ATM be faked? If you think it can be, tell me how! Everyone tried it just now, using the same machine, so dont be dumb. Youre embarrassing yourself. Cecelia: Even if the card is yours, and the ATM shows the bnce is correct, where did the moneye from? Do you have a sugar daddy? Kendyll: Probably. She must be somebodys mistress. I bet shes real proud of herself. What would her mother think? Crystal ignored their cruel words and sarcasm. She said, What does it matter to you how I got my money? It doesnt matter. The game is over, and I won, fair and square. She turned to Cecelia. If you are that reluctant to give up two million dors, we can discuss it. After all, I can afford to buy my own purses with three hundred and sixty million dors. All I want from you is for you to allow me to p you across the face. Twice. Fuck that! Cecelia snarled. She took out her credit card, handed it to the clerk, and said, Swipe it. Crystal red at Cecelia. She had hoped to be able to p her, and Cecelia red right back at her. Secondster, the clerk returned the card to Cecilia and packed up the limited-edition bag to give to Crystal; as Cecelia put her card away, she said, Crystal, you just wait and see. I will make you sorry for what youve done today. You have no right to take revenge. Crystal hissed. This was your game, so have the decency to lose gracefully. Cecelia smirked, and Crystal pped her. across the face. You needed that, she said. Somebody needed to knock you off that pedestal youve put yourself on, so why not me? Remember this: Money isnt everything. First, you have some money, but that doesnt mean you can abandon your morals; second, this store is a public ce. Its not just for people like you. Andstly C no matter how much money you have, there will always be people with more! Cecilia was exasperated. She tried to p Crystal back, but Crystal stepped aside, and she was made to look even more pathetic.. Come on, Kendyll urged. Lets get out of here. Crystal watched the women walk away. Once they were gone, she looked at the bag, smiled, and handed it to Serenity. Here you are, she said. Serenity waved her hand and said, I cant ept such a gift. It was too expensive. Even if I take it, people will take one look at me, and they would assume that its fake. Crystal realized that Serenity had a point. She thought about it for a moment, and then she led her friend back into the shop. Chapter 62: Limited Edition Bag The clerk had seen the avable bnce on Crystals card, so when she returned to the counter with her bag, she didnt dare neglect her, and she greeted her immediately. Crystal ced the bag on the counter. She read the sales clerks name on the tag on her shirt and said, Excuse me, ire. I am sorry to bother you, but can I return this? ire: Is there anything wrong with this bag? Crystal: No. Is that a problem? Im afraid, ire replied. Because this bag is a limited-edition product, it is not refundable. Once someone purchases a luxury limited-edition, we wont allow her to return it mostly if it has no damage. Suddenly Eric Bush appeared. He looked at ire and said, Let her return the bag. ires face turned red, and she said, Of course, President Bush. Eric wore light blue jeans, which made him look chic and handsome. He wore sses, and there was a slightly dangerous smile on his face that revealed his sexy teeth. ire took the bag immediately and helped Crystal go through the formalities of the return. Crystal didnt recognize Eric until he took off his sses, and when he did, the arrogant look in his evil single-eyed foxs eyes made her heart do a flip. When she had seen him previously, her make-up had been very thick, so it was possible that he didnt recognize her C she hoped he didnt! Even if he wanted to get back at her for spraying wine on his face, though, Crystal guessed that he wouldnt dare do anything in front of so many people. Stay calm. This is not the right time to make trouble-she told herself. Crystal smiled and said, Thank you. Eric leaned on the counter, smirked, and said, Thats it? Thats all the thanks I get: Words? That bag is worth two million dors. How about you thank me with your body? Crystal pulled the bag off the counter and said, Never mind. Ill keep the bag. Crystal turned to walk away, but Eric blocked her. You can return the bag, he said. I was just ying. Dont be so serious, Crystal looked quite familiar to Eric. He had been impressed by how shed handled the bitches, and he thought she was special. Eric folded his arms across his chest and said, Not every woman that wants my attention got it. You may want to reconsider my offer. Thats interesting, Crystal replied. Not every man that wants my attention got it too. There was almost nothing about Eric that appealed to her. And you are not among the lucky few. Crystal had more to say, but ire cut her off. She took the bag from Crystal and said, Im sorry to interrupt, but I need to know which card I should return your money to? Crystal: As far as I know, this shopping mall has an affiliated charity. Transfer the money into that ount. Of course, I will need a donation receipt for my taxes. Crystal turned back and looked at Eric. Listen, I do not need money. The refund will go to charity. And as far as Im concerned, this conversation is over. And whatever you wanted to say had nothing to do with me, Eric scowled. He wasnt used to being rejected, and he didnt know how to handle it. ire handed Crystal the donation receipt and asked if it would be alright if she kept track of her donation. Eric answered for her. He offered her his phone and said, Of course. You can leave me your number. Crystal didnt even look at the phone. Instead, she looked at ire and said, Please give me the number of the charitys founder. I will contact him personally to let them know I am the one who donated to them, Eric snatched the receipt out of Crystals hand, wrote his number on it, and said, Unfortunately, I am the person who is in charge of the charity fund. I am its founder! If you want to follow your money, you will have to go through with me. I will be looking forward to your call! Serenity looked at Crystal and asked, Will you call? Crystal: It depends on my mood. Its not an important matter, Serenity almost burst intoughter when she heard that. Eric was obviously interested in Crystal, but Crystal hadnt left him without a shred of hope. She had directly refused his advances towards her. Eric: Will you call me when you are in a good mood? Crystal: No. I will call you when the hell freezes. Anyway, check out your number. It looks like a Talisman! Eric What does that mean? Crystal pointed to the receipt and said, What I mean is that I will turn it into a talisman, and I will read it every day so that you make good use of my donation. From the look on Erics face, Crystal could tell that he was still bewildered by the talisman metaphor. Whatever. Sheughed, snatched the receipt out of his hands, and said, See you! Crystal waved the receipt in front of Erics face, and then she led Serenity out of the store. Once they were back in the mall, Serenity stopped Crystal and asked, Who was that guy, and how do you know each other?Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. I dont know him, Crystal replied. She couldnt help thinking about the wh*re who had opened his trousers with her teeth and how he had pulled down Ls underwear. Hes not a good man. Fortunately, he hadnt recognized her. If he had, she might not have been able to return the bag. Hes just a crazy dog. Lets go. Serenity grabbed Crystals wrist and said, I could tell that he was interested in you, but you need to get him out of your head. Dont do anything that will hurt Professor Daviss heart. If you do, Ill Youll what? Crystal hissed; her friends stupidity suddenly ruined her good mood. Youd better think hard about your next words! Chapter 63: You Are A Rich Woman Now Serenity looked shell-shocked, and Crystal could tell that her friend was struggling C and failing to find the right words. Then, suddenly, Serenity looked past Crystal, and her eyes lit up. She raised her hand and shouted, Hey, Professor Davis, what a coincidence. Her trick didnt work on Crystal, though, whose eyes remained fixed on her face. Serenity sighed when she realized that her trick hadnt worked. She frowned, lowered her head, and whispered, Im sorry, Crystal. You are right. I misspoke. I must admit that I am very impressed with the way you handled things, and who would have guessed that you have ess to over three hundred million dors. You are a rich woman. What are you going to buy? Are you still looking for pendants? I have no idea, Crystal admitted. I didnt even know that I had that much money avable until I pulled up the ount bnce. Talk about good timing! *** When Crystal returned home, she looked around for Nathan, but he was nowhere in sight. Susie didnt know where he was either, and when she looked for Tiffany, she discovered that her teacher had moved out while she was at the mall. Nathan didnt return that night either, which inhibited Crystals ability to fall asleep. She thought that he was probably still angry with her. That morning, she received a text message reminding her that she needed to return to Henrys Mansionter that day. Not only that, but it was her birthday. She would turn eighteen, and her Grandfathers will was supposed to be read today. Nathan had bought her a lot of clothes the previous day, which came in handy, and she put on a pure whitece bud skirt that made her look like a fairy. Crystal tied her hair up in a loose ponytail with ace ribbon, which framed her delicate face. When she was done, she smiled in the mirror and reminded herself that she would need to hold that smile indefinitely when she arrived at the Henrys Mansion. She would wear it like armor, and even when she was alone, she would not allow herself to lose herposure. *** When Crystal arrived at the Henrys Mansion, her Aunt Lucy met her at the door. Lucy smiled and rushed her in, saying, Crystal, youre finally here. Everyone is waiting for you. Crystal: Well, thank you, Aunt Lucy. When Crystal entered the living room, she saw that there was a group of people gathered. Some were sitting on couches and chairs, but others were standing around nervously. Todd was the host, and he was sitting in his usual chair. Evan, Joyce, Jessica, and Carlos sat closest to him. Their familywyer sat across from Todd. As Crystal walked inside, everyone turned to look at her, and each person had a different expression on their face. Todd was old and cunning, and his face was void of emotion.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Joyce and Jessica wore masks of contempt on their faces, and they made no effort to hide their disdain for Crystal. Thewyer stood up and greeted Crystal. He extended his hand and said, Miss Smith, it is good to see you. Crystal smiled and said, Hello, everyone, I am so ttered that you have arranged such a big reunion for my Birthday! Joyce scowled. To say she didnt want to be there would have been the understatement of the year. In fact, she still hoped to leave early to meet Cecilia for a SPA. Jessica signaled Joyce with her arm and said, Now that you are here, lets get started. Thewyer waited for Crystal to sit down, and then he said, We are here because, before his passing, Mr. Henry made it clear that his will should not be read until Miss Smiths eighteenth birthday. The will has been notarized at the notary office and is legally binding. Itcks ambiguity, and thus, it should be respected and followed to the letter. The Henrys existing fixed assets include, but are not limited to, three vis, three cars, and a workshop. Thewyer opened the will and continued: The vis and the cars will be given to Todd, Joyce, and Evan, but all of the Henry Group shares are to go to Miss Smith. Crystals mouth dropped open when she heard that, and she was not the only person that was shocked. Why did grandpa do this? C she wondered in amazement. Everyone was looking at each other in surprised dismay. Crystal shook her head and said, Excuse me, sir., but did you say that all of the shares are being. given to me? Thewyer smiled and said, That is correct, Ms. Smith. Congrattions and Happy Birthday. You are now a very wealthy youngdy! Joyce rushed to grab the will out of thewyers hands. Its impossible! she snapped. Grandpa was entric, but he wasnt crazy. How could he give all that equity to that woman? No matter what the will says, it should all go to my father. These were your Grandfathers wishes, thewyer said. If you wish to contest them, you will have to go to the notary office and file awsuit. You are highly unlikely to be sessful, though. The will is very clear. Joyce turned to Crystal and began to yell at her: Crystal, I really underestimated you. What means did you use to tamper with Grandpas will? You can rest assured that I will look into this! The Henrys Company will never fall into your hands. And how could they? You dont belong to the Henry family! Not anymore! Crystal sat quietly. She had not yet gotten over the shock of the wills revtion. I d didnt d-do anything, Crystal stammered. Joyce couldnt believe that Crystal was defending herself, and she went crazy with anger and jealousy. She rushed over and grabbed Crystals hair, but Crystal-in reflex stepped aside and kicked her in the abdomen. Joyce hit the coffee table, and a cup of hot tea tipped over and scalded her arm, causing her to scream. Chapter 64: You Hit Me Joyce looked up at her mom and began to cry. Mom, she whined. Look what that bitch did to me. Jessica grabbed the cup and was about to aim it at Crystals head, but Todd caught her hand and gave her a dirty look. That scared her, and she took back her hand immediately. Todd turned to thewyer and said, There is something that I want to show you. He took out a folded paper from his pocket and handed it to thewyer. Thewyer nced at Crystal and said, Miss Smith, it looks like you signed an agreement with Mr. Henry one week ago. ording to it, you gave up the shares of the Henry Group. Is that correct? Did you sign it voluntarily? Crystal was shocked. It seemed as if Todd had somehow anticipated this day. She looked at her father with a look of hurt aggrievement in her eyes. It wasnt that she cared overly much about the shares. What hurt the most was that her father would go to such lengths to destroy his daughter. I signed it voluntarily, Crystal said, but I had only intended to sign over the shares that I possessed at the time. It had never been my intention to sign over future shares. How could it have been? I had no idea that my Grandfather had left these to me! Im sorry, thewyer said. If you signed this voluntarily, then all of Mr. Henry Sr.s shares will be handed over to your father for distribution. Do you have any objection to this? I do object! Crystal cried. But, my objections dont matter, do they? Im afraid not, thewyer admitted. Thewyer got up and said, Well, I will deal with the formalities. Mr. Henry, there are some documents that you will need to sign. I will contact you when they are ready. Mr. Henry: No problem. He doesnt even nce at Crystal. Crystal looked around the room and took note of the greed in everyones eyes. I need to get out of here! C she suddenly realized. She began to stand up, but Joyce barred her way. You hit me! Joyce hissed. But you got what wasing to you, didnt you? You must regret signing that paper! Crystal sighed and said, Honestly, Joyce, I dont care. Thepany never held any interest in me. If it had, I would never have signed that paper. So put that in your pipe and smoke it! Dont pretend, Joyce scoffed. Those shares are worth a billion dors. But, of course, you care! If you work every day until the end of your life, you wont make that much. And after father dies, it will all go to Evan and me! Ha! Grandpa was very affectionate to you. Unfortunately, he had such a stupid granddaughter. If I were him, I would definitely be turning in my grave right now. Crystal: Enough! Are you finished? Dont talk ill against my Grandfather because you dont know him personally, Joyces every word felt like a knife in Crystals heart. Grandpa had treated her best, and he had left everything to her because she was his favorite. If there were only three pieces of chocte left, he would have given them all to Crystal without reservation for Joyce and Evan. Indeed, he would have been disappointed by this turn of events. Joyce was right about that.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Crystal clenched her hands into fists, and her nails dug into the palms of her hands, drawing blood. She had been defeated, but she didnt want to admit her defeat. She had been hurt, but she didnt want to show her wounds C not to Joyce. At this point, all that she wanted was to leave. Crystal walked towards the front door. The road to it was less than ten meters long, but each foot forward felt like a mile. Her feet felt heavy, and everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. Carlos and Evan suddenly called her name in unison, but she ignored them. She just wanted to leave the Henrys Mansion as quickly as possible. Crystal had almost reached the exit when the doorbell rang. Aunt Lucy ran ahead of her, opened the door, and Mike walked in. Crystal looked up in surprise. Mike? Mike: Miss Smith. Good to see you. I hear its your birthday. Happy Birthday! Mike was thewyer who had handled the marriage procedures for her and Nathan. Why did hee here? C Crystal wondered. Thank you, she replied. I am surprised to see you here! Everyone had turned to look at the stranger, and the ce was suddenly very quiet. Todd stood up and said, Sir, you seem to know my daughter. Would you be so kind as to tell me what your business here is? Mike took out a business card as he walked into the living room. He handed it to Todd and said, Hello, Mr. Henry. I am the attorney for the Brilliant Group. Todd frowned and said, Should we go somewhere private to discuss whatever business brings you here? Not at all, Mikeughed. There is no need to waste so much of your time. What I have to say will be quick, and it is rted to Miss Smith and the Henry Group. Oh? Todd wanted to cooperate with the Brilliant Group because he wanted to expand his business. Typically, though, a bigpany like the Brilliant Group didnt bother with smallpanies like hispany C so Todd took Mikeing to his home as a good sign. Alright, he said. What have you got for me? This is not for you, Mr. Carter said. He smiled, opened his briefcase, and removed several documents. Then he turned to Crystal, wished her a Happy Birthday, and gave them to her. As Crystal epted the papers, her brain froze, and all she could think to say was, Thank you. Todd frowned and turned to Mike. What is the meaning of this? he asked. Chapter 65: Could Anyone Be That Greedy And Devious? Mike chuckled as he turned to Todd. Oh, he said, you thought this was all about you. How charmingly embarrassing for you. Todds face turned red from anger and embarrassment, but he said nothing. He had no n to argue with Mike this time. Mike turned back to Crystal and continued: On behalf of the President of Brilliant Group, I am here to present you with your Birthday present: 30% of the shares of Brilliant Group. This file contains the relevant paperwork. I have highlighted the ces where you need to sign. I will give you enough time to read the document, Miss Smith, Crystal looked like she had been struck by lightning. She looked at the yellow man envelope and said, There must be a mix-up. I dont know the president of Brilliant Group, so why would he give me shares in hispany? Mikeughed and said, Miss Smith, I am surprised that you didnt know that Nathan Davis is the president of Brilliant Group. Crystal gasped and raised her hands to her mouth. She was so surprised that she took a half step back and took a deep breath. How could this be? C she wondered. Todd red at Mike and said, Do you expect us to believe that the president of Brilliant Group gave 30% of hispanys shares to Crystal? Mike: That is correct, Mr. Henry. And it doesnt matter if you believe it. Additionally, Miss Smith will have a significant say in all business matters. These matters include, but are definitely not limited to, acquisition ns forpanies like the Henry Group. Todd looked excited for a moment. Does that mean that the Brilliant Group will acquire the Henry Group? he asked. Potentially, Mike replied. The final decision is still up to Miss Smith. If she wants to acquire the Henry Group, well then, it will be processed immediately, When Todd heard this, his smile turned to a frown, and Joyces face went pale. How is this possible? C Joyce wondered C How could Crystal be so lucky? How many assets does the president of the Brilliant Group have anyway? I thought that Mr. Davis was nothing but a gigolo! This is impossible! she eximed. How can a gigolo be the president of anything, let alone apany the size of Brilliant Group? Todd turned to Joyce in dismay and said, Shut up and go upstairs. The adults are talking now. Todd knew that hed spoiled his daughter too much as a child. Now she was nothing but a selfish, thoughtless brat. I dont want to, Joyce pouted. She stomped her foot petntly, and when she refused to leave, her mother had to drag her out of the room. Todd: Crystal, why dont you and Mr. Carter sit down. Id rather not, Crystal smirked and said, There is nothing to discuss. I will sign the papers, and I will ensure that your deal does not go through. You! Todd seethed. Crystal, you are my daughter. Why would you do that? Oh, thats rich, Crystalughed. vindictively. Suddenly, Im your daughter again? You certainly didnt think of me as your daughter when you tricked me into signing away my inheritance! Karmas a bitch. You see that now, dont you, Daddy? Crystal took a deep breath, and then she continued: When I was two years old, you divorced my mother. Since then, you stopped thinking of me as your daughter. Thats always been obvious. You traded my mother for Jessica and me for Joyce. Informally, you were not my father anymore when you left us. When you had me sign over my shares, you made it formal! That is why I will oppose the acquisition. Not only that, but I will make you regret everything you did since the day you walked away from your family. God is watching you from the sky, and I believe that my mother is watching too. If so, surely she will be happy!Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Crystal signed the contract right there and then for all to see, gloating as she put pen to paper. She was not greedy for the shares, but she did want a bit ofeuppance. Once she was done, she handed the papers back to Mike, and he said, Miss Davis if you need a ride somewhere, I can take you. That would be nice, Crystal said. I would like to go to the Brilliant Group to thank Mr. Davis in person. Mike nodded, and without saying goodbye to anyone, he led Crystal to his car. Once the Henrys Mansion was behind them, Crystal turned to Mike and asked, How would I go about returning the shares if I didnt want them? Mike was surprised when he heard this, and after some thought, he said, You should talk to Mr. Davis about it when you see him. Crystal nodded and said nothing. It was a sunny day, and the air in the car was hot, so Mike turned on the air conditioning. After a minute, he sighed and said, Crystal, is this because I called you Mrs. Davis? I forgot that you dont like people to know that youre married. Please forgive me. It isnt about that, Crystal said. Were cool. In fact, I should thank you. If it werent for you arriving when you did, my birthday would have been ruined. Mike: You should thank Mr. Davis. Crystal didnt reply because she knew that Mike was right. She should thank Nathan even if she gave up the shares, the look on her father and stepsisters face when Mike had given her the gift had been priceless. Brilliant Group C she thoughtfully and yfully repeated the name of thepany in her mind C Brilliant Group. Brilliant Group. Wherefore art thou, Brilliant Group. Crystal chuckled. She had beenpletely taken aback to learn that Nathan was the president of Brilliant Group C If he is so rich, then why did he want my inheritance? Could anyone be that greedy and devious? And did my mother know how rich he is? Chapter 66: Why Wouldn鈥檛 I Want To See You? The Brilliant Group HQ was a majestically tall building. Some said it was glorious to behold, while others said that it stood out like a sore thumb- but Crystal had no opinion on the matter, one way or the other. Mike dropped Crystal off at the front door, and then he drove away. Once she was in the building, she went straight to Nathans office, and no one impeded her until she got there. Miss Smith, Andy shouted. Im sorry, but President Davis is in a meeting. Anyway, you cant meet with him without an appointment. Crystal was surprised to hear this, but she maintained herposure. She forced herself to smile and said, Then Ill make an appointment now. Please tell him about it. You should be able to get in to see him in about two weeks, Andy said. But this is the wrong ce to go to set up an appointment. A lot of women came to harass his boss, and blocking them was a part of his job, and from his experience, a two-week waiting period was often an adequate deterrent. Crystal took out her equity certificate and said, I am a shareholder of Brilliant Group. You should be able to squeeze me in. Andy was surprised by the certificate, but it made no difference. His boss had been clear; he wouldnt see anyone without an appointment. Even if you are a shareholder, he said, I cannot let you in without an appointment, and it wouldnt be fair to squeeze you in. Im sorry, I dont know if youre looking for Mr. Davis for public or private matters? If its a public matter, dont hesitate to get in touch with the General Department and make an appointment in advance. If it is a private matter, then you should seek him out during his private time. Crystal: Its a public matter. Andy: Then, as I said, you need to speak with someone in the General Department. Crystal red at Andy. The way things stood, she wanted to stab him in the face with a knife. She didnt have a knife, though, so she mmed her fist on his desk and shouted, Tell Mr. Davis that Im pregnant with his child and that he needs to see me. Right! fucking! Now! Crystals outburst had her desired effect. Andy was shocked, and because he half-believed her, he didnt dare brush her off. He picked up the phone and whispered a few words into the receiver. After hanging up the phone, Andy said, Mr. Davis said that he is in a meeting now. He also said that he will see you once the child is born, but not before.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Crystal rolled her eyes and shouted Nathans name so that he would be able to hear her in his office. When Nathan did note out, Crystal bypassed Andy and ran to the presidents office. When she arrived at his door, she gave Andy an impish grin, turned the knob, and walked in. As Crystal walked in, everyone turned to look at her. So he really is in a meeting! C Crystal realized. She looked at Nathan and was surprised by the calm indifference she saw in his eyes. Carry on, she said. Crystal turned to leave, but Nathan said, Dont leave. Miss Smith, you cane and sit beside me. Crystal felt her scalp begin to tingle. She had thought that Nathan was still angry with her and that he didnt want to see her, so his invitation made no sense to her. Now she was trapped. She had no choice but to walk around the table and sit next to Nathan. Once Crystal was seated, Nathan said they needed to get back to business, and one person stood up and said, The focus of this month is the pre-advertising formercial drones. The pre-advertising work will entice the appetite of consumers. In addition, the whole world is currently paying attention to our additional investment in the research and development of scientific and technological products. As for the fund, we have recruited a private equity team. Nathan suddenly looked at Crystal and asked, Did you sign the Henry Groups acquisition n? Crystal began to feel dizzy as everyone turned to look at her, and it took her a while to recover. I did, she lied, not knowing why she wasnt telling the truth. The board members gave Crystal a curious look, but no one said anything. After a moment, Nathan said, Were done here for today. Everyone can leave except Crystal. The board members were shocked. Of course, it was out of character for Mr. Davis to end a meeting early. But that wasnt the only thing that was strange about the meeting. Typically, their boss didnt allow women into the board meeting, and there were no men on staff. Even his secretary was male. This trend had led most of them to believe that their boss was gay. *** In the office C faced with the sudden silence, Crystal felt incredibly embarrassed. She cleared her throat and pushed her equity certificates to Nathan. Nathan didnt pick them up, though. Instead, he looked deep into her eyes and said, If you are pregnant with my child, you shouldnt be running around. You should be at home resting. She thought Nathan had done talking, but suddenly he leaned over and whispered into her ear, Are you not afraid of the consequences of your lies? Crystal gave Nathan an awkward look. She saw that he hadnt picked up the document, and she restrained answering hisst words, I was afraid that you didnt want to see me. Nathan: Why wouldnt I want to see you? Crystal: Because of what happened yesterday I didnt ask Tiffany to wear your clothes. Nathan: I know. Crystal: You know? Nathan frowned slightly. His face was still handsome, though, and it transcended all worldliness. His slightly lowered eyebrows and inquiring eyes pierced her soul. Crystal knew that he was waiting for her to talk about the divorce and how shed snuck into the club to take photos of him, but she was utterly tongue-tied. Chapter 67: Does That Answer Your Question? Crystal looked at Nathan, and in an attempt to change the subject, she said, I cant ept your gift. It is too much. If I epted it, I wouldnt know what to do with it. It would be a burden to me. Nathan looked at her sadly and said, I am sorry that my gift is a burden to you. It wasnt intended to be. I was hoping that it would bring you joy. And it did! Crystal eximed. Please, dont be sorry. Im very grateful to you. If it werent for your gift, my family would have destroyed my self-esteem and ruined my Birthday. So thanks to you, it has been one of the best Birthdays ever! I am confused, Nathan admitted. Does that mean that you will ept the gift? You will still hold it and be one of the shareholders of thispany, It means that I appreciate the gift, Crystal exined, but it is still too much. I would much prefer another gift from you. Would that be okay? Nathan scowled. As far as he was concerned, Crystal was too opinionated, too calm, stubborn, and too clear about what she liked or disliked. All she wants is a divorce C he told himself. He hated the idea that Crystal eagerly wanted to divorce him. It makes him feel so sad. He just wanted her to stay beside him and be his obedient wife. He was convinced that other girls, in her situation, would have surrendered to him by now. After all, the shares that hed given to her were worth more than one hundred billion dors, which should have been more than enough to buy her affection. Nathan worked hard to restrain his impulse to smash everything. The only thing that helped him keep hisposure was his fear of frightening Crystal. Today was her Birthday, and from the beginning, he had hoped to fulfill all of her wishes. He wanted to give the best for her, not to scare her. Nathan had known that Crystal would return to the Henrys Mansion Today, and her mother, Elsa, had once mentioned that her Grandfather had left a will for her. Furthermore, when his subordinate had approached Todd, he learned about how Todd had tricked Crystal. Thus, in an attempt to protect her, he had given her 30% of the shares and drawn up a n to acquire the Henrys Group. It had never urred to him, though, that this might not be what she wanted. But if thats not what she wants, what does she want? C he wondered. Nathan thought about it for a moment, and then he asked her if she still wanted a divorce. When Crystal heard the question, she stood up. Her lips moved, but she didnt say anything. She walked around him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Crystal pressed her cheek against his back, and she felt his strong back muscles flex. Does that answer your question? she asked. Crystal lowered her hands and felt his manh**d stiffen and twitch. What does this mean? Nathan gasped. It means that I am open to the idea of being with you, Crystal said. Give me a month to figure out what I want. And let me get to know you, understand you, and perhaps even fall in love with you on my own terms. Nathan raised his eyebrows slightly as he realized that Crystal was negotiating with him in her own way and that the conditions would not be as simple as they seemed. He turned around, faced her, and waited for her to continue. The room was quiet but for the sound of their breathing. Crystal looked Nathan in the eyes and said, For this to work, though, you need to stop trying to assault me. You know I hate it when you attempt to force me, Crystal thought about the day when Nathan had rushed into her room and almost fucked her. She knew that now that she had turned eighteen, there was nothing to stop Nathan from assaulting her whenever he wanted C unless they had an agreement in ce. Let me see if I understand what youre saying, Nathan said. You want me to give you a chance to fall in love with me willingly, and if I try to force myself on you, will you leave me? Is that what youre saying? Because, if it is, its not fair! What do I get out of restraining myself? Crystal pushed Nathan away and red at him. How dare you? she shouted. I dont think that anything Ive asked of you is unreasonable! Nathanughed and said, Calm down. How about this: We will y your game, but if you fall in love with me, you have to give birth to my children. What do you say to that? Crystal gasped and said, You wouldnt dare! You dont think so? Nathan scoffed. He squeezed her chin and lifted her face so that she was forced to look at him. Does that mean you dont agree to my terms? He ran his fingers down her neck and chest, lingering on her little girls breasts, and stopped at her abdomen. Crystal shivered from the pleasure of his touch. Fine, she sighed. I agree. But it should be n properly, The idea had been hers, but she suddenly felt like shed made a pact with the devil. She could easily imagine herself pushing a double stroller, with two more youngsters clinging to the hem of her dress, and the thought made her nauseous. Nathan smiled and said, Happy birthday, Crystal. Crystal slowly raised her eyes. These simple words warmed her heart, and she couldnt help but return his smile. Thank you, she said. She leaned forward to kiss Nathan, but before their lips touched, there was a knock on the door.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Nathan frowned and said, Come in. The doorknob turned, and Andy walked in. He looked at Nathan and said, Mr. Davis, your father just called. He said that he is downstairs waiting for you. Chapter 68: You Wouldn鈥檛 Dare To Stay Away Nathan looked at Crystal and said, Dammit. I forgot that I was meeting my Dad today. I hate to abandon you on your Birthday. Crystal: Thats okay. I have an appointment with Serenity. Nathan: I will wait for you at home tonight. Oh, did you still want to give me a birthday party? What if I cante back? Crystal said half-jokingly. You wouldnt dare stay away! Nathan said with a yful smile. On her way out, Crystalughed as she passed Andy. She said, See youter, Andy. Im off to get an abortion! Andys mouth was full of water, and he nearly choked on a mouthful. So funny, he said sarcastically, once hed gotten his coughing under control. Crystal: Does yourpany only recruit men? Andy shook his head and said, urately, we only recruit married men.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Crystal lowered her voice and asked, Dont you think its weird? Andy: What? That our boss likes married men? I didnt say it, Crystal giggled. You did. After that, she looked past Andy and called out, Yoo-hoo, President Davis. I will not be baited into ying your childish games! Andy said sternly. Suddenly, Nathan came out of his office, and Andys face turned red when he realized that his boss had heard what hed said. Luckily for him, Nathan didnt seem interested in the implications of what hed said. Nathan nced at Crystal and said, Are you leaving now, or are you waiting to give birth to that child on the table in the boardroom? Crystal turned around and ran away without saying another word. Once she was gone, Nathan turned to Andy and said, Next time, when Miss Smithes, you can let her in without any notice or appointment. Y-Yes, S-Sir, Andy stammered. Whatever you say, Sir. And, Andy, Nathan added, have my Father meet me in my office. *** As Crystal entered the elevator, she happened to pass a middle-aged man. She noticed the man because he had a strong aura, and there was a kind of arrogance in his bones that warned her not to get close to him. Amos nced at Crystal as he passed her. He pondered her appearance for a while, and when he looked back again, she was gone. The elevator doors had already closed. Amos turned back around and walked to the presidents office, where Nathan was waiting for him. Nathan was sitting on the sofa, preparing a pot of tea. Crystals equity contract was sitting on the table in front of him. When Amos came in, Nathan stood up and greeted his father. Amos nodded and took a seat beside his son. After a moment, he said, I heard that you gave away 30% of thepany. That cant be true, can it? Nathan silently poured two cups of tea, nodded, and said, True as true can be. Amos mmed his fist on the table and shouted, How could you be so stupid? Why would you do that? Now I have to talk to thewyers about how we can go about recovering the loss if its even possible! Nathan had never seen his father so angry, but he had done what he did intentionally, and he was not afraid of any repercussions from his father. He handed Amos a cup of tea and said, Here. Drink this. It will help you calm down. You dont need to worry aboutwyers, okay? Since I have given the shares away, I will not take them back. She deserved it, Without warning, Amos hit Nathan in the forehead with the tea. You are such a prodigal! he roared. Do you know the value of 30% of our shares? Why dont you sell all of our property and give it to that girl? Nathan: I would like to, but she wouldnt want it. You! You! Amos eximed. He pressed his fingers to his temples. He had high blood pressure, and he felt that his head was about to explode because of Nathan. Who did you give the shares to anyway? I gave them to Crystal Smith, Nathan replied. He waited for his father to take his blood pressure medication, and then he said, Anyway, this is what the Davis family owes the Smith family. I wont take it back because it originally belonged to her mother. Amos raised his head. Are you talking about the Smith family? he asked. There was no more anxiety or anger in his voice. Instead, he sounded a little bit guilty. Are you sure? She still looks young, and Im afraid she cant handle a huge responsibility like this! Nathan nodded and said, Im sure. A long time ago, the Davis family had caused the Smith family to be exterminated. Only Elsa Smith survived, and even 30% of the shares were not nearly enough topensate for what had been done. She was the girl in the elevator, Amos realized. I thought she looked familiar, She really looks like her mother, Elsa Amos sighed and stood up. Well, I understand what youve done, but dont let your mother know about it. Okay, Nathan said. He knew about his mothers temper, and he had no intention of waking it up. If she knew about what hed done, he was afraid that she would go after Crystal. After sending Amos away, Nathan quickly asked Andy to bring him medicine to reduce the swelling on his forehead from where hed been hit with the teacup. Youre lucky it didnt break when it hit you, Amos said when he returned. Nathan closed his eyes and applied the medicine, which made him feel a little cold and only slightly relieved the pain. How do you think your Father found out about you giving Miss Smith the shares? I hadnt thought of that, Nathan admitted. Check into it. When I find out who is leaking information, I will make them pay. I will get right on it, Andy said. Will there be anything else? Nathan: One other thing, Andy. What do girls generally like to get for a birthday present? Chapter 69: Is That Your Friend? Andy gave Nathan the awkward eye. One minute his boss seemed to be decisive and cruel, and the next, he was like an immature and innocent schoolboy suffering from his first case of puppy love. Oh, boy C thought Andy, Dont tell me this is the first time he has dated someone! After a moments consideration, he said, Girls usually like gifts that are prepared with the heart. Prepared with the heart? Nathan murmured with his brows furrowed. Put some genuine thought into the gift, Andy rified. It doesnt have to be expensive, Things like hand-woven scarves, love letters, homemade choctes, well-chosen dolls, or sentimental cards often go over better than pricier items. Andy paused and smiled at the thought of his boss working with knitting needles or baking choctes. Nathan groaned. So, you mean gifts that are old-fashioned he massaged his temples with the tips of his fingers and said, That sounds hard. **** In a room in the Merah Club C Today was Crystals birthday, and Serenity had asked her cousin to help her reserve one of therger rooms to hold a party. As soon as Crystal entered the club, she received a text from Serenity telling her where to go. Crystal walked through the club, and when she got to the specified room, she found the door slightly ajar, and she looked inside before entering. There was a stage in the center of the room, and all of her ssmates stood on it. They were arranged in three circles. There was a small circle of people in the middle, a medium-sized circle of people surrounding them, and an evenrger circle of people outside. In the center of the smallest circle, Downey danced. The strobe lights ran across his body like delicate fingers, and sweat dripped and glistened on his face as the funky young man swayed to the deafening heavy metal music. The girls couldnt keep their eyes off him, and they screamed when he gyrated his hips like Elvis Presley. Crystal rolled her eyes at Downey as she entered the room, and when Downey saw her, he winked at her. Serenity was the next person to see Crystal. She had a tray of drinks in her hands, and she rushed over. Crystal! she eximed. Yourete. Weve all had three drinks already! You need to catch up! Crystal took one drink and nodded her head in Downeys direction. Whats he doing here? she asked. Serenity giggled and said, I know, right? Downeys a bitch, but he agreed to warm up the party. He may be a slut, but you have to admit that he does know how to get a party started!Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. You call this a party? Crystalughed. Wait until you see what Ive got prepared! Crystal downed her drink, rolled up her sleeves, and rushed onto the stage. Downey was throwing kisses at the girls, but he stopped when he saw Crystal on the stage. He tried to hug her, but Crystal gave him a dirty look and pushed him away. Then she turned to the D. J. and said, Change the song. Give me something I can dance to! The D. J. offered Crystal a mock salute, and almost immediately, Metallicas Enter Sandman was reced by Lady Gagas Poker Face. Crystal shouted, Come on, everybody! Lets party! The bass-heavy beat hit the room hard, and several people C Crystal and Serenity being among them C began to sing along with American pop singer. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, but Crystal overheard someone say, What the fcuk! Who picked this earworm? Rather than ruining Crystals good mood, it only made herugh, and she began to sing louder. Outside the room, Eric Bush was passing by. He was wearing a ck suit and a pair of sunsses. His ears caught the music ying in Crystals and Serenitys room, and he frowned. The door was still ajar, and he looked inside. He saw Crystal and Serenity, and he recognized them from his store, but he also felt like he recognized them from somewhere else. When Erik didnt move along right away, one of his assistants said, Master Bush, our room is one over. Eric didnt answer. After a moments hesitation, he took a half step into the room. Crystal was dancing at the front of the stage, but she was too lost in the music to notice him. After a few minutes, Johnny, the clubs boss, appeared behind him. He touched Eriks shoulder and whispered into his ear: They are having a birthday party. Are you interested in attending it? Not at all, Erik replied. They are just a bunch of witless kids. He turned to leave, but Crystal happened to toss her head and raise her chin high at that exact moment. The light shone on her face, highlighting her good features and diminishing her bad features. Her cheeks were flush, and her lips were half-open. Eric motioned to his assistant with an open hand, and his cell phone was ced into it. Erik scowled and threw his cell phone on the ground. Not that, he hissed. Give me my business card. Then pick up my phone. And it had better not be broken! Eriks assistant gave him his business card, and he handed it to Johnny. He pointed to Crystal and said, Give this to that girl. Johnny took the card and said, No problem. After that, he waved to Downey. Downey was in full swing, but he left the group once he received his bosss order and came to the door. Whats up? he asked. Todays my friends birthday. I asked the manager for the night off in advance. I hope thats not a problem. Never mind that. What you do on your days off is of no concern to me. Johnny took a deep breath and slowly released it. Is that your friend? he asked as he pointed to Crystal. Downey turned to where Johnny had pointed and said, Shes a friend of a friend. Her name is Crystal. Johnny: Fine. Good. Go and give Crystal this card. Downey took the card and was about to return to the stage, but Johnny seized it tightly and wouldnt let it go. He said, If you can convince her to call this number, youll get a bonus this month. Chapter 70: Where Is She? Serenity watched the interaction between Downey and their boss, and when he returned to the stage, she went over to talk to him, intercepting him halfway so that they wouldnt have to shout over the music. I saw Johnny talking to you, she said. You didnt get fired, did you? No, Downey replied. I didnt get fired. He sighed. I may as well have, though. What a bummer What the hell happened? Serenity asked. Its nothing, Downy replied. Johnny told me to give Crystal this business card and ask her to call the number on it. Serenity snatched the card from Downey and read Erick Bushs name out loud. How did he find Crystal? C she wondered. And why did he ask Downey to give this card to her? Has he recognized us? Serenity waved Crystal over and exined everything to her. And when Crystal saw how anxious Downey was, she said, Dont worry. Ill make the call. Its not a big deal. But you have to promise me that from now on, no matter who asks about me, you have to say that you dont know me. Okay? Downey nodded gratefully. He pretended to zip up his lips and said, Set your mind at ease. Im tight-lipped. Serenity: Now that thats settled, lets cut the cake. After finishing cutting and eating the cake, the party continued, with everyone dancing, singing, and getting their drink on C but Crystal couldnt stop thinking about the phone call. She tried to put it out of her mind, but it was no good, so she eventually borrowed Serenitys phone, found a quiet ce, and dialed the number shed been given. The phone rang several times, and just as she was about to hang up, Eric answered the phone and said, Hello? Hey, bugger. Crystalughed and said, Its me, Crystal, returning your call. Then she belched into the receiver and hung up. Eric stared at the screen in shocked silence. He couldnt believe that Crystal had dared to be so rude to him. He stared at the number on his screen for a moment, and then he added it to his Contact List, writing My Woman in ce of Crystals actual name. After hanging up the phone, Crystal blocked Erics number and returned to the party. She wanted to return the cell phone to Serenity, but she couldnt find her. When she hadst seen Serenity, shed been pretty drunk. Apparently, shed been ying a drinking game and had been on a losing streak. Crystal asked one of the other yers if they knew where Serenity was, and she said that she had gone to the washroom. Crystal figured that she would look for her friend there, but Serenity was nowhere to be found, and she began to panic. After a moments hesitation, she decided to check the mens washroom. As drunk as Serenity is C she reasoned C it would be easy to mistake a mens restroom for a womans. When Crystal walked in, she was confronted with a man holding his manh**d, peeing. She hurriedly covered her eyes with hands and shouted.. Can I help you? Eric asked. Crystal: Keep peeing. Im just looking for someone. Eric scowled and said, I cant pee with you standing there! And when Crystal didnt leave, he tucked his manh**d back into his pants and zipped up his fly. After that, he took a step forward and tried to grab her wrist. Crystal dodged it, though, and he only managed to catch her sleeve. What the fuck? he shouted. I was peeing so happily when you barged in. Now you have to make it up to me sexually! Bugger off! Crystal shouted. She pulled her sleeve away and said, I am looking for someone. Its not my fault that you didnt finish taking your piss. Even if it was, that doesnt mean I have to have sex with you. Besides, dont you know that its dangerous to stop mid-stream?!?!? As Crystal spoke, she began to search the washroom, calling out Serenitys name. She had just gone into the third andst cubicle when she sensed someone behind her. She turned around quickly and was once again confronted by Eric. She turned her back on him and said, Be a good boy and go finish taking your piss. And be careful. You dont want to end up impotent. Eric roared at her condescending impertinence, and this time, when he tried to grab Crystals wrist, there was nowhere for her to go. Considering how dirty the washroom was, Eric was surprised by how aroused he was, but Crystals soft and smooth arms. Furthermore, he thought that his interrupted urination was causing him to hallucinate. She is like chili C he thought, and he giggled like a schoolboy. Maybe I want a little chili for a change C Eric told himself C after tasting the little chili, I will definitely throw her away. Like garbage. But maybe someday I will think of her and reward her with another unforgettable night. Suddenly, his little chili bit his arm, and he shrieked like a little girl. Eric lifted his arm to look at the ce where Crystal had bitten him, and she shoved him backward. He fell on his ass, grunting as he hit the floor, and Crystal stepped over him and hurried towards the door. Just as she reached it, though, Eric said, I know where your friend is. And her hand froze. Crystal stopped and turned around. She gazed directly into Erics wild and cunning eyes. Where is she? Eric: In my room. Its right next to yours. Yeah, right, Crystal scoffed. You wish. She would rather be probed by aliens than by you. After saying that, Crystal left the washroom and returned to the party, hoping that Serenity had returned by now. As she passed through the club, though, she was ovee by a sense of impending doom. What if Eric had abducted her? C she worried. Although Serenity practiced taekwondo, she was too drunk to defend herself. Thus, perhaps she was in Erics room after all. Crystal groaned when she realized what she had to do. Instead of returning to her party, she walked past it. She stopped at Erics room, put her hand against the door, and as she pushed it open, the lights flickered and went out. Almost immediately, the men inside began to shout, Take it off! Take it off! Take it off!Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Suddenly, someone grabbed Crystal and pulled her inside. Someone else mmed the door shut behind her. She could see nothing and had no idea what was happening. Help! she cried, and almost immediately, the lights came back on. Crystal looked around the room, at the half-naked women and at the horny perverts who paid them to be this way. They were all looking at her. Who is this woman? one of the men asked, Why is she still dressed? Eric was sitting between two women. He gazed at Crystal with burning eyes. This was the first time hed seen her clearly since the department store incident. Her simple ponytail, white T-shirt, ck tight denim skirt, and white shoes made her look fresh and pure. Closer to the edge of the couch, Crystal saw Serenity. Serenity! she eximed. Her friend had drunk so much, though, that she didnt even hear her. Crystal shouted her name again, and this time she managed to lift her eyelids, but that was all the response she got. Chapter 71: Do As You Like Serenity was as naked as the other women, and she was lying in the arms of a strange man. His name was Richard, and he was groping her breasts and ying with her nipples. He looked up at Crystal, smiled, and said, Come and y with us. Crystal red at the man and said, Let her go, you piece of shit. If you dont, Ill call the police. The manughed and said, Go ahead and call the police. If you think you can. He nudged the man beside him. Officer, this bitch wants to call the police. You want to deal with her? Id love to, the officer replied. He showed Crystal took his badge and said, Come here, bitch. Do you have a problem you want to report? The officer stood up and tried to grab Crystals arm, but she dodged it easily. The officerughed and said, You wouldnt dare resist an officer of thew, would you? Crystal ignored him and tried to get her friend to stand up. Come on, Serenity, she said. Lets go! She gave two hard pulls, and then she finally had Serenity on her feet. She helped Serenity put her clothes on, and they walked together towards the door. They had only gone a few steps, though, when Richard rushed over and blocked their way. This is my girl! he shouted. And I wont let you take her! Do you know this girl? Crystal scoffed, Do you even know her name? Uh Richard was suddenly rendered speechless. Crystal: You dont know, right? Then what makes you think shes your girl? Let me tell you something; shes my best friend. She came here for my birthday party, so Ill take her away safely, even if I have to risk my life to do it! How touching, Richard chuckled. But do you think youre at a supermarket? Do you think that you cane and go as you please? Richard reached out and tried to catch Crystal. Dont say that I didnt warn you, he continued. That woman is my toy for the day. I suggest you leave her behind and scurry back into whatever hole you crawled out of. If you insist on staying, you will be forced into a threesome or an outright orgy. The police officerughed, and everyone else followed his merry example. I wouldnt mind a good orgy, he said. It sounds exciting! Crystal red at Richard and put herself between him and Serenity. You scoundrel! she hissed. Richard: Whats wrong with me? I have a big enough manh**d to satisfy both of you. What the fuck is wrong with you people?!?!? Crystal eximed. She looked around the room in dismay. Eric smirked and said, What a little hot chili. Curse as much as you like, little chili. The more ruthlessly you scold us, the louder youll groan when we finally assault you! Crystal: Get real. Youre nothing but a yellow dog. You can dream all you want, but I have to walk out of that door. Dont me me for being rude if you guys try to stop me. Im not kidding!Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. The man on Erics right, Antony Johns, leaned over and whispered into Erics ear: This is funny. She has an attitude, doesnt she? Antony Johns was one of Erics employees, and he had been there on the day of the bag incident, but he only now recognized her. Wait, he said. I remember her from the store. Dont you have a crush on this girl? Howe you arent standing up for her, like a hero who saves a beautiful girl? Eric chuckled and said, Do I look like a hero? Moreover, does she look like a beauty? That got everyoneughing, except for Antony, who had seen how much his Boss liked Crystal. His face remained serious, and he said, Dont me me for not reminding you. If you want to be a hero, you have to take action now. If you save her, she will be grateful to you, and she will probably dedicate herself to you. You would be a God in her eyes. Eric thought about that for a while. Meanwhile, Richard looked Crystal in the eyes, patted the empty seat beside him, and said, Is our beauty angry? Come on,e here, sit down, and lets have a chat. Let me make you an offer you cant refuse. She cant refuse it because we wont let her, the police officer added. Everyoneughed except Antony, who was getting red in the face. Antony red at Eric and said, Are you really not going to save her? You know how dirty and mean Richard is. If you dont help her, you are practically signing her death warrant? Eric: If you are that concerned, why dont you save her yourself? Antony: You know that my word does note backed with the same authority that yours does! Eric shrugged but said nothing. Antony sighed helplessly and said, Boss, you dont make any sense to me. If youre not interested in that girl, why did you give her your business card? Antony looked away and said, Never mind. Do as you like. I suppose that it is none of my business what you do Eric drew a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. He took his first drag, held the smoke in his lungs, and let it fill the room. The smoke spread thicker with each puff, and he watched Crystal through the haze, surprised that no one wasining. What a stubborn woman! C he thought. He decided that if Crystal asked for his help, then he would help her. All it would take was a pleading look in his direction, and he would step between her and Richard. Eric waited for the look toe, but it didnt happen. If only she hadnt embarrassed me C he thought. Eric was used to being worshiped by countless women, so it was no wonder that he didnt know how to handle Crystals indifference. What made matters worse was that cupids arrow had struck Eric for the first time. Eric had been distracted, but Crystals sudden outburst brought him back to attention. Crystal had just finished telling Richard that he smelled like shit. Really? Richard eximed. I smell like shit. Thats pretty riching from a smelly cunt like you! Richard pretended to sniff both of his armpits, and he gave Crystal a lewd smile. I get it. You must want to help me remove my smell with your bodys oh so lovely scent. When we smash! As he spoke, he took off his shirt to reveal his upper body. Does Erics little chili want to see if there are other smells on me? He leaned closer to Crystal. Crystal grimaced. Chapter 72: She鈥檚 Unique Serenity was still unconscious, and Crystal could only pray that she would wake up as soon as possible. Serenitys ability as a 2nd Dan ck Belt Taekwondo master woulde in handy right about now. There were more than ten men in the room, and one of them was a police officer. If they didnt do something quick, they would both be assaulted and possibly even murdered. The situation seemed hopeless. What had started as one of the best Birthdays of Crystals life was quickly turning into a nightmare. Have you figured out who youre going to screw first? Richard wondered. If I get the first shot at you, and you satisfy me, I will pay you handsomely! Crystal sniffed the air and made an ugly face. In addition to the smell of shit on you, she said, theres another smell. Really? Richard smiled evilly and said, That must be my pheromones! Crystal smirked as she kicked Richard between the legs. Could be, she said, and sheughed viciously as he bent over and fell to the ground. But thatll take care of that. Now all I can smell is your shattered balls and bruised ego! Crystal tried to pick Serenity back up, but the police officer put his hand on her chest and pinned her down. Crystal scowled and said, Well, if this is the way it has to be, then so be it. She grabbed an empty beer bottle from the table and smashed it against the tables edge, and broke it into two pieces. Then, with her free hand, she grabbed Richards cor and brandished the broken ss against his neck. If you dont want your friend to die, then let go of my friend. But for the sound of the music, the room went deathly quiet. Everyone was stunned, even Crystal. She would never have expected that things would escte to this point. Antony was dumbfounded. Crystal is so strong C he thought- Shes also unique! Amazing! And Perfect! He turned to Eric and grinned. If youre not into her, he said, I certainly am! Eric smacked him across the back of the head and said, Youll have to talk to my manh**d about that. Heughed. Shes my woman, so dont even think about it.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Richard began to panic as Crystal pressed the broken ss into his tender flesh. You dirty bitch, he whined. What do you want? Crystal: Dont you know what I want? Let go of my friend. If you do, then perhaps you might still live to see the sunrise. You have a lot of money, but Im just a pauper. I have nothing to lose. Think about that. If you harm me in any way, Ill kill your entire family! Richard shouted. He couldnt get over the fact that a girl who looked to be only eighteen or neen years old would dare stab him. Go ahead, Crystal chuckled. Im an orphan, I dont have a family, so death has no hold over me. But youre different. If you die, think about how sad your parents will be, and think about the money you havent spent yet. Wouldnt it be a pity if I cut your life short so early? Fuck! Richard groaned. What a sharp tongue you have, and yet - Before he could. finish what he was trying to say, the ss pierced his skin, and he felt a slow trickle of blood run down his neck. Ouch! he cried. That fucking hurt Shut up! Crystal shouted. No more talk. Let. Go. Of. My. Friend. NOW! Any more stalling will cost you your life! Richard was more scared than he had been in his life, but he also felt humiliated. It was embarrassing to be ovee by a woman. Okay, he said. How about we make a deal? You let me go first, and Ill tell my friend to let go of your friend at the same time. Do you think Im a fool? Crystal asked. If I let you go, your friend wont let go of my friend. Anyway, this isnt a negotiation. You are my hostage, and you know my demands! As she spoke, she pushed the ss deeper into Richards neck, and the flow of blood increased and pooled on his shirt cor. The room was filled with the acrid scent of urine as Richard urinated in his pants. Damn it! he cried. Let her go. This crazy bitch is serious! Oh. My. God! Antony shouted excitedly. fuck! What a Nancy Boy! Hes pissed himself! For Gods sake, just let them go. This situation is getting out of hand! The police officer leaned back, looked at Crystal, and said, Go ahead. Shes all yours. Crystal cracked Richard over the head with the blunt end of the bottle, and he copsed unconscious on the floor. Then, while still brandishing the bottle, she helped her friend to her feet, and they staggered out of the room together. Eric and Anthony were both impressed by Crystals ability to stay calm in the face of danger. She was courageous, intelligent, bold, and loyal to her friends, all of which were endearing qualities in a woman. Richard was only unconscious for about a minute, and when he sat up, there was a look of triumph on his face. His neck was bleeding badly, though, and one of the women shrieked. Quick! she cried. Call an ambnce, quick! fuck the ambnce! Richard shouted. He grabbed a napkin and pressed it to the wound. He looked at the woman and said, Call your mother! Then he turned to the police officer. Hurry up and catch that dirty bitch! How dare she hurt me! After being tormented and humiliated by Crystal, Richard knew that he would be aughingstock unless he taught her a lesson. The officer hurried to get up, but Eric stopped him. Dont even touch her, he said. Everyone looked at Eric. Eric was a powerful man, and there were very few men who dared to disobey him. For a moment, the room was utterly silent C except for the sound of the music. Then, after a moment, Antony said, That settles that. There is no reason to let those two girls ruin our party. Go on enjoying yourself. Keep in mind that if you piss off Master Bush, he will make you regret it. Richard was d that Eric had finally done the right thing and stood up for Crystal. Richard was going to say something, but after hearing Antonys words, he was forced to swallow his pride and suppress his anger. After what had happened, Eric was no longer in the mood to party, so he excused himself and left the room. Chapter 73: Let Me Take Care Of You When Eric thought about the way Crystal had stood up to Richard, he remembered the wh*re whod spat wine in his face thest time hed been at the club. The girls were simr in height and figure, and they both had the same stunning eyes. Eric shook his head in an attempt to shake the feeling of dj vu. Could they be the same girl? C he asked himself C No. That was impossible. After all, the wh*re had a mole at the corner of her eye! Eric turned to the entrance of the club and saw Crystal and Serenity outside. They were waiting for a taxi. Until next time he thought, and he smiled, confident that there would be the next time. *** Because Crystal didnt think it would be safe to leave Serenity alone, she brought her friend home. When they arrived, the lights were on, reminding her that Nathan had said he would be waiting for her when she came home. When Crystal began going with Carlos C way back when her mother had still been alive, their rtionship had forced a wedge between her and her mother. And suddenly, her house no longer felt like home. But, now that Nathan was waiting for her, the warm feeling of safety had returned, and it warmed her heart. When Crystal brought Serenity into their home, Nathan met them in the living room. He was wearing a bathrobe with a V-necked cor that was slightly open, revealing his strong chest muscles, and Crystal could tell that hed just gotten out of the shower. The hair on his chest was still slightly damp, and it glistened. His bangs were also wet. They hung over his forehead, and water dripped from them like rain on his beautiful cheeks. Whats going on? he asked. Serenity is drunk, Crystal exined. Shes going to stay with us for the night. I hope thats okay. Serenity grunted and said, Im not drunk. I can walk by myself. She took a step forward on her own, staggered, and would have fallen if not for Nathans quick reflexes. Not drunk, my ass, Nathanughed, and he helped her to the couch. Shes doing a lot better than she was, Crystal exined. At the club, shed been unconscious and at the mercy of others. As she thought about what had happened and what might have happened if not for her quick thinking, her arms broke out in gooseflesh. Do you want to help me bring her to one of the guest rooms? They both looked at Serenity. She had passed out already, and Nathan said, Why dont we just let her sleep it off on the couch? If you want to make her morefortable, Ill grab a nket from the closet upstairs. Crystal nodded, and as Nathan went upstairs, she went to sit beside her friend. She took off her shoes and socks, pulled off her pants, and helped her sit up so that she could undo and take off her bra. Then she went to the kitchen to get a ss of water. By the time Crystal returned, Nathan was back in the living room. Hed spread the nket over her and tucked in the sides so it wouldnt fall off. He looked up and said, Is there anything else I can do to help? No, she replied. She should be good. Crystal bent down and ced the water on the coffee table. In the morning, Serenity would have a wicked hangover. If she woke up in the middle of the night and drank the water, it might not be so bad. Crystal ran her hands through her friends hair and sighed. Youve never known your limits, she whispered. Then she kissed her friends forehead, straightened up, and turned around. And as she turned around, she hit Nathans muscr chest.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Nathan looked down at Crystals hands, but she quietly hid them behind her back. He smiled as he reached around her and held her hands, and his sudden touch made her tremble. It was like a galvanic shock, and she could feel the current running through her body, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. Nathan gently brought her hands around her waist so that their joint hands swung loosely between them. He brought her hands up to his face and kissed each knuckle, bringing warmth to Crystals purely sexual body. Finally, he opened her palm so that he could kiss there, but he was stopped by the sight of a scrape that ran from the Thenar Line to the Distal Wrist Crease on her right hand. He frowned and asked, What happened? At first, Crystal had no idea, but after a moment, she realized that she must have cut it on the beer bottle shed been brandishing C My adrenaline levels must have been so high that my brain didnt register the pain! It must have happened at the club, she exined. But I have no recollection of it happening! Let me take care of you, Nathan said, and he picked Crystal up in his strong arms. He carried her into the bathroom, set her on the toilet, took out the First Aid Kit, and cleaned her wound. He applied Polysporin to it, wrapped it in gauze, and then he kissed her palm. All done and good as new! He looked up into her eyes. That didnt hurt, did it? Crystal shook her head. Her heart was beating, and she felt breathless. She couldnt have replied verbally if shed wanted to. She could feel the heat of his hand on hers, and it seemed to be spreading up her arm. With his eyes on hers, she felt inexplicably nervous and bashful. After a moment, Nathan let go of Crystals hand and asked her if she was hungry. At the thought of food, her stomach growled, and she nodded. Nathan smiled as he stood up. Then Ill cook something for you to eat, he said. Crystal followed Nathan into the kitchen and watched as he boiled water in a pot and added two portions of Angel Hair Pasta. Then, he sauted tomatoes, carrots, onion, minced pork, and beef in a pan. He was a Master Chef, and everything he did was intentional. Even without any spices, the dishs enticing aroma filled the room, making Crystals mouth water. Chapter 74: A Birthday Present Crystal came up behind Nathan and wrapped her hands around his waist. She kissed the back of his neck and shoulders and said, Whatever it is that youre cooking, it smells delicious. I hope it tastes as good as it smells, Nathan replied, and even though Crystal couldnt see his face, she could tell that he was smiling. After a moment, Nathan chuckled, and he said, I almost forgot that its your Birthday! I have a present for you. Its in my pocket. You can get it if youd like. A present? Crystal eximed happily. For me? After everything that had happened at the bar, shed pretty much forgotten that it was her Birthday. Go ahead! Nathanughed and said, Take a look! Crystal reached one hand into each pocket and frowned when she didnt immediately find anything. His pockets wererge, though, so she went deeper and moved her fingers all about. Through the fabric, she could feel Nathans strong abdominal muscles, but the pockets seemed empty. Then, just as she was about to give up, something seemed to bop the top of her fingers, and it got bigger as she explored its shape. After a moment, she was able to wrap her hand around it, and in confusion, she asked, Whats this? Nathan ced his hands over hers so that she couldnt pull away if she tried to, and he said, Thats Little Nathan. But its not actually in your pocket, Crystal said. She was very confused now. Is this or is this not my Birthday present? Nathan moaned, and he ignored the question. He said, Pay attention to what youre doing. You cant just fumble around with Little Nathan. If he gets too big, and you havent yet taken charge of him, you will not be able to control him! Crystals brow furrowed. She suddenly thought she understood something about what he was saying, and she began to blush. Cant control the size of it? she asked. After all, it is yours Without even thinking about it, Crystal had been ying with Little Willy the whole time that theyd been talking. Suddenly it began to twitch, and then her hand was wet. She tried to pull her out, and Nathan released his hold on her. She smelt her fingers, scowled, and said, This is a rotten birthday present! Nathanughed as he turned around. Thats not your present, he said. Your gift isnt in the pocket of my robe, silly. Its in the pocket of my coat! On the recliner in the living room! Crystal groaned. Why didnt you stop me? Why would I? he asked. You seemed to be enjoying yourself, and I didnt want to spoil the experience for you. More like you were enjoying yourself, Crystal scoffed. Same difference, Nathan chuckled. Anyway, why dont you clean your hands up and check out your real gift? Crystal sighed as she cleaned her hands. Then she retrieved her gift, and much to her surprise, she saw that it was from her mother. There was a card on the front, and she opened it carefully. Just the sight of her mothers handwriting brought tears to her eyes. The letter said: Crystals favorite snack is Twinkies. Her favorite fruit is the cherry. Shes afraid of the dark, of frogs and snakes. Her menstruation is at the end of each month, and she suffers from abdominal pain and cramping while shes on her period. During this time, she often feels insecure about her body. At that time, please give her a hug and an extra Strength Advil. It helps. And please cook pasta for her on her Birthday. Finally, please love her for me. At the bottom of the card, there was a pasta recipe. There was something else there, but Crystal couldnt read it. She was crying too hard to see properly. Receiving this letter from beyond the grave had opened up all of her old wounds. Nathan gently held Crystal in his arms. He had wanted to give her a surprise, not make her cry. He gently patted her on the back and said, All right. Dont cry. Dont cry. Crystal pushed him away and said, Its all your fault. She leaned forward, wiped her eyes on his sleeve, and then she blew snot into it. Fine, Nathan said. All right. Its all my fault. Nathan doted on her as if she were a child, letting her do whatever she wanted while waiting for her to calm down. Then he carried her into the dining room, sat her on a chair, and brought out her Birthday dinner. Crystal leaned forward as she ate, and the familiar taste brought back good memories. Nathan ruffled her hair and smiled. How does it taste? he asked. Crystal nodded and said, Its just like how my mother used to make it. Thank you. This meal is the best gift Ive received today. It seemed to Nathan that Crystal had forgotten entirely about the present, but he didnt remind her. He was worried that it would make her start crying again. Crystal sniffed loudly and looked at Nathan. For a moment, she thought that if she spent the rest of her life with him, it might not be that bad. In fact, if she submitted to him and gave up on her pursuit of love, it would be quite easy. Where is your food? she asked. Ill get it now, he replied. You can feed me with your mouth. A string of noodles was hanging from Crystals mouth, and Nathan leaned forward to eat them, as the dogs do in the movie Lady and the Tramp. Before he could get to it, though, Crystal slurped it into her mouth at thest second. Nathan was not to be deterred. Instead of pulling away, he bit into her lip with his sharp teeth and forced her mouth open so that he could suck out the food. Crystal cried out in pain and anger as her mouth was filled with the taste of blood. Before she could do anything, though, he took her hands, and his touch turned her displeasure into pleasure.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Nathan approached her again, and he pressed his lips on hers. Then, in a hoarse voice, he said, Dont y with fire, woman. As soon as he finished speaking, he took her into his arms and held her tightly against him. Professor Davis Crystal would rebuke him and push him away, but she could not find the strength of will to follow through with her intentions. And the way that Crystal looked at him at that moment caused Nathan to lose his ability to think straight. His eyes swept from her eyes to her nose and finally settled on her pink jelly-like lips. Like an animal, Nathans lust took control of his body. He leaned forward and kissed Crystal again, this time more passionately than before. As she kissed him back, Crystal felt all of the strength in her body slip away. She felt numb and light as a feather. Nathans hands went up Crystals shirt, and he tore her bra away so that he could get at her girlishly small breasts. He kneaded them, pressed them t, and when he pulled at her nipples, he felt her tremble as she experienced her first orgasm. He smiled and moaned into her ear: Happy Birthday, Crystal! Chapter 75: Come Here Crystal shuddered as a wave of pleasure passed over her body. As soon as it passed, though, her senses returned to her, and the reality of her situation numbed her. She had given Nathan a month to prove that he was worthy of being her husband, but almost immediately after he agreed to her terms, she had allowed him to seduce her. Crystal was disappointed by herck of self-control, and she knew that she needed to get a handle on the situation before it passed the point of no return. After all, it was possible to get pregnant after having sex only once, and thest thing she wanted in her life right now was a screaming baby. And she especially did not want to have Nathans screaming baby. When Nathan put the moves on Crystal, he got her juices flowing, but she wanted more than sexual passion and pleasure from a marriage. She wanted love. Just as Crystal was beginning to try to push Nathan off her, she looked up and saw that Serenity was standing in the doorway with an empty ss in her hand. From the look on her face, Crystal guessed that she had been standing there for at least a few minutes. Serenitys eyes met Crystals, and then they fell to the floor in embarrassment. I j-just w-wanted more w-water, Serenity stammered. Ill g-get it f-from the b-bathroom. Im so-sorry to have b-bothered you. Serenity turned around, but Crystal stopped her before she could leave. She pushed Nathan away and said, Come on you Juice Head. Ill get you some water, and you should eat something too. Then you wont have a hangover. Nathan scowled at Serenity as he lost his hold on Crystals breasts, but he didnt say anything. Crystal made Serenity a ham and cheese sandwich to go with the second ss of water, and by the time shed finished eating, she seemed at least half-sober. She thanked Crystal, and Crystal said, Its no problem. Thats what friends are. Now, why dont you go back to sleep? You still look pretty rough. Serenity nodded and allowed Crystal to lead her back to the living room, but Serenity turned back and looked at Nathan before theyd left the kitchen. Dont worry, she said, and she winked. Ill have her back in your arms in no time! Crystal immediately covered Serenitys mouth with her hand and pulled her into the living room. Once they were alone, she scowled and said, Serenity, sometimes you are so annoying! Serenity smiled sheepishly and said, Im sorry, Crystal. I didnt mean to ruin your night. I should have walked away when I saw what you and Nathan were up to, but it was just so hot, and it made me horny. Serenity had a big mouth when she was drunk. Shut up, will you? Crystal raised her hand, made a fist, and pretended to hit her friends shoulder. What woke you up anyway? I kept getting text messages from a strange number, Serenity replied. My phone was like, beep beep beep beep beep. It was driving me crazy! Why didnt you turn your cell phone? Crystal asked. I did, Serenity replied. Eventually. But by then, I was fully awake, and I had to race like a piss horse. Sheughed at her intentionally mixed-up words and continued: Anyway, Im not tired anymore. Why dont we hang out a bit before you go back to your studly man?This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Crystal sighed and said, Fine. She wasnt in any race to get back to her studly man. She picked up Serenitys phone and scrolled through the messages. Theyre from Eric Bush, she exined. He thinks he is texting me. Ill block his number. He and his friends didnt hurt you, did they? Ill live, Serenity replied. Honestly, I barely remember what happened. Maybe thats for the best-Crystal thought. After a moment, she said, On second thought, I think I want to go to bed. Im pretty tired. And youre still drunk. If youy down, Im sure youll fall asleep right away. Serenitys smile turned to a Cheshires grin as she put an arm around her friends shoulder and said, Ill escort you back. Then, she stood up, ran across the living room, up the stairs, down the hallway, and straight to Nathans room without waiting for a reply. Crystal chased after her, only to find her friend lying in her husbands bed. Crystal approached the bed and asked, What do you want? Serenity began tough. Then she grabbed Crystal and pulled her onto the bed. I promised Professor Davis that I would have you back in his arms in no time, she said. Then she shouted down the hallway: Hey, Professor Davis! Shes ready for you! It seemed that Nathan had been waiting just around the corner because he immediately appeared in the doorway. And he had what appeared to be a stick in his hand. He nodded to Serenity, and she got up and left the room. Crystal wanted to follow her friend, but she knew that Nathan would block her way. Nathan gave Crystal a stern look and said, Come here. W-What d-do you w-want? Crystal stammered. She looked nervously at the stick in his hands. Nathan smirked. What do you think I should do? he replied, answering a question with a question. He lifted the stick in the air, and Crystal realized that it wasnt a stick but a bundle of stic wrap. Crystal was so embarrassed. Give me your hand. Nathan reached out and took Crystals injured hand. Then he pulled off a strip of stic, wrapped her injury, and said, If you can help it, dont get it wet. Crystal nodded sheepishly and said, Thank you. Now that I have this, I can go back to my room and have a bath. Nathan nodded, and Crystal rushed back to her room. *** Eric set his rm clock to wake him up every five minutes so that he could check his phone to see if Crystal had returned any of his messages, and each time he checked, he was more disappointed than the previous time. And eventually, it became impossible to fall back asleep. Eric reyed the events of the night in his mind, and the more he thought about Crystal, the higher his opinion of her became. She was bright and smart, and when she danced, she was neither humble nor pushy. Not only that, but she had risked her life to save her friend. From just thinking about Crystal, Erics manh**d became hard, and he touched it in disgust. What a traitorous beast!- thought he. This was the first time in his life that hed ever considered masturbating, and the urge was strong. I have only two choices C he realized C I can cut off my manh**d or find a way to get the woman to go down on me. Unfortunately, the thought of receiving oral sex from Crystal made him harder than ever. He applied pressure to his swollen member, but nothing seemed to help. Damn it! he cried as he slipped his right hand under the stic of his underpants. He gripped the snake and began to stroke it. He did that a few times, groaning and moaning as it twitched under his ministrations, and then he forced himself to stop. Eric grabbed his phone, dialed a number from memory, and when the girl on the other end picked up, he said, L,e here, now! And be naked when you arrive. Chapter 76: It Took You So Long (Warning: This Chapter contains a sexual scene. Harsh and brutal words. If youre notfortable reading it kindly skip it and move to another chapter) Twenty-six minutester, there was a knock at Erics door, and he rushed to open it. His delivery had arrived. L was tall and slim with long, brown hair, medium-sized breasts, and c*ck-sucking lips. She had a trench coat in her right hand, swung over her shoulder. In her left hand, a pair of high heel sneakers hung loosely between her fingers. Otherwise, she waspletely naked. She smiled softly, and in a sultry tone of voice, she said, Im here. Would you care to invite me in? L, Eric gasped. It took you so long. Ovee by lust, Eric dragged her into the room, threw her onto the bed, and within a matter of seconds, he was as naked as she was. Eric jumped on top of L, pinned her hands above her head, leaned forward, and bit her lip so that he could taste her blood on his tongue. Ouch! L squealed. Youre hurting me! That hurts? Eric scoffed. Yes! L cried. Dammit! It hurts. Louder! Ericmanded. He grabbed her nipple and gave it a twist. Tell me how much it hurts! SO, fucking MUCH! L shouted. PLEASE, STOP! This isnt what I came here for! I CANT HEAR YOU! Eric roared. L looked into Erics eyes, and she was suddenly afraid. She could tell how much pleasure he was getting from her pain, and she had no idea how far he would need to go to get his rocks off. Not knowing what else to do, she went limp. Eric noticed Ls failure to participate, and he reached for a pillow and pressed it against her face. Then, he spread her legs with his free hand and tried to force his fingers into her wet core. Finding herpletely dry, he lost interest and sat up. Holy Shit! he shouted. With the amount of money Im paying you, you shoulde fully aroused. Now go ahead and frig yourself. Ill watch you. Well continue once youre properly juiced up. Eric pulled the pillow away as he climbed off her. Then, when she didnt start masturbating right away, he said, Go on. He pointed to his jutting erection. I havent been here all night. L bit her lip and slipped her right hand down to her pubic mound. She closed her eyes and applied pressure to her clitoris. Then, as she began to massage the tender flesh in slow circles, she brought her left hand to her right breast. She gave it a squeeze, pressed it t to her chest, and moaned as her fingers found her pink nipples. Down below, L could begin to feel the damp heat that came with arousal. Once she was wet enough, she ran her fingers between herbia majora and then herbia minora. Once she was able, she inserted her index and middle finger into her sopping wet honey pot. With her eyes closed, L couldnt tell if Eric was enjoying what he was seeing, but she was too lost in her pleasure to care. *** Eric was mesmerized by the sights and sounds of Ls fingers slipping in and out of her moist wet core. asionally, the rhythm slowed, and as she massaged her clitoris with her thumb, her body shook as she brought herself to climax. As L frigged herself, Eric imagined she was Crystal. If Crystal were here now, he would give her all of his love without reservation. The thought made his mouth go dry. He had had sex with women, but he had never engaged in forey, actively kissed a woman, or considered her needs. Now, though, when he thought about this woman as Crystal, he wanted to kiss her from head to toe. But L wasnt Crystal, and she was a poor substitute for her. Eric stood up suddenly and pointed to the door, You can leave now, he said. This isnt doing it for me. L did not need to be told twice. She scurried off the bed, grabbed her coat and shoes, and made for the door. She didnt even stop to ask for her money. And once she was gone, Eric went into the bathroom and had a cold shower. *** The next morning, Crystal was woken by the sound of Serenity knocking on her door. Her friend hit the wood three times to give her a chance to cover herself if she needed to, and then she barged in. Good morning! Serenity eximed. I hope that you slept as well as I did! I didnt! Crystalined. She was surprised by how chipper Serenity sounded. Why are you bothering me? she asked. Its a school day, Serenity replied. Now get up and get moving. I dont want to bete! Crystal groaned as she sat up. She threw off her nkets, swung her legs off the side of the bed, and stood up. There, she said. Im up! Serenity pointed to the bathroom and said, Good for you. Now go get ready! Crystal smiled. She liked it when Serenity was like this, and she stood at attention and saluted her friend as if she were amanding officer. Then she went into the bathroom to get ready. Crystal brushed her teeth and washed her face, and when she came out, Serenity was sitting on her bed. Serenity had a grin on her face, and she had Crystals clothesid out for her on the bed. Crystalughed and said, You are just too much. If it werent for you, I would be skipping school today. I am so tired! Well, Serenity said, Im d youre up! Crystal: Why are you so chipper, anyway? Shouldnt you be hungover? Serenity: Nah! I never get hungover C Well almost never. Serenity grabbed the bra from the bed to hand it to Crystal, and she happened to notice the brand name on the tag. And she gasped. Wow! she eximed. Crystal, this bra is from the Heavenly Star line by Victorias Secret! You have so many new clothes, and they are all from expensive brands! This bra, for example, is from the most valuable collection in the world! Crystal chuckled and said, Its funny. Nathan paid so much money for it, and it isnt even all thatfortable. Honestly, I feel morefortable in my old clothes. As Crystal dressed, she changed the subject. She looked at Serenity and said, You didnt get any more messages from Eric, did you? Not that I know of, Serenity replied. You blocked his number. Remember? Crystal: I do. I didnt know if you unblock it, though. You really dont remember what happenedst night, do you?This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Serenity: What happenedst night? We danced, ate cake, sang, yed drinking games, and got drunk. Crystal nodded and said, That about sums it up. She had already decided that if Serenity didnt remember what had happened, she wouldnt tell her. The other person that Crystal wanted to keep the information from was Nathan. If Nathan knew how much trouble Serenity had gotten into, he might not let them go out together anymore. Suddenly Serenity waved her hand in front of Crystals face and said, Earth to Crystal. Earth to Crystal. Come in, Crystal. Crystalughed and pushed her friends hand away. Serenity: What were you thinking about? You seemed lost for a second. Chapter 77: Exchange Car Crystal looked at Serenity and forced herself to smile, saying, Im here. Dont worry. Serenity frowned. What were you thinking about anyway? she asked. Crystal sighed and said, I was just thinking about everything Nathan bought for me. If he can afford to buy me suchvish gifts, why do you think he wanted my inheritance? It doesnt make any sense! Perhaps it is you that he is after? Serenity suggested. Maybe it has nothing to do with the money. Thats ridiculous, Crystal scoffed, and she faked augh to show her friend how preposterous she thought the idea was. Look at me. Im hardly anyones dream girl! I suppose youre right. Serenity shrugged and said, Its the only exnation I can think of, though. I mean, why else would he choose to live in such an ordinary vi when he could be hobnobbing with the rich and famous in Beverly Hills? I dont know, Crystal admitted. It is very suspicious. Serenity: Never mind that for now. Susie has breakfast waiting, and we dont want to bete for school, do we? Serenity led the way, and the moment Crystal was in the hallway, she was hit by the sweet smell of Maple Bacon. That smells delicious, she said. Susie cooks all of my favorite food! Serenity: You are so lucky. On the way to the table, Susie greeted them. She said, Good morning, Crystal. Mr. Davis left already, but a car and a driver are waiting to take you to school. Your breakfast is waiting on the table. You might want to hurry up. Otherwise, it will be cold. Thank you, Susie, said Crystal. Serenity, Yes, thank you. It smells wonderful.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. After the girls were done eating, they went outside, and they were both shocked to discover that the car that had been left for them was a red Lykan Hypersport. Serenity gasped. This car was used in Fast & Furious 7! she eximed. Its a limited edition! There are only seven of them in the world. The seats are sewn with gold thread, and the lights are set with colored diamonds! Crystal shook her head in disbelief. She knew next to nothing about fancy cars, but this car seemed a bit over the top from what little she did know. She said, If we take this car to school, dont you think it will cause a ruckus? It might, Serenity admitted. Why dont we take the subway? Just then, the drivers side door opened, and the girls turned to greet the driver. Good morning, he said. Miss Smith, Miss Jordan, Mr. Davis asked me to take you to school. Crystal shook her head and said, No, well take the subway. Thank you, though. She took Serenitys arm, but the driver blocked them when they tried to walk towards the street. I cant let you take the subway, he said. As per Mr. Daviss order, it is my responsibility to see that you are safely delivered to your destination. Crystal looked at the car and shook her head helplessly. Then she pulled out her phone and called Nathan. The phone rang trice, and then Nathan answered. Hello, he said. This is Nathan Davis. May I ask who is calling? Cut the shit! Crystal sneered. You know who it is, and you know why I am calling! I do not need to be shuttled around like some child. I am eighteen. I am perfectly capable of taking the subway to school, and that is what I intend to do, so call off your dog! Crystal could tell that he wasnt pleased from the way Nathan was breathing, but something told her that he wouldnt push the issue. After all, if he refused toply, she could always refuse to go to school. After a moment, Nathan sighed and said, Fine. Have it your way. I will send the driver a text. Crystal: Thank you. Nathan: Its fine. Stay safe. Ill pick you up after work tonight. Crystal: All right. After ending his call with Crystal, Nathan opened the Gallery App on his phone, and he found the picture hed secretly taken of Crystal when shed fallen asleep in his arms. He held his finger on the image and set it as his background, and locked the image so that he could see it every time he turned on his phone. In the photo, Crystals eyes were slightly closed, and her ck eyshes were curled like a butterflys wings, and when contrasted by her white skin, she looked like a porcin doll. Nathan and Andy had been reviewing some files when hed received his call, and Andy was getting impatient to get back to work. He cleared his throat. Shall we continue? he asked. Nathan turned towards Andy, but instead of answering the question, he asked him what kind of car he drove. The question seemed so random, though, that Andy froze. Whats this about? C he wondered. Once he had regained hisposure, he said, A Buick. Why? Nathan nodded, then he took out the keys to his Maybach and tossed them to Andy. Here, he said. Give me your keys. Well trade. Andy gasped. T-t-trade? he stammered. M-Mr. G-Davis, my car is just an ordinary vehicle. It is unw-worthy of you. And I am unw- worthy to d-drive your c-car Nathan scowled and said, Just give me your keys. Well trade backter tonight or tomorrow. Hurry up. You know that I am not a patient man! Andy knew this all too well, so he nervously took out his key and offered them to Nathan. *** Eric was sitting in the passenger seat of his pink Lamborghini, and Antony was seated beside him. The previous night, it had taken Eric three or four hours in an ice-cold shower to tame his erection, and he still hadnt slept a wink. Thus, by mid-morning, he was exhausted, and he had the beginnings of what he worried would be a nasty cold. He sneezed three times, brought a tissue to his nose, and filled it with mucus. Anthony: Master Bush, you need to take better care of yourself. Eric shrugged and muttered something iprehensible under his breath. They were parked outside the school Crystal attended, the Olman University, and Eric was intently staring at the buildings front entrance. Antony had his eyes on the road, and he was the one who spotted her. He pointed her out and eximed, There she is, boss! The girl fromst night! Crystal Smith! Eric turned in the direction that Antony was pointing, and even from afar, he could see the early morning sun shining softly on her body. She was glowing in the warmth of its golden light. She wore a ponytail, and it swung back. and forth as she walked. She looks so young, he sighed. So innocent. Its hard to believe that, at her core, she has such strength as was demonstratedst night. Antony smiled. He could see the love in Erics eyes, and his boss reminded him of a boy! Whod just hit puberty and was, for the first time, discovering what women were really for? Chapter 78: I Don鈥檛 Feel Good Eric reached into the back seat for a bouquet of pale orange flowers that hed purchased earlier that morning. They were called Juliet Roses, and they were wrapped in vintage brown paper that had been imported from Ennd. Eric watched Crystal cross the street, and he was about to get out of the car when he saw a van drive up alongside her from the corner of his eye. What the hell is going on here? C he wondered. The van stopped, and for a moment, his view of Crystal was obscured, and then it took off like a bat out of hell. At that moment, inspiration struck, and for fear of losing his nerve, Eric didnt give himself time to think. Instead, he jumped straight into the action.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Without a word of exnation, Eric ordered Antony out of the car, and he slid into the drivers seat. He smashed his foot to the pedal and took off after the van. And it only took a moment for him to catch up. Then, when the driver applied pressure to his brakes at the next Stop sign, Eric mmed his car into the van. Erics head mmed forward as the two vehicles collided. The airbag exploded, bashing into Erics forehead, and he lost consciousness. Eric was only out of it for about two minutes, and when he came to, he saw that the force of the collision had pushed both vehicles off the road. The front of his car had crumpled,pletely ruined, and every part of his body hurt. The door of the van opened on its own, swayed, and eventually nged to the ground. Then a man jumped out, turned to Eric, and began to shout and swear at him. You stupid jerk! he shouted. Dont you know how to drive? Eric raised his head and tried to push away the airbag. He felt dizzy and more than a little confused. I must have been out of my head C he realized C Otherwise, why would I have done this? He had always had a carefree YOLO C You Only Live Once-attitude, but he had also always valued his life. Thus, he had never taken such a desperate risk before. Holy crap, he sees a priest once this is over. Maybe he can exercise whatever demons have entered his head. Eric turned his head around and spotted Crystal and her friend standing on the sidewalk. They were staring at the wreckage in shocked disbelief. Once Crystal saw that Eric was alive, she rushed to the side of the Lamborghini. As she ran, she said to Serenity, Call the police! And call an ambnce. Crystal yanked open the car door, and Erics charming smile greeted her. My hero, he sighed. He was impressed by her heroic courage. He could not even imagine that Crystal would do this kind of act. The people around her, even the man from the van, were too frightened to approach. They were afraid that the vehicle would explode at any moment, but all Crystal seemed to care about was the passengers safety. When Eric thought about this, it made him d that he hadnt slept with the wh*re the previous night or defiled himself by masturbating. He thought C She is such a sweetheart! Once the door was open, Crystal touched Erics shoulder and asked, Are you all right, Sir? You seemed to get hurt, I dont feel good, Eric replied. I think my neck is broken. His exaggerated expression was visible on his face. When Crystal heard this, she had a feeling of dj vu. Why does this event seem so familiar to me? She asked herself. But no answer was forting. Can you give me the number of a family member or a friend? she asked. If so, I can call them and let them know whats happened. You needed some medical attention, Wheres Antony? Eric asked. I dont know who that is, Crystal said, still in shock after she saw what happened to this guy. M-My f-friend fromst night, Eric stammered. He was beginning to feel very weak. H-He was just w-with m-me Crystal looked around frantically, and it didnt take her long to see a face she recognized. After witnessing the collision, Antony was scared out of his wits, and it took him much longer to recover them than Crystal had. This is because everything had happened so fast. When Crystal saw him just standing there, she gave him a vicious look and shouted, What the fuck is wrong with you? Why are you just standing there? Antony shook his head to clear it and raced toward the ident. Until then, he had thought that this was an ident, and he hadnt been able to make heads or tails of it. He knew that the brake line hadnt been cut because hed just been driving the car. Now that his head was clear, though, he understood that the collision wasnt an ident, it had been a part of his bosss Master n all along. By staging this collision before Crystals eyes, he was sure to garner her sympathy! Crystal turned to Eric and said, Hesing. Is there anyone else that I should call? Eric said that there was, and once Crystal had her phone in her hand, he rattled off a series of numbers. Crystal punched them in, pressed send, and almost immediately, a phone could be heard ringing C from inside the car! Crystal didnt understand what was going on, and she had a confused look on her face, but when she saw the triumphant expression on Erics face, it all began to make sense. Eric? she gasped as she realized that the number he had given her was his phone. number. What the literal fuck?!?!? Antony saw all of this, and he almost fell to his knees. This method of picking up girls is fantastic! C he thought. Crystal scowled, Did you fake an ident to get my attention? she asked. You arent even hurt, are you? Chapter 79: I Never Take Taxi I didnt fake an ident, Ericughed. I staged a collision, and my neck is in more pain than you could imagine. But it was for a good cause. Crystal smiled shyly when she heard that. She was a little bit upset about Erics trick, but nobody had ever gone to such lengths to get her attention. Hang in there, she said. Weve called an ambnce. Someone wille in a matter of minutes. I have to get to ss, though. I have to go. I can not stay any longer, Eric saw that Crystal was going to leave, so, while clutching his neck, he jumped out of the car. He stretched out an arm in Crystals direction and cried, Youre not going to let me die, are you? Youre not going to die, Crystal scoffed. You are still alive and kicking, arent you? Stop being so dramatic! You even looked better now, Eric twisted his neck and grimaced. Im not fine, he groaned. Seriously. Look! My neck is almost broken. Crystal hesitated. She rolled her eyes, but she did not give Eric the cold shoulder that shed intended to give him. Instead, she turned to Serenity and said, Go ahead. Exin the situation to our professor. I wille once the ambnce has arrived. Serenity turned a skeptical eye to Eric. But then, she said, I think that hes making a mountain out of a molehill, but if you think that you can manage all by yourself, then I will go. See youter, Crystal: Its all right. Im sure I wont be long. I just cant leave him like this, While Crystal was talking, Eric looked at the driver of the van and gave him a dirty look. The driver was not happy about the ident and wanted to scold him, but when he saw the look in Erics eyes, he was stopped dead in his tracks. While Crystal was talking to Serenity, Eric took out his cell phone and texted Antony, and Antony almost lost his cool when he read the message. It said: Cancel the ambnce. When it came to picking up girls, Eric was a master, and Antony was continually being amazed by his resourcefulness. Immediately after receiving the message, he found a private ce where he could call 9-1-1 to cancel the ambnce and any other rescue vehicles that might be on their way. *** Crystal looked at her watch, and she was concerned that, after more than an hour had passed, nobody had arrived to help them. This doesnt make sense, she said. The hospital is nearby. Even if they were on foot, emergency personnel would have arrived already!This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. By now, arge crowd had gathered around them. Eric didnt like the attention, though, so he shouted at the vans driver: Get out of here. I take full responsibility for this. ident. The driver nodded, and since it was now clear that there wasnt going to be an explosion, he approached the car. They exchanged information, and then the driver and his van fled the scene. Now that the van was gone, the onlookers grew bored, and the crowd dispersed. Once they were gone, Eric gripped his neck and said, Ouch, ouch, my neck. It hurts! He turned to Crystal. Hurry up and take me to the hospital! Crystal eyed Eric suspiciously. Youre not faking your neck pain, are you? she asked. Eric looked wounded. How can you say that? he asked. His eyes fell to the floor. He did not dare to look at Crystal because he knew that he could not deceive her. Crystal leaned forward and forced Eric to look her in the eyes. Eric squirmed and tried to look away, but she wouldnt allow it. Finally, Eric admitted defeat. He allowed her to look into his eyes, and when she did, two things happened. First: Crystal came to know the truth about Erics condition; second: Eric realized why Crystal looked familiar and why he hadnt recognized her straight away. The first time he had met Crystal, shed had a mole at the corner of her eye. Once Eric got over his surprise, he smiled and asked, Have you ever had a promotional drink at the Merah Club? Crystal was shocked, but she quickly covered her surprise. So what if I have? she asked. Its a free country, isnt it? Eric looked at the womans naughty appearance and narrowed his beautiful fox-like eyes. I met a wh*re there once, he replied, while having a promotional drink at the Merah Club. She did me a great disservice. You look like her. If you were her, Id ask for you to apologize, make it up to me with a kiss, and then take me to the hospital. Quickly, though. If I am not treated soon, I am going to die of pain. Crystal rolled her eyes. I dont know what youre talking about, she said. She pointed to Antony. If you are in such dire straits, you dont need me. You have your friend. Have him take you. Here, I will even hail you a taxi. Before Eric could reply, Crystal took the lead and reached out to stop the taxi. I never take a taxi, Eric scoffed. Crystal was speechless for a moment. A few minutes passed, and then she said, Your pain cant be that bad if youre refusing help! Furthermore, if you wont get in a taxi, how do you expect me to take you to the hospital? Look around you! Does it look like I have a car? God damn, Eric cursed. He felt like he had been stuck between a rock and a hard ce. But, no matter what he said, Crystal seemed to be able to get the better of him! Until this moment, he hadnt realized how smart she was. The taxi driver rolled down his window, forced himself to smile, and said, I dont have all day here. Are you going or not? Crystal looked at Eric. He had his arms crossed stubbornly across his chest. Chapter 80: Will You Come Back And See Me Tomorrow? Crystal frowned as she waved for the taxi to leave. You can go now, she said. Youre no longer needed. When the driver heard this, he called Crystal a bitch and drove away. Before hed gone more than two inches, though, Eric kicked the side of his car. Who do you think youre talking to? Eric shouted. Not only will I not ept your ride, but I will make sure that your career as a driver is ruined. Are you out of your mind? the driver shouted. Just keep your mouth shut and move along, Eric warned. Ive already memorized your license te number. The driver sighed, shook his head, and drove away. Once he was gone, Crystal red at him and said, That was so childish. I was embarrassed. He doesnt have an easy job, and you dont have to make it harder. We were in the wrong to waste his time. You should have apologized to him, but instead, you tried to scare him! But he called you a bitch, Eric argued. I couldnt let him get away with that!This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Crystal: You could have, and you should have. Or, better yet, you should have paid him to take you to the hospital; if you are hurt, that is! Dont get your panties in a bunch, Eric sighed. I wasnt even nning to ruin his career! You had better not! Crystal shouted. She was getting angry, and her face was beginning to turn red. Stop it, Antony said, interrupting their argument. Its over now, so why dont we forget about it. How about we walk to the hospital? he turned to Crystal. If Eric gets too tired to walk, we can help him. Crystal sighed and nodded her head. So be it, she said. *** It took Eric and Antony nearly an hour to get Eric to the hospital, and when they arrived, they were met by a team of doctors with a white-haired man in the lead. The doctor took one look at Eric and said, Dont worry, well take good care of you. There was still one set of stairs to get up, though. Eric turned to Crystal and said, Please, help me up the stairs. Crystal gave Eric a hard look and said, Go up the stairs yourself. Your neck is broken, not your leg. She stood still and looked at a nurse in a pink uniform. The meaning of her look was obvious: If Eric needed help, a nurse should help him. The white-haired man looked at Crystal with admiration. Eric was one of four local masters, and the fact that shed refused his wish was note-worthy. Before Eric could speak, Crystal said, Now that we have arrived at the hospital and the doctors and nurses are here to take care of you, I will go back to school. Eric stopped her. He said, But these people are not members of my family, nor are they my friends. I need you here with me! But neither am I, Crystal argued. You dont need me! But I do, Eric said, and the look on his face was so sad and miserable that it nearly broke Crystals heart. Fine, she sighed. I will stay. *** Erics X-ray report showed that he had dislocated his spine, and he was required to stay at the hospital in traction. And when Crystal heard this, she nearly wept. I am so sorry, she told him. I thought you were acting. I didnt realize your spine was really out of ce. What good would it do me to lie to you? Eric asked. While he spoke, he picked up his cell phone and sent Antony a text message. It said: Get the bodyguards out of the way, and keep an eye on that jerk, Richard. While Eric was texting, Crystal looked around the room. It was one of thergest rooms on the VIP Ward, and it was decorated in ck and white. The equipment and furniture looked very high-end. All in all, the room wasparable to a five-star presidential suite at a hotel. Impressive, she said. The best money can buy. There was an apple and a knife on the table, and Eric said, I want you to peel that apple for me. Crystal shrugged and began to peel the apple, and Eric watched her intently. As she peeled the apple, a strand of her hair fell out from behind her ears. He thought about fixing it for a moment, but he was afraid that she might sh his hand with the knife. If that happened, he was worried that she might not want to visit him again. After a moment, Crystal looked up and asked, Why are you staring at me? Is he going to attack me? C she wondered, and she tightened her grip on the knife C If he does, I will be ready! Eric frowned and said, I was watching you! Because I was afraid, you might poison the apple! Anyway, Hurry up. Im hungry. Crystal smirked and handed Eric the half-peeled apple. This is as good as it gets, she said. Im sick of your ungrateful attitude. Take it or leave it. Crystal stood up and poured him a ss of water. Have some water. I suggest you get a private nurse. You will find it more convenient than having to wait for someone to do their rounds. And Im leaving. Oh, and stop staring at your phone. Just lie down and ring the bell if you need something. Hey, Eric said, realizing he could not stop her. He thought for a moment, and then he said, That van that I hit belonged to one of Richards goons. Crystal gasped. The van had stopped right in front of her. Was the driver trying to abduct me? she asked. Could be, Eric replied. Richard is famously known as one of our citys most vicious viins. He likes to y dirty, especially with people who have offended him. After what you did to himst night, he is going to want revenge. Crystal: So? The calmness in Crystals eyes surprised Eric. Holy shit! C he thought C this girl seems way more mature, calm, andposed than any eighteen-year-old girl has the right to be! So? Eric said. I have an idea. If you allow me to be your man, no one will dare toy a finger on you! He brought the apple to his mouth and took his first bite. What? Crystal snorted withughter. Then she grabbed the knife and plunged it into the apple. Eric lowered his eyes to look at the knife. It was only an inch away from his face. Are you trying to murder me? he muttered with a mouth full of fruit. Crystal smiled and said, If I were trying to murder you, youd be dead. You understand? Eric nodded. His face had turned as white as a ghost. Crystal: Excellent. Now be a good boy and eat your apple. Eric: Will youe and see me tomorrow? Crystal: It depends on the weather. And what kind of mood Im in. Chapter 81: She Played His Game Crystal walked out of the VIP ward and into the white marble-tiled corridor. The corridor was very long, and the nurses station was at the end of it, around the corner from the elevator. As Crystal approached the corner, she happened to overhear four nurses gossiping. She heard Nathans name, so she slowed her pace to hear more. The first nurse had her phone open so that everyone could see a picture of a good-looking man. Who is he? the second nurse asked. Dont you guys watch the news? the first nurse scoffed. He is only one of the wealthiest bachelors in the city! Here, Ill show you another picture of him. The nurse swiped left, and a second image appeared. Hes hot! the third nurse agreed, but hes nothing special. Almost all of the upper-ss bachelors around here are hunks. Doesnt the media have anything better to report on? Its newsworthy because it has to do with the poprity ranking list, the first nurse exined. This is a picture of Anthony Johns. Hes the son of that catering tycoon, and hes in fourth ce. She pulled up another image. Third ce goes to Owen Lane, the leader of the cultural industry. He looks quite schrly, right? The other girls smiled lustily and nodded their heads.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. The first nurse brought up a new image and said. This is Alex Jordan. Hes in second ce. Hes the son of the motor industry mogul/real estate magnate. But do you know whos number one? Who? the nurse asked. Ill give you a hint, the first nurse said. He is amazing, good-looking, and his family made their fortune founding banks and the securities field. Can you guess? When none of the other nurses replied, the first nurse pointed to the VIP room at the end of the hall and said, Its Eric Bush. The third nurse gasped and said, Wow! Hes hot! Even in traction! The fourth nurse hadnt spoken until now, and the other girls were startled when she did. Her name was Maggie, and she was typically too shy to join in conversations. Maggies face turned pink as she spoke. Finally, she said, Forget about those four. Theyre old news. There is an even wealthier bachelor, but he isnt on the list. if I tell you his background, though, Im afraid that you guys will all be frightened. The first nurse: Really? Is his background that terrifying?? The second nurse: Who on earth is he, and how do you know so much about him? Is he one of your rtives? I wish he were, Maggie replied. If he were, I wouldnt have to work here with you guys. He did go on a blind date with my cousin, though. You could call him Handsome, a hunk, or say that he is good-looking, but none of those words would do his looks justice. There are no words that could describe his looks. He is a bit of a recluse, though. Few people have seen him. The first nurse: Is your cousin Amy Fowler the hostess of the TV station? Maggie: Yes! Thats right! And if you saw them standing together, you would think they were made for each other! Since he is so well endowed, why does he need to go on a blind date? the third nurse asked. Maggie shrugged and said, I dont know. Ill have to ask Amy about that the next time I see her. Anyway, I think its about time I told you the mans name. Maggie paused for a dramatic effect. His name is Nathan Davis. He is the CEO of Brilliant Group. The second nurse: Brilliant Group? Wow! Thatpany is a big deal! Crystal did not listen to the rest of the conversation. She didnt understand the upper ss, and she wasnt interested in their lives. She had only slowed down because shed heard Nathans name, and she was surprised to discover, not just that he was famous, but that he was dating some rich television hostess. I will have to question him about this tonight C thought Crystal. Crystal was about to press the button that would summon an elevator when Richard suddenly stepped out of Erics room. When he saw her, he grinned like an imp, raised his hand as if it were a gun, made a triggering motion with his thumb, and made a sound that imitated a word that can be read as a gun firing; BANG! Richards neck was wrapped in gauze, and he was wearing a hospital gown. From across the room, he shouted at Crystal: Little beauty, it seems that we were destined to meet again. I hope you didnt think that I would forget about what happened. Enjoy what time you have because when I get out, ytime will be over. Crystal chuckled. Do you think you can manage to hold your dder next time? she asked. Richard scowled and made a mock lunge in Crystals direction, and when she didnt flinch, his face turned red from anger and embarrassment. Crystal rolled her eyes at him with disdain as she pressed the button to summon the elevator. She had no interest in getting into an argument with him. After all C It takes an idiot to argue with an idiot. The elevator arrived almost immediately. When its doors opened, Crystal walked in with her head held high, and as she was leaving the hospital, she received a text message from Serenity. It said: Hey, Crystal! Youve been gone for a long time. Is everything okay? Crystal: Its all good. I had to walk Eric to the hospital, though, which was a real pain in the ass. He is in traction and has to stay at the hospital, so at least he wont be bothering me for a while. Its a Cervical dislocation. Serenity: I thought hes faking Crystal knew that Serenitys conclusion was right, but she just yed with Ericks game. Crystal: Me too Ill talk to you about it more when I get to school. Okay? Serenity: See you soon. Chapter 82: You Tried To Kill Him By the time Crystal arrived at the university, she had missed the first ss, and the second ss was nearly finished, so she waited for Serenity in the cafeteria. Once they were together, they greeted each other warmly, and then a very serious expression appeared on Serenitys face. Crystal frowned and asked, Whats wrong? Its nothing, really, Serenity replied. I just keep thinking about the ident. I have this nagging feeling that things arent quite what they seem. Does that make any sense? I have the same feeling, Crystal admitted. She wanted to tell her friend about Richard, but she didnt want to make her any more worried than she already was. Anyway, lets go get something to eat. I dont know about you, but Im hungry. I feel like a hungry best this time and ready to have a portion of good food to fill my tummy, Serenity nodded, but just as they were getting up, Crystals phone rang. Hold on, Crystal said as she pulled her phone from her pocket. It was Evan Henry, her half-brother. Why is he calling? C she wondered. After a moments hesitation, she epted the call. What do you want, Evan? Evan: I have something to tell you. Where are you? Crystal said, Im at school, at the 2nd Canteen. Thats curious C she thought as the line went dead in her hand. The canteen was busy over the lunch hour, and it was very loud. There was the tter of people eating and talking and the sounding from the t-screen televisions that were mounted around the room. Crystal looked up at the nearest screen and was greeted by Amy Fowlers smiling face broadcasting from the newsroom of whatever station she worked at. Crystal frowned as she stood up. Evan Henrys looking for you? Serenity asked. Crystal: Yeah. Hes going to meet me here. I dont know why They made their way through the line, and when they got to the protein, Crystal pointed out the steaks and said, You should have one. Theyre delicious! Come on, Serenity scoffed. Im not a pig. Youre such a schemer! It would be best if you wanted me to be fat. But look, my clothes barely fit me. Youre as thin as a rail, though. You should have the steak, and Ill stick to my sd! Crystal shrugged and asked the cook to add steak to her tray. Then she turned to Serenity. Why do you care so much about your figure? she asked. Who are you trying to impress? Serenity: Come on. Girls should treat losing weight as a lifelong career. Crystal chuckled. YOLO! YOLO, my ass! Serenity grunted. They made their way to the cashier, paid for their food, and returned to their table. They began to eat, and when they were about halfway through their meals, Evan appeared in the doorway of the cafeteria. Serenity saw him first, and she waved him over. Evan was wearing a suit and a pair of leather shoes, and he had his jacket hung over his arm like a true gentleman. He sat down beside Serenity so that he could face Crystal. He scowled at her steak and asked, Is this your lunch? Its a bit much, isnt it? Never mind my food, Crystal grumbled. What I eat is my business. Just tell me why youre here!This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Evan smiled and said, The Henry Groups stock plummeted this morning. Crystal: Thats great, but so what? Evan: Crystal, do you want to buy into the Henry Group? This is the best time for you to do it, Crystal: She raised her head and stared at him for a while and replied, Yes. It looks like thepany is in big trouble that causes the price to dump in the stock market, Evan: Then now would be a good time to buy into it! There is no reason why you cant negotiate for a good price. Crystal: Negotiate? When Todd forced me to sign the waiver, he never negotiated with me! He even forgot that I am his daughter, or should I say, he never cared what would be my future at all, Evan: Dad didnt deal with you fairly, but that was because you were trying to kill him! Evan brutally reminded her of the thing she did. Crystal: It was Henry who wanted to kill me first! Evan: We did not, and Todd was a Father to you! Crystal: He wasnt, though! He may have put up the gic material, but thats all hes ever done for me! At no point did he ever do his duty to me as a father. Evan: As long as Henrys family blood runs through your veins, Todd is your Father, and no amount of ill will can change that. Crystal: If I had a choice, I would have aplete blood transfusion. Todds blood makes me feel dirty. Evan realized that the conversation was going nowhere, so he tried to change the subject. He said, Anyway, are you willing to give up the acquisition? Crystal ignored the question, turned to Serenity, and asked if she was ready to go. Serenity nodded, and they stood up together, gathered their trash, took it to the garbage bin, and made their way towards their next ss. Despite the drop in the price of shares, Evans speech could not convince Crystal to change her mind. This business between them wasnt about money anymore. It had be a personal vendetta. When Crystal and Serenity entered the ssroom, they were blinded by the lighting through the windows. They shaded their eyes with their hands and quickly found their seats. **** In Brilliant Group HQ C After the meeting, Nathan returned to his office. He received an email notification just as he sat down, but he ignored it because he assumed it was work-rted. Andy was right behind him, and once he was seated, Nathan said, Make a separate table for the UAV n we discussed in the meeting. I need it by the end of the day. Andy: No problem. Chapter 83: I Can Go Home Myself Almost as soon as Andy left the room, Nathans phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Alex. He brought the phone to his ear and said, Hey, Alex. How can I help you? Alex: Nathan, did you watch the video I sent you yet? I need to know if the girl in the video is your girlfriend? Nathan: What video are you talking about? Alex: I emailed it to you. Hurry up and take a look! Well talk after. After saying goodbye to Alex, Nathan opened the email and yed the video. It was about twenty minutes long, and although the lighting was poor, he could still see what had happened. Someone had recorded everything that had transpired on the night that Crystal had rescued her friend from certain assaults and possibly murder.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Now Nathan knew how Crystal had injured her palm, and it bothered him that she hadnt been open with him about what had happened. It made him angry that she could have gotten hurt, and he wouldnt have been able to protect her. I treat her like a treasure, he told himself, but she talks and acts as if her life has no value! After watching the video, Nathan was no longer in the mood for working, nor did he feel like calling Alex back, so he took Andys car key and drove the Buick to the Olman University, and he arrived just as the afternoon sessions were letting out. He parked on the road and stared at the gate without blinking. It wasnt long before the object of his love and hate appeared. Nathan waited until Crystal and Serenity had passed the drivers side door, and then he jumped out of the car, startling both of them quite badly. Crystal red at him, and he could tell she was angry, but Serenity seemed to think it was quite funny. She giggled and pushed Crystal into Nathans arms. Then she said, Ive got to get to work. Take good care of her for me, okay! Nathan caught Crystal in his arms and said, Shes in good hands. Then, he walked her around the car and helped her into the passenger seat. Once Nathan was in the car, Crystal turned to him and said, I can go home by myself. Im a big girl. I just turned eighteen yesterday, in case youve forgotten! When he didnt reply, she began to pout. Finally, after a few minutes of awkward silence, she asked, Have you been waiting for a long time? Nathan started the car, but he still did not open his mouth. Crystal was confused. Whats up with him? C she wondered. Not knowing what else to do, she ced her bag between her legs and pulled her seatbelt over her shoulder. She cleared her throat and tried again. Why are you driving a Buick today? she asked. You scared the shit out of me when you jumped out at us. As she spoke, she looked around at the car. There was a photo of Andy and a woman clipped to the dashboard. It is Andys car C she realized, but she couldnt imagine why Nathan was driving it. Crystal spied on Nathan from the corner of her eye. He had a stern expression on his face, and his lips were pressed tightly together as if he was angry. As she watched him, she suddenly remembered that he was going on blind dates. Thus, she reasoned, if anyone had any right to be angry, it was her C and that made her so mad that before long, the grim expression on her face nearly matched the one on Nathans face. He is such an asshole! C thought Crystal. Nathan drove Crystal to the Beverly vi, and once they were in the house, he seized her wrist, dragged her into his room, and threw her on the bed. Damn it! C she thought C Not Again! She raised her head to scold him, but he pressed her down on the bed and would not let her up. You! Crystal pushed him away and shouted, What the hell? Nathan: Crystal Smith, do you think that no one cares about you? Do you think that you have no family, so you can risk your life whenever you want? Crystal was confused by his words. She thought that they sounded too familiar to be original, and a sense of deja vu washed over her. If so, Nathan continued, then what the hell am I? A husband by a technicality? At this moment, anger med in his heart, and he wanted to kill Richard for the things he had put Crystal through. How dare that dirty man touch my woman! C he thought. If something had happened to her, he would have never been able to forgive himself for not being there to protect her. **** Nathan was sitting on Crystals chest. He had her hands pinned above her head, and his face was about a foot from hers. It was beet red, and the veins in his forehead were practically pulsing. This was as angry as Crystal had ever seen Nathan, but beneath the rage, she thought she saw another emotion lurking. Is he afraid? C she wondered C Has he been worrying about me? Now Crystal finally understood what Nathan had been talking about. Somehow, Nathan had learned about the events from the previous night. Crystal softened her tone, and in a gentle tone of voice, she said, Im sorry I didnt tell you. I didnt want you to worry about me. When Nathan heard that, he was stunned for a moment. Normally, I wouldnt have done something so foolhardy, Crystal exined, But I couldnt stand by and do nothing while they hurt my friend. It wont happen again. I promise. Nathan frowned. I want to believe you, he said, but you dont make it easy Crystal opened her eyes wide, and with a look of child-like innocence and a bright smile, she said, You have my word. If you need me to, Ill even put a stamp on my promise. Nathan: A stamp? Huh? Crystal suddenly raised her head and kissed Nathan on the lips. Is this an invitation? Nathan said with interest. He smiled as he let her hands go. Chapter 84: Woman You鈥檙e Playing With Fire Again Nathan lowered his head to kiss Crystal, but just before their lips touched, she slipped her hand between them. She ran her finger yfully across his lips, smiled, and said, Dont forget our one-month agreement. You promised me that youd be good? Can you keep your word? Nathans heart sank, and a frown appeared on his face. His hand lowered, and he lifted her shirt to touch the soft flesh between her bra and her pants, lingering on her cute little belly button. He slipped his hand into her pants and sighed as his fingers touched her soft, sparse pubic hairs. No, he told himself C Be strong. You are literally killing me, he said as he pulled his hand out of her pants. Not literally, Crystal scoffed. Surely, not literally. You will live. I promise! I could take her by force at any time C Nathan reminded himself C but as much as I want her cunt, I want her heart even more! He stared into her stubborn eyes, and his desire to conquer her increased ten-fold. Before this month is over, he said, Youll be begging to have me. You wont be able to restrain yourself. Youll see! Crystal smirked and said, Well see. Despite her show of attitude, she hadnt expected him to control himself, and she was quite relieved. Nathan did have a point, though. He was good-looking and charming, and at times he was able to put a spell on her so that her body responded to him even when her brain did not want it to. Her biggest fear was that she would give in to him, get pregnant, and have to be a mother at such a young age. After all, she was still going through puberty.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Crystal could feel Nathans swollen member pressed hard against her pubic mound, and she asked, Does it hurt when it gets all big and hard like that? I I am just curious, She stammered after questioning him. Nathan sighed and said, Hes a beast. After that, hell calm down, but right now, hes very angry. Crystal tilted her head, gave Nathan a serious look, and said, If you cant stand it, you can always say Uncle. Besides, its not good for your health to restrain yourself for too long. Nathan snickered and said, I said you wouldnt be able to restrain yourself, but I didnt expect you to change so quickly. He pressed down harder on her with his swollen member and began to rock up and down, applying more pressure to her wet core, and she moaned as he dry-humped her. If you want me to break my promise, I can, but you will have to ept the consequences. Woman, youre ying with fire again, Crystal was quiet for a while after that, and Nathan continued to hump her. He brought his hand up under her shirt and grasped her breasts, and he was surprised to discover that she wasnt wearing a bra at all. He caressed her breasts, squeezed them, and teased her nipples. asionally, Crystal moaned, and she appeared to be lost in the pleasure of his touch, but she was still thinking, considering her options. Nathan smiled as he pleasured her. Finally, he thought she would have to ept that they were doomed to be together after this! He watched her closely, and as he brought her to climax, he slowly pulled the band-aid off of her wounded hand. The three-centimeter-long cut had begun to heal, but the skin around it was white where the adhesive had been, and it urred to him that she must have gotten it wet. Crystal frowned and pulled her hand away. He had stopped humping her, but she wasnt done with him yet, so she gripped his buttocks and thrust her pubis against the beast. Dont stop, she cried. Please, dont stop! No! Nathan snapped. He pushed her away and rolled off of her. Then, without another word, he went into the bathroom to get the First Aid Kit. When he returned, he found Crystal in bed, staring nkly at the ceiling. From his angle, she looked adorable and much more like the child that she had been just a few short years ago than the young adult he imagined she would one day be. Her cherub-like lips were slightly parted, and she was pouting. More than anything, she reminded him of being an over-tired adolescent trying to solve a particrly tricky equation. Nathan walked to the side of the bed, touched her palm, and asked, Does it hurt? Crystal shook her head. Nathan smiled and put down the medicine box. First, he sterilized her wound with alcohol, and then he applied Polysporin. As he was doing this, she said, Id like to ask you something, but you need to promise to tell the truth. Can you do that? The question had been begging to be asked for a long time, but until now, Crystal hadnt dared bring it up. On the one hand, she was afraid that he wouldnt tell her the truth. But, on the other hand, he was afraid that he would tell her the truth, but she wouldnt like it. What is it? Nathan asked. Its nothing Crystal replied. Based on her hesitant attitude, Nathan guessed that she must be trying to ask him something that she was uncertain about, so he didnt push her. After a while, Crystal looked away, and tears began to run down her face. Why did my mom kill herself? she cried. They say she was depressed, but she wasnt! She was happy! Or at least she seemed to be was she actually depressed, but I was too much of a selfish brat to notice? Nathan sighed. He knew this day woulde, but he was caught off guard because he hadnt expected it to arrive so soon. He finished dressing Crystals wound, and then he gave her the First Aid Kit. Here, he said. Put this away first, and then well talk. Crystal took the box and ran it into the bathroom. Chapter 85: Cut The Chase As Crystal was putting the First Aid Kit away, she heard Nathans feet on the stairs. At first, she thought that was strange because he had just said that he would tell her about her Mother. Maybe he thought we would be morefortable in the living room C thought Crystal, and she followed after him. When she got downstairs, though, she saw that hed gone outside. Crystal frowned as she looked out the front window, and she was shocked to see Carloss BMW parked in the driveway. He was getting out of the car, but Joyce was already halfway to the house. Crystal gasped C What the fuck are they doing here?!?!?! Thest time Carlos had been here was more than ten years ago, and the only reason for his visit was to help finalize the divorce and the division of property between her Father and Mother. Crystal had only been seven at the time, but shed known why he was there. Why he was visiting today, though, was aplete mystery. Crystal rushed out of the house to see what was going on, and when Carlos saw her, he called her name. Before he could say anything more, though, Joyce raised her fist in the air and shouted, Crystal Smith, you dirty bitch! Todd Henry brought you, and in thanks, youre trying to tear him down! You are an ungrateful slut! Do you really think you can buy the Henry Group? Joyce rushed towards Crystal, and she was about to p her across the face. Before she could follow through, though, Nathan caught her wrist with his left hand. He ced his hand on her chest and shoved her so hard that she was thrown to the ground. Until that moment, Joyce had been so focused on Crystal that she hadnt even seen Nathan. Now her mouth hung open like a fool. N-Nathan D- Davis she stammered. I d-didnt s-see you there. Joyce struggled to get up, and then she brushed the dirt and grass off her buttocks and the back of her legs. As angry as she was at Crystal, she didnt dare attack her again if Nathan had her back. She turned to look at Carlos, but his face waspletely void of emotion, and she could not tell what he was thinking. Then she noticed how tightly his fists were clenched at his side, and she couldnt help but smile. He is angry- she thought C Good! After protecting Crystal for three years, he has every right to be angry! There was a cold chill in the air, and the tension between the two parties was palpable. Then, suddenly, one of the BMWs back doors opened, and Crystal groaned as she watched Todd step out. Oh, fuck! she muttered. Because of the tinted windows, she hadnt seen him. Todd turned to Joyce and said, I have no idea why you insist on being so rude. It is embarrassing. Joyces face turned red from anger and embarrassment as Todd turned to Nathan. Are you going to invite me in? he asked. I have something to discuss with you. Nathan nodded and gestured for him to follow him into the house. Crystal made eye contact with Nathan, and heforted her with his eyes. Then he took her hand and led her into the house. Once they were in the living room, Crystal and Nathan sat in the love chair, and everyone else sat on the couch opposite them. Nathan sat with his legs crossed with one arm on the armrest and the other rested possessively on Crystals thigh. He looked calm and confident, and he seemed to care very little for whatever business Todd was here to discuss. Nathan looked at Todd, smiled, and said, Cut to the chase, Mr. Henry. I dont have all day. So why are you here? Todd: Id like to discuss the acquisition Nathan: Is there a problem? Can you not afford the terms we agreed to? It seems that I cannot, Todd admitted. Our stocks plummeted this morning, and they are unlikely to recover fully. Our shareholders are in a panic. Would you consider releasing me from my contractual obligations? I am begging you for mercy. Crystal smirked. The sound of her Father groveling was like music to her ears. The Henry Group was in trouble, but it was Todds fault, and once thepany hit rock bottom, Brilliant Group would be in the perfect position to swoop in and purchase all of the shares for next to nothing. After that happened, her father would be her employee! Oh, how the mighty have fallen! C thought Crystal. You are talking to the wrong person. Nathan turned to Crystal and said, This is your department.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Crystal crossed her arms beneath her breasts, and her smirk turned into a shark-like Cheshire grin. Im listening, she said. Todd turned to Crystal, and she could see the fear in his eyes. After what he had done to her, he knew that she had every right to hate him and no good reason to show him mercy. He had hoped to bypass Crystal and talk directly to Nathan bying to the house, but he had failed toprehend the amount of authority he had vested in Crystal. And from the look in Nathans eyes, he could see how much he loved her. Crystal, Todd pleaded. Daddy was wrong. I shouldnt have treated you the way that I did. Can you forgive me? Crystal red at her Father. She knew that all he cared about was the deal and his second family. She hummed and hawed for a moment as she pretended to think the matter over. Then, in a low tone of voice, she said, I have no Father. My Father abandoned me sixteen years ago. He has a new son and daughter now. If you think that you are my Father for some reason, I hate to break it to you; you are mistaken. Joyce shook her fist at Crystal. Crystal Smith! she hissed. Watch your tongue! Crystal smiled coldly and said, This is my home, who said you could speak? Whenever you open your mouth, even your Father is embarrassed. Thats not true! Joyce shouted. Crystal shrugged but said nothing, and her calm demeanor infuriated her half-sister. Joyce began to stand up, but Todd put a hand on her to stop her. That will be enough for you, he said firmly. Sit down and shut up! The adults are talking now. Joyce promptly sat back down, crossed her arms beneath her ample breasts, and began to pout. The sight of which made even Carlosugh. Chapter 86: Was I Too Hard On Him? Once theughter died down, Todd looked at Crystal from across the room and forced himself to smile. I understand where youreing from, he admitted, and you have every right to hate me. But this is business. Please tell me what you want, and if it is something that I can do, I will do it. But, as you already know, I am at your mercy. Anything I want? Crystal asked. Todd: If it is possible. Crystal: I want my mother back. Is that possible? Crystal, Todd whined. You know I cant bring your mother back, but couldnt you help me- for her sake? For her sake! Crystal scoffed. My mother wouldnt give a shit about what would happen to the Henry Group, and she would be disgusted if she knew how youd stolen my inheritance from me! My Grandfathers will is clear. You do not have the right to the stocks he left me! Todd: Whats done is done. Cant we leave the past in the past? Its meaningless to talk about irrevocable things. Crystal, I know I owe your mother and you a lot, but you could give me a chance to make it up to you! Crystal looked at her Father. He looked a lot older than he had thest time shed seen him, and he wasnt nearly as cocksure. She finally shook her head. Nothing he did now could ever make up for what hed done. Suddenly, Todd fell to his knees in front of Crystal and Nathan. Dad! What are you doing? Joyce cried. Carlos hurriedly stood up and tried to lift Todd, but he was pushed away. Todd looked up at Crystal and said, Crystal, if you dont forgive Daddy, Daddy will not stand up. I will remain here like this until you forgive me. Joyce: Crystal Smith, Daddy is kneeling before you. Are you satisfied? Arent you afraid of going to hell for this? Crystal smirked at her half-sister. He can remain on his knees until hell freezes over, she scoffed. Besides, penitence looks on him! Crystal patted her Father on the head as if he were a dog. Then she stood up and walked towards the stairs. Behind her, Joyce began to curse, but Crystal paid her no mind. She went up to her room and closed the door behind her. It was not in her to forgive their old man. Once Crystal was in her room, she sat on the windowsill with her chin against her knees and grinned. It felt good to have power over her family finally. Now, no one could bully her, and if she wanted something, she could take it, and no one could stop her! Crystal felt tired, so sheid in bed, and she quickly fell asleep. As she slept, she dreamt that Nathan had climbed into bed with her, and when she woke up, he was beside her. He had been watching her and lightly running his fingers up and down her arm.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Crystal was startled when she saw Nathan, and he apologized and began to get up, but she said, No. Stay. Please. I am afraid to be alone, She didnt know why, but she was suddenly afraid to be alone. Something about her Fathers submission made her uneasy. Was I too hard on him? C she asked herself. After a few minutes, Crystal fell back asleep in Nathans arms, and this time she dreamt of her mother. Her mother had jumped from the room, and her remains had been a bloody mess. And when she next awoke, she was drenched in sweat. After such a terrible dream, Crystal was d to have Nathan beside her. She wrapped her arm around him and held him tight. Nathan hugged her back, and she strained her neck so that she could kiss him, first on the mouth and then on the cheek, neck, earlobe, corbone, and chest. There was sexual energy between them that was undeniable, but this exchange had nothing to do with desire and everything to do with giving and receivingfort. She just wanted to feelfortable, and the heating from Nathan make her feel a bit better. Nathan groaned, and his lower body was starting to react. Crystal, stop, Im afraid if we continue doing this thing, I might lose control, She loosened her arms around his neck and snuggled herself under his armpit. *** In the Hospital C Eric Bush was the worst kind of patient. Hed trashed his room. There was hospital equipment, medicine, and pillows everywhere, and Antony had reached the end of his rope with him. In his opinion, Eric was acting like a spoiled brat. Hed driven away every nurse assigned to work with him, and nobody dared enter his room. Antony sat on the sofa with his legs on the coffee table. He watched Eric with a concerned expression on his face. Eric had a cervical dislocation and was in traction, but Antony worried that he might have brain damage. Ill have to bring it up with the doctor C thought Eric. Eric turned to Antony. Whos the new headmaster at Olman University? he asked. Antony frowned. Thats a random question, but Ill look it up for you. He pulled out his phone, and after a quick Google search, said, His name is Owen Lane. It looks like he used to work out of Saint University, but he was recently transferred. Why do you ask? Eric: I want you to contact him and arrange for me to audit Crystals sses. Antony: Give me a break. Dont you think youre too old to be an auditor? Eric: Up yours! Im still young, okay? Besides, I look like Im eighteen or neen. Antonyughed. Sure, sure, buddy! Eric: Thats enough! You work for me, so do what I say! I dont need your shit! Antony: Fine. Ill do it. But theres something you need to know: Nathan Davis is her substitute teacher Can you manage to sit in on one of his sses without causing a scene? Chapter 87: Why Is It Impossible? When Eric heard that Nathan Davis was one of Crystals teachers, his face turned red from anger. He grabbed his ne and gripped the pendant so hard that the veins on the back of his hand bulged. Thats impossible, Eric murmured. Why is it impossible? Antony asked. Its true. Why anyone would want to be a substitute professor at a university when they dont need to be, though, is beyond me. God knows what Nathan thought when he epted the position. Why need to know why anyone does anything? Antony shrugged. Anyway, he said, do you still want me to contact the headmaster? Eric scowled. Dont be dumb! he shouted. If my brothers know that I was sitting in on Nathan Daviss sses, my reputation would never recover! There was a moment of awkward silence between them, and then Eric said, Bring me a selection of thetest mens wear. Antony could not keep up with Erics trains of thought, but he knew better than to argue, and within the hour, he was able to fill the room with arge ensemble of trendy outfits. He summoned the nurses and bodyguards and asked them for their advice, offering a reward of $100, 000 to the person with the best taste. When the young nurses heard about the contest, they practically lost their minds from excitement, and those that were at home resting rushed into work at tout de suite. They were given an hour to do their best, and then Eric selected the top ten outfits. Meanwhile, Antony looked into Crystals timetable. After hanging up the phone, he turned to Eric and said, She has lessons tomorrow. Eric smiled and pulled up his phone so that he could send her a text message. Hey, girl, he typed. And he pressed SEND. He didnt expect a reply, but it had felt good to send the message, and Eric began to giggle like a mad man. The way that Eric was looking at his phone reminded Antony of a look hed seen in the eyes of Jeffrey Dahmer one time when hed been reading the newspaper and gooseflesh appeared in his arms. Dahmer was a serial rapist and murderer. Eric is such a pervert C Antony thought. When Crystal woke up the next morning, she was still in Nathans arms, and he was still asleep. She stared at his face and couldnt help but think that he was indeed the best-looking man she had ever seen. He was even better looking than many famous movie stars. His shoulders were broad. His chest was muscr, and his breathing was deep and even. She loved him as much as he might have wanted to take her by force, he had always been able to get himself under control. He was a gentleman that way. Crystal touched his eyebrows, nose, and lips, and as her fingers caressed his chin, his eyes suddenly opened. Crystal quickly withdrew her hand, but Nathan smiled and seized her wrist. What were you doing? he asked. Crystal sighed and said, If you can kiss me, I should be able to touch you. Dont you think so? You can touch me, Nathan replied. But there are better ces to touch. Dont you think so? Nathan led her hand down the length of his body, and when he pressed it against hisid organ, it came to life instantly. Crystal squealed and drew back her hand. His hard member had doubled its length and girth in seconds, going from soft and malleable to strong and hard. The twenty-centimeter beast was hot as a hot pan and as hard as an iron pir. I didnt know it did that! she said, with a mix of fear and awe. Thats nothing, Nathanughed. He kissed her passionately, and then he pulled away. Time for breakfast, he said. After breakfast, Nathan drove Crystal to school, and on the way, she received a text from Serenity. It said, Hey, Girl. Im going to bete. I just woke up. A group of people yed drinking games until 3 a. m., and my boss made me stayte to amodate them. Then I ended up sleeping through my rm clock. Save me a seat in the ss, okay? Crystal: I will, but I dont think you should be working at the club. Your grades are starting to slip. Why dont you let me help you with your Dads medical expenses? Crystal had wanted to offer Serenity money for a long time, but she didnt want to damage her friends pride. Serenity: Thank you, but no. If you helped me now, youd end up helping me forever, and that wouldnt be right. Crystal smiled at the message and wrote, Why not let me help you forever? I have more money than I could spend in a dozen lifetimes! Serenity: Are you cursing me for not being able to get married? Crystal was shocked by her friends unexpected and seemingly random reply, and she didnt know what to say to that. A moment passed, and when she got another message from Serenity, she felt somewhat relieved. Serenity: No. Sorry. I didnt mean that. I know you are just trying to help. Serenity and Crystal went to the 2nd Canteen as usual at noon, but a crowd of grumpy, hungry students blocked their way. Whats going on? Crystal asked. She looked in the window. There were people seated and eating, but everyone else was being kept out. I dont know, someone said. I just got a text from my friend, though, and he says the other canteens are open, so Im going to find somewhere else to eat! Upon hearing the news, the students began to make their way towards the various other canteens on campus. When almost all the students were gone, Crystal and Serenity looked at each other, but confusion was all they saw in each others eyes.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Suddenly, a man in a ck suit appeared on the other side of the window. He opened the door, looked at Crystal, and said, Miss Smith, pleasee in. Crystal retreated half a step and said, No. We can go to another canteen. The man in ck said, Dont be afraid, Master Bush sent me to invite you and your friend in. Chapter 88: I鈥檓 Creeped Out Crystal looked at the man in ck with an expression of shocked dismay on her face. What is Eric doing out of the hospital? she asked. When I left him, he was in traction!!! I am sure that Master Bush can answer any questions you have, the man replied. If you will follow me Fine, Crystal sighed. Lead the way. To the left of the meal line, several hundred square meters had been emptied of people. Eric was the exception, and he was sitting near the middle of the room with his back to them. He was wearing a white shirt with ck borders, a pair of ck casual pants, and British shoes. As they drew near to him, he stood up and turned around to greet them. He smiled and said, Sweetheart, Im d that you agreed to join me! Crystal stared intently at the back of Erics neck. Why arent you in the hospital? she asked suspiciously. I want to have lunch with you, he replied. Is that a crime? Crystal: Thats bullshit! Whats your deal? Eric shrugged and said, The weather is good today, so I decided to take a walk. I happened to be passing by, and I thought that if I bought you a simple meal, it would be a good way of thanking you for saving my life. A simple meal? Crystal scoffed. You take over a whole cafeteria and call it a simple meal? You should be honored, Eric said. Honored? Crystalughed. She said, We both know that I would never have agreed to go out with you, so you had to resort to this. She spread her hands wide. I dont feel honored. Im creeped out! Eric put his hands in his trousers pockets and stepped closer to her. I wanted to buy you a meal, he said seriously, but I also need to talk to you about Richard Crystal was stunned for a second. She looked directly into Erics eyes and said, Tell me.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Eric turned his head to the table and chairs that hed arranged. Hed covered the table with a white embroidered tablecloth, and there was a vase full of orange Juliet roses on a beautiful disy, which was simple but romantic. Sit down, he said. Ill tell you while we eat. Eric knew that cafeteria food was shit, so hed invited a local chef toe in and prepare something special for them. As soon as Eric had stood up, the cafeteria staff had begun to te and serve their food. It all looked delicious, but Crystal was determined not to be derailed. She smirked and said, Say it now or shut up. Eric was speechless. Hed had his ducks all lined up, but it didnt seem to matter because he was shooting nks. He couldnt believe how easily Crystal rejected his advances. Eric knew that the shortest way to a womans heart was through her cunt, and it urred to him that things would go much smoother between them if he got brave and ra*ed her. Unfortunately, this was neither the time nor the ce for such intimacy. Eric sighed and said, Richard has hired awyer, and he is one of the bestwyers in the country. You are likely to be charged for what you did two nights ago at the club. Things might get out of control. You have to be careful. He wants to press charges? Crystal had never thought about such repercussions. Richard had promised that he would get his revenge at the hospital, but she thought that he was threatening her with violence. Eric nodded casually, and Crystal asked him, What should I do? A smug smile appeared on Erics face. He was back in the drivers seat, or at least he thought that he was. Dont worry, he said. Ive got your back. Eric drew a cigarette from a pack he kept in his pocket, lit the tip, and took a slow drag. He held it in his lungs for a few seconds, and then he produced a series of circr balls from his mouth. It was a trick that his father had taught him. Crystal frowned and waved the smoke away in irritation, and her brows furrowed. You would do that for me? she asked suspiciously. But why? We dont even know each other. And if you think I would exchange sexual favors for legal help, you are sorely mistaken. Crystal knew Erics type. He could have almost any woman he wanted, but it was the woman that he couldnt have that he desired. It had nothing to do with her and everything to do with the chase. Until he had her, he wouldnt give up. Once he had her, though, he would lose interest. Do you even regret what happened? Eric asked. Of course, I do! Crystal chuckled and said, If the lighting had been better, I wouldnt have missed his carotid artery, and he would have bled out on the floor. From the tone of Crystals voice, it would have been easy to mistake her statement for a joke, an attempt at dark humor-while from the look in her eyes, Eric could tell that she was dead serious, and a cold chill ran down his back. But I dont regret hurting Richard, Crystal added. And I dont need your help. Richard: Its your funeral. Anyway, now that is out of the way, would you and Serenity care to join me for a meal? There is a lot of food. It would be a shame for it to go to waste. I think well go, Crystal replied. I wouldnt want you to think that this kind of behavior is eptable. Have it your way, Eric grumbled. One more thing before you go, though: Are you still supporting the malls charity; the Angel Fund is what its called. If so, you might want to call it quits. Its not good to be so generous. You might get taken advantage of. Crystal ignored this advice and said, Shouldnt you be getting back to the hospital? After all this exertion, there is no way of knowing where your cervical spondylopathy levels are. Then, once you are fully recovered, you can get back to the girls who want you. I only want you, Eric said. I dont care about those other girls. You are the first person in my life that has taken me seriously. When Crystal heard this, her arms broke out in gooseflesh. She rolled her eyes toward him and said, Goodbye! Chapter 89: What鈥檚 With You Today? Crystal turned to go, But Eric grabbed her wrist with his right hand. Wait, he said. I have something for you. Eric let go of her wrist, and then he took a choker and a pendant from his pocket. The pendant was a ss eagle with extended wings, and the choker was made from ck leather. Before Crystal could react, he reached forward and sped it around her neck. Crystal stepped back with a frightened expression on her face. She touched the cor and tried to remove it, but it would note off. What the fuck? she growled. You wont be able to take it off, Eric exined. It is locked, and I have the only key. Crystal: But why? Eric: As long as you wear it, you are under my protection. Crystal: I dont need or want your protection, nor will I wear your cor. I am not a dog that you can lead on a leash C and if you dont take it off, I will figure out a way to get it off on my own! Eric: Youll regret it if you do.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. I doubt it. Crystalughed. She turned to Serenity, and she was about to say that it was time to go, but the words caught in her throat. While shed been arguing with Eric, her friend had taken a seat, and now she was eating. On her te, there was a salmon steak, asparagus, and basmati rice. You traitor! she hissed. Serenity looked up, and there was a guilty expression on her face. Im sorry, she said. But look at this food! How can you resist the temptation? You are a stronger woman than I am. Crystal: You should be ashamed of yourself! Serenity: Im not, though; this meal is fit for a queen. It is the first time I have eaten anything so fine. If I didnt seize the opportunity, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life! Crystal frowned and said, Fine, you win. Then she went and sat beside her friend and began to eat. Eric had already eaten, and while he watched the girls, he texted back and forth with Antony. Antony had picked Eric up from the hospital in a pink Lamborghini. It was one of two models that had been built. They were designed explicitly for Eric, and now there was only one in existence. Hed smashed the other into a van the previous day. Antony was waiting for him with the car in the parking lot. After the meal, Eric nned to bring Crystal outside and present the car to her as a gift. The car was full of helium balloons. When the door opened, the balloons would fly out and create such a romantic scene that Crystal would be ovee by Erics chivalry C that was the n. He still hadnt figured out how he would get her outside. Eric took another cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and began to leisurely smoke. He felt like he was stuck between a rock and a hard ce, and smoking helped him think. Suddenly his phone buzzed, and he pulled it out of his pocket. Hed received another text message from Antony. It said: How are things going? Should I send someone in to drag her out by force? Eric: That shouldnt be necessary. I should be able to get her out of her own volition. Antony: Master Bush, do you think she is ying tricks with you? Women like to y tricks on men. It is in their nature. They cant even help it. Eric: I would love to be the victim of one of her tricks! Antony: What if she already has a boyfriend? Eric frowned and put his cigarette out on the table. He thought for a second, and then he wrote: So what if she does? If she were married, I would destroy the marriage to get her. That is how badly I want her! Antony: Your words shock me. Crystal is an 18-year-old girl. There is no way that shes married. That being said, she may have a boyfriend. Unfortunately, I couldnt find out more about her throughout my investigation Eric: Once this business is over, can you arrange to have her followed. Apart from the limited knowledge we have that she is an orphan and that shees from a rich family, we know next to nothing about her past. But there is no reason why we cant bring ourselves up to date by tracking her present course. Antony: She wouldnt like that Eric clenched his fists when he read Antonys message, and it took all of his strength to keep his anger in check. He looked at his phone, reread the message, and wrote: I DONT CARE!!!! JUST DO IT. Antonys protective attitude towards Crystal was starting to get on Erics nerves. I will have to address that C Eric thought unhappily. Antony was in Number One, and he took no pleasure from reprimanding him. Suddenly, Serenity turned to Crystal and said, Once were done eating, Id like to get some fresh air. We still have some time before ss starts. Do you want to join me? Crystal thought about it for a minute, and then she smiled. I think thats a great idea, she said. When Eric heard this, his heart nearly jumped for joy. Finally, his prayers had been answered! He nodded to the girls and said, It has been nice spending time with you both, but I should get back to the hospital. **** There was a flower garden in front of the school, and several benches were ced in and around it. Students went here when they needed some peace. Within the garden, there was also a series of interconnected paths. Everything is so beautiful here, Serenity said. She knelt to pick up a flower and held it up to Crystal. Here, put this behind your ear. Ill take a picture. Crystal scowled and said, Id rather not. You know that I dont like taking pictures. Serenity put the flower behind Crystals ear anyway and snapped a picture. Then, sheughed and said, That ones going to Professor Davis! Crystals brow furrowed. Whats with you today? she asked. This is the second time youve betrayed me today! Chapter 90: You Are A Spoiled Brat Crystal tried to grab the phone so that she could delete the photo, but Serenity pulled it away and stuffed it in her bra so that it was safe. Crystal red at her friend and said, You are such a bitch! I am not! Serenityughed and said, I am looking out for your best interests. Youll see! Suddenly, a gentle hand fell on Crystals shoulder, and she was so startled that she jumped a half-inch off the ground and squealed. She turned around, and when she saw who had touched her, her face turned red from anger. Jessica! she hissed. Her hands clenched and unclenched at her side. What the fuck are you doing here?!?!? Jessica smiled sweetly and asked, Have you had lunch yet? Crystal smirked and said, I know you dont care about my eating habits, so lets skip the pleasantries. Why are you here? Does this have something to do with the Henry Groups stocks? Jessicas mouth twitched, and Crystal chuckled. She didnt know why Jessica thought she could seed where Todd had failed. There was nothing but cruelty in Crystals Stepmothers eyes, but she remainedposed, graceful, anddylike. Crystal, she said. I know that you are reluctant to go easy on your father. Thats understandable. But arent you afraid of the familyspany falling into the hands of strangers? If that happened, we would be ruined, and our legacy would be forgotten. You shouldnt worry so much. Crystalughed and said, Look at the lines around your eyes. Your worries are causing you to age prematurely, and no amount of Botox will be able to fix the damage you will do to your face if you cant get your nose out of your husbands business. Jessicas lower lip trembled, and she touched the corner of her eye. I didnte here to fight with you, she said. Your Dad had a heart attackst night. He was taken to the hospital by ambnce, and he is still in the intensive care unit. Your cruelty is killing him. If you still have a conscience, you should show him mercy. Should I show him mercy? Crystal sneered. Thats rich! Where was he on the days that preceded my mothers suicide? He was gone and never showed mercy to my mother, Your parents were separated, Jessica argued. And they had been for a decade. Todd had no idea that your mother was depressed! He was busy taking care of the business that time, She was depressed because of what you and my father did to her! Crystal shouted. All around them, people were beginning to stare, but it was as if the two women were in a world of their own, and they paid the gawking students no mind. Look at me! Jessica red at Crystal. What? Crystal: You dont matter, and nothing you could say will have any effect on the way I do business. So I suggest you shouldnt touch your finger on the fire, it will get burnt, In a voice that was barely audible, Jessica said, You are a spoiled brat! And then she pped Crystal hard across the face, so hard that her vision blurred, and there was a ringing in her ears. Crystal lifted her head and gave Jessica a look so dirty that it caused the older woman to recoil. Crystal touched the spot where she had been struck, and then she said, I will make you pay for that, but not just you. My father will also pay, as will the Henry Group, and when ites to assigning me for the devastation that I will cause, Todd will know why I did what ! will have done. Just wait and see. You think youre smart! Jessica roared C or tried to roar. Her words had lost any power that they might have had. She was like a balloon that had lost its air, and the fire had gone out of her eyes. I am smart, Crystal replied. Plus, I know how dumb you are. I know you promised Todd an heir, even though you are past the age of fertility. She smirked. That was dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Thats what you are. Shut up! Jessica screamed. Tears were running down her face, and her making was smeared. Crystal had broken her and made her ugly. Jessica tried to p Crystal again, but this time she caught her arm. Youve lost all power over me, she said casually. Not that you ever had any real power over me. Now, though, everyone can see what a loser you are. And have always been. Youve never been anything more than an old mans mistress. Crystal was about to walk away, but what Jessica said next made her blood run cold, and her face turned white. She turned around slowly, looked her stepmother in the eyes, and said, What did you just say? Jessica wiped the tears from her eyes, smiled, and in a level tone of voice, said, If you cant let bygones be bygones and treat your father with a little decency, I will take your mothers ashes, and I will take your Grandfathers ashes, and I will flush them down the toilet. Now, what do you think about that? Not so smart now, are you? Crystal gasped. How dare you?!?!? Jessica: Youve driven me to it. Crystal stared at Jessica. She wanted to pick up a rock and smash her stepmothers head in. I do not give in to threats, she said evenly. I retaliate. So, if I were you, Id watch my mouth.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Suddenly, Crystal felt Serenitys hand on her arm. Lets get going, her friend said. ss is about to begin again. Crystal nodded and allowed herself to be led back in the direction of the school. As they went up the steps, they heard Joyce shout, I may be past the age of fertility, but your mother couldnt be pregnant her whole life! Crystal ignored the womansments, butter they haunted her. After all, if her mother couldnt be pregnant, then she wasnt her biological mother. But if that was the case, why did they look so much alike? Chapter 91: Go Easy On Me At the Brilliant Groups HQ. In the presidents office C Nathan nced up at Alex and said, What? Alex leaned on the sofas armrest, and he giggled as he let one rip. Do you want to y LOL with me this weekend? he asked. Maybe, Nathan said. Whats going on with my wife? Alex cleared his throat. Richard has recruited awyer to sue her, he replied. Nathan: In that case, I will apany you this weekend. You did a good job. I appreciate it. Alex knew that if Nathan knew about thewsuit and the information came from him, he would agree to do whatever he wanted, including ying LOL. Nathan was as good as any LOL yer, and it had always been one of Alexs dreams to have him as a teammate. Typically, though, Nathan was too busy to y games. Alex let another fart slip as he walked out of the office, and Andys nose wrinkled as they passed each other. Then, Alex and Nathan began tough, and a bewildered expression appeared on Andys face. Whats so funny? Andy asked. Never mind, Nathan replied. He handed Andy a yellow man envelope and said, I need you to get this to the legal department. Give it to Carter. Andy epted the document, but he didnt leave immediately. Finally, after some hesitation, he said, About my car umm.. can I have it back? Nathan: Oh? Is my car ufortable? Andy shook his head and said, No. Nathan: Is there a problem with its performance? N-No Andy stuttered. The problem was that when people saw him driving Nathans car, they assumed the two men were fucking. He didnt dare tell Nathan that, though. If Nathan knew that everyone thought he was gay, everyone would be in trouble! Nathan nced at Andy and said, Order me the same car as yours from the Dealership down the street. When it arrives, you can have your car back. Andy nodded gratefully. When Carter received the envelope, he read its contents, and then he went to pay a visit to Richard at the hospital. When he arrived, he found the man sitting on the sofa in the Waiting Room. Cecelia was in his arms. She was licking his earlobe, and he was ying with her exposed breasts. Her hand was in hisp, and it was massaging his erection through the hospital gowns thin fabric. When Carter saw this disy, he frowned, but he did not slow down. When he reached the ce where Richard was sitting, he cleared his throat and said, Mr. Stone, my name is Carter. I am awyer. There is something important we need to discuss. When Richard heard that Carter was a Lawyer, he assumed that he was hiswyer. He smiled, patted the chair beside him, and said, Have a seat. Carter thanked Richard for the hospitality, and once he wasfortably seated, Richard said, How can I help you? Carter: I am Miss Smithswyer. I thought that if we talked, we might be able to get a few things cleared up. That dirty bitch, Richard mumbled. If she thinks she can get off easy, she can go to hell. And you can tell her that from me, you hear? Im not interested in mediation. Carter: Miss Smith isnt interested in mediation, either. Richard: Huh? Then why are you here? Miss Smith is charging you with assault, attempted ra*e, and attempted murder, Carter exined. He handed Richard a stapled document. Everything is here. You should give it to yourwyer once youve looked at it. Carter stood up, ced the papers where hed been sitting, and said, Ill see you in court. Once Carter was gone, Richard tossed Cecelia off hisp, and he kicked the coffee table over. What the literal fuck? he growled. Now, what am I going to do? Cecelia looked up at him from the floor and said, That woman is a bitch, but I have an idea. Its fine, Richard said. I dont need your ideas. Crystal may be courageous, but shes bitten off more than she can chew this time. The Stone family is a monolith. I know what Ill do. Ill ra*e her, and when I do, Ill record it and use the video as leverage against her. Cecelia grinned and said, Oh my God! You are so smart! Do you know that? Richard smiled back. As a matter of fact, I do, he replied. *** At the University, Crystal only had two sses in the afternoon, and while shed been in ss, shed received a text from Carlos. Hed given her the name of the hospital where her Father was at and said, You should pay him a visit. Thus, as she and Serenity left the building, she was more than a little distracted. Serenity looked at the red mark on Crystals face and said, Crystal, are you okay? That looks like it still hurts It does, Crystal replied, But Ill live. So, what now? Serenity asked. With your Dad having had a heart attack, does that change anything? Crystal: I dont know. I will figure it out. Dont worry. Serenity: Will you visit him in the hospital? Crystal: I may Todds room at the hospital C Jessicained to her husband while she fed him. Your daughter doesnt care if you live or die! she eximed. What a bitch! Toddughed and said, That one was always stubborn. Jessica: You didnt see the expression or her face when we spoke. That little bitch wants me dead. Literally! Todd: Im sure, not literally. Youre overreacting. She has been like this since she was a child. As I said, she is stubborn. Jessica: She wont show mercy on you, will she? Todd bowed his head and took a bite from a piece of toast. He didnt reply because he didnt know the answer. He didnt know if Crystal had any love left in her for him. If she did, then maybe she would help. Otherwise Todd didnt like to think about otherwise. Jessica shoved him, and he nearly fell out of bed. Answer me! she yelled. Go easy on me, Todd said. He was like a broken man. I dont know the answer. I just dont know! Jessica: I heard from Carlos. He gave her your room number. Maybe shell visit. What do you think?This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Maybe Todd replied nonically. Anyway, try not to worry about it. I have other means to force her hand. Youll see. Chapter 92: Is That You? Crystal found her fathers room at the hospital quickly. She knocked twice, and when no one answered, she pushed the door open and allowed herself in. The old man had been asleep, but the door squeaked, and his tired eyes slowly opened. Todd Henrys skin was pale, his hair was white, on oxygen, and looked almost ancient under the hospitals fluorescent lights. Despite his past cruelties, seeing him like this made Crystal feel guilty. This wasnt what shed wanted for him. Crystal, Todd whispered. Is that you? Crystal hadnt moved past the entry, and she was at a loss for words.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Todd: Crystal, are you still unwilling to forgive? Crystal shook her head as she pushed her empathy out of her mind. She said, Mr. Henry, you must be kidding. Todd sighed. When Crystal had been an infant, shed called him Daddy. Now, whenever she called him Mr. Henry, it felt like a tiny needle inserted into his heart. He said, Crystal, Im an old man, and I am not proud of everything Ive done in my life, and not being a Father to you is one of my greatest regrets. I dont want to leave this world without having made amends for my mistakes. I originally wanted to leave 50% of the shares to you. After all, neither of your half-siblings are half as smart as you. But you know your aunt Green. She put a lot of pressure on me. Crystal took a deep breath and said, You know, despite our estrangement, I never would have treated you the way you treated me. It was never my intention to put you in the hospital, though. So, try not to think about the business now. Focus on getting healthy. I just came to check on you, so I cant stay long, but I will think about what you said. Thank you, Todd said. He smiled, closed his eyes, and within a matter of seconds, he was fast asleep. Crystal said goodbye to her sleeping father, and she walked back into the corridor. As Crystal made her way towards the elevator, she began to feel like she was being watched. She turned around, but no one was there. This is spooky C she thought, and she began to walk faster. The elevator opened as soon as she pressed the button, and it was empty. She stepped inside, and when she got off on the ground floor, the feeling of being watched was stronger than ever. She looked all around her, though, and saw nothing suspicious. Then, as she passed through the main entrance, a woman in her thirties approached her. She punched her in the gut, and then she ran into the street. Crystal bent over and clutched her stomach. What the fuck was that about? she groaned. Gradually, she straightened up, and when she looked around, she was disturbed to discover that everyone was staring at her. And that wasnt the worst part. They were looking at her. with contemptuous disgusted expressions on their faces, and several people were filming her on their cell phones. What is going on? C she wondered. Suddenly, a child ran up to Crystal with an egg in his hand. And then he threw the egg, and it smashed against her forehead and bled down her face. The child ran back to his grinning mother, who wasughing. And before she knew it, the boy had returned with a second egg. This one hit her shoulder and sttered across her neck and chest. Crystal stormed over to the boys mother. Do we know each other? she shouted. Why is your son throwing eggs at me? The woman smirked and showed Crystal her open hands. What eggs? She chuckled and said, I dont see any eggs. And I dont even have a son. Crystals brow furrowed. She looked around, and the boy was nowhere to be seen. She asked thedy, What is your game? Her anger had been reced by confusion. She wiped the yolk from her face with her hand. Then she showed the goop to thedy and said, So, are you trying to say that you dont know anything about this? Thats what Im saying, the woman replied. Dont give me that bullshit! Crystal hissed. I saw you give the eggs to the boy that did this to me. Without warning, Crystal grabbed thedys hair and twisted it in her fist. Thedy shrieked in pain. Who are you? And what do you want? Suddenly, Jessica came around the corner. She pointed to Crystal and shouted, Oh my God! Look at what that cruel girl is doing to that innocent woman. She is a monster. But this isnt her worst offense. She caused her own father to have a heart attack, and she doesnt care if he lives or if he dies. Luckily, I have a video, and you are all witnesses to what shes done here today! Crystal was stunned, and her hand opened. She turned to Jessica. What video? Jessica pulled out her phone for everyone to see and yed a video recording of her father begging for mercy at her and Nathans feet. Her fathers voice sounded miserable and pathetic, but Crystals expression was harsh, cold, and unshakable. After watching the video, the people started whispering. An elderly man turned to his wife and said, Isnt the man in the video. the chairman of the Henry Group? If he is, his wife replied, then this woman must be his daughter. We are lucky that our children are nothing like her! She must have known her father had a heart condition, a youngerdy said. Maybe she was trying to kill him If she were my daughter, the elderly man said, I would p her next week! As the talk continued, the incident escted. Voices rose in volume and tone. Those among them that were parents were particrly offended by what theyd seen. And thedy whod had the eggs was the first to attack Crystal physically. Chapter 93: Help Me Thedy mmed the heel of her shoe down on Crystals foot C and this first assault was like the breaking of a dam. One person kicked Crystal in the shin. Another pulled her backpack off, threw it across the room, and punched her in the back. She felt nails dragging across her arm while someone else pinched their knuckle into her temple as if trying to kill her. She tried to run, but it was impossible. With no other recourse, she sat down on the floor and pulled herself into a fetal position. Help me, Crystal cried as the vition of her body continued. She was shaking violently, and she feared for her life. Eventually, though, the attack slowed to a stop, and Crystal thought it had finallye to an end. Everyone wasughing, though, and that worried her. A moment passed, and Crystal felt a warm liquid flow down her face. It didnt bother her, but then the sour, acrid scent of the fluid hid her nose, and she began to scream uncontrobly. Somebody was urinating on her C and maybe more than one somebody! Crystal began to gasp for breath, and she prayed to God for someone from security to walk by. Jessica was watching from the side. She was more interested in watching than participating. The whole incident was streaming live on YouTube, and Joyce was watching it from home. She smiled as she pulled out her phone from her pocket and sent her daughter a text message. She wrote: What do you think of the show? Joyce: Its great. Was it your idea to stream it on the inte? Jessica: Mine and your Fathers. Hes pretty much done trying to y nice, I think. Joyce: I thought the highlight was when the boy started throwing eggs at her, but then those men started pissing on her. I cant wait to see what happens next! It keeps getting better and better! Jessica: Its too bad that the eggs werent filled with shit. That would have been hrious! Joyce nced at the crowd and saw that a local news crew had arrived, and they were setting up their cameras. Amy was on the scene-she had been forced to cancel a dinner appointment to be there, and she rushed to the forefront of the crowd. I need to go, Joyce typed. Things are beginning to get REALLY interesting. Well talkter. Jessica: Okay. Bye, daughter. I Love you! The crowd parted to make room for Amy and her crew with their cameras, lights, and microphones. As Amy got closer, she gagged and covered her nose. The girls smell was so strong that she could smell The Peoples Victim C which was what she was starting to think of Crystal as long before she saw her. Amy didnt want to be here, but she had received the order from her boss, and he didnt take no for an answer. The Peoples Victim was curled up on the floor. She was covering her head with her hands, and she was whimpering. Her hair was a mess, there were scratches all over her body, and there was blood. In this condition, she almost didnt look human. Before Amy talked to Crystal, she wanted to speak to one of the people in the crowd so that she could get a better understanding of what was happening. By chance, she narrowed in on the woman whod supplied the eggs. Excuse me, she said, Can I ask you about what is going on here? Thedy smiled as Amy held the microphone so that she could speak into it. This girl deserves everything shes getting, she said, and maybe more. She intentionally caused her Father to have a heart attack. She is scum, and she doesnt deserve to live! Thedy hocked, turned to Crystal, and spat the greenish-yellow loogie into her hair. Amy frowned and said, That sounds pretty harsh. Can you tell us exactly what this girl did that made her Father have a heart attack, and why is it causing such public outrage? Do your research! thedy eximed. If you want me to do it for you, then youd better put me on payroll first! Never mind. Amy shrugged. She knelt beside Crystal and said, Miss Smith, my name is Amy. Can I ask you a few questions? When Crystal heard Amys voice, she slowly raised her eyes. She knew that as long as Amy was there, no one would dare hurt her. She nodded her head and said, Thank you. Amy smiled and said, I heard that this all started with a video. Can you tell me about that? The video was taken out of context, Crystal exined. These people that you see around me, they did this to me without taking the time to let me exin my side of things, and when ites time for me to get revenge on them, they will rue the day they were born. And unlike them, I wont have to take thew into my own hands because thew will be on my side! Amy was impressed by Crystals inner strength and resilient attitude. She was a mess, but she remained unbroken. When the woman whod supplied the eggs heard what Crystal said, she took a few frightened steps backward. She wanted to leave, but the people from the television station blocked her way. Our audience is going to want to hear from you again, they said. Not to mention the police.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Thedys mouth dropped open, and her face turned a sickly, pale shade of green. I have a recording of what happened, Crystal continued. I will hand it over to the police and mywyer, and I will also make it public. It will clear everything up, and then everyone will see who was in the wrong and who was in the right! I have one more question, Amy said. Is that okay? Im sorry, but it will have to wait, Crystal replied. Id like to get to the police station now. Everyone was frightened by Crystals words. If her evidence was valid, it meant that they had vited thew. They were afraid of being held ountable for what theyd done, and they tried to slip away. Much to their dismay, though, the police had already arrived, and they had the ce surrounded. Joyce hadnt been the only one watching the Youtube live stream. Chapter 94: Framing Crystal Crystal looked taken in the police presence, and despite her aches, pains, and humiliation, she couldnt help but smile. All of the exits were blocked, and several officers had drawn their weapons. A tall man with a slim build stepped forward, showed his badge, and said, My name is Detective Elmer Grayson. I need everyone to put their hands in the air. My officers wille around, cuff you individually, read your rights, and lead you into one of the vans waiting outside. If you cooperate, we will go easy on you. If you resist, you will regret it. Jessica had been standing apart from the crowd, gloating, but she was blocked by a strong police officer when she turned towards the elevator. You heard the detective, he said, Go over there. He pointed to where everyone else was. Raise your hands and wait for someone to read you your rights. Jessica began to cry C she was quite a good actress, and her act was very believable. She looked up at the man, read his name tag, and said, Officer Parks, I have nothing to do with this. I just came here to visit my husband. He had a heart attack. Please dont arrest me. Officer Parks frowned and said, Hold on, Maam. He used his radio to call one of the officers by the Admitting counter. Then, after a few minutes, he turned back to Jessica. Im sorry to have bothered you, Maam. Youre free to go. He stepped aside, and she slipped past him. Once themotion was behind her, Jessica sent her daughter a text message. exining what was happening and how shed narrowly missed being arrested. I do feel bad about all of those people that are being arrested, she added. Joyce: Dont worry. Ill talk to Uncle James, and hell get them out. Youll see. And after this, Crystal will have no choice but to cooperate! Jessica: Joyce, I am so proud of you. You are getting smarter every day. I will help your dad recover. Then, when he is back home, I will talk to him about putting the Henry Group in your name. Jessica smiled when she read that. She drove her BMW to Cecelias vi, using her right hand to steer and her left to text. Cecelia was her cousin, who she admired a lot. Cecilia often gave her great advice. For example, after telling her about Todds idea of having Crystal assaulted at the hospitals entrance, it was her idea to post a watch at the nurses station so that everyone could be in ce at the exact right moment. Cecelia was in the middle of a massage when Joyce arrived, so when she rang the bell, her Uncle, James, answered the door. He was wearing dark id silk pajamas. Uncle James! Joyce eximed. It is good to see you. She showed him two bottles of wine that shed brought with her. My mother knows that you like wine, so she sent me with these. I hope that you like them! James stepped aside, epted the wine with thanks, and said, Joyce, you are wee toe in, but Cecelia is having a massage. I dont know how long shell be Thats okay, Joyce replied. There is something I need to talk to you about anyway. There were guest slippers by the door, and when she bent over to put them on, her short, tight-fitting dress lifted enough to reveal a half-inch of her buttocks and a thin strip of ckce thong underwear. Joyce smiled at the thought of her Uncle James standing behind her, with his lust-filled eyes caressing every inch of her body. James frowned. He was in his forties, and his desire for his niece made him feel like his body was betraying him. He felt his manh**d grow hard, and his face turned red from embarrassment. He knew that he had been presented with an invitation, and it shamed him to know in advance that he would ept whatever came with it. Joyce was still bent over. Only a second or two had passed, but to James, those seconds had felt like an eternity. He ced one hand on either side of his nieces hips, leaned into her, and pleased himself against her taut ass. Joyce smiled as she pretended to twist her ankle. Her arms iled, and she would have fallen if her Uncle hadnt caught her. He took a half step backward as she fell into his arms, and his hands found their way around her body and came together, t against her abdomen. Joyce sighed and said, Thanks, Uncle James. She turned in his arms and looked him in the eyes, and as she moved, she created intentional friction between her body and his swollen member. Uncle James, you are so naughty. Her tone of voice was yful. Shel knew that what men most desired was that which was most forbidden to them. What would Cecilia think if she saw us together like this?This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. She wont. James gripped Joyces ass and said, And I wont tell if you dont tell. He pulled her towards himself and began to press his swollen member against her pubic mound. Joyce leaned forward, nibbled on his earlobe, moaned, and said, I am so fucking wet. Jamess hands were still on his nieces buttocks, and he used the index finger on his left hand to slide her thong out of the way. Then he stretched his free hand to its limit. He slipped his index and middle finger into her sopping wet cunt and began to finger-fuck her from behind. You dirty girl, he grunted. You like that, dont you? Say, Uncle. Uncle, Joyce moaned. Oh, Uncle, dont stop! Joyce imagined that they had an audience, and her body shook from the force of her first orgasm as a torrent of female ejacte flooded over his hand and down her leg. James brought his fingers to a slow stop to allow his niece a few minutes to catch her breath, and he picked her up and carried her to the couch. He tried toy her down so that he could mount her, but she remained stubbornly seated upright. He looked down with a confused expression on his face. Joyce looked up at her Uncle and smiled sweetly. Then she began to undo his belt. Once his robe was open, she took hold of his prick and kissed the tip. Uncle James, she said. Its so big. When were done, though, I need to ask you a favor. Whatever you need, James moaned. You can count on me. Thats what I hoped youd say, Joyce said, and she opened her mouth wide to make a sheath for his sword. Chapter 95: Have It Your Way Apart from Jessica, everyone else that had been involved in the altercation at the hospital was brought to the police station. And that included Crystal, Amy, and the rest of the news crew. Of course, thesest few were not cuffed, nor were they forced into the back of the vans. As chance would have it, Crystal was driven to the station by Officer Parks, the man whod let her stepmother get away. It wasnt his fault, though, and Crystal didnt hold him responsible. He had treated her like a gentleman, and he hadnt once remarked on the stench that clung to her. When they arrived at the station, Officer Parks led Crystal to his desk to get a statement from her. Once she was seated, he told her that he wouldnt be able to talk to her for about a half-hour, but he got her a bottle of water and an egg sd sandwich, ensuring she had everything needed before he disappeared. Officer Parks desk was situated near the front of the building, and to the left of it, there was a long bench that ran from one side of the room to the other. A metal armrest separated each seat. It was here that her assants had been brought to sit while they waited to be processed, and they were handcuffed to the armrests.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Crystal saw the woman whod supplied the eggs, and she red at her. The woman scowled and shouted, What are you looking at, you skank? Crystal smiled coolly and said, I am looking at you, memorizing your appearance so that I can pick you out of a line-upter and call you. out in front of a judge and jury! As if! The womanughed and said, When the dust settles, you will be the one up shit creek without a paddle! You! Not me! Just wait and see! By the end of the day, well all be free to go. And your stench will follow you wherever you go, no matter how many times you try to wash it away! Oh, shut up, Crystal said, turning away. The other woman began to rant and roar, but she closed her eyes and blocked it out. This woman attacked me without provocation C she reminded herself C And if you let her get under your skin now, she wins! A few minutes passed, and finally, the woman shut up. Crystal looked at the clock and grimaced. It was hard to believe that less than ten minutes had gone by since Officer Parks had left her alone. On the other hand, it seemed like a lot more time had passed. She closed her eyes again, and despite her current situation, she fell asleep. When she woke up, Officer Parks was standing next to her. He was repeating her name softly, and when she opened her eyes, he said, Im sorry to have kept you so long. Something came up unexpectedly. Im here now, and we can begin. My supervisor, Chief Oskin, has been asked to lead. We will be taking your statement in an interrogation room because theres more space, and he will be asking most of the questions. Before we go, though, do you have any questions? Crystal shook her head, and as she stood up, she looked at the clock. Oh my God! C she thought Ive been asleep for nearly three hours! Chief Oskin led Crystal and Officer Parks into an interrogation room, and he invited her to sit across from them. Once she was seated, they offered her a coffee or a bottle of water. She asked for a coffee, and Oskin shouted for his assistant to bring one. Once it arrived, the assistant left and shut the door behind her. There was a rectangle recording device in the middle of the table. Chief Oskin turned it on and said, My name is Chief Gerald Oskin. Beside me is Officer Stephen Parks. This conversation is being recorded. Please state your legal name and that you understand that your statement is being recorded. M-My n-name is C-Crystal Smith, Crystal stammered nervously. Her face turned red when she suddenly realized that shed given the wrong name. Umm thats m-my m-maiden n-name. My m-married n-name is D- Davis. Crystal began to panic, but she didnt know why. All she knew was that something about the way the Chief had spoken to her made her feel like she was on trial or something. Officer Parks: And do you understand that you are being recorded? Crystal: I d-do. *** Chief Oskin saw the video of Todd begging Crystal for mercy, and he suspected that she was guilty of Parental Abuse. He thought C If I can get her to confess, I can put her away for at least two years! So he looked her in the eyes and asked, How old are you? Im eighteen, Crystal replied. Chief Oskin: Tell me all about what happened. Crystal stated everything that had happened, and then she signed a paper stating that everything shed said was true. Once that was done, Officer Parks C who still seemed sympathetic to her, despite his supervisors hostility, said, Weve seen the video, and we have your fathers medical certificate from the hospital. So long as youve been honest with us, you shouldnt have any problems. However, if it turns out that youve been lying, ording to article 260 of the Criminal Law, we will have no choice but to arrest you and detain you at the Remand Centre while you await trial. I understand, Crystal said. Are we done? Were done, Officer Parks replied. Chief Oskin leaned forward to turn off the recording device on the table, and then he said, We will take your phone now. As evidence. Crystal flinched when she heard that. She had secretly recorded her altercation with her father, and although she had no idea if it could be used against her, she suspected that it could. She gave the Chief a dirty look and said, Im not giving you my phone. I was assaulted by a gang of people, egged, kicked, and scratched. They spat on me and pissed on me, but you are treating me like the bad guy. But Im not the bad guy! I am the victim already, and I will not allow you to victimize me further! Chief Oskinughed and said, Have it your way. Then, he turned to Officer Parks and said, You know what to do! There was nothing that Chief Oskin enjoyed more than an uncooperative suspect. Chapter 96: What鈥檚 Going On? Officer Parks looked at Crystal. There were tears in his eyes. I am sorry, he said, but I have to do my job. You understand, right? Please, Crystal begged. This isnt right. I didnt do anything! Ill make it quick, Parks promised as he stood up and walked around the table. He pulled her out of her up by her hair with his left hand. Then he punched her in the gut with his right hand, and when she grasped her stomach, he reached into her pocket and swiped her phone. Chief Oskin chuckled and said, Like taking candy from a baby. Then, he turned to Officer Parks. Get her out of my sight. She makes me want to puke. Stubborn criminal like her has no space in this ce, As Crystal was led out of the Interrogation Room, she crossed paths with the woman whod supplied the eggs. The woman wasughing. Crystal turned and looked away, ashamed by her inability to sessfully stand up for herself. Crystal had thought that she was being released, but instead, she was taken to a dark cell. It was cramped, and there wasnt even a ce for her to sit, let alone make a piss or shit if she needed to. Why is this happening? C she asked herself. But there was no answer forting. *** Joyce was rxing in the Jacuzzi tub at Cecelias vi when her Uncle walked through the door and sat down on the edge of the tub. Its all taken care of, he said. Just like promised. I knew you could do it, Joyce said. Tell me all about it! Although there were many police stations in the city, there were only two major headquarters. Chief Oskin was the Chief of Police at one location, while Joyces Uncle was the Chief of Police at the other, and asionally the two did each other favors. James opened his robe, and as he climbed into the tub behind his niece, he told her everything. Joyce took his hands, kissed them, and ced them on her breasts, You make me so happy, she cooed. Is she going to go to jail? Dont worry about that! Rx, I will do the rest as I promised you, James chuckled as he began to y with his nieces breasts, and he said, Ive already worked everything out with the judge. Shes going to jail, and for a long time. Joyce could feel his erection on her back, and the pressure made her smile. Her mother had been right when shed said, The way to a mans heart may be through his stomach, but the way to his autonomy is through his prick. Joyce put a hand over his and said, I knew I could count on you, Uncle James. I never doubted you once! What are you going to do for me when Ive done everything else youve asked? James asked. Joyceughed and said, You are so bad, Uncle James. When youre done, you can do whatever you want to me, and I will do whatever you ask. James: Thats my girl. So, what happens to Crystal now? Joyce wondered. Will she be released until the trial, on bail or something? That is something that still needs to be worked out between myself and Chief Oskin, James replied. She is still in custody. She has been given the impression that she is being released. Her phone has been confiscated, though. Once it is processed, we can figure out where to go from there. When Im done here with you, I have to go to the station and discuss it with Oskin. Joyce: I understand. You never know when your phone might be tapped. Youll keep me in the loop, though, right? James nodded, and as he slipped his hand down her abdomen, he said, Your wish is mymand. *** James was sitting behind Chief Oskins desk, going over some paperwork, when Oskin walked in. Oskin: You asked for me? James looked up and said, Is everything settled? Is Crystal going to the Remand Centre? Its all taken care of, Oskin replied. He had a grin on his face, but when Officer Parks rushed into the room, his smile turned to a frown. Parks looked like hed seen a ghost. James: Whats going on? Officer Parks took a deep breath, and then he said, Something has gone wrong. There is apany of military troops at our door. There are at least one hundred soldiers C maybe two hundred. They have surrounded the police station, and their weapons are drawn. The two chiefs rushed out of the office and were confronted by a Waiting Room filled with military personnel. James spotted a Major General and thought C What the fuck is going on here?!?!?! As he looked around, he noticed that many high-ranking officers and a handful of journalists were milling about and asking questions. Among the reporters, Officer Parks recognized Amy. She had been at the hospital, and she had been among those detained, so he wasnt surprised to see her there. This is the real scoop, he realized, and the hospital was nothing but an appetizer James decided he needed to look outside so that he could adequately size up the situation before responding. He walked through the office without any trouble, but he had to maneuver around the officers when he got to the waiting room. They looked at him, acknowledged him, but nobody seemed even to consider stepping out of his way. When James stepped outside, he was shocked. Parks had told him what to expect, but the sight of over one hundred military men with guns drawn was enough to take anyones breath away. Chief Oskin stood beside him, and neither man said a word. Suddenly, the sea of men began to part, and a ck sports car came through. Its horn honked three times C Toot! Toot! Toot! Who the hell is that? James muttered. I have no fucking clue. Oskin replied.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Chapter 97: You鈥檙e Safe Now Nathan passed through the officers line and parked his sports car in the handicapped space by the front of the Police Station. He stepped out, saluted the soldiers, and then turned to face the two chiefs standing in the stations entrance. Nathan was tall, he had a muscr build, and in his ck suit, he exuded an aura of strength and power. No one could look at him as he was and not feel at least a little bit intimidated. James rushed to meet him halfway, offered his hand to shake, and said, Mr. Davis, you honor us with your visit. Is there anything we can help you with? Nathan gave an outstretched hand a disdainful look and refused to touch it. Then, when James pulled it back awkwardly, he smirked and said, Im here about a video I saw on YouTube earlier. Do you know what Im talking about? Im pretty sure I do, James admitted. But what does the army have to do with that? We have the situation well in hand. Im sure you do, Nathan said sarcastically. He red at the other man. Where are they? Theyre in-s-side, James stammered. He had no idea why the army was there, and he was so intimidated by Nathan that he couldnt speak coherently. Please f-follow me.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. James led Nathan into the Waiting Room, and then he said, Mr. Davis, this is the Waiting Room. I let some people go after they gave their statements. He pointed to an extended bench on the other side of the desks where several people were being detained. Those people are still waiting to be questioned. If you tell me who you are looking for, I might be better able to help you. Suddenly, Nathans armshed out. He gripped James by the neck and lifted him a half-inch off the ground so that he had to stand on his toes or risk strangtion. Cut the crap, he growled. Wheres Crystal? James squirmed under the pressure of Nathans grip, and his face turned red. C- Crystal? he asked as if he didnt know who Nathan was talking about. You know who Im talking about, Nathan replied. He applied a bit more pressure on the other mans neck to prove that he meant business, and then he threw him on the ground. Take me to her! James gasped as he rubbed his neck. Then, he scrambled to his feet and said, Th-this w-way. *** Crystal was sitting on the cold, hard floor when she heard footstepsing from the far end of the dark, cold hallway. She lowered her eyes and tried not to think about whatever mighte next. Even in this cage, all that she wanted was to be left alone. The footsteps stopped in front of her cage, and the first voice she heard belonged to Nathan. Who did this to her? Nathan asked, and Crystal could hear the controlled anger in his voice. If I were the chief-Crystal thought C l would be shitting my pants right about now. The corners of Crystals mouth lifted slightly. She looked up just in time to see Nathan punch the chief in the mouth. James fell backward. His ass hit the ground first, and then the back of his head, and for a few seconds, heid there unmoving. Then, when he sat up, the lower half of his face was covered by his right hand. Nevertheless, he couldnt hide the fact that he was bleeding, nor could he disguise the look of abject fear in his eyes. Nathan took two steps forward, and James scrambled to move away, and Nathan forced him backward until he was pressed against the bars of the cage behind him. Please, James cried. Mr. Davis, Im sorry. I didnt know that was your girlfriend. Is that so? Nathan asked as he bent over to grab the other mans cor. He pulled James to a standing position, held him against the bars, and punched him in the gut in session, three times. Then Nathan dropped him like a sack of potatoes. Nathan hawked and spat a loogie, and it sttered on the top of his head. Whether she is my girlfriend or not is irrelevant, he said. Nobody should be treated like this. You are abusing your power, and you wont get away with it! Crystal was standing at the front of her cage, and her hands were gripping the bars so tightly that theyd turned white. She had never been as proud of anyone as she was of Nathan at this moment. But she worried about him too. No more, she cried. Arent you afraid of going to prison for assaulting a police officer? Nathan chuckled as he turned to face Crystal. You dont need to worry about that, he said. These people have more to fear from me than I have to fear from them. Ive got them by the short hairs, and they know it. I appreciate the concern, though; I do. Hold on. Ill get you out of there. Nathan hunkered down next to the chief, rummaged through his pockets for a minute, and brought out a key card. All of the cells were locked electronically, like in hotel rooms, so all he had to do was run it past the scanner, and Crystal was free. Crystal was extremely nervous as the door swung open. She was happy to be free, but she was embarrassed by her appearance, and though her hair and face had dried, her outfit was still damp with urine, and there was dried egg all over her outfit. These things seem not to bother Nathan, though. He walked into the cage, embracing her as if there was nothing wrong with her present condition. As Nathan held Crystal, she began to cry, and he rubbed her back in an attempt tofort her. There, there, he said. Ive got you. Youre safe now. And these people arent going to get away with what theyve done. I promise. Yearster, when Crystal looked back at this moment, she would think C That was the moment that I fell in love with him. When Nathan and Crystal emerged from the holding area, despite her condition, they looked like a major Power Couple, like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie or Michelle and Barack Obama. Crystal walked a half step in front of Nathan, and she led him to the Interrogation Room, where Chief Oskin and Officer Parks had questioned her. Chapter 98: I Will Repay You Nathan ran the key card across the scanner that opened the Interrogation Rooms door, and Crystal pushed it open. The couple walked into the room together. The woman whod supplied the eggs was on one side of the desk, while Officer Parks was sitting opposite her. When the woman saw Crystal, she turned to Parks and said, She isnt supposed to be here. Arent you going to do your job and lock her up? Parks nodded and said, Im on it. He had no idea what had happened between James and Nathan, so he got up and went around the desk. Before he could get to Crystal, though, Nathan stepped in, grabbed his arm, twisted it, and forced him to the ground. Then Nathan kicked him in the head, and he lost consciousness as he fell to the ground. By the time Parks woke up, the Power Couple had left the room. This is what happened, though, while he was unconscious. Crystal grabbed the woman by the hair, yanked her head back, and pped her hard against the face. told you to attack me? she demanded. The woman refused to tell, so Crystal hit her again and repeated the question. Who told you to attack me? The woman refused to answer, so Crystal pped her again until the woman told Crystal everything she knew, which, in the end, turned out to be very little. When Officer Parks woke up, the woman was the first person he saw, and he hardly recognized her. The womans face was red, bruised, and blotchy. Her hair was tangled, and there were small bald patches where her scalp could be seen. She had a bloody nose, a fat lip, and two ck eyes. Oh, my God, he muttered. What the hell happened to you?Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. *** By the time Nathan and Crystal emerged from the Interrogation Room, Chief Oskin had returned to his station, and James was with him. When James saw them, he stood up and said, Miss Smith, I failed to recognize you. Ive wronged you. Ill send someone to open the presidential suite at the five-star hotel next to the police station, and you can freshen up there. Then, when you are morefortable, you can get even with me at your leisure. What do you think? Jamess voice quivered as he said this. With Nathans influence, he could destroy this police station with the wave of his hand, destroying the careers of every officer that worked there, so he was worth sucking up to. Furthermore, from the way Nathan moved his troops around at random, everyone could see that this was only a fraction of his strength. Thus, no one dared to offend him or get in his way on purpose, and it was a fool who did so by mistake. Crystal held out her hand and said, Give me my cell phone. Now! James flinched at the sound of Crystals voice. Then he went to his knees in front of her,id his hands on the ground, and said, I am sorry for taking your phone. Please forgive me for my stupid behavior. You can step on my hands if youd like. Crystal sighed and said, I just want my phone back. Once the recording on it is uploaded to YouTube, it will prove my innocence. James stood up and said, Ill get it right away. Once James was gone, Crystal whispered into Nathans ears. I am filthy, she said. Doesnt that bother you? Nathan smiled, kissed Crystal on the lips, and he whispered back: When I am with you, I am filled with a joy that is so powerful that nothing about you could ever bother me. Anyway, if I thought you were filthy, I wouldnt have hugged you or kissed you. Crystal sighed and said. Thank you. I will repay you for your kindness. Nathan smiled and said, Well Im looking forward to it. As they parted, Crystal said, Cant you get someone to buy me a thousand eggs? Nathan: A thousand eggs? What for? Crystal pointed towards the Interrogation Room and said, For her! Nathan paused, and then he ordered one of his men to buy the eggs. Then he turned back to Crystal and said, There isnt anything that I wouldnt buy for you, and I would do anything to make you happy. Crystal and Nathan waited until the eggs arrived, and she had them stacked outside the Interrogation Room. Meanwhile, the woman in the room tried to hide under the table, and Officer Parks ran out of the room like a scared child. Crystal grabbed two eggs, one for each hand, and she walked into the room. Then she went to the front of the table, pushed the chair away, kicked the woman, and said, Come on, out with you! When the woman refused toe out, Crystal winked at Nathan, and he dragged her out. He made her stand at attention in front of Crystal, and he asked her, What have you done that you shouldnt have? The woman frowned and said, When I was approached anonymously and offered money to make that boy throw those eggs at her, I shouldnt have said yes. I shouldnt have done it. I see that now, and Im awfully sorry. Nathan: And? What else? I shouldnt have incited those people to beat and scold her, the woman replied. Nathan: And? What else? The woman began to cry. I dont know what else, she whined. Please. Look at me. Dont you think youve done enough? Crystal pped the woman and said, Dont presume to tell me when Ive done enough! What did I do? the woman wailed. Or what shouldnt I have done? I dont understand Just, please tell me! You shouldnt have wasted those eggs, Crystal said. Didnt your parents teach you that it is a sin to waste food? Eggs are food, not weapons. Crystal grinned, daring the woman to contradict her. Ill never do it again, the woman promised. What do you want from me? Crystal sighed and said, I think you need to learn a lesson about the difference between food and weapons. To teach you that lesson, Ive had a thousand eggs delivered to the station. I am sure that by the time youve eaten everyst one of them, youll have learned your lesson. When the woman heard this, her face turned a sickish pale shade of green. No, she gasped. You wouldnt Crystal smirked and said, Well, but I will Chapter 99: Is There Anything Else? Crystal looked at the woman whod provided the eggs. Whats your name, anyway? she asked. M-Mary, the woman replied. My n-name is Mary W-Wiggins Well, Mary, Crystal said. If you dont have any more information for me, its time for you to start eating the eggs. As she talked, she took the ss of water on the table and poured its contents over Marys head. Then she cracked the two eggs shed brought with her and emptied their contents into the cup. Finally, she handed the ss to Mary. Waste not, want not, Crystal said, and the grin on her face was not unlike that of a shark. Drink up. Mary looked at the ss, and her expression could see her feeling of revulsion. She took the ss, though, plugged her nose, and slurped the eggs into her mouth. Crystal chuckled while the woman gagged as she struggled to keep the contents of her stomach where they belonged. Once she had her gut under control, Nathan turned to look at Crystal. He smiled and said, Lets go. There are still journalists to deal with. Ill leave a couple of my men with Mary to make sure she eats all of the eggs. As for the man who paid her I will find him and crucify him. Crystal nodded and allowed Nathan to pick her up. He carried her out of the Interrogation Room. Outside, the journalists were waiting, and as soon as they saw the Power Couple, they began to take pictures. Amy Fowler was there, and she shouted Nathans name. Do you have a moment to answer a few questions? she asked. Not now, Nathan replied. He carried Crystal through the police station into the open air and brought her to his sports car. Then he walked around the car and got in beside her. Crystal leaned over and put her head on Nathans chest, and he wrapped his arm around her and rubbed her back. He said, This wouldnt have happened if you hadnt been wandering around. Dont you know that I cant protect you if I dont know where you are? Im sorry. Crystal began to cry, and she said, I see that now, and it wont happen again. Nathan wiped her tears away with the tips of his fingers. He kissed the top of her head, and she smiled shyly. Are you trying to seduce me? he asked. Crystal blinked her starry eyes and tilted her head. She looked up at him and said, I wasnt trying to seduce you, but I could if you wanted me to. Just tell me what you want me to do. Nathan kissed her neck and earlobe and then whispered everything he wanted her to do to him and what he wanted to do to her. Crystal blushed as his lips tickled her pinna and auricle, but she didnt pull away. Once he was done telling her his fantasies, she ced her hand on his muscr chest and said, Id better get washed up first. The smell may not bother you, but I cant stand it. *** Crystal turned up the pressure on the water, made it as hot as possible, and scrubbed her body from head to toe. Then she dried off and put on her white bathrobe. Nathan was waiting in her room with Dr. Phillips, who he had summoned to take a look and care for her wounds. Nathan: Are you almost done? Coming out now, Crystal replied. Nathan was standing by the window, looking out, and Dr. Phillips was sitting on the bed. Nathan had brought a portable desk and set it up adjacent to the bed, and there was a medicine bag on it. Then, in front of the doctor, there was a chair. Dr. Phillips smiled and said, Crystal,e and sit. Let me take a look at you. Crystal nodded, walked over to the doctor, dropped her robe, and sat naked in the empty chair. After a thorough examination, Dr. Philips made a record on a notebook, and then she applied medicine to Crystal wounds. When she was done and Crystal had the robe back on, Nathan turned around. Is she going to be okay? he asked. Shell be fine, the doctor replied. There are too many bruises to count, but nothings broken, and there isnt any internal bleeding. Her arms are scratched up pretty badly, and theyll need to be cleaned twice daily, but considering what those monsters did to her, Id say that shes pretty lucky. Is there anything else? Nathan asked. Im afraid that there is, the doctor replied. She turned to Crystal and said, In situations like this, it isnt umon for there to be psychological damage. This is called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or P. T. S. D for short. You may have nightmares or have a hard time being around people you dont know. There are a ton of symptoms, so I suggest you look it up on the inte C Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and if, at any time, you need to, call me. Do you understand? Crystal nodded. She thanked the doctor, and then Nathan told her that she could leave. Once the doctor was gone, Nathan took ce on the bed where the doctor had been sitting. He held Crystals hand, kissed her fingers, and asked her if she was in pain. I am, Crystal replied. My whole body hurts, but especially the scratches. Nathan looked at Crystals arm and frowned. There was Polysporin on the scratches, and when Nathan saw that it was still wet, he said, Hold still. Theres medicine on your hands. Then he went into the bathroom and came back with the blow dryer. He plugged it in, turned it on, and ran it over her arms. Crystal watched Nathan. Somehow, as he cared for her, he seemed vulnerable. All of his usual arrogance was gone. Who could resist such a man? C she thought.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Once the Polysporin was dry, Nathan turned the blow dryer off, and he asked Crystal if she was tired. She said that she wasnt, and he smiled. Then, he said, If youre not tired, I want to take you to a special dinner tonight. Chapter 100: I Cannot Be Seduced It wasnt until Nathan had finished putting away the blow dryer, the portable table, and the chair that he realized it had been a while since Crystal had spoken. He frowned, What are you thinking? he asked. Crystal had been staring at the scratches on her arms, and she hadnt been thinking about anything. Nathans question startled her, and she looked up. She thought for a moment, and then she said, I was trying to think of how to thank you for acting as my hero today. Nathans hand suddenly froze. Crystals unexpected politeness and obedience brought a trace of displeasure to his heart. He wondered if she treated other people the same way. The thought bothered him, and he momentarily lost interest in her repayment. He preferred the difficult, stubborn girl that shed been before he rescued her. He lifted her chin with a finger, forced her to look at him, and said, Keep your thanks. Crystal grasped his cold finger. She said, Dear, are you sure you dont want me? Nathan squinted his eyes. Say that again, he said. Crystal: Are you sure you dont want me? Nathan: What was the first word you said? Crystal repeated the first word shed said, Dear? C and Nathans heart melted. He touched her lips with his free hand, and they opened. He inserted two fingers into her mouth, and although it made her blush, she sucked on them lustily. His fingers were clean and slender, and they tasted sweet. He smiled wickedly. Are you seducing me? he asked. Crystals heart skipped a beat, and she nodded. Nathan withdrew his moist fingers, and he looked at the saliva hanging on Crystal lips. The expression on her face was seductive and a little erotic. Nathans manh**d began to swell as the thoughts of touching her shed through his mind, and he found it difficult to keep his one-month agreement at the forefront of his mind. He wanted to own her more than he wanted to use her, though. He wanted her to love and respect him, and he didnt want to lose her. These were the thoughts that kept him in control of his faculties. Not now- he told himself C Do not settle for a jewel when you can have the whole crown! Nathan smirked as he gently pushed her away. Well, he replied. He knew that she wanted to repay him but that he hadnt yet won her heart. I cannot be seduced. Crystals lower lip began to tremble, and there was a childlike innocence in her expression. She was nervous, and Nathan could tell that she didnt know what she was supposed to do now. Her long curly eyshes blinked quickly, and she suddenly seemed very self-conscious and shy. It was an attractive look on her face. Crystal stared at Nathans Adams apple as she waited for him to say something. She didnt dare look up because she was too afraid of what she might see in his dark eyes. At this moment, she was like a bride, waiting for her husband to take off her veil. She was restless, but underneath the nervous energy, there was a sense of anticipation, as if the moment was pregnant with possibilities. Nathan could sense Crystals nervousness, but he had no interest in alleviating her difort. Instead, he ran his fingers through her hair and said, You are an alluring woman, buttely, weve wasted too much water. Do you understand what Im saying? Crystals brow furrowed. She did not know what he was saying. She was confused, but before she could ask him what he was talking about, he grabbed her hand and led her back into the bathroom. Before hed made it halfway there, though, she threw herself into his arms, and without warning, she began to kiss him passionately.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Nathan was so caught off guard that he couldnt help but kiss her back with as much vim and vigor as she was showing. Crystal opened his mouth with her tongue and sucked his tongue into her mouth. Before he knew it, hed sucked her tongue into his mouth, and in this way, they made a kind of love between them that was as intimate as the type of sex that involves genitalia. As they kissed, Crystal pulled Nathan down to the floor. I CAN seduce you! C thought Crystal. She knew his weakness; she was his weakness, and she nned to exploit it. She could feel his manh**d, long, thick, and hard, pressed against her pubic mound, and she moaned. Can I? Nathan asked. His voice was low and hoarse, and he could not pretend that he wasnt aroused. As strong-willed as he was, he was still a man. And he had unique urges and needs that only a girl of Crystals age and her body type could satisfy. He had asked the question because he knew that he was nearing the point of no return. Can I? he asked again. When Crystal saw the look in Nathans eyes, she was afraid, which was why she hadnt answered immediately. She had initially had no sense of security. After what had happened at the police station, though, she had seen that he respected and tolerated her, which had let her guard down. Her heart had opened, and she had allowed him to set up camp within. In just almost a month, Nathan had upied space in her heart. That being said, there was still a one-month agreement to think about. The one-month agreement had been implemented to test Nathan and give Crystal a respite from his casual attempts to assault her. Now, though, she no longer knew if the month was necessary, and she wanted to have sex with him. At the very least, he had proven his worth to her. That being said, there was still the look in his eyes. She wanted him to make love to her, but she feared that he wanted to ravage her. Finally, she thought C maybe if Im gentle, hell be gentle Chapter 101: Group Chat Rumors Instead of answering, Crystal lowered her head and gave Nathan a soft kiss on the lips, and she spoke to him with her eyes, saying, Im being gentle. Can you be gentle, too? Nathan kissed her back slowly, and as he did, she opened her robe for him. She had just gotten out of the shower, so she was naked, and her breasts were like cupcake tops with pink cherries on top. After a few minutes, Nathan pulled away, and he rolled Crystal over so that he was on top, and she was on the bottom. He ced his left hand on her right breast and then kissed her entire body. He started at her earlobe and worked his way down, but when he got to her neck, he was startled to discover the ck leather cor she was wearing. He pulled away and gave Crystal a dirty look. What the fuck is this? he growled. Crystal began to shake, and she burst into tears. She tried to cover her shame by covering the cor with her hands. Eric Bush did this to me, she cried. I know where it came from! Nathan roared. He pulled her hands away and asked, Did he touch you?Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Crystal hurriedly shook her head. No, she said. I wouldnt let him. Nathan: I had better not hear otherwise! Crystal recognized the threat in his words. She frowned slightly and nodded. It was the first time that Nathan had given her such a firm order, and she suddenly recalled something that Eric had said C wear this ne, and no one will dare to touch you. She wondered if that included Nathan. After all, he hadnt dared. She hated to think that she might be putting her husband in danger. When Nathan saw the cor, he became another person. It was both strange and terrifying. And Crystal couldnt help but think that the two men had a history together. Crystal lifted her head, but Nathan had lost his interest in having sex. Crystal scowled. Then she nodded and said, I see. Nathan had no idea whether she was serious or just being perfunctory. Ignoring her words, he got up irritably and said in a serious voice, Go get dressed. Im going to take a shower. Then Nathan stormed out of the room, mming the door behind him. Crystal groaned as she stood up. She felt like every inch of her body was on fire, and she was d that they hadnt made love. Likely, it would have made the pain worse. She shrugged off her robe and walked over to her wardrobe. She frowned as she ran her fingers through the clothes inside. She had so many outfits that she never knew what to wear. Finally, she chose a light-yellowce one-piece dress and applied a thinyer of make-up to her bruised face. I look like shit C she thought sadly C but the doctor was right. I am lucky Typically, her skin was very good. She had a fairplexion, and she looked better without make-up C Not today, though Once Crystal was ready, she sat on the bed and waited for Nathan to return. When he didnt return right away, she pulled out her phone to check to see if there were any messages. There were none, so she entered a WhatsApp group she was in,posed of people shed gone to High School with. There were a few people online, and they were all gossiping about their wealth. The people in the group annoyed Crystal. They always had, but she was bored, and that was the only reason shed signed on. There were about a hundred open threads, and she opened them one at a time as she looked for something interesting. As Crystal read through the various messages, she realized that she was being mentioned in it, and many things people were saying were quite malicious. There were also videos and pictures, including ones that had been taken during her dispute with Cecelia at the purse store. And the video of her father begging her for mercy, one of her being egged and urinated on, and a series of photos taken at the police station. Along with each video and picture, there was a description of what was taking ce, and in each instance, the description was either a distortion of the truth or an outright lie. Crystal recognized the names of the peoplementing, and none of thements were positive. Emily Deerborn, for example, had written: I am surprised by Crystals behavior. I used to think she was self-righteous and arrogant but otherwise harmless. It turns out, though, that shes a high-ss sugar-baby. Carol Watson: Whos her sugar daddy? Im really curious Jack Elfman: He must be an old man. Old men always like young girls. Missy ck: Is it my imagination, or is she better looking than before? Has she had cosmetic surgery? If so, its not surprising, not if she has a rich sugar daddy. Its too bad for her, though. No amount of money can fix the face she was born with! Carol Watson: Too Funny! And too true! Jack Elfman: Shes a vicious cunt! I cant believe what she did to her father! Missy ck: Dont worry. Shell get whatsing to her. Karmas a bitch. And it will befall to those who ill things against other people, Skater Deiter: Careful with thenguage, you guys. You never know when the moderator might show up. Anyway, has anyone even asked Crystal for her side of the story? She was always nice to everyone she met. And all of you talked bad behind her back, sounds like a jealous people, Emily Deerborn: How would it be? She is not even popr, no reason to get jealous of her. If she has a side of the story, its probably a lie. And Ill say what I want. Im not afraid of the moderator. Carlos Foster: Im with Skater. I dont think these videos are as incriminating as they seem, and I would be interested in hearing her side of the story. Chapter 102: Guard Your Tongue (Warning: This Chapter contains a sex scene and violent words. If youre notfortable reading it kindly skip it and move to another chapter) Nothing about Carlos or Skatersments made any impact on the direction of the conversation, and the next thing Emily Deerborn wrote was twice as cruel as what she had first written. Shed said, Oh, God Wake up, Carlos! Are you blind? Youre just taking her side because you still love her. Carol Watson: Hey, Skater. Was Crystal still a virgin when you dated her in high school? Skater Deiter: Oh, stop it. You guys are too much. You guys are going to scare her away from the get-together this weekend. Jack Elfman: If I were her, I wouldnt dare leave the house. Missy ck: Ha-ha! Carlos: Crystal, ignore all the nder and all theughter, and just be yourself. Im always on your side. Out of all thements, the only one that surprised Crystal was the one from Carlos. She wouldnt have expected him to stand up for her. Where is the get-together? C she wondered, and she clicked on the Event Page. Then, when she saw the venue, she began tough. These people are all losers C she thought. And she logged out of WhatsApp. People in the group had been aware of Crystals presence in the group, and even after she had gone, their conversation continued. Emily Deerborn: She must feel guilty. Otherwise, why did she leave the group? If she is innocent, there would be no need for her to be afraid. SHE DIDNT EVEN SPEAK OUT TO DEFEND HERSELF! Jack Elfman: If Id been at the hospital that day, Id have pissed on her. She brings shame to our ss. Recently, people have been asking me if she was one of my ssmates. I lie and say that I dont know her. A notification bubble appeared: Celia McIntyre has joined the conversation. Carol Watson: Hey, Cecilia. Were talking about Crystal Smith. Did you know that that bitch returned the bag you gave her? A primary school ssmate of mine is a salesgirl there, and she told me all about it. *** In Richards room at the hospital C Cecelia saw the message on her phone, and as upset as she was about it, she was too preupied with his swollen member in her mouth to reply. Richard had a hand on either side of her head so that he could control the rhythm of the blowjob she was giving him, and she was trying to text with her left hand while fingering his anus with her right and to say that it was a difficult task would have been the understatement of the century. Richard read the message over her shoulder and said, I didnt know that Crystal was so disliked. As he moaned, she pulled away, and his prick sprang out of her mouth like a frantic jack-in-the-box. What the fuck?!?! Richard growled. That girl has gone too far, Cecelia typed. You cant be serious, Richard snapped. Then, when Cecelia didnt take his prick back into her mouth, he snatched her phone, threw her on the sofa, and took her pants off. Cecelia began to panic. Take it easy, she whispered. I dont want to be caught. Richard knew how flexible Cecelia was, so he grabbed her legs and pushed them up so that her head was between them. Ill f**k you anywhere I want, he said. I will f**k you on the sidewalk of a crowded street if I want to! And I will be as loud as I please! Cecelia sighed and submitted to his hunger. She knew from past experiences that he meant what he said. One time he had forced her to have sex with him on the back seat of a crowded bus. At first, people turned and stared, but once they recognized Richard, they turned back around and pretended that nothing untoward was going on. Richard enjoyed making a spectacle of himself. He always had. As Richard pushed himself into Cecelia, her phone rang. She was going to ignore it, and she was surprised when he put her phone in her hand and told her to answer it. The call was from Joyce, and just as Cecelia epted the call, Richard pressed the tips of the fingers on his right hand against her clits. He applied pressure, and then he began to rub it, making small circles against her sensitive flesh. Cecelia bit her lower lip to contain a moan of ecstasy. Joyces voice came through the microphone, and she sounded angry. She said, Cecilia, that bitch was released on bail, and your father was useless. Tell me what I should do? Cecelia tried to reply, but all that came out was a low-sounding groan. Joyce: Cecilia, whats wrong with you? Where are you? Are you sick? Cecelia: N-N-N-Nothing is wr-rong D-D- D-Dont w-worry Ive g-g-g-got a p-n W When Im r-ready ah Ill t-t-tell you. Richard was so cruel. He had never put so much effort into pleasuring her, and he was only doing it now to torture her. Then, suddenly, he thrust his manh**d into her, and her hips rose to feed on his girth. Joyce asked another question, but all Cecelia could do to prevent herself from screaming was clench her teeth, make her hands into fists, and dig her nails into her palms. Richard slowly retracted his hard member until its tip hovered above Cecilias vulva. Then, in a show of force, like a sword being sheathed, he rammed his manh**d back into her. This time, she could not contain herself, and as she began to shriek in pleasure, Richardughed. You little naughty bitch, he said. Youre amazing. He began to plunder her for all she was worth, pumping up and down like a hyperactive jackhammer. As a reward, Im going to fill you up. *** At Air Cosme C Crystal had thought that the dinner Nathan invited her to was a date. Thus, she was surprised when she saw Alex Jordan and Owen Lane waiting for them in the private room that Nathan had reserved for them. Alex and Owen were equally surprised to see Crystal. They had thought that this was a Boys Night Out.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Owen: Hey, Nathan. Todays our big brothers weing party. Im surprised you brought one of my girls. Arent you afraid of what our big brother will say? Crystal was a student at Olman University, and Owen was the headmaster of the school. So, in a sense, she was one of his girls. That being said, thebel, in this context, seemed inappropriate. Your girl? Alex scoffed. Guard your tongue. Crystal stood quietly behind Nathan. She had no idea what they were talking about, and she was more than a little worried. Chapter 103: She Is My Woman Nathan gave Crystal his jacket, and she dutifully hung it up for him along with her own. Then, as they sat down at the table, he made the introductions. Crystal, he said, These are my brothers, Owen Lane, Alex Jordan.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Crystal nodded and said, Its nice to meet you. Then Nathan put his arm around Crystal and red at his brothers. Crystal is my woman, he said seriously. So, no funny stuff, you hear me? The other two nodded, and Owen said, Of course. That goes without saying. Alex: We would never take anything that belonged to you. Owen: Yeah! Everybody knows to stay out of your way. Suddenly the door opened, and Antony and Eric barged in. Nathan smirked at Eric and said, Not everyone knows that. I mean, I, for one, certainly do not know that! Ericzily leaned against the door frame. He had a cigarette in his hand, and he took a casual drag from it. He held it in for a moment, and then he blew the smoke into Owens face.. Then, as he took a second drag, his fox-like eyes turned to Crystal. Isnt that right? he asked. Crystal was taken aback. She frowned and turned away, saying nothing. I didnt know that Nathan Davis was the man whod tried to im you, Eric said. Why didnt you say so? Nathan and I grew up together. When we were little, we shared many things, including a yard and a pair of pants. He sighed. s, that was then, and this is now. Nothing eversts, does it? Eric and Nathan had been like brothers, but theyd had a falling out, and now they hated each other. If it hadnt been for their big brother acting as a mediator, once upon a time in the early days of their careers C they might have killed each other. Antony nodded to Owen and Alex, and they moved over so that he could sit down beside them. When he looked up, he could see the murderous look in Erics eyes from this angle. Below the anger, though, he could also see a dark sadness. Erics rage had been birthed by pain, and Antony worried about what would happen next. After all, Eric wanted Crystal, and he typically got what he wanted. And he was never unwilling to fight for what he wanted. Nathan red at Eric but remained silent for the moment. Nathan and I have had our disagreements, Eric continued, but that doesnt mean we cant be civil around each other. Then, he touched Crystals shoulder and said, Make some room for me, will ya? Crystal moved over, and Eric sat down beside her, across from Antony. Then he crushed the remaining of his cigarette on the table. The air was thick with tension, and for a while, nobody said a word. It was like time had been put on pause, and they all knew that things would never be the same once it started up again. There was a sense of danger at the table, and it was palpable. Finally, Antony turned to Alex and asked, Wheres big brother? I thought he would be here by now. Alex: Hes gone to theb to get the results. Antony: From the paternity test? Alex nodded, and Antony said, If Im big brothers blood brother, that wouldnt be so bad. But the alternative would be unbearable. Alex: You dont trust the results Leslie showed us, do you? Antony: Of course not! And neither does big brother. Alex took his pants off as they talked, folded them, ced them on the table, and farted. Owen frowned and said, Thats disgusting! How dare you take off your pants and fart like that, and with Mrs. Davis here no less! How rude! Your sense of consciousness gone? Crystal blushed, and she said, Theres no need to be formal around me. Make yourselffortable, and please, call me Crystal. Theyve not yet married, Eric said, so it is premature to call her by Nathans surname anyway. Nathan remained silent, but the corners of his mouth lifted to form a half-smile. He knew Eric would still deny the fact that Crystal is his woman and stubbornlypete with him. Suddenly, the door opened again. Several men in military uniform walked in, and all of the men at the table stood up to greet him. The man in the lead was General Arnold Corin, and the other men were his bodyguards. When the General saw Crystal, he smiled and said, And who might this be? This is Crystal, Nathan said, answering for her. She is my woman. Then he turned to Crystal and said, This is my big brother, General Arnold Corin. Crystal was impressed by Arnold. She had thought that Nathan had a muscr build, but Arnold made his muscles look small inparison. Eric smiled, and he hugged Arnold. It is good to see you, he said. What a sight for sore eyes. It has been too long, hasnt it? Arnold nodded and agreed that it had, indeed, been too long. Then he hugged the other men, andstly, he hugged Crystal. As they parted, Arnold swept the hair out of Crystals face, and he stared into her eyes for a few seconds. Then he turned to Nathan and said, This must be the girl that you called in the army to rescue from the corrupt police. Nathan nodded. She is, he said. What a mess that was. Arnoldughed and said, I dont envy whoever had to write up the paperwork. Arnold had a gentle voice. His tone was soft. His pitch was low, but he spoke with authority. And power. Here is a man who could put the fear of God into a man without raising his voice C thought Crystal. She didnt know what to call him, so she looked meekly into his eyes and said, General Corin, I dont know what to call you General Corinughed, gave Crystal another hug, and said, Thats sweet of you to say, but youre family now; call me Arnold. Chapter 104: Would You Let Me Kiss You? Owen happened to look in Erics direction, and he saw that the other man was seething. His face had turned red, and the veins in his neck were bulging out. He was clenching and unclenching his fists, and he was ring daggers in Nathans direction. Owen turned to Nathan and was not surprised to see his trademark self-satisfied smirk. Oh, fuck C thought Owen C If I dont do something quickly, were going to have World War Three here! Owen pped his hands together five times to get everyones attention, and once he had it, he said, We are all excited about having Arnold back with us, but you must all be as hungry as I am, so lets settle down and get the waiter in here so that we can order!.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. An excellent idea! Alex said. He sat down first, and everyone else sat around him, assuming the seats theyd previously upied, with Arnold sliding in next to Crystal. And while they were getting settled, Antony went outside to get the waiters attention. When Antony returned with the waiter, Nathan smiled at Arnold and said, Big brother, why dont you order first? But Arnold didnt hear him. He was too distracted by the ck leather cor around Crystals neck. Eric frowned and said, Is there a problem, Arnold? Arnold ran a finger along the cor and said, This is a problem? Eric rolled his eyes and said, Thats nothing. Are there any real problems? Arnold sighed and said, There might be. Alex: Was there a problem with the test results? Arnold shrugged and said, It seems that the report Leslie showed us was urate. Alex: So, you and Leslie are not rted by blood? Arnold: That seems to be the case. Alex: What are you going to do now? Arnold: What can I do? I can do nothing. Leslies grown up, and I cant handle her wild temper. Shes 21 years old now. I need to marry her off before she gets any worse. Owen: Theres no need for you to worry about that. Now that Leslie isnt our sister, we can wash our hands of her. Alex: And besides, we dont even know where she is, do we? Arnold: No, we dont. Despite all of my efforts, she is still missing. Eric stretched and turned to face Arnold. Lets change the topic, he said. Arnold, I want you to be our witness. What is this about? Crystal asked. It is about a debt owed and a favor promised, Eric replied. He turned to Nathan and said, You remember, dont you? Owen gasped, and the room went silent. Oh, shit! he thought. Alexs face had turned white as he suddenly remembered that Nathan still owed Eric one undeniable favor. If Eric called that favor now and demanded that Nathan reject Crystal, things could get very ugly. Crystal didnt know what Eric was talking about, and she looked around the table nervously. Nathan nodded and said, I remember. And I am a man of my word. Eric: What if I said that I want Crystal? Nathan: Then I would tell you to ask her if she wants you. I dont own her. Eric: If she said she wanted me, would you stop pursuing her? Nathan: It doesnt matter. She doesnt want you. Crystal looked back and forth between the two men. She didnt like being treated like a piece of meat, and she felt embarrassed and sick to her stomach. These men were acting like two dogs fighting over a bone. But I am no mans bone C thought Crystal. Arnold saw the look of difort on Crystals face, and he said, You two need to stop acting like kids and behave yourself. We all came here to have a good time. Lets order our food and try to make the most of this night without fighting! He clenched his fist. I had better not have to repeat this because if I do, heads are going to roll! Nathan took a deep breath, nodded, and apologized to Crystal. Crystal hadnt anticipated Arnolds help, and she kissed him on the cheek and thanked him. Nathan began to regret bringing Crystal. He had to worry about Eric and Arnold now. They ordered their food, and then Crystal excused herself to go to the restroom. She didnt need to go to the washroom, though. She needed a break from the men at the table. Once she was alone in front of the mirror, she sshed cold water over her face and looked at her reflection. She wasnt much to look at. She knew that, and she had never understood why men were always fighting to be with her. It makes no sense C thought Crystal C I am too much of an uggo to warrant this much attention! Suddenly, Eric barged into the womens washroom, and Crystal was so startled that she nearly peed. Eric red at her from across the room. Tell me! he growled. Tell you what? Crystal cried. Eric: Tell me if you were the girl that spat beer all over my face at the Merah Club. And tell me what is going on between you and Nathan Davis. Crystal was surprised by his demand. She said, I cant believe you havent figured this out on your own I have some ideas, Eric said, but I want to hear you say it. Crystal: What if I told you that all of your inferences were correct? What then? Eric: Then, I would respectfully ask for onest thing before we parted ways. Is it a kiss that you want? Crystal asked. She was slightly unsettled by Erics sudden willingness to cease his pursuant of her. And she felt more than a little wary of this sudden change of attitude. She thought, suddenly, of the big bad wolf-What big teeth you have, Grandma! The better to eat you with, my dear! Eric took four steps forward, bridging the gulf between them. Then he smiled and tucked a loose thread of hair behind her ear. Would you let me? he asked. Would you let me kiss you onest time? Crystal took a deep breath. What if I said no? she asked. It would be toote, Eric replied. Then, as the words left his mouth, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. Chapter 105: Should I be Honored? Crystal was caught off guard as Erics sculptured lips pressed down on her. She was able to turn away at thest minute, though, and his kissnded on her cheek. Luckily, Eric was not annoyed by her cheeky maneuver. Crystals faint fragrance was like a sweet orange blossom. It prated his nose and moistened his lungs. He winked at her. Then he lowered his face into her neck, and before she knew what was happening, he was sucking on her sensitive skin. Stop it! Crystal shouted. She pushed him away with all of her strength. Then she reached out to p him across the face. The sound was jarring, and it left a ringing in his ears. Eric could have dodged it, but he didnt. He was willing to take anything she wanted to give him, even if it left a coppery-blood taste in his mouth. Because it was Crystal that had hit him, the taste of his blood was like a pleasurable malt sugar. Does your hand hurt? he asked. Next time you want to hit me, just tell me, and Ill just hit myself. Crystals brow furrowed. Are you crazy? Crazy about you, Eric replied. Crazy like a Mad Hatter, but as crafty as a fox. Crystal gave him a nk look, and she was about to leave, but he grabbed her wrist. Did you guys make it? he asked. Crystal, What do you mean? Eric, I mean, did you make love? Did you fuck? Well, did you? You can tell me if you did, and Ill forgive you. Crystal blushed and said, I guess its none of your business. Eric looked at the red flush on her face and then at the bruised mark that hed left on her neck. I see, he said presumptuously. And do you know why he didnt touch you? Crystal was ufortable with his smug eyes on her. She said, Sorry, I dont want to know. Eric gazed at the cor around Crystals neck. The ruby on the pendant was getting brighter and brighter. What a coincidence that history is repeating itself, he said. It seems that fighting for women is our inevitable fate. Be careful, and dont fall in love with him. Youll regret it if you do.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Crystal frowned. She thought that he sounded like a crazy person. Not only that, but his remark made her eardrums ache. She wondered C Why does falling in love sound so dark and scary? Suddenly her cor felt hot against her skin. She shouted, Take it off! Oh, crap! Eric snickered in mock-dismay. I forgot the code. Whatever will I do? Crystal rolled her eyes and shook off Erics hand. Eric, There is another way to unlock the ne. Crystal, What way? Eric leaned back against the wall, lowered his head, and smirked. Then he gave her a malicious look, quickly kissed her lips, and said, Have sex with me. Before Crystal could reply, Nathan stepped into the room. He was smoking a cigarette, and his face was void of any emotions. He looked as if he were the King of the Dark. He let go of his fag and crushed it under his foot. Then he stepped forward and punched Eric in the face. His fist hit his jaw. His face was twisted to the wall, and blood sttered out of his mouth. Thatll teach you to kiss girls that dont want to be kissed, he said. Give her to me Eric said as he looked up. He licked the blood that was pooling on his bottom lip. and let bygones be bygones. And then, from his seated position, he punched Nathan in the gut. Nathan flinched, but he had rock-hard abs, so he was not seriously hurt. After he got over his surprise, he lifted his knee and smashed it under Erics chin. Erics chin mmed up towards the ceiling, but Nathan had left his genitals unguarded, and Eric punched him in the d*ck, which really fucking hurt! The two went blow for blow, and even after they were both bruised and bloodied, they kept going. Finally, Crystal had enough. She said, Hey! You two, thats enough! I have no interest in either of you dunderheads. The two men stopped fighting momentarily, but by the way they were looking at each other, she could tell that they would be ready to get back to their fight any minute now. She frowned and said, Come on, you guys. There are better ways to solve your disagreements. Fighting is so childish! Of course, the men didnt like to be called children, so they stopped immediately. Eric turned to Crystal and raised his eyebrow. He said, Well, so this is what it looks like when my girl gets angry. This is the second time Ive fought for a woman with the same man. He gave Nathan a significant look as if to remind him of something. So what? Crystal asked. Should I be honored? Well, Im not, and it will never work out between us. You dont get a say in the matter, Eric sneered, and he seductively licked a pool of blood from his bottom lip like a vampire. Im tough, and I always get thestugh, he said. Besides, I love the way you taste, and Im looking forward to the next time Im able to press my lips against yours. He straightened up and shot Nathan a determined look. She will be mine! Nathan leaned against the wall. Even after the fight, his face was still more beautiful than anything in the world, and his slightly wrinkled brow and unmistakable frown gave it a masculine charm. Hisugh was low and arrogant. It was apparent that he didnt respect Eric; he didnt even reply to him. This silent response, however, was more powerful and frightening than saying something would have been. At this time, Nathan was like a blood-thirsty animal eager to break out of his cage and go on a killing spree to vent his anger. When Nathan looked at Crystal, he saw the faint bruise on her neck, and he remembered how Eric had kissed her lips. Without warning, he reached out and grabbed her hand. She tried to get free, but he squeezed so hard that she thought he was trying to crush her bones. Crystal frowned at Nathan as he yanked her into the mens room and mmed the door shut behind them. What are you going to do? Crystal cried. This is the mens room! Nathan seemed not to care, though. He knew what he was doing. Once they had a little privacy, he wanted to remove the kiss that Eric had left on her lips. Chapter 106: Shut Up Nathan lifted Crystal and forced her to sit on the counter. Then he turned on the tap, wet his handkerchief, and used it to rub her lips. He acted roughly, without any tenderness, as if he wanted to wipe the skin off her lips. Eventually, Crystals lips began to burn, and there was a fishy-sweet taste in her mouth. Whats going on? C she wondered. She tried to push him away and asked him what he was doing, but he refused to let her go or answer any of her questions. Instead, he roared and mmed his handkerchief down on the counter. Nathan condescendingly pinched Crystals jaw, and he began to kiss her all over her face. These kisses were different from his previous ones. Then, they were overbearing, crude, and aggressive. She felt as if he was trying to absorb her life force, and when he started gnawing at her lower lip, she assumed that he had lost his mind entirely. Crystal shouted, Youre out of your mind! And she tried to push him away, but he was too strong. He kissed her forehead. Did Eric ever kiss you here? he asked. Like this? Crystal red at him. Maybe. But, so what if he did? she snapped. Whats it to you?!?! She found his possessive attitude really annoying. Nathan: I never knew that you were so good at seducing men, but now that its in to see, I cant see how I didnt see it sooner. You first seduced Carlos, then Eric, and now me. Whos next? Do you have standards? I dont think so, but I dont know why you pretended to be chaste and innocent when in reality you were anything but. Crystal never thought that he would use such strong words against her, and she felt utterly humiliated by them. Since you think Im so good at seducing men, she said, you should know that my trick is to y hard to get. And you took the bait, like a fool C hook, line, and sinker. Do you know why I went to the Merah Club that night? I was looking for Eric. I love watching men fight over me. It makes me feel powerful. What do you have to say about that? By the time Crystal finished her speech, she was furious. Take that back! Nathan shouted. Take it back, NOW! I wont! Crystal said stubbornly. You dont like being yed with, do you? Or maybe you just cant face the truth I lost my virginity to one of those men, though. Did you know that? When Nathan heard that, he got so angry that he punched the mirror behind Crystal. It shattered. His skin broke, and his knuckles began to bleed. When Crystal saw the blood, she said, Oh my gosh! And she tore off a piece of her skirt to wrap his hand. Suddenly, Nathan picked Crystal up and threw her over his shoulder. She struggled to get away, but he was too strong for her. She shouted, Stop it. Are you out of your mind? Your hand is bleeding. Put me down! But he didnt say a word in return. As they left the washroom, Nathans bodyguards fell in line behind them, and nobody dared to look at them as he carried her out of the restaurant and forced her into his car. Once she was strapped into the vehicle, he got behind the wheel, and they fled the ce. Slow down! Crystal shouted as they hit thest speed bump. Youre going to get us killed! Nathan shouted at her, Shut up! After that, Crystal didnt dare make a sound, not even when they sped through a red light and were almost killed. Finally, they arrived at the Beverly vi, safe and sound atst. Crystal wasnt sure that she was safe, though. Nathan scared the Hell out of her. Please let me go, she whined. Let you go? Nathanughed and said, Thats funny. You dont think thats a possibility, do you? Then, without waiting for a reply, he hauled her from the car, into the house, and up to his bedroom. He threw her on the bed, and then he went back to shut and lock the door. When he turned back around, he noticed that she was trembling. Youre so sensitive, she scoffed. The nervous expression on her face was an incredible turn-on for him. Nathan walked over to the bed and climbed on top of Crystal. Underneath him, she could feel his manh**d harden, and it pressed ufortably against her pubic mound. He pulled the nket over them, and suddenly she was so hot that she felt like she might vomit. But, unfortunately, she couldnt even move. Now she regretted some of the things shed said to him. Now hes going to force me for sure-she thought. Dont forget that you promised you wouldnt force me to have sex with you for a month, she said, hoping desperately that he would stay true to his word. If you force me, I will be very unhappy with you. Thats fine, Nathan said. I just want to check to see if your hymen is intact. As he spoke, he lowered his hand to the waistband of her skirt. He was furious about what shed said in the washroom, and he wanted to announce to the world not just that she belonged to him but that she had never belonged to anyone else. Crystal began to panic, and she tried to argue with him, but when she opened her mouth, he blocked her words with his kisses. With his free hand, Nathan coved the leather cor that was locked around her neck. He hated that ne. He couldnt look at it and not think about Eric and wonder if Crystal had given him her virginity. We will see soon enough, wont we C thought Nathan. Despite his intent and excited anticipation, he discovered that he was sad and didnt know why. Is this a vition? C a meek inner voice wondered. Definitely not! C a more authoritative inner voice replied.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Crystal continued to struggle, but he didnt give her the slightest chance to rebel. He had given her chances in the past to be good and to be obedient, but she had blown them all. His rough palms rubbed her delicate skin, and he watched as her epidermis turned an attractive shade of pink under his magical ministrations. Nathans hand slipped under the stic of her panties, and he tickled the light down that covered and protected her vulva. Crystal flinched away from his fingers. Dont touch me! she shrieked. Chapter 107: Say You Want Me Nathan pulled his hand out of Crystals skirt and hoisted himself up on his elbows to hover over her. He had an angry frown on his face. Why are you so desperate to get away from me? he asked. Is it because of Eric, or does it have something to do with the ne? Crystal wanted to tell him that he was paranoid, but he blocked her words with a violent kiss when she opened her mouth. The kiss was so vicious that she couldnt bear it. She started to struggle again, and before she knew it, he hadid back on top of her again so that she couldnt move. Crystal could feel Nathans bing more intense as he bent his head to nibble on her earlobes. Then, suddenly, he raised his head, looked her in the eye, and said, Youre mine; everything you do and all that you are belongs to me.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. When Crystal heard this, her body began to tingle. She could feel his desire, strong, hot, and hard against her. The pressure made her toes curl, and her struggles lost their intensity. And as he began to kiss her neck, she felt her desire to resist him fade away. Nathan tickled her ear with his tongue. Say you want me, he whispered. Suddenly, Crystal felt like her abdomen was a little bloated. This was a sign that her period was starting, and she began to panic. If he forced himself on her, and she bled on him, she would be very embarrassed. She shook her head as she clung to what little remained of her sanity. I wont say it, she moaned. Never! And you cant make me! Nathanughed and said, You are a fool, but that is okay because you are my fool. My little fool. I can make you do or say whatever I want you to say. You arent still insisting that you dont want it, though, are you? Nathan grabbed Crystals hands, and he held them above her head with one hand. She tried to fight him off, but her struggles were in vain. Then, once shed given up, he pulled up her skirt and ced his hand against her vulva on top of her panties. He gently massaged her genitals, and despite her fears, the pleasure center in her brain took over. She moaned as she raised her hips to meet his hand and increase the pressure. Her face was beet red, and she was more embarrassed than shed ever been in her life. She didnt think she could control herself, but when she saw the smug look on his face, she was able to push his hand away and tell him to stop what he was doing. Why did you stop me? Nathan asked. He was genuinely bewildered. You liked it, didnt you? Crystal began to cry, and she turned away from him so that she wouldnt have to look him in the eyes. Nathan: What is it? I th-think I j-just had my p-p-period, Crystal stammered. Nathans eyes went wide as he pulled his hand away from her wet core, and he climbed off of her as quickly as he could. He was terrified. She had bled through her panties, and his hand was glistening, painted red by her shed uterus lining. He held his hand as far away from his body as he could, and he began to curse at Crystal for what shed done to him. Couldnt you have held it in? he asked. That isnt h-how it w-works, Crystal replied. She pressed her hands together and held them out as if theyd been tied. C-Can you -let me g-go now? she asked. Fine, Nathan growled. Take a shower and clean yourself up. Leave your panties on the floor. Ill have the servant take care of them. Crystal nodded ufortably. She didnt like to be told what to do. Of course, Nathan knew that about her, so he said, I wont force you to clean up if you dont want to. Its okay, Crystal mumbled. She looked down and saw that there was blood trickling down her leg. Ill have a shower. I dont have any clean underwear, though, or pads Nathan: Ill have the servants take care of it. What brand do you prefer? Crystal: Tampax, I guess, but any brand will do. Nathan nodded and left the room, and then Crystal went into the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind her. Men C she thought absently- they never seem to know anything about anything It would be cute if it werent so damn aggravating! Once she was in the tub, she turned on the water as hot as she could, sat down, and brought her knees to her chest. More than anything, she wanted to cry, but her eyes remained dry. Thus, she was unable to vent any pent-up pain, rage, embarrassment, or shame that she was feeling. More than anything, she hated that when he sexually assaulted her, it brought her pleasure. She felt like her body was a traitor, and she didnt know how to bring it in line with her conscious thoughts. Finally, she stood up, cleaned her body, and got out of the tub. While shed been having her shower, Nathan had filled the room with shopping bags. The servants had bought every brand and size of the pad, tampon, and panty liner that was avable. Along with these, there was also an assortment of womens underwear, everything from lingerie to boxers to grannie panties. He means well-she told herself as she selected a pair of modest blue cotton underwear and pressed a medium-flow pad to its crotch. When she went downstairs, she found Nathan waiting for her in the dining room. Hed made tea, and he poured her a cup as she descended the stairs. Here, he said. Drink up. Its peppermint tea. The pharmacist told me that it would help with the cramps. If you are still not feeling better after that, you should go to bed early. Crystal nodded and thanked him. She thought it was funny how he could be so thoughtful one minute, but at other times he could be such a predator. It urred to her that he was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and the thought brought nofort. Chapter 108: Who Are You Saying Goodbye? Nathan tucked Crystal into bed, and when he climbed in beside her, she didnt think she had to worry about him forcing her. She assumed that when she was menstruating, he wouldnt be interested in having sex with her. Shey on her back, and heid on his side beside her so that he could look at her and rub her distended belly. His touch felt nice, and it alleviated some of the pain from her cramps. Before long, though, his hand began to wander up towards her breasts. What the fuck? C thought Crystal C This man is relentless! She rolled over to her side and brought her arms to her chest to protect herself from his advances. She could hear his huffing behind her. He was obviously displeased, and after a few minutes, he said, Are you sure that you want to sleep on your side? Arent you afraid of side leakage? You seem to know a lot about period hygiene, Crystal said usatively. She assumed that hed gained his knowledge by being with other women. Nathan: You can lie down on your back. I promise I wont touch anything except your stomach. Crystal sighed and rolled back onto her back, and he ced his hand on her stomach. And before she knew it, shed fallen asleep. *** The next day, when Crystal woke up, Nathan was gone. It was at half-past nine. She sat up slowly and reached for her phone, and when she turned it on, she saw that there were dozens of missed calls from Eric and Serenity. The ones from Serenity were asking if she was okay. She messaged back to say that she was, but she didnt even bother to open the ones from Eric. Crystal was hungry, so she got out of bed, washed up, dressed, and went downstairs for breakfast. She had a toasted bagel with cream cheese and a cup of peppermint tea, which she enjoyed while watching the ten oclock news. She tuned in just in time to catch a bit about the stock market, and the news anchor was talking about how The Henry Group had taken a significant hit. For two days in a row, their shares had been at an all-time low. She wondered how much worse things would get and if Nathan was to me for what was happening. Crystal finished her bagel, and she was turning off the TV when her phone buzzed. Shed received a text message from Serenity that said, Thank god! I can finally catch my breath. As soon as you get this message,e to school! Crystal replied that she was on her way. Then she grabbed her backpack and left the house. A blue Buick was waiting in the yard, and the driver came out to open the door for Crystal. Why did you change cars? asked Crystal.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Mr. Davis specifically ordered me to drive a low-key car, replied the driver. Thest time you were offered a ride, you turned it down because it was luxurious. Do you remember? Crystal nodded and said, Well, this car looks a lot nicer. The driver was speechless. He didnt understand Mrs. Daviss strange preference in vehicles. But I dont want to take the car today, Crystal continued. I want to walk by myself. The driver was beside himself, and she was gone by the time he thought of something to say. Crystal chose her favorite songs on her phone and put them on her earphones. She liked to listen to music while walking. As she passed a bus stop, a massive motorcycle stopped in front of her. The driver was dressed in ck leather, and his helmet was red. He called out to her: Hey, pretty, get on my motorcycle! Crystal took two steps away from the road and continued walking without saying a word. The motorcycle kept pace with her, and when the driver took off his helmet, she was shocked to see that it was Eric. Crystal frowned and said, Leave me alone, Eric. Im not getting on your motorcycle. Eric: Are you in a bad mood? Come drag racing with me. Its the coolest. Come on, give it a shot! Crystal stopped suddenly. She turned to him and asked, How fast does your bike go? Up to 370, Eric replied. A sinister smile appeared on his face as he spoke, and he offered her an extra helmet. Crystal took the helmet, put it on, climbed onto the bike, and wrapped her arms around him. Hold on tight, Eric said. Then he revved the engine, and the bike shot out like a bat out of hell. In less than a minute, Eric had the bike up to 100, and he quickly brought it up to 260. They were going so fast that everything was a blur. Crystal would have thought that shed be afraid, but the rush from the speed and the feeling of the wind against her face and her body pressed to Erics back had a calming effect on her. Somehow, the faster they went, the less real her problems seemed. Faster! Faster! she shouted, not knowing if he could even hear her. Behind them, they were being followed by two off-road vehicles, but Crystal didnt notice them. Eventually, they stopped at a clearing at the top of a mountain. They took off their helmets as they got off the bike, and Eric lit up a cigarette that hed drawn from a pack in his pocket. He took a drag, held it for a half minute, and let it out in a series of Os. Then he turned to Crystal and said, I can give you whatever Nathan can give you. And more. Do you want to reconsider? Crystal sighed and said, Im not interested in either of you. As far as Im concerned, the two of you may as well fall in love with each other! After hearing Crystals words, Eric began to cough and choke. Once he was over his shock, he said, Thats not funny! Anyway, Crystal continued. Its not me that you love, its the chase. Theres something about thepetition that turns you both on. This has happened before, hasnt it? Eric sighed. It has, he admitted. Nathan and I fell in love with a woman that no one could rece. It is just as I expected, Crystal said. There was a cliff nearby, and she walked to the edge. Then she looked down upon the valley and shouted, Goodbye! Eric looked at Crystal as if she had gone insane. Who are you saying goodbye to? he asked. Crystal: Im saying goodbye to you and Nathan. Chapter 109: What A Phony Bitch Eric sighed and said, You may as well get back on the bike. This conversation isnt going anywhere, so I may as well take you to school. *** When Serenity saw Crystal pull up in front of the school on the back of a motorbike, she rushed out to see if anything was wrong. Once she got to the curb, she said, Crystal, I was so worried about youst night. I called you so many times, but you didnt answer. I was scared to death. Then she saw Eric and was immediately distracted by his good looks. Is that Eric? she asked. This is Eric, Crystal replied. Im sorry I didnt return your tests. I got my period, so I went to bed early. Serenity: What on earth is going on? Crystal: What are you talking about? Serenity: All the videos on the Inte have been deleted, and the publics opinion is being controlled. Do you really have no idea what Im talking about? Not only that, but I heard that the people who assaulted you were arrested. Was Professor Davis behind this? Did your father hire the people who assaulted you? Crystal: I guess so. Serenity: Anyway, we can talk about thatter. What are you doing on the back of a motorcycle? Are you crazy? Crystal: Eric saw me walking and offered me a ride. Its no big deal. Serenity: Is it that simple? You cant fool me! Since when have we kept secrets from each other? Crystal: Come on! Stop it! Serenity grabbed the helmet out of Crystals hand and passed it back to Eric. We should get to ss anyway, she said. Crystal nodded, said goodbye to Eric, and they walked in the direction of the school. There was still some time before ss started, and Crystal had nned to study in the Library, but Serenity insisted that they go to the Auditorium, and she wouldnt tell her why. When they got to the Auditorium, Crystal saw that there were many lines of students, and the room was so full of people that the smell of sweat was barely bearable. Serenity asked her if she had her Student ID card and Drivers License with her, and she wasnt sure if she did, so she checked her bag. Once she found her identification, she held it up for Serenity to see. Well? Ive got them, she said. Now what? Serenity: Have you forgotten that the ss director is looking for two hot assistants for the economic channel? Crystal: Oh, I almost forgot. But Im not hot Serenity dragged Crystal into the line. Dont worry, she said. Im hot enough for both of us. Are you sure we should sign up? Crystal asked. There are so many people. Well have to wait in line for hours, and we probably wont get the job anyway. Serenity: Come on, dont be like that! Think about it; if you get hired, youll be able to work at a TV station. Why dont we get in separate lines and see who gets to the front first? Crystal shrugged and said, Sure. Serenity joined a short line, and Crystal stood in the one next to her. Serenity: I heard that this recruiting session is open to all of the university and college students in the city. No wonder there are so many people. Crystal: Oh, dear. There must be thousands of people here! Serenity: I guess so. This position is very popr, and everyone wants to work at a TV station, and these kinds of opportunities are few and far between. But if God is on our side, we should get the positions! When Crystal heard that, she began to panic. So, do I need to pray to him every day? she asked. Serenity: Yes, you do. Crystal thought about that for a minute, and then she realized that she was silly. She didnt understand why she would put her hopes in someone she didnt believe in. She said, Oh,e on. I think its better to rely on myself. Anyway, I believe in Karma. If you do good things, good things will happen to you. And Im a good person, arent I? Serenity: Yes, you are. You rock, girl. I admire your values, but you may suffer losses because of them one day. The line moved forward slowly, and they were able to take a step forward every minute or so. It seemed that Crystals line was moving faster, though. Serenity looked at her watch and frowned. Then she turned to her friend and said, I dont get it. Crystal: What? Serenity: Since they require professional candidates, why wouldnt they recruit from their Host Department? Crystal shrugged and said, Think of the hype. Serenity: The hype? What do you mean? Crystal: If students with Host majors dont know about finance and economics, they would not be qualified. The job of being a Host is easy and requires little training. Thus, it is better to hire someone with a more rounded education. Do you get it now? Serenity nodded but said nothing. As they got closer to the front, someone came by and handed them clipboards with applications pinned to them. There wasnt much to them, and both girls were done quickly. The person collecting the applications was Tiffany Ford, and when Crystal saw her, she suddenly felt sick to her stomach. She hadnt seen Tiffany since she was staying at her house with Nathan. Tiffany wore gorgeous make-up and was the most beautiful teacher at the school, and when she saw Crystal, she smiled sweetly. What a phony bitch C thought Crystal, and she smiled back and waved. Tiffany walked up to Crystal. Oh, its you! she eximed, Crystal, we havent seen each other for a long time! She took Crystal and Serenitys applications and added them to an envelope she was carrying under her arm. Hello, Miss Ford. I was a bit taken aback when you left me as suddenly as you did. Crystal spoke softly but emphasized the word suddenly to imply that not only had Tiffany left without saying goodbye, but she had run away as if something had scared her off.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Im sorry about that, said Tiffany. There was an emergency, and I wasnt able to say goodbye. Ive felt bad about it ever since and was hoping to run into you like this so that I could apologize and here we are. Crystal: Here we are Tiffanys face turned red suddenly. She giggled and lifted her hand to cover her mouth. Of course, Crystal knew what the emergency was, and Tiffany knew that she knew. Chapter 110: I Appreciate Your Apology Tiffany had lost her sincere smile, but she quickly reced it with a false one. She turned to Serenity and said, Im going to change my shift right away, so why dont you and Crystal join me for a bite to eat? Then, she turned back to Crystal and said, There are some things that I want to talk to you about anyway. Crystal wanted to say no because she didnt want to share a meal with Tiffany, but she wanted to hear what the woman had to say. So, after signing up, Crystal and Serenity followed Tiffany out of the school. As they were leaving, Serenity remembered that she had to stay at school and meet up with one of her teachers, so the other two walked to a nearby restaurant without her. As they walked, Tiffany said, The selection process for the Host position is verypetitive. I have several rted books that I could lend you. Ill bring them to you another time. Crystal nodded and said, Thank you. Tiffany: Anyway, I wanted to tell you that Im sorry about what happened when I left, but there were too many people in the auditorium to exin what happened. Never mind. Crystal shook her head and said, The past is in the past. Right? Tiffany: That may be so, but Id still like to exin myself. You see, I was foolishly sentimental. The other day, Professor Davis called me and said that he could reverse his decision to demote my dad, but only if I went to stay at the Beverly vi. They arrived at the restaurant and stopped a few meters away from the door. It seemed that Tiffany wanted to get the conversation out of the way before they went inside. I was acting like a silly schoolgirl, Tiffany continued. I thought that Professor Davis had a crush on me, but I waited for four hours that day, and he never showed up. Then I learned that Professor Davis had found out that there were people taking pictures around the neighborhood. To protect you, he was using me as a decoy. Crystal thought this was too much information for her to digest. Did Nathan do all of this for me? C she wondered. Tiffany paused and smiled bitterly. I was jealous of you, she admitted. And even now, I dont understand why Professor Davis tried so hard to protect you. At the time, I did a series of things in an attempt to discern the truth. Now that I think about what I did, I realize how stupid they were, and I feel embarrassed. Not only that, but they have been eating at my conscience. Thats why I asked you out today so that I could exin what happened and apologize, and hopefully clear the air between us. After all, we will see each other at school every day, and I dont want it to be ufortable. Crystal was shocked by Tiffanys words, and even more so when she took out a box of jewelry and passed it to her. Here, she said. I didnt have a chance to return this to Professor Davis. Crystal took the box with a puzzled expression on her face, and when she opened it, she was more than a little surprised. Inside was an amber cufflink with a ck spider iid in the middle. The arachnid was so detailed that the hair on it could be seen. This is a handmade, one-of-a-kind cufflink C thought Crystal. The jewelry box is mine, Tiffany exined. I wanted to protect the cufflink, so I put it inside. The cufflink looks fancy, but it doesnt suit Professor Davis. None of his outfits require cufflinks. Crystal nodded and said, Thank you on behalf of Professor Davis.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Tiffany: Now that is out of the way, shall we go in? Crystal nodded and said, Why not? *** By the time Tiffany and Crystal were done eating, Crystal saw no point in going back to school, so she decided to go to the hospital. Tiffany still had one more ss in the afternoon, so she headed back the way theyde, and as she walked, she thought C Crystal is only 18 years old, but she is charming, and her future is full of possibilities. Its no wonder Professor Davis is willing to protect her. She is so lucky. When she got back to the school, she located Crystals application form, and she tore it up and threw the pieces into the trash can. After the delightful lunch theyd had, Crystal would have been shocked by Tiffanys behavior. She knew that the woman was two-faced, but she would have never guessed that she was as jealous of her. Thus, by the time she arrived at the hospital, all thoughts of their lunch had left her conscious mind. When she arrived at the hospital, she went directly to the room where her father was, only stopping briefly to get a cup of peppermint tea. Her cramps were still bothering her, but the drink helped. She also got a coffee for her father, ck, as he liked it. Todd was resting in his bed. It had been set to a sitting position, and he was reading the newspaper. When he saw his daughter, he smiled and said, There you are. Come on in. Auntie Green was just here, but she went home to get a little shut-eye. Crystal returned his smile and brought him his coffee. Then she sat down in the chair beside him and said, I have a question for you. Todd: Go ahead. Crystal: Did you hire the person who threw eggs at me in front of the hospital? No. Of course not. Todd closed the newspaper, sighed, and said, Why would you think that? What about Mrs. Green? Crystal asked, ignoring his question. Do you think she did it? Todd: Crystal, I dont know who did this terrible thing to you, but we didnt have anything to do with it. Why would we? Look at me. Im old. I dont want to spend the rest of my life fighting. Id rather make peace with my mistakes and go to my grave with a clear conscience. Crystal bit her lip and said nothing. Your grandfather did leave all of his shares to you, and we had no right to take them, Todd admitted. But there are some things that your grandfather didnt know. I did you wrong, and Im sorry about that, but I still have a big family to raise. And now you have Nathan. The Henry Group is nothing to you, but to us, it is everything. Crystal: I appreciate your apology, but there is someone else you need to apologize to. Todd: I know that I owe your mother an apology. When I get out of the hospital, I will go to her grave and solemnly apologize. Crystal: Good. And when youre done apologizing, Ill think about convincing the Brilliant Group to stop buying The Henry Group. Todd: But Im afraid that The Henry Group wontst that long. Crystal shrugged and said, Youll just have to try and get better faster. Todds mouth dropped open. He was aghast and at aplete loss for words. Chapter 111: You Will Regret It If You Let It Go Crystal stood up, nodded to her father, and said, Alright then, I should get going. Wait! Todd eximed, practically shouting. I have something to tell you Crystal sighed impatiently and said, Go ahead. Todd: Crystal, after your mothermitted suicide, I went to see her psychologist. Crystal froze. You did? I did, Todd replied. And he said that guilt was the cause of her depression. She was cheating on her investments. Crystal: Wait a minute. Are you saying that she got depressed because she was cheating on her investments? Thats what Im saying, Todd replied. She was cheating on her investments. She sent the money to the same ount. I cant find out who the ount belongs to. I wanted to tell you earlier, but a lot has happenedtely. I dont believe you, Crystal said belligerently. Dont you? Todd asked. Dont you think its suspicious that your mother gave your inheritance to Mr. Davis? Crystal began to panic. Suddenly, the room felt narrow, and the air seemed very thin. I dont want to talk about this anymore, she said. I already told you that I had to leave. She was calm on the surface, but the thoughts in her head were raging like a storm. She had always wondered why her mother had chosen to give her inheritance to Nathan, and when Todd pointed out her concerns, it made her feel like she was going crazy. *** Crystal looked calm on the outside, but on the inside, her thoughts were a jumbled mess. Ever since her mothers death, she had wanted to know why Nathan had received her inheritance, and the questions that often came to her mind caused her a lot of stress. Thus, when her father brought the topic up, she began to panic. Walking out of the hospital, Crystal felt as if her feet had been dipped in the lead, and every step seemed harder to take than thest had. She trusted her father not to lie to her, but something didnt seem right with what hed said. She thought that he might be using her to try and kill his rivals, and that didnt sit well with her. Crystal walked aimlessly down the street, taking random turns here and there, and was surprised to discover that her feet took her to the front steps of the Brilliant Groups HQ. She stopped for a second, and then she went inside. Since she was there anyway, she had something she needed to talk to her husband about. Andy was just getting out of the elevator, and when he saw her, he rushed over to wee her. Crystal smiled, but his eager behavior put her off. It felt false somehow. Can I help you? he asked. Im looking for President Davis, Crystal replied. She gave the man a quick lookover, and it urred to her that he had changed a lot since theydst seen each other. Andy: President Davis is in the office. I will open the door for you. Crystal: Dont bother. Ill do it by myself. Crystal took the elevator up to Nathans office. She went in without knocking, and when she saw the way he was bent over at his desk, she frowned. He had his right index finger and thumb pressed against his temples, his eyes were slightly closed, and she could tell that he was in pain C so much so that he wasnt even aware of her presence. Nathans thin lips were slightly closed, and his eyebrows were twisted together. Through the haze of pain, though, he caught a whiff of her perfume. It was a familiar sweet orange flowery fragrance. He looked up and asked, When do you get here? Does your stomach still hurt?Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Crystal walked over to him, climbed into hisp, and nodded. Nathan frowned at her. Then what are you doing here? he asked. Shouldnt you be resting? I want to stop the acquisition of Henry Group, she replied. Nathan pulled Crystals hair. He seemed to have known Crystals decision in advance. I think thats a bad idea, he said. This is a good opportunity. You will regret it if you let it go. Crystal squealed in pain, and when he let her go, she looked him straight in the eyes and said, Why is that? Why will I regret it? You will see, he replied ominously. Crystal shook her head and said, I dont believe you. Nathan smirked and said, You have to believe me. You have no choice. At least give me a reason, Crystal said. If you cant give me a reasonable exnation, then I want you to stop the acquisition of The Henry Group. I swear I will not regret it. And besides, you said that the choice was mine! Nathan shrugged and said, Fine. Have it your way, but dont say that I didnt warn you. I will call off the acquisition. Are you satisfied? Crystal forced herself to smile and said, Thank you. She climbed off of Nathansp and walked to the door. When she turned to say goodbye, though, she saw that he was scowling at her. What is it? she asked unhappily. Nathan: Is that it? Crystal: What do you mean? Nathan was about to speak, but before he could get a word in, Andy hurried in and said, President Davis, something important hase up! Nathan looked at Crystal and said, I will have my driver take you back. Well talkter. Crystal nodded and left the room. After she was gone, Andy handed over some documents to Nathan, saying, I just found the ount that the money was transferred from. Mary received 100, 000 dors from a man named Hans. What do you know about this guy? Nathan asked. Andy: Only that Ms. Smiths mother, Elsa, once remitted arge amount of money into his ount. This suggests that he and Jessica have had an improper rtionship. Nathan tapped his finger on the table, meditated for a moment, and muttered, So, Jessica was the cause of Elsas depression. Andy: It would seem so *** After leaving Brilliant Groups HQ, instead of asking Nathans driver to take her home, Crystal decided to walk to a nearby bookstore so that she could buy some books. She wanted to learn more about the Host position that shed applied for. Shed heard that there would be a written test, and she was anxious to begin her studies. The sun was hot, so there were not many pedestrians, and Crystal found herself enjoying the leisurely stroll. She kicked at a stone and stopped to watch it bounce into the street. Suddenly, Crystal began to feel as if she were being followed. When she looked around her, though, she saw nothing out of the ordinary. Just to be sure, she hid behind a bonsai tree that had been nted in front of a bakery. Chapter 112: This Is Kidnapping It wasnt long before a man passed by her. He was a burly man, and he was wearing a ck suit. When he realized that he had lost Crystal, he stopped and looked around. Crystal peeked around the tree to try to identify the man stalking her and immediately recognized him as one of Nathans bodyguards. She didnt like it when Nathan treated her like a child, and she decided to get rid of this stalker. The stalker slipped into the bakery to see if Crystal had gone in there, and the minute he was out of sight, she made a mad dash to the bookstore. The bookstore had a total of three floors, and each floor stored books for different ages. For example, economics and professional books were on the first floor. Crystal checked some information on the inte by herself and selected several popr books based on their ratings and reviews. There were not very many people near the bookstore, and as Crystal was leaving, someone grabbed her from behind and used a chloroform-soaked handkerchief to cover her face. She immediately began to struggle, but it was of no use. The man was too strong, and she was getting weaker by the second. *** In a meeting room at The Brilliant Groups HQ-The air conditioning had reached its maximum, but the men around the table were still sweating their balls off. That is how hot it was in the building, and the acrid smell of sweat that filled the small enclosure seemed to be nearly as anxious as Zyklon B. The heat was oppressive, but one by one, the managers still managed to present their proposals. It was a depressing yet efficient affair, as everyone wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. The meeting was nearly over, but as thest presentation was being given, Nathans face began to turn red, and he cut the presenter off mid-sentence. Is this what you call a proposal? he shouted. Did your braine up with this? I doubt it! This proposal is nothing more than a rehash of things that have been used for years. There is no creativity in it at all. You should be ashamed of yourself. A child could do better with nothing but Google as an aid, so what do I pay you for?!?! Although the managers were ustomed to Nathans strict outbursts, they never failed to make them jump. They knew that their job was in jeopardy, and as long as they worked for Nathan, it would remain that way. This was his managerial style. It was a fear tactic that was intended to keep them on their toes. If not for the high pay, many would have long since sought employment elsewhere. Nobody dared to speak. All of the managers hung their heads in shame. The meeting hadsted two hours, and nobody had managed to please their boss. Suddenly, Nathans phone buzzed. He checked his message, and when he dismissed the manager early, they let out a collective sigh of relief. *** When Crystal woke up, she was very confused. Her hands and feet were tied up, her mouth was taped shut, and she didnt know where she was. Her head ached, and the smell of chloroform remained in her nostrils. She opened her eyes, but she couldnt make out much in the dark room. She was in a warehouse. She could see that much, and the only source of light came from beneath the iron door across from her. There was an old fan nearby, and it was blowing stale air into her face as its ancient des squealed. Nearer to her, there was a rusty army cot. Where am I? C Crystal wondered- Who did this to me? And what can I do to save myself? Suddenly, the door opened. It creaked, and a ray of light blinded her, forcing her to close her eyes, making it impossible for her to see who had entered. Finally, she was able to open them, and it was Richard that she saw. Oh, fuck!- thought Crystal.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Richard chuckled when he saw the fear in her eyes, and he said, I told you that we would see each other again. And here we are! Even if Crystal could have spoken, she would have been speechless. Two men with dogs entered after Richard. They closed and locked the door behind them, and everything was dark again. The dogs were Tibetan mastiffs, and they looked vicious. Crystal began to tremble. She wondered if they were there to eat her face. Richard squatted down in front of her, stretched out his hand, and yanked the tape off her mouth. Of course, you probably didnt think that this is how wed run into each other, he continued. He chuckled wickedly and said, I have prepared for today for a long time. What do you think of my game so far? Crystals mouth was bleeding where the tape had been, and she couldnt move. What are you going to do? she cried. This is kidnapping! And its illegal! Richard allowed the dogs to get right up into Crystals face, and they began to growl viciously. Therge Tibetan mastiffs seemed to be starving, and she feared what they could do to her much more than she feared anything that he could do. Tell me something I dont know, Richard said. Then he stretched out his hand and pinched her chin. It is illegal, but so what? Do you think I give a shit about the Laws of Man? I make my own rules, answering to no one as I bend people like you to my will! Crystal bowed her head and tried to bite him. Unfortunately, her chin was locked in ce by his fingers, and the more she struggled, the more he hurt her. Richard remembered how Crystal had kicked him in his manh**d and how she had nearly slit his throat with a broken bottle. After that, his friends began calling him Scaredy Cat and Scared Stone. It was infuriating. Now that he had her in the palm of his hand, he intended to make her pay. Her pain would be his balm, and his revenge on her would earn him back the respect of his peers. There was a knock on the iron door, and Richard smiled wickedly. Come in, he shouted. You have a key. Crystal heard the sound of a key click into ce and turn. Then the door was pulled open, and several tall men appeared. They had objects in their hands, and although they handled them in a manner most threatening, she could not make out what they were. Richardughed and said, Set the scene. One of the men pulled the steel bed away from the wall while another began to set up lights. Reflectors were ced near the lights, boom mics were set up over the bed, and three cameras were ced at various ces around the room. All of them were aimed at the bed. This is all stage Equipment C thought Crystal, and she began to tremble C What the Hell has Richard got nned for me? Chapter 113: Justice Will Be Served Once Richard was satisfied with the arrangements in the nearly empty warehouse, he pulled a chair over to where Crystal was tied up. She tried to look away, but he grabbed her chin and forced her to turn her head in his direction. There was a shark-like Cheshire grin stered to his face, and his eyes had a wicked gleam to them. He Booped her nose with the index finger on his free hand. Look at everything Ive set up for you. Today will be your first day on set, and I promise you that it will be a st. He chuckled and said, It will be for me at least. Anyway, be obedient, and I promise to make this film as beautiful as I possibly can. Do you understand? Crystal refused to answer his question, and while Richard was momentarily distracted, she turned her head and bit into the tender flesh between his thumb and index finger. He tried to pull away, but she wouldnt let him go, and as her incisors cut into his flesh, he stopped struggling. You bitch! Richard shouted, and he pped Crystal across the face with his free hand. Her head cracked to the left, and the ring on his middle finger split her lip, but she still wouldnt open her mouth. Thus, when her head turned, his hand came with it, and the flesh began to tear. Blood spilled into Crystals mouth, causing her to lose her grip on his hand then, and he quickly pulled it out of her mouth.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Richard brought his wounded hand to his mouth and sucked at the tender flesh. Then one of his men brought him a bandage, and he used it to cover and contain the injury. Once that was done, he turned back to Crystal and said, I hope you enjoyed that because you will live to regret it. You are so disobedient, but I will teach you obedience. You just wait and see. Richard grabbed Crystals hair and pulled it back, forcing her to look him in the eyes. He stared at her for a second, and then he chuckled. I have such ns for you, he said. I dont know how, but I almost forgot about the dogs. Have you ever made love to a dog? Youll love it, Im sure. After all, you are a bitch. When Crystal heard that, she shivered, but she tried to pretend that she was less frightened than she was. You wont get away with this! She growled. Justice will be served in the end. Do you think people like me are afraid of Justice? Richard sneered. Thats hrious! What are you going to do? Sue me? He turned to one of his men and said, Put her on the bed. The man nodded, walked over, and threw her over his shoulder. Then he walked over to the cot and ced her down gently. Suddenly, the stage lights lit up, and Crystal struggled to sit up. The lights were hot, and they were so bright that she couldnt see past them. Thus, she worried about what the men were doing and what they had nned for her. Crystals heart rate increased as tears welled up in her eyes, and she began to hyperventte. If you knew who I was, you wouldnt be doing this to me, she cried. Richard: It doesnt matter who you are, it only matters who you belong to, and that person is me. I have selected you to be my ything. You should feel honored. Arent you afraid of offending Master Bush? Crystal argued. She thought of the cor around her neck and the bite marks on her body. There are other men who have alreadyid im to me! Richardughed cruelly and said, Master Bush has so many women. Who are you? You are just one among many. I know Bushs type. Fuck em and forget em. Thats his style. You didnt think you were special, did you? Ha! Thats adorable. He Booped her nose again to show her just how adorable she was. Look at my cor! Crystal shrieked. Anyone who Master Bush has cored is under his protection, you dumb ass! Richard looked at the leather cor and touched the red jewel at its center. Now that hed seen it, there was no denying who Crystal belonged to, and he wasnt sure if he dared to offend her master. He frowned as he thought about the night that she had wronged him. Eric had been there too, and that suddenly struck him as curious. He hadnt stepped in to defend her, so maybe the cor didnt mean as much as it seemed to. That being said C Is it worth the risk? Crystal saw that her words had made an impression on Richard, and she said, If you let me go, I will ensure that no harmes to you for what youve already done. Richard thought about it for a moment, and then he grinned. You know what I think? he asked. fuck Eric Bush! He turned to the man that had carried her to the bed, nodded, and said, You can go first. The man giggled appreciatively. He said, Thanks, boss! Then, like the predator that he was, he slunk over to where Crystal was tied up. Crystal brought her knees up to her chest as best she could. If y-you l-l-let m-me g-go, she stammered. I w-will p-pay you ten C t-times wh- wh-what h-he is While talking, she struggled desperately, and already her wrists were shredded and bloody. She didnt have time to care about the pain, though. All that mattered now was getting away. The man touched Crystals face and said, I get paid well enough, and this job has its perks. He leaned over and pinched her nipples through her shirt. You get what Im saying. The man began to untie Crystals ropes, and when they were all off, he pointed to the dogs and said, Get a look at the size of their c*cks. I think theyre even more excited than I am! While Crystal had been distracted, Richard had fed them Viagra for dogs, so they were raring to go, and they were barking like crazy. Chapter 114: Be Gentle With Her (Warning: This Chapter contains inappropriate words. If youre notfortable reading it kindly skip it and move to another chapter)This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Crystal tried to push the man away, but he was like a brick house. You cant escape, he said. But if you show these dogs a little enthusiasm, well let you go. Behind the lights, Crystal could hear Richardughing. He sounded like a madman or a viin from aic book, like The Joker or Madcap. If you are good to the dogs, they will be good to you, the man continued. They dont want to bite you. They only want to fuck you. Crystal wrapped her arms around her knees. Even fully dressed, she feltpletely exposed. She looked at the two Tibetan mastiffs with their big mouths, sweaty tongues, and swollen members, and her whole body began to shake. Take off her clothes, Richard said. The man grabbed Crystals shirt to pull it over her head, but in her fear, she turned into some kind of spastic beast. Her body flopped all over like an epileptic having a fit. Her face contorted into a rictus of pain, and from between her gritted teeth, there came a shrill, high-pitched screech: screeeeeehhhhhhh! Richard nodded to the other men, and four of them stepped forward. Each one took an arm or a leg, and they pinned her to the cot. Once she was incapacitated, Richard sighed, and he mockingly asked her, Why are you fighting? My dear, if you hadnt wanted this, you wouldnt have behaved the way that you did. He turned to the man that had put her on the bed and said, Anyway, I hate to see a woman cry. Why dont you knock her out? The dogs dont care if their lover is conscious, and they are getting impatient. Crystal didnt need to be knocked out, though. After hearing what Richard had said, she promptly passed out. The men quickly stripped her clothes off, and then the dogs were let off their leashes. The two Tibetan mastiffs pounced on Crystals naked body, and they immediately began to sniff at her pubic mound. *** Crystal dreamt that she had been dropped out of the sky into a deep and dark valley, and the fall seemed like it would never end. Eventually, though, her body hit the ground, and she woke up. Every part of her body ached. She slowly opened her eyes, and when she realized where she was, she began to cry. She was the only person in an empty and cold warehouse. The iron door was still closed and likely locked. She was naked except for her socks, her body was bruised and bloody, and her head ached. Suddenly, she heard a noiseing from the chair where Richard had been sitting. She turned her head and saw that there was aptop sitting on it. A video was ying on the screen. She saw herself on it, naked and lying on the cot she was currently on. There were two dogs, one on either side of the bed, and they were sniffing at her wet core. Crystal squeezed her eyes shut and began to scream, and she didnt stop screaming until shed screamed herself horse and passed out from exhaustion. When Crystal woke up again, the first thing she did was m theptop shut, and she refused to reflect on any of the pain she was feeling or on the ordeal shed gone through. If I am going to get out of this alive C she realized C I am going to have to pretend that none of that happened. I need to quit freaking out and start using my head! Crystal struggled to sit up and then stand. She saw her shoes sitting neatly under the chair, and not wanting to bend down, she forced them on without undoing theces. The rest of her clothing was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, she heard a key click into ce in the metal door, and she turned in that direction, horrified. The door opened slowly, and the light filled the warehouse as Nathan stepped into it. Crystals heart leaped with joy. Free atst! C she thought. Crystal began to walk towards Nathan, but she began to feel dizzy by her second step, and her vision began to go fuzzy. Im g-g-gonna fall, she stammered. Oh, no, youre not! Nathan eximed. He rushed forward and, just before she hit the ground, he got his arms under her, and he caught her. He picked her up and kissed her forehead. He saw cuts and bruises all over her body, and he said, My baby girl, what have they done to you? Crystal tried to reply, but no words came out, and when she thought about what had happened, she was so ashamed that she didnt want him to know anyway. She wrapped her arms around his neck and silently wept. Nathan: Lets get you home. *** At the Beverly vi C Crystal sat on her bed and allowed her to be subjected to Dr. Phillips examination. He checked to make sure nothing was broken and that there was no internal bleeding. He took blood and urine samples and did aplete rape kit on her. Dr. Philips was their family doctor, but he had brought a female physician with him to make her feel morefortable. When the doctor was done with the examinations, he turned to Nathan and said, There are 23 wounds on Mrs. Davis body. Some of them are more severe than others. The worst of them are dog bites, and she will need to have a rabies shot. When Nathan heard this, he was so angry that he kicked the coffee table, and when it hit the wall, the ss shattered into a million pieces. Crystal was still in shock, and when she saw how upset Nathan was, she thought she must have done something wrong. Im s-so-sorry, she stuttered. Nathan frowned and said, No, I am the one that should be sorry, and I am. I should have been there sooner. This is entirely my fault. Crystal was trembling, and he asked her if she was okay. When she didnt reply, he turned to the doctor and asked him what was wrong with her. This has been very tough on her, the doctor replied. Be gentle with her. It will take time for her psyche to heal. We cant imagine how traumatic getting assaulted by dogs must have been for her Nathan clenched and unclenched his fists in rage as he thought about what had happened to Crystal. Whoever did this to her, he said, is going to pay. Big time! Chapter 115: It鈥檚 A Fake Video Nathan sighed as he knelt beside Crystal. He tenderly tucked her hair behind her ears and gently said her name. You are safe now, he said. The danger has passed. Crystal hung her head. Such was her shame that it seemed impossible to look him in the eyes. Nathan touched her chin, though, and lifted it. Say something, he said. You can do it. Dont let that man get to you. If you do, he wins. Still, she could not meet his eyes, and when he finally realized that he wasnt going to make any more progress at this time, he sighed and said, Shall we go to bed? When she didnt reply, he picked her up andid her on the bed, tucked her in, and crawled in beside her. She buried her face on his chest, and he gently stroked her hair with his hand. Crystaly still, but she did not fall asleep. She knew that Nathan still wanted to talk. Nathan: Dont you want to know what happened between Eric and me? I know what happened, Crystal said. How could I not? Erics youngest sistermitted suicide because of you. You could have helped her, but in the end, she took her life over things that you did and didnt do. Nathan: Eric and Helen both have the same nes that you have. Because of this, Eric has never forgiven me. Out of guilt, I once said that I could give everything I had to him, but I refuse to give him you. Crystal: No matter what happens, I wont let you go. Not even death can keep us apart. Nathan: Dont worry. I will kill everyone who has hurt you today. When Crystal heard this, she finally felt safe, and she fell asleep. In a private room at the Merah Club C Richard Stone sat with a smug expression of satisfaction on his face. He had a beer in one hand, and there were beautiful women on either side of him. He had his free hand up the skirt of the girl on his right, and when his fingers found her pubic mound, she jumped, and a little squeal of delight escaped from her lips. Mr. Stone, she scolded him. You are such a naughty boy. She made no move to remove his hand. Her outrage was purely for show. Instead, she put her hand over his and pressed it tighter against her vulva. Richard raised his eyebrows and smiled. Then, after taking a swig of his beer, he set the can down and pulled out his phone. Using one hand, he deftly pulled up the video of Crystal being assaulted by the two dogs. He pressed y, and the woman was mesmerized by what he showed them. Moreover, they were impressed by his deviant tastes. Once they were done watching the video, Richard forwarded it to Cecelia, who he thought would be particrly interested in it. Cecilia and Joyce were still at the bar when she received the video. They watched it together, and they were tickled pink by what they saw. They watched it three times, and then Cecelia sent Richard a text message. It said, Thanks. This is precious. You are my idol! You are too kind, Richard replied, and he was about to post the video online when his bodyguard tapped on his shoulder. Then he leaned over to whisper into his ear. Before he could get more than a few words out, though, Nathan Davis burst into the room. His face was red, and he had a gun in his hand. It was a Maxim 9 with an integrated silencer. The women began to scream, and they fled the room. Richard looked up. y dumb C he told himself. What is this about? he asked innocently. Without saying a word, Nathan aimed the gun at his thigh and pulled the trigger. The sound of Richard screaming was louder than the gun, and blood began to gush out of the hole it had left in his leg. Still ying dumb, Richard stammered, Ah-M-M-Master Davis. P-Please spare- my- my life. I d-d-dont even know what I d-did wrong! Nathan aimed at Richards other leg and put a bullet through his kneecap, and he fell backward into the bench seat. He was losing a lot of blood, and his face had turned white. What did I do? He cried. You know what you did, Nathan hissed, to Crystal. I didnt know she was your woman, Richard cried. If I had, I never would have done what I did. Im so, so sorry. Please forgive me. Nathan smirked at putting a bullet through Richards left hand. Bullshit! He hissed. Ah- Richard screamed. I didnt touch her, nor was she touched by dogs. Nathan put a bullet into his right arm. Ive seen the video, he said.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Its fake! Richard shrieked. A bullet whizzed past Richards head, clipping his ear before exploding in the seat behind him, and he passed out. Nathan called one of his men into the room and said, Castrate this piece of shit. I want his c*ck off along with his balls. But what about the video? The bodyguard asked. Ill have myputer guy deal with it, he replied. You take care of this guys balls, and Ill worry about everything else. *** Crystal was waiting for Nathan when he arrived back at the Beverly vi. She was sitting on the stairs with a book in her hands, trying to read. Every time she looked at the words, though, they seemed to get all jumbled up in her mind. What cha reading? Nathan asked. Steinbeck, Crystal replied. She showed him the cover of a beaten-up paperback edition of The Red Pony. Im not making any progress, though. We need to get you back to the hospital anyway, Nathan said. For your first follow-up. Mywyer is going toe with us. *** When Richard woke up, he found himself in a hospital bed. He had been shot four times, and his genitals were gone. When he realized this, his face turned white, and he promptly passed out. *** As chance would have it, as they walked through the hospital, they happened to pass by Richardss room. When Crystal saw him, she quickly hid behind Nathan and Carter. Richards limbs were bandaged, and he was incapacitated, but he still frightened her. Ironically, he was as afraid of her as she was of him, and when he saw Nathan, he began to shake all over. When Nathan saw that Crystal was afraid, he said, I think you should face your fear. Chapter 116: 200 Million Dollars Compensation When Crystal heard this, she shook her head back and forth violently, but he insisted that she must, that it was for her own good. Nathan led Crystal into Richards hospital room, and when he got to his bed, he pped his fist down on his genital area: Where his c*ck and balls had been only hours before. Richard shrieked, and a nearby doctor rushed in. Whats going on here? he demanded. Richard looked back and forth nervously between the doctor and Nathan. His face had turnedpletely white. What happened to my manh**d? he cried, horrified. I dont know what happened, the doctor admitted. You must have really pissed someone off. Nathan and Carter chuckled when they heard this particr turn of phrase, and the doctor began to blush ufortably. They cut your genitals off and fed them to your dogs, he continued. But dont worry, our stic surgeon will construct a workable pee hole for you. Richard shuddered, and when he said nothing more, the doctor left. On his way out, he crossed paths with Nathansputer guy, who was on his way in. Whats up? Nathan asked. I didnt expect to see you here. **** Nathansputer guys name was Randy Shortly, and when he walked into Richards room, he had a huge grin on his face. He looked at Nathan and said, Guess what, boss? Just tell me, Nathan replied. Randy: The video is a fake. The brutality is all CGI. When Nathan heard this, he hugged Crystal and said, Well, that is a relief! Crystal looked up at Nathan, and tears of relief and joy filled her eyes. It is no wonder that my private part doesnt hurt C she realized. Master Davis, I just wanted to scare her. Really I didnt hurt her at all, Richard said weakly. and now I am ruined. Youre lucky that I let you live, Nathan said. You messed with fire, and you got burned. I dont know what you thought would happen Richard sunk into his bed and said nothing in reply. Suddenly, Richards Mother barged into the room. She took one look at Nathan and attacked him with her purse. I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! she shrieked. How dare you do this to my son? I will never forgive you! Nathan grabbed the woman by the wrists and pushed her against the wall. Your son got what wasing to him! he growled. Richards mother was frantic. Put me down, she cried. I have awyer, and I will sue you! I will see you in jail, and you will lose everything. Nathan smirked. I doubt it. He turned to Carter and said, Meet Mr. Carter. He is mywyer. Carter nodded and said, Mrs. Stone, I am thewyer representing Mr. Davis and Miss Smith. There is video evidence that your son kidnapped Miss Smith. He is also guilty of Assault with a deadly weapon, Kidnapping, Attempted Murder, and Defamation of Character. Furthermore, there is an insurance policy. Mrs. Stones: What policy? Carter: ording to the policy that Mr. Davis put in ce, Richard is legally bound to pay Crystal 200 million dors aspensation for what he did to her. Mrs. Stones face turned white, and she said, I dont believe it. I will call mywyer tomorrow, and I will sue you. Youll see. Whatever. Carter shrugged and said, Itll cost you a bundle in court fees, and youll lose. But its your funeral. Nathan smirked at Mrs. Stone and said, Anyway, well leave you alone with your daughter. Mrs. Stone was aghast. D-d-daughter she nearly choked on the word. Wh-why did you c-call him th-that? she stammered. Nathanughed. Well, if he doesnt have a c*ck, he cant be your son, can he? Perhaps the stic surgeon can use the remaining flesh to build him a nice WET CORE! Then he turned to Carter and Crystal and said, Lets leave these twodies alone. Crystalughed cruelly. He deserves this! C she told herself, and when they were in the hallway, she asked Nathan if everything was going to work out in the end. He nodded, and as he took her hand into his own, he said that it would be. Crystal: What was the policy Carter was talking about? Nathan looked at Carter, who exined that Nathan had put a billion-dor policy on her Mr. Davis really cares about you, he added. Crystal looked at Nathan, and she began to cry for no reason. Every time she cried, she would rub her snotty nose against his clothes. He didnt care, but he liked to tease her about it. He rubbed her nose and said, If you cry, my clothes will suffer. Crystal smiled and blew her nose into his cor. Nathanughed and said, There you go, ruining my clothes again. They went to sit in the Waiting Room, and while they waited, Nathan asked Crystal, What kind of music do you like to listen to? I like Louis a lot, Crystal replied. You know that rock and roll and heavy metal are my favorites! Nathan frowned. What do you like about Louis? Crystal: I like his songs. He is a very talented singer. Nathan: A lot of people are good at singing Crystal: He is also handsome. Looks are superficial, said Nathan. But if you like him, then lets go see him in concert. Go now? Crystal asked. But I still have to see the doctor! Forget your doctor! Nathan eximed. Lets go to a concert instead. Those dogs didnt even assault you, remember? Crystal shrugged and said, Okay. Lets go. Nathan: I just need to stop at the mall to buy a new shirt. I cant go anywhere with your boogers all over me! Crystal giggled when she heard that, and her cheeks turned a light shade of pink. ***This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. When Crystal and Nathan arrived at the mall, they decided that they should both get new outfits for the concert. She selected a long-sleeved shirt to cover her cuts and bruises, he chose a white t-shirt with a blue sports jacket, and they went into the same change room to try the clothes on. Once they were alone, they took off their clothes, but before Crystal could dry on her shirt, Nathan hugged her from behind. Then he leaned forward, kissed her neck, and licked her earlobe. Crystals sensitive body trembled slightly, and she gently pulled away from him. Later, she mumbled. Ill make it worth the wait Nathan nodded, and he smiled in lusty anticipation. Chapter 117: Why Are You Here? A luxurious ne picked Crystal and Nathan up from the malls roof. It had a luxurious interior, and it was more like the interior of a presidential suite than any ne Crystal had previously been on. It had a full apartment suite,plete with a living room, kitchen, bathroom, jacuzzi tub, recreation area, and bedroom. They were both tired, so they went straight to the bedroom toy down. Before long, they were both asleep, and they didnt wake up until the ne wasnding in Harbour City, where the rock show was to take ce. **** Nothing was too good for Crystal, so Nathan had spared no expense to ensure that they had the best seats in the house. All around them, the crowd was going crazy. They were shouting, Louis! Louis! Louis! And Crystal was screaming right along with them. She was like a teenage girl at a New Kids On The Block concert in the 80s, and she didnt care if she looked ridiculous.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Nathan handed Crystal a handful of glow apparel to wear around her wrist and neck and glow-sticks to wave in the air when the lights went down. Louis was Crystals idol, and she couldnt wait to see him. Nathan, though, seemedpletely disinterested. He sat stiffly in his chair. asionally he checked his Social media, but Crystal could tell that something was wrong. At the very least, he was bored. Are you excited to see him? Nathan asked. Crystal: Of course! This is a big deal! Thank you for making this happen! Nathan scowled but said nothing, and Crystal wished she knew what was bothering him. She thought C If he didnt want to be here, he didnt need to take me. Suddenly, there was amotion at the end of their aisle, and all of her concerns disappeared. *** The girl behind them pointed to the end of the aisle and shouted, Look! Look! Its Chris and his girlfriend! The audience began to shout the young mans name C Chris! Chris! Chris! and he waved to his fans, hugging the women and giving high fives to the men as he passed them. He was wearing a well-tailored white suit, his grin went from one ear to the other, and his girlfriend, Judy Brown, was walking behind him. She was wearing a red low-cut evening dress, a tight fit that left little to the imagination, and her makeup had been applied so thick that it was impossible to guess what she looked like underneath it all. Judy strutted down the aisle like a movie star walking the red carpet. Chris looked at their tickets, and when he pointed out that their seats were the same. row as Crystal and Nathan, Judy scowled. What the fuck is this? sheined. Am I a celebrity, or arent I? We were told that we would have the best seats in the house, but theyve seated us next to these. She snubbed her nose at Crystal and Nathan and finished her sentence: these peasants! Chris sighed and said, y nice, sweetie. Its not a big deal. Not a big deal? Judy hissed. How can you say that? Youre a hot singer, and you are one of Louiss guests of honor. You shouldnt have to sit with the general public. It is undignified! I disagree, Chris said. Were just people, like everyone else. Stop acting like such a spoiled brat. Judy was so shocked by his words that she couldnt think of anything else to say to argue her point. Thus, when he led her to their seats, she had no choice but to follow behind him as she silently seethed. When they sat down, though, herints returned, and she turned to address Crystal. Excuse me, she said. Are the two of you personal guests of Louis? Crystal shook her head absently but didnt say anything. She was too busy showing Nathan something on her phone. Only invited guests of Louis can sit here, Judy snapped. She didnt like being ignored. You must be sitting in the wrong ce. Would you leave, please? We both know that you dont belong here, so you should return to your seats before I have you removed by force. Crystal looked at Nathan and asked him if they were in the wrong seats. He said that they werent and told her to ignore the annoying woman beside them. Then, when Crystal sat up, Judy saw Crystals face for the first time, and she was shocked. Crystal Smith! she eximed. Fancy meeting you here! Crystal turned her head and looked at her high school friend in disbelief. Judy Brown! Is that you? she asked. I didnt recognize you with all that makeup! Why are you here? the two asked in unison, and then they both began tough. Crystal smiled and said, I am here for the concert, of course; the same as you. But what a small world, eh? I didnt expect to see you here! Judy lookedpletely different from how she looked in high school, and it wasnt just the makeup. Crystal remembered that Judys family was not rich, so she had always dressed shabbily, and she had been a loner- not by choice. Crystal had been the only student willing to be friends with her. Three years had passed since then, though, and apparently, the ugly duckling had been transformed into a beautiful white swan. As Crystal sized up Judy, Judy sized up Crystal, Judy wasnt the only one that had changed, and she would never have guessed that one day shed be able tond herself a boyfriend as hot as Nathan was. Of course, even though he was good-looking, she doubted he was as famous or talented as her boyfriend, Chris. Crystal smiled and said, Judy, you look a lot prettier now. Really? You havent changed a bit. She nced at Nathan and said, That must be your boyfriend? Crystal nodded and said that he was. Judy: What does he do? Hes just an average man, Crystal replied. Judy took Chriss hand and said, This is my boyfriend. He is a popr singer. Thats good, Crystal said absently. In truth, she didnt care much for a progress report from Judy. Of course, Judy assumed that when Crystal learned that Chris was her boyfriend, she would go insane with jealousy. Judy puffed out her chest and said, My boyfriend is much better looking and more talented than most men! Crystal chuckled. Oh, really? Really! Judy smirked and said, By the way, our big boss, Master Walker, organized a three-year high school reunion for this weekend. You shoulde. You are wee to bring your BF! Crystal: Why wasnt I invited already? Judy: Arent you in our graduating ss group chat? There is a notice there. Let me add you to the group. I was a part of the group, Crystal admitted. But I left the group chat. Judy: I dont me you. Some of the people in the group are annoying, but its good to stay connected. Otherwise, you could miss stuff like this! Chapter 118: I Fell In Love Long Time Ago Crystal was about to say something, but then the lights went out, and her attention was diverted to the front of the stadium. People began to cheer, and as they screamed their idols name, a bass guitar began to y the opening riff to the number one hit song, Smash You On The Flip-Side. The stage lights came on as fireworks lit up behind the drum kit, and Louis walked on stage. He was wearing a ck leather jacket and a pair of trousers, and he had a red guitar slung across his back like an old-timey gunslinger. When he got to the microphone, he grinned as he made the devils horns with his hands, and the crowd went wild. Are you ready to rock?!?! he shouted. The drummer followed the bass line, and all of the lights converged to create a multi-colored spotlight and focused on Louis. The synthesizer joined the bass and the drums, and he began to sing: I caught her on the side of the road. Her cheeks were cherry red. Her thumb was raised up in the air. I thought C I want her dead And so the song went. Crystal was hypnotized. Without turning away, she said, Nathan! Hes so hot! Dont you think hes hot? *** Nathan was slightly perturbed by what Crystal had said about Louis. Does she think hes hotter than me? C he wondered. He was going to say something, but he was caught off guard by what was said next between Judy and Crystal. Judy pulled at Crystals hand. Isnt my boyfriend handsome? she asked. Crystal shrugged, but Judy wasnt deterred. She assumed that everyone was jealous of her. She squeezed Crystals hand and said, Hey, just admit it. I know you envy me, and I dont mind. I could even help you get Louis and Chris signatures. Crystal wasnt envious, though, and she said so. Im just here for the music, she added. As a person, Louis doesnt interest me. Judy smirked and said, Thats probably just as well. Guys like Chris and Louis arent interested in ordinary girls like you anyway. She waved a fluorescent stick andughed. I just told Chris to pick your boyfriend to go up to the stage during the interactive session, she continued. He will get a prize! Crystal shrugged again. She knew that Judy was just showing off, and she didnt want to give her any satisfaction. She worried, though, that the other woman might be setting Nathan up for a disaster. Is she hoping to make a fool of him? she wondered. Before she could warn him, though, the spotlight lit up his face. Louis extended his hand in Nathans direction and said, At this time, Id like to invite my friend, Nathan Davis, to the stage. Crystal turned to Nathan. She put her hand on his arm and said, This is boring. Just ignore him. Nathan was sitting elegantly in his chair with his legs crossed one over the other. His eyes were partially shut, but there was a faint smile on his face. From the expression on his face, Crystal had no way of knowing what he was thinking. Frantically, she turned to the stage and began to wave Louis away. Unfortunately, Louis was not deterred. He looked out into the crowd and shouted, My friend seems to be a little shy. Why dont you give him some love? Lets let him know that this is a safe ce! The crowd began to p and cheer and shout Nathans name: Nathan! Nathan! Nathan! Crystal cried out, Damn it! They are absolutely relentless. She turned to Nathan and said, Lets just go home. I dont think so, Nathan said. Slowly, he stood up. Crystal gasped and pulled at his arm. What are you doing? she asked. Nathan lowered his head and whispered seductively into her ear: You can tell meter whos the hottest. As Nathan made his way towards the aisle, someone shouted, Wow! Hes so hot! Hes as handsome as Louis! Someone else yelled, Why do I feel like hes more good-looking than Louis? Is he a new singer? Someone asked. Maybe hes one of Louis protges? Otherwise, why would Louis invite him on stage. Aaaaah! Someone shrieked. Do you think he has a solo album out? If so, Im going to be one of his fans!This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Nathan took to the stage with confidence, and everyone, including Louis, was impressed by him. Suddenly, Louiss agent hurried on stage and said to him, Cancel the game. Louis frowned. What the hell is going on? C he wondered. His agent had looked afraid, and that scared him. Not knowing what else to do, he stepped back and waited for a cue from his agent telling him what to do next. Nathan lifted his arms in the air, and the crowd went wild with excitement. Then he walked to the piano, sat down, and spoke softly into the microphone. This is an original song, he said. Its called, Fallen In Love With You Long Long Ago. Its dedicated to my souls true beloved. As he spoke, he teased the keys with his fingers until a beautiful melody emerged. Crystal was shocked. Shed had no idea that he could y piano, and she was anxious to see if he could sing as well as he yed. Luckily, she didnt have to wait too long to find out. As soon as Nathan opened his mouth, the audience went crazy with excited delight. His voice was clear and powerful, and in a matter of minutes, hed stolen the spotlight. Fallen in love with you, long long ago, Nathan sang. Youve upied my heart, and except for you, no one else can get in. And by the time hed reached the chorus, people were beginning to wonder if he had a record deal, if the song was avable for download and if theyd be able to meet him and get his autograph. Not only that, but they were jealous of the object of his desire, and they asked each other, Who is the girl that he fell in love with long, long ago? Crystal was in a daze. Through Nathans song, she felt like she was meeting him again for the first time. Through his music, he was showing her a side of himself that shed never seen before, and she liked everything about it. Thunderous apuse shook the stadium at the end of the song, but Judy refused to acknowledge Nathans talent. She turned to Crystal and asked, Does your boyfriend sing in bars? Suddenly, Crystal found that shed run out of patience for her friend. She kept her eyes on the stage and her mouth shut. Hes an okay singer, Judy continued. If he wants, I could ask Chris to give him some lessons. Chris is with the same recordpany as Louis. Its a very well-knownpany. Crystal: Oh? Whatpany? Chapter 119: Hike Up Your Skirt Judy puffed out her chest and said, Hes with Starlight Entertainment. Its a Brilliant Group imprint. They are pretty big, Crystal admitted. But I dont think that Nathan would be interested. Judy: Thats weird. Doesnt he want to be famous? Crystal smiled but said nothing. By now, Nathan was returning from the stage, and when he sat down, he asked Crystal for her answer. After his performance, Crystal felt like Cindere. She ced one hand on his thigh. Then she leaned over and kissed him on the lips. She opened his mouth with her mouth, and after pushing her tongue past his pips, she sucked his tongue into her mouth. Wow! C thought Nathan. This was the best answer he could have hoped for.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. The spotlight was still on him, and the audience began to hoot and holler. So thats the girl that he fell in love with long, long ago, they eximed to each other. Crystal suddenly felt very shy. She buried her head in Nathans jacket, and she said, Lets go. I have the best singer in the building at my side. Theres no longer any need for me to stay and hear another mans concert. **** After leaving the stadium, Nathan took Crystal to a local seafood restaurant. The ce was distinctive in that it had been built inside a limestone cave. It was situated near the ocean, and customers could enjoy their meals while listening to the natural rhythms of the wavespping against the rocky shore. Looking at the rich menu, Crystal had no idea whether to order seafood or steak, and when she mentioned her dilemma to Nathan, he suggested ordering both. Make it a Surf & Turf, he said. As she considered his suggestion, she nced at his bodyguards. They were sitting on the benches by the door. They looked extremely bored. Arent they going to eat? she asked. Nathan: They eat in shifts. They each get twenty minutes. Crystal: Thats not much of a break. Why do you need so many bodyguards anyway? Nathan: At the age of 14, I was kidnapped. From then on, my parents hired bodyguards to protect me. Crystal: They arent very good at their jobs, though, are they? The day you sent them to keep an eye on me, I lost them quite easily. Nathan shrugged and said, Some are better than others. Youll see. I talked to my big brother, and hes hired a female bodyguard for you. Shell keep a better eye on you, and she will keep you safe. Crystal immediately shook her head and said, I dont like being followed. Nathan: Its for your own good. Crystal: What does your big brother do? Is he your blood brother? Nathan: We grew up together. Hes three years older than I am. Crystal: Is he a soldier? Nathan: You dont need to ask so many questions about other men. You belong to me, and my brother has his own woman. Crystal rolled her eyes at him. She said, Just because I ask a question about a man, it doesnt mean that I want to fuck him. Im just curious about the people in your life. Nathan sighed and said, I know that. Sorry. Suddenly Crystal remembered the jewelry case shed been given to give to Nathan, and when she showed it to him, heughed. Are you proposing to me? he asked. Crystal chuckled and said, You are so silly. Nathan took the case and asked, Where did you get this? Crystal: From Tiffany. We had lunch together yesterday. Nathan: Well, its not mine. Crystal was shocked. If its not yours, then whose is it? she asked. Tiffany said she found it in your room. Nathan: If it was in my room, and it doesnt belong to me, then it must have belonged to your mother. Crystal was too stunned to say anything, and there wasnt a word passed between them until after their food came. Then, just as they were about to eat, Nathans phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his pocket, checked the Caller ID, and said, Sorry. I need to take this in private. Without waiting for a reply, Nathan took his phone outside. Crystal could see him through the window, and she wondered who he was talking to and what they were talking about C What is his secret? It annoyed her to be left in the dark and alone at the table, but she wasnt going to let her food go cold on his ount. With a scowl on her face, she lifted her knife and fork and began to cut her steak. When Crystal finished her meal, Nathan still hadnt returned. She eyed his steak, and after a moment of deliberation, she decided to eat his food too. Then, when Nathan returned to the table, he was shocked. Did I eat my steak already? he asked. Crystal: Yes! Nathan frowned and said, Thats so strange. I dont remember eating, and I still feel hungry Crystal shrugged and said, I dont know what to tell you Suddenly, it urred to Nathan that Crystal might have eaten his dinner, and he thought C What a naughty girl! The thought of her putting his meat in her mouth suddenly triggered his sex impulse. He quickly covered his growing erection with a napkin and said, I need to wash my hands. Then he awkwardly shuffled to the washroom. Two minutester, Crystal received a text message from Nathan. It said: Go to the washroom. Crystal was confused because she didnt need to go to the washroom, but she knew better than to be disobedient. She got up and headed towards the washroom, but Nathan pulled her into a hidden ce behind two fern trees before she got there. He pressed her against the wall and began to kiss her passionately. Then, with one hand, he pushed down his pants and underwear, and his swollen member sprung out like a frenzied Jack-In-The Box. Hike up your skirt! hemanded. Instead of lifting her skirt, though, she pressed it down. She gave him a dirty look and said, Tell me you dont actually like to eat on the sly! I dont like to eat on the sly, Nathan said. I just like to eat my food while its still hot. Without waiting for a reply, he yanked on her skirt. She lost her grip, and before she knew what was happening, he had his hand pressed against her vulva. At least its still above my panties C thought Crystal. The food is too hot, she argued. And besides, there is no way to behave in a public ce like this. Her cheeks were beet red. Youre embarrassing me! Nathanughed and said, Your innocence is such a turn on. Dont you know; when ites to love, food can never be too hot! Are you sure? Crystal snickered. What about when meat is rare? Nathan finally realized what Crystal was talking about, and his c*ck lost all interest in her. Within seconds it had shriveled up to a fraction of its size, and it did all that it could do to retract back into his testicles. Youre on your period, he grumbled as he pulled up his pants and underwear. His face was as pale as a whitewashed wall. How many days do you have left? Crystal: Seven. It just started. Nathan: Fine. Ill let you go. But just for the moment. Crystal: Why dont we return to the table. You must be hungry. Nathan nodded unhappily and admitted that he was. Chapter 120: We Share The Same Goals As Eric approached the clubs entrance with his bodyguards in the Merah Club, he was suddenly, and unexpectedly, stopped by two burly bouncers. Whats this? he asked with a hint of anger in his voice. He had never been stopped before. The bouncer to his left shrugged and said, Master Bush, no offense, but weapons are no longer admitted on the premises. Eric frowned. The only weapon he had on him was a Swiss army knife, and there was no way he was going to relinquish it to either of these goons. What if I refuse to cooperate? he asked. The bouncer sighed. Please dont make this difficult, he said. There was an altercation yesterday involving Mr. Stone, and weve been ordered to step up our security precautions. Were just following orders. Eric frowned and said, Tell me about this altercation. Someone shot him up pretty good, the bouncer said. Then they cut off his genitals. Poor bastard, the second bodyguard added. How would you like to wake up without genitals? Eric suddenly felt very uneasy. I wouldnt like it at all, he admitted. Who was responsible? It was Nathan Davis, wasnt it? The bouncers faces went white, and neither of them said a word. Eric began to kick the first bouncer, cursing each time his foot connected, and he didnt stop until the man was on the ground. Then he put his foot on the mans throat and said, If you dont tell me everything you know, Ill kill you. Ill tell you everything I know, the bouncer cried. Master Stone kidnapped Master Davis woman. Then he let two Tibetan mastiffs touch her. When Eric heard that, he became angrier than hed ever been in his life. With his fists clenched at his sides, he shouted, fuck that son of the bitch! Hes fucking dead! But before I kill him, I am going to make him bleed! Without another word, he rushed back to his Lamborghini, but when he reached for the door handle, Alex stopped him. Eric! he shouted. What the hell are you going to do? What am I going to do? Eric roared. He grabbed Alexs cor and shook him. Why didnt you tell me about what happened to Crystal? How could I? Alex cried. I, too, only just found out about it! Alex tried to get away from Eric, but his grip was too strong. Then, when Eric finally let him go, he fell on his ass. This is the kind of stuff I pay you to know! he shouted. But Ill take care of youter, he said as he walked back to his car. Alex angrily shook his head. Hey! he shouted. Youre crazy! You know that, dont you?!?! Eric shrugged as he climbed into the car. Maybe I have gone a bit crazy C he thought C But so what? It might take a little bit of crazy to deal with a man like Richard properly. **** When Eric arrived at the hospital, he went straight to the room where Richard was recovering. He rushed the mans bed, and then he began to punch him in the head mercilessly. Richard had no idea what was happening, and all he could do was cry out in pain. Cecelia had been peeling apples at the time, and when shed seen Eric, shed immediately gotten out of his way. Shed seen men this angry before, so she knew better than to get in their way. Finally, the violence ended, and as she looked the man in the eyes, she asked him who he was and why he had done what hed done. Eric chuckled, and when he smiled, Cecelia was caught off guard by his charming good looks. She had never seen such a handsome man before. My name is Eric, he replied. And Im here to finish what thest man started. Richard knew exactly what Eric was talking about, and he began to whimper. No, no, no, he cried. Please spare me. I didnt know she was your woman. If I knew, I would not have dared to touch her I dont want to die You didnt give Crystal mercy, Eric said. Thus, you wont get mercy either. And before I send you to Hell, I am going to put you through Hell.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. He took out his Swiss army knife and began to cut along Richards hairline slowly. Youd better not die, he said. Wh-wh-what are you g-g-gonna d-do? Richard stammered. Eric: I am going to wear your face for a mask and drink your blood like wine. Richard was frightened, and he began to cry. I wont ever do it again, he whined. Please let me go. If you do, Ill be your ve forever Eric Booped Richards nose and said, Thats cute. You actually think I would have at use for a guy like you. He ran the de down the side of the mans face, dabbed at it with a rag, and stepped back to admire his handiwork. There was one more cut to be made, and then he could peel the skin away. Once he was done with that, he nodded with satisfaction. Then he kicked the bed hard and left. Once Eric was gone, Cecelia pressed the emergency button to call a doctor for help, and then she hurried after him. She had no idea who Eric was, but judging from Richards attitude towards him, she suspected that he was a man of some prominence. Eric! she shouted when she saw him at the end of the hall. Hed just pressed a button to summon an elevator. Eric pretended not to hear her, and he walked into the elevator when it opened, but Cecelia made it in before the doors closed. What do you want? Eric asked angrily. Did youe here on behalf of Crystal Smith? she asked, ignoring his question entirely. Leave me alone, Eric hissed. We have nothing to talk about. The elevator went down, the doors opened, and they stepped out together. Please hear me out, Cecelia said. I believe that there has been a misunderstanding between us. Im one of Crystals ssmates. Were very close. Eric: Crystals ssmate?. Cecelia: Yes. Were besties. I heard that Richard Stone bullied Crystal, and Im so angry. I, too, came here to take my revenge on him. Before I could get a chance, though, you arrived! Eric: If thats true, then why did you call for help? Cecelia: I was afraid that if he died in the hospital, youd get into trouble. Besides, I think that an act of perfect revenge needs a perfect n, so Im waiting for a perfect opportunity. Dont you see it? We share the same goals! Chapter 121: Cecilia鈥檚 Evil Plan Eric gave Cecelia a skeptical look, and after a moment, he asked her if she was an actress. She said that she wasnt. And if you dont believe me, she added, you can ask Crystal. We went to school together for three years, and I even gave her a bag recently! Cecilia didnt know that Eric had been nearby and watching them when she had been betting with Crystal. For the moment, though, Eric didnt unmask her. He wanted to see what she was up to, so he pretended to believe her. He smiled and asked, What do you want to do to Richard? Cecelia smiled seductively. I will tell you everything, she said. And I will leave it to you to exin it all to Crystal. Eric stared at Cecilia with interest. Are you hitting on me? he asked. Cecelia was surprised by Erics straightforward approach, and she gasped. I am definitely not! she eximed. Crystal is my bestie. I would never try to steal her, man. Actually, you can hit on me if you want, Eric said. By now, theyd reached the parking lot, and Eric pressed a button on his key fob to help him locate his pink Lamborghini. The vehicles lights shed three times, and its horn honked in sync with them. Before you do, though, I suggest that you take a look in the mirror. Cecelia frowned. What the heck is that supposed to mean? C she wondered as she silently followed him to his car. He got into the drivers seat, and she waited patiently for an invitation that never came. Eric started his car, put it in reverse, and took off like a bat out of Hell, leaving her to eat his dust. Cecilia began to cough as her lungs filled with dirty air. She looked down at her dress and clenched her fist in rage. It was filthy. Frowning, she made her way back into the hospital, and when she arrived at Richards room, she began to cry. Look at what Eric did to your beautiful face! she wailed. She ran to his side, took his hands into hers, and asked him what they were going to do next. Next?!? Richard roared. There is no next! Cecelia: But what about my ns? Richard: fuck your ns! Look at me, Cecelia. I have no manh**d. I have no balls. I have no face. If it werent for your n, I never would have kidnapped Crystal, and I wouldnt be in the position that Im in!. You cant me me for this! Cecelia pointed to where Richards c*ck and balls had been and said, If you want to me someone, me Nathan. She gently touched his ear. me Eric. Richard sighed and said, I suppose youre right Cecelia: I have no idea what those men see in Crystal. She is such a bitch, and shes soooo ugly Hey, do you think Master Bush would be interested in me? Fuck you bitch! Richard yelled. Why would you want to be with the man who disfigured my face?!?! No! No! No! Cecilia waved her hands in the air defensively. You misunderstand me. I just thought that if he was with me, he wouldnt defend Crystal anymore. Then we could continue with my n.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Richard: You dirty wh*re! I dont believe you. Now that I have no genitals, you dont want to be with me. Youre a traitor. Admit it! Thats not true! Cecelia cried. At least think about my n, okay. It makes sense, but if you dont like it, we dont have to go through with it *** After leaving the hospital, Eric drove straight to Beverly vi. He parked his car in the driveway, ran up to the door, and began to ring the bell. Then, when no one answered, he looked through the window. It was dark inside, and he could see that no one was home. Eric walked back to his car and lit a cigarette. He took a long drag, held it for a thirty count, and as he let the smoke out, he looked up at the sky. He needed to know that Crystal was okay, and he wanted tofort and protect her. He couldnt, though, and his feelings of helplessness were maddening. Eric was suddenly startled by his phone buzzing in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw that hed received a text message from Alex. It said, Crystal is safe. Shes at a concert. Eric was overjoyed. Even if she was with Nathan, he was happy. All he cared about now was her well-being. He smiled as he flicked his cigarette to the ground and put it out with the toe of his shoe. As he was getting ready to leave, the young couple next door pulled out of their driveway. He let them go first, and then he followed behind them. *** By the time Crystal and Nathan returned, it was already half past midnight. She was exhausted, so she took a quick shower and went to bed. She fell asleep right away. She had nned to sleep in the next day, but she was woken up quite early by her next-door neighbors. Frowning, she got up and got ready for the day. She used make-up to cover the bruises and wounds on her face and neck and a long sleeve shirt to hide the marks on her arms. Then she went downstairs, made herself a cup of coffee, and took it outside to drink on the porch. Next door, she saw that the neighbors were moving new furniture into the house. She thought this was strange because the young couple that lived there spent most of their time overseas. They spent the minimum amount of time here that was required of them for them to maintain their visas. Thus, there was no need for them to have nice things in a house that was their home on paper but vacant in actuality. She didnt have much time to think about this oddity, though. She had school to think about. As per her conversation with Nathan, she knew her bodyguards would be arriving soon, and she wanted to be gone before they got there. **** Crystal smiled as she entered the ssroom. The teacher hadnt arrived yet, and despite the noisy students all around her, Serenity was asleep at the back of the room. Her head was on the desk, and she was drooling. Shes working too much-Crystal thought sadly C I wish she would ept my help Chapter 122: Didn鈥檛 Receive A Notification As Crystal sat down, Serenitys eyes slowly opened. She smiled when she saw what Crystal was wearing and said, Its so hot out today. Why are you wearing a long-sleeved shirt? Crystal shrugged, and after pulling her sleeves down, she said, I dont want to get a sunburn. She was ashamed of what had happened, and she wanted to keep it a secret, even from her best friend. Serenity had seen Crystal pull down her sleeve, though, and it made her suspicious. What are you covering up? she asked. She reached over to grab her friends sleeve. Crystal pulled her arm away and said, Nothing. Leave me alone, okay! Serenity smiled mischievously and said, You have rope burn on your wrists, dont you? What kind of sex games do you and Professor Davis y? Crystal yfully punched Serenity in the arm and said, Up yours! Serenity chuckled and said, I think youve been reading 50 Shades Of Grey. Am I right? Crystal huffed and punched Serenity a second time, and then she began to scratch her friends arms. Serenity immediately started begging for mercy, and she promised to quit asking questions about Crystals sex life and her long sleeve shirt. Have you received the notice for the written test? Serenity asked, changing the subject. Crystal: What written test? Serenity: The written test for the Assistant Host position! I didnt receive any notification, Crystal said. Ill check to see if one came in, though. She pulled out her phone and checked her email, but she hadnt received notice. She shook her head. Theres nothing here Thats impossible! Serenity eximed. Every applicant was notified. It doesnt make sense. You should ask about it. Suddenly, someone shouted Crystals name, and both girls looked up. It was Tiffany, and she was standing expectantly in the doorway with a bag in her hand. Crystal got up and walked over to the teacher. Tiffany handed her the bag when she got there and said, Here are the books I promised. I hope that they help. Crystal peeked into the bag and said, Thank you, Miss Ford. I was going toe looking for you. Tiffany: Huh? For what? Is it urgent? Crystal: About the Assistant Host position. I heard that every applicant received a notification to take the written test, but I havent. Do you know anything about that? Tiffany: You didnt receive one? Thats strange. We submitted the application forms to the TV station, and then they did a preliminary screening. Of course, your notice could stille, but it is also possible that you were eliminated from thepetition Try not to get your hopes up, okay. You knew from the start that there were only two positions avable. I know. Crystal sighed sadly and said, Thank you for your honesty. If I dont get the notice, can I pass your books on to one of my ssmates? Tiffany: Of course. Crystal thanked Tiffany again and returned to her seat with the books, and with her back to the teacher, she didnt see the smug expression that had appeared on her face. The more Crystal thought about what Tiffany had said, the weirder she felt. Finally, she picked up her backpack and turned to Serenity. She said, Serenity, Ive got to go. Im going to the TV station. If she had been eliminated from thepetition, she felt she deserved to know why. *** When Crystal arrived at the TV station, the receptionist took one look at her and said, Hello, may I help you? Suddenly, Crystal felt like a deer stuck in the headlights of an oing car. She didnt know what to say, and she knew that she wouldnt be allowed in if she said the wrong thing. So she looked around frantically, with her eyes finallynding on a poster of Amy Fowler. She smiled and said, Im here to see Amy Fowler. You and everyone else. The receptionist chuckled and said, I assume you have an appointment Crystal admitted that she didnt and was quickly told that she wouldnt be allowed in without an appointment. As soon as the receptionist finished speaking, she took out a nail polish bottle and began to paint her nails. Crystal tapped lightly on the desk to get the womans attention, Could you please give her a call? she asked. You can tell her that Crystal Smith is looking for her. She knows me. Sure, sure, the receptionist sneered. And Im the Duchess of Wales! Crystal frowned. What does Cami Bowles have to do with anything? C she wondered. What are you implying? she asked sincerely. The receptionistughed and said, You give me your name as if it should mean something to me. Thats hrious. People are dying to see Amy, and you think youll be the lucky one to get through. Ha! There was one guy who threatened us to jump off a building if he didnt see her, and he died unsatisfied! Crystal was shocked. She wanted to see Amy, but not that bad.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. The receptionist returned to her nails, but Crystal wasnt prepared to let her off the hook that easily. Instead, she pulled her phone from her pocket, knocked on the desk to get the womans attention, and yed the first video on her phone. Then, when it was over, she said, I originally wanted to give Amy an exclusive interview. But if this is the way this station is going to treat me, forget it! The receptionist was shocked. Have I made a huge mistake? C she wondered. Have you made an appointment with Amy for an interview? she asked. Crystal ignored the question, and as she began to walk away, she put her phone to the side of her head and pretended to make a call. Hello, she said. Is this Worldwide Entertainment? My name is Crystal Smith, and I have a story for you. The receptionists face turned white. Wait! she shouted. Please, hang up. Theres been a mistake. Ill get you in to see Ms. Fowler right away. Chapter 123: I Wanted To See You Crystal was led into arge office and offered a seat and a coffee. She epted the drink with thanks, and it wasnt long before Amy Fowler joined her. The woman chuckled as she sat down. I heard you put the fear of God in our receptionist, she said. Good for you. Now, what can I do for you? Crystal leaned back in her chair, folded her legs, and rxed. I signed up to audition for the Assistant Host position, she said. But I wasnt contacted about the written test. Amy: It sounds like you were disqualified. Why are you wasting my time? Crystal: That may be true, but I doubt it. And I dont think that Im wasting your time either. I am a student of Professor Davis, and I am the only one in our school to apply but not receive notice. Professor Davis is very embarrassed. He said that you are nice, though, and that if I ask you kindly, you might tell me what I did wrong so that I can improve and do better in the future. Nathan said that I was nice? Amy was a little surprised, and her cheeks flushed slightly. She had thought that he was in a rtionship with Tiffany. Perhaps your notice is stilling, she suggested. Or your registration information was lost Crystal: Honestly, it doesnt matter. I just hate that I let Professor Davis down. Im a little embarrassed.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Amy: If youre so close to Nathan, you could ask him for help, couldnt you? Crystal: Well, I am his student, and he does think a lot of me. He is my guardian, after all. He takes good care of me, but I dont want to rely on him for everything. Hes such a busy man Amy: I cant help but wonder what happened to your application. You handed it to Miss Ford, Right? Crystal: Thats right. And she handed it to the TV station. Amy stood up and said, Wait here. Ill go take a look for it. Of course, Amy didnt do what shed promised. Instead, she went to the restroom, had a cup of coffee, and returned empty-handed. Im sorry, she said. Its not there. Really? Crystal was stunned. Did Tiffany intentionally sabotage my chances? C she wondered C If so, why did she take the initiative to be friendly with me and lend me her books? What can I do now? she asked. Is it toote? Amy thought about it for a second, and then she said, With your qualifications, you should be given a chance to take the written test. There must be something that I can do to help. Crystal nodded and said, Tiffany has gone too far. She had no right to do this! I cant even think of why she would have done it! Amy pretended to empathize with her. She patted her on the shoulder and said, Tiffany must be jealous of you. After all, Professor Davis is really nice to you. However, there is one thing that you should know. Crystal: What is it? Amy: Rumor has it that Miss Ford is Professor Davis girlfriend Crystal: Really? Why would people be saying that? Even if it was true, how would they know? Amy: Well, theyve been photographed together. Miss Ford was even seen at Beverly vi. I think you should let Nathan know about this. A scheming girl like Tiffany doesnt deserve a man like him. Crystal: Youre right. I will tell him as soon as I see him. Miss Ford has gone too far! But what about my application? You said that you might be able to help me. Amy smiled and said, The registration date has passed, but because of your special circumstances, I will apply for an exception on your behalf and see that you get a notice. Crystal thanked Amy and offered her hand to shake. No thanks are needed, Amy said as she shook Crystals hand. Youre Professor Davis student, and I am supposed to help you. But what Tiffany did was abhorrent. Shame on her. **** After Crystal left, Amy received a call from her receptionist. How did the interview go? the woman asked. What interview? Amy frowned and said, Crystal Smith was here to y smart. What does that mean? the receptionist asked. Amy: It means that when ites time for her to do her written test, she will pass, regardless of the results. **** Crystal was relieved when she received an email notification from the TV station. She was in! It seemed like things hadnt been going well for hertely, what with her being kidnapped and almost assaulted by two dogs, but things finally appeared to be looking up. However, when she got home, she noticed a familiar-looking pink Lamborghini parked in the neighbors driveway. After a second, she realized that it belonged to Eric, but before she could question why his car was there, he called her name. Eric: Hey, Crystal! He was on the neighborswn, waving to her. Crystal scowled as Eric walked over to where she was standing. What the fuck is he doing here? C she wondered. Before he could exin himself, she began to stomp on his foot with the heel of her shoe. Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ericined. Stop that, will you? He was surprised by how strong she was. Why should I stop? Crystal growled. What are you doing here? I wanted to see you, Eric replied. He pulled out his phone, pointed it in her direction, and said, At least let me show you some pictures. In the first picture, Richard was lying on a hospital bed, and she could see that his face had been carefully cut off. It was bloody and grizzly and gross. You did that? Crystal roared as she knocked the phone out of his hand. Its so childish, she muttered. Eric was flustered. Nathan shot him four times, he cried. Did you call him childish too?!?! He definitely did not like beingpared to a child. Crystal took a minute to get control of herself. Then she took a deep breath and said, Look, Eric, I have had a long day. Please, just tell me why youre here. Chapter 124: What A Coincidence? Eric looked at Crystal. Others might not think so, but he thought she was beautiful, and he didnt want to spend another minute without her. He touched her cheek gently and pushed her hair behind her ear. He was there because he wanted her to be his wife, but he still hadnt worked up the courage to ask her. After an awkward moment of silence, Crystal stomped her foot and said, Tell me why youre here, or Im going inside. A minute passed, and since Eric hadnt said anything about his intentions, she turned and began to walk towards her front door. She hadnt taken more than a step or two, though, before he ran in front of her and walked into her house. Crystal was aghast. She yelled out C You are trespassing! as she ran after him. By the time Crystal got inside, Eric was halfway up the staircase that led to her bedroom. Dont go up there! she shouted. Eric: Why not? What are you hiding? Is there evidence in your room that youve been fucking Nathan? Crystal: What business is that of yours? Eric shrugged and said, None, I suppose. Fine. I will not go upstairs. I am hungry, though. I could go for a Sammie. Crystal stared at him in disbelief. She thought C If he thinks that Im going to feed him, hes out of his freaking mind! She rolled her eyes and said, Keep dreaming. Mi casa is not su casa! Eric chuckled and said, After what I did to Richard, dont you think that you owe me? Crystal was amused by his response. Fine, she said. Im not going to make you anything, but Ill order you something from Uber Eats.. What do you like? Eric: I prefer a home-cooked meal over take-out. As I said, though, even a sandwich would do. Crystal scowled. She didnt even have bread, let alone the makings for a sandwich. Alright, she said. Go sit in the living room. Ill make you something to eat. Eric sat down on the sofa obediently, and Crystal went into the kitchen. There was beef in the fridge and vegetables, cheese, and spaghetti; all of the ingredients for fried steak, vegetable sd, spaghetti, and French onion soup. She wasnt a professionally trained chef, but she had learned a lot when she was younger from watching her mother cook, so she was more than capable in a kitchen. She served Eric in the dining room when the food was cooked and crossed her fingers behind her back. She hoped that he would eat quickly and leave soon after. When Eric arrived at the table, he saw that only one te had been set. He looked up. Arent you going to eat? he asked. Before Crystal could reply, the front door opened, and Nathan walked in. Due to theyout of the house, Nathan couldnt see Eric, but he did notice the mens shoes at the front door. He called Crystals name and asked if they had a visitor. As soon as Crystal heard his voice, she began to panic. There was no way that she could forget the beef between the two men. She didnt know what to say, so she said nothing. Unfortunately, the silence made Nathan suspicious. He stormed into the dining room, and when he saw what was going on, he pointed to the food and demanded to know if she had cooked it. Before she could reply and potentially defuse the situation, Eric grinned wickedly and said, She did, and its delicious! Nathan went into the kitchen to wash his hands, and Crystal followed him. She could tell that he was upset, and she said, He came in without being invited. I couldnt help it. Nathan red at her and said, Bring out two sets of cutlery. Then he went to sit at the table with Eric. Once he had his utensils, he stabbed his fork into the other mans sd and shoved arge bite into his mouth. Hey! Eric eximed. What are you doing? This is my food! Crystals face turned white. Nathan, she gasped. There is enough food in the kitchen for everyone. Let me bring you out a te of your own, okay? Never mind that, Nathan replied. Look at all the food you made for this fine fellow. There is enough on the table for everyone. Youll see. He grabbed the onion soup that was in front of Eric and ced it in front of Crystal. Sit down and eat, he ordered.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Crystal nervously did as shed been told. Nathan took another bite of Erics sd and said, Shes a great cook, isnt she? I feel so lucky to have her! I hope you both get indigestion! C thought Crystal. With the three of them sharing one meal, the food was quickly gone, and Crystal brought the dishes into the kitchen to wash. While she did this, the two men went into the living room to watch television. They sat down on opposite sides of the couch, and once they were settled, Eric turned to Nathan and said, I wonder how Crystals cor affects your performance in bed. Theres no doubt in my mind that it will eventually cause you Erectile Dysfunction. Nathan sighed and said, I wonder if saying that made you feel better about losing. Eric: What is that supposed to mean? Nathan nced back into the kitchen to where Crystal was finishing up. You know what I mean, he said. Theres no point in ying dumb. Crystal is my woman. Your interference doesnt change anything. Youd save some face if you just gave in and moved on. As if on cue, Crystal walked into the living room. She quickly assessed the situation, and then she said, Eric, I fed you. I think its about time for you to leave. Ill walk you to the door. I need to tell you something anyway. Eric smiled. What a coincidence, he said. I have something to tell you as well. Crystal led Eric to the door, and when they got outside, he said, Its too hot out here. We should go and sit in my car to talk. As you probably know, I have air conditioning! Chapter 125: I Have A Surprise For You Once they were in the car and the air conditioning had brought the temperature to afortable level, Crystal gave Eric a stern look and said, Id like to have this ne off. I dont belong to you, and I dont like people thinking that I do. Ericughed cruelly. Forget it, he said. It looks good on you. Besides, you may not belong to me now, but you will. Youll see. He leaned back, pulled out a cigarette from a pack in his pocket, and casually lit it up. He brought the fog to his mouth and inhaled. Nathan and I are married, Crystal said earnestly. Immediately after hearing these words, Eric began to choke, and smoke billowed out of his nose and mouth. His mind rejected her words, despite their ring of truth. Finally, though, he forced himself toe to terms with what shed said. Petntly, he whined: I dont mind. Why would l? Crystals brow furrowed. She had thought that he would mind. You have been chasing me all this time, she said. How can you say that you dont mind? I dont know if I believe you or not In fact, I dont think that I do! Eric shrugged and said, You are the first woman that I have ever been attracted to. I would rather try to win you and fail than give up and never know if I could have won your heart. You say that you are married, but all I see is another challenge. And what is life, if not a series of challenges to ovee? He took another drag from his cigarette, held the smoke in his lungs for half a minute, then blew it out in a series of meticulous Os. Anyway, quit bothering me about the cor. Its noting off. Crystal knew it was pointless to argue, so she tried to think of another approach that might be more sessful. Nathan told me all about this cor, she said. Eric leaned back in his seat andughed. Nathans not as smart as he thinks he is, he said. Im surprised that you havent realized that by now! Crystal: Whats that supposed to mean? Never mind. Eric reached into the back of the car and retrieved arge bouquet of orange flowers from behind his seat. He handed them to Crystal and said, Here. These are for you. Theyre orange Juliet roses. I ordered them from France. Crystal epted the flowers and sniffed the petals. Ill ept these as payment for your meal. They mean nothing more to me. Is that understood? The corners of Erics mouth twitched. The bouquet had cost millions, but she thought that it was no more valuable than a te of food. He forced himself to swallow his pride, and he nodded. You should know that I am better for you than Nathan is, he said. How much do you really know about him anyway? Crystal froze when she heard this question. She felt as if hed read her mind. In truth, she knew almost nothing about Nathan. I dont know anything about you, either, she argued. Eric: Everything about me is transparent. Ask me anything you want. Crystal chuckled, pushed open the door, and stepped out of the car. She thanked him for the flowers and told him to drive safely. Then she turned back in the direction of the house. Eric watched her as she walked away. He enjoyed the sight of her hips moving back and forth, and he remembered how sweet it had felt to have her arms around him when theyd gone for a motorcycle ride together. She had loved the rush hed given her. It was an experience Nathan could not duplicate, and he couldnt figure out what she saw in his old rival. ****This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. As Crystal was putting the roses in a vase, Nathan came up behind her. I was starting to wonder if you were evering back, he said. Dont be silly. Crystalughed and said, That wasnt so bad, was it. Maybe your rtionship with Eric isnt irreconcble after all Nathan: Is that what you consider civil behavior? We were practically at each others throats! Or maybe you just get off on watching two men fight over you, is that it? Crystal said nothing as she walked over to him. She ced her hands loosely at his wrists and smiled. Then she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. Thats not it, she said. I promise. Now, how about we forget this ever happened, okay? That works for me, Nathan said, so long as you get rid of those horrible flowers. I dont like them stinking up the ce. And it will be a cold day in Hell before Im ready to see fried beef on the menu again. Are we in agreement? It would be a real pity to throw these flowers away, Crystal argued. They are beautiful, and I like the smell. Furthermore, they really brighten this ce up! Nathan touched Crystals cheek and said, You brighten this ce up. And if it needs more brightening up, you could always lower the neckline on your dress. Crystal followed Nathans gaze down to her cleavage. He cupped her left breast with his right hand and smiled. Typically, in this situation, she would pull away, but she wanted to appease him so that she could keep the flowers. So, instead of pulling away, she unbuttoned the top two buttons on her dress so that the tops of her milky white orbs were inly visible. Since she was on her period, she felt safe. There was no way that he would force her while she was bleeding. Is that enough? she asked innocently. Can I keep the flowers? Nathan: What if I said that it wasnt enough? Crystal: Then I would tell you to close your eyes. Nathan smirked. He tweaked her nipple yfully and said, And what if I refused? Crystal smiled calmly and began to undo the buttons on his shirt, and she didnt stop until shed reached the bottom. Then she pressed both hands t against his chest. You are so strong, she purred. Looking down, she could see the bulge of his erection through his jeans, and she covered his eyes with her left hand. Dont move, she said. I have a surprise for you. Nathan: Mmmm I like surprises! Crystals bra was sped together in the front, and she deftly snapped it open with her right hand. The two cups fell to either side of her body, and her nipples tightened and throbbed in the cold air. Now that her breasts were fully exposed, she leaned forward and pressed them against his chest. Chapter 126: He Is Sick Nathan gasped as Crystals breasts pressed against his skin. He could feel her breath on his neck, and his c*ck was harder than it had ever been in his life. Can I open my eyes now? he begged. Crystal giggled and said, Hold on a second. She leaned back again, and there was a wet sound as their skin parted. Suddenly, Crystal turned around and ran up the stairs. Hey! Nathan shouted as he realized hed been had. What the fuck?!?! Once Crystal was in her room, she closed and locked the door behind her, and she couldnt stopughing. By now, Nathan knew hed lost. He didnt even bother with throwing out the flowers. Instead, he went upstairs and threw himself into an ice-cold shower. He stayed in the tub for two hours, and that night, when he went to bed, he hardly slept a wink. Crystal, on the other hand, slept like a baby. In the morning, she woke up in a great mood. She jumped out of bed, stretched, and checked her messages. There was one message, and it was from Judy. It said: Honey, Ill see youter tonight. Crystal frowned. At first, she didnt know what Judy was talking about, but then she remembered the ss reunion party that shed been invited to. Judy was acting like she was going for sure, but she still hadnt decided if she even wanted to go. She was offended by a post that had been posted to the event. ording to the post, people were cing bets on whether she would show up or not. At the moment, 99% of those invited thought that she would not. She did not like being the target of this kind of attention, but she did think it would be fun to prove all of the haters wrong. Crystal got up, and when she saw that Nathans door was still closed, she went down the kitchen to where Susie was busy cutting ginger. She crept up behind the housekeeper, and when she was half a foot away, she tapped her on the shoulder and shouted, Boo! Susie jumped, turned around, and scolded Crystal. You really are a little horror, she said. Why are you sneaking about like that? You shouldnt be ying games at a time like this! At a time like what? Crystal asked. Mr. Davis has a cold, Susie replied. Thats why Im making him ginger tea. Didnt you know that he was sick?This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. I didnt, Crystal admitted. But are you sure that ginger tea is the best remedy for him? What if he has a wind-heat cold? Before Susie could reply, Nathan joined the conversation from the top of the stairs. Apparently, he had been listening to them the whole time. I had a long cold showerst night, he said. I was in the tub for two hours, and thats why Im sick! Thedies were silent as he came down into the kitchen and poured himself a ss of water. He was wearing a pale blue shirt, and his sleeves were slightly rolled up. Susie: Why did you take such a long cold shower? Nathan looked at Crystal and said, You can ask her. How should I know! Crystal eximed as Susie turned to her expectantly. Nathan walked over to Crystal, bowed his head, and blew hot air into her ear. Then he said, Ten Times. Crystals brows furrowed. What is that supposed to mean? she asked. I wish he didnt say that in front of Susie C she thought, but it was toote for him to take it back. The innocent expression on Crystals face filled Nathans heart with hate. He thought C How dare she y dumb! He was angry now, but instead of letting it out, he held it in. Ignoring Crystal, he nodded to Susie, and then he went into the living room. Susie was taken aback by what shed seen. C-C-Crystal, she stammered. Y-you and M-Mr. Davis What happened between us? Crystal asked doubtfully. Susie could see that there was something special about the way that Mr. Davis had looked at Crystal just now. She was a veteran, so she could tell that the look in Mr. Daviss eyes, beneath the hate, was flirtatious and indulgent. You and Mr. Davis are a perfect match, she said. But you are much younger than he is. You are still a child, while he is a grown man. There are some things you should refrain from doing. Ten Times is one of them. But we didnt do that! Crystal eximed. If we had, it probably would have killed me! Susie chuckled. You are so young, she said. You have so much to learn. Why dont you start with this ginger? She handed Crystal the ginger she was cutting for Nathans tea and ced the knife on the cutting board. Crystal bowed her head and cut the ginger. She thought that Susie had found the truth, but she couldnt help but wonder C What on earth is Nathan thinking? She had teased him and left him with blue balls. Then he had needed a two-hour cold shower to cool down C But what does that have to do with Ten Times? Crystal sliced the ginger and boiled it in brown sugar water. When it was done, she served Nathan in the dining room. Drink it while its hot, she said. Nathan looked at Crystal, smirked, and said, Theres a way to get better faster. Crystal guessed what Nathan was implying, but she didnt want to give him any satisfaction, so she ignored thement and put her hand on his forehead. Its a little hot, she said. The tea should be all you need. She removed her hand, but before she could step back, he grabbed her head, pulled her to him, and forcibly kissed her. She tried to resist, but he was too strong. She began to have a panic attack as his foul tongue ravaged her mouth, and she couldnt breathe. Then, as her vision began to swim, she thought C Hes killing me! Chapter 127: A Bouquet Of Flowers When Susie walked into the dining room, she saw Nathan forcing himself on Crystal and thought C This is not an appropriate ce for sex y. She cleared her throat loudly and said, Excuse me, but do you want to take this upstairs? Some people have to eat at this table! When Nathan heard Susies reprimand, he took a step back, and his face turned red, and as he let go of Crystal, she began to weep uncontrobly. When Susie saw this, she was embarrassed. I have to go check on theundry! she eximed, and she disappeared down the hallway. P-P-Please, Crystal begged. Just drink your tea and leave me alone. Nathan looked at Crystal and sighed. At the moment, there was nothing attractive about her at all anyway, so he agreed with her request and began to drink his tea. The doorbell rang, and Susie rushed out of theundry room to see who was there, but there was no one there when she opened the door. She looked down, and when she saw a bouquet of flowers on the step, she smiled and picked it up. There was a note on it that said, For Crystal. Susie brought the flowers into the dining room and handed them to Crystal. These are for you, she said. But I dont know who sent them. Im so excited! Open it up! Crystal looked at Nathan nervously, and he gave his head a grim nod as if to say, Do as she says. Thus, she nervously opened the package. The flowers were bright pink on the outside, but their interiors were much darker. Susie touched one of them and said, Theyre so beautiful. What kind of flower is it? Do you know? I dont know, Crystal admitted. They must be from Eric, though. Susie frowned and looked around the room. That is very kind of him, she said. But what happened to the Juliet roses he gave you yesterday? Nathan: I threw them away while you guys were making my tea. The flowers in your hand are Begonia-Riegers. They are from Germany, and they are not from Eric. They are from me. If you want flowers, I will send you flowers every day, but you will not ept them from anyone else. Is that clear? Clear! Crystal replied. Nathan watched as she casually put the flowers in a vase. He thought about how their beauty ented her beauty, and he felt a stirring in his loins. He got up, walked over to her, and put his hands on her hips. This public disy of affection made Susie ufortable, so she quickly returned to herundry. Nathan leaned forward, and he helped Crystal arrange the flowers. He is very good at it C thought Crystal, and she asked him if he had been professionally trained. He said he hadnt been, and she asked him if he was ashamed of his skills. I am not, Nathan replied. Crystal: Then why havent I seen you do anything like this before? I have many talents, and you have only seen a fraction of them. Nathan leaned forward and kissed her neck. Would you like to see what else I can do? he asked seductively. Suddenly, Crystals internal rm bells began to go off like crazy. I dont! she cried. In fact, I cant! I think I am too sick to see anything like that! I think I just now caught your cold! Nathan smiled and rubbed her head. Then we should be sick together, he suggested. Is there any more tea? If so, you should have some. Maybe there is! Crystal eximed, and she pushed him away so that she could run into the kitchen to pour herself a cup of tea. After drinking the tea, Crystal didnt know if she should go back to the dining room. She did know, though, that she couldnt go to the reunion partyter that night. Thus, she sent Judy a message telling her that she would not be attending out of politeness. That night, Nathan took Crystal to see his older brother, Arnold. Arnold lived in a ce where there were many loaded guns, and his position wasplicated. He was surrounded by many bodyguards, all of whom had a military background. Nathan said he was more powerful than his brother, but Crystal wasnt sure if she believed him, not based on what she saw as they pulled into the driveway. When Arnold came out to greet them, he was dressed entirely in camouge, and his ck military boots were stained with dust. This led Crystal to believe that he had just returned from the training ground. The first time theyd met, he had not been wearing a military uniform, and she was impressed, now, by how it entuated his manly physic. Standing akimbo, he radiated arrogance and authority. Arnold seemed like a hard person to talk to. Thus, Crystal didnt even know how to say hello to him. When Nathan went to high-five him, though, she managed to whisper, Hey, Im Crystal. Arnold gave her a sideways nce. Yes, he said. Weve met before. Anyway, make yourselves at home. Crystals face turned red from embarrassment, and she didnt say a word as Arnold led them into his home. Although Arnolds vi was notvishly decorated, everything he did have was of immense worth. Once they were inside, he looked at her and said, Why dont you look around? I need to talk to my brother. Alone.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Crystal nodded, and as she walked away, she heard gunshotsing from behind the house. Curious, she walked in the direction of the sounds. Out behind the house, she found a shooting range and about twenty or thirty soldiers with drawn weapons. As she approached, a handsome boy about her age turned and smiled. He was one of the few boys there not wearing camouge, so he stood out in his white T-shirt, ck bullet-proof vest, and ck ripped jeans. His hair was short, he had a ck pendant pinned to his right earlobe, and she could make out the writing on his tag: Peter Vance. Suddenly, Peter grabbed a gun, aimed, squinted, and hit the bull s-eye with a bang. Show off C thought Crystal, and when she realized that he was showing off for her, she giggled. What would Nathan think if he saw this? He would be furious! When the boy saw that he had Crystals attention, he grinned and shot off a few more bullets. Each one hit the bullseye, and his peers cheered him on enthusiastically. There was one woman amongst them, though, who wasnt so impressed. Once the smoke had cleared, sheughed and said, You got lucky, Peter. Dont let it get to your head! Chapter 128: Did They Know She鈥檚 Bisexual? Peter turned to the naysayer, smirked, and said, Give it a rest, Leslie! You are just jealous of me. Why dont we have a push-up contest to see which one of us is the strongest? Instead of a verbal reply, Leslie dropped to the ground. The young man dropped beside her, and once they were both in position, thepetition began, with one of their peers counting off each push-up. As they passed fifty, though, it seemed like the event could go on forever. Then, suddenly, someone shouted, Hey! You two had better give it a rest. The Commander could show up at any minute, and then youll both be up shit creek! Im not stopping until Ive put this punk kid on the ground! Leslie snapped. Whatever. Peterughed and said, I could do this all day, and itll be a cold day in Hell before I lose to a girl in a strengthpetition! Leslie suddenly looked up in Crystals direction. A shark-like Cheshires grin appeared on her face, and she said, Hey, there! I see the way that you are admiring me. I rmend that you dont fall in love with me, though. Im like a wildfire, and a little thing like you would be consumed in no time! Crystal smirked. She hadnt been watching Leslie. She had been watching Peter. The boy didnt have Nathans poise or Erics wild personality, but he seemed to have a cool personality. Furthermore, the way that he carried himself made her want to scream. She tried to ignore Leslie, but the woman was persistent. Finally, she abandoned thepetition, stood up, and walked over to where Crystal was standing. Leslie was taller than she was. She had a thin frame and long legs. Her medium-sized breasts were pressed t to her chest by a sports bra and barely noticeable beneath her army-issue camo shirt, but her nipples stood out like sore thumbs. When she reached Crystal, she sniffed her body and asked her if she was with Nathan. Crystal frowned. How did you know that? she asked. Leslie: You smell Nathan. Crystal: You smell, too. Leslie: Like what? Crystal: Sweat. Leslieughed and said, What you meant to say is that I smell like a man, isnt that so? Crystal shrugged. How many push-ups have you done so far? she asked. Leslie grinned and said, Seventy. Crystal: Do another hundred. Dont think I didnt see you cking off just now. Leslie: I could do another hundred, but wouldnt you prefer it if I taught you how to shoot a gun instead? *** In the study C Nathan and Arnold were sitting on the sofa. Nathan lit a cigarette and threw his lighter to his brother, who caught it and used it to light his own cigarette. After taking an initial drag, Arnold said, Im d that you brought Crystal with you. Are the two of you very serious? We are married, Nathan replied. So, yeah. I would say that were pretty serious. Arnold was so surprised by what his brother had said that he began to cough on the smoke that hed just inhaled. Once he was able to talk, he said, That was quick. Does Father know? Nathan: No. And I dont want him to know yet. Thats good. Arnold nodded and said, He always wanted you to marry Hellen. She left for four years, though, so, understandably, you didnt wait for her. Of course, there will be trouble in a year C when she returns. Nathan nodded and asked, Is Leslies back? Arnold: She is. She almost died, but two foreign girls sacrificed their lives to save hers. Nathan: Did they know that shes bisexual? Arnold smiled bitterly and shook his head. These days, shes practically a lesbian, he said. I cant remember thest time I saw her with a man, but I n to remedy that. Nathan thought that Arnold was probably the only person in the world that could hold Leslie down, but he didnt seem interested in the task. Leslie had been sent overseas to train, but she had spent the entire time flirting and fucking. Girls went crazy for Leslie, even the ones that didnt know her true identity. When she was younger, she would have been kicked out of school a million times if Arnold hadnt been looking out for her. Nathan: Do you have any ns for her? Arnold: Ill set her up on a blind date in a couple of days. Nathan gasped. He knew that Leslie was a Man-eater, and he pitied whoever was set up with her. We should go and see her, he said. Arnold nodded and said, Why not? **** The atmosphere at the shooting range was unusually lively. Crystal raised the gun and squinted as she set the sights on the bullseye. Leslie put her arm around Crystals waist, held her hand, and adjusted her position. Leslies chin was resting on Crystals shoulder, and they were close enough to hear each other breathing. Crystal was ufortable with such an intimate gesture, especially from a girl. She looked sideways at Leslie and then back at the target. Leslie pressed herself against Crystals back and whispered in her ear. Are you attracted to me? she asked. Crystal gasped in surprise and said, I think there has been a misunderstanding. She tried to pull away, but Leslie held her in ce. Leslie: Ill tell you a secret. Crystal: Go ahead. Leslie: I prefer women over men, and I think you might too Crystal was shocked by what shed just been told. The men around them were cheering at the girls, but they stopped immediately when Nathan and Arnold emerged from the house. Arnold took one look at the situation, and he saw all that he needed to see to understand exactly what was going on. Leslie! he growled. Let her go! What did I do? she replied innocently. Then she reached up and tweaked Crystals nipple through her shirt. She has a nice figure. Dont you think so? You! Crystal eximed. She pulled away from Leslie, turned around, and tried to p her across the face, but she grabbed her hand. This caused the men around them tough harder than ever, so Arnoldmanded them to do tenps around the nearest mountain.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 129: He Was Being Drugged At this point, Leslie suddenly realized that hermanding officer meant business. Thus, she released Crystal, stood to attention, saluted him, and said, Should I join the men, Sir? Arnold: We will get to that. For now, though, there is your discipline to attend to. You have two choices. Would you like to do one hundred leapfrogs, or would you like to write a Confession Report? Leslie: A confession report, Sir. Sir, would you like it written in Italian, French, German, or Arabic? Arnold smirked and said, Since you think youre so smart, you can do one of each! Leslie: Sir! Yes, Sir! Arnold turned to Crystal and said, I am so sorry about that. Why dont we have dinner and try to put all that nastiness behind us, shall we? That would be nice, Crystal replied. And thank you foring to my rescue. Arnold smiled and said, Its not a problem. Nathan gently cupped the breast that Lesley had touched and said, In the future, stay away from that girl. As you may have noticed, shes a bit unstable. After walking a few steps, Arnold turned back to Leslie and said, You may join us for supper. You can make your confessionster this evening. Leslie: Sir. Yes, Sir. Thank you, sir. Crystals thoughts raced as they walked towards the house. She had been hit on by men many times, but she had never had a woman treat her with the same deference. Even as they sat down to eat, she found it difficult to find anything to say, especially with this strange woman making eyes at her from across the table. I dont know how I feel about a girl being attracted to me C thought Crystal. *** Leslie pulled out a chair, sat down across from Crystal, and smiled wickedly. Are you interested in women? she asked. Surely, if you arent bi-sexual, you must be bi-curious. And I doubt Nathan would mind if you experimented a bit with me, especially if we let him watch. What do you think? Are you in for this game? Crystals cheeks turned red, and she said, No, thank you. Leslie frowned and said, You are so bori - Stop making jokes! Arnold interrupted. He looked at Leslie and said, You should go on a blind date. I could set you up with a decent man. How about that? Are you trying to marry me off? Leslie asked. I just want you to stop fucking around, Arnold replied. Is that too much to ask? Of course not. Leslie smirked and said, But what you actually want is for me to be a normal woman C a heterosexual woman. That is what you mean when you say that you want me to stop fucking around, but I am not willing to pretend to be something Im not! After saying this, she stood up, walked into the kitchen, and took a few wine sses out of the cupboard. Since we are finally all in one ce, lets have a drink and celebrate our little reunion. As she said this, she popped the cork on an expensive Merlot and began to pour the wine into the goblets. Leslie returned with the wine sses. They were all filled with wine, except for one, which was filled with orange juice. She handed the orange juice to Arnold, smiled, and said, I know that you still have training in the afternoon. We will notugh at you if you drink orange juice instead of wine. Arnold red at Leslie. Are you trying to provoke me? Without waiting for a reply, he switched goblets with Nathan and said, This is more appropriate for you. After all, you still need to drive home. Nathan looked at the orange juice. It annoyed him that he was being treated like a child, but he decided not to make an issue out of it. Smiling, he picked up his ss and said, A toast to Leslies safe return. They all raised their sses and drank deeply from their goblets. Leslie thanked them for their kindness, and then she asked why Eric and Alex werent there. Nathan: They are busy looking for their amulets. Also, they were worried that they couldnt hold you. Leslie: But you werent afraid. Why is that? I have an amulet, Nathan replied. Then he looked at Crystal and coughed. Crystal knew that Nathan was talking about her, but she was not an amulet, and everyone could see that Leslie was a troublesome person. Leslie: Nathan, you finally lost your virginity. Good for you! Originally, you had no interest in women. You must give us all the details. Otherwise, my brother will never lose his virginity! Leslie turned to Arnold with an expectant look on her face.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Mind your own business! Arnold snapped. Leslie chuckled and said, You see, it is not nice having someone meddling in your sex life! She finished her wine and sighed. Her cheeks and chest had turned pink. Already, she was feeling the effects of the alcohol in her system. Although Nathan was drinking orange juice, he also felt a little drunk. His head was spinning slightly, and he felt very warm suddenly. Crystal touched his hand, and she, too, felt the heat radiating off of him. Are you okay? She asked. Is your cold worsening? Nathan shook his head, and then he turned to look at Leslie. What did you put in the orange juice? he asked. Leslie shrugged and said, Ive dr*gged you. Take it easy. If you rx, I will help you, and all will be well. Suddenly, Arnold threw his ss on the ground, and it shattered into a million pieces. He turned to Crystal and said, Miss Smith, please take Nathan upstairs so that he can get some rest. Then he grabbed Leslie by the arm and shouted, You,e with me! As Leslie was dragged out of the room, she called out, Sorry, Nathan. That ss wasnt intended for you! Crystal helped Nathan up the stairs and into the bathroom. Once there, he sat on the toilet seat, and she gave him a ss of water to drink. After a few minutes, his head cleared a bit, and he asked her what had happened. Leslie tried to dr*g Arnold, she exined. He switched sses with you, though, so you were dr*gged instead. Why did Leslie want to put dr*gs into Arnolds ss? Nathan asked. And why do I feel so amorous all of a sudden? C he wondered. Crystal shrugged and said nothing. She suspected that the dr*g that Leslie had put into the orange juice was Rohypnol, which was also known as the R*pe-Dr*g. But why would Leslie want to r*pe Arnold? C Crystal wondered C unless she is secretly in love with him! Chapter 130: I Want You So Badly Right Now (Triggered Warning: This Chapter contains a sexual scene and inappropriate words. If youre notfortable reading it kindly skip it and move to another chapter) Suddenly, Nathan picked Crystal up and climbed into the bathtub with her in his arms. Then he turned the water on. They were both fully clothed, but he didnt seem to be bothered by that fact. Crystal was wearing a T-shirt, which, once soaked, clung to her skin, and her nipples poked through the fabric like two sore thumbs. He pushed her up against the wall, and when he pressed his right hand against her left breast, she shivered. Nathan ran his free hand through her hair. His slender fingers traced the curve of her ear. They ran down her neck and along her corbone. He could feel her trembling under his ministrations, and he felt his manh**d stiffen. He couldnt bear it. To release some of the tension, he began to suckle her exposed flesh lustily, and she felt as if she were being consumed, eaten alive, even. Nathan slipped his hand down Crystals body, stopping at her midsection. He slipped his hand beneath her waistband without waiting for permission, and he gasped as his fingers tickled her light down. My God, he moaned. I want you so badly right now. *** Before Nathan could go any further, Crystal grabbed his hand. Hold on, she said. Im still on my period! Unfortunately, with the Rohypnol coursing through his veins, Nathan wasnt thinking straight. His hand slipped lower, and his fingertips brushed against her clits. He was breathing heavily, and as he touched her, her body convulsed. You are so wet, he moaned. Crystal gasped as Nathan forced two fingers into her wet core, and she climaxed almost immediately. She cried out, Dont stop! And to his credit, he didnt. This went on for a few minutes, with him finger-fucking her with all the force he could muster. Then, without stopping what he was doing, he began to undo the buttons on his trousers. He pushed his pants down and stepped out of them, and then he pushed her skirt and panties to the bottom of the tub. Nathan pulled his hand out of Crystals wet core, and her entire body cried out in revolt. No! She begged. But before she could make too much of a fuss, she felt his swollen member press against her vulva. He moved it up and down between herbia. He was teasing her, but she had no patience for it, so she used her hand to bring herself to climax while waiting for him to get down to business. Finally, Nathan turned her around. He bent her over so that she had to hold on to the wall to keep her bnce. He spread her legs. Then pushed his full girth into her from behind, and at the moment of pration, she cried out in pleasure and pain. For a moment, he didnt move, and then he began to fuck her relentlessly, leaning over her so that he could reach around and grab her breasts. Crystal was lost in a sea of ecstasy. As he screwed her, she repeatedly came right up until the end, when he shot a steaming load of semen into her birth canal. Almost immediately, he slumped over her. He was utterly drained butpletely satisfied. He kissed her back and said, I love you so much. When Nathan pulled himself out of her, his c*ck was pink from her menstruation and frothy from his seed. He turned around C embarrassed C and quickly washed himself off. When he turned around, he saw the same mess seeping down her legs, and he instructed her to do as hed done. **** Arnold was sitting in a leather chair in his study. Leslie was standing across from him. Her hands were behind her back, and her head was slightly bowed. She knew that she was in trouble. Leslie had hoped that once she dr*gged him, he would give up the idea of sending her on a blind date. Unfortunately, her n had gone to shit in the worst possible way. The only upside was that he now knew how far she was willing to go to get out of going on a blind date. Arnold was the only man she would consider as a potential mate. Thus, there was no point in ying the field. Since Arnold did not seem interested in her, Leslie nned to return to her home country. At least there, it was more eptable for a woman to be with another woman. Arnold looked at Leslie and said nothing. He was so angry that he didnt know what to say. He stood up abruptly and pushed her so hard that she fell and hit the floor. Her ass hit the ground, and she cried out in pain. Her cheeks turned red, and she quickly got up, but he pped her across the face as soon as she was standing. Arnold roared, How dare you try to dr*g me! Leslie smirked and said, How dare you try and set me up on a blind date! Why wouldnt I? Arnold snarled and pped her again. You dress and act like a child. If I dont look out for you, who will?!?! It doesnt matter, Leslie replied. She touched her face where hed hit her, and she red at him, using him with her eyes. I am twenty-one years old, and I am not your responsibility. Even if I act like a child, you have no right to spank me or force me to do things that I dont want to do. Besides, you are much older than me. Youre thirty, and you dont have a girlfriend, so quit being such a hypocrite! Or are you a faggot? Is that why my sexual orientation bothers you? Because youre gay?!?!This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. This wasnt the first time someone had suggested that Arnold was a homosexual, and the usation drove him crazy. He was so angry that he grabbed Leslie and pulled down her pants and panties. Then he threw her over his knee and gave her a bare bottom spanking. Once he was done, he looked her in the eyes and said, I am setting up two blind dates for you. You will go, and that is an order. Now get out of here! Leslie quickly pulled up her pants and panties and hurried out of the room. Tears were streaming down her face, but she hadnt cried out when he hit her, and for her, that was a win. Leslie went straight to her room. She often dressed as a boy, and when she bound her breasts, she even passed for a boy at school. Thus, her room was also very masculine. Sometimes, she had girls from school over. They would make out in her room, but she would never let them undress her. She knew that if they discovered that she was a girl, then they wouldpletelymit suicide. Leslie wished that she was a boy, then she would be able to fuck all of the girls in her school. The only upside to being a girl who screwed other girls was that she never had to worry about getting pregnant or getting another girl pregnant. As Leslie reached her door, she suddenly realized that Arnold was behind her, and before she knew what was happening, hed picked her up. Leslie gasped. What are you doing? she asked timidly. Arnold didnt say anything. Instead, he opened her door, carried her to her bed, and gently lowered her down. After shed left, hed immediately regretted being so hard on her, and he wanted to make it up to her by carrying her to her bed. Once she was on the bed, he pulled away, and he was caught off guard when she pulled him on top of her. Then she wrapped her legs around his and rolled him over, and pinned him to the bed with her body. What are you doing? shouted Arnold. Chapter 131: Are You Crazy? Leslie lifted her head and smiled. Then, instead of replying verbally, she stripped off her shirt. Underneath, she was naked, and when she leaned forward, her medium-sized breasts pressed against Arnolds chest. Arnold stared at her in disbelief. Are you crazy? Leslie: Werent you the one who said I needed to start ying the part of a woman? Well? Is this woman enough for you? Stop! Arnold eximed. You are my sister! Leslie: Didnt you receive the DNA report? We are not rted by blood. Arnold: Even if we are not rted by blood, in my heart, you are still my sister, and you always will be. When Leslie heard this, her heart nearly broke. Fine, she said. Set up the blind dates. I will be obedient to you. Im d to hear that youre willing to see reason, Arnold said. Now, please put your shirt back on. You are making me ufortable. Once you are dressed, go and apologize to Nathan. I cant! Leslie eximed. She smiled as she got onto all fours like a dog and lifted her rear end like a bitch in heat. Your spanking was too hard, she said. I can barely move. Maybe I should take off the rest of my clothes so that you can apply ointment to my buttocks. When Arnold saw what she was doing, his ire began to rise. This time, though, along with the anger, there was an undeniable sexual urge. Does it really hurt that much? he asked. Leslie: You obviously dont know your own strength! Ill be out ofmission for at least a week or two. Dont worry, though. I will still go on the blind dates. Of course, when people ask whats wrong, I will be forced to tell them about how you spank me Arnolds face turned white, and when he opened his mouth to speak, he was at a loss for words. Ironically, now more than ever before, he wanted to put her over his knee. The thought of her naked rump stuck up in the air with her cunt exposed to the air while she waited for his hands sting brought a rush of blood into his hard member. Whats wrong? Leslie asked. She chuckled as she pped her ass. Cat got your tongue? She pointed to the bulge in his pants and said, Dont worry. That tells me everything that I need to know! Arnold shook his head in an attempt to clear his mind of all its dirty thoughts. I c-c cant d-d-do this, he stammered. Id b-better g-go and ch-check on N-Nathan Leslieughed and said, After the dr*g I gave him, I am sure he is doing just fine. In fact, unless you n on joining them, I would suggest that you give them some space. Arnold: If you ever do this again, I will break your legs. Leslie: If my legs are broken, I cant go on any dates, let alone get married. Then I will be forced to rely on you forever! So what? Arnold scoffed. You arent a burden or a bother. The review must be written, though. If it isnt in my hands tonight, you will be thrown into the mountains. After that, he picked up her shirt, threw it at her, and stormed out of the room in search of Nathan. Arnold found his little brother in the spare room, and he was wearing a bathrobe. When Nathan saw himing, he stepped outside and quickly closed the door behind him. Crystal was behind him andpletely naked. Nathan had intended to ask one of the servants to take care of their clothing and provide hygiene products for Crystal. When he saw that Arnold hade out of Leslies room, though, he became distracted. He patted his friends shoulder and asked him if he was okay. Im fine, Arnold replied. Its just that Leslie is too childish. Its no wonder that Eric and Alex didnt want toe. Nathan: Arnold, you spoil her too much. Arnold shook his head helplessly. He couldnt deny the fact that he spoiled Leslie. He always had. It is my fault that she is so undisciplined, he admitted. I could never deny her anything. Anyways, I will ask one of my servants to bring you both clothes. As for Miss Smith, please apologize to her for me. This should never have happened. Nathan chuckled and said, Its fine. I am actually d that Leslie dr*gged me. Arnolds brow raised, but he didnt say anything.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Meanwhile, Crystal was hiding in the spare bedroom. She was in bed with the nkets pulled over her head. She was very ashamed of what had happened in the bathroom, and she was terrified by the thought that Arnold and Leslie might have overheard them. Crystal had her phone under the nkets. She turned it on, entered the passcode,unched WhatsApp, and joined the group discussing the party that shed opted out of. To her surprise, almost 90% of her ssmates thought she would not go, and the total amount of money that had been bet had passed the half-million mark. Joyce and Cecilia were the only two people betting that she would go. Are they out of their minds? C thought Crystal-Why would they think that I would go? Suddenly, the air conditioning kicked in. Crystal felt a cold wind blow over the nkets, and she shivered. Unbeknownst to her, Nathan had returned, and when he saw the nkets move, he climbed into bed with her. He snuggled up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed the back of her neck. Nathan felt his c*ck stiffen, but he was sober now, and he had no interest in having sex with her while she was on her period. Thus, he suppressed his desire. Instead, he looked over her shoulder, and when he saw that she was on her phone, he said, Whats up? Im just checking my messages on WhatsApp, Crystal replied. You wouldnt believe what is happening! Nathan could see Crystals face reflected on the phones screen. It made it even harder for him to control himself, and it wasnt easy to focus on what she was saying. Chapter 132: You鈥檙e Popular Nathan had his arms around Crystals waist, but he didnt dare to touch her breasts. If he did, he didnt think he could control himself. He tried to think about thest thing shed said, and then he asked her, Dont you have a party to attend tonight? I do, Crystal replied. But Im not interested in going. There is a bet on whether I will show up or not, and the amount of the bet has passed the half-million mark. It seems rather silly to me. She pushed him away and sat up. I am definitely not worth that much money Not worth that much money?!?! Nathan eximed. You are worth that and more. Much more! Crystal sighed, but before she could reply, there was a knock on the door. What do you need? Nathan asked, not unkindly. Were naked in here, so please donte in. I have fresh clothes for you, one of the servants replied. I will leave them outside the door. Nathan thanked the servant, and once he was confident that she was gone, he collected the clothes from the hallway. On top of the pile, there was a box of tampons. He handed these to Crystal along with the items that had been left for her, and they both got dressed. As Crystal put on her socks, she received a text message. As she read it, Nathan said, Youre popr. What now? Its from Joyce, Crystal replied. Here, let me read it to you. It says, I hope to see you at the party. I bet a lot of money that youd be there. Nathan sat beside Crystal so that he could follow the conversation. Crystal: I dont n on going. Sorry. Joyce: Are you sure? I have a video that might interest you. You are in it. There are two Tibetan Mastiffs in it as well. I had no idea that you liked dogs so much! Crystal knew immediately what Joyce was talking about, and she was filled with rage. She gripped her phone so tightly that Nathan thought she might break it. How did Vannessa get the video? Crystal muttered. She felt utterly helpless and hopeless, but she refused to let her enemies see her underbelly. So what? she typed. The video is a fake. Joyce: I know that, and you know that, but when I show it to our ssmates, they will assume that its real. Crystal bit her lower lip fiercely, but she didnt feel any pain. What do you want? she asked.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Joyce: All that I want is for you to attend the party. Come alone. If you do that, I will keep the video to myself. Crystal: Fine. I will go. **** The party was on a luxurious cruise ship, and when Crystal arrived, she immediately felt out of ce. One of the reasons for this was that she had not followed the dress code. All of the other women were wearing evening dresses, but she was wearing a white t-shirt and light blue jeans. But, of course, she was not there to party. She was there because she had been given an ultimatum, and she didnt dare to go. Onboard the ship, people were dancing, drinking,ughing, and having a good time. The ce was alive with the chatter of people catching up with each other and reuniting, but all of that changed the instant Crystal stepped aboard. A silence descended, and all eyes turned in her direction. Everyone was shocked. First of all, they hadnt expected her to show up. So, for her to show up in casual clothing was mind-boggling. For a while, nobody said anything, but then, as if on cue, everyone began to talk all at once. They wondered why she was dressed the way she was. Someone mentioned that her boyfriend was a gigolo. Another person brought up the egging incident that happened outside the hospital. As she approached the crowd, though, the talking stopped. Judy was there, and she was as surprised as anyone to see Crystal. We didnt expect you! she eximed. Didnt you say that you werenting? Are you alone, or did you bring your boyfriend? Crystal smiled and said, He wishes that he could be here, but he works nights. Judy: He is a good singer, but hell never get anywhere by singing in bars. Everyone has different ambitions, Crystal replied absently. She looked around, but she didnt see Joyce. The women all had dates, but their men were all secretly admiring Crystal. Even though Crystal was dressed casually and wasnt beautiful in a traditional way, something about her captured their attention and held it. Cecelia had overheard their conversation, and she strolled over. She smirked as she turned to Judy. How could her boyfriend be a bar singer? she asked. Hes the boss of a big corporation. She turned to Crystal to see what shed say. Isnt that right? Not really, Crystal replied. She knew that even if she told the truth, there was no way to make anyone believe anything that they didnt want to believe. Thus, in this situation, it was easier to lie. To her surprise, though, Cecelia didnt call her out on her lie. She must be setting a trap for me C thought Crystal C I will need to be more vignt than ever! If you do not have a wealthy boyfriend, then where do you get all of your money? Cecelia asked. Even if you were an escort, you wouldnt have as much money as you do! And theres the trap C thought Crystal. Judy red at Cecelia when she heard what shed said. Then she touched Crystals arm and said, Be careful of Cecilia. She and her friends are thinking of ways to calcte you. Dont go off alone with them, okay? The more people that you are around, the safer you will be. Anyway, it was nice talking to you. I need to visit the little girls room. Crystal nodded and thanked Judy. She hadnt expected such frank advice. A man called Crystals name suddenly, and she turned around quickly. She smiled when she saw Carlos Fosters handsome face. He was wearing a ck suit, and he had a champagne flute in each of his hands. Crystal Smith, as I live and breathe. Carlos smiled and offered her one of the sses of champagne that hed been carrying. Once shed epted it, he said, Thank you for stopping the acquisition of the Henry Group. You dont have to thank me, Crystal replied. I had personal reasons for doing what I did. Chapter 133: I Want You To Kneel Carlos smiled at Crystal. Do you like talking to me? he asked. Crystal shrugged, took a sip of wine, and looked around. Wheres your girlfriend? Shell probably bete, Carlos replied. You know how she is. She likes to make a dramatic entrance. Anyway, did you hear my question? You should know that Im breaking up with Joyce. Shes too needy. Do you know what I mean? Crystal was a bit shocked by what Carlos said, but she didnt let it show. Thats not any of my business, she said. Especially if she doesnt even know yet. Of course, the only reason that Carlos had said this was because he was still attracted to Crystal. He looked her over, and his heart began to race. I did talk to her, but shes having a hard time with it, he said. If we do break up, though, could you give me another chance? We used to be good together. Dont you think so? We were perfectly matched Perfectly matched? Crystal scoffed. Even if we were, you betrayed me! I will never forgive you for what you did, so you might as well give up. You are wasting both of our time! When Cecelia saw them together, she wandered over. She looked at Carlos and said, What are you doing with this bitch? Arent you afraid that Joyce will be jealous? Suddenly, Joyce appeared. She had overhead what Cecelia had said, and it made herugh. Why should I be jealous? she asked. She was wearing a big red dress with a deep cut that pushed most of her breasts precariously out the top. Her lips were red, and her eyeliner was dark ck. She thought that she looked like a queen, but Crystal and Carlos thought she looked more like a streetwalker. Joyce hugged Carlos intimately and said, Im sorry for ignoring you. I had something to deal with. I hope you arent unhappy. Joyce offered Crystal a fake smile. In her heart, she wanted to kill Crystal. She thought that Crystal was behind Carlos, wanting to break up with her. She waited for Carlos to say something, and when he didnt, she began to pout. He didnt notice that either, so she patted his arm and said, Dear, I need to talk to Crystal alone. I will find youter. Carlos nodded and walked away. Once he was gone, Crystal turned to Joyce and said, Im here. Now, wheres the video? Joyce smirked, and her eyes shone mischievously. You just got here, she said. I didnt promise that you would get it right away. You have to do everything I say while you are here. Then, at the end of the party, you will get it. Crystal: What do you want me to do? Arent you afraid that if you fuck me over, I will fuck over The Henry Group? I am sure President Davis would not allow that! Joyce scoffed. Its just not good business, and we both know it. Brilliant Group has already lost so much money because of your shitty decisions. I doubt he would let you lose any more. Crystal had never thought about the losses that the Brilliant Group had suffered because of her actions. All she had thought about was Henry Group. Joyceughed and said, I cant imagine why Mr. Davis would be interested in a reckless woman like you. All you think about is yourself. If you werent so selfish, you would have realized that he is actually a very poor man. She pointed to a man that was sitting at the bar. Anyway, take a look at Shawn. Shawn? Crystal was confused. What does he have to do with anything? she asked. Shawn Walker was a fat man with very few redeeming qualities, and everyone in school had always made fun of him. He had asked Crystal out once, but she had refused him. That night, he had attempted suicide. He had survived, but after that, he hadnt returned to school. Joyce: I want you to kneel and lick his shoes. Then I want you to apologize for rejecting him andughing behind his back. Lastly, I want you to ask him for a second chance. Crystal: Why do you want me to do this? You must have a crush on him! Does Carlos know about it?Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Joyce was caught off guard by Crystals resourceful retort, but it had little effect on her. If you want to keep the video private, she hissed, you will do as I say. Crystal sighed and said, Fine. Ill do it. Crystal got up and walked towards the bar. When she got close enough for Shawn to hear, she called out his name. Shawn turned around, as did everyone else in the room. They were all curious to see what Crystal was up to. They all assumed that she would make fun of Shawn, like in the old days, so they were surprised by what actually happened. Crystal knelt in front of Shawn, looked him in the eyes, and said, Master Walker, you pursued me in High School, but I rejected you. I was wrong, but now Joyce is doing something worse. She said that you should kneel in front of me, like Im doing, and lick my shoes. She sees you as a joke, but I see you as an inspiration because you didnt kill yourself. What do you think about that? Before Shawn could respond, like an angry bull, Joyce charged. Thats bullshit! she roared. When she rushed forward, though, her breasts broke free from her dress and swung back and forth like two wrecking balls. Unfortunately for Joyce, she was too upset to notice her little Wardrobe Malfunction. I told you to lick Master Walkers shoes! Joyce shouted. Suddenly, everyone began to whisper to each other, and Joyce realized that shed been tricked into saying far more than shed intended to say. Everyone had always thought that she was kind and considerate, but now they were beginning to see her in a new light. Joyce red at Crystal. Crystal did not look at her, though. Instead, she looked at Shawn. She smiled and said, Master Walker, I apologize for my actions and the actions of my peers, even Joyce. Chapter 134: You Don鈥檛 Want To Miss It Shawn Walker had tears in his eyes, and he was smiling, I appreciate your apology, he said. You should know, though, that your rejection gave me strength. I was angry at that, and I used that anger to push myself forward. Now I have a very sessful career. There was a moment of silence, and then everyone began to cheer and chant Shawns name. Not only had he turned his life around, but he had hosted the party on his boat, and they all appreciated it-everyone except for Joyce, whose heart had hardened to stone by then. Joyce grabbed Crystal by the hair and yanked her backward, mming her to the ground. Crystal shrieked in pain and outrage, and before she knew it, Joyce was standing over her with the sole of her shoe hovering over her face. Lick my shoe! Joyce roared. You fucking bitch! Lick my Goddamn shoe! Unexpectedly, Crystal grabbed Joyces ankle with both hands and pushed her away with all of her strength. Joyce stumbled backward and would have fallen if not for the people standing behind her. They caught her, and they helped her stand up. You think you can stop this?!?! Joyceughed, but she suddenly realized that her breasts were fully exposed before she could do anything more. Her face turned beet red, and she quickly put her babies to bed. By the time Joyce had fixed her dress, Crystal was on her feet, and she had a giant grin on her face. You are going to make aughingstock of both of us, Crystal said. I dont care, but maybe you do!This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Crystal smirked as she took three sses of wine from a nearby waiter. She handed one to Joyce, one to Shawn, and kept thest one for herself. I propose a toast, she said. To friends, old and new. Joyce red at Crystal as she took her first sip. You had better not be ying any tricks, she said. Dont forget that I still have your video. How could I forget? Crystal drank from her ss and said, But why not let bygones be bygones? She turned to Shawn. Master Walker, you are a businessman. You must know aboutworking. After speaking, Crystal first finished her wine and then whispered to Joyce, I can kneel and lick anyones shoes. I dont actually mind. I was just giving you a hard time. But is it okay if I do it in private? Thest thing I need is another video of me making a spectacle of myself! Joyce stood Akimbo and said, You had better not y any tricks with me. Crystal: There are two of you and one of me. What could I do? Judy looked at Crystal from across the room and tried to remind her of the warning shed given her earlier in the evening. Crystal got the message and shook her head. Why is Judy looking at me like that? C She wondered as she followed Shawn and Joyce into the lounge. Meanwhile, Cecilia was chatting in the corner with Carlos. She wasnt actually interested in what he had to say, but she knew that the only way to keep him out of the lounge was to keep him upied. Even without Carlos in the mix, things were going awry. They had hoped to get a video recording of Crystal licking Shawns shoes, but this was proving to be more difficult than theyd anticipated. Gigi approached Cecilia while she was talking. She led her away from Carlos, and then she said, It is done. What did you do? Cecelia asked. I sent the wine to the lounge, Gigi replied. Do you know how long it will take for the dr*g to begin to do its work? Joyce, Crystal, and Shawn are making a lot of noise. They dont know what they are doing. I have no idea, Cecelia admitted. But thank you for the update. You are doing a good job. What about the other thing? Gigi nodded and said, It has also been taken care of. Gigi had taken photos of Crystal and sent them to Eric. When he arrived and saw Crystal and Shawn making love in the lounge, she expected him to be pissed. After that, he would think that Crystal was disgusting, and he would hate her. At least that was the n. Now that they are in the lounge, Gigi continued, I have led our ssmates to their hiding ces outside the lounge. Ceceliaughed and said, This is going to be epic! *** Nathan knew that something was wrong the moment he stepped onto the ship. There was supposed to be a party going on, but things were too quiet. He took a few tentative steps and froze when someone shouted, Master Bush, Nathan Davis is here! Master Davis is here! He heard giggling, and he followed the sound down a long corridor and into arge room. It was full of people. They were all silent, but they were all looking at him, and their smiles were like those of sharks and Cheshire cats. The crowd assembled in front of Nathan to impede his passage, but he would not be stopped. He pped one man across the face and kicked a woman in the stomach. She fell to the ground, and he crushed her fingers with his shoe as he walked over her. Eventually, Shawns guests got the message, and they began to step out of his way. All around him, people talked in whispers. Finally, one man dared to yell out, A good show is starting! Its staring at a cheating slut and her oblivious husband! You dont want to miss it! Nathan shut him up with a look. Terror welled up inside the man, and he urinated down his legs. The acrid smell permeated the air and mixed with the foul smell of alcohol and sweat. People began to gag and find reasons to be somewhere else until only the most perverted amongst them remained. After passing through the partygoers, Nathan came to a door. He was about to kick it in, but when he heard the frantic cries of a woman climaxing, he froze. He recognized the voice as belonging to Crystal. Chapter 135: You Caught Them In Their Trap (Triggered Warning: This Chapter contains a sexual scene and inappropriate words. If youre notfortable reading it kindly skip it and move to another chapter) Nathans hands clenched and uncleaned at his sides. He looked around at the faces of Crystals ssmates. For a moment, he felt helpless, and he didnt know what to do. Eric came rushing into the room behind him, though, and he felt no such hesitancy. He ran towards the door and kicked it open. Inside, a woman could be heard crying out in ecstasy, Yes Yes God, Yes harder give me harder! Inside, all of the furniture had been knocked over, and womens clothing strewn about all helter-skelter. There was a sofa against the back wall. On it, a man and woman were entangled C both naked. They were fucking, and the womans groans filled the room outside.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Everyone was disgusted by what they saw. The woman was lying on her back, and her thighs were on the shoulders of the man fucking her. They had expected to see three people, though, so they looked around the room for the third person. Finally, their eyesnded on Crystal. She was sitting in the corner, fully dressed. She had headphones on, and she was listening to music with her eyes closed. Thank God C thought Nathan. When hed heard the moaning, hed believed that it was Crystal making the sounds. He had never been so happy to be wronged. When the door burst open, Crystal looked up and removed her headphones. When Nathan saw her, he rushed over and embraced her. What is the meaning of this? he asked. He knew that she was supposed toe alone, and he had been suspicious about that, but he would never have guessed the true nature of the party or how truly devious her ssmates actually were. When he saw her looking at the couple fucking, he put his hands over her eyes and said, Dont look at them. When Cecelia saw Shawn on top of Joyce, she was bbergasted. She tried to pry him off of her, but he was shameless. In fact, having an audience seemed to excite him, and he began to m his swollen member into her harder and faster. It was the same for Joyce. Once she realized that she was being watched, she began to match each of his thrusts as she clutched his naked buttocks and begged for more. Everyone could see that they were on dr*gs, but nobody guessed that theyd been dr*gged. Finally, Carlos intervened. He grabbed Shawn and threw him on the ground, and then he pped Joyce across the face. You! he roared. What a shameless slut! Joyce was too intoxicated to know what was happening, and she mistook Carloss rebuke for some new sex game. She smiled wickedly as she got off the couch. She looked him in the eyes as she ced her hand over her vulva, and then she began to pleasure herself. As the men in the room watched, they began to feel aroused. When Shawn looked up from the ground, he was not himself. He was in thrall to the dr*gs he had been given. Cecelia was the first person that he saw, and he immediately wanted to mate with her. He jumped up, ran over to her, and began to pull at her dress. The seam split down the side, and in a matter of seconds, she was all but naked. Beneath the gown, she was wearing redce G-string panties. Her brassiere had been built into her dress, so her breasts were fully exposed. She covered them with her hands, but not before her ssmates had seen all that there was to see. Everyone was excited to see what Cecelia had been hiding beneath her gown, even the women, and when Shawn tore away her panties, they were all secretly pleased by the sight of her clean-shaven wet core. They hadnt realized that she had such a good figure, and one person went as far as to say that she had a better body than Joyce. Unlike Joyce, though, Cecelia had not been dr*gged, so it was expected that she would put up a fight. Much to their surprise, though, she did not. When Shawn pressed his swollen member against Cecelias pubic mound, she took it into her hand and guided it into her wet core. Everyone held their breath. The room went quiet, and then the moist sound of him entering her echoed loudly in the room. And then he began to fuck her for all he was worth. Meanwhile, Joyce was still on the couch, and she was pouting. I need a man C she thought lustily, and she began to look around the room. She was wetter than shed ever been in her life. Then, suddenly, she spotted Carlos. He was standing by the door with his arms folded across his chest. She grinned as she slunk down to the ground, and she began to crawl towards him on all fours. When Carlos saw her, he scowled at her and turned away. Thus, she turned to the other men in the room. She sucked their member and licked their shoes C anything to convince them to have intercourse with her. It was Gang Bang City, and she was the Pce of Pleasure. All of her doors were open for business, and the men were having a st. Unfortunately, the women were not so excited by her behavior. In fact, they were so disgusted that they took photos and videos of everything that was happening. Judy walked over to Crystal. Her cheeks were pink, and it was apparent that she had beenughing. This is great! she eximed. How did you pull this off? I had been worried about you getting hurt, but now I can see that youre more than capable of handling yourself. Crystal took out a bottle of medicine from her pocket, handed it to a bodyguard, and said, Give them the antidotes. Judy: Whats that? Crystal: Its the antidote. I took it in advance, and then I arranged for their drinks to have the same dr*gs that mine had in it. Where did you get these? Nathan asked. This afternoon, after Leslie dr*gged you, I asked her for the dr*g and its antidote, Crystal exined. She felt bad about what had happened, so she was more than happy to do as Id asked. Unfortunately, there had been a condition that went along with the dr*gs, but she dared not tell him about it. Nathan chuckled and said, Thats ingenious. You caught them in their trap! Judy said, Well, they deserve everything they got today! Chapter 136: I Can鈥檛 Let You Get Hurt Suddenly, Chris walked through the door, and when Judy saw him, her eyes lit up. Talk to youter! My darling has arrived! she eximed, and then she ran to greet him. Once she was gone, Eric wrapped his arms around Crystal. Heughed and said, I knew youd be fine. Youre tough, and you dont put up with anyones bullshit. Thats my girl, you never failed my expectation, Nathan couldnt bear the sight of Crystal in another mans arms, so he grabbed her arm and pulled her towards himself. Eric would not let go, and she felt like they were tearing her in two. Stop it! she cried. You guys are hurting me! What are you guys doing here? I was told toe alone! You are fucking everything up! I didnt ask any help from both of you, she yelled, but the two men kept dragging her on both sides; no one wanted to give up. I was in the hospital, Eric exined. He let go of her arm and said, Im sorry if I hurt you. When I discovered that you were in danger, though, I had toe. I cant let you get hurt, Nathan let go of her other side and said, It was the same for me. His eyes were on Eric, ring at him. Eric ignored Nathan and turned to Crystal, then said, Now that I know that youre fine, I had better get back to the hospital. Crystal: Why do you need to go to the hospital? Are you okay? Eric hesitated for a moment, and then he said, I am fine. It is my friend that is in the hospital. Crystal gave Eric a quick hug and said, Well, then; I guess youd better get going. Thank you so much for being so concerned, but for next time, you should know that I can handle myself! Eric smiled, and before leaving, he leaned into her and whispered, Youre often in danger. I wish I could keep you at my side at all times. Please wait for me. I wont be long Suddenly, Nathan grabbed Eric and yanked him away from Crystal. Then he red at her and demanded to know what Eric had said. I didnt hear him clearly, Crystal replied. It was true. She hadnt understood his instructions. Go home and change your clothes, Nathanmanded. He couldnt stand the smell of Eric on her. Why? Crystal sniffed her sleeves and said, Im clean. Dont be so defiant! Nathan roared. Just do as I say! Crystal was speechless. She had no idea that he could be so domineering. Suddenly, all of her ssmates began to cheer, and she turned around to see what all of themotions were about. On the opposite side of the room, her peers had formed a circle around Judy and Chris, and Judy looked prouder than shed ever seen her. Her chest was puffed out, and she looked like she was on top of the world. Judy was smiling. You guys are too kind, she said. Louis also belongs to Starlight Entertainment, which is subordinate to the Brilliant Group. Thepany has signed up a lot of superstars. If you tell me who you like, Ill get you their autographed photographs.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Nathan looked at Crystal and smirked. Did she help you just now? he asked. She hardly seems like the helping type. She did, though, Crystal replied. She looks pretty vain, but she has a good heart. Shes the only one who helped me. Nathan put his arm around Crystals waist and led her towards Judy. Then we will have to do something kind for her and Chris, he said. His bodyguards walked on either side of them and pushed her other ssmates out of the way. Nathans perfect figure was stunning, and everyone was shocked to see him with Crystal. As they passed through the group, Judy pointed him out to Chris and said, Chris, this is Crystals boyfriend. We met him at the concert. Do you remember? He took the stage and yed a song! Judy turned to Crystal and said, After the concert, Chriss agent talked to me. He said that he wanted to sign your boyfriend. She turned to Nathan and asked what he thought about that. Nathan ignored Judy. He turned to Chris and said, Starlight Entertainment has a big-budget production in the works. It is called Beyond the Sky. If youre interested, the lead role is yours. Chriss face turned red. Ive heard about Beyond the Sky, he admitted. But arent there a lot of A-List actors vying for that role? I wouldnt want to embarrass myself, but thank you for thinking of me. Would you at least consider it? Nathan took a card out of his pocket. He handed it to Chris and said, Here is my business card. Chris took the card out of politeness, and when he saw Nathans name on it, he was stunned. He hadnt realized that Nathan was Nathan Davis, the president of Brilliant Group. Hes my boss! C he realized in dismay. He immediately offered his hand to shake. President Davis, he said. Im sorry for not recognizing you. Judy was as shocked as Chris was. Youre the President of the Brilliant Group?!?! she eximed in near disbelief. Instead of answering her question, Nathan looked at Chris and said, Bring my business card to the office, and someone will arrange everything for you. Chris thanked Nathan. He had never imagined that thepany president would take a personal interest in him, and he was thrilled. What a lucky day! C he thought. Now that everyone knew who Crystals boyfriend was, they began to talk loudly amongst themselves. They had thought that she was a Sugar Baby, but it turned out that the truth was far more interesting than the rumors had been. And now that they knew who she was connected with, they were eager to please her. They all regretted the bad things theyd said about her, and some people even wanted to lick the soles of her shoes. Chapter 137: You Are Too Adorable Judy was on Cloud Nine. With a smile on her face, she called for everyones attention and said, We should always watch our tongues from now on. Crystals boyfriend is a man of stature and renown. You said he was her Sugar Daddy, but you were wrong! You are lucky he is a forgiving person. He is not without his limits, though. From now on, anyone caught gossiping about Nathan and Crystal will be sent to Gossiping Jail! Furthermore, you shouldnt dr*g, r*pe, or n to kill Crystal either. Afterward, Judy approached Crystal and said, Dont worry about them. If anyone dares to spread any rumors about you on WhatsApp, I will help you put them in Gossiping Jail. We are friends after all, Crystal smiled and shook her head. Dont worry about it. I dont care what they say. Neither of us does. After saying this, she turned to Nathan and said, Right, Dear? Nathan rubbed her hair indulgently. He had been so entranced by the movement of her lips that hed forgotten to listen to what shed been saying. Nevertheless, he was so happy that Crystal managed to save herself from her ssmates trap earlier. Meanwhile, Carlos sat across the room. He was alone, and he had a sad look in his eyes. He had a ss of whiskey in his hands that he brought to his mouth. He took a sip, and as he watched Nathan and Crystal, his grip on the ss tightened. He looked at the clock on the wall and began to count the seconds C One wooly-mammoth-Two-wooly-mammoth-Three wooly-mammoth. And times seemed to go by very, very slowly. He was so jealous of the couple that it felt like he was dying. After everything that hed been through with Crystal, he saw her as one of his possessions. Thus, if she belonged to him, then Nathan was a vile thief. Unfortunately, he recognized that he was inferior. The usurper was more powerful. He was physically stronger and better looking. He knew that Nathan was capable of doing many things than him. Carlos clenched his teeth and refused to let his anger show on his face. He waited until no one was looking, and then he left the party. It wasnt long after that Crystal and Nathan also left. Before Crystal left, though, she stole Joyces phone. She needed to delete the video that Vannessa used to threaten her earlier. **** Once the boat was out of sight, Crystal took Joyces phone out of her pocket. Unfortunately, it was locked, so she asked Nathan if he could find someone to unlock it for her. Nathan just shrugged, though, and said, Its not necessary. Pass it over here. Crystal gave him the phone, and after a few seconds, hed broken the lock. She was amazed, and she pped her hands. Nathan smiled and said, Ta-da! Crystalughed and asked, How did you do that? I didnt know youre such a genius on cracking difficult phone passwords, Nathan smiled at her and shrugged his shoulders, Magic! As if! Crystal scoffed. There is no such thing as magic. I dont believe in magic; its just an illusion being used by few people who perform in the carnival, Nathanughed and handed her the phone. Then he Booped her on the nose and said, You are too adorable. Sometimes I want to eat you up! Crystal smiled seductively and said, Maybeter, Ill let you do that! As Crystal began to go through the phone, Nathan said, You knew they were going to try to dr*g you, didnt you? Otherwise, you wouldnt have had the antidote. Im right, arent I I knew about the dr*gs, Crystal admitted. But dont be mad. I knew that I could handle those people, and I did. Nathan held Crystal in his arms. I wont be angry, he said. But only if you promise to make better choices in the future. Crystal sighed and said, Fine. I promise. Nathan: Then we dont need to talk about it anymore. They were both silent for a few minutes, and then Crystal said, Joyce told me that my actions cost yourpany a lot of money. Is that true? Nathan: If I said that they did, would you make it up to me? Crystal: Im broke. How could I make it up to you? Nathan: Pay the debt with your body. When we go into the bedroom, I want full use of your body to do whatever I want with it. You cant say no to anything. And every time you allow me that freedom, I will knock one hundred thousand dors off your tab. Youve cost me one hundred million dors, so you owe me one hundred nights of pleasure. But Im not good with numbers! Crystal eximed. Nathan: Dont worry. I will keep track of your debt. Crystal smiled seductively and said, You really are an evil capitalist, arent you? I am, Nathan admitted. And as a Capitalists wife, its about time you learned your duty. Crystal admired Nathan for what hed said, and she couldnt wait to start paying off her debt. Of course, they still had business to discuss. Why did you say that I would regret halting the Henry Groups acquisition? she asked. Nathan sighed and said, I may as well tell you. The money that your Mother invested ended up in Jessica Greens ount. And the person who had those eggs thrown at you she was being instigated by her. Crystal: So, its her, then? Nathan gave Crystal some papers to read, and as she read them, her ire began to rise. Her face turned white, and she handed the papers back to Nathan. How could there be such a vicious person?!?! She asked. Jessica already has my father. Why isnt that enough? Why did she need to steal my Mothers money as well? Nathan looked at Crystal seriously. What do you want to do? he asked.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. I want to get revenge, Crystal replied. And now I have God on my side. Chapter 138: Aren鈥檛 You Just Full Of Surprises? When Crystal looked through the videos on the stolen cell phone, she was disgusted to find erotic photos of Joyce and James, the middle-aged director. Then, under her breath, she muttered, Isnt that Cecelias Father? Nathan nodded, verifying Crystals suspicion. Gross, Crystal muttered. She couldnt stomach the photos for very long, and she quickly turned off the screen. She had initially intended to return the phone, but she hadnt found the video with her in it, so she decided to keep it handy as insurance. Nathan had his hand on hers, and he said, Penny for your thoughts. Crystal: Leslie asked me to apany her on a blind date, and I said that I would. Nathan gave her a stern look. Did you promise that you would go? he asked. Crystal nodded. Is that a problem? she asked. Probably not, Nathan replied. The date must be what Arnolds doing, though. I wonder what he is up to. Hes never been a match-making type Crystal: Does he like Leslie? Nathan shook his head and said, He doesnt. But she is too possessive of him. That must be why hes trying to get rid of her. She is always blocking him. Crystal frowned. Arent they siblings? Nathan: Nope. In fact, he is looking for his sister! Didnt you know that? Crystal shook her head and said that she hadnt. Nathan: Its true. Their nanny abducted his sister at the age of five, and she was sold on the ck market. Later, Arnold found a girl with the same birth date as his sister, and he thought she was his sister. He brought her home and treated her like a sister, but a DNA test showed that she was not his sister. Crystal: Was that girl Leslie? Nathan: It was. **** In the militarys vi C After spending the evening in bed, Leslie finally got up, got dressed, and got ready to write her self- criticisms. As a child, she had shown a great talent fornguages, so she had learned many tongues. That didnt mean that she was anxious to get down to business, though. She knew that no matter how hard she tried, Arnold would be critical of her work. He had perfect handwriting, but hers had never been very good. Of course, one of the things she loved about Arnold was his skill with a pen. In her opinion, the ability to write neatly was very sexy, and just thinking about his cursive made her wet. Leslie staggered to the desk, sat down, and rummaged around for a pen and paper. If she hadnt opened her big mouth, she would have only had to write one article. However, she had to do five C one in English, French, Arabic, Russian, and Chinese. This is such a waste of time! C she thought as she wrote C Arnold wont even be able to understand these. Leslie thought about how she could get her peons to do the work for her if she were at school. She wasnt at school, though. She was isted and helpless. After working at it for about fifteen minutes, she thought C this is bullshit, and she downloaded a self-criticism from the Inte. She changed a few things to personalize it, and then she used Google trante for the other fournguages. When that was done, she printed them off, and she was incredibly happy with her work. Without hesitating, she hurried to Arnolds room to hand over the printouts. Much to her surprise, though, he was not there. The room was empty. She walked towards the open window, and it wasnt until shed been in the room for a couple of minutes that she heard the sound of water running in the connected bathroom. Leslie turned towards the bathroom, and a smile appeared on her face when she saw Arnolds naked outline in the shower. She chuckled as she went toy in his bed, and she brought his pillow to her face so that she could take in his manly musk. Finally, and without meaning to, she fell asleep. While Arnold had a shower, Leslie dreamt of the day he had brought her home. She had been the same age as his long-lost sister would have been. He said that he would take care of her and make up for all of the time that had been lost. She had been fifteen at the time. The smell of scented soap permeated her dream, and she woke up. She opened her eyes, and Arnold was on the edge of the bed, watching her. He was half-naked. All that he wore was the towel wrapped around his waist. Arnold was well aware of her eyes on him, and he smirked. Have you seen enough? he asked. I brought you the self-criticism you ordered me to write, Leslie said. Theyre on the windowsill.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Arnold turned and snatched them up, and when he turned, Leslie saw that hed been injured. Leslie pointed to the cut along his abdomen and asked what had happened. He was bleeding, and she offered to get the First Aid Kit. Its nothing, Arnold said. Never mind the kit. I hurt myself while in training. It had scabbed over already, but the water in the shower reopened it. Arnold brought the self-criticisms to his face to smell the ink, and then he began to read. He read the one in English first, and Leslie was shocked when he started reading the other ones. I had no idea you knew so manynguages! C she thought C Arent you just full of surprises? As she watched him read, she felt a rush of heat in her groin. It spread out into the rest of her body, leaving a tingling feeling in its wake. And she couldnt keep her eyes off of the wound in his side. The truth was that Arnold didnt speak the othernguages, but he didnt want Leslie to know that. Even if she knew, he didnt think that shed y tricks on him. After all, he could find a trantor to check her work. Chapter 139: You鈥檙e The Crazy One The room was so quiet that Leslie and Arnold could hear each other breathing. She was still lying in his bed, gawking at his wound, and he was focused on her self-criticisms. Leslie watched his abdominal muscles twitch every time he moved, and she drew closer to him. Then, when she was within kissing distance, like a manpping up a womans menstruation, she dipped her tongue into the bloody gash in his side. Arnolds body instantly tightened. Every muscle of his body stiffened. The muscles on his face twitched, and Leslie could hear his teeth clench. And then he struck her, and she flew across the room, and her back smashed against his dresser. Her head cracked against the metal handle on the drawer, and when her ass hit the carpet, she made no sound. A minute passed C meanwhile, Arnold seethed. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, and then Leslie began to whimper. It took her a few minutes to collect herself, and then she sat up as if nothing had happened. She lifted her short hair, which was incredibly sexy and seductive, and said, You didnt need to do that. I heard that saliva could act as a sterilizer. I just wanted to see if it was true. Arnold scowled and threw her papers to the ground. Get the fuck out of here! He roared. Leslie got up and rushed out of the door as quickly as she could. Even though she was in pain, and he was rejecting her, she couldnt help but smile. When shed dipped her tongue into the slit in his side, his c*ck hade to attention and saluted her for her ministrations. Leslie slunk back to her bedroom once the door was closed behind her and climbed back into bed. She picked up the small doll that she kept next to her pillow. There was a turtle beside it with a green shell. Shed had both of them for over twenty years, and when shed first discovered her sexuality, shed spent many a restless night pleasuring herself with one or the other pressed tightly against her pubic mound. Finally, she looked into the turtles eyes and said, Youve missed me, havent you? Admit it. She giggled, adding, Dont worry, I might still have some use for you yet. Leslie picked up her phone, turned it on, andunched WhatsApp. Her only local friend was Crystal. She sent her a quick message C Keep your day free tomorrow. Ill pick you up. C and she logged out without waiting for a reply. When Crystal received the message, she was rendered speechless, and she thought C Leslie really only does things her way. She is so self-centered and selfish! While she was putting away her phone, Nathan walked into her room with a ss of water. Take a painkiller, he said. Dysmenorrhea is a disease. All women have it, but none of you have to suffer. Ill find a doctor for you when your period is over. Crystal took the painkiller with thanks. If I have you, why do I need a doctor? she asked.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Nathanughed as he warmed her lower abdomen with his big hands like he had been doing every nighttely. She didnt sleep well when she was on her period, but this helped. You are so silly, he said. Anyway, I am d this helps, but there are other ways I could help. All you need to do is ask Crystal had a feeling she knew what that meant. She turned to look him in the eyes and said, Nathan! You are such a beast! *** In the Henry vi C It was one oclock in the morning when Joyce woke, just in time for someone to toss her into bed. What is going on? she wondered as she flopped about. She sat up and looked around. Carlos was standing at the foot of the bed. He is the one who brought me here, she realized. C-C-Carlos, she stammered. Wh-What h-happened? Joyce didnt see Carloss ping. It was hard, and it threw her back onto her bed. She covered her face and began to whimper. Why did you h-h-hit me? she whined. Carlos F- Foster Are you c-crazy? I d-d-didnt d-do: anything Didnt do anything? he snarled. He grabbed her right hand and pried it away from her face with his left. Then he pped her again. Her head snapped to the left, and she began to wail. And if she said anything after that, it was utterly iprehensible. How dare you insinuate that Im crazy! Carlos roared. Youre the crazy one! And a shameless slut to boot! Joyce Henry, I didnt know that you were so cheap, but you showed me your true colors tonight, thats for sure. You were like a bitch in heat. Do you even remember how many men you fucked? Joyces head was buzzing, but her fear of Carlos gradually turned to rage. fuck you! she roared. How dare you say that and hit me! I am Joyce Henry, and I demand respect! She grabbed the pillows on the bed and threw them at Carlos, but they bounced impotently off of his chest, and her energy slipped away as quickly as it hade. Joyce slumped back into her bed. That wasnt me tonight, she exined. Then who was it? Carlos scoffed. It certainly looked like you! Joyce looked at Carlos and said, Crystal dr*gged me. I was dr*gged by that dirty bitch, and instead of saving me, you med me. And you even hit me! How could you believe that I would act that way? Dont you know me at all? What happened tonight is all your fault. If you had intervened, none of those men would have been able to have sex with me. What am I going to do with you now? Carlos was in shock. His face turned white, and his heart began to beat fast. Im dying C he thought C I am having a heart attack! Chapter 140: You鈥檙e Nothing Joyce red at Carlos. Without me, she hissed, youre nothing! You have no abilities and no money. Yourpany is getting back on track, but now youve betrayed me. If you have any backbone at all, leave me. But dont expect any support from me for the Foster Group in the future. This was an idle threat. When faced with an ultimatum, Joyce assumed that Carlos would cave and get off her back. But, instead, she was about to have a very rude awakening. Carlos stared at her with his mouth open. He was at a loss for words for a moment, but he wasnt dying, as hed thought he was. He was as far outside of hisfort zone as a person could go. He allowed his body to copse to the floor, and he ran his fingers through his hair in dismay. Well, he finally muttered. Youve had your say. You look down on me now, dont you? You think that I dont deserve you, but thats ridiculous! Suddenly, Carloss eyes lit up, for the first time in his life, he discovered how resilient he actually was. Like a Bozo intable, he bounced back with a giant grin on his face. He chuckled as he got to his face. Joyces face turned white. Whats so funny? she asked. You are, he replied. Funny and stupid. And the best part is that you are too stupid to know how stupid you are. You think Crystal is out to get you, but in her eyes, youre nothing. You want everything that Crystal has, and if you cant have them, you make a fool of yourself trying to get it! Youre just a stupid bitch, and youre trapped in Crystal shadow. You think you canpete with her, but you cant, and you will never be able to. The only reason I left her for you was to use you. You wouldnt believe how liberating it feels to say that out loud finally! Joyce opened her mouth, but Carlos cut her off before she could say anything. Did you scheme against Crystal with Shawn Walker? he asked. If Crystal hadnt had the antidotes, had you hoped to make a sexual spectacle out of her? I think you did. But you didnt take divine justice into ount, did you? I hope youve learned something tonight. If you continue to do evil, you wont have to worry about Crystals retribution. Of course, if anything like this happens again, I will be the one youll have to worry about! Joyce tried her best to hide her emotions so that she could defend herself. The dr*gs werent my idea! she eximed. It was all Shawn Walkers idea. You could have refused, Carlos argued. You have always been strong-willed and independent. He red at her silently, and after a minute had passed, he said, Im breaking up with you. Meanwhile, in the next room, Jessica had been asleep. When they started arguing, though, she was woken by the noise. When they didnt quiet down, she went into the hallway, knocked on the door, and said, You guys need to keep it down. It is past midnight, and some of us are trying to sleep! When no one answered, she pushed open the door and looked at them. Besides, she continued, you are unlikely to solve anything in the middle of the night. Joyce felt like she had been thrown a lifeline. Tears were streaming down her face. He hit me, she cried. Please, Mommy Help me. Jessica sighed. She could see the marks on her daughters face, but she could not pick sides. That being said, she disapproved of violence. So, instead of ming Carlos, she made a nket statement condemning all violence. Well, she said. Everyone knows that violence has never solved anything. It is much better to talk things out. Why dont you guys tell me whats going on? Carlos smirked and said, I think I had better let your daughter give you the details. As for me, I am breaking up with Joyce. Its time for me to move on. Ill exin what I can to Uncle Henry in the morning. After having said that, he got up and left the room. **** Joyce was so angry that she was trembling. She took off her slippers and threw them in Carloss direction. They missed, though, and they hit the door with a bang. She turned to her mother and began to wail. Do you see how ungrateful and vicious he is? she whined. Without our help, the Foster Group would have gone belly up! Who the hell does he think he is? He must be in thrall to that dirty bitch, Crystal Smith! I dont want to break up with him, but what can I do? Jessicas heart was breaking. She sat next to her daughter, patted her on the back, and said, Dont cry. Ill talk to your Father. From now on, not only will we not help the Foster Group, but we will actively work against them. Carlos wasnt good enough for you, anyway. There are other-better-fish in the sea. Whats so good about Carlos Foster? He has no money, no power, and now he has betrayed his benefactors. Its a good thing that you arent with him. In the end, he would have only brought you down. Jessica tucked Joyces hair behind her ear and sighed. She could tell that her daughter was too upset to hear what she was saying. In fact, Joyce was so upset that she could barely breathe. Ill never forgive her, she wailed. She pounded her right into the palm of her left hand for emphasis and said, I will never forgive that bitch, Crystal Smith! **** Carlos felt like he was in a trance as he walked out into the cold night air. It was two oclock in the morning, and the dim streetlights elongated his lonely shadow. He couldnt go back to the Henry vi, and he didnt feel like returning to the Foster vi. Thus, he had nowhere to go. So, with no other option avable to him, he wandered the streets aimlessly until dawn. By the time the sun rose, Carlos was dead tired. The soles of his feet had blistered, broken, and they were bleeding in his shoes. Every step was a painful act of self-getion.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. As morning broke, Carlos found himself in an oldmunity. The security guard was sleeping on the job, so he was not seen slipping past the gatehouse. Chapter 141: Playtime Is Over Carlos stopped in front of an old-style vi. Pink roses were growing outside, and thewn was meticulously maintained. He looked up at the first window on the second floor and willed the drapes to open. s, he was no magician, and they did not bend to his will. He sighed as he whispered his loves name: Crystal. He assumed that she was asleep, and he didnt dare wake her. Instead, he thought C I wonder what she dreams about, and if she dreams of me. This line of inquiry was painful, and he moved his feet around in his shoes, using the physical pain to distract his mind from the emotional pain. At this point in his life, there were a few things that he didnt regret, and letting go of Crystal was number one on the list. Carlos walked over to a sycamore tree that was on thewn and sat beneath it. He looked at his watch and counted the seconds, and as they passed, he thought about a decision hed been putting off. Finally, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number he knew by heart. The call went through, and when the person on the phone picked up, Carlos said, I ept your condition. But in one year, you have to help me get what I want. Then, without waiting for a reply, he hung up. Carlos looked up at Crystals window. Again, he wondered C Does she dream of me, as I dream of her? He knew that it was a silly question to ponder. After all, there was no avable answer *** Leslie shrieked as Arnold forced her into an SUV. Arnold Lopez! she cried. Youre infringing on my personhood! She was frantic. She had made ns with Crystal, and he was fucking them up. He had caught her trying to sneak out of the house and had put them to bed the moment he had realized what was happening. The fact that her ns had been overwritten wasnt the worst of it. The worst of it was that Arnold was making a spectacle out of her. She was known for her strength and independence, but hed easily overpowered her, thrown her over his shoulder, and made her into a potentialughingstock. If she were seen, she would never recover her dignity. Will you put me down if I agree to be good? she asked. Fine. Arnold let her make herselffortable in the seat beside him, but he had his eye on her. He said, I am trusting you. If there are any problems, I will spank your bottom so hard that you wont be able to sitfortably for a year.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Leslie blushed. She hated it when he brought up her spankings. On the one hand, it hurt when he abused her. On the other hand, though, the spankings fostered sexual energy between them that was undeniable. Thus, her feelings toward this form of punishment were, to say the least, mixed. Finally, she nodded her head and said, I understand. I will be fine. I promise. Once Leslie had settled down, Arnold took a look at what she was wearing. Why cant you dress like a girl for once? he snapped. She was wearing ripped blue jeans and a military-issue camo t-shirt. Her hair was tucked into a cap, and he could see that shed bound her medium-sized breasts to her chest. By all outward appearances, she appeared to be a boy. And youre not even wearing shoes or socks! he hissed. Leslie smiled mischievously and said, If there is ever a doubt about my gender, we could always return to your bedroom. We could have a Gender Reveal Party. Would you like that? She could tell by his tinted cheeks and by the growing bulge in his trousers that it was precisely what he wanted C even if he wouldnt admit it. By now, they had been on the road for about five minutes, and when Leslie leaned over to rest on Arnolds shoulder, he shouted at her to get back in her seat. She could see that she was driving him crazy by how tightly he was gripping the steering wheel. His knuckles had turned white, and the veins popped out on the back of his hands. She didnt know it, but when shed gotten close to him, hed been tempted to pull the vehicle over and kiss her- and maybe even fuck her. A voice in Arnolds head shouted at him C Get a hold of yourself, you pervert. Shes your SISTER, for fuck sake! A quieter voice timidly interjected, saying C Not by blood, she isnt It was true, but this was a voice that Arnold refused to give in to. She is my sister C he told himself C SHE IS! Without lifting her back from her seat, Leslies arm stretched out and began to massage Arnolds upper thigh. He tried to reprimand her, but his mouth had gone dry, and when he opened it, nothing came out. All he could do was keep his eyes on the road, drive, and pretend that nothing untoward was happening. Leslies hand slipped closer to Arnolds groin, and the back of her hand brushed against his scrotum. He flinched but managed not to squeal. He knew that she was trying to seduce him, but he didnt know how to put off what was quickly beginning to look like the inevitable. Leslie yfully squeezed Arnolds thigh, and in a seductive tone of voice, she said his name. Wh-wh-ut? he stammered. Do you like my legs? she asked, I know that most men have an addiction to breasts, but Ive seen you looking at my legs. Many times Arnold scowled, and instead of answering, he put his hand over hers and applied pressure. She tried to pull away, but instead of letting go, he squeezed harder. Tears began to stream from Leslies eyes, and she began to whine. Arnold Lopez, she cried. Please stop. Are you C trying to murder me? Why not? he snapped. You were right when you said that I like your legs. I like them so much that I want to cut them off and soak them in formaldehyde. Do you want me to do that? Suddenly, Leslies ire began to rise. fuck you! she roared. Would it kill you to admit that youre sexually attracted to me? Ive seen the way you look at me and the way your body responds when you put me over your knee! His hand was on her hand, but her hand was still on his thigh. Thus, it was a piece of cake for her to move it up another inch and grip his massive erection. Now it was her turn to apply pressure. And squeeze. If you dont get your hand off of my manh**d, Arnold yelled, I will kill you and cut off your legs. You wont, Leslie said confidently. Arnold let go of her hand and said, Just get your hand off of my thigh. ytime is over. Leslie lifted her hand obediently, but before he could appreciate the relief, she lifted herself out of her seat and sat in hisp. Right away, she could feel his erection pressing against her buttocks, and she giggledsciviously. Arnold cried out, What the fuck?!?! Im driving here. So? Drive, Leslie replied. Then she whispered into his ear in an incredibly sexy voice, Would it kill you to admit that youre sexually attracted to me? Chapter 142: That鈥檚 The Spirit Arnold pushed Leslie back into her seat and put his hand on her shoulder so she couldnt move. She struggled against him, hitting his arm, shoulder, and chest, and he shouted at her to stop. You are utterly shameless! he roared. Arnold was pissed. His lips were pressed tightly together, and the veins in his forehead were popping out. Leslie had always done everything she wanted to do, and she had never been afraid of anything. But when did she get into the habit of sitting on men? C Arnold asked himself. Leslieughed and said, I am not shameless, but you relieve me of my shame, and I think you do it intentionally. We both know that you have feelings for me! Shut up! Arnold roared. You are my sister, for Christs sake, so dont ever do that again! Do you hear me? Its not going to happen between us, and Im tired of having to repeat myself. For thest time, I will not fall in love with you, so just let it go. Leslie smiled, and in a sing-song voice, she said, Let it go. Let it go. I cant hold it back anymore She knew that Arnold hated that song, and it amused her to annoy him. Arnold could tell by the look on her face that he hadnt gotten through to her. She would continue to do as she pleased, regardless of what he said, unless he found some other way to end her wicked shenanigans. He turned to look at her and scowled when he saw that she was batting her long, luscious eyshes at him. You are not allowed to fall in love with her-Arnold told himself- You can fall in love with anyone you please, with your sister being the exception! A smaller voice spoke up in his mind. It reminded him that they werent rted by blood, and he firmly told it to C SHUT THE fuck UP! Leslie folded her legs, one over the other, and the hole in the leg of her jeans exposed her knee. It was white as freshly fallen snow, and Arnold found himself drawn to it. You shouldnt wear jeans like those, he scolded her. Youll attract unwanted attention. Maybe I like the attention, Leslie replied. After today, Im going to see if I have feelings for other men. Arnold was appalled by what shed said, but shed put headphones over her ears before he could reply. He didnt know it, but she didnt put any music on. She didnt like listening to music through headphones. The only reason she ever put them on was to discourage people from talking to her. Arnolds grip on the steering wheel got a little tighter. He could see Leslie in the rearview mirror. Her eyes were closed, and she looked peaceful. They were getting close to Beverly vi, and as soon as they arrived, Crystal ran out to greet them. Then, when they got out, Arnold gave Crystal a stern look and said, Please keep an eye on her today. Can you do that for me, Miss Smith? Crystal nodded and said, Dont worry, I will watch her carefully. And you can just call me Crystal. As she spoke, she suddenly noticed a hand around her waist. At some point, Nathan had put his arm around her. Nathan looked at Leslie. He smiled and said, Youre lucky. If it werent for Arnold, Id never have agreed to lend Crystal to you! Nathan remembered that Leslie had dr*gged Arnold, so he didnt like her, let alone trust her. He turned to Crystal and said, Dont get too close to her. Stand at least one meter apart from her at all times! Leslies face turned red from embarrassment. Dont worry, Leslie said. I will be on my best behavior, and I will keep your woman safe. In her mind, though, she was thinking- I will protect her, but there is no way that I am going to give her that kind of space! Crystal took the car keys from Nathan and gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek. Then she opened the door and got in the drivers seat. Leslie chuckled, called Shotgun! and climbed in beside her. Then, while they were still in the driveway, she rolled down her window and called out to Nathan. Do men always like The Crystal Type? she asked. Nathan looked at Crystal, and then he turned back to Leslie. He grinned at her like a hungry shark and shrugged his shoulders. I dont know what other men like, he said. I do know what men like, though: The Leslie Type. He was utterly ruthless when he was angry or annoyed. Not even your brother wants you, he added spitefully. He didnt know that Leslie was trying to have a rtionship with Arnold, but he did know that he was trying to pawn her off on some unsuspecting man. When Leslie heard what Nathan had said, all of the fights left her body, and she looked fragile suddenly. Tears appeared in her eyes as she closed the window. Crystal hadnt noticed that she was upset yet. Where are we going? she asked. Anywhere, Leslie cried. Just not here. How about Delly Square? Crystal could see now that Leslie was upset by what Nathan had said. Never mind what Nathan said to you, she said. He gets mean sometimes. He didnt mean it. Leslie rubbed her short hair and said, What he said is not enough to affect me. Crystal knew she was lying, but she didnt want to further upset her friend by putting her nose where it might not belong. What about Arnold? she asked. Leslie scowled and said, Dont talk to me about him. Crystal: Well, you know that you can talk to me about anything. They rode the rest of the way in silence, and as they arrived, Leslie said, Im going on a blind date tomorrow. Im going to take it very seriously. If I find someone I like, Nathan and Arnold will be forced to eat their words! Thats the spirit! Crystal chuckled, and as they got out of the car, she said, And who knows? Maybe the man you find will be a woman! Leslie smiled when she heard that. Is she suggesting what I think shes suggesting? C she wondered hopefully. She turned in Crystals direction to see if she could read her friends expression. Unfortunately, Crystal was two steps ahead of her already, so it was impossible. When they got into the mall, Crystal noticed that it was bustling, and she said, I wonder if they are making a TV show here today? Look at that couple over there. The guys not tall, but hes cool.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Leslie: I like that girl better. She looks so shiny. Is she a Drama Idol? Leslie looks cool C thought Crystal, suddenly Her every move is tantalizing and charming. Chapter 143: I Can Do It Myself Crystal wanted to tie her up and keep her in one ce. It is no wonder that two chicks fought over her. I would fight for her too! -Crystals cheeks turned red when she realized what shed been thinking. Once the dam had been broken, though, they passed through her mind like a torrent, and she was suddenly very wet. They went into a store, and Leslie attracted the female shop assistants attention right away. Leslie wasnt usually the kind of girl who liked to dress up. She typically wore cool, masculine clothes. But, surprisingly, she was familiar with all of the brands that the attendant showed her, and she knew what looked good and didnt. Crystal took a seat, and she tried to distract herself by texting with Serenity while Leslie shopped. Thus, she was startled when Leslie walked over, pointed to a long white dress with hollowed-outce, and said, Can you get that for me, please? Crystal was surprised by Leslies suggestion. It was nothing like what she typically wore. Do you like that? she asked. Before Leslie could reply, the assistant cut in. It is very sexy, she said. Your girlfriend has exquisite taste. This dress is tailor-made for a beautiful woman like her. Leslie smiled and said, I guess I will try it on. My girlfriend can tell me if it suits me. **** Crystal chuckled when she realized that the store employee thought that Leslie was her girlfriend. She turned to her friend, winked, and then they both burst out into gales ofughter. Then, when Leslie walked out of the changing room with the dress entuating her every curve, neitherughed anymore. Leslie looked cool in a T-shirt and jeans, but she was stunning when she wore a femininece dress. Leslie smiled at Crystal. Then she pushed out her breasts and did a little twirl. Crystal was amazed. Not bad, she said. She would have said more, but words evaded her. It is no wonder that Nathan wanted me to keep my distance-she thought. Why dont you pick out a dress? Leslie suggested. If I am going to take this blind date seriously, I need you to support me by dressing up too. Crystal thought it over and finally said, Alright, I will do this, but just this once, and on the condition that you really do take the date seriously. Dressing up for you is not something that I want to get in the habit of doing. Leslie agreed to Crystals terms, and then, together, they picked out a smoky gray dress that wouldnt attract much attention but would highlight her temperament. Once Crystal was back in her street clothes, they took both dresses to the front, and Leslie told the cashier to ring them up. Then she turned to Crystal and said, Did you bring your card? Crystal was stunned. She couldnt believe that Leslie would take her shopping and not bring her card with her. She huffed as she pulled out the card Nathan had given her and handed it to the cashier. When Leslie saw the card, she was stunned. I am surprised that Nathan gave you that card, she said. After all, he barely even knows you! Crystal shrugged. She thought Leslie was acting very weird, and she didnt know how to respond to her strange behavior. She watched in curious silence as her friend pulled her handy phone out of her purse. She dialed a number by memory, and when the call was answered, she said, Hi. This is Leslie Lopez. Im at your mall. I am ready to have my face scanned. What was that about? Crystal asked the cashier to hand them their bags. It was nothing, Leslie replied. Then: Youll see. Leslie took Crystals hand and led her to a modeling studio. The agency had a membership system that was inessible to ordinary people because its annual membership cost was unreasonably high. Nevertheless, the receptionist smiled and weed them when they got there, saying, Miss Lopez, pleasee in. H. J is waiting inside. The receptionists were required to remember each members face and name. If they couldnt, then they were fired. The stylists studio was decorated in a modern style with ck and white spots as the theme. Leslie pulled back her chair, sat down, and said, I want my hair dyed maroon and curly with extensions. Also, tress my hair on the sides, please. H. J. nodded and went to work, and Crystal picked up a magazine to read while she waited. Before she could crack the cover, though, Leslie said, Nathans birthday ising up. What does he like? Crystal shrugged and said, Regr stuff. You dont know what he likes, do you? Leslie said incredulously. I dont know, Crystal admitted. But so what? Men are easy to please. Suddenly, Amy walked into the room. She looked at Leslie and said, Im going to an awards party tonight. Is Vivian here? I like the way she styled my hair thest time that I was here. So far, Amy hadnt seen Crystal. As soon as she walked into the room, though, she did. Crystal! she eximed. What a coincidence. What are you doing here?This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Crystal: Im with my friend. Amy: Ah. That makes sense. The stylists here are good. By the way, how are you getting on with the written exam for the Assistant Host position? Crystal: I dont know yet, but Miss Ford lent me some books to study. She gave you some books? Would she have the right books that you need? Shes not a professional! Amy had a contemptuous look on her face as she took a stack of materials from her LV bag and handed them to Crystal. She said, One of my Cousins will also take part in the exam, so I printed this out for her today. Here are the materials for the exam for you to refer to. Crystal refused to ept them, and she said, No, thanks. Give them to your cousin. Im sure I can do it myself. Amy: Dont worry, I can print off another copy. In that case, Crystal said, I will take them. Thank you very much. Its not a problem, Amy replied. I wish you the best of luck. H. J. was putting the finishing touches on Leslies hair, and with a face as red as a beet, Crystal told her she looked gorgeous. The stylist stepped back so Leslie could see herself in the mirror and said, Ta-da! Chapter 144: Care To Make A Wager? They chatted for a few minutes more, and then Leslie dragged Crystal back into the mall to find a birthday present for Nathan. The couple wandered through boutiques and clothing stores, and people turned to check Leslie out wherever they went. With her new hairstyle, she really was as beautiful as Crystal had said she was. As they searched for a gift for Nathan, Leslie bought many things for herself, and each time she brought an item to the cashier, she insisted that Crystal pays with Nathans credit card. She had be such a high spender in no time at all that several store managers were following them around. Crystal was unhappy with her friends behavior, and she said, Leslie, are you going to empty the whole mall? Leslie: When I buy gifts for Nathan, Im actually buying gifts for myself, and I use his money. Smart, right? What are you going to get him? Crystal shrugged and said, I have no idea Anyway, how are we going to get all of these purchases home? You are so silly. Leslieughed and said, The mall will deliver them for us. *** At the Beverly vi-Nathan and Arnold were ying chess, and they had been for a couple of hours already. They were pretty evenly matched in skill, so the games between them were rather intense, and quickly the time had gone by. They were just finishing up what theyd agreed would be theirst game when Leslie and Crystal walked through the door. Arnold was the first to see Leslie, and his eyes lit up when he saw what shed done to her hair. He had never seen her looking so feminine, and he almost didnt recognize her. Nathan chuckled and said, Leslie, did you have a sex-change operation? Leslie smirked, showed him her middle finger, and told him to go fuck himself. Same old Leslie- thought Nathan. He went over and stopped Crystal in the doorway. He bowed his head, and then he kissed her. Damn it -she thought C He hasnt seen me for half a day, but he acts like it has been half a year! She pushed him away and looked to Arnold for help, but Arnold was preupied. Leslie had his full attention. Suddenly, Nathan grabbed Crystals chin, and he forced her to look at him. Youre such a bad kisser, he snapped, After they leave, Ill punish you. Then he leaned forward to kiss her again. Instead of giving her the smooch that she was anticipating, though, when their skin was just about to touch, he opened his mouth, bit her lower lip, and drew blood. Crystal squealed and jumped backward. The coppery taste of blood quickly overloaded her taste buds, and she brought her free hand to her face to touch her swollen lip. Just then, Nathan noticed the papers in Crystals other hand. Are you going to take the written test for the Assistant Host position at the TV station? Crystal nodded and said that she was. When Nathan heard that, he offered to help her, but she said she didnt need any help. If she had wanted his help, she would have asked. Of course, she didnt say that quite so tantly, but Nathan got the point. He knew that she liked to think of herself as an Independent Woman. Crystal was watching Leslie and Arnold from the corner of her eye. Do you see whats going on over there? she whispered. Now that Leslie looks feminine, Arnold cant keep his eyes off of her. I wonder if he has a problem with women, though. Although she had her eye on Arnold and Leslie, she kept on letting her eyes stay to the bulge in Nathans pants, and it was impossible for him not to notice. Nathan smirked and said, Why are you looking at me? I dont have that problem, and even if I did, you could fix it for me. Their problem has nothing to do with his sexual orientation. Even if she jumped on him, though, he would never ept her. Why not? asked Crystal. He has feelings for her, so why would he refuse her? It makes no sense. If she jumped on him, I think that he would ept her. Nathan grinned and said, Care to make a wager? Crystal: Im in. How about this: if I lose, Ill call you Daddy. Nathan grimaced. Why would I want you to call me Daddy? he asked. Thats perverse! Crystals face turned beet red. Up until now, Nathan hadnt known that she had Daddy Issues. In her excitement, though, she had identally let it slip. Never mind, she muttered. I was just kidding. Nathan sighed and said, Okay. Fine. How about this: if you lose, youll wear an outfit of my choosing. Crystal nodded. And if you lose? Nathan: If I lose, I will lend you my most important thing, and it will be at your disposal what to do with, as you please. When Crystal heard that, an image of his erect hard member appeared in her mind, and she felt like spitting in his face. He seemed to have no shame, and he never hesitated to talk dirty in front of her. How dare you? she hissed. Nathan chuckled and said, Hey! Get your head out of the gutter. I was talking about my strength! Crystal looked at him angrily. If you lose, she said, Ill record your striptease on my phone and post it online.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Nathan: If you want to see me take my clothes off, all that you have to do is ask.. Crystal was flummoxed. How does he always get the better of me? C she wondered. Leslie and Arnold were oblivious to Crystal and Nathans conversation on the other side of the room. They were sitting on the sofa, but so far, they hadnt said much to each other. Then, finally, Leslie turned to Arnold and said, Brother, I had my hair done today. Do you think I look pretty? Arnolds hand twitched. This was the first time she had called him Brother in years, but it didnt please him like hed thought it would. Yes, he admitted. You look pretty. Leslie touched his leg and said, If you have any regrets, its not toote to you know Regrets? Arnold scoffed. I have no regrets. You will, though, if you dont behave yourself on your date. And dont sit so close to me. We should keep an arms length between us! Leslie sighed and stood up. She looked sadly down at Arnold. Youll be sorry, she said. One day, youll realize that I was what you wanted all along, but it will be toote. Leslie walked away, and Arnold showed no sign that anything shed said had impacted him. When Nathan saw that, he smirked. Then he Booped! Crystal on the nose and said, You may as well admit defeat. It is obviously not going to happen between those two. Why dont we go up to my room? You can pay up now and get it out of the way. Oh, fuck C thought Crystal C He got the better of me again Chapter 145: He Loved Her Very Much By the time they got up to Nathans bedroom, Crystal was practically shaking. She had no idea what he had nned for her, but she was pretty sure it would be indecent. Her thoughts run wild, and shes thinking of a way to escape from him. As he closed the door, she took the initiative to open his wardrobe, but she didnt see anything out of the ordinary there.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Here, Nathan handed her something. He was behind her, and when she turned around and she saw what he wanted her to wear, she began to panic. No, she gasped. Not that. Please! Not that one! I cant wear that kind of dress, Are you trying to go back on your word? Nathan asked as he pushed the white package into her arms. It was the dress that Serenity had given her for her birthday: a garment she had never worn and didnt know if she had ever intended to wear. She had almost forgotten about it. How on earth did he had it here? Dont be such a wisenheimer, she said. How did you get that, anyway? You had no right to go through my closet! How dare you touch my personal closet? She suddenly sneered at him, and she was blushing. Nathan approached Crystal, wrapped his arms around her, and grinned. Are you going to get changed, or am I going to have to change you? he asked. Crystals eyes began to fill with tears. There is no way out of this except through it C she realized. I can dress by myself, she said coldly but a bit nervous. Thanks, but no thanks. Without waiting for a response, she grabbed the package and ran into the bathroom. Once Crystal had the door closed behind her, it urred to her that there was a loophole to their agreement, and she began to grin. If she lost the bet, which she presumably had, she had said that she would wear whatever he wanted. She had never said that she would show herself to him while she was wearing the said garment. With that in mind, she began to change. Outside, Nathan leaned against the bathroom door with an evil expression on his face. Do you want me to help you? he asked. Then without waiting for an answer, he turned the doorknob and barged into the bathroom. Crystal shrieked and covered her naked breasts with her hands. Unfortunately, she had forgotten to lock the door. She was mostly dressed, though, and all she had to do toplete the ensemble was pull the ck straps over her shoulder. The dress was a ck satin nightie. It was translucent in most ces, and there were flowers hand sewn along the hems and on thece trim. The nightgown stopped at her hips, and the shoulder straps were thin, so her neckline, shoulders, and arms were fully exposed. Nathan went hard the instant that he saw her in it. His Adams apple rolled, and he felt like a fire was burning inside of him. Crystal could see the mes in his eyes, and she knew that all of her connivings were for naught. Now that he had seen her in the lingerie, there would be no escaping his wicked ns. Thus, when he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into his room, she knew better than to fight. Crystal allowed her body to turn to putty in Nathans hands, and she sent her mind away, disconnecting herself from whatever he was about to do to her. She was stunned, then, when he said, Dont worry. I wont do anything to you. Im not going to force myself on you. Im not a beast, What is this new game?- wondered Crystal. Nathan led her back to his wardrobe, and he showed her a short, white, gauze dress. The shoulders were open, and there wereyers of white yarn dangling from them. It was covered with diamonds and shone in the bedrooms light. Initially, I wanted you to wear this, he said, but then I remembered the lingerie, and I assumed you wanted to wear it for me. Then why didnt you say so! Crystal shouted. She thought that he would dress her in something shameful, but she hadnt expected that he would turn her wardrobe against her. Now that this other dress was in front of her, she didnt know what to think. She could tell by the dresss design and quality that it had cost a fortune. He spent too much money on a single dress. She suddenly felt embarrassed. Never mind that, Nathan said. It turned out that I wanted to see you in both dresses! He held up the white dress. Anyway, I had this made in France, and I want you to wear it to my birthday party. Is that all right? Its too grand, Crystalined. I am too ugly to wear something like this. People will giggle behind my back and say that I am undeserving of such a garment. Let them talk, Nathan scoffed. You are beautiful in my eyes, and that is all that matters. Ignore those people who arent important, When Crystal heard that, her heart began to beat faster, and she suddenly felt exhausted. Id like to go to bed, she said. Once she was gone, Nathan took a bath, put on his grey silk pajamas, went into Crystals room, and climbed into the bed behind her. Then he took her in his arms, stroked hair with one hand, and whispered into her ear: Good night, my dear wife. Crystal exhaled, found afortable position in his arms, and fell into a deep sleep. Nathan did not fall asleep right away, though. Instead, he held her in his arms like a little pet and thought about how perfectly their figures fit together. He loved her very much, and he wanted her to have the best of everything that life had to offer. He will protect her for the rest of their life. Chapter 146: It鈥檚 All Fake News At the Davis mansion, Mr. Davis and Eric Bush sat across from each other in the old mans living room. Eric had just arrived, and he seemed genuinely happy to be there. It had been a while since theyd seen each other, and he asked, How have you been feelingtely? You seemed so busytely, Mr. Gates smiled at him, A bit better, Mr. Davis replied. I received your gift, the premium Colombian coffee beans. Thank you. Eric smiled and said, Thats just the beginning. He nodded to one of his bodyguards, and the man retrieved a blue brocade box for him and handed it to the old man. Mr. Davis smiled as he tested the weight. What is it? he asked. Eric motioned his hand, Open it and find out. Hopefully, youll like it, As the box opened, the old mans face lit up. Inside the box, there was an antique coffee maker. This thing is older than I am! Mr. Davis eximed. If Im not mistaken, this is a Rancilio Silvia brand. Thank you. Eric nodded and said, Youre wee. Mr. Davis studied the parts on the coffee machine carefully and marveled at its good condition. They sure dont make them like this anymore, he said reverentially. You must have gone to a lot of trouble for this. Am I wrong? Eric chuckled and said, Never mind that. Besides, that is not the kind of question you are supposed to ask after having received a gift! The old man put down the coffee machine, put his hand on his stomach, andughed. I watched you grow up. He said. And I have never seen you as happy as you are now. Are you in love? Tell me, who is the lucky woman? Eric: Is it that obvious? It is, the old man replied. And the timing is perfect. If you hadnt found a girl soon, I would have started looking for one for you! Eric forced himself to smile. It was a touchy subject because even the old man was pleasant enough, he was dead serious. If Eric hadnt found someone soon, he would have eventually had the house packed with would-be future wife, and that would have been thest thing he needed. Eric chuckled, Well then, I am d I found someone, he said. No offense, but I wouldnt have liked anyone you would have arranged for me. I wanted to choose my own woman, after all, this is my life, Mr. Davis was stunned hearing his words, Oh? What kind of girl do you like? Is your girl better than the girls I know? The girls I know alle from royalty, or they are the descendants of aristocrats. That may be so, Eric admitted, But no one canpare with the girl Ive found. Of course, Crystal did not have the qualities that Mr. Davis looked for in a woman, but she was amazing in all the ways that mattered to him. And after getting to know Crystal, he knew that he could never love another woman. Shes the one he wanted to be with. Unfortunately, as of yet, she did not return his feelings. Thest time hed seen her, she had given him the cold shoulder. Ultimately, though, that didnt matter. He would take her any way he could. All he wanted was to stay by her side and give her a lifetime of security. Erics words aroused Mr. Daviss interest. You were always such a yer, he said. I always wondered what kind of woman would have what it took to pry you away from those tramps you hung around. Eric chuckled and said, Ive never been the yer that people say I am. Its all fake news. Trust me! Mr. Davis: Is this love of yours a good girl?This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Eric: Of course, she is! Didnt I just tell you that shes the best? Mr. Davis: Do you love her? Erics face turned red, and he didnt say anything for a couple of minutes. The word Love was almost foreign to him, but now that it had been brought up, he realized that he did love her. I do love her, he whispered. When Mr. Davis heard that, he sighed and said, Now if only Nathan could find a good woman. Helen is a good girl too, but Nathan is such a heartbreaker, and all he does is hurt her. When I think about it, it keeps me up at night. Eric: I am sure he will do the right thing. Give him time. Mr. Davis: You are probably right. Forget I said anything. Im thrilled that you met someone you love. We should focus on that for now. There is no point in spoiling this happy moment with gloomy thoughts! Eric: Will you support me unconditionally? Mr. Davis: As long as youve known me, I always have, so why wouldnt I now? Is there something that youre not telling me? There might be, Eric admitted. He hung his head and said, What would you say if I told you that Weasley and I both had a crush on the same girl? Mr. Davis: If that happened, I would tell Nathan to back off. After all, he should be with Helen. Is this the situation, though? Not at all, Eric replied. Im just kidding. Eric was satisfied with the old mans reply, but the question had just been a test. If it came to a fight, he needed to know where Mr. Daviss loyaltiesy. The old man gave Eric a serious look and said, After what happened with Helen, it is hard for me to support Nathan. I ordered him to wait for four years before he got married or fell in love. During that time, he was supposed to seek atonement through repentance and penitence. He never listens, though, does he? Now that time has passed, he will be brought to hell. Youll see. Eric: Thats good. Its been four years. I am sure that Helen will be grateful for what you did for her. Chapter 147: All Men Are The Same Although Crystal was curled up in Nathans arms, she slept restlessly. This was due to a recurring, ongoing dream that she was having, where she was being chased. She couldnt see who was behind her when she looked behind her, but she could hear their footsteps. It was dark in her dream, and she was barefoot. There were thorns and shards of broken ss on the floor, but she knew that she couldnt let her pain impede her flight. She was panting and sweating, and her feet were cut and scraped, but she kept running. It was so bad that she was exhausted when she woke up, and her limbs were sore. As Crystal sat up, she was startled to discover that Nathan was no longer in bed with her. She sat up, and she was about to call his name, but then her phone rang. She picked it up from off her nightstand, checked the caller ID, and saw that it was Leslie. She epted the call, brought her phone up to her ear, and said, Hello? Leslie: Crystal, Ill be there in about twenty minutes. Be ready. Crystal: Okay. Ill see you soon. As soon as the call was over, Crystal got out of bed, and she began to get ready. She had a quick shower, brushed her teeth, straightened her hair, put on a smoke-gray dress, and applied makeup. Then, after checking herself out in the mirror, she went downstairs to wait for Leslie. Much to her surprise, when she got downstairs, she saw that her friend had already arrived. And as soon as Leslie saw Crystal, she struck a models pose. What do you think? she asked. Her wavy chestnut hair framed her face beautifully, and her white-rimmed sunsses entuated her cheekbones. She was wearing red high-heeled shoes and a matching leather handbag. Crystal thought she looked like a queen, and she said so. If you dressed like this all the time, you wouldnt need to go on Blind Dates, Crystal continued. Men would be falling at your feet in the hopes of getting your attention. Leslie sighed and said, The only male attention that I want is Arnolds, and no matter how I dress, he wont give me the time of day Crystal frowned. Im sorry, she said. I didnt mean to upset you. Lets forget about him for today and focus on having a good time. Can you do that? Ill try, Leslie replied. Why dont we get going? Ive got the Maserati convertible waiting outside. Crystal nodded, and when they got to the car, Leslie took a sexy Selfie beside it. Then she sent Arnold a text message. It said: Im sending you a Friend Request on WhatsApp. ept it. Arnold: Hell, no! Leslie: If you want to know how my Blind Date is going, you will ept my request. Ill send you pictures from my date once it is over. Arnold: Fine. Leslie chuckled as sheunched her WhatsApp. Once it was open, she posted a photo of her beside the red Maserati. Once they were in the car, Leslie started the engine and set the radio to her favorite station. Then, as they pulled out of the driveway, she began to sing along to the song that was ying. It was Betty, from Taylor Swifts new album, and she knew it by heart. In no time at all, the wind was blowing through their hair. The music was loud, and both of the girls were in a good mood. That quickly changed, though, as two cars matched their speed, and men inside them began to utter rudements at them through their open windows. Leslie gave the men the middle finger, and Crystal tried to ignore them, but they were persistent. Eventually, Leslie turned to Crystal and said, What do we do? Im starting to feel afraid. What if they follow us to the hotel, where my Blind Date is waiting? Crystal scowled and said, Lets change seats. Ill drive. Leslie nodded, and she quickly found a ce to pull over. But, unfortunately, the pursuers stopped a short distance ahead of them. As soon as Crystal was behind the wheel, though, she took off like a bat out of Hell, and they were able to get away. Leslie was shocked by her driving skills, and as she clutched the door handle, she said so. Crystal caught a nce of Leslie through the rearview mirror, and she couldnt help but smile. When Shed first met Leslie, shed been wearing a chest wrap that deliberately hid her breasts. Now, though, her breasts were on proud disy, and the outlines of her nipples were visible through her dress. Leslie noticed Crystals eyes on her, and she smiled. Crystals face turned red, and she quickly looked away. Leslie chuckled and said, I finally know why Nathan and Eric like you. Crystal: Why? Leslie: You are a fascinating woman. Crystal: You are much more fascinating than I am, and youre reckless as Hell. Leslie: Ill take thatpliment. Thank you. The two girls smiled at each other. They had lost the catcallers, and their destination was in sight. When they got to the hotels door, Leslie Pinged their current address and sent it to Arnold. Crystal gave her a curious look, and she said, Better safe than sorry.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Crystal nodded and sent Nathan an identical Ping. Then she double-checked Leslies dates profile and said, Not bad. William Wright, right. Leslie nodded but said nothing. It says hes twenty-eight, Crystal continued. And that hes the CEO of a listedpany. He also studied abroad. Leslie: So what? All men are the same. They all want the same thing, and its not our brains! Youre wrong, Crystal argued. Not all men are dogs. Some are lions, and others are wolves. Surely, you know that! I suppose youre right, Leslie admitted. They had just reached the window, and they used Williams Profile Picture to identify him. He was wearing a suit and tie. Is he an eagle? Crystal asked. Its hard to tell the difference between male and female. Leslie grinning and said, Thats actually pretty funny. Then, with a smile on her face, she approached her Blind Date. Unbeknownst to them, the hotel belonged to the Brilliant Group. Thus, Nathan had remote ess to all of its security cameras. And at that very moment, he and Arnold were drinking wine and watching their every movement. This should be interesting, said Nathan. Chapter 148: Would You Like One Of These Men? Leslies beauty was undeniable. In fact, she was so beautiful that people almost suffocated because of her beauty. Her thick, long, wavy hair brought out her snow-white skin color, and she was wearing a white, hollowce, form-fitting skirt. From the control room, though, Crystal had Nathans full attention. Suddenly, Leslie looked straight into the camera. She pointed it out to Crystal, and she whispered into her ear. Do you think someone is watching us? she asked. Crystal shrugged and said, Maybe. But who cares? Youre probably right, Leslie smirked and walked over to William. She smiled and said, Mr. Wright, Im sorry for making you wait. I hope you dont mind that I brought my best friend, Crystal. Thats fine, William replied. And you can call me William. Leslie nodded, and then she went around the table and sat down. Crystal followed her and sat down next to her. Leslie had no interest in this man at all, but William was incredibly happy with what he saw, and the more he looked, the more satisfied he was. As they waited for the waiter toe, he talked about his ideal life, the family he hoped to one day have, and the type of education he wanted for his hypothetical children. Leslie found this all incredibly dross, and when she couldnt stand it any longer, she interrupted him. Mr. Wright, she said, you may see some incredible future for us, but I am not as I appear. I have to confess something to you. William watched as Leslie turned and smiled at Crystal. Something about the look she gave her friend made him nervous, and he began to fidget with the cutlery while he waited for her confession. My family kindly asked me to go on this blind date, Leslie finally exined. I try my best to cooperate with them, but I cant control my heart. I dont want to lie to myself or anyone else. My heart belongs to Crystal. Crystals mouth was full of water, and she almost sprayed it across the table when she heard that. She hadnt expected her friend to take the date seriously, but this was too much. William was just as stunned as Crystal was. He didnt know what he was doing wrong. In his eyes, everything had been going great. He liked Leslie, and hed even nned out their future together. Before he could say anything, though, Leslie stood up, took Crystals hand, and left with her. As the two girls neared the entrance, Leslies phone rang. She checked the Caller ID, and when she saw that it was Arnold, she epted the call. Then, instead of saying, Hello, she said, I take it you are watching us with the security cameras Dont give me any attitude, Arnold snapped. Return to your date! Leslie: No. Now that I have left, there is no reason to return. That man is a real snoozefest! Dont worry, though. You dont need to find a husband for me. I will find a man by myself, and I promise you that I can find a better one than you can. What do you want to do? Arnold asked. He had a vague feeling that Leslie was going to make trouble. I want to look for a man, Leslie replied. There are more men than women in this world. Are you worried that I cant find a man? Leslie hung up the phone without waiting for a reply. Then, as she put away her phone, she leaned into Crystals ear. Find some strong men for me, she whispered. Did she ask me to find men for her? C Crystal wondered. Before she could properly process the request, though, Leslie pulled her into the hotel. Crystal knew that this seven-star hotel was aprehensive entertainment site. The lobby on the first floor was a restaurant. The second floor contained a guest room and a leisure ce, and there was a Sunshine Bath on the top floor. Crystal narrowed her eyes and asked Leslie, Are you nning to go wild tonight to get back at Arnold for being so controlling? Leslie shrugged and said, Were here, so we may as well have some fun. You arent going to ditch me, are you? Crystal: Ill stay, but I wouldnt be surprised if Arnold came to get us Leslie: He wont do anything to me. Crystal and Leslie went up to the Sunshine Bath. They made themselvesfortable on the beach chairs, and before they knew it, Leslie had five or six admirers mooning over her. Many men hovered around Crystal, but she didnt give them the time of day, so they eventually moved on. Leslie, though, was a social butterfly. After having a couple of drinks, Leslie put on a ck one-piece bikini that entuated her long legs, slender waist, and medium-sized breasts. With her arrogant posturing and seductive gestures, she was like a peacock. She walked proudly by the pool andzily fiddled with her chestnut curls. Meanwhile, in the swimming pool, men and women of all ages stopped and stared. Crystal was wearing a bathrobe, and she chuckled as she watched her friend. At this moment, she didnt want to do anything except watch Leslie prance around on deck. Thus, she didnt notice when Arnold stepped out of the elevator. Before Arnold did anything, he stood in the shadows and assessed the situation. He saw Leslie prancing around in her bathing suit, and he scowled. There were six strange men following with towels, cakes, and drinks. She winked at a muscr man in a sports bikini, and when he ignored her and jumped into the water, everyoneughed. Leslie smiled yfully. Then she walked to the diving board and dived into the water. Leslie swam like a mermaid, and before long, several men followed her into the water. Then, when she returned to her seat next to Crystal, they joined her on the deck. Crystal gave Leslie a funny look and said, So now what?This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Leslieughed as she leaned back in her chair. She held her hand in the air, and one of the men put a wine cooler into it. Another man began to rub her shoulders. Then, after taking a sip of her drink, she said, Isnt it obvious? These men can take me on blind dates. What do you think? Do you like my idea? Crystal shrugged nomittally and said, Its not bad. I guess Leslie: Would you like one of these men? Crystal: Ummm No, thanks. Chapter 149: I Must Decide On Your Marriage Partner When Leslies phone rang, she was not surprised that it was Arnold that was calling. She picked up on the third ring and said, Can I help you? Where are you? Arnold roared. Leslie: Im on a blind date. Arent you pleased? Arnold: You are on a blind date at a pool? Leslie: Yup! And I have six potential suitors. Maybe you can help me decide which one to choose. There is the eldest son of Evergrande, the second master of JOINASIA, the young master of the Walmart Group, and three popr stars, all of whom are candidates for Best Actor at the Oscars. Which one do you think I should choose? Crystal couldnt help but be surprised by what Leslie had said. She didnt realize that her friend was familiar with all of these people, and she was blown away. When Arnold saw the muscr men clinging to Leslie, though, he was not impressed. Instead, he saw the mens hands moving all over her body, and it made him want to hurt them. This is bullshit! he roared. Dont you just say that you want me to get married? Leslie asked innocently. Dont worry. I will pick out a good man for myself. Anyways, since you dont want me, you shouldnt care who I decide to be with, right? I must decide on your marriage partner! Arnold eximed. Leslie: Why? Dont you know that I can sleep with a man without you knowing? Arnold: How dare you! Leslie: Why not? Arnold ended the call without replying. Then he pressed his thumbs into his temples. He couldnt believe how disrespectful Leslie had been acting towards himtely. She had even tried to dr*g him! Crystal watched Leslie put away her phone. Her friend was smiling, but the smile looked fake, and even with all of these men around her, she seemed lonely. Maybe I can cheer her up C she thought. She pulled her bathrobe open to reveal a peacock blue swimsuit. Then she jumped into the swimming pool. The cold water shocked her system, but her body quickly got used to it, and she began to swim through the water like a mermaid. It had been a long time since shed been to the pool, and she allowed her mind to clear as she swam around. Crystal was just about toe up for air when someone grabbed her ankle and began to pull her to the bottom of the pool. She started to panic, and whatever air shed been holding in her lungs, began to bubble out of her mouth and nose. Her first thought was that she was being attacked by one of the men who had kidnapped her or by the woman that had arranged for her to be egged, and she began to kick with her free foot frantically.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. She didnt know if anyone had seen her go under, so she didnt think anyone would save her. She waved her hands desperately, but it was useless. Then, just as she was about to give up, her foot was released. Someone put their arm around her waist and swam up to the surface with her. They hauled her onto the deck and began to give her air by Artificial Respiration. Whoever it was, Crystal could tell that they didnt want her to die. As the air was forced into her lungs, she felt her bodys temperature gradually increase. A momentter, her head turned, and she vomited up what seemed like gallons of water. After that, she began to cough. Someone put her into a sitting position and rubbed her back, and once the coughing fit had passed, she started to breathe normally again. When she opened her eyes, though, her vision was blurry. Thus, she was caught off guard when someone pressed their mouth to hers and began to kiss her. At first, it was just a peck, but it quickly became more passionate as the stranger forced his tongue into her mouth. Crystal blinked her eyes repeatedly, and her vision slowly returned. Unfortunately, the mans face was so close to her that she couldnt identify him. His eyshes seemed familiar, though, as did his unique mint perfume. The man continued to kiss Crystal for a long time, and at first, it didnt ur to her to resist him. She was too exhausted to think straight, and she was happy to be alive. However, it eventually urred to her that everyone must be watching them, and she began to feel embarrassed. Crystal turned her head to the side to break the kiss, but then she felt his lips on her ear. She thought he was going to start nibbling on her earlobes, and her cheeks went red. He didnt nibble on her earlobes, though. He whispered something, but it was very quiet, and she only caught one word: clear Crystal recognized the voice immediately. It belonged to Nathan! She pressed her hands against his sturdy chest, and she thanked the Gods that hed been there. Of course, she didnt know why he was there, but she didnt care. But what did he mean by Clear?- she wondered. Crystal was shocked when, suddenly, Nathan began to grind hisid manh**d against her. She gasped as she realized what Nathan had meant when he whispered into her ear, and she said, No! Nathan red at her. Why not? Hmm? I just saved your life! So you should be eager to have sex with me here? Crystal looked at Nathan doubtfully. Please I am grateful, but dont ask all of these people to clear out. Okay? We can have sex somewhere else if thats what you want Nathan: Arnold is here too, and things are about to get loud. Of course, if you are feeling shy, I can tell Arnold and Leslie to leave with everyone else No way! Crystal eximed. She couldnt believe that Nathan would want to have sex on the deck of a public pool. She lowered her voice and said, Youre not even hard, anyway Nathan chuckled and said, Sweetie, you know that it will get hard once you touch it! Suddenly, Crystal realized that the pool area was emptying out and that Nathans bodyguards were escorting them into the elevators. She red at him, and her light fists pounded on his chest. You already gave them the orders! she snarled. Didnt you?!?! Nathan shrugged and said, What is done is done, so we may as well take advantage of this opportunity. Chapter 150: What A Rascal Finally, Arnold made his presence known. He stepped out of the shadows, and two rows of bodyguards followed behind him. Leslie was lying on the deck chair at the time, and when she saw him, she began to tremble. He looked angrier than she had ever seen him. A dozen would-be suitors were hovering around Leslie in their speedos, and when they saw Arnold approach, masks of fear appeared on their faces. Arnold red at Leslie. Whats all this about? He snarled. Who are these people? I told you. Leslie shrugged and said, They are my suitors. May the best man win. When the men heard this, they looked at Arnold. They were used to getting what they wanted, and they werent ustomed to backing down. Thus, in a situation like this, they didnt know what to do. Dont be frightened by his appearance, Leslie said. Hes not as tough as he looks. She waved her hand at them. Go on. You guys have got this. I have faith in you. Leslies confidence in them empowered several of the men, and as they stepped forward, she offered a prayer to the Gods on their behalf. She didnt actually care about their well-being. However, she knew that Arnold would spank her or force her to if they were defeated. A strong man stepped in front of the others. He had massive muscles on his body, and his skin was bronze. He looked like a diator, but he was no match for his adversary. Arnold pursed his lips, put his hands in his pockets, and kicked the man into the pool. Arnold had been training for a long time, and he was confident that, even if a dozen men rushed him at the same time, they couldnt hurt him. Leslie was shocked. She didnt think that one individual could defeat Arnold, but she hadnt realized how casually he could beat them. You pussy! she roared. Attack him together! The men looked at her, she pointed at Arnold, and then they all ran towards him. When Arnolds bodyguards saw this, they moved it to protect their boss, but he stopped them with a word. In a matter of seconds, the men were on him, and it looked like he had no chance. When Leslie saw this, she took a sip of her drink and smiled. In the swimming pool, the strong man who had fallen into the water sshed about, and Nathan held Crystal in his arms to protect her from themotion. Has Leslie always been so rebellious? she asked. Why is she acting this way? I dont know, Nathan admitted. I guess its because Arnold spoiled her too much Crystal sighed and said, To be honest, I envy her a lot. It must be nice not to have consequences for your actions. Nathan: What do you mean? Crystal pointed to themotion and said, Look at that. Its ridiculous. Arnold is always cleaning up her messes. By this time, Arnold had won the fight. The men were all on the ground, and he was viciously kicking them. Nearby, Leslie was pping and cheering, and she had an evil shark-like Cheshire grin on her face. Arnold! she eximed. You have beaten them all, but now who will I pick to go on a blind date with me? Arnold looked at the men scornfully and said, These arent the type of men youre into, are they? Leslieughed and said, Of course not! They are too weak! Arnold: You are wearing me thin, woman. Do you know that? And my tolerance is limited. If you want to find a husband by yourself, I wont stop you. Go ahead and find that man. I will give you a week to do that and bring him to me. If you dont, then dont me me for taking over the search. Leslie: A week? Fine. I will show you a man to your satisfaction. Leslie stood up and threw her bath towel on the ground. When Arnold saw what she was wearing, he scowled. Her ck swimsuit barely covered her exquisite figure, and her fair skin shone under the sun. She pushed out her breasts seductively and grinned. Suddenly, Arnold realized that the other men were staring at her. Turn around! he snarled. Crystal looked at Nathan, and it made her happy to see that his eyes hadnt once strayed to Leslies half-naked body. That being said, his gaze made her feel self-conscious. Is there anything on my face? she asked ufortably. Nathanughed at that. He Boopd her nose and said, You are too adorable. I could eat you up! Crystal smiled. They had been sitting by the edge of the pool, with their feet in the water. Should we go inside now? she asked. After soaking in the water for so long, the skin on her feet was wrinkled. Nah! he said. Lets swim a little more. Without waiting for her to reply, he pushed her into the water and jumped in after her. Crystal began to wave her arms frantically, and just as she found parches in the water, Nathan dived down, grabbed her ankle, and began to pull her towards the bottom of the pool. Crystal couldnt believe it. HeHe, must have been the one that almost drowned me! C she realized C What a rascal! This time, though, she was able to keep her head above the water. She thought about calling for help, but she saw a stand-off between Leslie and Arnold, and she wanted to see how it would y out. Arnold was one point seven meters tall and muscr. Meanwhile, Leslie was short, and even though she was strong for a woman, she was weaker than most men. He red at her, and it looked like he was going to start shouting, but then she touched his cheek, and he froze. Then she stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his, and his face turned beet red. Arnolds back stiffened, and it looked like lightning had hit him. He seemed very ufortable, but he gave no sign that he was going to pull away. Then, suddenly, Leslies pink tongue slipped out of her mouth, and she began to lick his lips.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Chapter 151: Hold On Leslies tongue was like a beautiful snake, and she used it to entice Arnold. But no matter how hard she tried, she could not get him to open his mouth or return her kiss. He was like a marble statue, hard and cold. Meanwhile, no one even noticed that Crystal was in the water or that she was struggling for her life. Nathan had a firm grip on her ankle, and he was trying to drag her down to the bottom of the pool. He had done it once, and he obviously thought it was a game, but there was no guarantee that she could survive a second round. Unfortunately for her, everyone was oblivious to her struggles. **** Leslie was angry and annoyed, and when Arnold continued to ignore her sexual advances, she bit into his lower lip. The bitter, coppery taste of blood flooded her senses, and she smiled. Then, she put her hands around Arnolds neck, leaned in closer to him, and whispered into his ear: Arnold, I am yours for the taking, but I wont wait for you forever. Arnolds eyes shuddered for a second. He wanted to wrap his arms around her waist, and he longed to cup her firm buttocks in the palm of his hands, but he was hesitant. So, in the end, instead of doing what he wanted to do, he forced his hands into tight fists. As he did this, his ire began to rise. Leslie frowned when she saw Arnolds expression change. She loosened her hands, took two steps back, and took a deep look into his eyes. Finally, she turned around, bent over, and reached for her bath towel. She knew now that no matter what she did, she would never win Arnolds affection, and when the realization hit her, her heart broke. **** Crystal suddenly realized that what she was doing would not save her. She needed to change her tactic, and she knew exactly what to do. She stopped struggling and allowed herself to be dragged down, and she maneuvered her body so that she could reach his hands. She tried to pry his fingers off of her ankle, and when that didnt work, she dug her nails into his wrists. Nathans eyes bulged as the pain hit him, and little air pockets escaped from his nose and mouth. Then, when Crystal pulled her leg away, she was able to break his hold. She swam quickly to the surface and to the safety of the pools edge, and Nathan emerged seconds after she did. Unfortunately for her, he was closer to the edge than she was, and he blocked her way. Crystal began to tread water while she waited to see what Nathans next move would be. Suddenly, Nathan grabbed the edge of the pool and kicked it off so that he could rush at her with his back to her. Instead, he was on his back, and when he reached her, he pulled her on top of his body. This sudden attack did not feel unpleasant, though, and as long as his arms were upied with the task of keeping them afloat, Crystal felt safe. Now that Crystal had a second to catch her breath, she looked for Leslie, and she was dismayed to discover that she and Arnold had disappeared, and theyd taken their entourage with them. So we are alone -she suddenly realized, and then she remembered how Nathan had tried to have sex with her on the deck. She was still determined not to go through with it, which meant that she needed to get away from him as quickly as possible. Crystal threw herself off of Nathans abdomen, swam towards the edge of the pool, got out, and ran towards the womens change room. Hold on! shouted Nathan. But his pleas fell on deaf ears.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. **** At school C The next day, when Crystal walked into her first ss, she saw that Serenity had saved a seat for her. She went over, and when she said, Hello! she was shocked by her friends open hostility towards her. What the fuck have you been up to? Serenity demanded. I beg your pardon? Crystal said. She had no idea why her friend was upset with her. You missed school again yesterday! Serenity replied. You must be on the teachers cklist by now! I took notes for you, but they wont do you any good if you get kicked out of school. Serenity offered Crystal a handful of papers, and she epted them gratefully. Her cheeks were red. She knew that Serenity was right. Im so sorry, she muttered. Ill t-try to do better. Anyway, thanks for the notes What were you doing, anyway? Serenity asked. I called you, but you didnt answer your phone. Whats with all the secrets? Did you cheat on Professor Davis? Crystal just rolled her eyes and said, If I want to cheat on the professor, I dont need to be secretive about it. I am a strong independent woman! As she said this, she took out the documents rted to the Assistant position they were both applying for. Anyway, she continued. Take this. Serenity epted the papers and looked them over. Whats this? she asked. Are these the answers to the TV stations written test? Crystal: Yes and no Serenity frowned. What is that supposed to mean? These are questions and answers from previous exams, Crystal exined. They wont let you cheat, but they are a great study tool. Oh, Jesus! Serenity eximed. You are the best! I heard that tens of thousands of people will take the written test and that at least thirty percent are expected to fail. These old tests will be very helpful. She began to review the tests quietly, and then a thought urred to her. She looked up from the papers and said, Crystal, did Professor Davis give you these documents? Crystalughed and said, No, way! I got them from Amy. Serenitys eyebrows rose. Amy? The new star at the TV station? Crystal: Yeah! Who else?!?! Serenity put down the documents, and in a mysterious tone of voice, she said, I heard that her cousin will also be taking the exam and that she is the most likely candidate for the position. I hope thats not the case, though. If it is, why would they even bother with an openpetition? Crystal: I dont know anything about that. All we can do is our best and cross our fingers that thepetition isnt rigged. Lets focus on the written test. Then, if we pass, there will be several interviews, so we need to spend as much time as we can preparing. Chapter 152: Her Curiosity About The Cufflinks Will you be at school for the rest of the day? Serenity asked. The school has invited the National Championship Fencing Team to give us a special demonstration and teach us a few moves. It will be a valuable opportunity, and I wouldnt miss it if I were you! Crystal poked her head with her index finger and said, You seem to be quite dissatisfied with my absence from schooltely. Dont worry. I wont skip any sses today, especially if the National Championship Fencing Team is here! After the first ss ended, they went to the dressing room. Crystal put on her fencing clothes: a white suit with white shoes and a ck and white protective mask. The outfit not only showed off her figure but also made her look elegant and handsome. Crystal tied up her hair, helped Serenity buckle up her suit, and then the girls picked up their swords and entered the gymnasium. Fencing is an elegant sport, and the students were inevitably looking forward to this ss. In the gymnasium, the students arranged themselves in two rows ording to height. Men and women faced each other, and they were separated by a road that ran between them. Because the teacher had not arrived yet, many students gossiped in low voices while they waited. Finally, a female student named April said, I heard that the fencing teacher is the National Championship Fencing Team leader and that he has won ten consecutive matches. One of her peers, a boy named Archie, turned to her and said, Really? Is the teacher a boy or a girl? He is a man, the girl replied. If it is who I think it is, he is quite handsome. Unfortunately, he is a little old, though. I watched one of his matches on YouTube. He is good at the Epee Attack, and he can hit the opponents key points quickly and urately every time. Archie: Is the Epee Attack that effective? April: Totally. If done properly, it can open up all of an opponents weaknesses. Archie: If thats the case, when we go against him, wont we die? April: Dont worry. If that happens, you will be honored. Not everyone will have a chance to face off against him, though. As time passed, the whispering voices grew louder and louder. Then, after about ten minutes had passed, a group of people walked into the gymnasium. In front of the group was Johnny Angel, the school counselor. A man in a white shirt and dark casual pants walked beside him. From a distance, the man looked strong and slender. His hair was slightly curled, and although his face couldnt be seen clearly, he looked like he was about forty years old. Judging from his temperament, Crystal assumed that he would be their teacher. As the group approached, though, the mans facial features became clearer and clearer, and she noticed that he was not nearly as handsome as April had said that he was. He had a very masculine face, but there were deepugh lines at the corners of his eyes. The group made their way to the front of the gymnasium, and Johnny Angel held his hand in the air. This was the agreed-upon gesture that staff used when they wanted students to be silent, and before long, they were. Johnny Angel: Hi, everyone. Today we are honored to have Professor Warren Kim with us. He is the leader of The National Championship Fencing Team. Professor Warren Kim will teach you today. Lets give him a warm wee. Warren smiled and nodded as the students cheered and pped. Johnny Angel raised his hand again, and once everyone had stopped cheering, he continued: We all appreciate Professor Kim taking the time out of his busy schedule to spend time teaching us. He was running behind, though, and he didnt have time to change into his fencing outfit. So, lets give him some time to get suited up. The students began to chat again as the instructor made his way towards the mens change room, but Crystals eyes never left the man. There was something about his cufflinks that had attracted her attention. They were made of amber, and they were iid with small ck spiders, but the reason they had caught her interest was that they were identical to the ones that Tiffany had given her. Tiffany had said that the cufflinks were very rare and that only ten had been made. When shed shown them to Nathan, hed said that they had probably belonged to her mother, but that hadnt made sense to her. After all, why would her mother have mens cufflinks? Crystal felt like her heart had been struck by lightning, and her mind was no longer on fencing. What could this mean? C she wondered.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. It wasnt long before Warren returned in his fencing outfit. He had his sword in hand, and once he had everyones attention, he began to show off some of his moves. Of course, he was only warming up, but already he had some of the students shaking in their boots. After the brief demonstration, he faced the students and said, I will teach you a few simple moves, and then I will pick someone to go against me. After that, you will be free to face off against each other. Serenity leaned over and whispered into Crystals ear: Do we need to fight against each other? Isnt there only one oue? Someone has to lose, and I dont want it to be me! Crystal knew what Serenity was joking about, and she gently nudged her. Come on, she said. Be serious. Who knows? Maybe you will be lucky! Serenity: Can I refuse to fight? Crystal: Probably not. Anyway, pay attention to the teacher. If you dont pay attention, you will definitely lose! Serenity nodded and faced forward to watch as Warren exined, in detail, the different fencing techniques, stances, and maneuvers. Then he asked who wanted to fight him. Of course, nobody did, so Johnny Angel suggested they choose one randomly from among the boys. However, the boys all stepped back, and they refused to look him in the eyes. The counselor was speechless. He couldnt believe that they were all such cowards, and as the school counselor, he was embarrassed. Suddenly, Crystal stepped forward, and everyone turned to stare at her. Ill do it, she said. Chapter 153: My Question Is Personal Serenity was shocked. She grabbed Crystals sleeve and said, Hey, are you crazy? Do you want to get your ass handed to you?!?! Crystalughed and said, Lady, I am wearing protective clothing, okay? Johnny Angel, the school counselor, began to p his hands to encourage her, and pretty soon, everyone else was cheering her on. She looks just like Mn! Archie shouted, and someone else called out, You go, girl! Crystal drew her sword indifferently and walked towards the fencing master. They crossed swords, and the match began. Warren struck first, and as his sword swung at her, he said, Be warned, my sword does not distinguish between men and women or young and old. Crystal smiled as she blocked his attack. Be warned, she said, My sword doesnt distinguish between teachers and students. The studentsughed at Crystals witty retort, and Warrenughed right along with them. Then he said, Its kind of interesting. The reason why I won the championship ten times in a row is that I am so serious. If you regret volunteering, you can surrender at any time. Crystal nodded, posed, and said, If I win, can I ask you a question? Warren: You can ask me a professional question at any time, regardless of if you win or lose. Crystal smiled and said, My question is personal. When Warren heard that, he paused for a moment, and then heughed out loud. Fine, he said. If you win, you can ask me a personal question. You wont win, though, so dont get your hopes up. After a series of offensive attacks, transfer counterattacks, and cross counterattacks, it was clear that Warren had the upper hand. Crystal backed off, dodged her opponents sword, and moved to the opposite line. Then she returned to the defense line and counterattacked. Warren remained on the offensive, and after three consecutive strikes, he did not retract his arm. Instead, he moved in for a fourth attack. He grinned as he pushed Crystal back to herst line of defense, which was behind her. Crystal stumbled backward, and Warrens sword struck her in the shoulder, and due to the force behind Warrens attack, it went through her protective gear. This hardly ever happened, but it was always possible. After all, the gear was puncture-resistant. It was not puncture-proof. People were horrified, and Crystal was stunned. Even Serenity was shocked. When she saw the blood begin to ooze out of her friends shoulder, though, she was able to jump into action, and she ran over to Crystal to see if she was alright. Crystal touched the blood, and she was surprised to discover that she didnt feel any pain. When she looked up, she found Nathan hovering over her with his hand stretched out to offer her a hand up. Crystal: Professor Davis? Johnny Angel pointed to one of the students and said, Go and find one of the schools doctors.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Crystal touched her shoulder again. It still didnt hurt. She turned to Nathan to ask why it didnt hurt, but when she saw that his shoulder was bleeding, she knew right away what had happened. He had stepped in between her and Warrens de, and the blood on her shoulder was his. It had dripped onto her shoulder while hed been standing over her. Crystal gasped. Are you okay? she asked. Even Warren was looking at him with a concerned look on his face. Nathan red at the instructor. He couldnt believe that this man had almost stabbed his woman, and he felt like kicking his ass right there and then. Im fine, he replied. It just needs a simple treatment. Crystal wanted to hug Nathan, but she knew it was not convenient to show any signs of affection in public. So, she just nodded indifferently and said, Thats good. And by the way, thanks for saving me. Warren wiped his sweaty forehead with the back of his hand and said, Well, that is a relief. It is, Crystal agreed. Now, how about we finish our match? When Nathan heard that, his heart sank. He couldnt stand the thought of Crystal getting hurt, so he said, This is not a fair fight. I will stand in for her. Warren frowned and said, But you are hurt Im fine, Nathan argued. Just give me a few minutes to change into my gear. Without waiting for a reply, Nathan walked off in the direction of the boys change room, and when he returned, he was ready to fight. Nathan waved his sword in the air, made a few practiced moves to warm up, and then he pointed it at the fencing master. He chuckled and said, Come at me, bro. Warren scowled. He had won the world championship ten years in a row, and he did not appreciate Nathans disrespect. Nathan was an amateur, but he was acting like he was King of The Hill. Warren couldnt wait to knock him off of his pedestal. Warren stepped forward, made an advanced andplicated attack, but Nathan blocked them and executed his own graceful counterattacks. Nathan did not stop. He attacked, and then he attacked again, forcing Warren into a position where all he could do was defend himself. After a few minutes of this, Nathan finally found his opening and thrust his sword into his opponents arm. Warren swayed, and his sword fell out of his hand. Johnny Angel shouted, Bravo! and everyone began to p and cheer. Johnny Angel lifted Nathans arm and shouted, We have a winner: Professor Nathan Davis! Nathan smirked at Warren and said, Some champion you turned out to be. Maybe instead of teaching a fencing ss, you should be taking one! Warren was angry and offended by Nathans words, but he was speechless. All he could do was hang his head and walk away. Crystal watched in dismay as Warren began to walk toward the exit. She still hadnt asked him her question! Crystal knew what she had to do, though. She ran after him, shouting his name. Warren turned around angrily. What do you want? he shouted. You promised to answer my question, she replied. Warren: You are very interested in me, arent you? Crystal quickly shook her head and said, No, I am not. I am interested in one of your possessions. Warren raised one eyebrow. He had no idea what she was talking about, and he said so. Crystal: I want to ask you about your cufflinks. Before Crystal could finish her question, he interrupted her. If you had won, I would have answered your question, he said. But you lost, so fuck off and leave me alone. Having said that, he turned around and walked away. Crystal was shocked. She hadnt expected to be treated so rudely. Chapter 154: I Can Be Your Driver In their rush to leave the gymnasium, the rest of the student body quickly caught up to Crystal. Serenity was the first one to reach her, and when she saw that Crystal was upset, she hugged her and said, Dont look so gloomy. If Professor Davis is forced to hug you, then everyone will know your rtionship status. Is that what you want? Crystal rolled her eyes and ignored her friend. Then she turned to Nathan and said, Are you okay? Nathan lowered his voice and said, Call me, Honey. I think that would make me feel better. Crystal: When we get home, I will make it up to you. Serenity giggled when she heard that, and she leaned into Crystals ear and whispered: Are you going to make love to him? Crystals face turned red, and she said, What are you talking about? Serenity winked and said, Dont y dumb with me, Chicky-Poo. I can read you like a friggin book, so I know that you know exactly what Im talking about. Crystal blushed and said, Screw you! After school, Serenity still went to work, and Crystal waited outside the school for a taxi, taking her to the supermarket. Nathan had said that he wanted to pick her up, but he was injured, so she didnt want to let him drive her, and she didnt want a ride from any of his drivers either. It was peak hours, though, and after waiting for a half-hour, she gave up on the taxi and started walking to the store. Unfortunately, she was wearing high-heeled shoes, and before long, her feet hurt a lot. Then, when she was about halfway to her destination, she sprained her ankle. In dismay, she looked around for a taxi, but there were none avable. Crystal sighed as she sat down on a nearby park bench, and when she took out her cell phone, she saw a text message from Leslie. It said, Crystal, lets grab a drink tonight? Crystal considered inviting Leslie to have dinner at her home, but she thought better of it after some consideration. Leslie was such a troublemaker, and there was only so much of the girl she could handle in a short period of time. Finally, she replied: No, maybe another time. Ive got something to do tonight. Crystal put her mobile phone back in her bag and looked around. There was a subway station nearby, so she slowly limped along in that direction. She had almost reached the stairs that led down to the station when a car pulled up beside her. It slowed to a stop a meter ahead of her, and its driver honked the horn. She turned her head, and when she saw that it was a taxi, her eyes lit up. This seems to be my lucky day! C thought Crystal. She quickly climbed into the cars back seat, greeted the back of the drivers head, and asked him to take her to Safeway. As the car merged into traffic, she wondered C Should I call Nathan and ask him what he wants for dinner? After a moment of hesitation, she decided that she should, so she pulled out her handy phone and dialed his number from memory. The phone rang in her ear, but another phone also rang in the front seat. What a coincidence C Crystal thought C Just as I called Nathan, someone else called the driver Crystal ended the call, and when the drivers phone stopped ringing, she looked up at the back of the drivers head in confusion. Suddenly, she realized that she had recognized the drivers hairstyle. She gasped and thought C It couldnt be Could it? She looked into the rearview mirror, and when she saw Nathans familiar face reflected back at her, she covered her mouth with her hands in astonishment, and her eyes widened incredulously. Nathan winked at her and said, Prettydy, where did you say you were going? His low maic voice sounded asfortable and intoxicating as a spring breeze, and his well-defined facial lines,manding bushy eyebrows, and deep, alluring eyes were as familiar to her as the nose on her face. Nathan smiled and repeated the question, but instead of answering it, Crystal said, I dont understand What are you doing here? Nathanughed and said, You refused a ride from me or my drivers, but you said that you were willing to take a taxi. So, I did the only reasonable thing I could do and bought a taxi. What do you think? Do you like it? Its a Honda Civic. His face glowed as he talked about what he had done, and Crystal thought he looked like a proud Father. Nathans facial expression amused Crystal. His custom-made clothes were worth millions of dors, and there wasnt a single thing that he wore that wasnt more valuable than the taxi. Nathan grinned. If youre impressed, he said, you can just tell me.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Crystal frowned and said, Ill never understand rich people. Is that all that you have to say? Nathan asked. He seemed to be dissatisfied with her answer. I dont know what you want me to say, Crystal replied. When she nced at him, she didnt know whether tough or cry. He was like a primary student, asking the teacher for a golden star to reward good performance. When Nathan heard this, he looked like his heart had been broken. Im sorry, he whined. I put a lot of thought into this gesture, and I thought that you would appreciate it Fine, Crystal said. She felt bad about hurting his feelings. I do appreciate the gesture, but I am confused. Now you are stuck being a taxi driver. Is that a career you want? You cant refuse to carry any passenger. Nathan: Why not? The whole rentalpany is mine. I can do what I want. I just bought it! Crystal was speechless. She looked out the back window and saw that they were being followed by several limited-edition luxury cars. Are they all yours? she asked. They are, Nathan replied. But never mind that. Have you got a sprained ankle? Is it serious? Im fine, Crystal replied. Its my own fault for wearing these shoes to school, and the injury is nothingpared to what happened to your shoulder. Nathan: Dont worry about my shoulder. I need to ask you something: Why dont you ever listen to me? I told you that its not safe to take a taxi, didnt l? Crystal smirked and said, Which is why Id intended to take the subway. Cut the crap! Nathan snarled. Chapter 155: How Deep Is The Wound? Nathan red at Crystal through the rearview mirror and said, From now on, if you need to go somewhere, I will drive you. You will not walk, take a taxi, or ride the bus. Do you understand me? Crystal gave Nathan an incredulous look. How will you hold up your end of the deal? she asked. You are a busy man. You cant just drop everything and be avable to be my driver 24/7! Nathan grunted nomittally and didnt say anything. When they arrived at the supermarket, when Crystal got out of the car, he followed her. Hold on! he shouted. Do you think you can leave without paying your fare? Crystal was stunned. She had not expected him to ask for a payment for the ride. How much do I owe you? she asked. Nathan grinned and puckered his lips. The price is not high, he said. All that I ask is for a kiss. Crystal looked around her, and she suddenly realized that Nathans newly acquired fleet of cars had formed a circle around her and him. Outside of the ring, shoppers had gathered to witness the spectacle. People are watching she whined. Without warning, Nathan dragged her into his arms and forced her to kiss him. Once the kiss was over, Crystal pushed him away. Youyou cad!This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Nathan shrugged and said, Fares fair. Then he grabbed her again and nted a second kiss on her lips, and this one was ten times more passionate than the first. As he kissed her, she felt her mind go hazy, and her vision blurred. Without thinking, Crystal circled her arms around Nathans neck, and they kissed until they were both breathless. Finally, they parted, and Nathan went inside with her to buy groceries. When they got back home, the first thing Crystal did was gather the things she would need to clean Nathans wound. She filled a tub with warm water, grabbed the First Aid Kit, and headed into the living room. Meanwhile, Nathan had made himselffortable on the couch, and he was ying on his Smartphone. When Crystal came into the room, he looked up, and when he saw what was in her arms, he frowned. Leave those things on the coffee table, he said. Ill do it myself. Crystal: Dont be silly. You cant do it by yourself. Then Ill have Vic do it, Nathan said. He called Vics name, and the man materialized as if from thin air. Come and dress my wound, he ordered. Crystal facial expression changed subtly. Admittedly, she had little experience dressing wounds, but she had seen enough of Greys Anatomy to know how to do such a simple procedure. Why doesnt he trust me? C she wondered. When Vic saw the troubled expression on her face, he said, Dont take it personally. The young master is just afraid that the sight of the wound will make you woozy. Crystal was stunned. How deep is the wound? C she wondered. The realization that he had been hurt much worse than hed let on nearly broke her heart. Rest assured, she said, that I am not timid. As she spoke, she reached out to unbutton his shirt so that she could see the wound. There was some gauze on it, but the blood had soaked through it, clotted, and the crusty surface was brown, green, and yellow. The first thing Crystal did was soak the gauze with the warm water. Then she cut around the wound with the surgical scissors from the First Aid Kit and gently pulled it away from his tender flesh. She had not realized how severe the damage actually was, and even though it didnt make her woozy, she couldnt help but gasp. When Nathan saw the expression on her face change, he sighed and said, Why dont you just let Vic do it. Crystal rolled her eyes and said, I can handle it! What a stubborn woman! -thought Nathan. You shouldnt havee between me and the sword, Crystal said. I was wearing protective clothing, so the sword wouldnt have hurt me. Nathan: If I cant protect you, then Im not qualified to be with you. Crystalughed as she washed out the wound. Men are so silly, she said as she pulled away the rest of the gauze. Everything is about being macho to you guys, but most girls dont even care about stuff like that Crystal had stray hair hanging in front of her face, and Nathan tucked it behind her ear. He knew she was right, but he wouldnt give her the satisfaction of admitting that hed been wrong. Without warning him, Crystal applied Hydrogen Peroxide to the wound, and he flinched. You okay? Crystal asked. Nathan nodded but said nothing. The worst is over. Crystal reassured him as she applied Polysporin to the wound, and then she said, That will help with the infection. Now all thats left is to wrap the wound. Do you know anything about aftercare? Nathan asked Vic. Vic nodded and said, The wound cannot get wet, so be careful when you take a shower. How can he keep it dry in the shower? Crystal asked. That doesnt make sense Vic: You will have to help him, of course. And while he recovers, you will need to do everything you can to keep himfortable and happy. Crystal: How will I do that? Vic: Just do whatever he asks without hesitation. If you do that, he is sure to have a speedy recovery. When Nathan heard that, he couldnt help but smile. Crystal didnt know if she understood Vics directions, but the implications of what hed said made her ufortable. She looked at him and said, Vic, maybe you had better be responsible for Nathans recovery. I fear that I am under-qualified. Nathan red at Crystal. Whats the problem? he growled. Dont you want to help me take my showers?!?! Crystal frowned. She didnt want to help him have his showers. She thought it would be better if a man did that, but she felt ufortable saying so. Not knowing what else to do, she stood up and said, I have to go get the potatoes cooking! And then she ran into the kitchen. Chapter 156: I鈥檓 Not Your Biological Father Once the potatoes were boiled, Crystal turned off the stove and took out the butter and milk from the fridge that she would need when she mashed them. Then, as she was reaching for the strainer, her phone rang. She answered it without checking the Caller ID and was shocked to hear Lucys unusually anxious voice on the other end. Lucy was her parents housekeeper. Lucy: Crystal,e to the hospital quickly! Your Father is dying! When Crystal heard that, it was as if all of her bones had turned into spaghetti, and she copsed onto the floor. Upon hearing the noise, Nathan rushed into the kitchen and crouched down beside her. Then he wrapped his arms around her and asked her what was wrong. My father is dying. Crystal repliedmely. Although she was not close to her Father, there was a bond between them that was undeniable. He was, after all, her Father. Come on, Nathan said. Lets go to the hospital. **** Jessica and Joyce were snuggled up together in the Waiting Room, and Evan was pacing back and forth in front of the door to the Operating Room. Lucy was a devout Christian, so she was on her knees in prayer. When Crystal and Nathan arrived, they went to the Nurses Station first. She asked about her Father, and the nurse said, He is still in O. R. The doctor had Mrs. Henry sign a Notice of Critical Disease, though, so I would hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst. If it werent for Nathans strong arms around her, Crystal would probably have copsed when she heard that. The thought that she might not see her Father before he died terrified her. Crystal was aware that Jessica and Joyce were watching her, but she didnt care. They didnt seem like their usual bitchy selves anyway. Evan walked towards her. He nced at Nathan, and then he said, Youre finally here. Before Dad went into the Operating Room, he told me that he wanted to see you as soon as he woke up. Crystal nodded calmly, but on the inside, she was a bundle of raw nerves. Two hours passed, and the nurses finally pushed Todd out of the Operating Room. Everyone who had been waiting outside crowded around him, and they asked for an update from the doctors. The lead physician took off his mask and said, The surgery was a sess, but we are not out of the woods yet. The patient is still very weak. We need to send him to the ICU. Evan followed the nurses and Todd to the ICU, and he didnt return for half an hour. Then, once he had everyones attention, he said, Dads condition is temporarily stabilized. Mom, Joyce, you can go home to rest. Aunt Lucy will take care of you. Ill stay here. Lucy nodded, and she helped Jessica into the elevator. Once they were gone, Evan took out arge yellow sealed envelope from his briefcase. He handed it to Crystal and said, Dad told me to give this to you. Crystal took the envelope and frowned. It was heavier than it looked. Evan looked at Crystal expectantly. He was obviously anxious to see what was inside the envelope. She was hesitant to open it, though. Might it be better to wait until I have some privacy? C she wondered. Just then, a nurse walked over with a pile of bills, and Evan excused himself so that he could deal with them. Once Evan was gone, Crystal unceremoniously tore open the envelope. She looked inside and was taken aback by what she saw. She pulled the red diary out and ran her fingers over the maple tree embossed on the cover. It was the same diary that she had seen in Nathans room. She frowned and turned to look at Nathan. Tell me what is going on! she demanded.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Nathan nodded and said, Your Mother instructed me to give this to your Father. Now, it seems that your Father is passing it on to you. Crystal sighed. This answered some questions, but it left so many unanswered. She still didnt know why her mother had left her legacy to Nathan or why the diary had gone to her Father first. She hoped that some of these lingering questions would be finally answered once she started reading the books. Crystal went to sit in the waiting room. She began to read, and she didnt stop until a nurse came by and told her that she could see her Father if she wanted. To visit her Father, Crystal had to don a sterile mask, gloves, and gown. Todd was lying on the bed with various tubes attached to different parts of his body. From just looking at him, Crystal could tell that he was frail. However, when he saw her, he smiled, and in the slightest of whispers, he asked her if shed gotten the diary. I read it all, Crystal replied. Good, Todd said. Now, theres something I have to tell you. If I dont tell you now, Im afraid that I wont have another chance Crystal held his hand and smiled. After a few minutes, Todd continued. Im not your Biological Father, he said. When Crystal heard these words, she was not shocked. She had read all about it in the diary. But who asked is my Biological Father? she asked. Todd: Your Mother was ra*ed when she was twenty-one. When you were born, I felt bad for her, so I married her. Crystal: Okay! But you didnt answer my question! Todd: Im sorry, Crystal, but no one knows who your Biological Father is your Mother said that she pulled off one of the mans cufflinks, but she didnt see his face. That cufflink is the only clue we have Crystal gripped the diary tightly with trembling hands. Todd: Well, Ive said what I needed to say. I have to rest now. Crystal staggered out from the ICU, and when Nathan saw her, he wrapped his arms. around her. Are you all right? Tears began to run down Crystals eyes. How long have you known my Fathers secret? she cried. Chapter 157: I鈥檒l Take Care Of Her Nathan ran his fingers through Crystals hair as she cried into his muscr chest. Ive known about Todds secret for a long time, he admitted. And dont worry, Ive been trying hard to find your Biological Father. Soon, we will find him, But why did my Mother leave you my inheritance? Crystal asked. Was it because you paid off all of her debts? Nathan nodded. There was that, he said. But there was more to it. Crystal raised her head and looked at him in confusion. There was also the matter of you, Nathan exined. Crystal had already been crying, but when she heard that, she remembered what her Mothers note to Nathan had said C Please love her for me.- and she began to really bawl. How can she face life without this man? Suddenly, Crystal saw that Evan was returning. Straight away, she covered her face with her hands to cover her shame, but it was of no use. Thankfully, for once in his life, her brother showed her a little empathy. Instead of addressing her directly, he turned to Nathan and said, Mr. Davis, why dont you take Crystal home so that she can get some rest? Ill stay here. Nathan looked at Crystal, smiled, and said, Ill take care of her. If anything happens, call me right away, regardless of what time it is. Evan nodded and said that he would. Crystal allowed Nathan to lead her out of the hospital. He took her home, and in the days that followed, she walked through life in a daze. Thankfully, though, as Nathan shuttled her back and forth from the hospital, her Fathers condition gradually stabilized. Time flew by. Nathans birthday quickly approached, and Arnold suggested that he celebrate with his brothers at the militarys vi, And he agreed that it was a great idea. When the night of the party arrived, Crystal put on the customized light blue yarn dress that Nathan had prepared for her. The dress was embedded with diamonds, and it shimmered under the light. Crystal liked the color. It reminded her of the sea, and it had a calming effect on her. Crystal looked like an elf with the dress on, and everyone was stunned when they saw her in it. A few of the men were ying Fortnight on a PS4, and when they saw her, one of them said, Wow, Crystal, you look amazing! Crystal smiled at them and said, What are you ying? Fortnight, he replied. Do you want to join? Crystal shrugged and said, Sure. My names Crystal. Whats yours? Im Elmo, Elmo replied. And this jerk-off is Cass. If he drinks too much, you want to stay clear of him! Crystal felt her cheeks turn red. Thanks for the warning As she sat down, she looked around the room. Wheres Leslie? she asked casually. Elmo: I dont know. She went out early this morning. Its a good thing that shes out, though. All she ever does is cause trouble. They had only been ying for a little while when Alex and Owen joined them. Owen gave Crystal a long look, and then he said, Crystal, you dressed so beautifully tonight. Is that because you know that Nathan has something important to announce? Owen pushed Alex as if to remind him not to spill the beans. Crystal shook her head. What are you talking about? she asked. You might as well tell me! Alex suddenly realized that he had said too much. I have somewhere to be, he muttered, and then he quickly disappeared back into the crowd. Crystal chuckled as she turned to Owen. I supposed you arent going to tell me anything she said.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Owen grinned, and as he buttoned his lips, he said, Im a vault. Crystal nodded and said, I figured as much. Suddenly, an engine revved outside, and after a moment, Leslie sauntered in. She had a smarmy grin on her face, and there was a strange, handsome man a half step behind her. They were dressed in matching outfits, and in his left ear, there was a ck diamond earring, which was a match to the one in Leslies right ear. They walked into the living room, sat in the love chair, and Leslie asked them what they were ying. Fortnight. But never mind that Crystal giggled. Whod you bring with you? Leslie: Oh, hes my friend. Crystal was not satisfied with Leslies answer, but Arnold and Nathan walked over before she could press her for more information. When Arnold saw Leslie, he shot her a dirty look but didntment on her appearance at the party. Instead, he pointed to the man beside her and said, Whos this? Leslie smirked and said, Hes my friend. When Alex heard it, heughed and said, Dont you recognize him? This man is Hugo Perez! Owen was stunned. Hugo Perez was the son of the president of a hugepany. Wow! he eximed. I never would have guessed that you had such affluent friends! Leslie: There are lots of things that you dont know about me. When Hugo heard that, he put his arm around Leslies shoulder and whispered something in her ear. As he spoke, her eyes widened, and once he was done talking, she rushed off in the direction of her room. She was gone for a few minutes, and when she returned, she had three dresses in her hands. One was a simple, blue, silk evening dress. One was a ck, fluffy, witch-like dress. And thest one was a strapless, white, beautifully feminine dress withce around the cor and three-quarterce sleeves. Leslie held each dress up for Hugo and said, Which one do you like better? Hugo: The white one. I think you look stunning when you wear that dress, Leslie smiled and said, Give me a few minutes to change, and Ill be right back down! No one could believe what theyd just heard. Apart from Arnold, no one there had ever seen Leslie in a dress. Chapter 158: She Is Nathan鈥檚 Fianc茅e When Leslie returned, she was wearing her white strapless dress. She looked stunning, and even Arnold had to admit that the garment suited her. Dressed as she was, she appeared delicate and charming, and her short blonde hair radiated femininity. When Arnold looked at Leslie, he recalled the kiss that she had given him in the bathroom, and his desire for her was undeniable. Leslie had said that she would bring a decent boyfriend home, but Arnold hadnt taken her seriously. By bringing this decent, extraordinary man home, she had really surprised him. He didnt expect that Leslie would be entangled with someoneing from a rich family. When Leslie walked past Arnold, there was a coy smile on her face. Arnold stared at her without blinking his eyes. Her stunning eyes tugged at his heartstrings. When Leslie stopped in front of Hugo, she did a little twirl to show off her gown, and she said, Am I pretty? Instead of replying, Hugo seized Leslies arm and pulled her into his arms, making her sit on his legs. Then he said, You look very beautiful, but I would prefer to see you naked. Everyone was shocked by what Hugo had said, but no one was more shocked than Arnold. Not only was he shocked, though. He was angry. He thought to himself, Nobody talks to my sister like that and got away with it! Arnold walked towards Leslie with cold, heavy steps, intending to drag her away from him. Before he could touch her, though, she smiled and said, This is my boyfriend. Isnt he good-looking? As she spoke, she wrapped her arms around Hugos neck. Arnolds body suddenly stiffed. He felt like his heart had been stabbed by something sharp. Suddenly, the air in the room seemed very thin, and the quiet was oppressive. Alex coughed twice deliberately to diffuse the tension. Why hasnt Eric and Antony arrived yet? They said they are already on the road, Owen replied. Oh, by the way, Nathan, Eric said that he had prepared a big gift for you, you know, for your 26th birthday. Nathan raised his eyebrows. He couldnt imagine what Eric would buy him. As Owen finished speaking, the front door opened, and Eric walked in. Owenughed and said, Speak of the devil and he appears! Eric chuckled as he finished Owens sentence. Everyone looked to the door, and when they saw the girl that came in behind him, they were all stunned. Alex rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Then he turned to Owen and said, Owen, is there something wrong with my eyes? Owen: The girl next to Eric is Eric had a gentle hold on the girls hand. His eyes swept over everybodys surprised faces, and there was a look of satisfaction on his own face. Then, finally, his eyesnded on Nathans face. When Nathan saw the look on Erics face, he clenched and unclenched his fists, and his nails dug into his palms. Suddenly, Eric pushed the girl forwards. Nathan, he said. This is your birthday present. Do you like it? The girl looked a little frightened. There was ackluster look in her eyes, and she seemed confused, as if she didnt know where she was or what was happening. Crystal gave Eric a suspicious look. Did he say that the girl is a birthday present for Nathan? Is he crazy? This man is without shame! And this wasnt even the first time hed gifted a woman to Nathan! Crystal was disgusted by the way Eric treated women as objects. Eric didnt see anything wrong with his behavior, though. He nodded to the girl and said, Helen, dont be afraid. Nathan still remembers you. Everyone gasped when they heard Helens name. Was this Helen Bush?!?! C they wondered. Crystal stared at the girl in front of her in surprise. It cant be her! C she thought C Helen Bush is dead. Shemitted suicide over something that Nathan had done. Eric was grinning. Nathan! he eximed. You must be surprised. Helen wasnt doing very well, but when she heard it was your birthday, she perked right up! Then he looked at Helen and said, Helen. Your big brother, Alex, Owen, and Leslie are all here. Helen smiled shyly and said, Hello, everyone. Alex walked closer to Helen and looked at her carefully. Helen, is it really you? Helen squinted, and it looked like she was having a hard time seeing straight, but her hearing was just fine. Alex, she replied, long time no see. Alex frowned and asked her if there was something wrong with her eyes. Helen: Well, three years ago, I jumped off a cliff, and although a fisherman rescued me, my eyes were damaged. Hey, dont just stand there, Alex said. Come and sit down. He wanted to lead her to a seat in the living room, but Helen stepped back and asked, Can I sit next to Nathan?This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Everyone turned to see how Crystal would respond to her request. Before she could do anything, though, Leslie stood up and pulled her out of the room. Crystal scowled once they were alone and said, What the heck was that all about? Leslie sighed and said, Do you know who she is? Crystal: Helen Bush? Leslie nodded and gave her a severe look. Crystal began to feel anxious suddenly. Whats the problem? she asked nervously. Isnt she Eric Bushs sister? Leslie: She is, but besides being Erics sister, she has another identity. Crystal had no idea what Leslie was talking about, and she was getting impatient. Finally, she gave her friend an aggressive look and said, Whatever it is that you have to say, please just say it! Im a big girl. I can handle any of the news that you have to give me! Leslie swallowed and said, Well, youre going to hear this eventually, so I guess its bettering from me Helen is Nathans fiance Or she was, at least When Crystal heard that, her mouth nearly hit the floor, and she was utterly speechless. Chapter 159: I鈥檒l Wait For You Once Crystal recovered from her shock, she said, If Nathan is engaged to Helen, where does that leave me? Leslie shrugged and said, I dont know. I can see now why Eric hasnt been aroundtely, though. She produced a pack of cigarettes, took one for herself, and offered Crystal another. Want one? Crystal looked up and nodded. She knew how bad she looked now, and it made her feel like a harlot. Leslie lit up a cigarette and ced it directly into Crystals mouth. Then she said, Everyone knows how much Helen loves Nathan. She would die for him. It is quite the triangle youvended in. If Helen still loves Nathan, though, he will have to marry her. So you have to be prepared for that. Leslie blew a cloud of smoke in the air and squinted at Crystal. At this point, Crystal didnt know that the most trouble woulde from the old Mr. Davis. He liked Helen, and he had made it clear that she was the only one worthy of marrying Nathan. Crystal had never smoked before, so the cigarette in her hand was her first. She began to cough as she took a drag, and she quickly decided that smoking was not for her. She hated the smell of cigarettes, with one exception: when it was Nathan that was smoking. She butted the cigarette into the ashtray and said, Lets get back to the party. The two went downstairs, and Leslie sat down beside Hugo. Crystal looked around, and at first, she didnt see Nathan. That was because he was standing on the balcony with Helen. Helen looked up at Nathan, smiled shyly, and said, Nathan, how have you been all these years? Nathan slightly lowered his head and sighed. From this angle, he could see the small beads of sweat on Helens nose. She seemed to be really nervous. Im fine, Nathan replied. Thats good, Helen said. I thought Id never see you again. I didnt expect to be rescued. Unfortunately, though, I might be blind forever. Nathan: Dont think too much about it. Its good to be alive. Helen: Nathan, I heard that youve Nathan: Um, Im married. Congrattions, Helen muttered. She fiddled with her fingers, and after a minute of silence, she said, Ill go and talk to Grandpa. Ill go with you tonight, Nathan said. Grandpa will be d to see you. He knew that, in all the world, the only person that his grandpa would listen to was Helen. Now that Helen was at the party, the atmosphere changed, and it suddenly looked like a scene of bloody ughter. When Crystal got up and went to the kitchen to wash her hands, her mind was so preupied that she didnt realize that Nathan was behind her. The kitchen was big, and Nathans movements were light, like an elegant cheetah. He leaned against the refrigerator and watched Crystal wash her hands. She picked up a towel to dry her hands and brushed a wisp of hair behind her ear with her fingers. This simple action was a temptation for Nathan, and it made his Adams apple move slightly. He stretched his long legs and walked towards Crystalzily and slowly, like a night hunter hidden in a thicket of long, thick grass. Then, suddenly, he circled Crystals slender waist with his arms and buried his face in her neck. Crystals body stiffed, and she tried to create some space between them. Your fiance is outside, she said. Arent you afraid of being found?Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Are you afraid? Nathan asked. Crystal: Do you think Im afraid? Nathan: Youre my wife. Theres no need to be afraid. Crystal tried to push his hands away, but he wouldnt budge. Dont move! he said. He smiled as he took her hand and pressed it against his erect manh**d. Crystal drew back her hand instinctively, then she pinched the head of his c*ck and said, You need to learn to control your lower body, Professor Davis, Nathan sighed as he lifted her chin with his free hand. I just cant control the little guy when Im with you, he said. Crystal withdrew her hand and said, Soshould I say thank you? Nathan: Nah, Ill deal with it. Crystal looked him in the eye and said, Great. Because, if you dont, Ill have you charged with bigamy. Nathan chuckled and said, Never mind that. Where is my birthday present? I didnt get you anything, Crystal answered coldly. When Nathan heard that, he grabbed her wrist and said, Well, if you dont have a gift for me, you will have to give yourself as a recement for your gift! Crystal giggled as she went on tiptoe to whisper in his ear. Tonight, she said. Ill wait for you. **** Once the party was over, Nathan sent Crystal home so that he could take Helen to see the old Mr. Davis. Nathan didnt know it, but the old man already knew about Helens return. Eric had contacted him over a week earlier to tell him everything. Thus, when they pulled up to the Davis vi, he was not surprised at all. In fact, he had been expecting them. The old man was excited to see Helen. He had felt guilty about her death, and he knew he would sleep easier knowing that she was alive. Today is a good day! C he thought when Nathan had called to say that they were on their way. Once he got off the phone, he had the maid prepare a light meal. That way, the three of them could share a meal together. Once they were all seated at the table, the old man lifted his ss to propose a toast. He said, Today, we have two things to celebrate! It is Nathans birthday, and Helen has returned! Now, there is no reason why two should not be one! Nathan had been going to drink a toast, but when he heard the old mansst words, his cup slipped through his fingers and shattered on the ground. Chapter 160: She Is Pregnant Helen was sitting next to Nathan, and although she couldnt see the expression on his face, she felt his body stiffen up. She didnt know what he was going to say. She was afraid, though, that it wouldnt be good, so she spoke up before he could. She turned to the old man and said, I just got back. Why are you so anxious to send me away? Besides, Nathan deserves a better person than me. I am not good enough for him. The old Mr. Davis: Bullshit. He must be responsible for you. Helen: Its not his fault. I me myself, and you should me me as well. The old Mr. Davis: How can I turn a blind eye to this? You are the person that I worry about the most. I will take care of your business. Its Nathan who is not good enough for you, so dont worry. Old Davis! Helen eximed. She was a little anxious. She suddenly stood up and said, Can I say a few words to you alone? Sit down, the old Mr. Davis said. We can talk after youre done eating. You havent eaten anything yet, and its better to talk on a full stomach. When he finished talking, he scowled at Nathan, threw his fork at him, and said, Come with me. The old Davis led Nathan into the antique study room, which was decorated with Calligraphy, famous pictures, antiques, and collections. Once they were alone, he pounded his fist on the table fiercely. Did you say anything to Helen? he shouted. I wont marry her, Nathan said. He had a casual air about him, but he was on full alert and ready for anything. You must marry her, the old Mr. Davis said. His eyes were red, and his voice was full of ire. This is your responsibility. Besides, she is the only person that the Davis family will recognize as our granddaughter-inw. Unless I die, Nathan said seriously. Bastard! the old Mr. Davis threw a pen holder full of pens and pencils at Nathan. Do you want to hurt her again? he demanded. Didnt you hurt her enough? Didnt you hurt us enough? Nathan shouted back. Most of this is your fault! The old Davis stood with his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth in the small space between the table and the chair, and the mechanical sound of the pendulum clock on the wall sounded louder than ever. A minute passed, and then it chimed ten times. It was ten oclock. The Old Davis stopped pacing and raised his eyes. He red at Nathan and said, Helen is pregnant. Nathans eyes went wide, and then they narrowed suspiciously. What do you mean? he asked. The old Mr. Davis: Helen is pregnant. Nathan smirked and said, I dont see what this has to do with me. Its none of my business. Do you love her so much that you would force me to marry her and raise another mans child? Shemitted suicide over me, and I know that you feel guilty about that, but I dont love her, and I am not interested in living in a loveless marriage. Why dont you marry her if you want her to be a part of our family so badly?!?! Its none of your business? The old Davisughed arrogantly. He red at Nathan and said, Of course, it is your business. After all, it is your child! Dont talk stupid! Nathan growled. If you want to tell lies, you should put a little more effort into your stories. I never touched her, so how could it be my child? The Old Davis picked up the small pen holder on the table. The white marble was transparent, but there was a trace of an impurity under the light. He ran his finger along the line. Then he said, Do you think that there is only one way to get pregnant? Nathan frowned. Did you use the sperm that I donated to the sperm bank to fertilize her womb artificially? His face turned red as his ire began to rise. Of course, he did! C Nathan realized C It would be just like him to go to such an extreme to get what he wanted The Old Davis smiled as his head bobbed up and down. So, now you must marry her! he said. Nathan kicked the pen holder at his feet, and it hit the coffee table with a Bang! and broke into two pieces. No way! he shouted. This is about Crystal, isnt it? The old Davis hissed. Nathan felt his body stiffen, and it felt as if his body was under a spell. He could no longer move. Crystal is no match for you or the Davis family, the old Davis continued. His serious expression was firm. I have ordered people to appeal to have your marriage invalidated. How dare you! Nathan cried. His scarlet eyes were covered with red blood, and he looked like a beast trapped in a cage. He said, If you insist on fighting against me because of her, you know what; you know who will be hurt the most; you know who will die and be denied a burial? It will be her! The Old Davis: If you hurt her, I will die with her! Is it worth losing me over a woman? Of course! Nathan replied without hesitation. The Old Davis: Fine! Ill give you time. Before Helen gives birth to the child, though, you must break up with Crystal. I can promise not to hurt Crystal, but you must get divorced and marry Helen. Oh, are you forcing me to have a harem? Nathanughed wryly. Then he put away his smile and said, I, Nathan, promise you this: I will only ever love one person, and that person is Crystal Smith! The Old Davis: But what about your child with Helen? Nathan: The sess rate for artificial insemination is only about 20%. How can you be so sure that this child is mine?!?! You cant!!! Well see, the Old Davis replied. After he is born, he will take a DNA test. If it is your child, what are you going to do? Nathanughed and said, If it is mine, then I will marry her, but if it is not, then you will have to stop interfering with my life. If you do, I will fight you, no matter what the cost. The gestation time was his opportunity. The world changed so rapidly that the facts could be reversed from ck to white in three days. In this case, he had nine months, so he was not worried. He could obey the old Davis for now and then disobey himter. Dont have a crooked mind, the old Davis said. If the child dies, even if you dont want to marry her, you will have to!This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 161: Do You Like It? (Triggered Warning: This Chapter contains a sexual scene and inappropriate words. If youre notfortable reading it kindly skip it and move to another chapter) Before Nathan could say anything, the old Davis picked up his phone and called Mr. Woods. When Woods picked up, the old Davis said, Draw an agreement. If this bastard dares to cheat, I want you to stop keeping Crystal safe. Also, before Helen gives birth to the child, you should take good care of her. The documents were prepared in duplicate, fingerprints were taken, and then Helen was told that she would be sent back to the Bushs Mansion. The old Davis embraced Helen and said, Pack up your things. I will send someone to pick you up tomorrow. Since she was pregnant, he would protect her. If she werent with the child, he wouldnt bother. After all, he would not have been obliged to take care of her. Now, though, he did have a responsibility to take care of her. Helen wanted to say something to Nathan, but she was at a loss for words. She tried to discern his attitude by listening to the tone in his voice. Unfortunately, he was lukewarm and polite. His mood always seemed to be this way. She thought to herself C More than three years have passed. Does he still treat everyone the same as he used to? It seemed that he did Helen thought that her appearance after the disaster would relieve Nathan of his guilt, so, when he helped her out of the car, she felt that he would be happy. She looked at him and said, The pregnancy was this the Grandfathers request, or yours? I once refused him, but he insisted and said that he wanted a grandson. Nathan: But what if the child doesnt have a Dad? Helen bowed her head and said, It is what it is. If I cant be with you, I dont want to be with anyone. I wont be able to find anyone. better than you. Nathan: Why did you do this?Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Helen: It was the Old Davis wish. If you dont want to be involved, though, I will convince him to leave you alone. This pregnancy doesnt need to affect you and Miss Smith. It was my choice to do this. **** Nathan smiled as he drove away from Helens house. He had known for a week that she was alive, and when hed heard the news, hed been overjoyed. That being said, he knew that it was the will of God that he stayed true to Crystal. She was his girl, his little chili. Crystal was waiting outside for him when he arrived, and her whole body was ready. She was naked except for a red, silk body wrap covering her private parts, and there was a bow centered on her left breast. Yes! C he thought C She wants to send herself to me as a gift. He could see that when he pulled at the bow, it would unravel, and the silk covering would fall to the floor. Crystal giggled when she saw the expression on his face, and she did a little twirl so that he could catch a glimpse of her taut buttocks C which were fully exposed. Then she winked, said, Ill see you in the bedroom, and ran into the house. It took a second for Nathan toe to his senses. Then, once his mind cleared, he followed her into the house and up to the bedroom. The door was closed, and when he walked in, Crystal was lying on the bed. Her cheeks were pink, and she had a e hither expression on her face. Crystal was as nervous as she was excited. Shed been nning for this moment, and she wanted it to go well. She watched his eyes as they looked her up and down. When they reached her pubic mound, they paused, and she opened her legs slightly so that he could catch a glimpse of her perfectly shaved, moist core. There was a neatly trimmed patch of hair just above her vulva, and she yfully ran her fingers through it. She touched herbia, and her fingers came away wet. Nathans heart began to beat faster, and he felt a rush of blood as his member began to swell. A smile of joy and sorrow appeared on his face. The joy was because this was a gift: her body and her heart. He thought C If I died tonight, I would have no regrets. The sorrow was because, if Helen were really pregnant with his child, he would have to marry her. If that happened, he worried that Crystal would not be willing to give herself to him without reservation. He told himself to think about thatter C Focus on Crystal. She is here now. And she is all yours! Nathan walked towards the gift that had been prepared for him. He took hold of the ribbon that held the bowtie together and began to unravel it slowly. The silk quickly opened to reveal her bare breast. Her nipple was hard, and her Montgomery nds stood out in stark contrast to the rest of her are. And he took a deep breath as the ribbon fell away to reveal her other breast. Finally, Nathan looked into Crystals eyes, and he sensed the same urgency he felt, reflected in her eyes. The nervousness and anxiety hed seen on her face had been reced by an expression conveying a sultry invitation. Nathan leaned into her body and took a deep breath. Her body smelled like the type of poison that makes people drunk and puts them into the kind of sleep that never ends. Her aroma hooked him, and he put his arm around her so that they could snuggle together. Nathan put her hand on top of Crystals head as a gesture of conquest. He liked the idea of conquering her. He believed that women were born to be dominated and that their role included being submissive. He grabbed her wrists, lifted them above her head, and pressed them against the headboard. Then he blew hot air into her mouth and ran his tongue along her lower lip. Crystals breathing was short and rapid, and her face was flushed. Her desire was aroused, and she was willing to be led by him. Nathan put his right hand to her left breast and said, Crystal, you are so beautiful. Crystal smiled charmingly. Do you like it? she asked. Nathan let go of her hands and gently kissed her lips four times, and once she was free, she slipped her hand into his shirt and ran her fingers through the thick hair on his chest. She smiled as her hands came to rest on his strong abdominal muscles. This isnt fair, sheughed. I am naked, and you are fully dressed. And as she spoke, she began to unbutton his shirt gently. Once the buttons were undone, she helped him slip the shirt off of his shoulders, and then she had him stand up so that she could undo his belt buckle. Unfortunately, she had little experience with belts, and she could not get them to open. Finally, Nathan looked down on her and said, Little fool, I taught you how to do this. Did you forget already? Crystal frowned. She didnt know what he was talking about. She thought about it for a bit, though, and then she remembered the time hed taught her how to take off his belt. With that memory in ce, his buckle opened quickly. Next, she slowly opened his pants, and his c*ck sprang forward in his underpants like a happy Jack-in-the-box. It was hard and hot to the touch, and it looked like it could erupt at any minute. Crystal gently pulled down his underwear. Then she kissed the tip of his c*ck, gripped his buttocks, and slowly pulled him back into the bed so that she could kiss his lips. Chapter 162: I Will Respect You (Triggered Warning: This Chapter contains a sexual scene and inappropriate words. If youre notfortable reading it kindly skip it and move to another chapter) Nathan and Crystal moaned as they kissed. All the while, he fondled her breasts, and asionally she reached down to stroke his swollen member. After a while, though, his thoughts returned to Helen, and his hard member turnedid. Crystal frowned and asked him what was wrong. Helen is pregnant, Nathan blurted out. Crystals eyes went wide open, and her jaw nearly hit the floor. What did you say? she gasped. Nathan: Helen is pregnant. She says that its my baby. Go away! Crystal shouted angrily. You pig! How could you?!?! Nathan: Listen to me. The old Davis nned this pregnancy. He helped her get my sperm from the sperm bank. Crystal: So, are you ready to marry her? Nathan: I will handle it. Crystal: I dont know if I can believe you or not, If you dont believe me, I will respect you, Nathan said. Then he stood up and sadly walked away. He hadnt expected that she would be so upset, and he regretted telling her at such an inopportune moment. Meanwhile, Crystal began to cry. She had wanted to give him the gift of her body as an expression of her love. Now she was confused, and she didnt know what to think. In fact, she didnt even know if she loved him anymore. Apart from love, though, there was still sexual desire. Her fire had been stoked into something wild and uncontroble, and it didnt care that hed left-it raged on! She touched her corbone, where Nathan had kissed her, and she sighed. She felt her t stomach and allowed her fingers to slide down to the tuft of hair above her pubic mound and then to her vulva-and she moaned as her index and a middle finger slipped into her moist core. **** That night, Nathan returned, and he made love to Crystal all night long and in every position that he could imagine. It was said that the frequent changes of posture could make the sexst longer, so as they fucked, they changed position as often as possible. And in-between positions, they would kiss frantically. Crystal was shocked by how strong her sexual needs were. Once he stopped, she would wriggle and beg for more. Nathan was surprised by her aggressiveness, and he was shocked when she began to rub her clitoris vigorously. She was insatiable. It seemed like nothing would satisfy her. As he became more and more familiar with her body, he leaned back so that he could watch himself prating her. Say that you only belong to me, he said. I wont fuck you anymore unless you do! Crystal bit his chest hard. She was like a wild cat, but Nathan endured the pain, pulled out, and began to deny her his c*ck. Crystals vision blurred. Without his swollen member, she felt empty, and her heart ached. She twisted her pelvis fetchingly in the hopes that he would put his manh**d inside of her. But he would not give her what she needed, and no matter how hard she frigged herself, she could not get off. Nathanughed and said, The sooner you say it, the sooner I will feed you! Feed me Crystal finally moaned. She wanted to be filled with his love and leave all of her restraints behind her. Nathan: Who do you want to feed you? Crystal: Nathan, I want you to feed me. Nathan: Say that you want me to feed you. Every day. And forever. Crystal: No Nathan was not annoyed by her resistance. Instead, he decided to let the matter rest for now, and he slowly forced himself into her. Crystal moaned as herbia stretched to amodate his girth, and as he began to pump his hips rhythmically, she began tough. More! she cried. More! More! More! And, finally, she could take no more. Thats enough, she moaned. Her body began to tremble, and her voice became choppy. In the end, she couldnt escape the wanton carefree vitality that he brought to her life. Finally, her delicate lips opened, and she invited him to kiss her again. Nathan thrust his c*ck into her onest time, and she could feel it twitching inside, and when he came, she felt the rush of his semen as his sperm swam, hopefully, towards her uterus. Nathan leaned forward, and his tongue licked her lower lip. As they kissed, she wrapped her arms around him, and it wasnt long before they were both asleep. *** A ray of sunlight came in, and Crystal smiled as she slowly opened her eyes. The images of the nights adventures yed through her mind like an erotic movie, and she felt satisfied for the first time in her life. But, unfortunately, she was also a little embarrassed. As theyd made love, Nathan had kept moving her into different positions. Is he an amateur? C she wondered. Crystal got up, put on her silk pajamas, and stumbled downstairs. From her crotch down, she was in pain, and she could barely walk.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Nathan was standing naked in the kitchen, and when he saw her, he lifted her easily. When he touched her soft, boneless body, he thought C I want to make love to her one thousand times over. Crystal fell into his arms, and she pushed the hands on her waist. Dont move, she said. I heard Aunt Susies voice. Nathan pulled her back into his arms and said, Its Helen. Crystal looked at him in disbelief. Is she moving in while Im still here? she asked. Look at me. Im a mess. Everything hurts, and we did it so much that you induced my period! Nathan forced a smile and said, Dont worry about her. Thats not your concern. As for your period, I can help you out with that. Having said that, Nathan took Crystal into the washroom and had her sit down. There was blood running down her leg, and he squatted down to clean it up with a wet wipe. Crystal flinched at his touch, and he said, You are really sensitive It hurts. Crystal groaned as she heard a noise in the living room. Thats Helen? she asked. The knowledge that Helen was pregnant made her regret having had sex with Nathan, and she was angry at herself for letting her sexual urges get the better of her. Before he could reply, she kicked him in the chest. He grabbed her arm as he fell backward, though, and she ended up hurting herself more than shed hurt him. Crystal cried out in pain, and when Nathan realized that she was not well, he asked her if she needed to see a female doctor. I dont want to see a doctor, Crystal replied. Anyway, Helen is in the other room. Shouldnt you go and see her? Nathan: And why is that? You know why! Crystal snapped. Helen is your new love. She is your fiance, and she is pregnant with your child. Even if this was all arranged behind your back, the situation remains what it is! Nathan grabbed her feet and gently bit her big toe, which looked very erotic. You are the only one that I love, he said. Crystals whole body trembled slightly, and her lower body shrank involuntarily. Nathan saw these subtle changes, and he showed her his most charming smile. To Crystal, his face looked handsome in the morning, and she felt like her senses were being flooded with emotions. Chapter 163: I Won鈥檛 Disturb You When Helen arrived at the house, Crystal felt like everything had changed. She had fallen in love with Nathan, but when she discovered that the other woman was pregnant, all of her insecurities came rushing back to her. It felt like everything that he had done for her had been in a dream. In that dream, she was like a child who had stolen ice cream, stolen happiness and had then, finally, been told that it was just a dream. The ice cream and happiness had been nothing but a dream. Nathan looked at Crystal and said, If anyone dares to touch you, I will kill them. Including Eric? Crystal asked. She carefully eyed Nathan so that she could gauge his response. Nathan leaned forward and grabbed her shoulders, and she was overwhelmed by his hot breath. Then he bit her earlobe and said, Im not fine. He doesnt want to live a good life. Do you understand? After saying these domineering words, his eyes changed to a moreplex color. Crystal flinched. I understand, she replied. She remembered how he had shot Richards limbs, so she believed he meant what he said. If you dare to disappoint me, she continued, wont forgive you. Nathan chuckled. Then he touched his lips and said, You are the only woman who can approach me, and now that I have you, I will never let you go. He pointed to his chest. When you die, we will share a tombstone, and the engraving will say that you are my wife. Crystal stared at him for a moment. Then, like a kitten, she stuck out her tongue and licked his fingers. He was like a tree growing out of thousands of vines. The branches embedded themselves into their arms, and they became desperately entangled. As she took his fingers into her mouth, a knock sounded outside the door, and Hellen called out: Nathan, its Helen. Can Ie in? Crystal froze. The door isnt locked, she whispered. Nathan: She can see this. No way! Crystal hissed. She tried to push him away and was surprised when he ced his hand on her breast and began to caress it. If Helen walked in, she would see them intertwined with each other, and her body was covered with marks that he had made on her. Crystal bit her lower lip to keep herself from yelling. Thest thing she needed was for Helen to hear her. What are we going to do? she asked. Nathan shrugged and positioned himself so that they were sitting across from each other. He hugged her as he buried his face between her breasts, and he began to tickle her sides. He was trying to force her to make a noise. Crystal was grinding her teeth in an attempt to hold in herughter, and an evil thought suddenly urred to her: If she made enough noise, perhaps Helen would hear her and leave. Dont do it! C she told herself. If she did, she would be no different from those slutty chicks that she despised, and she definitely didnt want Helen to have a bad impression of her.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Helens knocking was bing more persistent. Nathan! she shouted. Its me, Helen! Can Ie in? Instead of replying, Nathan bit into Crystals shoulder, and she had to cover her mouth to prevent herself from crying out. Let it out, he whispered. He smiled and bit her again. Dere your territory. Crystal: Im afraid that her weak heart cant stand it. If she miscarried, what then? Nathan froze. He hadnt thought about that. He remembered the words of the old Davis, and they echoed in his mind. Hed said that if she had a miscarriage, he would have to marry her. The old Davis was ruthless. He was strong and not afraid of being hurt, but he did have a few weaknesses. Helen was one of them. Not only that, but if there were anyplications, he would not want to be implicated. Crystal felt like her heart was being stabbed by something. Did Nathan care if Helen had a miscarriage? C she wondered C And if he does, does that mean that he wants to marry her and be a Father to her child, even if it wasnt his? Crystal sneered and pulled herself out of his arms. Then she put on her pajamas and opened the door. Helen was surprised, not just by the sight of Crystal but by the smell that permeated the air. It was Eau de Sex: Sweat, semen, blood, pheromones, and vag*nal fluids. It wasnt hard to imagine what had happened in this room C And Helen flinched as her senses were overwhelmed. M-Miss S-S-Smith she stuttered. Im so-sorry to d-disturb you Crystal leaned against the door. Although the cloth on her body was not loose, arge piece of skin on the neck showed, and several blueish purple bruises were visible, and Helen could see teeth marks on her corbone. Crystal shook her hands in front of her. Whats the matter? she asked. Helens eyeballs were motionless. I just want to say hello to you, she said. I am sorry to disturb you at this time. She was polite and well educated C neither embarrassing nor offensive, making Crystal feel like she was too sensitive. Suddenly, Nathan came out wearing a bathrobe. He frowned when he saw Helen, and he said, Helen, are you going up the stairs by yourself? Do you think thats a good idea? Crystal wondered C Is he afraid that she might fall down the stairs and have a miscarriage? Her eyes darkened, and she said, You two should talk first. I wont disturb you. Nathan reached out and grabbed Crystals arm. You wont disturb us, he said. Helen felt like the atmosphere was wrong, and her smile disappeared. Despite her embarrassment, though, she still behaved cleverly. With a trace of panic, she said, Miss Smith, it is me who disturbed you. Originally, I wanted to live alone, but the old Davis said that he was worried about me and afraid that I couldnt take care of myself and the child. I am really sorry to move in and disturb you. As Crystal looked at the pitiful expression on Hellens face, her anger dissipated. She couldnt help but wonder, though C If she were really sorry that she couldnt take care of herself and her child, why did she get pregnant? Chapter 164: What Are The Conditions? Crystal smiled at Helen and said, Helen, I will ask Aunt Susie to help you downstairs. You are not familiar with this ce. After a few days, the room in the manor will be set up. You can live there. Having said that, she arranged her clothes and went downstairs. As soon as Crystal reached thending, a man grabbed her and pushed her up against the wall. There was a loud bang as the back of her head cracked the ster, she screamed from the pain, and when she opened her eyes, her vision was hazy. Wh-Wh-Whos th-there? she stammered. Its Eric, said Eric. Crystal: What a coincidence that you should show up at the same time that Im here. Eric: Its not a coincidence. I came here deliberately. Are you looking for Nathan or Helen? Crystal asked. She was about to tell him that they were both upstairs, but when she opened her mouth, he pressed his mouth against hers and forced his tongue into her mouth. Then, as he kissed her, he put his hands on either side of her head so that no matter how hard she tried to get away, she would be unable. Eventually, though, the kiss ended, and when he released her, he said, Helen is pregnant with Nathans child. Crystal: So what? Did you n it? When Crystal heard that, she lifted her knee and drove it into Erics groin. Eric groaned as his hands found his aching testicles, and he bent over in pain. Why did you do that? he whined. Crystal smirked and said, You know why. Eric red at Crystal and said, Fine. Punish me if I deserve it. Next time, though, you should hit me somewhere else. Crystal shrugged and said, Well see. As Eric straightened, he finally saw the marks on her neck, and he said, I dont have the ability to n all this, and neither do you! So, even if Helen is pregnant, are you still willing to give yourself to Nathan? Crystal had initially wanted to cover up the love bites. Now that he had seen them, though, it was unnecessary. She ran her finger across one of therger bruises and said, Have you seen enough. I can show you more if youd like. Eric frowned at Crystal and said, You are such a stupid girl. It would be better for you to be with anyone other than Nathan. I dont know why you cant see that. Besides, nobody can enter the Davis Family without the old Davis permission. He will recognize Helen now that shes pregnant with Nathans child again. Crystal: So? Eric: Leave with me. I will treat you well. I am the only one that will give you the love that you deserve. Crystal: What are the conditions? Eric: My love is unconditional. I only want you. Crystal pointed to the door and said, Do you see that? Eric: What? Crystal: The door. And on the other side of that door, there are a lot of girls who would love to have your affection. They would be willing to listen to your lovely words, and they would do whatever you asked of them. Nathan and I will not take up any of your time. Eric: Withdraw your words. One day you will be willing to leave with me. Crystal pushed him away and said, In your dreams. Then she straightened up, pushed his hands away, and went to get a drink of water. Not surprisingly, Eric followed her. He leaned against the counter and watched her with an arrogant expression on his face. Crystal tried to ignore him, but he made her nervous, so nervous, in fact, that while she was drinking her water, her cup slipped out of her hand. She managed to catch it with her free hand before it could hit the ground and smash into a million pieces. But, unfortunately, the contents of the cup were spilled all over her, and her top was soaked. Erics eyes went wide as her shirt became translucent. Suddenly, her nipples were visible, and they stood out like two sore thumbs. He felt his manh**d swell, and he longed to hold her and possess her. There was still a little bit of water in the cup, and he waited for her to finish drinking. Then, he said, The old Davis is going to find someone to invalidate your marriage. You know that, dont you? He is a stubborn old curmudgeon, and he always gets his way. Not this time. Crystal frowned and said, If he wants to invalidate my marriage, that means that he hasnt done it yet. But so what? Even if it is invalidated, it means nothing. I dont have to have a legal rtionship with Nathan to be with him, and we can always remarry if we want to! Eric had a hard time concentrating on what he wanted to say while her breasts were on disy. Why sh-sh-should I bel-l-leave you? he stuttered. Im asking y-you this because I- care, I dont want to h-hurt you. You know that, right? When I h-hurt you, I h-hurt myself Crystal crossed her arms beneath her breasts, and her knuckles blocked his view of her nipples. She red at him for a minute, and then she said, Fine. Erics face turned red, and his ire began to rise. He had expected more of a response from her, and he felt like she was trying to brush him off, and that made him feel like she was trying to make a fool out of him. You cant talk to me like that! he growled. Crystal Smith, you owe me better! You are a real piece of work, Crystal growled. I dont owe you diddly-squat. Not only do you steal other peoples women, but you go into their homes to do it. You are a kidnapper and a cad! As she spoke, she looked around him, and what she saw made her smile.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. In response to Crystals cold, sword-like voice, Eric looked up and smiled back at her. It is better to steal another mans wife than to date two people at the same time. What do you think? Little did he know Nathan was standing right behind him. Suddenly, Nathan cleared his throat. Erics face turned white. He slowly turned around, and when he saw his old friend, his words caught in his throat. Chapter 165: He Was Willing To Be Beaten By Her The tension between Nathan and Eric was palpable. Crystal shook her head helplessly. She had hoped that, now that Helen was in the picture, things would get easier. Boy, had she been wrong? She had no wish to be standing between them any longer than necessary, so she said, Im going to go to the living room, and then she walked into the living room. Anyway, if they were going to fight, she couldnt do anything to stop it. Because Helen was moving in, two servants from the Bush family and several bodyguards were helping her with her luggage. The bodyguards came in and out without a word between them. Meanwhile, the servants were following them around, saying, Be careful. and, Dont break anything. and, Thats thedys favorite. And they told the strong men where each item would go. A bodyguard recklessly bumped into Crystal, and one of the maids couldnt help but frown. I told you to be careful, sheined. So, be careful! The eyes in your head are there so that you can see. If something is broken, you cant afford to rece it. The bodyguard immediately slowed down, and he apologized profusely, but the maid waved her hand and said, Im not worried about you. If Crystal hadnt been in your way, you never would have bumped into her. Crystal: Me? Of course, you? the maid replied. Who else? Before Crystal could reply, Helen walked into the room. She red at the maid and said, Nanny Elma, this is Miss Smith. Dont be rude. Crystal stood silently and took a mental inventory of the things in the bodyguards hands. There were the semi-finished scented candles in the boxes. These also contained frosted sses of various colors and shapes. No wonder they had to be careful-thought Crystal. After hearing the order from the youngdy, Elma bowed her head and took two steps backward. Miss Smith, she said. I am so sorry. Crystal pursed her mouth. Its fine, she lied. She knew that Nanny Elma was not easy to deal with, and she hated her. The womans sinister eyes could spew out the poisonous liquid. Helen noticed Crystals interest in the candles and said, Its aromatherapy. Once I get it going, youll like it. Youll see. Crystal: Aromatherapy? Theres so much of it! Helen: Yeah, I like aromatherapy very much. Because I cant see very well, the sense of smell, hearing, and taste are the senses that I use to experience beautiful things. Crystal noticed Helen was wearing a white maternity gown, and she walked over to her and said, With you being pregnant, is it okay to use aromatherapy? Helen shook her head and said, I use raw materials that are not harmful to the human body or the fetus. In fact, the scents that I make are good for our bodies. What kind of fragrance do you like? I can send it to you after I make it. Is that okay? Crystal: Can you make any fragrance? Sure, Helen replied. Crystal approached her, smelled her hair, and said, Mmmm The orange blossom mixes well with the chamomile. Its no wonder that my brother has found so many perfumes. They havent made the smell he wanted, though. It seems that the ratio is always wrong. Nanny Elma came over during their talk and helped Helen sit down, Helen, you are pregnant, dont stand too long, she said. Then she turned to Crystal and red at her. Whats wrong? Crystal asked. Dont y dumb, Nanny Elma said. Miss Smith, Helen is pregnant, and Mrs. Bush and the old Davis have ordered me to monitor what Helen eats and drinks. So, if you dont mind, I will prepare the meals every day from now on. Crystal shrugged to show that she didnt care. Im afraid that this house needs to be fixed again, Nanny Elma continued. With Helen being pregnant, it is necessary to overthrow it and reconstruct everything. After saying this, she wondered why Mr. Davis would live here. Compared to a mansion, it was nothing but an outside shitter. There was floating dust everywhere, and the ce smelled terrible. She waved her handkerchief and swept away the floating dust that was in the air, then she turned to Helen and said, Miss, the environment is too bad. I am sorry, but you will have to put up with it for several days. Mr. Davis has ordered people to bring the manor up to code. Unlike what you are used to, there are only five or six rooms here, and they are not even decent. Helen: I think its good. Although it is smaller, its more humane. Nanny Elma: If thedy knew that you were suffering this way, she would definitely not let you live here. Helen kept smiling and did not speak, and the Nanny recognized that she did not want to talk anymore. She took an in-depth look at Crystal, and as she turned to go into the kitchen, two men came out. One person had a ck face, and the other one lookedzy. Eric walked over to Helen, kissed her cheek, and said, Helen, I will go back first. Nanny Elma will stay here with you. If you have any requirements, tell her, and I wille to visit you as often as I can.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Helen: Dont worry. I will be fine. Eric turned to Crystal, smiled, and said, Remember what I said to you. Then, when you are ready toe away with me, I will be waiting. **** Once Eric was gone, Nanny Elma went to the kitchen to prepare some food, and the bodyguards guarded the door. Meanwhile, Nathan led Crystal to a more private ce, where he nned to have sex with her. He hugged her from behind and whispered into her ear: I want you so badly. Crystals eyes fell on his hands, and she said, Let go of me. You cant really expect me to have sex with you after having just moved Helen in! Nathans hand crawled up her body and caressed her breast. Forget about her, he said. She means nothing to me, and you are still the queen of the castle and my heart. Crystal growled as she pushed away from him. Then she turned around and pped him across the face. I wont fall victim to your silver tongue, she growled. Not this time! Nathan frowned slightly. Do you want to abuse me before we have sex? He began to grin like a Cheshire cat. You can if you want. I dont mind. Crystal was so angry that she pped him again. She was upset that the old Davis had found someone to invalidate their marriage and that she had been thest one to know it. A woman had never beaten Nathan, and if it were another woman, he would have thrown her out of the house. However, he was willing to be beaten by her because he knew that she was angry because of Helens pregnancy. Furthermore, as she hit him, he began to feel aroused. Crystal pped him again, and his lip split open. A thin stream of blood ran down his chin, and Nathan felt himself begin to go hard. Chapter 166: Go Away (Triggered Warning: This Chapter contains a sexual scene and inappropriate words. If youre notfortable reading it kindly skip it and move to another chapter) Nathan allowed the enchanting woman to p him across the face seven times. Then he threw her on the bed and gave her a grumpy look. Have you had enough? he asked as he unbuttoned his ck shirt to reveal his tanned pecs and the scratches on his neck and corbone. Its not enough! Crystal shouted. She thought C I could hit you a million times, and it still would not be enough! His old lover, Helen, had moved into their house with her servant, and she was pregnant with his child. This invasion of her space was unquestionably his fault, and although she had pped him seven times, it did not feel like nearly enough punishment. Nathan took her hand forcefully and said, I am giving you the right to hit me, but only me. I dont want to see you abusing any other men. Do you understand? Crystal snorted but didnt say anything. Every time you p me, Nathan added, I will fuck you. You just pped me seven times. Are you ready to pay? He pushed her onto her back on the bed. Then he undid his belt and dropped his pants to the floor. Crystals eyes went nervously to his groin. His c*ck looked like a caged beast. It stretched his underwear, and she could tell by the wet spot at the head that it was more than raring to go. Nathan eyed her lustily as he touched himself over the thin fabric. Good girl, he said. You know what to do. When she didnt do as he wanted, he grabbed her by the wrist and forced her to cup his testicles in her hand. Then he tried to force her other hand around the base of his c*ck. She was afraid, though, that if she touched it, it would fill her up, eat her, and she would be unable to get out of bed. But she couldnt pull her hand away. He wouldnt let her. Of course, he couldnt make her stroke him. Finally, Nathan gave up on trying to get her to give him a hand job. Then, he climbed over her body, pinned her to the bed with his weight, and began to French kiss her.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Crystal eyes erged as his nose rubbed up against her. His breath was hot, and the smell of his sweat permeated her senses. She flinched as he ground his c*ck against her mons pubis. He pushed up her nightdress, and his delicate fingers ran from her belly button to the hem of her panties, underneath the fabric and through her thin patch of pubic hair, to settle just above her clitoris. Crystal writhed under the invasion, and when his fingers finally settled between herbia, her hips rose to meet them. Nathan was like an angry beast. He gripped her earlobe with his teeth and ran his tongue along her skin. Then, when he began to French kiss her again, she became an active participant. He applied pressure to her vulva, her toes curled, and she uttered a low moan. There was a sudden knock on the door, and they both froze. Its time to eat, said Nanny Elma from the hallway. The house was old, and the walls were thin. Thus, Elma knew what they were up to, and shed intentionally interrupted them. Shed seen Helen sitting on the sofa. The poor girl could hear everything, and her face had been as white as a sheet. Nanny Elma thought that Crystal and Nathan were shameless, and when no one answered the door, she knocked again. Shell go away, Nathan whispered. Then he bowed his head and bit Crystals lower lip. She cried out as a line of blood appeared, but when he kissed her again, the taste of it mingled between their mouths, and it was sexy as fuck. Nanny Elma knocked three more times, and Nathan threw a pillow at the door. He shouted at her: Go away! Nanny Elmas face turned red. As much as shed wanted to interrupt what was going on in the room, it hadnt been her intention to piss off the Master of the House. She stumbled down the stairs, and when she got to the bottom, she turned away from the living room. As upset as she knew Helen was, she couldnt bear to look at her. Meanwhile, upstairs, Nathan and Crystal began to go at it like animals, and before long, their moans echoed throughout the vi. **** After having both had multiple orgasms, Crystal was exhausted, but Nathan still hadnt gotten enough. She wondered where he had gotten his strength. After all, he had not had breakfast or lunch. But he had spent his seed inside her so many times that she had almost fainted. Can we take a break? Crystal cried. Im hungry. Nathan smiled like a Cheshire cat and said, Ill feed you. Crystal sighed. He knew what he was thinking. Just go along with it C she told herself C sooner began, sooner done. Nathan set her up on the edge of the bed, stood up in front of her, and when he pressed himself against her lips, she took what he had to give. Then, when hed finally finished, he carried her into the bathroom, bathed her, and fucked her once more in the bathtub. When they got back to the bedroom, Crystal was so weak that she could barely walk. So, he put her in one of her nightdresses, blow-dried her hair, and carried her downstairs. Nanny Elma and all of the other servants greeted them at the bottom of the stairs. Crystal frowned when she saw Elma. She liked her privacy, and if she had her way, she wouldnt have all of these people hovering about all the time. On the other hand, it was not something she was used to, and it was overwhelming. Nanny Elma: Dinner is ready, Sir. Crystal buried her face in Nathans chest. She felt very exposed, and she was embarrassed. She knew that everyone in the house knew what they had been up to, and it shamed her. Nathan carried her into the dining room. He set her down in the chair closest to the kitchen. Then he kissed her on the forehead and sat down across from her. Well, he said. Lets see what the staff have prepared for us. Im starting! Chapter 167: What Baby Fever Feels Like With all of the people in the house, it had be too small for Nathans liking. He had several estates to his name, and he had chosen thergest on purpose so that they would not be disturbed. But still Now, with Erics attempt to hit Crystal, he had to reconsider shutting down the ind. He wanted to lock Crystal up, and he didnt intend to let any other men see her, especially after the afternoon theyd shared. He wanted to keep her in his arms, but Helen was here, so he couldnt show her too much affection at the table. Crystal stretched her legs under the table, though. She rubbed his foot with hers, and that was more than enough for now. Hellen looked at her nanny, smiled, and said, Miss Smith must be tired. Fill up her soup bowl. There was a snide tone to her voice, and her words sounded like a gift from a queen to a concubine. Crystal was exhausted, though, and she couldnt be bothered to dwell on it. She was happy to have the soup, and she didnt give two shits about what Helen thought of her. The neckline of Crystals white cotton nightgown revealed her shoulders and corbone. This exposure made Nathan want to sweep all of the food from the table to the floor and fuck her right there, in front of Hellen, her nanny, and anyone else who cared to watch. Crystal saw the look in his eyes, and she gave him a dirty look. Then she took out her phone, typed a few words on the screen, and pressed send. Nathans phone chimed, and he read the message she had sent him. It said: Do you enjoy this peaceful coexistence between your ex and wife? Nathan: You still have the strength to joke, darling. That is good. Once we are done eating, we can go upstairs for Round Two! After he sent the message, he began to tap his long fingers on the table as he waited impatiently for her reply. Crystal: Nathan, Elma didnt know the rules. If she had, she wouldnt have interrupted us. I have since exined the rules to her and Helen. It is only their first day here. Understandably, they dont know a lot about your rules. Dont take it to heart. If theres anything wrong, just say so. Okay? Nathan leaned over, fixed Crystals cor, and said, You take care of the tire, and dont think about anything else.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. When Helen heard that, the spoon in her hand loosened, her soup bowl tipped, and its contents spilled all over the table and all over her clothes. Elma hurriedly went to help Helen clean up, but she held her hand up and said, Its alright. I was careless. Of course, Nanny Elma knew that what Mr. Davis had said had broken Helens heart. The meaning of what he had said was not immediately apparent. But, after some thought, eventually, everyone at the table came to understand what he had meant. Nathan wanted Helen to focus on the baby and not think about anything else C and byparing the fetus to a tire, it showed how little he actually cared about it. Helen always went out of her way to tolerate everything, and Nanny Elma pitied her. She worried that once the baby was born, Crystal and Nathan would im it as their own. If that happened, Crystal would be the childs mother. And where would that leave Helen? C wondered Elma. She noticed the marks on Crystals neck, suddenly, and she wordlessly cursed. This girl is such a slut! C thought Elma. Look how clumsy I am, Helen muttered as she cleaned up her mess. I am so sorry. If my vision were better, this never would have happened The light in Helens eyes dimmed a little. Because her poor vision resulted from her attempted suicide, she med herself for her ailment, and she felt guilty whenever it put anyone out. Crystals phone buzzed. While her attention had been on Helen, Nathan had sent her another text message. This one said: We should have our own baby. Crystal hadnt ever thought about being a Mother, but something stirred inside her when she read those words. Suddenly, she found herself yearning for a child of her own C a child born of love C to watch grow and then grow old. So, this is what Baby Fever feels like C she thought. She smiled as her fingers lingered on the keypad. She didnt know how to reply, so she wrote Eat instead. Helen seemed to be thinking something simr. She looked at Crystal and said, You should eat more, Miss Smith. After all, you have to take care of Nathan. He doesnt need to be looked after. Hes supposed to look after us, right? Crystal looked defiantly at Nathan. Nathan snorted, picked up his phone, and texted Crystal again. He wrote: If you dont feel like Ive already taken good care of you, then I will make it up to you tonight. Crystal sighed when she read that. This man has a one-track mind C she thought, and he is utterly insatiable. Nanny Elma looked at Nathan, frowned, and said, Im worried that Helen wont sleep well here. She wakes up at the slightest noise. She was implying that Nathan and Crystal would be rude to make a lot of noise at night while having sex while everyone else was trying to sleep. Nathan smirked and summoned Vic. Then, when the bodyguard came to the table, he said, Id like you to move Helens room as far away from my own as possible. I would hate to keep her up at night. Helens face turned white. She hastily said, Theres no need. Nanny Elma is always exaggerating! and then she shot her nanny a nasty look. Nanny Elma was angry and distressed. She knew that Helen wanted to sleep close to Mr. Davis, but she also knew that this wasnt a healthy arrangement- and she knew that the additional stress would not be good for the baby. She looked at her charge and said, You had better be careful, miss. You are still in your first trimester, so you need to be careful. I know, said Helen. Then she smiled and stroked her stomach. I will protect my baby. Chapter 168: How Did I Become The Bad Girl? After dinner, Nathan went upstairs to take a shower, and while he was detained, a car pulled up in the driveway. Helens family doctor had arrived, and he had several of his assistants with him. When Nanny Elma saw the car, she called Helen into the living room and said, Helen, your family doctor is here. Mrs. Bush has ordered regr, daily examinations for you, along with some regr tests like taking your temperature and blood pressure. Okay. Helen sat down on the couch and said, Let him in. **** The doctors manner was cautious, and as he held a stethoscope to Helens chest, he asked her if anything was bothering her. Mrs. Davis, he said. I am your doctor, so you can tell me anything. Crystal was in the kitchen, and she was startled to hear Helen being referred to as Mrs. Davis. Helen was equally surprised. She shook her head in sheepish denial, but before she could correct the man, Elma blurted out, Mrs. Davis has not been sleeping well recently. Lethargy is amon symptom during the first trimester, the doctor said. In your case, I think you might be too nervous. It would help if you took the pressure off. Listening to music and eating good food can distract you from anything that might be causing you anxiety. Crystal had just entered the room with a vase of flowers, and he frowned. By the way, he continued. You have to pay attention to some of the flowers in the room because they can make you sick. For example, the perfumed lilies in this youngdys hand seem mild and harmless, but they contain stimnts that can affect your nerves at this time and lead to fetal instability. Nanny Elma was startled. She hurriedly gave one of the servants a stern look, and the servant attempted to snatch the flowers from Crystals hands. Crystal retracted her hands, though, and the servant said, Miss Smith, please let me handle the flowers. You know Mrs. Davis is pregnant. Did you put the lilies in the room on purpose, knowing that they could harm the baby? Mr. Davis sent the flowers, Crystal replied. Do you think that Mr. Davis sent them to cause Helen to miscarry purposely?This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. I doubt that was his intention, Elma scoffed. It seems to me that he gave them to you so that you could put them in your room, but you intentionally brought them into the living room to cause Helen harm. Isnt that the way of things? Crystal wanted tough, but she kept herposure. Did I invite you into my house? she asked. Anyway, Helen has been here all day. There are flowers everywhere, and she is fine! Helen reached for Elmas hand and said, Miss Smith did not do it on purpose. She probably didnt know that lilies can cause miscarriages. Elma: There are bound to be conflicts while we are living here. Although this is Miss Smiths house, and we are only staying here for some time, as her guests, it would be best if we made a few things clear from the get-go. Helen shook her head and said, I moved in to make sure that the baby is born. Nathan and Miss Smith are Elma knew what Helen was going to say, so before she could finish, she quickly cut in. Mr. Davis will fall in love with you one day, she said. You are pretty, polite, and well-bred. Whoever sees you will like you. Suddenly, the servant snatched the flowers out of Crystals hands, threw them on the ground, and crushed them with the heel of her shoe. Crystal reached out and pped the servant across the face. Who do you think you are? she roared. How dare you disrespect me in my own house? She lifted her hand to hit her again, but Elma yelled at her to stop. Elma: Miss Smith, that was rude!!! The servant bowed her head to Elma and stepped back sheepishly. Crystal: Is it not rude to trample on another persons things? Elma: The servant was looking after Mrs. Davis. It was understandable. If you liked the lilies, Helen interrupted, Ill ask the servant to buy you some more. Just, please stop fighting The Doctor red at Crystal and said, Can we put this behind us, please. The stress isnt good for the baby. Crystal sneered angrily. How did I be the bad girl?- she wondered C And why do they keep calling Helen Mrs. Davis? Unexpectedly, Nathan emerged from the dining room. Whats going on here? he asked. He had heard everything. Mr. Davis, said the Doctor. It is good to see you. It is good to be seen, Nathan replied. Elma and the servants bowed their heads and greeted him with respect, but he didnt even look at them. He nced coldly at the lilies on the floor. Tonelessly, he asked the room, What happened? Elma looked up and said, The doctor said that the lilies could cause a miscarriage. The maid tried to throw them out, but Miss Smith wouldnt let. Nathan half listened as he walked up to Crystal, picked her up, and set her on the shoe cab situated against the wall. Crystal was wearing a knee-length nightdress with white cotton bubble sleeves. She pulled down on the hem of her skirt, which showed her white, smooth thighs, while her calves dangled in the air. Dont move, or youll fall, Nathan told her. He had his hands around her waist, and he was holding her in ce. Now tell me the truth; do you like lilies? Not at all! Crystal replied angrily. Nathan fiddled with Crystals frail hand for a second, and then he brought it to his mouth and bit one of her fingers, which caused her to tremble. There was a look of satisfaction in Nathans eyes, and he smiled as he summoned Vic. Then, when his bodyguard arrived, he said, Vic, ask the doctor which flowers are harmless to pregnant women, choose some expensive ones, and send them to Miss Smith and me every day. Vic nodded, and then he quickly left. Elma looked up. She had a frown on her face, and when Nathan saw it, he was displeased. What now? he growled. Are you not satisfied? Of course, I am, Elma quickly replied. Why wouldnt I be? Alright then! Nathan snapped. I want you to remember that the next time you address Crystal. Do not forget that I could make your stay here very unpleasant. Elmas face turned white. She nodded slightly but said nothing. For a moment, the doctor was embarrassed. He had thought that Helen was Nathans wife, but from the way that Mr. Davis treated Crystal, he knew that she was his sweetheart. Chapter 169: Never Mind, Helen Once the business with the doctor was over, Nathan picked Crystal up and carried her to their bedroom. Once there, he swept the skincare products from the makeup table to the floor, and then he put her on it. Are you satisfied now? he asked as he spread her legs and pressed his manh**d against her pubic mound. Crystal curled her lips and said, No, Im not satisfied. Her cor was made from stic, and Nathan tugged it down, over her shoulders, past her taut breasts, and let it rest below her abdomen. Then he leaned over and took her nipple into his mouth. After suckling for a couple of minutes, Nathan straightened up and smiled impishly. How about now? he asked. Crystal growled and called him a rascal as he gently pinched her chin so that he could kiss her lips. Crystal was shocked as an electric current raced up her back. It ran from the crack of her ass to the top of her head. Then, boom! Nathan triumphantly slipped his tongue into her mouth. Finally, after they had been French kissing for a few minutes, he pulled away andughed. I am a rascal, he said. So what? Crystal tried to push him away, but it was pointless to try. He was too strong. Stop it, she cried. I want to take a bath. Cant you just make yourself at home? Nathan ignored her pleas as he grabbed her skirt and ripped it in half. Then, as it fell to the ground, she evaded his next grab, ran into the bathroom, and locked the door behind her. Fortunately, Nathan didnt try to break down the door. Crystal didnt think she had it in her to go another round with him. His desire was terrible, and she guessed that if she could not get him to give her a break, she wouldnt be able to get out of bed at night. So, she had her bath, and when she came out, she was surprised that he wasnt waiting for her in the room. She smiled as she locked the bedroom door. Then she climbed into bed and fell into a restful sleep. In the middle of the night, though, she awoke to a hand under her shirt. It was cupping her right breast, and two fingers were ying with her nipple. Fucking Hell! -thought Crystal. How did you get in here? Instead of answering the question, Nathan pressed his body against hers and began to nibble at her earlobes. Crystal: Answer my question! How did you get in here? I wanted toe in, Nathan whispered. Did you think you could stop me by locking the door? Silly girl. This is my house. I have a key to all of the rooms!Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Crystal was speechless, and as he pressed himself against her, she decided not to fight him. Nathan: Do you like that? Crystal sighed and said, Helen is next door. She does not sleep well. Arent you afraid that something will go wrong? Nathan: Never mind, Helen. Dont you think we hit it off perfectly? You give me so much pleasure. I have never felt this satisfied before, and no matter how many times I take you, it doesnt seem like its enough! Before Crystal could reply, Nathan had her pants and panties around her ankles. Then he rolled her onto her stomach and pulled her up onto all fours. He elevated her arse, licked her back, and began to screw her from behind. Crystal and Nathan did it many times that night and in multiple positions, and at first, she was in a lot of pain, but as he finally brought her to orgasm, she began to get into it too. She bit her lip in an attempt to stay quiet, and except for the asional moan, she was sessful. **** The next morning, Crystal was a wreck, and she had to hold the railing as she went down the stairs. Nathan had already left for work, and Helen was finishing her breakfast in the dining room. When she saw Crystal, she smiled and said, Good morning, Miss Smith. Good morning, Crystal replied. Nanny Elma had prepared way more food than Helen could eat, and she offered Crystal a te. Crystal thanked her, and then she sat across from her. Then she added some items to her te, poured herself a ss of milk, and after drinking it, she said, Miss Bush, isnt it wonderful being pregnant? Helen: I dont feel anything yet, but the thought of a little being in my belly strikes me as wonderful. I think this is a feeling that you have to experience because I dont think that I have the vocabry to express how I feel. Crystal chuckled and said, The way Mr. Davis and I are going at it, Im going to be feeling that feeling pretty soon. An imminent pregnancy seemed inevitable to her because they werent using any form of protection. Elma red at Crystal. Because Crystal talked openly about her sexual history without shame, Elma thought that she was vulgar. Do you think it will be that easy? she asked. Elma didnt want Crystal to get pregnant. Once Crystal was pregnant, she knew that Helens chances of winning Nathans heart would be drastically reduced. Crystal: I heard that the sess rate of artificial insemination is shallow, but some women still get pregnant. So why wouldnt I get pregnant the normal way? Elma was so angry that she tugged at the white apron that she had hung around her neck, and she hissed at Crystal. Helen touched Elmas arm and said, Please, Nanny, calm down. This could be a good thing. If Crystal gets pregnant, our children could be ymates Just then, several of Nathans bodyguards walked in. They had bundles of flowers in their hands, and each one was more beautiful and exotic than the previous one. Some of them, Crystal recognized, but others were utterly foreign to her. In truth, she was not really interested in flowers, but she wanted to see how Elma would react. Vic came inst, and he said, Miss Smith, Mr. Davis told me to put the flowers in the room. Okay, Crystal said. Thank you. You can put them anywhere youd like. I love the flowers, and theyre sure to brighten this ce up! From the corner of her eye, she watched as Elmas face turned red from rage. What a bad girl, Elma muttered. We will wait and see. Chapter 170: Plan Buying A Morning After Pill Once the bodyguards were gone, Crystal changed her clothes, and then she was ready to go out and buy some emergency birth control. When Nathan initially mentioned having a baby, shed gotten a bad case of baby fever, but it hadntsted long. She wasnt ready to get pregnant and have a baby, and she knew it. And everything she had said to Helen and her nanny had been nothing but a ruse to get Elma riled up. As Crystal left the house, Vic followed her. She frowned as she turned to face him. I think you are tailing the wrong person, she said. Vic: Nope. Mr. Davis asked me to follow you for a while. Crystal: You dont have to follow me. I will give you the day off today. Why not? It is such a nice day. You should be out enjoying it! The sun was bright and hot, and Crystal put on her sunsses, not just to protect her eyes but also to make her a little less identifiable when she bought the Morning After Pill. Vic: Thank you. You are too kind, and I wish I could ept your generous offer, but I must follow Mr. Daviss orders. You know how he is about things like that, so I am sure that you understand. Crystal didnt know whether tough or cry. Somehow, Nathan had guessed her intentions and sent Vic to make sure that she could not terminate her pregnancy C If, in fact, she was pregnant. Crystal nodded helplessly and followed Vic to the car. She did understand why Vic couldnt ept her offer, but that knowledge did not make her situation any morefortable. Once they were both inside the car, Vic asked her where she wanted to go, and she said, Take me to the hospital. Vic: Mr. Davis said that you could not go to the hospital. Crystal: So I cant visit my father? Vic: If you want to see your father, you may FaceTime with him. Crystal: Take me to the drugstore. Im going to buy a box of painkillers. Vic: Are you going to buy medicine for Mr. Davis? Everything you need, you already have! Crystal: Why would Mr. Davis need medicine? Whats the matter with him? Vic: He had a headache this morning, but hes all right now. Mr. Davis is not happy, though, so I hope you will do as youre told. Fine, then, Crystal said. We dont have to go to the hospital or the drugstore. On the outside, she looked calm and collected, but she was breaking down on the inside. She was desperate to get her hands on the Morning After Pill. Not knowing what else to do, she pulled out her phone and texted Leslie. A few minutes passed, and then, finally, her friends reply appeared. It said, Wait for me at the cafe next to the vi in the military region. **** Leslie had short hair, and she was dressed like a punk. She was wearing Doc Martin boots, ripped blue jeans, and a Nirvana tank top. She was sitting on the sofa, surrounded by little girls. Each of these lesbians wanted a piece of her, and if all they could get were a selfie with her, they would happily take whatever they could get. Leslie took out a cigarette, took a puff, and blew a ring of smoke into one of the girls faces. Sheughed and said, I am not avable today. Get out of here. The girls reluctantly left, and they crossed paths with Crystal as she came into the caf- and when they saw Leslie call her over to her table, their faces turned red from bitter anger. Leslie took a look at Vic, who had walked in behind Crystal, and swallowed the words she had wanted to say. Now she knew why Crystal had asked her to buy the medicine for her. It must be hard to get anything done with the Gestapo on your back 24/7 C thought Leslie. Will you buy me a cup of coffee? Crystal asked as she sat down and took off her sunsses. Have mine, Leslie said as she pushed her cup across the table. Ive only taken a sip. Crystal drank the coffee, chatted for a while with Leslie, and then she left. **** Once Crystal was gone, Leslie went outside to talk to Hugo, who had been waiting for her. Hugo saw Leslie and whistled. Did you finally get a hold of Arnold? he asked. Leslie sighed and said, The medicine isnt for me. Its for Crystal. Hugo frowned. Are you talking about Crystal? he asked. The girl with Nathan? The Bush girls rival? Leslie: I didnt expect you to know about that. Hugo noticed that Leslie still had the medicine in her hand, and he asked why Crystal hadnt taken it with her. Leslie shrugged and said, You seem so in charge, dude. Do you think Nathan would shoot me if I gave it to her? After all, since there is already one pregnancy, it wouldnt hurt to have one more. Moreover, Nathan wants to have a baby Hugo shook his head and stretched out his hand to twist her earlobe. Then he said, Youve always loved stirring up trouble. Leslie: Come on. I am helping her. Having a baby would be an extra bargaining chip for her. Anyway In the end, it is God who decides who gets pregnant and who does not. Hugo: You drive me crazy! I can never win an argument with you. Whatever, dude, said Leslie as she climbed into Hugos car. Hugo: Hey, dont make a mess in my car, okay. I want you to wash it if it gets dirty.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Shall I wash you, too? Leslie flirted with him. Hugo sighed and said, Lets just get you to school, okay. **** As Serenity got out of the car, she pretended to be surprised when she saw Crystal. I wasnt expecting to see you here, she said. Crystal greeted her on the steps, and then she nced behind her to where Vic was standing. I am so embarrassed to have him following me around, she whispered. It is ridiculous. He is enjoying the wonderful life of a man with two wives, even though he has a child. Serenity looked at Crystals belly and said, No way! Why didnt you tell me the good news sooner? Crystal lightly punched her friend on the shoulder and said, Not me, silly! Im not pregnant. Erics sister is, though. She used artificial insemination, and she has Professor Daviss child! Serenity: Damn it! Really? Sounds like #FakeNews to me. Crystal: Believe it or not, it is the absolute truth. Anyway, I am moving to the manor this summer, so try not to miss me too much. Chapter 171: You鈥檙e Afraid I鈥檒l Catch Fire? Serenity was so surprised by Crystals news that she didnt know what to say. It all sounded very traumatic, and she doubted that anyone else could have handled it as well as Crystal had. She thought If another girl had been faced with such obstacles, she might have had to hide in some corner. Serenity was worried about Crystal, but she didnt want to stress her friend out any more than she probably already was, so she decided to change the subject. By the way, she said. How are your preparations for the written exam going? Crystal frowned and groaned slightly. I forgot about it, she admitted. There has just been so much going ontely Serenity: Dont worry. There is still some time to go before the exam, and we can work together. Crystal nodded and thanked her friend. Then, as they walked towards their ss, they gossiped about some of their ssmates, and they giggled when they entered the room. Meanwhile, in the back of her mind, Serenity couldnt stop worrying about Crystals rtionship. Now that there was another woman, and she was pregnant with his child, she doubted that Nathan would stay with Crystal. **** The ss had been in session for just over thirty minutes when Vic barged into the room. He stormed down the aisle to the back of the ss, grabbed Crystal by the arm, and dragged her out of the room. Crystal cried out, Hey! Whats going on? Where are we going? She was mortified. Something has happened, Vic replied. Thats all that you need to know right now. And once he had her back in the car, he sped off in the direction of the military vi. Crystal suspected that Leslie had gotten into trouble again and that it had something to do with her. So, when she was shoved into the vi, she wasnt surprised to see her friend there, along with Nathan and Arnold. Nathan had an angry expression on his dark face, and the simrity between how he looked and the way she imagined the devil looking was unnerving. Crystal did not know what was going on, but it didnt take long for her to figure it out. Leslie gave her a sheepish look, and then she looked at the coffee table to the box of Morning After Pills. I guess it is time to face the music C thought Crystal absently. Arnold looked at Crystal and said, Miss Smith, I found this in Leslies bag, Leslie said it was for you. Is that true? Crystals heart is sand. More than anything, she was sad that her trusted friend had sold her out. I did ask Leslie to buy that for me, she admitted. I told you, Leslie cried. I told you it was for Crystal Arnold pped her across the face and said, Did I tell you that you could speak? Leslies eyes went wide, and her hand went to the ce where Arnold had hit her. She opened her mouth to defend herself, but he stopped her words with a look. Then he turned his attention back to Crystal. Let me give you some advice, he said. Dont take this medicine. It is bad for your health. Leslie knew better than to interrupt Arnold, but she couldnt help herself. But she didnt take it! she argued. Why are you making such a fuss over it?!?! Is that true? asked Nathan. Yes! Leslie eximed. There is no need to get mad. I didnt let her take it yet, and now Crystal knows not to do this ever again, so there is no need to ever talk about it again! Nathan thought long and hard about what Leslie had said, and then he smiled. He had a lighter in his hand that hed been ying with, and he tossed it to her. I know youve been thinking about this lighter for a long time, he said. Now it belongs to you. Leslie grinned as she ran her fingers over the image on the side of the lighter. A Prime Minister had used the antique, and it was priceless. There were tears in her eyes as she smiled and said, Thank you, Nathan. Leslie was so enamored by the lighter that she didnt see the warning look in Crystals eyes. Nathan stood up and said, Youre wee, and thank you C both of you C for being so forting about this. Crystal and I will go now, and we wont bother you anymore. Nathan left first, and Crystal followed him out the door. Then, once they were alone, he turned around abruptly.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Crystals mind began to race. Instead of confronting her, though, as she had thought he would, Nathan summoned Vic. Within seconds, the bodyguard appeared. How can I be of service? he asked. Crystal was shocked when Nathan pulled the box of Morning After Pills from his pocket. When did he take those? C she wondered. As far as shed known, they were still on the coffee table inside the vi. Eat these, Nathan replied. All of them. Crystal gave Nathan a dirty look and said, Leave him out of this. He had nothing to do with what I did. Nathan: If he had been paying better attention to you, this wouldnt have happened. These pills will teach him a lesson! Vic knew that he had no choice but to do as he had been told, so he began to dry swallow the pills. Nathan: When I catch you taking medicine, I wont punish you, but I will punish anyone who helps you. One of the reasons I keep you around is so that you can be a baby making machine for me, and now that youre mine, you cant go around doing as you please. Crystals eyes welled up with tears. She felt like she was on the brink of losing her mind, and she didnt know what to do. Would you punish someone for feeding me? she asked. Nathan: You little goblin! Havent I made myself clear? Whoever gives you medicine wille to a bad end. What if it was Helen? Crystal asked. She put her arm around his neck, leaned her head on his shoulder, and smelled his hair. Nathan didnt reply, so she cautiously continued: What if, instead of the Morning After Pill, I bought condoms or went on The Birth Control Pill? Would that be alright? It would not be alright, Nathan replied. He hugged her hard and said, Im worried about you. I dont know where all this nonsense ising from Crystal gave Nathan a crooked smile and said, Im only looking out for your best interests. After all, you will have a Harem Fire if you focus all of your attention on me. Nathan pinched Crystals waist. So he said. Youre afraid Ill catch fire? Crystals eyes narrowed, and she tried to speak, but Nathan touched her lips with his index finger and shushed her. It doesnt matter, he replied. If you need to, you can put out my fire with your water. Then he touched the fabric that covered her pubic mound, pressed down hard, and added: In case there is any misunderstanding Im talking about the water down here. Crystal couldnt help but twitch when his hand moved up, then down, and back up again. It felt nice, but she knew better than to let him get away with what hed said. So, she scolded him. Professor Davis! she growled. Watch your tongue. Chapter 172: Buy Them For Me Every time Nathan made a dirty joke, Crystal was rendered speechless. When he said such ambiguous, lustful words, though they did not bother her because of his noble temperament, instead, they made her weak in the knees, and she thought C This man is like the proverbial wolf in sheeps clothing.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. **** Back at the Beverly vi- As soon as Nanny Elma heard the sound of Nathans car in the driveway, she ran out to greet him, without even taking the time to wash her hands. She hoped that her pious loyalty would win her the Best Employee Award. Nathan barely noticed her, though. He kicked off his shoes, threw his coat on the couch, and walked into his study without a word. When Crystal heard hime in, she went to look for the medicine box. She had heard from Vic that Nathan had a headache, so she wanted to find painkillers for him. The medicine box was stuffed with all kinds of medicine. Crystal looked over the instructions and read each bottlesbel. At this time, Elma was preparing a ss of milk for Helen, and when she passed the hallway, she happened to see Crystal. Her brow furrowed, and she wondered C What is that girl up to now? When Crystal saw Elma, she hurriedly shoved the medicine bottles back into the box. Then she smiled and said, Elma, do you have any painkillers? Elma raised her head arrogantly and continued on her way without saying a single word to Crystal. She gave Helen the milk, and when she returned, she was surprised to find Crystal waiting for her. Crystal: Your young master has a headache. If we dont have painkillers, you will have to go out and buy them. If you do not, and he gets angry, who do you think he will me? Me or you? Of course, he will me you! Elma stared at Crystal fiercely. Come with me, she said. She and Helen hadnt lived in the vi for very long, so their luggage wasnt unpacked yet, but she knew where she kept her painkillers, and she quickly found them. Crystal was leaning on the door. After taking the painkillers, she casually asked if Elma had any Morning After Pills. The Nanny looked at her suspiciously and said, No. Crystal: Buy them for me. Elma: Why should I listen to you? Crystal: Because we havemon goals. You dont want me to have a baby, and neither do l. Of course, you do not have to cooperate with me, but if I really am pregnant, I will have no choice but to give birth to the child. Then, after its birth, Nathan will favor my child over Helens. Is that what you want? Elma: Why dont you buy it yourself? Crystal: If I could, I would. Do you think I enjoy wasting my time talking bullshit with you? Elma took another look at Crystal, clenched her teeth, and finally agreed. Ill buy them for you, she said. Crystal: Lets keep this between you and me. Elma sighed and said, Fine. But you have to take medicine in front of me. Crystal nodded but said nothing. Elma took off her apron, changed her clothes, and went out of the door. Meanwhile, Crystal took the painkillers into the study, knocked on the door, and pushed it open. Nathan looked away from theputer screen on his desk and met Crystals eyes. He was massaging his temples, and Crystal could tell that he was in pain. I heard Vic say you have a headache, she said. She sniffed the room and smiled. Is aromatherapy helping? she wondered. Nathan: Hmm. Come here. Crystal walked over, and as soon as she was within arms length, he grabbed her, pulled her to him, and cuddled her. A minute passed, and then he sat her on his knee. Finally, he brought up an image on theputer and said, Look here. What is this? Crystal asked. She was dazzled by what she saw. Nathan: These are the people who own the same cufflink as the one you received from your Mother. While Nathan was talking, Crystal took the opportunity to stuff a painkiller into his mouth. He frowned and refused to swallow. What are you trying to feed me? he growled. Rx, she said. It is for your headache. She picked up the bottle of water that was sitting on the desk and passed it to him. Nathan smiled as he lifted her chin. Then he fed her a mouthful of water, and before Crystal could swallow, he pressed his lips to hers and plundered the water from her mouth. As the water passed between them, some of it dribbled down their chins in a way that was erotic and enticing. Before long, Crystals shirt was soaked, and the material became translucent, giving Nathan a clear view of her cleavage and the outline on her nipples. Hmm he said. He cupped her left breast in his right hand and gave it a yful squeeze. Crystal couldnt help but clench her fists. She gently beat her fists against his chest in silent protest, but Nathan didnt let her go until their lips were numb. Crystal: So, have you found out who my biological father is? Nathan: All of the people in the photo have been investigated, including the fencing master, Warren Kim. Thats normal, though. There are very few people who own that cufflink, but it may still be hard to figure out your Fathers identity. Crystal: Hmm. That makes sense. After all, he is a rapist. Nathan propped his chin against her head, Maybe he didnt mean to be a rapist Before Crystal could reply, there was a knock at the door. Then, without waiting for a word of wee, Elma came in. She had a dessert dish in her hands, and when Nathan wasnt looking, she winked at Crystal. Then she ced the tray on the desk and silently slipped back into the hall. Crystal, of course, knew what Elma had meant by the wink. So, once the nanny was gone, she sighed and said, I need to go to the restroom. After saying this, she jumped out of his arms. Nathan watched her go, and before she made it to the door, he said, I wanted you to say that you will have my baby! Crystal paused, half-turned, smiled, and said, Of course. And she would, too, but not now. It wasnt because she didnt love him, either. She just didnt want things to be moreplicated than they already were. For the moment, what she wanted was very simple: One home and one person to love and be loved by. Ill be right back, she said, and she hurried out of the bedroom. Then she closed the door behind her, and instead of going to the bathroom, she went down the stairs. Elma was waiting for her in the kitchen with the medicine. You had better not change your mind! she hissed. Chapter 173: It Was My Mistakes Crystalughed as she scooped the bottle of Morning After Pills out of Elmas hand. She snorted and said, Obviously, Im not going to change my mind! Then she grabbed the bottle, took out a pill, and dry swallowed it. Once the dr*g was down her throat, she tried to slip the bottle into her pocket, but Elma stopped her by snatching it out of her hands. Ill keep the remaining pills! Elma hissed. Who knows what kind of trouble you might get up to with them. Crystal sighed and said, If I really wanted to y tricks, do you think I would need these pills? Elma frowned and said, Fine. I dont take these anymore, anyway. They are not good for my body. She chuckled. After the babyes, I am looking forward to seeing who your young master will choose to be with. You are a real bitch! Crystal growled. Her finger longed to p the nanny. Elma: Whatever, slut! Crystal clenched and unclenched her fists at her side, and she was about to say something nasty, but then she realized that Nathan was watching them. Her face went white, and she wondered C How long has he been there? He was standing on the stairs with one hand on the wooden handrails. Vic! he shouted. Bring the pills to me. Vic had been in the living room, and he grabbed the pill bottle out of Elmas hand and tossed it to Nathan. What are you going to do? Crystal asked. Nathan red at Crystal but said nothing. Instead, he emptied the bottle into his left hand. Then he crushed them in his fingers one by one and dumped the debris on the ground. He could not believe that his love had gone behind his back in the hopes of murdering their potential child. Had Elmas furtive behavior not been seen by Vic, and had Vic not followed her to the drugstore, Nathan would have probably never known how much Crystal did not want to have his baby. He looked at Crystal and said, Ive told you what the punishment would be for anyone who gave you pills, didnt l? At that moment, Nathan looked like a devil, and Crystal had a hard time believing that he was the same person she lived with and made love to. Its just a pill C she thought desperately C And I only took it because Im not ready to have a baby yet. Elma was so frightened by Nathans hostility and wrath that she was trembling with fear, and she hurriedly knelt and began to beg him for mercy. Young Master, she cried. This is none of my business. Miss Smith ordered me to buy them. She said that she didnt want to have a baby Nathan: She ordered you to buy them! So what? Would you follow any order she gave you? If she ordered you to kill a person, would you do as you were told? It was wrong of me, Elma wailed. Young master, please give me another chance Helen had been sleeping while this had been going on, but the noise Elma was making finally roused her. She got up quickly and rushed out to see what was going on. Then, when she saw Elma on the floor, wailing, her heart nearly broke. She staggered over to Elma, and when she saw the bottle of Birth Control Pills, she understood everything. She looked up to Nathan and said, Tribute! Nathans eyebrows were raised. What are you talking about? he asked. Its from Hunger Games, Helen exined. It means that I will take her ce. Whatever punishment you had intended for her will be mine. Elma held Helen and said, Miss, dont. You are pregnant. I did the deed. I should bear the punishment. Nathan turned to Elma and said, Fine. So be it. Go, kneel at the door, and stay there until this time tomorrow. I think that will teach you a lesson youll remember. Helen: No, Nathan. Elma has bad knees. Kneeling for so long will kill her I beg you, please, please spare her Nathan shrugged and said, No way! Then he turned to Crystal. Youre next. How do you think I should punish you?This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Crystal could not help but tremble with fear. She knew that she had crossed a line with him and that he was really angry with her. She shook her head and seized her hemline. Its me that asked her to buy the pills for me she said. Nathan: Youve never taken what I said to heart, have you? No matter who buys the pills for you, even if that person is me, they will have to be punished. Crystal closed her eyes and said, I see. Nathan was so furious that he felt like his head was going to explode. He rubbed his temples with his fingers and looked straight at Crystal. Go, he whispered. To our bedroom. Climb into bed and wait for me. You should know what to do once you get there. Crystal frowned. She was seldom obedient, but she did not dare to disobey him or provoke him at this time. If she did, she knew that it could only make things worse than they already were. Crystal bowed her head, and as she went up the stairs, she wasnt surprised that Nathan was following her. Once they were in the room, he pressed her up against the wall with one hand and gripped her wet core with the other. Crystal squealed, and Nathan grinned. The Morning After Pill works for 24 hours, he said. So, you dont need to worry about getting pregnant. Im sure that will make you happy! And now, we can do this all night! Again! Why are you doing this? Crystal wailed. I dont know, Nathan growled. Why are you such a liar? One minute you told me that you wanted to have my baby, and the next, youre trying to kill it! He pped her face and asked her if it hurt. I didnt mean it, Crystal cried. It was a mistake! Almost every murderer says that he didnt kill people on purpose once theyve been caught. Thats pretty convenient, dont you think? Nathan pinched her chin and said, I hate cheaters the most. You know that! When did I ever cheat on you? asked Crystal. Are you asking me that because you are afraid? When Nathan heard her question, his face turned white. Chapter 174: Severe Punishment Nathan released his hold on Crystals wet core and took a half-step away from her. She was right. He was afraid C afraid that when Helens baby came, external forces would push him and Crystal apart. Crystal blinked in surprise and said, I like your strong, powerful side. Nathan grinned, and then he thrust his hips towards her. Is it this strong, powerful side that youre talking about? he asked yfully. Crystal sighed and said, Lets be serious for a minute, okay. You dont need to be afraid, and its not that I dont want to have your baby; its just that I dont want to have a baby now. I dont want to make our rtionship too confusing. And Im still very young! You have no right to an opinion of your own, Nathan argued. You are my wife, and you are of breeding age, so I dont even know why were having this conversation Crystal shook her head in dismay. She hadnt expected him to say that, and now she felt betrayed. Does Elma really need to kneel all day and night? she asked, letting the previous topic go. Nathan: Did it look like I was joking? I want to intercede on her behalf, Crystal said. Nathan: In what way? Let me see what I can do. Crystal quickly undid his belt and the buckle of his jeans. Then she slid her hand beneath his underwear and brought his General to attention. I can be awfully convincing, she purred. Nathan gasped and threw her onto the bed. **** Downstairs, Elma knelt in front of the house, near the door. The sun that shone through the window was so hot that she was beginning to feel nauseous, and sweat dripped from her forehead. Helen stood nearby, and she felt terrible about what her nanny was going through. Helen had told Elma to refuse the punishment, but her nanny had refused. I cant get fired, shed said. If I do, then who will look out for you?!?! Helen knew she was right, so shed decided to sit with her. Elma was not happy about this arrangement, though. Miss, she said. Get in the house. Youre pregnant. You cant stay outside for such a long time, especially not in the sun. For the sake of the baby, I beg you. Please get inside Elma did her best to convince Helen, but she didnt listen. Helen: I wont leave you here. I know what to do, though. I will call Grandpa. Hell save you. No! Elma cried. If the young master knows that you called the old Davis to tattle on him or Crystal, he will me you for any of the consequences! Men hate snitches, rats, and moles. Dont you know that? Her anxiety went through the roof when Helen heard that, and her eyes welled up with tears.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Elma: Miss, Im fine. Youd better go into the house please for the sake of the baby. Helen opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, she began to feel dizzy, and she fainted. Several servants rushed outside. They quickly carried her into the house, and then they called the doctor. **** Nathan and Crystal froze when someone began knocking on the door. What is it? he roared. Helen fainted, one of the servants replied. The doctor is on his way, but youd bettere down quickly! Nathan groaned as he pulled his prick out of Crystals wet core. He rolled over, sat up, and grabbed a tube sock off the floor to clean himself off. Ill be right out, he called back after passing the sock to Crystal so that she could wipe between her legs. Crystal was furious. She thought C That girl, Helen, is such an attention wh*re! And she hated theck of respect she was getting from Nathan. By the time Nathan got downstairs, the doctor had arrived. Helen was conscious, but she was delirious. When the doctor saw Nathan, he stood up and said, Mr. Davis, I am sure that you are anxious to know how the patient is doing, and I am happy to tell you that she will be fine. She had a little too much sun. Thats all. Luckily, the fetus is well developed, and it was never in any real danger. When Nathan heard that, he red at Elma and said, You need to be taking better care of her! Does that mean that I dont have to kneel anymore? C Elma wondered. Assuming it did, she nearly wept tears of joy. The doctor prescribed some anti-miscarriage medicine for Helen. Then he told Elma to keep Helens mood stable and y music for the fetus. Lastly C at Vics request C he examined. Nathan, who had been suffering from headaches recently. They went into the study, and the doctor measured Nathans blood pressure. He found no abnormality, though, so he prescribed some painkillers and drew some blood. Then, as he packed up his bag, he smiled and said, Master Davis, you are under a great deal of pressure. You need to get more rest. Nathan rolled his eyes. The doctors diagnosis was routine, and Nathan didnt want to hear any more. Are we done yet? he asked. Before the doctor could answer, one of the servants ran into the office. She looked distraught, and Nathan could tell that something was wrong immediately. What is it? he asked. The old Mr. Davis is in the living room! the servant eximed. Are youing? Ill be right there, Nathan replied. The old Davis had situated himself in a ce of power between the two couches, and he was standing akimbo. Hed brought with him more than a dozen outstanding special forces. They were all carrying big guns, and they were invading the vi. The old Davis was wearing a in navy blue suit, and he had a leash in one hand. At the end of the leash, there was a wolfhound. Its tongue was hanging out, and it was drooling. The image of the two of them together was daunting. The old Davis handed the leash to a subordinate and ordered him to tie the beast up outside. Crystal was closest to him, and he could feel her curious eyes on him, but he was more concerned with Helens condition than he was with anything else. He gave Crystal a brief nce as if to let her know that she was worthless in his eyes, and then he approached the couch where Helen was resting. Chapter 175: Get Out Helens vision gradually came into focus, and she forced herself into a sitting position. It took her a second to realize who was standing in front of her. When she did, though, a grin broke out on her face. It was the old Mr. Davis. Grandpa, why are you here? she asked. The old Davis: I wont let you be bullied. Tell me what happened. Did Nathan bully you? Helen hurriedly shook his head and said, No. I was being careless. As usual. The old Davis eyebrows were slightly furrowed. He was old, but he was not a fool, and he certainly knew that Helen was not telling the truth. He pointed at Elma and said, I want you to tell me what happened! Elma froze for a second, and then she told him the whole thing. In anger, the old Davis waved his arm. Then, with a ng, the cup of coffee the servant had just made for him was swept to the ground. The coffee sshed all over the ce, and the cup was smashed to pieces. How dare he?!?! he roared. He got up and walked towards the study to look for Nathan. Helen called out to the old Davis: Grandpa, dont be angry. Nathan didnt mean it Then she turned to Elma and said, Nanny, go and stop Grandpa. Quick! Elma shook her head and refused. She didnt dare get between the old Davis and the focus of his anger. The old Davis got to the top of the stairs just as Nathan came out of his bedroom. The old man gave Nathan a dirty look and said, Well talk here. Then he went into the office, and Nathan followed after him.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . From the bedroom, Crystal could hear the old mansmand and the sound of the office door mming. The loud bang echoed through the vi, and then there was nothing but quiet for a long time. Eventually, Crystal could not stand the silence any longer, so sheid down and closed her eyes. Crystal was just about asleep when Vic barged in. She hugged her nket up over her cleavage. What do you want? she asked. Vic: Miss Smith, the old Mr. Davis asked to see you in the study. I have to get changed first, Crystal said. She was wearing a white bubble-sleeved nightgown, so she needed to get changed before meeting an elder. Vic said, Be quick, and then he disappeared back into the hallway. Once Crystal was dressed, she went to the study, knocked, and opened the door. Inside, she saw that the study was like a battlefield, and words could not express what she saw. There were broken antiques scattered everywhere, and Nathan was on the ground. He was holding his head, and he was bleeding. The blood was flowing down along his forehead. Strangely, though, he did not look embarrassed. Instead, he seemed surprisingly mysterious and beautiful, as if he was a charming bloodthirsty vampire- and he was looking at her in a way that suggested that he would protect her, no matter what. The old Mr. Davis red at Crystal and said, So, youre Crystal Smith? Crystal looked into his eyes without fear, smirked, and said, So, youre the old Mr. Davis. The old Davis was surprised. No one had ever dared to talk to him like this. How dare you? He roared. He turned to Nathan. Is this the woman you like? Shes ungracious! Shes a nobody! This rtionship between you is ridiculous! Crystal kept smiling. She was determined not to get angry or emotional, no matter what he said. Dont even think about letting this woman step into my house! the old Davis continued. Even if she has your baby, the vis gates will be barred to her! And her little bastard! Nathan didnt answer. Instead, he thrust his hands into his pockets and lookedzily at Crystal. He thought C This woman She isnt afraid of anyone. He admired her indifferent attitude. The old Davis: Why are you pestering Nathan? Crystal smirked and said, I pester him? Im sorry, but youre mistaken. On the contrary, he is the one that keeps haunting me. How dare you talk back to me? the old Davis roared. Crystal crossed her arms beneath her breasts defiantly but said nothing. Of course, her indifference only infuriated the old man further. Answer me! he roared. Then, when she still didnt respond, he turned to Nathan and said, Do you see? She has nothing to say for herself. That proves that she is only interested in you for your money! Nathans face turned red from anger, but before he could say anything, Crystal finally spoke up: Old Mr. Davis, would you mind if I asked you one question? Humph! The old Davis hummed with disdain. Crystal: Is it you who judged the marriage between Nathan and me invalid? The old Davis: Yes. When you got the marriage license, you were not of legal age. Thus, your marriage is invalid. Crystal: Well, then that means that I have nothing to gain from Nathan, right? The old Davis: Humph! Of course! And it had better stay that way! Crystal: Never mind that for now. It is inconsequential. You see, since I have nothing to gain from the Davis family, youve gone to all this trouble for nothing C and now that youve broken at least a hundred million dors worth of antiques in his study, how are you going to make amends? Nathan winked at Crystal. This was a trick that he had taught her, and he couldnt help but smile as she executed her part perfectly. She meant the world to him, and if he could not spend his life with her, he thought that the rest of his days would be gloomy and meaningless. When the old gates saw the look of smug satisfaction on Nathans face, he pointed at the door. You! he shouted. Get the fuck out of this office! Get out? Nathanughed and said, I wont. This is my house. If someone should get the fuck out of here, it should be you. Please, feel free to show yourself out. The old Davis flushed with anger. Then he pulled a gun from a hidden holster and pointed it at Crystals head. Chapter 176: How Could I Ever Leave You? Nathan eyed the old Davis carefully as he slowly stepped between him and Crystal. Then he touched the tip of the old mans pistol and said, If you want to shoot Crystal, youll have to shoot through me to get to her. The old Davis: You bastard. Anger burned in Nathans eyes as he red into the old mans eyes, and in a voice as cold as ice, he said, Theres something you need to understand about me: The more you want to destroy something that belongs to me, the more I want to protect it, and I would even risk my life to oppose you. Nathans statement shocked the old Davis. He was so angry that he threw the only thing he could throw: the beads on his wrist. The beads were extremely light, though, and Nathan hardly felt a thing. But when they hit the ground, he was suddenly reminded of the promise hed made at the birthday dinner. Hed said that if Helen gave birth to a child and the child was indeed his, he would marry her. His face turned white, and when he looked into the old mans eyes, he could tell that they were both thinking about the same thing. The old Davis gave Nathan a look of acknowledgment. Then he said, You are a man of honor. I am sure you will do the right thing when the timees. Then he left without saying another word. **** Once they were alone, Crystal let go a sigh of relief. Then she turned to Nathan and asked, Is that it?This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. What else do you want? Nathan asked. He is going bat shit crazy bananas because of you. Isnt that enough? I guess so, Crystal replied. Whatever I do Whatever I say It all makes him angry. So, why bother trying. Right? Before Nathan could reply, Vic appeared in the doorway. A shocked look appeared on his face when he saw the blood streaming down his masters face and all of the damage that the old Davis had caused, and he froze in ce. Nathan chuckled and said, Cat got your tongue, Vic? Out with it, man! Vic blinked twice, and then he said, Young Master, Im sorry, but Ive looked into what you asked me to, and I failed to find any clues as to the identity of the informer. Nathan stood up and rubbed his temples for a second. It was hard to think straight with his headache, and it had only gotten worse with the old Davis visit. The person that notified the old man is among us, he finally said. It is only a matter of rooting him or her out Vic stood still as he waited for Nathans order. Finally, Nathan straightened his back. He stood in akimbo and said, Vic, I want you to call a House Meeting immediately. Gather everyone into the living room. Vic hesitated for a moment. Should I include Miss Bush? he asked. I said everyone, Nathan snapped. What do you think? Vics face turned white, and he ran back into the hallway. The room seemed incredibly quiet after Vic was gone, and with all of the smashed antiques, the air had an oppressive quality to it that Crystal found unnerving. She knew how much Nathan loved these old artifacts, and it broke her heart to see them in pieces. The vases alone were worth hundreds of millions of dors, but it wasnt about the money, not entirely, at least. Instead, they were a link to the past, and now that the connection had been broken, it could never be repaired. When Nathan saw the tears welling up in her eyes, he lifted her chin so that he could look into her eyes. He could see the grief there, but it confused him. Why does she care so much about the antiques? C he wondered C And so little about my injuries? He did not understand that her grief over the antiques was an expression of her love for him. Nathan: You saw that, right? Crystal: Saw what? Nathan: The old Davis decisiveness and my persistence. I saw your wounds, Crystal replied. Then she forced him to sit down on the sofa. Is he really your Grandpa? He is ruthless. Nathan ignored her question. He held her hand and said, Promise me that no matter what kind of threat youre under, you wont give up on me! Crystal frowned and said, Youre really overbearing. You know that, right? You can do anything you want, and I am not even allowed to dump you? How is that fair? She said this in a joking way, but he could tell that she was at least partially serious. I wont give up on you either! Nathan eximed. I promise! Crystal: Be careful about what you say. No one knows what the future has in store. All you can do is live in the moment and enjoy the present. Nathan was very displeased with her casual attitude. Suddenly, he grabbed her wrists and held her in his arms. What can I do to get you to give yourself to me one hundred percent? he asked. Crystal: All you need to do is give yourself to me one hundred percent. Can you do that? I dont think so Not with Helen around! Nathan: I am only taking care of Helen until the birth of her child. Then well know if the child is mine or not. Crystal: I think were good now. We are in a rtionship, but we are not bound to each other. I like you now, and I am willing to stay with you. But, if one day I dont like you anymore, I can leave. Doesnt that sound good to you? Shut up! Nathan clenched and unclenched his fists. You need to get that thought out of your head! he shouted. Youre my woman. Even if you died, I would expect you to wait for me in Heaven. I wont give you a chance to leave me. Do you hear me? He trembled with anger, and he struggled to restrain himself. He was so upset that it was hard not to give in to his rage, wrap his hands around her throat, and throttle the life out of her. Crystal rubbed her ears. She was worried that his roar had perforated her eardrums. Then she pressed her fingers against Nathans thin lips to appease him. How could I ever leave you, she sighed. Im too afraid of you to dare. Chapter 177: Didn鈥檛 I Have You Beside Me? Nathans brow furrowed. He looked at Crystal and said, How is it that youre afraid of me, but you werent afraid of the old Davis? He had a gun pointed at your head, but you didnt even blink! I dont even know if that was bravery or stupidity! Crystal gave him an innocent look, smiled, and said, Didnt I have you beside me? Naturally, Nathan didnt know why Crystal was smiling or what she was talking about. He knitted his eyebrows andined: Be serious! I am being serious, Crystal said. If you werent there with me, I would have ignored him and said nothing. Nathans face lit up when he heard that. You see! he eximed. You need me. Life would be impossible for you if I werent by your side, so you had better stick by my side!This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. To some extent, Crystal thought that Nathan was talking out of his ass, but he wasnt. She was in danger. He had seen the old Davis cut more than one humans heads off and dig their heart out. Now things are worse than ever. The old man had sunk to a new low when hed used Helen to y a dirty trick on him. Of course, Nathan had to show him a certain amount of respect, but, in his heart, he thought he was vile, dirty, and mean. Naturally, the old Davis had done something to protect his informer, but Nathan was confident that he could find the truth. **** By the time Nathan and Crystal arrived in the living room, Vic had gathered everyone who lived in the vi, as well as everyone that worked there. There were two rows of people, and everyone was standing, except for Helen. She was sitting on the sofa, and she was nervously rubbing the hem of her sleeve. Nathan stood with arms akimbo in a position of power in front of them with a grave expression on his face. Ill give you one chance, he said. If you are the informer, admit it now, and Ill give you a lenient punishment. Helen sat quietly, and her grip tightened on her shirt. Her nose was oozing sweat. No? Nathan put his hands behind his back. He smiled and said, All right! Since no one is willing to fess up, from today on, no one will eat. This forced fast will be enforced until someone freely admits to being the old mans rat. Everyone gulped, and they all wondered C Does this punishment include Helen? However, no one dared to ask. They were afraid to offend the demon further and be punished more seriously. Once he was finished speaking, Nathan hugged Crystal and said, Lets have dinner. Nathan, Crystal, and Helen sat at the table, and all of the others stood at the side to watch. When a servantid three tes down, Nathan gave her a dirty look. Who said Helen could eat? he growled. The servant gasped and hurriedly took back Helens te. In her haste, though, the te slipped from her hands, and it shattered when it hit the ground. Im sorry, the servant said, and she knelt to pick up the pieces. Crystal looked at Helen sympathetically and then at Nathan. You cant starve her, she whispered. Shes pregnant Nathan frowned and said, I am not starving her. The rat is starving her, and Helen will be allowed to eat the minute that foul creaturees forward. Now dont worry about it, okay. Just eat. Helen bowed her head and bit her lower lip. Her stomach growled, and her face turned pale as she watched the couple eat. She couldnt believe how much everything had changed over thest three years. It wasnt that long ago that Nathan had been her man. Watching him with Crystal made her almost wish that her suicide had been a sess. Nathan no longer seemed like the cold, distant man shed once known, and she felt lonelier than ever. She wondered if Crystal was the reason for the change in Nathan C Is it because he loves her? It seemed like he would give his life for her. When she thought about this, she couldnt contain her tears. The tears ran down her face, smearing her mascara. When Elma saw this, her heart broke. She wanted to rush over, but she was held back by the servant next to her. Elma had been with Helen since she was born, and she looked at her as a daughter. Thus, she could not handle watching her suffer. Meanwhile, Nathan had a spoonful of soup in his hand, and he was trying to feed Crystal. I can eat it myself. Crystal turned her head away and said, Im not a child. Open your mouth! Nathan ordered. His aura was strong and horrible, and Crystal respected him. Thus, she could not let him lose face in front of the servants, so she opened her mouth and let him feed her. Elma saw what they were doing, and the more intimately they behaved, the more heartsick she felt. I cant let this continue C she realized. After a moment of hesitation, she turned to Nathan and said, Master Davis, its me Im the informer. Nathan looked up at her, but he did not stop feeding Crystal. Do you know what the punishment will be? he asked. Elma knelt and said, Im willing to ept the consequences for my actions. Nathan opened his mouth to tell her what the punishment would be, but Helen stood up before he could. No! she cried. It was not Elma. It was me! I secretly called Grandpa. Elma knew nothing about my actions. Nathan frowned as he looked from Helen to Elma and then back to Helen. Who did it? he asked. No more bullshit. Bear in mind that I could punish you both, so you may as well tell me the truth! Helen bit her lips and did not speak, while Elma insisted that she was the guilty party. Its me, she cried. So, punish me. Please Nathan nodded. If you say so, he said. Then he called to Vic: Vic! Bring out the whip and give this rat a hundred strikes on her bareback, ass, and thighs. But I confessed! cried Elma. I thought you said youd be lenient if the person confessed Nathan chuckled and said, That was before. That ship sailed the minute I began to enforce the fast! When everyone heard that, they all gasped. Chapter 178: He Got What He Deserve Elmas eyes bulged. She was horrified by Nathans words. No! she shrieked. She hadnt expected him to be so cruel. She was an experienced, loyal servant of the Bush family, so she had thought that her punishment would be light. But, apparently, she had been wrong. Helen was as shocked as her nanny was, and not knowing what else to do, she dropped to her knees and began to beg for mercy for her nanny. Nathan, she cried. Please show mercy. I promise that this will not happen again! Get up! Nathan ordered. He hated to see a woman crying. And from now on, you might want to watch what you say. The baby protects you for now, but you wont be pregnant forever. So keep it up, and you will get the same. Eventually. As he spoke, he nodded to Vic, and the guard dragged Elma to a standing position. Elma was so scared that her whole body was trembling. Do you think this is over? Nathan shouted. He looked at his servants and continued: By making this false confession, Elma has made things worse for everyone. Now, until the true informeres forward, no one will eat, and you will all remain to stand. And Elma will still be flogged. Crystal stared at Nathan in amazement. What a devil C she thought. The servants and bodyguards looked at each other in fear. No one dared to say anything, let alonee forward, and they watched in dismay as Vic stripped Elma and bent her over the table. The whip cracked against her bare buttocks, and she shrieked. Helens face was covered in tears, and she was crying out in desperation for Nathan to put an end to this atrocity. The secondsh struck Elmas calf, and she stood up straight. The thirdsh struck her thigh, and the fourth, her lower back. He attacked her lower back twice more, and the skin split- and by the time hed struck her sixty times, he had opened a wound that began at her neck and stretched down to her ankles. There was blood everywhere, and flesh hung off her in gory, meaty threads. By the seventiethsh, even with the table for support, Elma could no longer stand. Her hands slipped, she fell to the ground, and then she lost consciousness. This didnt stop Vic, though. He continued tosh her nearly lifeless body, and every time the whip licked her skin, she twitched. Helen knelt beside her nanny. Elma! she wailed. Her face was red and puffy, but she had stopped crying somewhere around the fortiethsh. Elma! she cried again. Answer me! Helen held Elmas hand as she received thest of her punishment, and then the servants carried her to her room. **** Except for Crystal and Nathan, no one had ever eaten anything, and the atmosphere in the vi was tense. The staff was close to panic, and they were all afraid of what would happen if the true informer didnte forward. None of this affected Crystal or Nathan, though. After punishing Elma, theyd showered together to get the blood that had sttered on them off of them, and then they went about their day. Nathan had a video conference in the study, and Crystal went to the kitchen to see what was avable to eat. The fridge was empty, but Crystal remembered that she had a box of cookies and a carton of milk in her bag in Helens room. She quickly retrieved her snack, but when she saw Helens puffy eyes, she thought C How pathetic. She sighed and said, Would you like some? Helen frowned and said, Save your insincerity. What crawled up your ass? Crystal asked. You did it! Helen eximed. Miss Smith, I didnt expect you to be so mean. I know that Grandpa wronged you, and I know that this new living situation is hard for you, but Nathans punishments are over the top C and they dont even seem to faze you. It makes me wonder if they were all your idea Crystal frowned. She leaned against the door and looked at Helen doubtfully. So, she said. You think Im using Nathan to get even with you. Is that it? It is, Helen replied. And it is unforgivable. Nanny Elma is in her forties. She has never been beaten before, and now she cant even get out of bed. I beg you, Miss Smith. If you are unhappy because I suddenly moved in, then you can deal with me. Alone. Nanny Elma and the servants are innocent. When Crystal heard this, she shook her head and said, Believe it or not, I had nothing to do with the punishments. Helen: If that is true, can you please go and beg Nathan to show mercy on us? He is so into you that hell listen to anything you say. Crystal: Okay, Ill talk to him. Can you eat something first, though? Okay, Helen replied. Ill eat. Ill eat. Then she grabbed a cookie and shoved the whole thing into her mouth. As she chewed, she reached for another, but as her hand stretched out, they heard the sound of a gun being fired, and she froze. Her face turned white, and she cried out. Crystal touched her arm and said, Dont panic. Wait here while I go and have a look. Crystal rushed out of the room, down the hallway, and into the study. Inside, she found Nathan sitting in his chair with his back to the door, looking out of the French window. Did you hear the gunshot? she asked.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Nathan turned around, and when she looked into his eyes, she flinched. He is a demon-she realized C A monster. And she was afraid. Nathan smiled and said, The rat came out and confessed. Vic has dealt with him. His tone was so light that Crystal thought for a second that it was a joke. The look in his eyes would not let her believe it, though. Crystal choked and took two steps backward. To be kind to your enemy is to be cruel to yourself, Nathan continued. He fiddled with the lighter in his hand and said, I cant let anyone hurt you. Who knows what a person like this is capable of? I didnt ask you to do this! Crystal shouted. Nathan: Then tell me what I should have done. After thinking carefully, Crystal said, You should have let the person go. Nathan raised his eyelidszily and said, That would never happen, especially since l offered leniency in the beginning, but it was rejected. It is toote now, anyway. Whats done is done. Crystal shook her head in disbelief, and she rushed downstairs and into the yard. Outside, Vic was putting away his gun. At his feet, a man was lying in a pool of his own blood. Crystal could not believe her eyes, and she covered her mouth in shock and fear. L-look at wh-what you d-did, she stammered.. Vic looked over his shoulder. He got what he deserved, he said. Do you recognize him? Crystal nodded. He was one of Helens bodyguards, she replied sadly. He meant well, and he didnt deserve to die. Die? Vic chuckled and said. Hes not dead. Nathan just wanted me to scare him, and I scared him so badly that he fainted. He cracked his head on a rock when he fell, but hell live. When Crystal heard that, she nearly fainted. She couldnt believe that shed thought that Nathan was capable of casual murder. She thought C I feel like such a fool She watched as Vic ordered the wounded man to be carried into the house, and she let go a sigh of relief as he called the doctor to treat his wounds. She couldnt believe that all of this hubaloo had resulted from her request for the Morning After Pill. Chapter 179: Wrongly Accused Once the doctor was done treating Helens bodyguard, he took out a paper from his briefcase. Then he turned to Nathan, gave him the report, and said, I have the results from your blood tests. Everything is normal. Nathan took the paper, gave it a cursory nce, crumpled it up, and threw it away without even saying thank you. Crystal wanted to say something about that, but she thought better of it and changed the subject instead. She said, Since you know who the snitch is, would you like to check on Helen and Elma? Nathan shook his head and said, No. Crystal: But the child is innocent, and Elma wasnt the rat! Nathan frowned. Even though he owed Helen something, he was bound to visit her. He didnt need Crystal nagging him, and her persistence made him wonder C Why is she being so pushy? You think too much, he said. Do I? Crystal scoffed. Helen is pregnant, and the constant stimtion is not good for the baby. The only person who can stabilize her mood is you. Fine! Nathan growled, and he stormed off in the direction of Helens room C and when she saw him, her face began to glow. She felt a bit awkward, though, and she didnt know whether to stand or remain sitting. Thankfully, Nathan made a choice for her when he sat down beside her. Will you me me for what happened to Nanny Elma? he asked. Helen shook her head. I dont me you, she replied. I know you always do what is proper. Miss Smith and I heard a gunshot, though. Did something happen? Nathan: It was nothing. Helen: Okay. Thats good. I was worried. Anyway, have you found the snitch yet? Nathan: Yes. In fact, it was one of your men. I do not me you, though. I know that he was acting on his own initiative. Helens shoulders rxed when she heard this answer. Nathan stood up again and said, Its gettingte. Go to bed early and have a good rest. Then he walked out and closed the door behind him. **** That night, there was a knock on Crystal and Nathans door. He sat up unhappily and growled at the intruder: What?!?! Its an emergency, one of the servants replied nervously. Helen is bleeding. It might be a miscarriage! Nathan cringed as he stood up. Ill be right there, he said. Then he turned to Crystal and told her to call 9-1-1. The paramedics arrived quickly, and the emergency turned out to not be an emergency. Not only was the fetus fine, but there was very little blood to be seen. This was puzzling, and it made everyone think C Why did Helen act like she was having a miscarriage? And once things had settled down, Nathan demanded to know what was going on. I dont know, Helen replied. She frowned and said, I felt a bit sick after dinner, but I didnt think much of it Nathan: What did you have for dinner? Helen: Just some cookies and milk. Nathan was not happy when he heard that. The doctor was still in the living room, so he went out to see him. What happened? he asked. Why does she feel sick? It seems to be something she ate, the doctor replied. Miss Bush said that she had cookies and milk for dinner. I suggest you take them to theb to be tested. Dont forget that she is pregnant. That means that she has to be careful about her diet. Nathan nodded and instructed Vic to follow the doctors instructions. Then he went back to Helens room and told her what the doctor had said. Then he asked her if she was hungry. She said she was, so he told one of the servants to prepare some porridge. Since you havent eaten much, he said, youll have some porridge to warm your stomach. Helen smiled and said, Thank you, Nathan. She was moved when she saw that he cared about her. **** In the morning, the atmosphere in Helens room was tense. Nathan had been in and out of the room throughout the night, and he was in a bad mood. Along with his test results, the doctor had given him Helens test results. Up until now, though, he had kept them to himself. Whats bothering you? Vic asked. Nathan nodded his head in Helens direction and said, Her blood showed excessive amounts of Vitamin C, Cinnamon, Dong Quai, and Parsley. Helens face turned white when she heard Nathans words. Vic: I dont get it Nathan: These are among the top methods that women use to trigger a miscarriage. Helen: Somebody must have poisoned the cookies in my room Nathan: Where did you get them? Helen: They came from Crystal. She saw how hungry I was, and she snuck me the snack. Nathan turned to Vic. Get Crystal in here! he growled. Now! Crystal knew something was wrong when Vic hauled her out of bed and dragged her into Helens room. What is this about? she asked Nathan. Nathan pointed to the table. Did you give these cookies to Helen? he asked. Crystal: Yes, I did. I know that you said she had to fast, but I couldnt stand to see a pregnant woman going hungry Was that so bad? She wasnt the rat! Nathan: The cookies contained Vitamin C, Cinnamon, Dong Quai, and Parsley. These are among the top methods that women use to trigger a miscarriage. Crystal: How can that be? The package was sealed when I bought it! Nathan: Are you saying that you didnt try to kill the baby? If you say you didnt, then I will believe you. If you did, though, I want you to tell me. Crystal: I dont know anything about this. There could be another exnation. These could be naturally urring ingredients, or it couldnt have been something she ate earlier in the day. I tested the cookies, Vic interrupted. They were all tainted, and they are not naturally urring ingredients. Nathan frowned at Crystal. How do you exin that? he asked. I cant Crystal shook her head and said, So, you think I did it? Before Nathan could reply, another bodyguard walked in. He had a bag from Safeway in his hand. He handed it to his boss. What is this? Nathan wondered. Sir, the bodyguard replied. This was found in the cistern of the bathroom that Miss Smith uses. If you look inside, youll find Vitamin C, Cinnamon, Dong Quai, and Parsley. Crystal gasped, and her hand went to her mouth. Its not mine Well see about that, Nathan growled. He turned to Vic and said, Go and get the security footage. Within minutes, Vic had a burnt DVD of the footage. He inserted it into the video yer in Helens room, and the room went quiet as events yed out on the screen. Unfortunately, the footage was of no help. It showed Crystal giving Helen the cookies, but it did not offer clues about how theyd been tainted. Nevertheless, the more she denied poisoning Helen, the more guilty she looked. Helen red at Crystal and said, You are the only person who could have poisoned the cookies unless you think I poisoned myself! Is that what youre trying to say?!?! Nathan walked towards Crystal. She looked nervous and afraid, and his heart was breaking for her. He believed her. Because all the evidence was pointing at her, though, he could not dere her innocence. Not knowing what else to do, he turned to Crystal and said, Go and apologize to Helen for trying to kill her baby. When Helen heard this, she red at Nathan and said, Nathan, I wont ept her apology. Even though the baby lived, you could have killed it by refusing to let me eat. So, whats the point of going through with this pregnancy? I dont see any point, not if this is the way that youre going to care for us?ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . I promise it wont happen again, Nathan replied. Then he turned back to Crystal and said, Apologies! I didnt do it! Crystal cried. She clenched and unclenched her fists angrily at her sides. And I wont admit to doing something I didnt do! Chapter 180: His Certain Illness Nathan grabbed Crystal by the shoulders and shook her. If you didnt poison Helen, he shouted, then prove it! Okay! Crystal cried. And if I cannot, then I will apologize. There. Are you happy? Nathan: I am. But how will you prove it? Crystal: By reviewing all of the security footage. Nathan nodded to Vic and said, Make it so. Vic wasnt gone long, and when he returned, he had an unhappy expression on his face. He looked at Nathan and said, Im sorry, sir, but for various reasons, certain rooms C such as the servants quarters C cannot be disyed What a coincidence! Crystal sneered. Dont you think its strange that these monitors cannot be disyed at the moment when we most need them?This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Nathan: No surveince equals no evidence. So, why dont you just apologize? Sooner begun, sooner done C right? Crystal sighed as she nodded. Then she walked over to Helens bed, looked her in the eyes, and said, Helen, I am sorry for trying to kill your baby even though I didnt. Helen: How can you expect me to believe you without proof? We all know that you dont like me, that youre afraid of the baby, and that you resent having me in your house. Crystal: I said it wasnt me. Believe me or dont, I dont care. Its a free world. Helen turned to Nathan. Is this matter concluded? she asked. Or will Crystal be held ountable for trying to kill my baby? Nathan: What do you want me to do? Helen blinked her eyes innocently, and after thinking for a moment, she lowered her head and said, Dont worry about punishing her, but let me move into the manor early. So be it, Nathan growled. Now, I dont want to hear another word about this! Crystals face turned white when she heard Nathans promation. Suddenly all of the pieces fell into ce. Helen had poisoned the cookies, then med her, and all to ensure a ce for her in the manor. She opened her mouth to argue with Nathan, but he shut her up with a look, and then he led her to the living room. Crystal thought her situation was hopeless. Thus, she was surprised when Nathan said, You said you didnt do it, and I believe you. Ill send someone to spy on Helen. Give it some time. The truth wille out, youll see. I love you, and I will not allow you to be wronged! Nathan sat down on the sofa and folded his legs, and it seemed to Crystal that he had more to say, but then his phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket, looked at the screen, hesitated for a moment, and finally epted the call. He said hello, and after a second, he covered the microphone and whispered to Crystal: Can you give me some privacy? Crystal nodded and went into the kitchen to get something to eat. Then, once she was gone, Nathan pulled his hand away and said, Barret, what is it? Barret: I heard from Vic that you have been suffering from frequent headachestely? Nathan: Yes And? Barret: Have you been taking your medication? Is it still working, or is HE emerging again? Nathan smiled bitterly and said, Ive been taking my meds, but Im afraid He couldnt figure out why, but HE would insert himself into the equation every time the Old Davis wanted something from him. It first happened when he was nine years old. While hunting, the old Davis had forced him to shoot a boar several times his size. He had been so frightened, and hed wanted to pretend to be dead. He hadnt wanted to kill the animal. Instead, he had wanted to get away from it. The old Davis had forced him to stand his ground, though, and he had refused to take the shot for him. But Nathan had been so scared that hed peed his trousers andpletely forgotten why he was there. When the boar smelled the acrid scent of Nathans urine, he opened his mouth and charged toward them. As it approached, the old Davis began to curse him for his cowardice until he finally lifted the rifle and fired. The boar dropped dead, but Nathan was not pleased. He red at the old Davis and stuck out his tongue, but this amused the old man, and Nathan never forgave him. In the future, the old Davis tried countless times to train Nathan into the best soldier, but his cowardice hindered the young mans progress. He showed great potential and was skilled, but his natural instinct was to run from danger. The old Davis worried that Nathan suffered from PTSD C Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, so he asked the doctor to examine him. The doctor could not exin what the problem was, but he discovered that if there were no way to evade conflict, the side of Nathan that had killed the bear would take over, and it wouldve done whatever needed doing. It is like two people are living inside of him, the doctor had suggested. The coward and the warrior. Nathan was the coward, but HE was a warrior. The second time that HE had emerged was just after Helens suicide. The old Davis had taken him to a boxing ring and pitted him against ten men, all of whom had been specially trained. In the beginning, he was beaten badly, but then one of the blows hit him in the forehead. Suddenly, the pain went away. His body went numb, and the pained expression on his face was reced by utter calm, and within minutes, he had beaten all ten men to within an inch of their lives. Almost immediately after that, he passed out, and when he came to, he had no recollection of what had happened. That was when Nathan had first begun to suspect that there was something seriously wrong with him. Later, when the doctor exined about PTSD, he thought that there was more to it. He thought he had an MPD -a Multiple Personality Disorder. Thankfully, with medication, he was able to suppress the warrior, HE. There was a lot of stress in Nathans life now, though, and he knew that the headaches were a sure sign that HE was trying to emerge once more, and he felt like Bruce Banner was trying to contain the Incredible Hulk. Barrett: Are you still there? Nathan blinked twice and took a deep breath before answering. For a second, he had been so lost in thought that hed forgotten where he was. Im here, he replied. It sounds like somethings wrong, Barret said. Have you considered increasing the dosage of your medication? He was one of the few people qualified to make such an assessment. Nathan hadnt thought about increasing his dosage, and he said so. Then: Barret, where are you now? When will you be back? Im on Vancouver Ind, Barret replied. I have a beautiful woman in my arms, so I dont n on returning any time soon. Nathan: Forget that. My health is more important than your sex life! Chapter 181: Why Should I Show It To You? In the dining room C While Crystal ate her breakfast, she watched the servants in the kitchen. They were gossiping about her, and they didnt even have enough track to keep their voices down. They thought that shed tried to kill Helens baby. Thus, in their eyes, she was a very wicked woman. She tried not to listen to them, but it was impossible to shut out their hateful words. After eating, she went back into the living room to tell Nathan that she wanted to visit her father in the hospital. He had just gotten off the phone, and he was leaning back on the couch. His eyes were closed, and he looked tired. She went over, sat beside him, and gently massaged his temples. Her gentle movement softened Nathans heart. He pulled her hands down and asked, are you acting so nice today? I want to see my father in the hospital, she replied. Its no act, though. Nathan nodded and said, Sure. Of course, its not. Anyway, I see no reason why you shouldnt visit your father. Would you like me to apany you? Ill be fine, Crystal replied. You stay here and take care of that headache; maybe have a bath with some of the essential oils in the cab? Nathan: That sounds like a good idea. Thank you. Ill still send two of my bodyguards with you, though-just to be safe. You never know who might show up and start causing trouble **** At the hospital, in the crowded elevator C Crystal quietly watched the television monitor that had been installed above the doors. It had been set to an entertainment news station, and the famous star, Elena Laurent, was being interviewed. Standing next to her was her daughter, Christine Laurent. The girl had an oval face, and her features were sweet. Although she was not an entertainment personality, she looked prettier than many popr actresses and models. A dozen reporters were scrambling to get their microphones as close to Elenas face as possible. She had just won a Grand m, so, for the moment, she was the belle of the ball. Miss Elena Laurent, how do you feel about being nominated for 13 awards? asked one reporter. Im very excited, Elena replied. And Im grateful to have so many fans supporting me. Are you going to help your daughter get into the entertainment industry? Another reporter asked. Elena: My daughter is very talented. If she decides that she wants to follow in my footsteps, she wont need any help from me! Beside her, Christines cheeks turned pink. She was obviously ufortable with being the center of attention. Crystal stared at the screen. She thought that Elena looked familiar. It seemed to her that she had seen the star somewhere before. She thought about it for a moment, and then it came to her. She had run into the woman once while shopping for clothes. At the time, she had mistakenly thought that she was Nathans mistress. Elena wore exquisite makeup. Thus, people could hardly tell her real age. She was in her forties, but she was still charming, and she looked to be in her early thirties. As soon as the elevator arrived, Crystal withdrew her eyes from the TV and stepped into her fathers ward. The two bodyguards followed her with their robot-like expressionless faces. She made her way to the room, and when she opened the door, Todd seemed surprised to see her, and she had a hard time reading his eyes. On the one hand, she saw malice in them. On the other hand, though, it looked like he was about to cry C and she had to remind herself that hed always been aplex man. Crystal, he said weakly. There you are Crystal nodded. Are you feeling better? she wondered. You look well. Todd: Much better. Thank you foring to see me. Crystal smiled. He wasnt her real father, and theyd never been close. Suddenly, though, that all seemed like water under the bridge. They talked for a while, and she didnt start getting ready to leave until Joyce arrived. She didnt want to spend a minute longer than she had to with her spiteful half-sister. Crystal said goodbye to Todd, and as she was making her way towards the door, Joyce stopped her. Crystal, she hissed. Where did you hide, Carlos? Crystal was taken aback. Hide? she gasped. Why would I hide him? Whats worth hiding? Can I sell him or eat him? Besides, hes your boyfriend. He has nothing to do with me. Venessa scowled and stretched out her hand. Give me the phone, she demanded. Crystal: What phone? Joyce: Your phone! Crystal: My phone? Why should I? Did you fall and hit your head or something? Joyce: Dont y dumb with me. I want to see if he called or texted you. Crystal: He didnt! Joyce: I dont believe you! After all, he broke up with me because of you! Crystal: I have nothing to do with your parting. So, please dont involve me in it. Joyce: Even if it has nothing to do with you, you must still know where he is. Im sorry, but I dont know where he is, Crystal replied firmly. He and I arent even friends! Then why dont you show me your phone? Joyce growled. She clenched her hands into fists, and the minute she stepped towards Crystal, the bodyguards grabbed her. Crystal sighed and said, Just drop it, okay. I dont know where he is.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Joyce: Then why are you afraid to show me your cell phone? Im not afraid, Crystal replied. Its one of my personal belongings. Why should I show it to you? Joyce spat at the ground in front of Crystal and struggled like a crazy person, but she could not slip the bodyguards grip. You wait, Crystal! she cried. Ill get even with you one day. Crystal shook her head. This argument is so stupid C she thought C I dont know where Carlos is, and if I did, I would have no reason to withhold the information from you. After all, I still remember how he disappeared from me three years ago When Carlos had first confessed his love for her, it had been at their school, under the cherry blossom tree. White cherry petals were dancing in the wind, and when hed kissed her, shed felt like a fairy-tale princess. Crystal frowned when she thought about how quickly their young love had died. He had arranged the meeting under the cherry tree by sending her an email. She still had the message. It was saved in a special folder, not because she still loved him, but because it reminded her of her youth. One of the bodyguards cleared his throat, and Crystal was drawn out of her thoughts. Shouldnt we get going, he asked. Indeed, she replied. You guys can let Joyce go now. Shell be good. She took a step forward and Boops Joyce on the nose. Then she smiled, and in the tone of voice that an adult would use on a very small child or a pet dog, she said, You, be a good girl, okay, and then she patted her on the head and left her fathers room. Chapter 182: I鈥檓 Longing For Your Love Again When Crystal got into the car, the first thing she did was check her phone for any missed messages, and she was shocked to see dozens of texts from Carlos C and to her dismay, the first one said: Crystal, I still love you, and I miss you very much. Crystal felt like throwing her phone out of the window when she read that, but she managed to stayposed. What is he thinking? C she wondered C Surely, he must know that we are not getting back together! Crystal closed her eyes for a moment to gather her strength, and when she opened them, she started to read the rest of the messages. Carlos: The sun is shining brightly today. I am sitting under arge maple tree, shaded by dappled trees, and thinking of you. I am thinking about the day you walked into the ssroom. I looked up. There you were, and in less than a second before wed even spoken C youd taken my heart captive. Carlos: There is a church here, and every day, when the bell rings at noon, I remember the promise I made to you. The promise I did not keep Carlos: I have countless regrets, but that is my biggest, I shouldnt have let you go. I regret not cherishing you. I loved you, but I gave you up to appease my family, and that was wrong. Carlos: Without you, I am a walking corpse with no soul and no tears. Carlos: I repent. I me myself. And I even think about hurting myself. But none of this could make up for the harm I have done to you. And I know that now. Carlos: Im sorry. I still love you, even though you dont love me anymore. Im longing for your love again, Carlos: One day, if I grow into the kind of man that is worthy of you, would you give me a second chance? As Crystal read the messages, she felt as if she had entered an alternate reality, where only she and Carlos existed. For a moment, he was there, whispering those sweet words into her ear. They were teenagers again, and she could smell the cherry blossoms in the air C but then she remembered the pain. Crystal sneered. Nice try, she muttered. But, we are never getting back together. The driver asked where she wanted to go, and she gave him directions to the airport, where Nathan was waiting for her with the helicopter. Then she leaned her head against the window and did her best to shut the world out. They passed the mall, and she saw several enormous posters promoting different movies. One of them was for a film starring Elena, and seeing it made her think of the actresss daughter. For some reason, Crystal had always felt like she had a connection to Christine. Her mind began to wander, and she began to think about Beverly Vi. When she was a child, she had thought that such ces were for rich people to spend their holidays. There was lots of grass, trees, birds, and flowers. The first time shed visited the ce, though, shed seen the truth: Vis werent just for holidays. They were also for living in. Of course, Nathan was rich, and he had many other ces that he called home C and as lovely as Beverly vi was, it was the oldest and least kept of all the ces he called homeknowing that Crystal didnt understand why he wanted them to live there. **** At the Beverly vi C Helen was practically glowing. She had sessfully manipted Nathan into moving her into the minor mansion, and she was excited to see what the future had in store for her. After all, the estate was a small ce, and now that it was packed with people, the house was pregnant with possibilities. She was sitting in the living room when she heard the sound of Nathans helicopter approaching, and she ran to the window. Although the helipad was almost a mile away from the vi, she knew the terrain well, and it was easy for her to imagine what was going on. Nathan owned the worlds most advancedmercial helicopter. It couldfortably carry up to 20 people. It had several luxurious bedrooms, bathrooms, and a dining room. It was like a mobile pce,plete with red carpets and fantastic tapestries on the walls.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Nathan would be the first to step out of the helicopter, and with the sun shining behind him, he would look like a king. Helen could see it all in her minds eye, and it made her smile. It wasnt long before the object of her obsession appeared on the horizon, and as she had imagined, his entourage followed behind him. Helen felt a hand on her back, and when she turned, she saw her nanny, Elma, and she was taken aback. This was the first time shed seen the older woman out of bed since Nathan had ordered the skin stripped from her back, from the nape of her neck to just above her ankles. Do you know why Nathan chose this ce to stay? Elma asked. Helen shrugged and said, I dont know. I guess I never really thought about it Elma: This vi was chosen by Mr. Davis for you so that you could have the baby in peace. The scenery here is so beautiful. Its warm in winter and cool in summer. Its a perfect ce to raise a fetus, dont you think? Helen began to nod her head, but she saw who was beside Nathan, she froze. No matter how close I get to him, she muttered, Crystal is always there to keep me from getting closer Elma sighed and said, Have patience Things will be different once the baby is here. Im sure Master Nathan will choose you over that woman, Helen hung her head hopelessly, and she said, I hope youre right, Nanny Elma I hope youre right. Chapter 183: Arrival Of The New Enemy The Beverly vi was more than just the moderate house that Nathan shared with Crystal, Helen, and all staff. What made it what it was, what made it special C was the grounds. There was the view, the trees, the animals, and the other buildings. These included servant amodations, a shed, two guest houses, and the stables. The stables were seldom used, though, so when Helen heard the sound of a horse-drawn carriageing from that direction, she was more than a little bit surprised. Who is that? C she wondered. She looked around the room, but there was no one to ask. When Crystal and Nathan came in, he had gone directly to his study, and she had gone to her room C and after greeting them, Elma had drawn herself a mineral bath to help with her wounds. The carriage looked European. It was fringed with gold, and there was a guard on either side of it, each on horseback. When it stopped, the guards got down from their horses. They opened the carriage doors, and a pretty woman proudly stepped into the sunlight. Oh my God C thought Helen- What is she doing here? Crystal was aimlessly wandering about the vi. Although she had been there many times, she hadnt seen much of it other than themon areas, her bedroom that she shared with Nathan, and their bathroom C and even though the house was on the small side, she had never explored the corridor on the main floor. She had found a tapestry that caught her attention, and she got closer to examine the detail. Then, when she stepped back, she crashed into someone who had been passing behind her. She turned around to apologize, but when she saw who it was, she froze. What is Christine Laurent doing here?- she wondered. Christine smiled and offered her hand to shake. And you must be Crystal, she said. It is nice to meet you finally. Unbeknownst to Crystal, Christines grandfather had asked her to move into the manor to keep an eye on Crystal. After what shed supposedly already done, a lot of people were worried that she might try to hurt the baby again, and although Christine had a smile on her face, she did not trust Crystal any more than they did. She is even more beautiful in person than she is on TV C thought Crystal. A haughty, patronizing look on Christines face, though, made Crystal feel ufortable. Furthermore, she felt an uneasy curiosity about her rtionship with Nathan. Why is Christine here? She wondered C And does this have something to do with Elena? Christine: I just arrived. Maybe you can show me around the dining room? Crystal nodded and led the other girl to the dining room. Everything seemed normal. As they approached the next tapestry, though, Christines gloved fingers touched the paint. Suddenly, a dark hole appeared, and Crystal fell into it. She hit the ground hard, and as the trap door closed, she was enveloped in total darkness. Crystal cried out, but she instinctively knew that no one would hear her. Above her, Christine smirked. The manor was covered with traps, which was another reason Nathan had chosen the ce to be their home. The walls of the vi were full of infrared rms. Even the helicopters werent verified so that nobody could get in. Furthermore, there were towers in each of the manors four corners, and snipers were on guard 24/7. Even if the old Davis mobilized thousands of troops, he might not be able to conquer it. Christine grinned like a Cheshire cat, and she thought C Crystal Smith, youre on my property, and youre going to enjoy my game. There were two servants ahead of her, and when they turned around, they were taken aback. Where did Crystal go?- they wondered. Christines eyes narrowed, and she was about to deal with the servants, but then Vic suddenly appeared. Miss Christine Laurent? he said. Is that you? Christine nodded but said nothing. Vic: Well, hello, miss. Excuse me, but when did you arrive? Christine: Must I report to you when I arrive? Vic: You misunderstand me. Upon seeing Vic, one of the servants said, Vic, Miss Smith was following us just now, and then she suddenly disappeared. I think that something bad has happened to her! The other servant pointed to where they hadst seen Crystal, but we didnt see anything out of the ordinary. That being said, he and Nathan were both aware that there were secret passages in the house, so he knew to look for certain clues. A minute passed, and Vic spotted a smudge on one of the paintings. He touched it, and a hole opened in the floor. He looked down, and when he saw Crystal trembling below him, he shouted, Miss Smith, I will send people to save you. But dont move. If you touch the wrong stone, you will be fired upon by thousands of arrows! Christine frowned. Her assassination attempt had failed, and from now on, her character would be suspected. By the time Crystal had been rescued, Nathan had heard about what had happened, and he was there to greet her the second she was safe. She staggered out of another hidden passage with a bodyguard on either side of her supporting her weight. He pushed them away and pulled Crystal into his arms. Are you okay? he asked. Crystal was in a state of shock, and it took her a while to focus her thoughts. Even then, though, it was a struggle to speak. Nathan turned to one of his servants and shouted, Call the doctor! Im fine, Crystal finally said. Vic: The hole is only three meters deep. She didnt trigger the arrows, so she should be fine. I think shes more traumatized than physically hurt. Nathan looked at the servant who had been closest to Crystal at the time of the ident and said, Tell me what happened!This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. It was a trap, the servant exined. I didnt see who triggered it, but it had to have been either Vic or Christine! Can we check the security footage? asked Nathan. Im afraid not, Vic replied. The circuits were fried during thest thunderstorm, and they have not been repaired yet Nathan frowned as he realized how difficult things were about to get. He sighed and said, This is very troubling Vic was his most trusted servant, but he had grown up with Christine. She was like a sister to him. He couldnt imagine either of them intentionally doing him harm. Why are you looking at me? Christine asked doubtfully. You know me. I wouldnt hurt a fly She nodded her head in Vics direction. But look at him. He is violent by nature, and you know it! Vic scowled. He looked Nathan in the eyes and said, I swear to you that I am not lying. I do not know Christines character, so I cannot guess what she is capable of. Is it possible, though, that the trap was triggered by ident? Or perhaps there was a mechanical malfunction. The trap is old, so that is not outside the realm of possibilities. You should have the matter investigated before you start pointing fingers at people that you love and trust Nathan nodded and said, You are right. I am sorry, old friend, for jumping to conclusions. He turned to Christine. Of course, my apology extends to you as well. However, if it turns out that either of you was responsible for triggering this death trap, know this: There will be Hell to pay! Chapter 184: How Dare You Talk To Me Like That Once they were alone, Nathan examined Crystal from head to toe. Are you sure that you are okay? Im fine, Crystal said. I think Id like to go for a walk, though. Nathan scooped up her hand and said that he would join her. She pushed him away, though, and told him that she wanted to be alone. But its not safe, Nathan argued. Crystal: I dont care. This vi feels like a prison, and its not like Im any safer in here than I would be out there, as today has shown us. Why do you feel like this ce is a prison? Nathan asked. Crystal sighed and wordlessly turned away. She had thought that once she was a permanent resident of the vi, everything would be fine. But then Helen and Elma moved in, and now that she had Christine to contend with and the death traps, she felt overwhelmed C and if she couldnt leave, then was it any different from a Hellish prison? She didnt think so. Crystal opened her mouth, and she was just about to exin all of this to him, but then the doctor interrupted them. He gave her a full examination, and then he said, Other than the scrapes on your knees, it looks like youre fine. Youngdy, I hope you know how lucky you are. Crystal nodded sheepishly. She knew that things could have ended much worse for her, but she definitely didnt feel lucky. Meanwhile, Helen and Christine were sitting at the dining room table, and servants were standing all around them. The two girls were like old friends who had reunited after being apart for a long time. They were holding each others hands, gossiping,ughing, and whispering. Christine: I know a brilliant Chinese doctor. I can ask him to look into your eyes. He is also a licensed acupuncturist, and he is famous for his skills. He even fixed my mothers lumbar disc, so she didnt need to have surgery. Hellen: Really? Thats great! Thank you, Christine. Christineughed and said, Dont worry. My grandpa told me to take care of you, and the ingredients that I gave you C the Vitamin C, Cinnamon, Dong Quai, and Parsley C they were in such a low dose that your baby was never in any danger-and anybody suspected that you were the one that poisoned the cookies!Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Hellen touched Christines arm and said, You are such a good friend. But lets never talk about that again. After all, loose lips sink ships. Am I right? Youre right, Christine said. She blushed and asked, Can you feel the baby moving yet? Hellen: Not yet. The fetus is only a month old Christine: What will the baby call me? Hellen: Aunt, of course! Christine pursed her lips, smiled, and said, I like that. Hellen: Do you truly believe that I will get Nathan in the end? Christine: Its hard for me to imagine him choosing Crystal, but it is impossible to guess who hell choose. Theres something about Crystal that only men can see. Even Eric, who is typically difficult to deal with, fell in love with her at first sight. I dont get it Hellen covered her mouth, nodded in the direction of the hallway, and whispered, Speak of the devil Christine turned, and they watched as Nathan and Crystal emerged. They came into the dining room and sat at the table with them C and much to their surprise, he put her at the head of the table, in the seat that was typically reserved for him. In this way, he confirmed her status as Queen of the Castle. I should report this to my Grandfather C thought Christine C Not only is this man crazy, but he is acting like hes on dr*gs. She gave Nathan a dirty look, but either he didnt notice, or he didnt care. Nathan sat down next to Crystal and spread a napkin on herp. What do you want to eat? he asked her. I want to eat the noodles that you make, Crystal replied. As she was saying this, she noticed Christine watching them, but she wasnt concerned. She didnt know Christines rtionship with Nathan, but it seemed that she was not a rival. After all, if she were a rival, she would not be a friend of Helen. When Christine saw that Nathan was about to stand up and make noodles for Crystal, she chuckled. Do you even know how to make noodles? she asked. Why dont we make them? Crystal face sank, and she grabbed Nathans arm. I dont want to eat now, she said. Nathan sighed and said, I will ask the maid to prepare the noodles. He knew why she had changed her mind. She didnt want others to share the noodles he made for her. Christine looked at Crystal and asked, When do you want to eat? Crystals cheeks turned pink. She didnt know how to answer the question. Luckily, Nathan spoke up for her. He scowled at Christine and said, You are too noisy. That is because Im jealous on Helens behalf, Christine exined. I didnt expect that you would put your mistress above the Mother of your child I dont need this bullshit, Nathan hissed. And neither does Crystal. He nodded to one of his bodyguards and said, Get Miss Laurent out of here. Christine: Are you trying to drive me away? Nathan: If you cant keep quiet, then there is no ce for you at this table. If you want to eat, you need to shut up. Christine was angry and wanted to argue, but Helen held her hand. Keep your peace, she whispered. Christine nodded and bit her lower lip. Helen was afraid that Nathan was unhappy, so she quickly changed the topic. She smiled and said, I heard that Christines mother yed in a drama recently and won more than a dozen nominations. She is an excellent actress. Christine: I can show you the movie after we finish eating. The room went silent after that, and Christine red at Crystal. This is all your fault C she thought. Somehow, though, she still couldnt figure out how Crystal had managed to wrap Nathan around her finger. It was a real mystery to her, and she hated mysteries. Crystal felt Christine looking at her, and it made her feel ufortable. Finally, she gave her a dirty look and said, Its rude to stare!. Christine chuckled wickedly. So what? she scoffed, You were rude, first! Crystal: How dare you talk to me like that?!?! Christine looked at Nathan and asked, Can you control such an unruly woman? Nathan stroked Crystals hair and said, ignore her. You have my permission to do whatever you want while youre here. Christine was taken aback. If Nathan wanted to spoil a woman, who could stop him? At first, she thought the situation was hopeless, but then she remembered who had sent her here in the first ce. As coincidence would have it, the moment Christine thought of her Grandfather, her phone rang, and he was the one calling. She passed the handy to Helen and said, Its Grandpa. Chapter 185: It鈥檚 Funny And Cute Helen smiled as she brought the phone to her ear and said hello to her Grandfather. The old Davis: Helen, have you settled down? How is everything? Are you used to living there yet? Helen: Im fine. Christine is here. Everything is good, so dont worry. The old Davis: Okay. I feel better knowing that Christine is there with you. Helen: Thank you, grandpa. The old Davis: Does Nathan treat you well? Um Helen hesitated for a moment too long. The old Davis: Put him on the phone. Helen paused for a moment, and then she handed Christines phone to Nathan. Here, she said. Grandpa wants to talk to you. Nathan epted the phone but said nothing. He was waiting for the old Davis to speak first. The old Davis: Dont think that just because you are at the manor, I cant control you. If you dare to bully Helen, you will be punished. Furthermore, you dont want what happened to Rose to happen to Crystal! Nathan gasped. The old Davis had punished a girl named Rose by having someone shoot her in the head and feed her body to the wolves. His heart began to beat faster, and as he thought about Rose, all emotions left his face, and he snorted perfunctorily. Suddenly, he was nine years old again. The great boar was bearing down on him, and he was bringing his rifle to his shoulder. He could no longer hear what the old Davis was saying. His words were nothing more than white noise. Nathan screamed into the receiver: Shut up, you old fuck! Everyone at the table was shocked. As far as they knew, nobody had ever talked to the Old Davis like that. It was unheard of. Watch your tone! the old Davis shouted back. People have died for less Suddenly, Nathan smashed the phone against the table. It shattered into a million pieces, and Helen cried out in fear. Christine hugged her immediately, though, and said, Dont be afraid. Its okay. Nathans eyes were shot through with blood. He looked at Crystal, and much to her surprise, he pushed her chair over. She shrieked as she fell with it, and when shended, she began to cry. When Vic saw this, he rushed forward, pulled out a bottle of medicine, yanked the cap off, and said, Master, its time to take your medicine. Nathan was out of his head, though, and when he saw the pills, he swatted them out of Vics hand. Vic cursed as the pills fell to the ground and scattered. Then he dropped an all fours and scrambled to pick two of them up. Once he had them, he stood up and shouted at Nathan to take his pills. Vic thought that it was toote for a second, but then Nathan grabbed the pills, shoved them into his mouth, and dry swallowed them. The medicine took effect immediately, and Nathan was in control again. He had been subdued. They were all safe, at least for the moment Nathan looked at the shattered phone on the table with eyes filled with fear. He heard Crystal crying on the floor, and he looked down. Wh-What h-h-happened? he stuttered. His body was trembling, and he had one of the worst headaches of his life. Crystal: Dont worry. Im fine. But I think you need to see a doctor Nathan shook his head and said, I wont. He knew that if he saw a doctor, he would be put in an institution, and he didnt think Crystal would be safe in the vi without him there to protect her. Are you sure that you dont need to see a doctor? Crystal asked. She was distraught. She didnt know what the old Davis had said on the phone to make him so angry. Nathan ordered the servants to serve the noodles, and then he turned back to Crystal. He rubbed her hair and said, Im fine, now that Ive taken my medicine. I must have missed my morning dose. But dont worry. Everything is fine now, so lets eat. Crystal nodded and said, Okay. Once the food was on the table, the servants cleaned up Nathans mess, and nobody said anything for the rest of the meal. Then, when it was over, everyone went their own way. Nathan and Crystal went to the stables. Elma took Helen back to her room, and Christine asked a maid to make a cup of coffee for her. Once there was no one in the dining room, Christine bent down and picked up one of the pills that had been missed during the clean-up. She smiled as she wrapped it in a tissue and put it in her pocket. *** One of the stable boys had prepared the horse-drawn carriage for Nathan and Crystal, and he helped her into it like a gentleman. This was the first time theyd taken the carriage out together, and Nathan had thought that Crystal would be tickled pink. But, instead, she looked sad, out of sorts, and in a world of her own. He let her be at first, but when her spirits did not improve, he said, You are not looking well What are you thinking? I was thinking about Christine Crystal replied. Nathan frowned. What kind of rtionship do you think I have with her? he asked. Crystal: Who knows, you have so many little lovers, and now you are going to have a child Nathan rolled his eyes and chuckled. Crystal red at him for a second. Then she punched him in the arm and shouted: What are youughing at? Youre jealous, Nathan replied. Its cute. And funny. Crystal crossed her arms beneath her breasts and looked out the carriage window. Forget it. She sighed and said, I dont want to talk to you anymore. For the next ten minutes, neither of them spoke, but Crystal could feel his eyes on her. Finally, she couldnt stand it anymore. She turned around and shouted, Stop looking at me! Nathan smiled and said, I cant help it. I want to imprint your jealous looks on my heart. Im not jealous! Crystal cried. I wonder why I fell into the death trap, though. If Christine is one of your little lovers, it will make sense that she would want to make me disappearThis belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Nathan nodded and said, Ill get to the bottom of this. As for Christine, she is my cousin. My uncles daughter. Elena Laurent is her mother and also my aunt. When Crystal heard this, her heart leaped for joy. When shed met the actress at Air Cosme, shed been so sure that the woman was Nathans lover. Never in her life had Crystal been so happy to be wrong about something. Chapter 186: They Won鈥檛 Hurt You The carriage stopped at a white building, and Nathan helped Crystal down. In front of the building, there was a fountain with a statue of a mermaid. She was holding a shell and spraying pearls. The buildings door was a crystal curtain, and the ceiling had been designed to reflect the suns light into the building. Where am I? C Crystal wondered. Nathan nodded to a servant, and she pulled open the crystal curtain to reveal arge, indoor, natural hot spring. Mermaids surrounded the pool, and each of them held shells, which, like the one outside, spewed water. In the center were two naked angels. Their wings were spread, and they were hugging each other. Above the pool, the ceiling was transparent. It was made from white tempered ss. At the flick of a switch, it could block the sunlight but not the beautiful scenery. Crystal was in awe. What is this ce? she wondered. It is a natural hot spring, said Nathan. The water contains minerals that are beneficial to the human body. It is also helpful for treating headaches, the servant added. Nathan nodded. Yes, he said. That too. He waved his hand. You can leave us now. The servant nodded and said, Just holler if you need me. Once they were alone, Crystal and Nathan took off their clothes. There was no need for modesty. They were alone, and they werent expectingpany.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Crystal squatted by the hot spring. She spotted fish in the hot spring, and she was a little nervous about disturbing them. They were red koi carp, which were one of the few heat-resistant fish that she was aware of, and they fed on necrotic skin tissue. Thus, they would instantly suck their skin and eat their dead flesh when people entered the water. It sounded gross, but it didnt hurt. Nathan had already entered the water, and he was leaning against the pools wall. The air was hot and moist, and the steam made him look handsome. Nathan reached out to Crystal and said, Come in. Its nice. Youll see. Crystal shook her head, but Nathan grabbed her hand and pulled her in. There was a giant ssh, and all of the mermaids were soaked C not that they cared. Crystal, on the other hand, was furious. As she came out of the water, coughing and gasping for air, she roared: You asshole! Nathanughed and put his hands on her waist. I didnt bring you here so that you could stand on the edge and note in, he said. Now stand still so that the fish can get a taste of your flesh. Is it okay? she wondered. She knew that it was, but she couldnt help but ask. Nathan nodded, and before she knew it, she was surrounded by fish. They began to attach themselves to her skin, and she couldnt help but giggle. It tickles, sheughed. It does, Nathan agreed. He, too, was surrounded by red koi carp. Suddenly, something touched Crystals vulva, and the smile on her face died. Get them off of me! she shrieked. Crystal tried to swat the fish away, but Nathan gently restrained her. Dont worry, he said. They wont hurt you. Crystal wasnt worried about them hurting her. She was just ufortable with the idea of fish feeding off of her wet core. She struggled to get away, but Nathan would not let her go. She looked around for help, but they were alone. It wasnt long before she started crying, but he didnt seem to care. Finally, Crystal epted her fate, and she stopped struggling. There, there, Nathan cooed. If you rx, the fish will take care of the rest. Crystal took a deep breath, and in a matter of seconds, she was no longer crying. Once shed stopped trembling, the fish became more invasive as they explored the secret crevasse between her legs. She twitched as one of them attached itself to her clits, and Nathan asked her if she wasfortable. Crystal was incapable of replying. Her difort had turned to pleasure, and from pleasure had bloomed le petit monde C and she thrust her hips forward as she moaned. Nathan bowed his head and bit her earlobe. Should I fuck you now? he whispered. Crystal: Yes! Fuck me! Nathan needed no further encouragement. He took hold of his manh**d and lined it up with her wet core, and as he pushed himself into her, the red koi carp scattered. **** Inside the Beverly vi on the white European-style balcony C Christine had just finished talking to the old Davis on the phone. He had agreed to investigate the medication that Nathan had taken to quell his manic rage, and she had arranged for one of her special servants to deliver the sample to him for her. The phone had startled the pigeons, and theyd flown away. Christine had a unique whistle, though, and when she blew it, one returned. She tied the medicine to one of the pigeons legs, content with the fact that neither infrared nor ultraviolet defense systems would detect the bird. Christines slender fingers stroked the pigeons white feathers. The old Davis would have the medicine in less than two hours, and the most famous pharmacist was standing by. Christine cackled as she lifted the bird into the air, and it took flight. Below her, Helen and Elma were taking advantage of the rose garden. Whichever way you looked at it, it was a spectacr sight to behold. From the balcony, though, it was truly majestic. Nanny looked up, and when she saw Christine, she whispered something to Helen. Then Helen smiled, looked up, and waved. Why dont youe down? Helen shouted. Were picking roses! Christine: No, thank you. I enjoy watching you from the balcony. You guys look like characters in a beautiful painting. Helen: Do you want me to pick some flowers for you? Maybe, Christine replied. Is there a fragrance from a flower that I could use to make a man fall in love with me for a long time? Helen thought for a while and then nodded enthusiastically. Yes, she replied. There is. Beforemitting suicide, Helen had studied with a very excellent perfumer who had developed a special kind of aromatherapy. If a heterosexual smelled the fragrance for at least one week, he would develop a strong interest in any heterosexual wearing the same perfume. Unfortunately, even though she knew the ingredients by heart, she did not know how to mix them properly. Chapter 187: Crystal Fell From The Hoarse When Christine heard that it was possible to mix a love potion, her face lit up. She looked down at Helen and said, This is such great news. Where can I get it? You cant get it, Helen replied sadly. Sorry to get your hopes up Thats a pity. Christine pouted and said, Such a potion could havee in handy. Then, seeing Helen on the balcony, one of the maids brought her a cup of rose tea. She epted it with thanks, and then she said, I havent seen Nathan and Crystal for a while. Do you know where they are? The maid nodded and said, They went out to the stables, and theyve taken the carriage out. Perhaps they went to the hot spring Christines face darkened, and she said, If they took the carriage, then they must have taken my favorite horse! But thats your favorite horse! the maid eximed! That it is, Christine agreed. Then, without saying another word, she walked back inside, put on her riding clothes, and grabbed the whip that was hanging on the wall. The horses name was Zeus, and it had been a gift from the Prime Minister to the Old Davis. But when Christine saw it, shed begged her Grandfather to let her keep it, and eventually, hed caved. She often came to the manor to visit Zeus, and she seldom let anyone else ride him or use him to pull the carriage. **** When they were done swimming, Nathan suggested that they unhitch the horses from the cart and go for a ride, and as rxed as she was, Crystal thought that it was a novel idea C and so it was that they wereing over a hill when Christine spotted them.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Nathan was riding a ck horse, which was his special riding horse. It had ck fur with a white marking on the forehead, making it look noble and elegant. Crystal was riding the brown horse, Zeus, which was Christines special horse, and when she saw the other woman riding her horse, her ire began to rise. She brought her hand to her mouth and whistled. When Zeus heard his masters call, he began to stomp and buck like crazy. Crystal quickly lost control, but Nathan rode up beside her and tried to reign Zeus in. It was useless, though. The wild horse would only listen to Christine, and he finally managed to throw Crystal off his back before long. Then he reared up on its hind legs and plodded on Crystals body. Crystal felt one of her organs burst, and her body began to seize. Now that Zeus was free, he trotted triumphantly over to Christine. Nathan jumped down from his horse and picked up Crystal, and the servants surrounded them. Get out of here! Nathan roared. His face was red, and the veins in his forehead were bulging. Get out of here before I kill you! He knew that some of them were only there to hinder his attempt to save Crystals life. Christine handed Zeus reins to the servant, and then she came over. Is she okay? she asked. What does it look like? Nathan roared. Crystal was still having a fit, and her eyes had rolled into the back of her head. If she doesnt live, there will be Hell to pay! Now go away! Go and call the doctor! Christine nodded, and as she rode off in the direction of the manor, some of the servants began to reattach the horses to the carriage. By the time the doctor arrived, Crystals seizure had stopped, but she was still unconscious, and she had a fever. The doctor looked her over and said, A horse has trampled her. Fortunately, it stepped on her hips. Shell be fine. Nathan scowled. Thats bullshit! he growled. Look again. She has a fever! Are you blind? Its because she has been frightened, the doctor exined. Nathan grabbed the female doctors cor. If shes fine, he hissed, why is she unconscious? Ill give her a fever-reducing needle, the doctor said. Just to be on the safe side. Will that be all? Fine. Nathan nodded and said, You may go. A servant approached. She got Nathans attention and said, Master, Miss Laurent is outside. She wants to apologize to Miss Smith. Apologize? Nathan scoffed. Tell her to fuck off. She can apologize to Crystal once shes recovered! Nervously, Nathan touched Crystals forehead with the back of his hand. Youre burning up, he whispered. Youre even hotter than before By then, Vic had arrived, and when he heard what Nathan had said, he ordered the Doctor to return. This time, when she took Crystals temperature, she seemed to take the injury seriously finally. Her face turned white, and she said, Shes hotter than ever. If she gets much hotter, she might die. Nathan red at the doctor. This is your fault! he shouted. So, save her! Its toote, the doctor wined. Her body is very weak. There is nothing that Modern Medicine can do. It is up to her now What is your role as a doctor? Nathan argued. If you cannot cure your patient, how can you say that you are a doctor? Im sorry, the doctor said. Well, sorry is not good enough. He turned to Vic and said, You know what to do. I do, said Vic as he drew his pistol from his holster. He pressed it to the doctors forehead and forced him to his knees. We have done everything we can, the doctor mumbled. She is going to die When Nathan heard that, he kicked the doctor in the stomach. Meanwhile, in the depth of hera, Crystal had a dream. In it, she was a little girl, and she was holding her Mothers hand. She was learning to walk. She took two steps, and then she stumbled and fell. Her mother smiled at her and said, Crystal, get up. You can do it. Be brave, child. Her knee was scraped, and she was bleeding, but she did not let that stop her. Slowly, she stood up and took two more steps. **** When Elma and Helen saw Christine on the horizon in the main courtyard, they ran out and met her halfway. It took them a second to catch their breath, and then they asked about Crystals health. Its not good. Helen sighed and said, She has a severe fever, one of her organs is crushed, and now shes unconscious. The doctor said that she might die Helen took a deep breath. She didnt expect the situation to be so terrible. Did Nathan say anything to you? she asked. Christine: No. Helen: Shall I call grandpa Christine: Dont worry. Crystal is hotter than ever, but even if she does wake up, it will be at least a few days before she wakes up. Helen: But Christine: Why are you so worried about Crystal? You need to take care of yourself and your child. I will deal with any other problems. Thats why Im here. Lets change the topic, Elma suggested meekly. Dinner is ready, anyway. Whats for dinner? asked Helen. Elma: Steak. Your favorite! Christine: It smells delicious. I am so d we do not have noodles. I almost vomited this afternoon! Helen smiled and said, Well, you wont have to worry about that tonight because tonight were having steak! Chapter 188: Where Are The Pills? Elma came over to Helen, and as she cut her steak, she said, Youll like this. The chef said that its cut from superior Grade A Alberta Beef. Christine cut a piece, put it into her mouth, chewed, and swallowed. Mmm she moaned. Fresh and juicy. Hers was cooked medium rare, which was how she liked it, but she felt like the texture of this particr cut of meat was different from all of the other steaks she had eaten before. Helens steak was well-done, though, and she did not notice any difference. She enjoyed the steak, but since shed gotten pregnant, shed had a poor appetite. Thus, she didnt know if the reason she was enjoying her steak was that it was delicious or because she was so hungry that, at that moment, she would have enjoyed anything she put into her mouth. Thus, to set the record straight, she requested another steak. While everyone was waiting, Christines phone buzzed. She checked the screen and saw that shed received a text message from the old Davis. He had just finished dinner and was getting ready to go for a walk in the yard with his birds. Typically, the old Davis didnt allow anyone to disturb his leisure time, so the message surprised Christine. She elegantly put down the utensils and gently wiped her lips with a piece of tissue. Then she picked up her ss of wine, excused herself, and walked out onto the front porch. Once she was alone, she dialed the old Daviss number from memory, and when he picked it up, he said, The pharmacist analyzed Nathans medication, and we have the results. Christine smiled. From the tone of the old mans voice, she could tell that he was pleased. What are the pills for? she asked. Essentially, theyre antipsychotics, the old Davis exined. They suppress a side of Nathan- an amazing side! C that very few people are familiar with. You may not believe it, but at the age of nine, he shot a five-hundred-pound boar. The tusks are still hanging in my room. And he is strong too! Once, he knocked down ten boxers in a minute. Do you understand what Im saying? When the conditions are right, he is bold, cold-blooded, and without weakness. He is perfect! Christine shivered because of his words. She looked down at her arms and found that they were covered in goosebumps. Christine: Do you mean th- The old Davis finished her thought. - that there is another person locked inside Nathans head? he said. Yes! That is exactly what I am saying! Another Nathan? Christine pondered the idea as she drank from her ss. And the medication is? The old Davis: Its a mood stabilizer: An antidepressant, anti-anxiety, antipsychotic. Nathan uses it to control the other Nathan. Its not good. I need some time to process everything youve just told me, Christine said. Is that okay? Go ahead, the old Davis replied. Im training my birds now, anyway. Call me when youre ready to talk. Christine thanked the old man and said goodbye. Then she finished her wine and threw the ss into the yard with all of her strength. She listened for the satisfying sound of ss shattering, but it never came, and she frowned. It felt like an ill omen. She took off her shoes and socks and looked at the scarlet nail polish on her toes. The color was bright and dazzling, and it matched her lipstick. She hopped off the deck suddenly and wiggled her toes in the grass. It felt nice, wet, and cold, and she started to walk in the direction of the hot pool. As Christine walked, she slipped her hand into her pocket and gripped the medicine bottle, and she wondered what Nathan would be like if he didnt take his medication C and if she would prefer that other Nathan. When she arrived at the pool, she dipped her foot in the water and wiggled her toes. The bottom of the pool was as blue as the sky, and the fish swarmed to her. She smiled, and after looking around to make sure that she was alone, she took care of the medication, stripped off her clothes, and eased into the water. **** At the Vi C Crystal had been brought to the room she shared with Nathan. Her breathing was shallow, her temperature was high, and she was still in aa. Nathan gently wiped her forehead with a cold cloth. He hadnt left her side since the ident, and he was exhausted. Crystal had been in aa for more than five hours, and she showed no sign that she would be waking up any time soon. Vic passed a bowl of tomato and beef soup to Nathan and said, Master Davis, you have to eat something. All that youve had since the ident is a sip of water! Nathan waved him away. He had no appetite. He med himself for what had happened, and he was so sick with worry for Crystal that anything he ate woulde right back up. So eating was as pointless as living would be if she died. I will eat when she eats, he said. Vic frowned. He didnt think Crystal would ever eat again, but he wisely kept his thoughts to himself. If she dies, then I will follow her into Deaths warm embrace C thought Nathan. He was determined to be with her forever, and the cryptic look on his face made everyone in the room ufortable. Vic reached into his pocket to search for Nathans medicine, but his hand came out empty. When Nathan saw that, he grabbed the bowl of soup and quickly ran out of the house in search of Christine- and Vic trailed behind him. Christine was bathing in the pool,pletely naked, and it didnt take them long to find her. Vic walked straight to her clothes. He began to rummage through them, but he didnt find what he was looking for. What the fuck are you doing?!?! Christine roared. Im looking for the pills! Vic shouted, Tell me where they are! Pills? Christine smiled innocently and said, I dont know what youre talking about. Dont give us that bullshit, Vic hissed. Youre the only one who had physical contact with me today. As he spoke, he approached Christine and squatted down by the side of the pool. Im innocent until proven guilty. Christine leaned back and spread her legs yfully. Isnt that how thew works? Her breasts floated on the surface of the water, and the men could make out the faint outline of her vulva. I dont know anything about any pills, she said. But if theyre so important, why not just ask the doctor to give you more? What are they for anyway? Vic sighed and said, Lets make a deal.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. What kind of deal? asked Christine. Vic: Tell me where the pills are, and Ill tell you a secret. Christine smirked, and she gestured for Vic to get closer. Then he whispered the location of the medication into his ear. As she spoke, Vics face turned as red as a beet, and she began tough hysterically. Well, she said. Now you know where the pills are. The only question is whether or not you have the courage to snatch them! Christine spread her legs open a bit more, and she winked. Vic clenched and unclenched his fists. He looked at Nathan and then back at the girl in the pool. Then, without even bothering to take off his clothes, he jumped into the water. With nothing left to lose, he attacked Christine. He grabbed her shoulders, and he shook her, and he didnt stop roughing her up until she was crying and begging for him to stop. Then he let her go, held his hand up to her with his palm open, and said, Give me the goddamn pills. Chapter 189: That鈥檚 Pathetic Arent you going to take the pills yourself? Christine asked. She looked Vic in the eyes and said, I bet you want to take them, you pervert! Without warning, Vic backhanded Christine across the face. No more games! he shouted. Give me the fucking medicine. If you dont, there will be more of that in your future! Vic raised his hand in the air to show that he was serious, and when Christine saw it, her whole body began to shake. Alright, she cried. Ill give it to you, and without any further action, she retrieved the bottle from her private pocket and handed it to Vic. There. Are you happy?!?! Vic shrugged and held the bottle up for Nathan to see. Happy enough, he replied. Now that he had taken the bottle, he made his way back to the pools edge. Then, once he was out of the water, he grabbed her clothes, rolled them into a ball, and tucked them under his arm. Give me back my clothes, you freak! shouted Christine. Vicughed and waved the small bottle in the air to provoke her. Much to his surprise, though, it made no sound. He opened the cap and was shocked to discover that the bottle was empty. Where are the pills? he growled. I threw them away! Christine replied nonchntly. Well, now youre definitely not getting your clothes back, Vic said. Then he nodded to Nathan, and they began to walk away. Stop! Christine cried. You cant leave me like this Vic smiled as he turned around. Oh, yeah, he said. I forgot to tell you my secret! Christine scowled and said, I dont give a flying fuck about your secret! I want my goddamn clothes! I think that once you hear what it is, youll care plenty, said Vic. Before I tell you, though, let me ask you a question. Did you enjoy your dinner? Did you notice anything different about it? The s-steak? Christine stammered. Her face turned white, and she asked, What ab-b bout it? Vic: It did taste different, didnt it? Im so d you noticed. At first, Christine thought that maybe shed been poisoned, but then something much worse urred to her she gasped, and her face turned white. Then, without another word, she pulled herself out of the water. Once she was standing, she used her right hand to cover her breasts and her left to cover her pussy. A littlete for modesty,ughed Vic. Dont you think? Oh, fuck off! hissed Christine, and she began to speed walk towards the vi. On the way, she met a maid. The maid saw her running around naked, and her eyes went wide. She asked, Where are you going, Miss Laurent? Christine did not bother to answer the maid. Instead, she ripped the womans apron off and used it to cover her body. Then she ran into the stable and began to search for her horse, Zeus. She couldnt find him anywhere, but all of his gear was there. Thus, by the time the stable boy returned, she was in full Panic Mode. Wheres Zeus? she cried. Please, tell me hes okay! The boy took a second to admire her mostly naked body before he answered. Finally, he said, Master Davis ordered the chefs to kill Zeus and make him into steaks for you as a treat When Christine heard that, she bent over and vomited on the ground in front of her. Some of it sttered onto her feet and legs, and she could see chewed-up bits of her friend in the sick. Her heart broke, and she began to scratch at her arms with her long fingernails C and it was a long time before she was able to move from the spot. **** Vic was anxious about what would happen if Nathan didnt get his medication, and as soon as they got back to the house, he contacted Barrett. Unfortunately, it would take at least 24 hours to get the recement dr*gs. Nathan wasnt nearly as worried as he was, though. Crystal was Nathans only concern now. Her antipyretic infusion wasplete. The doctor had changed her nutrient solution, and to everyones relief, her fever had finally broken. Vic brought a ss of water to Nathan and said, Master Davis, since Miss Smiths fever has gone down, you can finally get some rest. Nathans eyes didnt look away from Crystal for even one minute. He was reluctant even to close his eyes. He feared that if he slept, her condition would worsen. There was a knock on the door, and everyone was surprised to see Christine standing in the doorway. She was wearing a redce dress, and she had a bright smile on her face. When Nathan saw her, he frowned and asked her who had let her in. Never mind that. Christineughed and said, Brother, you gave me such a big gift. It only seemed right that I thank you in person! Thank me in person? Nathan was startled. He said, You must have really enjoyed your meal Of course, Christine was devastated, but she refused to let him see how much hed hurt her. She maintained her smile and said, Im very satisfied. I heard that you hired the well-paid Michelin 3-star chefs to cook for Miss Smith, and I have to say that you got your moneys worth. The steak they made really impressed me. Ill remember this for the rest of my life!This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Nathan: Well good. There is plenty more where that came from. For now, though, you need to leave. Crystal needs a quiet environment. Dont worry, Christine said, and as she stood up straight, she lifted her hands over her head. I just need two minutes. She pped twice, and two servants entered the room with a big gift box. The present was wrapped in the white paper, and there was a pink bow on the top. This is for you, Christine said. Its my way of saying, Thank you. I hope you like it. The servants put the gift on the ground in front of Nathan, and he gave Christine a menacing look. He was convinced that the gift was a trap, so he told the servants to throw it away. Christine was aghast. Whats your deal? she asked. Im not interested in any gift you might have for me, Nathan replied. I dont trust you, so go away! Christine looked Nathan in the eye for a minute, and then she began tough hysterically. I get it! she roared. Youre so afraid of me that you dare not open a gift from me! Thats pathetic! Nathan scowled at Christine and kicked the gift box at her, but she dodged it easily. Look at you! she continued. Youre so pathetic. You cant even control your temper! As she said this, she plucked the bow from the box. This isnt from me, though. I lied about that. Grandpa asked me to give this to you, so why dont you open it? Im curious to see what it is. Arent you curious? Christine tipped over the box without waiting for a reply, and its contents rolled out onto the floor. Chapter 190: Gerald Emerged Nathans ire began to rise when he saw what was in the box. It was a tusk from a wild boar, the 500 kilograms boar that hed killed when he was only nine years old. As he stared at it, his mind began to flood with images from that day, and his head began to ache. My pills! he cried. I need my pills! Nathan pressed against his temples with his knuckles. It felt like his heart was in a mp, and it was getting tighter. He grabbed at Vics jacket as the pain brought him to his knees. Vic turned and red at Christine, and when he saw that she was smiling, he wanted to kill her. You little bitch! he roared. You did this! It is all your fault! Christine chuckled and said, Chill your tits, Daddy-o. Then, much to his surprise, she produced a brown bottle from between her breasts and threw it to Vic. Vic caught the bottle with a confused look on his face. He quickly unscrewed the cap, took out two pills, examined them, and passed them to Nathan. He dry-swallowed the dr*gs, and within a couple of minutes, the pain began to subside, and his breathing returned to normal. Christine: I guess you dont like the gift Nathan red at Christine and said, Get the fuck out of here, and take that tusk with you! Christine snapped her fingers, and several servants came in to retrieve the tusk, and Christine left with them. Once they were gone, Nathan turned to Vic and said, Im tired, and I would like to be alone with Crystal. Vic nodded, and he ushered the servants out of the room, closing the door behind him. Then he looked around the room. Once he spotted Christine C she was leaning against a wall in the living room C he seized her by the neck and smashed her body against the wall. What medicine did you give me?! he demanded. Christine: Does it matter? Whats done is done. Vic: Know this: If anything bad happens to Master Davis, there will be Hell to pay! Tut, tut, tut. Christine smiled and said, Arent you the ever-loyalp dog? Whos the good doggy? Youre a good doggy! You deserve a gold star, but where would you like me to pin it? She lifted her knee and gently rubbed his genitals. Much to her surprise, though, his c*ck remainedid. Is he a man? C Christine wondered. Any time she had ever given a man this kind of attention, their little soldier had always risen to attention C Maybe he just needs a little extra help Cut the crap! Vic roared. Tell me! What was in the bottle? Poison! Christine hissed. Vics face turned white, and he tightened his grip on her throat. Am I that horrible? Christine gasped. I was kidding. If I tell you that it was the same medication that youre looking for, will you believe me? Vic slowly released Christine. You had better not be lying, he whispered. Christine: Dont worry. If something was going to happen, it would have happened already. The only thing that happened, though, was that his condition improved. His headache went away, and his anxiety levels improved. When you think about it that way, shouldnt you be thanking me? Vic: Dont push your luck. None of this would have happened if you hadnt stolen his medication or brought him that horrid gift. So, I dont want to see you prancing around this ce like some kind of hero! Christine could help but smile. She brushed his genitals with the back of her hand and said, If I helped you with your Erectile Dysfunction, then would I be a hero? Vics face turned red, and he opened his mouth to deny his problem, but before he could say anything, she walked away. Vic sighed and went to stand guard in front of the master bedroom. **** In the morning, Crystal moaned weakly, her long eyshes trembled, and her eyes gradually opened. She was finally awake. She hurt all over, and her burst organs hurt the most, but she was alive and d to be. She tried to recall what had happened to her, but she only remembered riding the horse and falling off him. There was nothing after that. It was all ck. She turned her head, and she smiled when she saw Nathan. He was holding her hand, and she felt like hed been holding her hand the whole time that shed beenatose. He was asleep now, though, and she was able to take in his features without feeling self-conscious. Nathan had bags under his eyes, and he looked exhausted. Poor baby C she thought C he is still extraordinarily handsome, though. No amount of lost sleep could ever steal his looks. Thats for sure! She reached out, and when she touched his forehead, she was shocked by how cold it was. She quickly withdrew her hand. Why is he so cold? C she wondered. She leaned forward to get a second reading, but before she could, Nathan grabbed her wrist and threw her off the bed. The pain from her burst organs exploded, and she nearly passed out again. Why is he doing this? C she wondered C Am I just a toy to him? She cried out for mercy, but he seemed not to hear her.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. He got up and stared at her coldly, without a trace of human emotion. Instead, his eyes were bloodshot and full of resentment. Does that hurt? he asked as he ground his heel into the back of her hand. How about that? Why are you doing this? Crystal cried. He was breaking her fingers, but he didnt even seem to care. Nathan: Woman, you woke me up! You should know the consequences of waking me up! Please Crystal whined.. Nathan smirked as he crouched beside her. Please, what? heughed. And before she could answer, he seized her by the throat. The scarlet in his eyes made him look like Satan himself. Crystal: Please Nathan Crystal could barely breathe, and she was too weak to fight him off. I am going to die C she realized. She was terrified. She did not want to die. Nathan tightened his grip on her throat and said, Its Gerald Davis. Crystal didnt understand what he meant. Nathan: My name is Gerald Davis. Not Nathan. Nathan is weak and cowardly. Gerald is a strong warrior, and he doesnt take shit from anyone, especially not sniveling, weak women! My name might seem difficult to remember, but dont worry, Ive got everything figured out. You see, you arent going to live long ever enough to get my name wrong again! Blood began to foam at the corners of Crystals mouth, her eyes rolled up to the back of her head, and her body began to shake as it prepared to give up its ghost. All the while, Gerald Davisughed. Chapter 191: No One Will Love You (Triggered Warning: This Chapter contains a sex scene and inappropriate words. If youre notfortable reading it kindly skip it and move to another chapter)ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Vic had been standing guard outside Nathan and Crystals room all night, and by the time the sun began to rise, he was famished. There hadnt been any problems all night, and it seemed that everyone was asleep, so he didnt see any reason not to go downstairs and toast himself a bagel. He was only gone for about three minutes, but when he returned, he immediately regretted going. From the hallway, he could hear what was going on in the bedroom, and he knew right away what had happened: The medication that Christine had given him was not the antipsychotic his boss usually took. Now the other Nathan was in control; the He who called himself Gerald. Vic let the bagel drop to the floor, and when he barged into the room, he was not surprised by what he saw. Sir! he shouted. Stop it! Nathan lifted his head and turned around. Then he looked Vic in the eyes, smirked, and said, Get the fuck out of here. I wont! Vic eximed. He charged, but Nathan grabbed him by the arms, threw him across the room, and he hit the wall so hard that the ster cracked. Ill teach you to mind your own business! Nathan roared. Vics mouth was covered with blood, and because of the pain, he could barely speak. You cant kill her he whispered. Cant I? Nathanughed. There is no such word in my vocabry, he said. Nathan Vic groaned. Dont do this Youll regret it My name is not Nathan! Nathan shrieked. Its Gerald! Got it? Gerald! Gerald! Gerald! Who the fuck is Gerald? C Crystal wondered. Her head was spinning, but she was still alive. If not for Vics distraction, though, she would have been dead already. She tried to wrap her head around the situation, but nothing seemed to make any sense. There didnt seem to be a reason for Nathans behavior. Before, he had wanted to protect her. Now, though, he was trying to kill her, and he was no longer responding to his own name. There was a knock at the door, and everyone turned to see who was there. What do you want? shouted Vic. Havent you done enough? Christine smirked at Vic but ignored his words. She turned to Nathan instead. Brother! she shouted. It appeared that shed been out riding. She dropped her whip on the ground, took off her gloves, and leaned against the door. Nathan red at Christine. Am I your brother? he asked. He figured that thest thing he needed was kinship or love. Christine smiled devilishly. She wanted Crystal to die, but not like this. She wanted Crystal to suffer more so that she could get back at Nathan for what he did to Zeus. Once he came back to himself, he would realize what hed done, and it would destroy him. You are my brother, she replied. And I wont allow you to kill this woman. Nathan looked down at Crystal. Her face had turned a ghastly shade of purple, and her body was trembling. She was barely conscious, and he felt nothing for her. Give me a reason to let her live, he said. My sister-inw is pregnant with your child, Christine exined. She provided you with this woman for you to use as a ything. She is meant to satisfy your needs if you know what I mean. Wink. Wink. Vic stood up suddenly, pointed at Christine, and called her a liar, but his outburst didnt faze her. She looked him in the eyes without fear, smiled, and took a brown medicine bottle from her trouser pocket. When Vic saw it, he froze. She had him over a barrel, and he knew it. Nathan turned to Vic and said, Is it true? Vic bowed his head and said, It is as she said. The woman is your ything. Nathan began tough hysterically when he heard that, and it took him a few minutes to settle down. Finally, he said, What a coincidence. It just so happens that Im hungry. Christine smiled at Vic, and she ushered him out of the room. Once Nathan was alone with Crystal, he scooped her broken body off the ground and dumped her onto the bed. Wh-What are y-you g-going to d-do? Crystal stammered. What do you think? Nathan asked. He pulled his shirt over his head and said, Since you are my ying, I intend to y with you! Crystal was terrified, but in the state that she was in, she could not move. She watched as his hands roamed over her body and stripped her of her clothes. She squeezed her eyes shut as he teased her breasts and tweaked her nipples. Her breasts were soft and plump, and they were two of the few ces that remained undamaged. He ced his hand t on her chest, and then he brought it up to her neck in a way that suggested that strangtion remained on his mind. His hand came away, though. Instead of throttling her, he grabbed her chin and ordered her to open her eyes. Wh-what d-do you w-want? Crystal asked as she forced her lids open. Nathan scowled at her and said, Who did this to you? Crystal frowned. What game is he ying? C she wondered. Why should I tell you? she asked. Nathan: Only I can touch my things. All invaders must die! Crystal: Whoever Did this must die? Nathan nodded. Crystal: Let me go, and I will tell you. Instead of letting go, Nathan pped her across the face. Dont get smart with me! he roared. Tell me who it was! Crystal smiled coldly and said, You did it! Bullshit! Without warning, Nathan pped Crystals wet core, and as she shrieked, he forced two of his fingers inside of her. I told you not to y any games with me, he said. Maybe this will teach you to tell the truth. He increased the pressure to emphasize what he was saying, and then he demanded to know if shed been with another man. Crystal had given up on the truth, though. She knew that no matter what she said, he wouldnt believe her. So, instead of defending herself, she spat a bloody wad of phlegm in his face and said, No one will ever be loyal to you, and no one will love you. You are unworthy of lo -! But, unfortunately, herst word was cut off as he began to throttle her again. A minute passed, and Nathan looked Crystal in the eyes. What do you have to say for yourself now? Chapter 192: I Knew I Couldn鈥檛 Trust You Crystal looked up at Nathan and said, I love Nathan, not you! Nathan growled and said, Nathan is dead, and I dont need your love. It is your body that I want. Crystal: I gave him my body, and I would rather die than give it to you! Nathan: How about if I take your body. And kill you? No Crystal cried. Please. This isnt you Dont you know that youre Nathan?!?! As she struggled, her hand brushed past the ss of water on the nightstand. She focused on it, and by using what little strength she had left, she was able to ssh it in his handsome face. Dripping wet, he was super sexy. Unfortunately, though, he was not acting very sexy. Nathan tore the ss from her hands and smashed it against the tables edge, turning it into a deadly weapon. As he brandished it over her, though, one of the shards happened to fall into her open palm, and she wrapped her fingers around it. Then she lifted it in the air and pressed it against his jugr. This needs to stop, she said. If you dont leave me alone, I will kill you. Nathan couldnt believe what was happening. He would never allow anyone to disobey his orders, let alone threaten him so arrogantly. He pressed his neck against the ss, and it broke his skin, causing a trickle of blood to drip down his neck. He smirked and said, Do it; if youre going to kill me, this is your one opportunity. So, dont blow it. Crystal was taken aback. Never in a million years would she have thought that hed call her bluff. Not knowing what else to do, she grabbed the bowl of fish porridge from the nightstand and dumped it over her head and all over her naked body. The porridge had a sickening smell, and it caused Nathan to gag when it hit him. Did this woman pour porridge on her head to stop me from touching her? C he wondered. It seemed like a ridiculous idea, but he could think of no better exnation for her actions. He gave her a stern look and said, Tell me, who is this, Nathan? Crystal: You dont deserve to know. Nathan: I will know. Crystal: Get me out of here, and Ill tell you! Nathan shook his head and walked out of the room without saying another word. Minutester, three servants came in. They gave Crystal a dirty look, and then they carried her into the bathroom to get her cleaned up. Once they had her in the bathtub, they turned on the water and proceeded to scrub her body. They were very rough, though, so Crystal said, You guys can leave. I can clean myself.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. We were told to do it, one of the servants said. Gerald will be mad if we leave you alone. Crystal frowned. She still didnt understand why Nathan was telling people to call him Gerald. I dont care about Gerald! she said. Gerald isnt even real! When the servants heard that, they pinched her arms, thighs, and chest. Then, when they twisted her nipples, she shouted at them: Dont you dare do this to me! Miss Christine said you are nothing but a ything, one of the servants replied. And she said that we could y with you, too. Crystal fell silent, and the servants thought that theyd finally put her in her ce. They were wrong, though, and once theyd let their guard down, she tied their hair together. You, stupid bitch! one of them yelled. Let us go! If you dont, Ill go to Miss Christine and reveal your wickedness! Crystal ignored them, and after doing a quick body scan, she realized that the bath had rejuvenated her. Even her burst organs no longer hurt, and she was able to stand easily. She smirked at the servants as she rose. Then she tied them up with towels and stuffed wash clothes in their mouths. Once they were secured, she got dressed and returned to her bedroom. When she got there, though, she saw that it was empty. I need to get out of here C Crystal realized, and she began to rummage around for anything that could help her escape. Unfortunately, her phone was gone. The money had been removed. I need Nathan C she thought C the old Nathan; the man I love; the man who loves and cherishes me. Unfortunately, he was nowhere to be found, and all that was left of him was this Gerald character Crystal heard a noise at the door, and when she turned, she frowned. Vic, she said. Whats going on? Everything is going to be okay, he replied. Ivee to fetch you. Crystal: How can I trust you? You said that I was nothing but a ything! Vic sighed and said, Im sorry. I didnt mean it. Please believe me. Christine forced me to say that Crystal: I will believe you if you tell me whats going on. Vic: I dont understand. Crystal: You do understand! What happened to Nathan? Vic: I honestly dont understand. Nathan is Nathan. He is my master, and he will always be my master. When Crystal heard that, he pped Vic hard across the face. Vic bowed his head and took the p willingly. Do you know why I pped you? Crystal asked. I pped you for Nathan! Then, she pped him again and said, That one was for me! Vics cheeks were burning, but he kept his head down. Miss Smith, he said, the master is waiting for you! I knew I couldnt trust you, Crystal hissed. Vic: You cane willingly, or I can drag you out. Your choice. Crystal held her head high like a proud peacock. She said, Ille. *** Helen was sitting beside the man that she was now calling Gerald. They were in the living room, and she felt like shed finally been given the life she deserved. She watched as Vic led Crystal in, and she smirked at the other girl as if to say, I win! Is this the woman that made me fall off my horse? asked Nathan. Crystals jaw nearly hit the floor when she heard that. What is this charade? she asked. Then, as she looked at Nathan, a thought began to form in her mind C What if this really isnt Nathan? Is it possible that Nathan has an evil twin, and his name is Gerald? But if thats the case, where is the real Nathan? Yes, Helen replied. This is the woman that made you fall off your horse. Chapter 193: She鈥檚 Trying To Escape Nathan turned to Helen and smiled. How can I reward you for being so nice? he asked. Helen: I dont want anything. I just want you to spend more time with the baby and me. Nathan: Sure. Why not? Do you have anything in mind? Why dont we take Miss Helen for a walk, sir? Nanny Elma interrupted. Nathan stood up, and Helen took his hand. But what about Miss Smith? she asked. Elma nced at Crystal arrogantly and said, Miss Smith is a servant. Shelle with us! Crystal smiled coldly. Of course, she couldnt refuse. At this point, she had no other options other than to do as she was told. When Helen held Nathans arm, she looked like a little woman. She was beaming with happiness and radiating joy. Crystal was still in a daze, though, and when Elma pushed her, she tripped and fell face-first into a statue and fell on her ass. She had been hurt more these past few days than she had in her previous eighteen yearsbined, and she was numb to it. Still, when everyone startedughing at her, she was reminded that there was always another kind of pain, one that she was not immune to. Crystal looked around. She assumed that someone would offer her a hand, so she was disheartened when she discovered she was alone. Finally, she got up and followed behind the others. Nathan turned his head and red at Crystal. He hadnt forgotten how shed refused his advances. Crystal knew that he was looking at her, and she looked away. She guessed that he would lead them to the city gate, through the fountain, to the sea. After all, they were walking along the cobblestone road C so where else would they be going? Crystal felt trapped, and she was ustrophobic. It didnt matter how big the vi was. So long as she was being held against her will, it felt like her world was closing in on her. Elma suggested they stop to pick some flowers. Miss Helen loves flowers, she said. Nathan frowned when he heard this. Few men liked flowers, and he was no exception. When he made this clear, though, it confused Crystal. Before today, he had always loved flowers. Tears welled up in her eyes when she thought about this. Where did my Nathan go? C she wondered, not for the first time. When Helen saw the look on her face, she began tough. Then, in a baby voice, she said, Oh, boohoo. Is Miss Smith going to cry? Crystal wiped her eyes and said nothing. Theres no point in starting an argument C she reminded herself. Helen returned to Nathans side, and they continued on their way. It wasnt long before they could hear the water, and Crystal said, I hear fetuses like to listen to the sound of waves. Its their favorite sound. Elma scowled and said, Who told you to talk so much? Then she pped Crystal across the face. Crystal didnt move at all, so she hit her again. When Crystal still didnt do or say anything, Elma was at a loss for words, and she stormed off in a huff. Nathanughed as he watched the confrontation, and when it came to its inevitable conclusion, he shrugged and said, That sounds like a fine idea. Lets give the fetus a treat and take it to the sea!Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Crystals eyes shed with happy surprise. You have good taste, she said. Look, Miss Helen is so happy. Nathan looked at Helen, and she forced herself to smile. All the while, she was cursing Crystal in her heart. Typically, she was azy person, and she had zero interest in walking all the way to the seat and back. **** At the sea C The first thing Crystal saw as they approached the water was the private ne floating on the water. Near that, there was a speedboat. It is a pity that I dont know the manors exact location C she thought C but maybe I can still figure something out There were pic tables and chairs along the beach, and Elma began to set out the snacks and beverages that shed brought. Nathan sat down with Helen and put his hand gently on her belly. She smiled and asked if there were any shells in the sand. He nodded and said, Go ahead. Collect shells if thats what you want to do. Helen took off her shoes and stepped on the sand like an excited child. Nathan: There are also conches and crabs. When Elma heard this, she looked at Crystal, pointed to the shoreline, and said, You, there. Go and fetch a conch for Miss Helen. Crystal sighed happily. She had been trying to figure out how to get away from these people and get closer to the ne, and she had not expected the opportunity to arrive so soon. Crystal nodded obediently and began to walk towards the water. Once there, she began to stroll along the coastline, gradually going deeper and deeper. She had a bag around her waist that had jewelry in it, and asionally shed bend down, pretend to pick up a shell, and add it to the collection. She looked back from time to time. Fortunately, no one was paying any attention to her. Crystal wanted to get on the ne, but she couldnt fly it. She was not a pilot, so she walked out to the speedboat. Once there, she quickly got on to it and pulled the throttle. The loud roar soon caught Nathans attention, and when he saw what that was, he used his cell phone and ordered Vic to deal with the problem. **** With the seat of the speedboat vibrating beneath her, and the wind blowing in her hair, Crystal felt free for the first time in a very long time. Unfortunately, the feeling did notst long. The minute she heard the Thwomp! Thwomp! Thwomp! Sound in the distance, she knew what it was. Nathan had dispatched his helicopter, and Vic was hot on her heels. A minuteter, Vics voice assaulted her from the helicopters loudspeakers: Miss Smith, our young master, orders you to stop! Crystal smiled coldly and muttered, Over my dead body! She stepped on the gas, and the speedboat sped up. The waves beat her face and blurred her vision, but she didnt care. She would be free, or she would die trying to escape. One thing she didnt know, though, was that Vic had picked up Nathan before giving chase. Thus, she was in more danger than she realized. Chapter 194: Who The Hell Are You? This is taking too long, Nathan muttered, and he drew a pistol from a hidden holster. When Vic saw it, he was shocked. Sir! he cried. Dont do this! Nathan ignores Vic. He aimed at the speedboat and fired three times. When he was done shooting, the boat spun in a half-circle and capsized. Crystal was thrown from the boat. She hadnt been hit, but she almost wished she had been. She would rather die than return, but hed taken that option away from her. She shook her fist in the air angrily as it settled overhead. A minute passed, and a ropedder dropped into the water. Then, from the loudspeaker, Nathan shouted, Come with me, or stay here and die. Its your call. But, if you choose death, I wont make it easy for you. I will shoot you in the arms and the legs, and you will drown out here in unimaginable pain. Crystal sighed as she grabbed thedder, and she began to climb up to the helicopter. Nathan from the loudspeaker: Thats a Good Girl! Crystal cringed as she climbed, and the minute she was safely inside, he pistol-whipped her across the face. You thought you could escape, heughed. Thats funny! Crystal stared at him without fear. She had been trying to figure out what was going on and why Nathan was behaving this way. None of it made sense to her, but as heughed, she was forced to believe that this man wasnt Nathan. It couldnt be. This man had the same face as Nathan, but his personality was very different from that of the man she loved. Do you think Im afraid of death? she asked. Im not. Go ahead and kill me. I no longer care! Nathan raised an eyebrow and lowered his gun. He said, If you were dead, I would be out of a ything, and I wouldnt want that. Crystal grabbed the gun and pressed it to his forehead. Who the hell are you? she shouted. And wheres Nathan? Tell me, or Ill kill you! When Vic heard that, his face turned white. Crystal! he cried. Dont do it. If you shoot Gerald, Nathan will be gone forever! What the Hell is that supposed to mean? Crystal growled. She turned her head slightly, and while she was distracted, Nathan tried to swat the gun out of her hand. She was on edge, though, and she pulled the trigger. She closed her eyes and flinched in anticipation of a gunshot that never came. Nathan began tough, and she slowly opened her eyes. Had this been loaded, he said, do you think I would have actually let you get your hands on it. What kind of a fool do you take me for? Crystal was speechless. Nathan swiped the gun from her, and then he struck her with it again. Crystal cried out in pain, and she brought her hand up to her jaw. Already it was beginning to swell, and it was wet where her skin had split. Why? she gasped. Nathan smirked and said, There is no Why? Only weak people ask Why? Strong people do what they want. C and he hit her again. Nathan was like a machine. He took a bullet out of his pocket, loaded the gun, aimed it at the cor that Eric had put around her neck, and fired at it. The gunshots sound was loud in the enclosed space, but the sound of the cor breaking was even louder. Nathan took the cor and dropped it on the ground. Then he made a ne out of rope, hung a bullet from it, and said, Keep this. If youre ever serious about killing me, you can use this bullet. Kill you? Crystal scoffed. Im afraid of getting my hands dirty! Now, give me back my cor! Nathan picked up the cor and studied the soaring eagle and the red jewel. Crystal reached for the ne, but he was too quick for her. He slipped it into his pants pocket.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Crystal held her palm open. Give it back to me! she whined. Nathan: Lets make a deal. Crystal: Fine. You can have your stupid bullet back in exchange for the cor you stole from me. Nathan smirked. Tell me something, he said. Whose ything for you, Nathans or mine? I am nobodys ything! Crystal eximed. Only perverts treat women like ythings. If I were, though, I certainly would not be yours! Youre imprisoning me. I should have called the police when I had the chance. Furthermore, at this point, it doesnt matter who you are. I dont give a shit even though you are Nathan. He is almost as bad as you are. I was under his care when I fell into that death trap and when the horse trampled me! Crystal ripped her new ne out of Nathans hands and tried to throw it out the side of the helicopter, but he caught it. How dare you throw my ne away? he growled. Crystal grinned and spat a wad of bloody phlegm at Nathans hand. Some of it sttered in his face, but most of it dripped down his fist and coagted on the ne. Sheughed and said, That is what I think of your ne. Now kill me. If you have the guts! You will wear the ne! Nathan roared. And you will never take it off! You will not die, and you cannot run. Crystal rolled her eyes, but instead of getting angrier, Nathans expression softened. He yfully Boops her nose and said, If you want to see that man again, behave yourself. If you make me happy, Ill consider letting you see him. His words gave her cause to pause. Finally, she said, Where has he gone? Who the hell are you? And what is your rtion to him? Are these your only questions? Nathan asked. He puts the ne around Crystals neck, and her mucus saliva oozes slowly down her chest. He dipped his finger in it and smeared it in a circle. He tasted it, and then he said, You have more personality than Helen. Did you know that? Crystal: What the Hell are you even talking about? Chapter 195: Have You Not Seen Him? Nathan looked Crystal in the eyes and said, You are the first woman to hit me. You should be afraid. Crystal: I wont be thest. There are lots of people that want to hit you. After all, you look stupid.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Nathan chuckled and said, Stupid is as stupid does. Crystal: Then you must be the stupidest man on the. Here, let me ask you a few questions: Am I a ything when I am called a ything? They say Helen is your fiance. So, is she your fiance? What if I said I was your mother and Helen didnt have your baby? If you could not answer my questions, wouldnt that prove that you are stupid? Nathan had been able tough it off the first time she had said that he was stupid, but his ire began to rise as she repeated the insult over and over again. Are you done yet? he growled. Suddenly, he flung the door open, grabbed Crystal by her cor, and hung her outside the helicopter. Call me stupid one more time, he said. I dare you! Crystal looked down and thought C If he dropped me, I wouldnd in the water. I could swim away. So, what have I got to lose? Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. She sang these words in a way that was reminiscent of a childs nursery rhyme. You are fucking stupid. You say C say youll kill me, but you dont dare. Stupid C fucking C Stupid! Suddenly, and much to her surprise, Nathan let her go. His grip loosened, and she dropped into the sea. A wave washed over her, and she disappeared from his view. A minute passed, and she reappeared, coughing and spitting up water while she trod water. Crystal glimpsed a stationary raft not far away, and she swam towards it. She climbed on the board andy on it. She was exhausted, and her head hurt. The helicopter was still hovering over her, and when she turned her head, she could see the man shed nowe to think of as Gerald. For a second, she thought he would leave her alone, but she wasnt surprised when he didnt. Instead of returning to the vi, he dived in after her. He hit the water like a pro, and he swam towards her. Crystal jumped back into the water and tried to swim away, but he was a better swimmer than she was, and she hadnt fully recovered from having her organs ruptured. Once he caught up to her, he grabbed her ankles and said, Youve put me in a bad mood. Crystal scowled and said, You seem rather narrow-minded. Nathan: You will never see the person you want to see again. Crystal: Why must I go through you to see him? Who do you think you are? Nathanughed. You really dont get it, he said. Thats hrious. I cant believe that they didnt tell you! Crystal: Tell me what? Nathan: That I am HE, and he is ME. Crystal: I dont believe it. Youre nothing like Nathan. Be that as it may Without finishing his thought, Nathan put his hands on Crystals head and pushed her under the water, and he held her down as she thrashed about. When he finally let her up, she was half-dead, and her weakness aroused him. He cupped her left breast with his right hand and leaned forward to kiss her neck. Meanwhile, Crystal was still choking and coughing up seawater, and by the time she could talk or resist, he had his hand under her shirt. He was twisting her nipple and sucking on her corbone. It takes a real man to assault a helpless woman sexually, she hissed sarcastically. You think that just because youre a man, you can do whatever you want? Nathan: I can do what I want to you because you are my ything. It has absolutely nothing to do with my gender. Crystal: Does doing this make you happy? Nathan shrugged and said, Happy enough. Crystal: You said that if I made you happy, you would think about letting me see Nathan. Nathan: Have you not seen him? Crystal: Im not in the mood to joke around with you. Nathan: Im not in the mood to joke around with you, either; just answer the question. Have you not seen him? Before Crystal could reply, Vics voice boomed overhead: Theres a big wave ahead. Im dropping thedder. Youd better get up here quick. Both of you. Nathan grabbed thedder and carried Crystal up with him, and they were able to return to the shore without any further incidents. Helen, Nanny Elma, and several bodyguards were waiting for them, and when they saw the condition that Crystal and Nathan were in, the servants hurried forward to wrap him with bath towels. She did not receive such kindness, though. Nobody there gave a shit if she lived or if she died. Once Nathan was dry, he called Vic over and asked if the doctors had arrived yet. They did, Vic replied. He looked hesitant at Nathan and said, But Out with it! Nathan roared. Vic: It turns out that the DNA cannot be tested until the fetus is eight weeks old. Give them a week, Nathan growled. It is a simple procedure. If they cannot do it by then, I will have their hospital shut down. Helen looked pale. She was the only pregnant woman there. What is the DNA test for? she asked. Nathan, If you have my baby in your belly, I will give you my surname. But if not, then I wont, and I will be displeased. Unfortunately, the baby is at risk when you try to collect peripheral blood through an umbilical blood puncture. With world-ss experts, though, the risk is drastically reduced. When Helen heard this, she froze in ce, and her mind went nk. Shepletely zoned out, and by the time her cognizance returned, only Nanny Elma was there. Elma: Are you all right, miss? Helen: Im fine, but can I ask you a question? Elma nodded, but she didnt say anything. Helen: If Nathan and Gerald are the same people, then why is he testing my baby? Elma: Dont worry. The Old Davis said that, even if the test is done, Christine will help us forge the results. Helen: Im afraid he knows something, and who knows what he would do if he discovered that the baby isnt his and that weve been lying to him all along. Chapter 196: Give Me Some Time To Think About It At the Davis Mansion C the old Davis was sitting on a couch, studying his antique coffee machine. He put a cup of coffee under his nose and sniffed, and he felt refreshed. As he took a sip, the butler came in and said, Christine is here, Sir. Christine walked over, and she sat down in the chair across from the old man. She looked sharp in her sleeveless ck shirt and white tights. She smiled at him and said, Grandpa, how will I be rewarded this time? The old Davis: What do you want? Christine took a stack of photos out of her bag, put them in an envelope, and said, Id like a brownie cake. Is that all, the old Davis asked, startled. When she didnt reply right away, he began to look at the photos. Each one was magnified. Everything could be seen clearly, and from a variety of angles. There was one of Nathan strangling Crystal, another of him pressing a gun against her forehead, and a few of him trying to drown her. He could tell just by looking at them that they werent fake. As he was looking at the photos, a servant appeared with a tray of brownie cake. Christine took one, had a bite, and moaned as she chewed it up and swallowed it. So fucking good, she sighed. Thank you. Im d you like it, said the servant. He put the te on the table and left them alone. The old Davis put the photo down. Then, without looking up, he said, To prevent Crystal from escaping again, Ive sent more than a dozen bodyguards to keep an eye on her. She will not be allowed to leave the grounds without my or Nathans say so. **** Crystal did not know who to expect at the Beverly vi when she learned that they were expecting a distinguished guest. All of the servants were helping in the kitchen, and the only one paying attention to her was a bodyguard. This gave her some hope that, maybe just maybe, there might be an opportunity for her to escape. She thought about twisting her sheets into a rope and escaping through the window or knocking a servant out and pretending to be that servant. She didnt think either of these ideas would pan out, though, so she gave up on the idea of running away. At dinnertime, Crystal was forced into the dining room by the bodyguard. By then, most of the seats were full. Everyone wasughing, and she quickly learned who their guest of honor was. It was the old Davis, and he gave her a dismissive look as he drank his wine. When Nathan saw her, he said, What are you doing? Were short-handed. Get the sd from the kitchen. Crystal nodded, and when she returned with the sd, a figure stopped her and took it from her. Ill take that, Eric said. Crystal gasped. She didnt expect Eric to be there. Eric: Hey, Pretty. Did you miss me? Crystal: What are you doing here? Never mind that, Eric replied. He touched the red marks on her neck and asked if Nathan had been hurting her. Crystal shook her head and said, I dont know what youre talking about. Dont give me that, Eric whispered. Its obvious that someones been strangling you. Not only that, but youre no longer wearing my cor. Tell me everything. Crystal nervously looked at Nathan. She sighed and said, Nathan has a psychotic disorder and multiple personalities. Hes supposed to be taking dr*gs, but he was denied his medication recently, and his second personality has taken over. Are you talking about Gerald? Eric asked. Crystal was shocked to learn that Eric knew about the other Nathan. She nodded her head and asked, How can I get my Nathan back?. Eric smiled and said, Trust me, this will all work out, and you will have your Happily Ever After. Crystal gave him a skeptical look and said, How do you figure? Eric: The Old Davis has been looking for a sessor, and of all his students, Christine is his favorite. Unfortunately, she is a girl. He thinks that only a ruthless, cold-blooded man could be qualified to be his sessor, though. He wants Nathan to marry Helen, and he is using her pregnancy to force his hand. The Old Davis doesnt care if Nathan loves her not. All that he cares about is having his own people around him. Crystal sighed and said, I dont understand You will in a minute, Eric said. Here is the critical part: Nathan had a twin brother. The Old Davis gave each of them a gun and told them to try to kill each other. And because they were twins, no one knows for sure who lived and who died. This other Nathan is a man with no heart and no desire, which suits the old Davis, and that should make you happy. Nathan has been treating you badly, but you have no way of knowing if it was Nathans psychotic dual personality or if its Nathans twin! Crystal was distraught. I dont know why that should make me happy, she cried. Eric: If Nathan is dead, and this impersonator is willing to be with Helen, then the old Davis has no reason to keep you prisoner or do you harm! Crystal was in shock. She began to feel dizzy, and she would have fallen if Eric hadnt been there to catch her. Eric sniffed her hair and said, Do you want to get out of here? Id like to, she replied, but the manor is a fortress. No one gets in or out without Nathan or the old Daviss say so. Eric: You let me worry about that. When I tell the old Davis that I want you, no one will stop me. Crystal: Give me some time to think about it. Eric: I will return in seven days, and I will ask you for your hand in marriage. Crystal was shocked. She looked up at him, but she couldnt tell if he was serious or joking from his expression. Can you get something ready for me? she asked. Eric agreed immediately. If she went with him, he would do anything for her. He would even give her his life. Suddenly, Eric grabbed Crystals hand. She tried to resist, but he was too strong. Eric: Dont you want to know the true identity of the man who you know as Nathan but is calling himself Gerald? Crystal nodded and stopped resisting. Eric led her into the dining room, and as they approached, everyone stopped to look at them. The old Davis frowned, and Christine raised her eyebrows. Nathan caught sight of their interlocked fingers, and he red at them fiercely. Eric looked at the old Davis and said, You must remember the girl I told you about.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Is that her? asked the Old Davis. He eyed Crystal and thought C It is no wonder Eric and Nathan both fell in love with the same woman at the same time. This woman is something special. If Eric hadnt taken a fancy to her, I would consider taking her for myself. Chapter 197: Can You Groan? Eric looked to Nathan, then to the old Davis, and he said, I want to take her away in a few days. You dont mind, do you? Shes just one of my ythings, Nathan replied. Shes not good enough for you, Master Bush. As he spoke, he gave Crystal a look that was both yful and predatory.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . If you want her, you have my full support. Just take her away, said the old Davis decisively. Crystal thought they were all crazy. She hadnt reached a consensus with Eric, and they were talking about her as if she were amodity- she thought C Who do they think they are, and why do they think they can decide my fate? Thats funny! Eric smiled and said, Thank you, old Mr. Davis. On the day of our wedding, it will be my great honor to have you be our witness. Youre going to marry her? Christine asked skeptically. She eyed Crystal disdainfully. Yes, Eric replied. I am going to marry her. He narrowed his fox-like eyes, sat down, and signaled for Crystal to sit beside him. Crystal bowed down her head. She wanted to pull her hand out of Erics tight grip, but he would not let her. She felt very ufortable, and there were goosebumps all over her body. Eric let one of the servants set the utensils for Crystal. Then he cut a piece of steak and lifted it to her mouth. You cook a lot better than this, he said. But have a taste anyway. I think that youll like it. Crystal tilted her head. She wanted to dodge him, but he winked at her, reminding her to cooperate with the performance. Taking the hint, she ate the steak and showed him a sweet smile. Ill cook for you every day, she said coquettishly, once were married. There was a bit of sauce at the corner of Erics mouth, and when Crystal saw it, she drew a tissue from her pocket and wiped it off for him. Then, as she withdrew her hand, he held her chin with his hand, lowered his head, and leaned into her. Their noses pressed together, and everyone at the table thought that they were kissing. Their movements seemed to be natural and real. Nathan scowled and said, Get a room for Master Bush. Beside him, Vic was angrily clenching and unclenching his fists at his sides, and his face was red. Crystal knew the Nathan in front of her was no longer the man who loved her and spoiled her. That man would never let another man touch her. Even so, when she heard him say such words, her heart hurt. Eric smiled and said, Master Davis is always so thoughtful. He looked at the old Davis, whose head was nodding heavily. The old man seemed to not care very much about the conversation anymore. Any suspicion that hed harbored in his heart about Eric had already disappeared. Suddenly, Eric picked Crystal up, and he carried her to the room that the servants had prepared for them. As soon as the door was closed behind them, she struggled to get out of his arms, but he would not let her go. Instead, he pressed her against the door. The ambiguous assault made Crystal ufortable, and she tried to push him away. Much to her surprise, though, instead of letting her go, he pressed himself against her with more force. Stop, she cried. Youre hurting me. Eric smiled and said, I like that. Can you groan? Crystal: Why? Eric: Arent we going to have sex? Crystal looked straight into Erics eyes, and she instantly understood his meaning. She shook her head and said, How can I groan in a situation like this? Eric: Come on. Dont be such a prude. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Right? Crystal bit her delicate lips so hard that they almost bled. Fine, she sighed. Hmm she groaned. Ah Your c*ck is too big Youre going to break me Eric was startled by her groaning, and he hurriedly covered her mouth with his hand. Be professional, he scolded her. Those dont sound like sex noises. They sound like the noises someone would make while being abused! Crystal thought about it for a minute. She tried to remember what the heroines in porn sounded like, and she tried again. Hmm she groaned. Im hot Yes, yes thats it thats it Thats what Momma likes Eric pressed his body to the door, but the coldness of it could not put out the fire of desire that Crystal had ignited inside of him. Her groaning was like cat ws. They scratched him and made him itchy. Crystal: Ah Great Awesome I want more more Hmm Ah Eric could barely control himself. Suddenly, Crystal punched him on the chest, which sobered him up instantly. Why dont you groan? Crystal protested. Eric: Men dont groan until they reach orgasm. **** Christine put her mobile phone back into her pocket on the other side of the door with satisfaction. Then she walked back to the dining room, sat down, turned to the old Davis, and said, Grandpa, Eric is so cheeky. How can he do that while were having dinner? He needs some discipline. The old Davis took a leisurely sip of wine and said, Young men are always energetic. Just let him be. The old man watched Nathans ruthless persona C the man he called Gerald C from the corner of his eye. This side of Nathan was cruel and bloodthirsty and entirely unlike his weaker persona. The weaker persona was talented and knew how to run a business, but he was a disappointment to the old man because he had no interest in the regime. If the coldblooded Gerald persona remained in control, though, things could be different, and his position in Huston would be impregnable. Before today, the old Davis had thought that more observation would be needed to see which persona would win the war over his Grandsons body, mind, and soul, but it seemed that the answer was obvious. He smiled and thought- Nathan was dead. Long live, Gerald! Christine frowned when she heard the old Daviss reaction. She wasnt willing to let the matter go, so she walked over to Helen and whispered something in her ear. Then she ced her phone on the table, turned up the volume, and yed the audio she had just recorded. As the groaning began, Vic nced nervously at Nathan. He expected an outburst. But, much to his surprise, one never came. By now, Nathan was a little bit drunk, and he excused himself to go to the bathroom. He took a piss, and after washing his hands, he sshed some cold water on his face. Then, as he leaned over the sink, he looked at himself in the mirror, and he felt out of sorts. He felt a doubling effect in his mind, and his reflection seemed somehow foreign to him. For no good reason, he found himself thinking about Christines audio recording. He thought C Damn it! As soon as Im not by her side, that woman hooks up with another man. And so quickly! And she even intends to marry him?!?! Where did that thoughte from? C he wondered. Chapter 198: Are You Please? It took an enormous amount of effort on Nathans part not to smash the bathroom mirror. When he closed his eyes, not only could he hear Crystal and Eric screwing, but his mind yed an X-Rated picture show behind his eyes. The only thing that he could think to do to make it go away was to hurt himself. After rummaging through the bathroom, he finally found a straight razor. He put it to his arm and drew several harsh, red lines. Blood oozed from the cuts, ran down his arms, and slowly dripped onto the sink C and as he stared at his face in the mirror, his Gerald persona was put to bed.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Nathan looked at the cuts, and he was numb to the pain. It was nothingpared to the pain he felt over losing Crystal. He wanted to confront the old Davis, but he knew that he needed to y for time. Only by gaining the old mans trust could he hope to find evidence of him monopolizing power. Until then, he could not let anyone know that he had reverted to his old self. Ten minutester, Vic knocked at the door and said, Master Davis, the old Mr. Davis, and Master Bush are going home. When he came out of the bathroom, he saw that Eric was holding Crystals hand. Her face was flushed, and there were bruises on her neck. These were tell-tale signs that they had sex. **** After seeing Eric off, Crystal went back to her room, but she didnt turn the light on. It had been a long night, and the darkness offered her somefort. She leaned against the door and sighed in relief. Gradually, she felt a chill creep over her. The way that Nathan was behaving was incredibly hard on her. She tried not to think about the love that they had shared, but her mind would give her no peace. Part of the problem was that she was confused. She thought C If Gerald is Nathans second personality, what happened to the first personality? Is it possible that it wille back? When no answers came to her, she began to weep. She held her head between her hands and applied as much force as she could. She thought how nice it would be to squeeze her head until it exploded. Then she wouldnt need to think about anything ever again. Suddenly, the light in her room turned on, and when Crystal saw who was in the room with her, her face turned white. Wh-Wh-Why are- y C you here? she stuttered. Nathan: Mrs. Bush seems very unhappy. Why are you here? Crystal asked again, this time with more confidence. Nathan: This is my bedroom. Why cant I be here? Dont forget that as long as youre here, youre still my ything. Im nobodys ything! Crystal sneered. Nathan: You could have fooled me. After all, werent you just ying with Eric? Whatever, Crystal replied. Master Bush has a better figure than you do, and he is more skilled at the art of lo- Nathan didnt allow her to finish her sentence. Instead, he grabbed her by the back of her head, pulled her close, and began to suck on her tongue and gnaw on her lips. She started to bleed, and the coppery taste of blood mingled between them, but he did not stop his assault on her. Then, when he finally did let her go, he twisted her nipple as hard as he could and did not let go. Who has better skills now? he hissed. Crystal wailed in pain as she tried with all of her might to pry his fingers off her breast, but it was of no use. Not knowing what else to do, she bowed her head to bite his hand. When she did this, though, she happened to see the cuts that he had carved into his arm. At first, she thought that the wounds were random, but then she realized that he had carved her name into his flesh. Why would he do that?- she wondered. When Nathan saw where she was looking, he let go of her nipple and covered his arm with his hand. It was toote, though. She had seen the markings, and she understood what they meant. Youre not Gerald! Crystal shouted. Youre Nathan! I am not! Nathan roared. Never say that name again! Do you hear me! Crystalughed and said, Stop pretending! I dont believe that. Only Nathan would carve my name into his arm! Nathan refused to acknowledge what she had said. Instead, he ordered Vic into the room and demanded that he bring Helen to him. Helen had been taking a bath, but it wasnt long before Elma ushered her in. There was a faint smile on her face, and it got bigger when Nathan invited her to sit on the sofa with him. He let her sit on hisp, and he carefully brushed her hair behind her ears. He looked into her eyes and said, Has anyone ever said that youre very beautiful? Helen shook her head. Even if someone had, it didnt count. There was only one persons opinion that she cared about, and that was Nathans. Crystal wrinkled her brows. She was more confused than ever. She had seen her name carved into Nathans arm, and she was confident that she knew what that meant. Not knowing what else to do, she turned around and began to walk towards the door. Time to leave C she thought. Before she got even halfway there, Nathan said her name. Crystal froze in ce, and then she slowly turned back around. What now? C she wondered C If he is hoping to have a threesome with Helen and me, he can shove that idea up his ass! Once she was facing Nathan, she stood akimbo and said, What now?!?! Nathan smiled as he ran his fingers through Helens hair. Is she pretty? he asked. Crystal: Sure. Shes Mrs. Davis. Of course, she is pretty. Nathan: You were my woman, too. So, how about you? Are you pretty by default? Crystal did not want to answer his boring and meaningless question, so she turned back around to leave. Nathan frowned, and Vic took the initiative to stop her. Vic: Miss Smith, please answer Master Davis question. Its not an unreasonable request. Crystal rolled her eyes and said, I am pretty too, but not as pretty as her. There. Are you satisfied? Not quite, Nathan replied. Tell me this: In what ways are you not as pretty as Helen? Crystal sighed and said, Look, she is better than me in every way. Her figure, character, everything. Are you pleased?!?! Nathanughed as he ran his hand over Helens belly. Did you hear her? he said. She is worse than you in every way. Only you are qualified to stand beside me. In my eyes, she will never be anything more than a ything. To me, or to anyone else. Chapter 199: I Can Do This Helen was confused. She did not know what was going on in Nathans head, and she felt extremely ufortable suddenly. She looked up at Nathan and said, Miss Smith is also good, and she has a better personality than I do. Many men like her type. My brother, for example, is one of those men. Crystal could no longer bear Helens condescending attitude. She looked at Nathan, and in a cold tone of voice, she said, You should stop trying to humiliate me! Im about to be Mrs. Bush, and Ill be your sister-inw, so you should show me some respect! Humiliate you? Nathanughed and said, Mrs. Bush, Im just giving you a chance to see yourself for what you truly are. I dont want people to say that I did not teach you well, and I hope you wont cause me to lose face after you marry into the Bush family. After all, you dont need me to humiliate you. You humiliate yourself on your own just fine! I wont be humiliating anyone! Crystal shouted. So you dont need to worry about that! She could no longer stand to be in the same space as them, so she pushed Vic aside and ran out of the room. Once Crystal was safely away, she took a few deep breaths to calm herself down, and then she went into one of the spare bedrooms where she could be alone with her thoughts. She still could not figure out why Nathan was behaving the way that he was. It made no sense to her. Crystal was exhausted, and she thought about going to bed, but then she felt a rumble in her stomach. She had not eaten much at supper, so she headed towards the kitchen to get some food. To get there, though, she had to pass her bedroom. From the hallway, she could hear people talking andughing, and she peeked inside. Helen was sitting on the sofa in her pajamas while Nathan was seated opposite her. Vic was standing by the door, and he spotted her almost immediately. He greeted her in a friendly manner, but when Helen saw her, she said, Miss Smith, itste. Why dont you go to sleep? Crystal scowled and said, Why dont you go to bed? Doesnt the baby need extra rest? Helen: Gerald said that a little wine before sleep would help improve the quality of our sleep. Well go to bed after having a small ss. Crystal nodded and walked away without saying another word. Once she was in the kitchen, she rummaged through the cupboard for a bag of instant noodles and cooked it in a pot. Pretty soon, the smell of the noodles had filled the kitchen. Unfortunately, she had lost her appetite. She had a few bites, and then she returned to the spare room. Along the way, she stopped outside her bedroom. The lights were out, and the thought of Nathan and Helen sleeping together tore her apart inside.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. **** After helping Helen to bed, Nathanid down beside her. The fragrance of her shampoo drifted into his nose, but he would never touch a pregnant woman. Furthermore, he would never have sex with any woman other than Crystal. Vic had told him that Crystal looked unwell, and he assumed that it was because she hadnt eaten enough at supper. That worried him, and it made it impossible for him to sit or stand. Finally, he told Helen he needed a cigarette, and he walked towards the kitchen. Then, from a secret hiding ce, he watched Crystal cook noodles. As he watched her, he yed out the events of thest few days in his mind, and he felt guilty. He had put Crystal through a lot. He noticed that she had lost some weight, and he traced the cuts on his arm with his tongue. The wounds were deep, and they hurt, but they were afort to him. Finally, he went back to his room, and when he climbed back into bed, he fell asleep right away. Crystal got up very early the next day. She had been up most of the night anyway, so she saw no point in staying in bed. She thought about peeking into her bedroom on the way to the kitchen, but the door was closed. She assumed Nathan and Helen were still sleeping, but she found Helen and Elma cooking up a storm when she got downstairs. When Helen saw her, she looked up, smiled, and said, Good morning, Miss Smith. Crystal nodded and returned the greeting. Helen: Ive made some toast for Gerald. And coffee. There is a lot of food. Do you want to join us? After some hesitation, Crystal declined the invitation, and she decided to get some milk from the refrigerator. Elma looked at Helen and said, Miss, you must be tired fromst night. Ill finish up with the toast so that you can rest. Helen: No, Im not tired. Elma: The Young Master loves you so much that he is even loath to make you tired. Helen shrugged dismissively. Well she said. I am pregnant. So, what do you expect? Elma lifted her fingers to cover her mouth as she tittered. Crystal looked in the fridge, but the milk was not there. She looked around and saw that Helen had it at the table. She walked over to get it, but Helen stopped her. Helen: Elma will serve you the milk if you eat some toast. Drinking milk on an empty stomach is not good for you. Crystal sighed and said, Fine. Then Id like some strawberry jam on my toast. Helen smiled brightly and said, No problem. Crystal: Have a servant bring it to me in my room. Helen nodded withoutment. When Crystal turned around to leave the kitchen, she found Nathan blocking her way, and her heart missed a beat. Every time she saw him, her heart ached, and she had to bite the inside of her mouth to keep her feelings in check. She told herself to be strong and not to let him push her around. I can do this C she told herself. Crystal looked Nathan in the eyes and said, Get out of my way! Chapter 200: How Much Do You Need? When Nathan refused to get out of Crystals way, she tried to push past him. As she did this, though, he leaned into her, and she was overwhelmed by his warm, familiar breath. Crystal frowned and asked him, What are you doing? She hated the fact that when he approached her, she was always powerless to resist him. Nathan red at her. How dare you enve Mrs. Davis? he hissed. Crystal winced and took a few steps backward. Wh-Wh-What do y-you mean? she stammered. Nathan: How dare you force Helen to cook for you?!?! Crystals face turned white, and she was too surprised to speak. Luckily, Helen was nearby, and she hurriedly exined: I made too much food, and so I invited Miss Smith to have some. Nathan nodded. Then he walked behind Helen and hugged her slender waist with one arm, just like how he had cuddled Crystal in the past. He propped his chin on Helens shoulders, and in a gentle voice, he said, Why do you still call her Miss Smith? Shes going to marry your brother, so we should call her Mrs. Bush. Im just not used to it yet, Helen admitted. She turned to Crystal and said, Im sorry, Mrs. Bush. You dont mind, do you? Crystal took a deep breath, shook her head, and said, No worries. I dont mind. Nathan held Helens hands and asked her, Did you hurt your hands? Helen: No. Nathan brought her hands to his chest and said, Every part of your body is mine. You are not allowed to get hurt unless you have my permission. Helen: Hmm. I see. The disy of affection between Nathan and Helen was ufortable for Crystal to watch, so she tried once more to go back to her room. Unfortunately, he stopped her again. You havent thanked Helen, he said. We call you, Mrs. Bush, but you dont even have the most basic etiquette? It doesnt matter, Helen argued. Mrs. Bush is my elder. It is not necessary. Nathan snorted and said, She is not a patch on you. Crystals face turned red from anger when she heard that. I didnt even want the fucking toast! she growled. And if you do not like my etiquette, then quit provoking me. I am warning you; if you keep it up, I can be even more impolite. Now, if you dont mind, Im going upstairs! Nathanughed as Crystal stormed up to their room. He was only pretending to be HE, and it was more fun than he had imagined it would be. And it will all work out in the end C he reminded himself. **** In Crystal and Nathans bedroom C No matter what you do to me, Crystal muttered. I will not forgive you. Never! She went to her bed, picked up a pillow, and hit it hard against the bed. She did this repeatedly until she had vented all her rage, and, finally, sheid down. She closed her eyes and tried to put her troubles out of her mind. She had only been resting for a few minutes, though, before her phone rang. Crystal sighed as she sat up and checked the Caller ID. It was her real estate agent. She epted the call and said, Hello? Miss Smith, the agent said. This is your real estate agent. The vi youvemissioned me to sell attracted a lot of buyers, but when people learn that its your house, they dont call me back. Crystal: Why? The agent: You can ask Mr. Davis for the details. After your discussion, if you still want to sell your house, feel free to call me again. Crystal hung up the phone without saying goodbye, and she rushed to the study. Nathan was sitting behind his desk as if he didnt have a care in the world. Crystal red at him and said, Why did you stop me from selling my vi? Nathan shrugged and said, Do you need money? Crystal: Thats none of your business! Nathan shrugged again and said nothing. Crystal took a deep breath and tried to soften her tone. Listen, she said. My friends Father C Serenitys Father is sick. She needs money to pay for his medical expenses. Without it, hell die. Nathan: So? What is Serenity or her father to me? So?!?! Crystal eximed. They mean something to me!!! She didnt dare to look in his eyes for fear that he might discern the truth, that she was lying. I want to sell the house and lend money to her! Serenitys father was sick, but not to the extent that he needed her to sell the house. She just wanted to save some money for the life she nned to live after she left Nathan. Nathan: How much do you need? Crystal: Five million. Nathan was not stingy, but he wasnt stupid either. He knew that nobody would sell their house to lend 5 million dors to a friend, even if it were a life and death situation. Nathan thought she must underestimate his IQ. Crystal: How about you lend the money to me? Or, if you prefer, I could sell you the housePlease check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Nathan was thinking C It seems that she is determined to marry Eric Bush. Obviously, she wants to sell the house and disassociate herself from me. For her, the house doesnt have any memories worth treasuring. That doesnt mean that I have to make this easy for her, though! The house does not have any investment value, he said. And the reason why I wont allow you to sell it is that the true owner is not yet known. Crystal: Then lend me the money. Nathan: If you need money so badly, why dont you ask your fianc? Give me a break! Crystal snapped. Will you or wont you lend me the money? Im not a charity! Nathan snapped back. When will you pay it back? I dont know, Crystal admitted. Could you treat it as a gift to me? Nathan: Why would I do that? Dorus: Im your ex-wife. As my ex-husband, you should pay me alimony. Nathanughed and said, Youre not my ex-wife. As I know, you are Nathans ex-wife. Crystal was taken aback. Were not back to that again, are we? Suddenly, she wanted to smash his teeth into his face with her fist. Instead, her left eye twitched, and she said, Fine. If I am your ything, you should pay me for mybor. Nathan smirked, and he said, As my ything, you should be servicing me and me alone, but who have you been performing for these past two days? Crystal: Dont you have Helen? What do you want me for? Nathan: Its not her that is asking me for money. And besides, she is pregnant! What am I going to do with that? Isnt her pregnancy the reason why you were brought to me? Chapter 201: You Have No Choice Crystal was reaching the end of her rope. Tears ran down her eyes, and she wiped them away with her sleeve. Is there anything that I can do to change your mind? she begged. Nathan met her eyes, and a shark-like Cheshire grin appeared on his face. I will give you five million dors a night, he said. If you perform to my satisfaction for five nights in a row, then I will give you the money that you need to save your friends Fathers life! Do we have a deal? Crystal didnt want to be a prostitute, but if selling her body was the only way to get the money she wanted, she was willing to do it. She nodded her affirmation, and then she walked out of the office. Her head was in a haze, and her thoughts were all a jumble, but she was brought back to reality by the sound of her cell phone ringing. It was Serenity. Crystal had sent her friend her: GPS coordinates in the hopes that they could determine her location. She hoped that Serenity had some good news for her, but she was sorely disappointed. I cant find your location, Serenity said sadly. Im sorry I see. Crystal fell into deep thought. She had hoped to escape by herself and not let Nathan or Eric know where she was going. Crystal sighed. All she wanted was her original life. It had been simple, but at least she had been free to live it as she pleased. Serenity: What are you going to do? Crystal: Eric said that he could take me out of here Serenity: What about Professor Davis? He Crystal paused. After everything that had happened over the past few days, she couldnt think of a way to sum it up quickly. Finally, she said, Serenity, I just want to go home Serenity: Fine. Lets get you home. Are you hiding something from me? What happened to Professor Davis? Crystal: Its nothing I simply want to live alone Serenity: Crystal, no matter what happens, you have to remember that Im always with you, and I have your back. When Crystal heard that, she began to cry. Through all of this, you have been the only one I could trust and count on, she said. I cannot thank you enough for your friendship and support. Thats what friends are for, Serenity assured her. Anyway, there was something else I wanted to talk to you about. I finally remembered where Id seen the cufflink you were going on about. Crystal: Where? Serenity: Do you remember my cousin Nancy Carter? She married a Kuerto man, and on her wedding day, our whole family went to Kuerto to attend the ceremony. Anyway, the groom C my brother-inw C had the same cufflink as yours! I do remember! Crystal eximed. Before she got married, we had dinner and drinks together. A picture of the tender, weak, mild-mannered woman appeared in her mind. Do you have Nancys address? Serenity: You dont want to go there, do you? Kuerto is far away I would like to go there, Crystal answered with certainty. Serenity: Alright. Ill send the address to youter. When do you want to depart? I can have Nancy pick you up at the airport.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Crystal: That would be great. And the sooner I can leave, the better. I had nned to go to apletely strange ce anyway, to start apletely new life, and Kuerto sounds perfect! **** That evening Crystal went to her and Nathans room to present herself to him. She knew that he was expecting her, so she was surprised to find that the door was locked. She had the key, though, so it presented no problem. Nathan had given her the key when they had moved into the vi. It was a key with an infrared recognition system, and it could open all the doors in the manor. Including the door of my heart Nathan had said. Crystal remembered that night. He had pressed her hand on his heart and sung to her a love song. All men are liars C she thought bitterly C Liars and pigs! She tried to set aside the hurt in her heart as she unlocked the door and pushed it open. Inside the room, the readingmp was still on, and Helen was lying on the bed. She looked like she was asleep. She didnt see Nathan, so she was going to leave, but then she felt a hand on her arm. A familiar mint fragrance drifted into her nose. It frightened her, and she took a step backward. Her instinct was to run away, but the hand mped around her wrist and twisted it behind her back. Nathan, she whined. Youre hurting me Nathan: For a million dors a night, I should be able to hurt you as much as I want. Or do you renege? I do not, Crystal whispered. Nathan: Okay! lets do this. Crystal: You dont mean here, do you? Nathan: Whats the problem? This is our bedroom. Crystal looked at Helen and said, But Helen is sleeping Im not worried, Nathan said as he pulled her towards the sofa. If you are, then maybe you dont need the money as badly as you led me to believe Crystal gritted her teeth and sat down beside him. She had no choice but to do as he bid her. Without his money, she could go nowhere. Nathan took out his checkbook and a pen, and he wrote out a one-million-dor check with Crystals name on it. But he did not sign it. Instead, he held it in the air, waved it in front of her cold eyes, and said, If you make me happy, Ill sign my name on this. Crystal red at Nathan. She had never hated anyone as much as she did Nathan at that moment. She wanted to kill him, but she knew that she couldnt. She needed the money too much. Fine, she said. But I still dont want to do it here with Helen sleeping there. Nathan smirked and said, You have no choice. Not if you want the money. Chapter 202: Nathan Davis, I Hate You (Triggered Warning: This Chapter contains a sex scene and inappropriate words. If youre notfortable reading it kindly skip it and move to another chapter) Nathan looked Crystal in the eyes and rudely Bopped! her on the nose. Do you renege? he asked yfully. Crystal sighed and said, I do not. Nathan reached out without a word, dragged her into his arms, and began to caress her back. She went limp in his arms, and when his free hand found her thigh beneath her skirt, she forced herself not to flinch. She reminded herself to C Think of the money. Nathan brushed her ear with his nose and whispered. Ive turned you on. I can tell. As he spoke, he moved his hand closer to her pussy, and her skin broke out in gooseflesh. After being with Nathan before, her body had been conditioned to be very sensitive to his touch. Her body felt feverish as if her blood vessels had been injected with an aphrodisiac, and she felt her panties dampen. Against her will, Crystal had be aroused. Nathans warm breath, the temperature of his skin, and the tender touch of his fingers inspired her most primitive instincts toe to life. Along with those natural instincts, though, came the socially programmed feelings of shame and hate. I am no different from a dirty wh*re C she realized. Still, she could not help but moan as Nathans thumb brushed against her vulva, and she lifted her hips to embrace his palm. Across the room from them, they could hear Helen breathing. asionally, she mumbled. She had a dainty snore that was precious rather than obnoxious. Crystal had no idea how she would respond if she woke up and saw what they were doing, but as Nathan rubbed her clitoris with his index finger, she discovered she did not care. It would serve her right! C thought Crystal, wickedly, for all the times Helen had used her position of privilege to belittle her. So far, all of Nathans below-the-belt y had been above her panties, and when he tried to push them out of the way, she tightened her legs against him. No! she hissed. Not that! Nathan blew on her ear and whispered, Why not? Cant you bear it? As he used his strong hand to force her legs apart, she began to regret her decision to sell her body to him. Let go of me! she cried. She rolled her eyes at him and clenched her teeth. Nathan: Everyone has been having sex with you, Mrs. Bush. Theres no need for you to pretend to be reserved. And besides, the night has just begun. Dont forget your obligations, my ything. Dont! Crystal whined. She was trying to keep her voice low so that she didnt wake Helen. Dont what? Nathan asked as he bit her ear. Dont stop? Crystal clenched her teeth and said, Stop it! Obviously! I mean, stop it! Nathan smirked as he rubbed her pubic mound over her underwear. Finally, his hand came out, and he shoved it into her face. You dont want me to stop, heughed, so quit ying around. Look at how wet you are. Youre practically sopping wet! Crystal cursed as she reached out to push his hand away. Does it make you happy to degrade me like this? Nathan: Sure, it does. Did you think that I would make this easy for you? Why do we have to do it in front of Helen, Crystal whined. We could go somewhere else The most insulting thing was not his humiliating words or even the things he was doing. The worst thing about what he was doing was that he was doing it in front of another woman. Forget that! Nathan snarled, and he tore her skirt off. She seized one end of the fabric and tried to use it to cover the front of her panties. By now, they were utterly translucent, and Nathan could see every crease and fold. Crystal gasped and said, If you do this, I wont forgive you! Nathan shrugged. He wanted her to think that he did not care what she said, but when she started to cry, his heart ached. He could not wait to renew his old romance with her. Seeing her being intimate with Eric, though, and knowing that she intended to marry him, had sent him into a downward spiral C and now he wanted her to pay. He thought about how Eric and Crystal had fucked in the spare room while everyone was eating. He had wished that he could rush in and take her by force, right there in front of Eric. Then Eric would have known who Crystal belonged to. Crystal widened her eyes with disbelief, and her pupils erged as Nathan applied pressure to her clitoris. She couldnt believe that he was pleasuring her in a room where another woman was present, but he seemed not bothered, and her vag*nal fluid made her powerless to resist his invasion. Her vision blurred as he slipped his hand into her underwear. He found her mons pubis, applied pressure, and made slow circles. Her heart was beating rapidly, and she bit her lower lip to keep from screaming. Her mouth filled with blood, but she didnt feel the pain.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Crystals body tensed up as she experienced her first orgasm in what seemed an exceedingly long time. Once it was done, though, she felt dirty, and she began to struggle to escape Nathans grip. Unfortunately, he seemed to have expected that, and he held her in ce with one hand pressed against her abdomen and the other on her pubic mound. Nathan shoved two fingers inside of Crystal, and all her oxygen escaped her. Once she settled, he leaned over her, smiled, and said, If you want to wake her up, keep struggling. Twist and shout for all I care! When Crystal heard that, she went limp. I give up, she said. Do whatever you want Good girl. Nathan leaned in, kissed her ear, and said, If you want the money to save your friends Father, you had best behave. As Nathan flexed his arm, Crystal saw the engraving on his arm. She touched it listlessly and whispered, Nathan Davis I hate you Nathan could not bear to hear that, and for the rest of the night, he treated her extremely gently. But it was still the cruelest sex that they had ever had for Crystal, and it left a painful shadow on her heart. Chapter 203: It Was An Accident The following day, Crystal crept from the sofa, fumbled for her clothes, staggered back to her room, and went directly into the bathroom. Once the door was closed behind her, she looked in the mirror and frowned. Crystal felt like crying. Nobody cares about your suffering, she told herself. So, quit whining. Without bothering to undress, she climbed into the shower, curled up into a ball, and ran hot water over her trembling body. Eventually, the water began to cool, and she stripped off her clothes so that she could wash away the events of the night before. But, like a particrly bad smell C like that of a cigarette or a skunks spray C no amount of scrubbing could alleviate her mental trauma. She could not believe that she had allowed herself to be forced for money, and she hated herself for enjoying it. The whole time that Crystal was under the water, she cried. Her whole body hurt, but her heart hurt worse. The water ran cold, and she let it run over her until her skin was blue. By then, her teeth were chattering, but she finally felt numb, and with a hand that no longer felt like her own, she turned off the water. Crystal took a long time drying off and getting dressed. By the time she was done, though, she had found a way to put on a false front. When she opened the bathroom door, she heard someone ying the piano in the living room, and she went downstairs. The music had sounded professional, so Crystal was surprised to see Helen and Nathan ying a duet. They look good together C she thought bitterly. Suddenly, Crystal felt like an outsider in her own home. She didnt care for the music, but she didnt like the idea of skulking away like a beat dog, so she sat on the couch and pulled out her phone. At the end of the song, Nathan nced at Crystal. He produced a check from his shirt pocket, set in on the top of the piano, and said, I am satisfied withst nights performance. So, I will live up to my end of the bargain. Here is your money. When youe again, though, Ill be looking for a little bit more creativity and active participation on your part. It may not be tonight, though. I will call on you when I want you. Do you understand? Crystal grunted nomittally, which irritated Nathan, so he got up and walked over to where she was sitting. Then he leaned over, gripped her jaw, and kissed her on the lips. Crystal lifted her hand to p him, but he caught it mid-swing. She red at him. Fuck off! she hissed. Nathan snickered as he let go of her chin. Then, he took Helens hand with a wink and a nod and led her out of the living room. Once they were gone, Crystal went over to the piano and picked up her check. She touched the numbers and sighed sadly. The digits seemed to beughing at her. If only there were one more zero C she thought C Then I would be set!! I could travel around the world, do and see whatever I wanted, and forget those that I want to forget. After surfing the inte for the entire morning, Crystal began to feel bored. She remembered that when Helen had made bread, she had mentioned that Eric liked cranberry cookies, so she decided to do some baking. First, Crystal downloaded a baking APP. Next, she found a good recipe. Then she gathered the required ingredients and got to it C and time went by very quickly, as it often does when one is having fun. Crystals first attempt did not go well. The cookies came out of the oven as hard as rocks, and she started a fire. The second batch turned out better, though, and in the following days, she spent a lot of time baking in the kitchen. The best of the batches went into a special biscuit box, and the duds went into the garbage. In this way, when the day came for Eric to return, there was arge assortment of cookies waiting for him. Meanwhile, Nathan had been keeping his eye on her. He thought C That Bitch! She cannot wait to leave me! **** Crystal was packing her luggage in her room when she heard someoneing up the stairs. She thought that it was Eric and she rushed out to meet him. It happened to be Helen, though, and they bashed into each other, and the pregnant woman tumbled down the stairs. Luckily, the doctor happened to be at the house at the time. She had initiallye to take an in utero blood sample for the Paternity Test, and when she heard the sound of Helen fallingbined with her screaming, she came running. Nathan was the first to arrive at the bottom of the stairs, and he was startled by all the blood. Crystal was also stunned, and for a moment, she could not move. But once her mobility returned, though, she rushed down the stairs to see if Helen was alright. But when she knelt next to the pregnant woman, she received a p across her face for her concern. You do everything you can to harm my baby! Helen shouted. How dare you push me down the stairs? You just want to make me miscarry! How can you be so vicious!?!? Crystal cried out in indignation: It was an ident! Helen covered her abdomen weakly and said, Crystal Smith, we both know that is bullshit, and you will go to hell if my baby dies!.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Nathan red at the two women, and then he asked Helen, Were there any witnesses? Do you have any proof that this was not an ident? Proof? Helen sneered. She dipped her fingers in the blood pooling between her legs and lifted them for everyone to see. Isnt this proof enough? she asked. But surely someone must have seen something Helen eyed two of her personal servants and gave them a stern look. Almost immediately, one of them stepped forward and said, While I was cleaning the table, I saw Miss Smith rush towards Mrs. Davis. I didnt expect her to push her down the stairs, but that is what happened. I saw it with my own two eyes. I saw it too, the other servant said. Crystal began to look around the room frantically. Of course, her servants would say that! she eximed. But isnt it more likely that she put herself in this position intentionally to avoid having to take the Paternity Test? Doesnt it seem like too much of a coincidence that this happened, just as the doctor was about to take the sample from the fetus? How can you say that! Helen shouted. She put her finger in Crystals face and calmly said, You pushed me, and now you have the gall to say that I did it deliberately in an attempt to kill my baby? That is crazy talk. No mother would harm her baby intentionally! Chapter 204: One Life For Another Nathan looked, first at Crystal and then at Helen. Okay, he said. Before we start using anyone of insinuation, lets have the doctor take a look. In the meantime, the guards will lock Miss Smith up and keep an eye on her. Two strong men took hold of Crystal and escorted her out of the room without being told directly. She was led down the hall and pushed into the first room on the left. Well be on the other side of the door, one of the guards said, so you may as well be good. Crystal sat on the ground without saying anything, and as the door closed, she began to cry. Why does nothing ever work out right? C she wondered C And why does Helen have it out for me? I never did anything to her After about half an hour, the door was pushed open, and Nathan walked in. He had several bodyguards with him, including Jack, who was another one of his right-hand men. Jack waved his hand, and two lower-ranking bodyguards pulled Crystal to her feet and out into the hallway. She assumed that they were taking her to Helens room to plead guilty, so she did not struggle. But once she realized her assumption had been wrong, she asked, Where are you taking me? The bodyguards ignored her question, and as they led her into the basement, she began to tremble. At the bottom of the stairs, there was a long hallway. There were many doors on either side of them, but the guards did not stop until they reached the room at the end. Crystal looked around frantically, and she nearly wet herself when she saw the wooden cross that had been fastened to the wall. D-D-Did N-Nathan asks y- you to k-keep me here? she stuttered. One of the guards chuckled as they fastened her to the cross, but neither of them answered her question. As afraid as Crystal was, she didnt start to cry until Jack entered the room with a whip. He gave her a cold and gloomy smile, which looked incredibly creepy in the dark, dank basement. You killed Master Daviss baby, he snarled. I am here to make you pay for that! Without waiting for a response, Jack let the whip taste her skin. Crystal shrieked in pain. And he whipped her again. After that first cry, though, she refused to make a sound. Jack continued to flog her viciously, and the more stubborn she was about keeping her pain to herself, the harder he whipped her. She was in agony, though. The expression on her face and the tears that ran from her eyes were evidence of that. Along with the physical pain, there was also emotional pain. It broke Crystals heart to think that Nathan would subject her to this torture, and as time passed, she realized that she had lost the capacity to love. Her heart had died. The whip flicked the side of her ear. It was the first attack that had targeted her face, and she nearly cried out. By now, her clothes had been shredded, and her body was one big open wound. Time had lost all meaning to her, and she began to prepare herself for death. One life for another C Crystal thought absently. She no longer cared if she lived or if she died. Suddenly, the overhead light turned on, and Crystal was momentarily blinded. The room fell silent, and then Erics voice broke the silence. Crystal? he gasped. Oh. My. God. Look what theyve done to you The man with the whip stepped up to Eric, but before he could say anything, Eric punched him so hard that he copsed. Take me away from this evil house! Crystal cried. Eric: I will ask the doctor to treat your wounds first. Then I will take you away, and I will never let anyone touch you again. What about Helen and her baby? Crystal asked. Do you believe me? I didnt push her! Eric replied without hesitation: I believe you. Of course, I do! Crystal: But she is your sister Eric: Ever since you saved your friend with a ss bottle, Ive known that you are an honest person. In my heart, you are kinder than anyone, and even as you are, you are still my pretty. He embraced her then, and she began to cry tears of gratitude without saying a word. Besides, he continued. Helen has always been a conniving little cunt. I wouldnt trust her any further than I could throw her out! Despite her pain, Crystal chuckled. Thank you. Youre wee, Eric replied as he carefully took Crystal off the cross. He carried her into one of the spare rooms, and he had one of the servants call for the doctor toe and treat her wounds. **** While Crystal was being tormented in the basement, in the master bedroom C Helens stomach was twisting and turning nervously. She was lying on the bed, and when the doctor finally entered the room with Nathan and the other guard, she felt like she was going to vomit. The doctor came over and sat on a chair that had been positioned beside the bed. Youve been through quite a lot, he said softly. Now, I need to check on the baby. Can I do that? Helen nodded, and the doctor put a stethoscope against her belly. After a minute, she smiled and said, It seems that everything is fine. You should still make an appointment for an ultrasound. Do you understand? Helen nodded again but said nothing. She knew what wasing next and she was terrified. The doctor looked at Nathan and said, Do you still want the Paternity test? Nathan: That is why youre here. The doctor nodded, and she began to rummage through her bag for what she would need, but before she was able to find what she was looking for, Vic rushed into the room. His face was white, and he was out of breath. Nathan red at him, and when he asked what the problem was, Vic whispered into his ear: Someone has absconded with Crystal. I think it was Eric Nathans face turned red from rage, and he pushed Vic away as he stood up. He went directly to the room Crystal had been sleeping in, and he barged in C and when he found her in Erics arms, he began to clench and unclench his hands at his sides. Eric looked Nathan in the eyes and said, Master Davis, I must take Crystal away from here. Nathan scowled and said, She cant leave. He would not let her go. He wanted to tell her that Helens child was not his, and he still had to exin why he had been mistreating her. Mr. Davis Crystal whined. Is it your intention to end my life? It broke Nathans heart to hear her call him Mr. Davis. Jack used the punishment arbitrarily he exined. Surely, you understand.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Crystal: Mr. Davis, I dont owe you anything anymore, and you no longer have any authority over me. We are over. You had no right to punish me, even arbitrarily Nathans head began to hurt as he realized that she was right. He rubbed his temples and squinted his eyes against the overhead light. This has to stop, he muttered. Without a word of warning, Nathan strode forward and reached out to pull Crystal into his arms, and when Eric tried to stop him, he punched him in the face. Eric stumbled backward and fell on his ass. Eric shouted his sisters name as he stood up, and Nathan punched him again, this time in the gut. Nathan was going to hit him a third time, but as his fist swung, he felt cold metal against his forehead, and he froze. Crystal was holding a gun in her hands, and the muzzle was pressed against his head. Chapter 205: I Will Keep Your Secret Crystal red at Nathan. If you hit him again, she said, I will shoot you! Do you know what you are doing? Nathan asked. He tried to grab the gun from her, but she stepped backward C she didnt shoot. Nor will she C thought Nathan as he stood up and stepped toward her. Crystal didnt give him another warning. Instead, she lowered the gun, aimed at his left thigh, and fired. The sound of the st was deafening, and everyones ears began to ring. The attack barely slowed Nathan, though. He stumbled backward a step, but once he recovered his bnce, he resumed his approach. Crystal adjusted her aim and shot him in his right leg. This shot brought him to his knees. It was loaded with Tranquilizer Darts, so there was little blood, but she was happy enough with the results. She didnt need him dead. She only needed him out of the way. Crystal rushed over to Eric. She gave him a big hug and asked him if he was okay. He said that he was, but Nathan reached out to grab her feet when she went to help him off the ground. The moment Crystal felt Nathans fingers touch her ankle, she spun around and shot him in the hand. Nathan shrieked as he fell backward, and the next time he tried to get up, he could not.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Meanwhile, Erics bodyguards were subduing Nathans bodyguards. Once Eric was on his feet, he walked over to Nathan and spat in his face. I should kill you for what you did to Crystal, he said. And I might still Crystal looked at Nathan. He looks so pathetic C she thought. After what he had put her through on the cross, her heart was dead for him. He cant hurt us anymore, she said disdainfully. Lets just go. As soon as Crystals wounds were cleaned and bound, she gathered a few of her things, and Eric took her away from that horrible ce. It was a short trip to the airport, and along the way, Crystal began to rummage through her backpack. She pulled out an exquisite tin box, put it in his hands, and said, I heard that you like cranberry cookies, so I made some for you. Eric was thrilled. He didnt want much. If he had his pretty, he was happy, but the fact that she had gone to the trouble to bake for him was almost too much to take in. He epted the gift and held it in a way that suggested it contained much greater treasures than cookies. Next, Crystal took out a purple frosted vial. I learned about aromatherapy from Helen, she exined. This isvender. I really like the smell. Do you want to try it? Eric nodded, and she removed the cap so that he could get a good whiff of it. Almost immediately, he began to feel tired. He closed his eyes and fell asleep. Crystal looked at him and sighed. She felt sorry about what needed to happen next. Since leaving the vi, she had realized that things werent going to work out the way Eric had nned. He might be good to her, but she knew that Nathan wouldnt let her go so easily. He would find her, challenge Eric, and they would both get hurt in the end. That was not what she wanted. She just wanted to go to a strange ce where neither man could find her, a ce where she could live as an independent woman. Along with the cookies and therapeutic oils, she had also brought the fake ID and the Passport that Serenity had procured for her. When she got to the airport, she purchased her ne ticket and contacted Nancy so that she would have someone waiting for her at the other end. **** It was a sixteen-hour flight to Kuerto, and it was early morning when the ne touched down. Looking out the window, Crystal felt the joy of having endless possibilities wash over her. She hadnt slept well on the flight, but she felt positively energized. Because she didnt have much luggage with her, she was able to pass through customs quickly and without incident. Of course, she had felt nervous about how well the fake Passport would hold up, but her worries had been for nothing, and Nancy was waiting on the other side. She was a smaller woman, but the giant sign with Crystals new name on it was impossible to miss. Thest time Crystal had seen Nancy, shed been fifteen or six years old, but she still looked the same. Nancy was only five years older than her, and Crystal thought that they would be good friends. The older woman rushed forward and gave her a big hug. After chatting for a while, she drove back to her vi with Crystal in the passenger seat beside her. Compared with the manor where Crystal had been imprisoned, Nancys home was not very big. The decoration style was traditionally European, with elements of Kuerto throughout. There was no sign of a male presence, and Crystal asked Nancy about her husband, Paul. We are recently divorced, Nancy admitted. I havent told anyone yet, so I would appreciate it if you kept my secret Crystal: Im sorry. I didnt know. And of course, I will keep your secret. Can I ask you what happened? It is not a long story, Nancy replied. And it would be better told over coffee. She led Crystal into the kitchen, poured them each a cup of coffee, and as they sat down at the table, she continued: At first, Paul was truly kind to me. I thought that he truly loved me, but after we were wed, he told me that he only wanted me so that I could give him a child. Thats awful! Crystal eximed. It is, Nancy agreed. The room fell silent for a minute. She looked at her coffee, and as the steam washed over her face, she closed her eyes. When we met, I was young and na?ve, and he yed me like a fiddle. But, unfortunately, the good times did notst long, and everything changed after rk was born. Where is rk? asked Crystal quietly. She felt terrible about reopening these wounds. She hadnt even known about the baby, let alone all the grief Nancy had been through since they hadst seen each other. Nancys shoulders were slightly trembling, and tears had welled up in her eyes. He drove me out of my own home, she replied. Then he took rk away and thats the end of the story, I guess. Chapter 206: It Won鈥檛 Work After everything that Crystal had gone through with Nathan, it broke her heart to hear that Nancy, like her, had been so disempowered by a man. Crystal had found her salvation, though, and she thought maybe Nancy could too. She touched her new friends hand and said, This doesnt have to be the end. There is always room for hope. I dont know about that, Nancy admitted. Most of the time, I dont even know what Im doing from day to day. Should I go back? Should I try to fight for custody of my son, or should I just leave well enough alone? I know that Paul will be a good Father to rk, but the woman he is with is no good Crystal: When was thest time you saw your son? Nancy: Its been a while. I dont know. Even when we were together, Paul didnt let me see rk. I had to beg to see my own son, and most times, he still didnt let me see him Crystal: Were you sleeping together? Nancy: Not after I got pregnant. After that, he brought another woman home with him, and he stopped making love to me. They had sex on our bed right in front of me. It was disgusting. Crystal: What an asshole! The worst of it was Nancy shrugged and left her sentence to hang in the air, unfinished. The worst of it was What?!?! Crystal demanded. Nancy: That woman was also pregnant, and when rk was born, she secretly bullied him. I tried to stop her, but do you know what happened? She threw herself to the ground, had a miscarriage, and med me! Crystals face went white. She had experienced nearly the same thing. There is a special ce in Hell for bitches like that! she eximed. Let me guess; Paul believed her, right? I had the same experience. Are all men this blind? Nancy just shrugged and shook her head sadly. Crystal: What did Paul do? Nancy: Well, he scolded me. He said that I was a vicious woman and that rks injuries were a result of my cruelty and negligence. Crystal was furious. Why havent you fought for custody? she asked. Nancy: His ie is higher than mine, and his background is stronger than mine. So, he would win. If I could just see rk asionally, that would be enough. I begged Paul on my knees to let me, but he said no. It is useless to try Crystal: You kneeled to beg him? What an asshole! No Mother should have to beg like that to see their child!Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Nancy began to cry. She covered her face with her hands and said nothing. Crystal: I need to help you get rk back! It wont work, Nancy sobbed. What can two single women hope to aplish? I dont know, Crystal admitted. But we should still try. You cant just sit and wait around like this. Okay, but can we talk about something else now? Nancy dried her eyes with her sleeve and said, You are here about the cufflink, right? Yes. Crystal nodded and said, There are other reasons too, though Of course, there are, Nancy agreed. But for now, let me see what youve got. Crystal sighed as she rummaged through her bag for the jewelry box. Once she found it, she handed it to Nancy, who immediately opened it up. The cufflink was made of amber, and there was a small ck spider in the middle. Nancy smiled and said, I have seen this. Paul has one that is the same. It looks special, so I remember it very clearly. Will it actually help you find your family? It might, Crystal replied. My mother left this one to me. The original owner is my Father. Of course, Paul is too young to be my Father, but where did he get it? Id like to know the answer to that question. Nancy frowned and said, With my rtionship with him being as it is, I doubt he would answer any of my questions Crystal: Dont worry, I can handle this. I still cant believe what an asshole Paul turned out to be, though It doesnt matter. Nancy brought her fingers to her lips and tittered. Do you want to hear a secret? she asked.. Crystal smiled and said, Of course! Nancy: In private, I call Paul, Asshole But! Asshole But! Crystalughed out loud and said, That name is great! Nancy: I think so too. What about Nathan? Should we call him Bitch Davis? Crystal smiled and murmured nomittally as she brought her coffee to her lips. There was a lot more to Nancy than her first impression had perceived. She was a gorgeous woman, and her temperament was outstanding. After being a housewife for several years, though, shed begun dressing very casually. Thus, she looked a bit like a conservative dumpling. What are you thinking? asked Nancy. Crystal: I thought that if we dressed you up, Asshole Bet would regret the way he treated you and admit that hed been wrong. Nancy sighed and said, Thats not the case, though. He was the one that ordered me to dress this way. Now I do it out of habit, but I didnt always dress this way. Once upon a time, I was a real hotsy-totsy Crystal: I bet his lover dresses sexy, though. Am I right? Nancy: How did you know? Crystal: Men are like this. Their wives must be ordinary, but their lovers must be slutty. That way, they can keep their wives home and have fun outside of their marriage. Nancy began to look at Crystal differently. Her brow furrowed, and she said, There is something very special about you. You are wise beyond your years, and I appreciate your counsel. Crystal blushed. It had been a long time since someone had appreciated her for her mind. I used to be the same as you, she said. But being with Nathan forced me to grow up very quickly. Nancy: Was he really that bad to you? Crystal: You have no idea. He locked me up and assaulted me. Then he had me put on a cross andshed within an inch of my life. I barely made it out of there. But enough about me C What do you think about what I said? Youre still young, so its not toote to try out my idea. I really want to know whether Asshole But will regret what he did if he sees you dressed differently. Nancy frowned and said, It wont work. He already has a sexy woman, and he has Carl. He wont care about me. And with his background, he can get any woman he wants. Crystal: Dont say that. He will regret what he did. I am sure of it. What is his background, anyway? Nancy: Honestly, I dont know. He has a ton of bodyguards, though. Thats all I know. If you truly think that your n might work, though, lets give it a try. What should I do first? Crystal thought about it for a moment, and then she said, Lets start in the bathroom. When was thest time you shaved your legs? Chapter 207: What鈥檚 Done Is Done Crystal adjusted the camera and took a picture. The camera made a clicking sound, and Nancy changed her pose. The water in the tub sshed up the side of the tub, exposing her breasts, and the camera captured the moment. There we go. Crystalughed and said, Just a few more, and then well be done. The luxurious bathtub was made of transparent crystal. Ceramics surrounded it, and the room was lit by candlelight. The effect created a plethora of shadows, with each one going in a different direction. It was very sexy. There was a light sheen on the water from the Foam Bath, and rose petals floated prettily between Nancys legs. Nancy had a champagne flute in her hand. She took a sip, and she flinched when she heard the camera click thrice more. She had been resistant to this nude photoshoot, but Crystal had reminded her that her ex-husband had seen her naked a million times already, so it didnt really matter. Even now, though, as the shoot winds down, she cant help but wonder if they were doing the right thing. Are you sure this is okay? she asked. Hes never given me any reason to believe that he likes this sort of thing or that he even likes my body. Crystal: Dont talk like that. You are beautiful. Nancy: Okay, but lets stop. Youve taken a lot of pictures already, and Paul will be furious when he sees them! Crystal: You look very nice. Trust me. If you want to get rk back, you must take the initiative to make some effort! Nancy: But how will these pictures help me get to see rk? I dont understand. Crystal smiled. Although Nancy was older than her, she was very na?ve. If you want him to listen to you, she exined, then you need to do something to get his attention. Once he sees these pictures, you will definitely have his undivided attention. Anyway, I think weve got enough photos. You can rinse off and get out of the tub if youd like. Finally. Nancy finished her champagne, set the ss on the toilet, and pulled the plug. Crystal leaned against the wall, and as her friend ran the shower, she began to upload the nudes to Nancys WhatsApp page. Does Paul use WhatsApp? she asked. All of the time, Nancy replied. If you send him the pictures on WhatsApp, he will see them as soon as you press SEND. Thats good. Crystal smiled and said. Phase One isplete. Nancy: Phase One? Is there a Second Phase? Crystalughed and said, The next thing that we are going to do is ept your neighbors invitation for their party tonight. There was a newly married young couple living next door, and as chance would have it, they were hosting a party to get to know their neighbors.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. **** On the far side of Kuerto, there was a private bathhouse called The Thermae Balneae. The bathhouse was part of an elite club, where posh executive types coulde to indulge in their carnal desires. It was designed and fashioned after The Baths of Caraca in Rome, and to Paul But was his home away from home. Typically, there were only ten to twelve patrons at any given time. Still, the bathhouses capacity was much higher, and today there happened to be closer to twenty-five or thirty people, either rxing as casual observers or engaging in one form of coitus or another. Amidst the gaggle of intertwined bodies, Paul had a woman on all fours. Her face was resting on the ground, her legs were spread with her ass in the air, and each time he pushed himself deeper inside her, she groaned. Harder, she shouted. Hurt me! Paulughed. You just wait. Next time we can try it without the forey! It wasnt long before Paul had spent his seed, and he sat down at the pools edge to rx. The girl sat beside him, and after giving her a meaningful look, he pointed to his genitals and said, You know what to do, so get to it. There was no meanness in his voice, but themand left no room for negotiation. Paul moaned as the girl began to take care of him, but before he could properly enjoy it, his cell phone buzzed. The girl scowled and said, Really? You couldnt have turned that off? He shrugged as he reached for his cellphone. He never turned it off. She knew that. After punching in his code, he saw that hed received a message from Nancy. What the fuck does she want? C he wondered angrily. When he saw the pictures, though, his anger faded, all the color drained from his face, and he frowned. This was his first time seeing Nancy like this, and he almost didnt recognize her. Who took these? Paul wondered C Was it a man? Nancy looked gorgeous in the photos, and the expression on her face suggested a fascinating temperament that was noble and indifferent. He thought C This woman was the antithesis to the conservative housewife that birthed my son. He wondered if she had gone crazy and why she had sent the pictures. Meanwhile, the girl was hovering over his shoulder. She hugged him from behind and pressed her bare breasts against his skin. Then, she leaned into his ear and whispered, Put the phone away, okay. Why do you need those dirty pictures when youve got a real woman? Paul sighed. He looked at his phone, and he tried to set it aside, but his fingers refused to let it go. I cant, he said. Im sorry, but I need to respond to this. **** At Nancys house C After Crystal sent the pictures, Nancy felt like she would be sick. What did I do? she gasped. Take it back. Cant you do that? I cannot, Crystal replied. Whats done is done. This is for the best, though. Why dont you get dressed, and Ill meet you in the living room? Nancy began to dry off, and she had just started to wrap a second towel around her hair when her phone rang. She saw that it was her ex-husband, and she began to squeal. When Crystal heard her friend, she knew exactly who was calling, and she rushed into the bathroom. She tore the phone out of Nancys hand before she could answer it, and she rejected the call. Chapter 208: Woman Are You Crazy? Nancys ire began to rise. She red at Crystal and said, That was Paul. Why did you hang up on him like that? Crystal smiled and said, This is part of the n. We are going to build up some mystery around you and y a little game called Hard To-Get. So, please do not do anything without my say so. Do you understand? A shark-like Cheshire grin appeared on Nancys face, and she said, Oh, Crystal! You are so wicked. I love it. How did you get to be so smart? Crystal shrugged and said, Maybe its Maybelline. And both girls broke into a fit of giggles. They went into Nancys room together, and while she was dressing, Crystal noticed a mark on her arm that she hadnt previously seen. She pointed to it and asked, What happened? Nancy frowned and said, I was kicked a while back, and I fell into the coffee table. I ended up being stuck in the hospital for half a month. Its all right now, though. Crystal: You know, I always look down on men that beat women. They are so rude. Nancy: After everything Nathan did to you, I can see why you would say that, and Ipletely agree with you. Why is God so cruel? He did not have to make men like this, but he did. Anyway, do you need to reapply for medicine on your wounds? I can find some for you. Ill be fine for a while longer, Crystal replied. If you could get it for meter, though, that would be appreciated. Suddenly, Nancys phone rang, and she picked it up before Crystal could stop her. Crystal red at her, but she just motioned for her to be quiet. When Nancy heard who was on the other line, her face lit up, and she began to cry. The number belonged to Paul, but her son had called her, and she quickly turned on the speaker so that Crystal could listen in. Is that you, Mom? asked rk. Nancy could not believe that after all this time, she was finally talking to her son. She noted how much older he sounded, and it seemed that he had a vocabry of a far older child. Nancy: Baby. It is me. Im so happy to hear your voice! rk: Mom Why did you abandon me? Daddy said that you dont care about me anymore. Please dont abandon me. I will be obedient. I wont be naughty Nancy: rk, Mommy, didnt want to leave you. I wont abandon you, and I will never stop fighting to see you. Dont listen to your Father. Now, I have a question to ask you, and I would be grateful if you could tell me the truth. Is that strange woman still bullying you? rk: Mommy, I am so scared. She said I stole her things, but I didnt! I really didnt!ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Nancy: Can you let me talk to your Father? rk: Daddys not here Nancy: rk, Mommysing soon. Wait for me, okay? rk: Okay. Bye Mommy. I love you. Nancy: I love you too, baby. After hanging up the phone, Nancy took off running, and Crystal followed her. On the way to the car, Nancy tried to phone Paul. Unfortunately, he picked up after the second ring, and even without the speaker on, Crystal could make out every word of their conversation. How dare you call me at this time? Paul hissed. Woman, are you crazy? Why is this a bad time?- Nancy wondered. She looked at the clock. It was just past ten, which wasnt thatte. On the other hand, she could hear a womans voice in the background, and she wondered if it was his lover. If so, that would exin his anger. Paul: Where did you find the bravery to dial this number? Crystal watched as Nancys face turned red from rage. This is a Momma bear in action C she thought excitedly C And everyone knows that you dont fuck with a Momma bears cubs! Nancy took a deep breath and growled into the microphone. Paul! she roared. If you hurt rk, I will kill you!! And if that bitch that you are with hurts him, then I will kill you both! How dare you! Paul eximed. He waited a moment for a response, and when it didnte, he realized that shed hung upon him. How dare she? he muttered angrily. Then, he walked over to the window and calmly set his phone on the sill. Paul owned the worldsrgest smuggling group. He was a member in good standing at Thermae Balneae. He controlled the trading of underground arms. He nned armed terrorist activities while preventing presidents and governments from taking countermeasures against him. He was a famous killer, extremely cold and cruel C and he was not used to being yelled at or hung upon. That bitch! he hissed under his breath. There was a naked woman on the bed, and she could see that he was tense, so she got up and wrapped her arms around Paul. My body is so hot, she murmured. Come back to bed, okay? Dont you want to fool around a little more? Paul was no longer in the mood, though, but before he was forced to tell her so, his son began to shriek. Then, without a word, he went into action. Paul ran out of the room, and after following the sound for a few minutes, he found rk. He had been locked in a small ck room, and he became so afraid that he tried to climb out the window. rk had been trying to get to higher ground, but a branch had snapped. Hed fallen just over a meter,nding safely on a lower limb but scrapping both of his knees. Almost immediately, the boy resumed his climb. rks mother had once told him, If you ever need me, but I am not around, look to the sky. Then, even if you cannot see me, you can know that I love you and that I am thinking of you. Chapter 209: Where Is My Mommy? The higher rk climbed, the closer to his Mother he felt. When Paul saw his son, he began to panic. Dont worry! he shouted. Daddy will get you down from there! When rk saw his Father, he was so afraid that he wet his pants. Donte up here, he cried. You are all bad guys. Even you, Daddy! Where is my Mommy? C rk wondered. She had said she was on her way, but he had not seen her yet, and he was beginning to wonder if she would show. One of the servants shouted up to him: Little master, dont move! I aming up! When rk heard that, he began to scramble up the tree as fast as he could. If his Mother came, he wanted her to be able to see him from afar. That way, she could rescue him from all of the bad people that were trying to force him down. The servant stepped away from the tree. Paul gave her a dirty look, and she hastily exined her actions: I just wanted to get the little master down, but as soon as I touched the tree, he became agitated, and he started climbing again. I was afraid that he would fall, so I stopped what I was doing. Paul nodded and motioned for everyone to stand down. Sure enough, when rk saw that the bodyguards and servants had left the tree, he calmed down. Paul looked up and shouted, What do you want? I want my Mommy? rk wailed. Paul turned to one of his servants and said, I dont know what to do The only thing to do now is to appease the little masters mood, the servant replied. Once hes down, you can solve the deeper issue. After all, the childs body is delicate. If he falls from such a height, he will likely die **** When Nancy and Crystal arrived, they were surprised to see everyone surrounding a tree. They were looking up, so Nancy looked up, and when she saw her son, she almost fainted. Luckily, she didnt. Nancy scrambled out of her car, raced over to the tree, and shouted up to her son: rk! Mommy is here, so dont move. rk looked down, and when he saw Nancy, his eyes brightened immediately. It turned out that his Mommy had been thinking about him, and now he knew that she wouldnt abandon him. Mommy! he shouted, and he stood up so that she could see him better. Nancy turned to Paul, punched him in the chest, and said, Why did you force such a little child to climb up a tree? What are you trying to prove? Dont you know that he could get killed?!?! Paul grabbed her wrist and pushed her away. Woman! he hissed. You are too much! He got up there on his own volition. Nancy shook her head and said, I dont believe it. He is too little. A child of his age is incapable of climbing a tree. Paul looked at her incredulously. Are you crazy? he asked. How dare you talk to me in this tone? When ites to my son, I do dare, Nancy replied. She stared at him fiercely and said, If anything happens to rk, I will make you regret you were ever born! This was the first time that Paul had seen Nancy like this, and her reaction pleased him. Thus, when they finally got rk down from the tree, he allowed the boy to embrace his Mother. *** At the Beverly vi C After having disappeared for 24 hours, Nathans body was finally found. A maid saw him on the floor, and she shrieked because she thought that he was dead at first. She was so scared that the bucket in her hands fell to the ground, tipped over, and spilled soapy water all over the floor. Vic had also been attacked, which meant that he, too, needed to be roused. He woke up first, though, and once he was capable of walking, he rushed to Nathans bedside. It was not long after that that Nathan woke up. He anxiously looked around the room. It seemed that something was missing. He turned to Vic and asked, What happened? Crystal escaped, Vic replied. And she used a tranquilizer gun on us on the way out. She shot me with one dart, but you got three. That is why you cant sit up, but I can. Nathan sighed, and after a moment, he said, I think I remember now. Vic: You did everything you could to stop her, but I guess she just really wanted to go But who knows, maybe she wille back Nathan: I doubt it. If she left with Eric, shed nevere back.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Vic: Thats the thing. ording to the inside line, Miss Smith did not return to the Bushs Mansion with Eric, and rumor has it that not only did she dr*g him too, but he is out looking for her. So she fucked you both over! Nathan: Have any efforts been made on our part to locate her while we were passed out? Without Erics help, she is far less likely to be able to hide from us sessfully! Our men have been looking, Vic replied. She hasnt been found yet, but every ce we check where she isnt there narrows down our search. Your men are thorough and persistent. We will find her, and if she cant be reasoned with, we will bring her back by force! Nathan tried to sit up, but he was too weak. He could still barely move his arms and legs, and his mind was a bit hazy. I cant believe she did this to us, he muttered. He felt a headacheing on, and he absently rubbed his temples. Not knowing what to say, Vic wisely remained quiet. Eventually, Nathan looked up, and he smiled. This is just another game of Cat and Mouse, he said. When I am back on my feet, I will find her. And when I do, not even the old Davis will be able to stop me from doing as I please with her. Chapter 210: Don鈥檛 Be Such A Drama Queen rk clung to his mother as she carried him to his Fathers car. He was terrified that someone would take him away and that his mom would leave without him. He nuzzled against her, and the smell of her perfume offered him somefort, but not enough that he was able to stop crying. Paul climbed in behind the wheel. Crystal took the seat behind him, and Nancy sat with rk beside her. rk was afraid that his Father would send his Mother away, and he had insisted that they sit as far away from him as possible. rk hadnt even wanted to go to the hospital, but he had been injured while climbing down the tree, and his mother had insisted.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . As the car pulled out of the driveway, Nany red at Pauls image in the rearview mirror. When he looked up, he saw her stroking their sons little face with her hands, and he returned her cold stare. How dare this woman stare at me? C he thought! She isnt even my wife Nancy felt a pang of resentment in her stomach. If she hadnt married Paul, her life wouldnt be so bad. She saw that he had no redeeming qualities in hindsight, but she had been blinded by love. Suddenly, the car veered off to the right, and instead of continuing on to the hospital, Paul pulled into the parking lot where their family doctor practiced. Nancy couldnt believe it. Why are we stopping here? she growled. rk needs the hospital! He can see the Doctor, Paul said firmly. He will be seen faster here. It seemed that he didnt care enough about the boy to wait in the hospital, and Nancy was furious. At that moment, she wanted to punch her ex-husband in the face. rk is my baby! she growled. He is all I have. He is precious to my heart, and no one canpare to him. What is wrong with you? You are responsible for his injuries, but you wont take him to the hospital Are you even human? Paul: Dont be such a drama queen. Just get out of the car. Nancy was shaking with anger, and it was the first time Paul had seen her so upset. Thus, he felt like he was talking to a different person, and as he got out of the car, he was surprised by how beautiful she was. How did I not notice this before? C he asked himself. There werent many people in the clinics waiting room, and the doctor was able to see rk right away. He gave the boy a once over, and everything seemed fine, but he ordered a CT scan. Just to be on the safe side, he said. There was a diagnostic imaging center next door, and Paul lit up a fag outside while Nancy checked rk in. Once the nurses took the boy in, she joined him. What she had to do would be hard, but it was necessary. She took a deep breath, and without meeting his eyes, she said, Im sorry. You were right to bring him here. Paul nodded thoughtfully. A minute passed without either of them speaking, and then he said, Nancy, are you trying to use rk to get back into my house? Nancys face turned white when she heard that. Where is this going? C she wondered C Likely, it is nowhere good Paul: If you apologize for what you did, then maybe I can give you a chance to turn over a new leaf. For rks sake. Nancy: Did you misunderstand something? I never want to enter your house again. Paul was shocked. Nancy: I wouldnt go back if you cried and begged me to return. Marrying you turned out to be the biggest mistake of my life. Paul frowned, and his ire began to rise. Before he could reply, though, Crystal walked out of the clinic with rk in her arms. She passed the boy to his mother and said, Everythings fine, and rk was a very brave boy. **** Although Paul did not allow Nancy to take rk home, he said that she could return in the morning, make him breakfast, and spend some time with him. She did not know why he was so amodating, but she tried not to overthink it. What mattered was that she would be able to see her son. So, to make the most of this opportunity, she got up extra early so that she would be there when he woke up C and, of course, she brought Crystal along in case she needed extra support. When they arrived at the But vi, a servant showed them to the kitchen, and they got to work. Nancy did most of the cooking, with Crystal asionally helping out, and by the time rk began to stir, she had nearly finished preparing his favorite breakfast foods. Its a lot of food, Crystal noted. Nancy sighed sadly. rk has lost some weight, she said. I know that I cant fatten him up with one meal, but I can try. Right? Crystal nodded wordlessly. From upstairs, there came the shrill sound of a servants startled cry; then, like a herd of elephants, the sound of a small boy running and jumping about. Young master! cried the servant. Dont run around. Be careful not to fall! rk had just gotten out of bed, and when hed smelled breakfast, he remembered that his mother was there. He ran down the stairs, and when he saw Nancy in the kitchen, his face practically glowed. Mommy! he shouted. He ran to her and jumped into her arms. Just then, there was a noise at the door. Paul had just returned from his early morning run, and he was wearing a tracksuit. Without thinking, Nancy went over and got him a pair of house slippers. It was a part of a routine that theyd established while they were married. Shed done it a thousand times, and it felt as natural to her as breathing. It was only as she straightened up that she realized the faux pas she hadmitted, and her cheeks turned red from embarrassment. Paul was also acting without thinking and turning events. Luckily, rk was utterly oblivious to it. He began to giggle, and the mood lightened, and when the fit passed, he said, Im hungry. Well then, lets get you to the table. Nancy kissed her boy on the forehead and said, Ive prepared all of your favorite foods. Chapter 211: Who Do You Think You Are? Nancy carried rk into the dining room, and Crystal followed them. There was a high chair at the foot of the table for rk. His mother sat to his left, and Crystal sat to his right. As Nancy dished food onto rks te, he smiled and said, Thank you, Mommy. You are the best cook in the whole world. And you are the best son in the world. Nancy smiled. She kissed him on the cheek and said, Now, eat up quick before it gets cold. Before rk could begin to eat, though, Paul walked into the room. He approached the head of the table and sat down. The other three watched him carefully and a little impatiently. Now that he had joined them, they knew they could not eat until he started eating. That was one of his rules. Paul looked over the food that Nancy had prepared, and he grimaced when he noticed that the dishes were all made to rks liking. He was used to eating delicious food, and he was very particr about what he ate. He typically did not eat childrens food, and because it was his birthday, he was particrly put off by it. Did she forget my birthday? C Paul wondered. He considered flipping the table but thought better of it. Finally, he put some food on his te and started eating. Some of the dishes were too salty, some were too light, and others were hard to swallow, and he began to think that she had intentionally prepared them as disgusting as hed thought it would be. After spitting out the food that was in his mouth, Paul called one of the servants over and said, Get this food out of my sight. All of it. Throw it in the garbage. Nancy was helping rk with his food when she heard that, and her smile froze. She looked up and red defiantly at Paul. What? Paul hissed. Do you have a problem? I made this breakfast, Nancy replied. Who do you think you are? Paul: This is my home, and this food is not to my taste. Nancy: Well, I used to cook to your taste, but you always left us waiting. The food would get cold, and I dont remember you evering back. You preferred to eat out, and you only ate at home once or twice a month. rk and I went hungry every time we waited for you, so how could we have known to expect you for this meal? Paul stood up and pointed his finger at Nancy. How dare you speak to me in that tone? he shouted. Suddenly, rk began to cry. Nancy sighed and said, Look what youve done, now. You dont need to yell. All Im asking is for you to let our son eat in peace. Is that too much to ask for? Paul: You want me to indulge him? Nancy: Shouldnt you indulge him? Hes your child. Paul gripped his chair so hard that his knuckles turned white. Enough, he said. Then he turned to the servant hed summoned. What are you waiting for? he asked. I am your boss. Now, get rid of this fucking garbage food! The servant walked around the table to get the roasted chicken wings out of the way. However, before she could get to them, Nancy picked them up and pulled them out of his reach. They were one of rks favorite foods, but he never got to eat them because they were not to his Fathers liking. Thus, she was determined that he would get to enjoy these wings this time.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. What the Hell, Nancy? Shouted Paul. He shot the servant a dirty look, and he flinched. Nancy: Youve gone too far. You have no Fatherly love for our son, and you dont deserve to be a parent! Paul smiled coldly, and he said, fuck that. Now give up the food before I have my bodyguards pry it from your fingers. Please, begged Nancy. Let me propose apromise. If you let rk eat his breakfast, I will prepare something special for you. Paul raised his eyebrows in satisfaction and said, Okay, but dont keep me waiting. Nancy nodded, and after handing rk off to Crystal, she hurried into the kitchen. Once she was gone, Crystal brought a piece of grilled meat to the boys mouth and said, rk, here you are. Open up for a chicken wing. Nancy began to sweat as she stressed over what to cook for Paul. It seemed he was even pickier than he had been when they were married. He was used to professional chefs, and she didnt think anything she made would fare well against such cuisine. Why couldnt he have just been happy with what I made? C she wondered. Nancy hesitated for a moment, and then she poked her head out of the kitchen. What would you like to eat? she asked. You dont know what I like to eat? Paul asked. You were my wife. You should know what I like! Please, Nancy cried. I am trying to do something nice for you. Would it be that hard for you to throw me a bone? Before Paul could answer, his phone rang. He checked the Caller ID, and then he left the room to take the call in private. As Nancy watched him go, tears began to stream down her face. She turned to her son and said, Eat yup as much as you can before Daddyes and takes it away **** Paul walked out into the backyard with his cell phone pressed to the side of his face. As Eric exined his situation to him, he made his way to the buttonwood tree. It offered shade from the sun, and a swing was hanging from one of the thicker branches. He sat down and kicked his feet into the air like a happy child. Once his friend was done talking, he said, Tell me more about this woman. She is my wife, Eric replied. It was not precisely true, but she had agreed to marry him. Thus, he considered her his wife and a piece of property that belonged to him. He still couldnt believe what shed done, and he felt like hed been robbed. Paul lit a fag and took a few small drags while his friend was talking. I didnt know that you were married, he said. You were always such a yboy. Paul had also been a yboy, and Eric had made fun of him when he married Nancy, regardless of his reasons for doing so. This is no time to joke around, Eric moaned. Paul: Hey! Turnabout is fair y! Chapter 212: You Don鈥檛 Get It Paul sat up in the swing. He had heard everything that Eric had said, but one question nagged at the back of his mind. Is this woman so important to you? Why not just let her go and move on? She obviously doesnt want to be with you. She ran away, man. And several women wanted to be your wife, why her? Eric: You dont get it. She means everything to me. Youll help me, right? Paul: If youre sure shes in Kuerto, it shouldnt be that hard to locate her, especially if she is as good-looking as you say she is. She is a total knockout! Eric eximed. Youll see that its true when you see her! Paulughed and said, Ill have to take your word for it. It is still pretty nasty what she did to you, though. After what Nathan did to her, it is understandable that she used those tranquilizers on him, but you didnt deserve to be treated that way. You rescued her, and you were trying to give her a better life. Thats messed up. It really is, Eric admitted. I love her, though, so what else can I do? Paul flicked his cigarette into the grass and crushed it with the toe of his shoe. Well, he said. Send me a picture, and Ill let you know if I can find her. Eric hung up the phone immediately and sent him a picture of Crystal. When Paul saw the photograph, he frowned. He was afraid that there might be a mistake, so he erged the picture. Oh, my God, he muttered. That was too easy! **** In the dining room C Crystal watched rk happily chewing on the chicken wings. He held the bones between his fingers, and sauce dripped down his hands. They were coated with the sticky stuff, and he had identally smeared it all over his face in a way that reminded her of a kitten. rk was always timid around new people, but he quickly connected with Crystal because Nancy was there. The boy was a baby -cute, and two dimples appeared on his cheeks when he smiled at her- and his soft chuckle endeared him to her heart. Crystal didnt typically like children, but she couldnt help but like rk. She remembered how Nathan had said that he wanted a baby. If they did have one, she wondered if it would be as cute as Nancys? She shook her head nervously. Why do I think about him? C she wondered C Now that he has a baby with another woman and is enjoying all the pleasures of being a man, I need to let him go. It was easier said than done, though. rk touched Crystal with his sticky fingers and said, Auntie, I want some more.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Crystal smiled and said, Would you like some vegetables? If you want to be healthy, you have to eat more vegetables. My mom said that I would grow tall if I ate my vegetables! the boy eximed. So, Im gonna eat them all up! Crystal packed a fork full of peas, corn, and carrots and let them slide into rks mouth. The boy chewed and swallowed with a vigor that was slightly worrisome. Hey! Crystalughed. Slow down. I dont want you to choke, okay? rk: Okay, Auntie. Nancy returned from the kitchen. She had two fresh dishes, and as she ced them on the table, Paul came in from outside. He smiled at Crystal and said her full name. Crystal looked up at Paul and frowned. How did you know my full name? she asked. Nancy typically called her Crystal, and she had never called her by her full name in front of her ex-husband. What luck! C thought Paul. He had expected Erics task to be much moreplicated. But, without waiting for her to answer the question, he stepped forward, grabbed Crystals chin, and studied her features. You are as beautiful as he said, he muttered. Crystal pulled away. Ill be rude to you if you do that again, she growled. Because she had been focusing on what he was doing, she had not even heard what he said. Paul chuckled as he took a step backward. He thought C This girl has spunk! It is no wonder that Eric is so infatuated with her. Nancy was so angry with Paul that her lips turned white. She used to turn a blind eye to Pauls affairs for rks sake, but she would not allow her new friend to get hurt. And the way that he had just treated Crystal made her sick. Finally, not knowing what else to do, she stood up, grabbed Crystals wrist, and said. Crystal, lets go! When rk heard that, he began to scream and thrash about. Mommy! he wailed. Take me with you. The highchair shook and tipped, and if Crystal hadnt been there to catch rk, his head would have hit the floor hard. Nancy cried out in horror when she saw how close it had been, and she raced to take her son out of her friends arms. The boy was still wailing, and she rubbed his back tofort him. There, there, she said. Mommys here. There was food everywhere, and as Crystal knelt to clean it, Paul tried to take a few pictures of her. She saw what he was up to, and she covered her face with her hands. Paul thought that he had captured her image, though, and he slipped out of the room to send the pictures to Eric. Along with the photos, he sent a text message asking, Is this her? Almost immediately, he received a reply from Eric: How did you find her so quickly? Where is she? Put her on the phone! Paul thought for a moment, and then he wrote: She is fine where she is right now. However, I suggest that youe here and surprise her. She isnt going anywhere, and if she tries to, Ill ensure that she cant. Chapter 213: I鈥檓 Cooking For You After ending the call with Eric, Paul returned to the dining room. rk was still crying, and thedies were distracted, so he was able to observe Crystal without attracting her attention. As she moved about with purpose, he thought C She must be unique if Eric was willing to fly all the way to retrieve her. Luck had been on his side. Even though Crystal had tried to cover her face, Paul had been able to capture her face in full profile. To him, this suggested that luck was on Erics side, and he smiled just thinking about it. He cleared his throat, and thedies looked up. Nancy stood akimbo and red at Paul. What? Paul smirked and said, If you leave here, I will abuse your son. Nancy was taken aback. Paul, she whispered. What are you saying? Isnt my son your son?Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Paul smirked but said nothing. Nancy turned to her friend for help. Crystal Crystal: If you need to be here, then you need to be here. I can stay at a hotel. Its no problem. Nancy sighed and said, Thank you for understanding. You are a good friend. I will be on my way then, Crystal said. She stood up and made her way towards the front door, but as she passed Paul, he hit her over the head with a vase that he had been hiding behind his back. Crystals eyes rolled to the back of her eyes, and she dropped to the ground like a sack of flour. Nancy was aghast. She ran over to Crystal and cradled her head in her arms. Crystal! she cried. Are you okay? Then, when her friend didnt reply, she turned to Paul and shouted, You dirty scumbag! You are going to pay! Paul snorted contemptuously as he turned to one of his guards. Take her to the guest room, he ordered. And keep an eye on her while I deal with my ex-wife. The guard carried Crystal to the guest room. Nancy tried to stop him, but he was too strong. She could do nothing. That doesnt mean that Im helpless C she realized suddenly. Hey, Paul! she shouted. As he turned, she grabbed a bowl off the table and threw it at his head. Paulughed cruelly as he caught the bowl in mid-air. What do you want with Crystal? Nancy cried. Shes my friend. Please, dont touch her! Paul smirked and said, In my home, I can do whatever I like. He began to inch closer to Nancy. Maybe you should be more worried about what I have nned for you than what Ive nned for your friend. Have you thought about that? Nancy froze. Her face turned white, and she was at aplete loss for words. When rk heard the menacing tone that his Father was using, he rushed forward and said, I wont let you bully my Mommy! Paul knelt, grabbed his son, growled into his face, and threw him out of the room. Hended on his back in the kitchen, and his head struck the tile floor hard. He began to wail, and Nancy tried to go to him, but Paul stopped her. Let me go, Nancy cried. rk Hes He can wait, snarled Paul. He grabbed her chin and tilted it upward so that she was forced to look at him. He thought about kissing her. That will teach her! C he thought, but as he leaned in, she pped him across the face. Pauls face darkened as Nancy slipped out of his grip. How dare you p me? he shouted. Nancy gasped. She had not meant to hit him. It had been a reflex. I I d-didnt mean it, she stammered. Wh-Wh-What at are you go- going to do? She looked into the kitchen and was surprised to see that one of the servants wasforting him. The servant picked her son up and carried him away. He began to cry for his Mommy, but the sound of his wails quickly tapered off. Nancy looked Paul in the eyes and asked, What do you want? Tell me, and Ill do it. Paul: For starters, you can get me my goddamn breakfast! Im practically starving over here. Nancy: I already made you two fresh dishes. They are on the table! Paul: Theyre cold. Make me something fresh! **** Nancy was wearing a pretty sundress. It was white with a Pink Gerber Daisy pattern, and there was a decorative belt wrapped around her waist. It was a reasonably conservative ensemble that showed nothing of the ckce corset she was wearing underneath. Unfortunately, because she was so stressed out, she identally sshed water on herself while washing vegetables, and her dress went from opaque to translucent. The meal would take about a half-hour to cook, and Nancy hoped it would be dry by the time it was done, but her hopes were dashed when Paul stepped into the kitchen. He took one look at her sexy underwear, and his face turned red from rage. How dare you wander about dressed like that? he scolded her. Are you trying to seduce me? Nancys heart sank. The desire in his eyes was so strong that even she could see it. Without waiting for a reply, he rushed across the kitchen, pressed her body against the wall, and when he kissed her, he gnawed at her lips until they bled. Nancy cried out, pushed him away, and demanded, What are you doing? I said that I was hungry! Paul replied. And Im cooking for you, Nancy replied, flustered. Paul chuckled and said, Yes, you are. But that is not the kind of food I want anymore. So what do you want me to do with you? Huh? It had been years since he had touched her body, and now, like fire, the slightest touch from her got him hard. Nancy didnt feel the mes, though. All she knew was that she was in the kitchen, and if the servants suddenly came in, she would feel like a slut. Chapter 214: She Deserves This Paul pulled up Nancys sundress, and the touch of his hands on her thighs made her sick to her stomach. He was utterly ignorant of her difort, though. He only had one thing on his mind, and it wasnt the grumbles in his tummy. His hands tore her thong, and as the fabric slid down her legs, she began to sob. Nancy was terrified. Even when they were married, Paul had never attacked her this way. Their sex had been purposeful and without passion, and it had stopped the minute that she was with child. Thus, his behavior seemed utterly alien to her. Paul forced two fingers inside of Nancys secret pocket, and she shrieked. There had been no forey, and she was as dry as a dusty old tool shed. Stop! she begged. Youre hurting me! How can it hurt? He pressed into her even harder and said, That cant be. How can you be so tight when youve already had a baby? Get wet already. If you dont, then I will make you bleed! Nancys face turned white from horror, and she wished that she was dead. Pauls heart rate increased as he forced himself on her. He noted how her eyshes quivered, and her eyes clouded over. To him, she looked very pretty, and for the first time, he found her charming. He thought about the naked photos she had sent him, and his chest tightened as he plunged into her with all his strength, going deeper and harder. He was hurting her, and he loved every minute of it. He told himself C She deserves this! Nancy bit her lip and grit her teeth to keep from crying out. She was suffering desperately, and she felt humiliated. She thought about how she had once loved him and wondered how she could have been so blind. Now, all she cared about was rk.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Paul was getting frustrated by Nancys quiet submission, and he bit into her shoulder. Let me hear you make some noise! he growled. I want to hear it! When she didntply, he bit her again, deeper and harder than before. Even as his mouth filled with blood, she refused to make a sound. Finally, he dragged her into his bedroom and threw her on the bed. Then he assaulted her over and over again. He fucked her for the rest of the day until four oclock in the morning. When Nancy woke up, the overwhelming smell of their sex made her want to puke. He had fucked her in the bedroom. Then theyd moved to the living room, then the bathroom, and then they had returned to the bedroom. She turned her head and found Paul lying next to her, which was confusing. When they had been married, once he finished, he always sent her to her room. They had never slept together like this. Maybe he was too tired to send me away she thought. It was the only reason that made any sense. A short hair fell off Pauls pillow, and Nancy picked it up. She held it in her hand and was careful not to drop it as she got out of bed. Then she got dressed, shoved the hair into her pocket, and began to tiptoe towards the door. She only made it halfway, though, before Pauls phone rang. He sat up to answer it, and when he saw what she was up to, he motioned for her to stop. As Paul threw the nkets off, Nancy was startled by his enormous erection, and she began to tremble from fear. Please, God C she prayed C no more. If he tried to assault her again, she thought he might kill her. Eric smiled when Paul answered the phone. Im here, he said. Can you send someone to pick me up? Paul: How did you get here so fast? Did you take a private jet! Eric: Exactly. I didnt want to make too much noise. If I had used amercial airline, it would have been easy for Nathan to track me down. Anyway, do you still have Crystal? Paul: I do. But what has gotten into you? Are you that afraid of her running away? Youre beginning to sound like a pussy! Eric: Dont talk nonsense. I am just ying it safe. She is too smart for her own good. Now, are you going to send someone to get me, or what? Paul: Why are you in such a hurry? Are you afraid that I might take an interest in her? Ericughed and said, Oh, get over yourself! Someone will be on their way shortly, Paul said, and he ended the call without waiting to see if Eric had anything else to say. Then he turned to Nancy and said, I think its time for Round Two. Nancy: No. rk should be awake by now. Im going to wash his face and brush his teeth. Paul frowned and said, He is a big boy. Let him do it himself. Nancy: Then, I will go and make him breakfast. You will make my breakfast first, Paul said as he got up. Then he ripped off all of her clothes and bent her over the bed. He gripped her ass, and just as he was about to push himself inside of her, the door opened, and rk walked in. He ran in, punched his Father in the buttocks, and shouted, Daddy, dont bully my Mommy! In a matter of seconds, Paul lost his erection, and Nancy uttered a sigh of relief. She quickly put her clothes back on, picked her son up, and ran. Once they had escaped the room, Nancy set rk down. He looked at her for a minute, and his eyes went wide when he saw her many wounds and bruises. Mommy, he said. Did you get hurt? Did Daddy hurt you? Nancy took a deep breath, and then she said, No, baby, Mommy was just careless. Now lets get your teeth brushed. Then I will make you your favorite; chicken with noodles, okay? rks eyes lit up, and he nearly forgot about his Mothers injuries. Chapter 215: Who Are You Looking For? As rk was eating, he looked up thoughtfully and said, Whats wrong with that weird Aunt? She smokes, she never brushes her teeth, and theyre all ck and stinky? Nancy covered her mouth so that he wouldnt see her smile. She knew he was talking about the woman that Paul was sleeping with. It was the same person that bullied her and her son. She was a model, and she was on an overseas photoshoot now. If she were home instead, she would have made everything even worse than it already was. Nancy hated that woman, but she knew that it was important for her son to be respectful, so she gently scolded him. rk nodded his head and apologized, but Paul wasnt satisfied. He looked at Nancy and said, Who taught him to talk like this? I d-dont know, Nancy stammered. Honestly Paul picked up rks breakfast and threw it across the room. You didnt teach him?!?! he hissed. Am I to believe that he taught himself? He is too young. If this is how you are going to behave, I am going to have to rethink whether or not I will let you see him. When rk heard this, he began to throw a fit. This only made Paul angrier. Quit coddling him! he roared. Its no wonder he is always acting like a baby. Its because you treat him like a baby! He is acting like a baby because he is a baby! Nancy snapped back. What do you expect? Without waiting for a reply, she pulled her son out of his chair. Then she carried him into the room where Crystal was being held as a prisoner. Crystal was sitting up in bed, having just woken up, and when she saw them, she smiled. Good morning, she said. Whats up? Nancy handed rk to her and said, Can you keep an eye on him? Paul and I got into a fight, and he threw his breakfast across the room, so I have to make him some more. Crystals ire began to rise. That guy is no good, she said. But yeah. I can watch rk. He is a good boy. You do what you need to do, and well be here waiting for you. Thank you, Nancy said. Then she turned, and as she went down to the kitchen, she thought about how much she envied Crystal. The girl was there to find her father, and once she did that, she was free to do or go anywhere she wanted. It must be nice to be free- she thought wistfully. Of course, without her son, she would have been just as free, but the best she could hope for from life was custody of rk. If she could get that, though, she would take him as far away from his Father as humanly possible, and that would be free enough for her! Nancy was finishing up the second batch of chicken soup when Crystal walked in with rk in her arms, and as she entered the kitchen, her eyes lit up. Crystal! she eximed. It smells delicious. She took a deep breath and said, It has been too long since Ist had such a delicious breakfast. Is it chicken soup? rk: Its shredded chicken noodle soup. Mommy promised to make it. Crystal: Do you like it? rk: I love it! I like my Mommys shredded chicken noodle soup best. Crystal rubbed his fine soft hair and said, Thats sweet. Once the soup was done, Nancy showed her friend Pauls hair and said, Its Pauls. I want to get it tested as soon as possible. Crystal put her arm around Nancys waist and said, You are such a good friend. Even with everything that is going on in your life, you are still thinking about others. Just then, Paul walked in, and heughed wickedly. Two women are cuddling in front of a little boy! He gasped. Arent you afraid the kid will be perverted? Thedies both looked away, and neither replied. **** Serenity was mid-way through her shift at the Merah Club when she was called into the Presidents office. She had been doing well recently, but she was not stupid enough to think that the President would acknowledge the fact. Thus, when she arrived at the door, she was nervous. She knocked twice, and when she walked in, she was startled to find Nathan sitting in the Presidents seat.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Prof-f-fessor D-Davis? she stammered. Nathan red at her and said, Tell me where she is! Serenity: I dont know Dont you know where she is? I was going to ask you Nathan: Dont fuck around. You know where she is. Serenity: I really dont know. I cant get through to her, and she wont reply to my texts Nathan: Serenity, I dont want to y tricks on you, but if I cant find her, I cant be held responsible for what I will do to you! Serenitys body began to tremble, and she was too frightened to speak. Nathan: I heard your father was in the hospital. Is he all right? You wont Serenity pped her hands over her mouth. I mean You wouldnt Right? She thought that he was threatening her Father. Nathan: Tell me where she is. If you do, I will find your father the best doctor that money can buy. If you do not Well Who knows what might happen to him Serenity hated herself for what she was about to do. She had made a promise to her friend, but she could not let harme to her family. After taking a deep breath, she pulled out her cell phone, clicked on Nancys number, and handed it to Nathan. Maybe you can find Crystal through this phone number, she said. **** Nancy was dishing up the fresh soup when the doorbell rang. Nodding to Crystal, she said, Can you get that? Sure, Crystal replied, and as she walked towards the entrance, Nancys phone rang. For Christs sake Nancy muttered. She turned to her son and said, rk, can you take the cell phone out of Mommys pocket and answer it? rk was a toddler, and he was curious about everything. When Nancy used to y on her cell phone, he would secretly watch her and even learn to answer the phone. Like an adult, he scratched open the phone screen and said, Hello, who are you looking for? The man on the other end said, I am looking for Crystal. Is she there? Aunt Crystal? rk asked, and before the man could reply, he began to shout Crystals name excitedly. By then, Crystal had already reached the front door. She quickly opened it, and when she saw who was standing on the other side, her face turned white. Wh-Wh-What are you doing here? she gasped. Chapter 216: Is He Really Your Fianc茅? Eric Bush smiled at Crystal and said, I just thought Ide and surprise you here. You are surprised, arent you? Crystal was dumbstruck. Meanwhile, rk had been about to hand the mobile phone to Crystal, but he identally hung up the phone. Before being cut off, though, Erics voice was heard on the other end of the line. Damn it!- thought Nathan C Eric is always one step ahead of me! rk didnt want to admit that he had identally hung up the phone, so he quietly slipped it back into his Mothers pocket. Then he hurried back to get a second look at the stranger at the door. Eric chuckled at the startled look on Crystals face. Well, he said. You certainly look surprised! He was wearing a ck lotive suit, and as usual, he looked tall and strong. He squeezed through the gap between Crystal and the door, and once he was inside, he said, You didnt think that you could escape from me, did you? Crystal shrugged and asked him, Are you going to marry me? Obviously, Eric replied. Then he held her hand and kissed it. From now on, I will go where you go. No one can separate us. Erics confession gave Crystal goosebumps. Please tell me youre not serious, she said. Eric: I couldnt be more serious. Suddenly, Nancy called from the dining room: Crystal, whos there? Im her fianc, Eric replied. Fianc? Nancy was surprised. She came to the entrance to check Eric out. Crystal, you didnt tell me you were engaged. He is quite the looker. Why dont you invite him to join us for breakfast? Crystal and Eric replied simultaneously. She said, He has already eaten, but he said, I would love to! Nancy gave Eric a cheeky look and said, Ive made a lot. Come in. We will all eat together. Then she hurried into the kitchen to set out a ce for him at the table. Let the servant do that Crystal shouted behind her. There were servants in the house, but Nancy always liked to do everything herself, which was why Paul treated her like a servant. Before Nancy could change her course, though, Paul walked in, and when he saw her serving another man, his ire began to rise. Eric went to hug Crystal, but he froze when he noticed that she wasnt wearing the cor hed given her. In its ce, she wore a simple string ne with a bullet for a pendant. He took a closer look at the shell, and he saw that it had Nathans exclusive pattern on it. He reached out to pull it off, but Crystal blocked his hand. What are you doing? she hissed. Eric: Dont you know that a bullet is not a pendant? You cant wear it. If you do, it will get you into trouble. Besides, I do not want my fiance to wear another mans ne. You can remove it yourself, or I can remove it for you. You dont get to control what I wear, growled Crystal. Is that so? Eric asked. Then, without waiting for a reply, he tore the ne off and threw it on the ground. How do you like those apples? Crystal sighed and said, Youre littering! Paul was pleased with Crystals answer, and he smiled. Then he made his way to the dining room and sat down at the table. Crystal had lost her appetite, though. She had thought that her getaway had been a sess, but in a short amount of time, everything had turned to shit- and she had no idea what had led Eric to Pauls door. To distract herself, Crystal put her hand in her pocket, and she was startled by the strand of Pauls hair that was there. With everything that had happened, she had forgotten about the DNA test she intended to have done on it. To get the testpleted, though, she would need to find a way to get Eric off her back. Thankfully, Nancy had her back, and after everyone was done eating, she told Paul, I want to take rk to Sea World this afternoon. Conveniently enough, there was a hospital next to Sea World, and a gic test could bepleted there. Paul: No. Its not going to happen. Nancy: But you promised mest night. Paul: When? Nancy: At around midnight. We were in the bedroom. Paul: What were we doing? And please be specific with the details. Nancy: Why does it matter? Paul: Perhaps it will help jog my memory. Nancy: You remember just fine, so quit ying these games with me. You promised me! Are you going to break your promise? Is that the type of man you are? Paul: Dont be so dramatic. I didnt say you couldnt go. Nancy: But you said that it wasnt going to happen? Paul: Had you let me finish my sentence, what I was saying is: Its not going to happen without me!ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Crystals face went white. There was no way that they could get the DNA test done if Paul were there with them. Nancy: Youre going with us? Paul: Is there a problem? I am his Father. Nancy: I dont think that its a good idea. Were not used to going out together like that. Paul had never apanied them anywhere before, so they were used to having fun without him. Paul: What about Crystal? Is she going with you? Nancy: Yes. But thats different. How is that different? Eric interjected. If Crystal is going, all five of us should go together! Well, this is FUBAR C thought Nancy- I guess that we had better make the best of it C She sighed as she stood up. Then she said, Fine. I will take rk upstairs and change his clothes. Crystal, would you like to get changed? Crystal nodded and followed Nancy and rk. Once they were upstairs, Nancy turned to her friend and said, What should we do, Crystal? If theye, you wont be able to get the hair tested. Crystal: Dont worry. A chance will present itself. If need be, I can pretend to be sick and have Eric bring me to the hospital. Then Ill find a way to shake him off Nancy: Is he really your fianc? Crystal: It seems so. If I cant get rid of him, I will have no choice but to marry him. You dont need to worry about me, though. Whats going on with you? Do you have a n to get your son out of here? Chapter 217: You鈥檒l Marry Me No Matter What When Nancy looked up, there were tears in her eyes. Crystal knew Nancy was reluctant to walk away from Paul. If she did, it would most likely mean walking away from her son as well. She wanted to take rk and run, but her ex-husband was a badass, and it was unlikely that he would let the boy go without a fight. I dont have a n, Nancy admitted. Just let me get dressed. We can talk about this moreter. She wanted to change her clothes, but she hadnt brought anything with her, so she walked to Pauls bedroom to see if there were any of her old clothes still there. When she opened the wardrobe, she was startled by all the limited-edition clothes from luxury brands. When Crystal saw them, she said, Paul doesnt treat you that bad, not if he bought you all of these beautiful dresses. Nancy: Theyre not mine. He never bought me anything like this. They belong to his mistress. Shes a model. Crystal: I can see he loves her very much. Nathan used to buy me this kind of clothes But then he stopped loving me. Well, I dont care about that right now, Nancy said. Im sorry if that sounds harsh, but I dont have time to care. She was a little depressed, but she quickly adjusted her mood and changed the topic. Crystal, when all this is over, will you go home with Eric? Crystal: Um. probably. Nancy: I wish that rk and I could go with you Crystal sighed. Then she dragged all of the clothes out of the closet, threw them on the ground, and began to pour out her frustrations on them. Crystal?! Nancy shouted in surprise. Why do mistresses always live a better life than us? Crystal asked. We cant beat her, but we can vent our anger by torturing her clothes! Youre right! Nancy eximed. Why should mistresses always get to live better lives than we do? Its not fair! Then she began to follow Crystals example, even going so far as to cut the dresses with scissors. After venting for a while, they finally went back downstairs in their original clothes. When Eric saw them, he got up off the couch and asked why they hadnt changed. There wasnt anything right for us, Crystal exined. Ill have someone bring in all of thetest collections to you. As Eric spoke, he took out his mobile phone, but Crystal stopped him. Nancy was dumbfounded because she had never been treated like this. He is so handsome and generous! C she thought. Your fianc is very good to you, she said with envy. Is your husband bad to you? Eric asked. Nancy: I dont have a husband. Weve been divorced for some time now. And yet here you are, said Paul with a shark-like Cheshire grin on his face. Nancy: If you let me have our son, I would disappear, and you wouldnt see me again for the rest of your life! Paul: In your dreams! Nancy: Why? You had that other woman, and I am sure that she would be willing to have a child with you. And besides, rk doesnt matter to you. You have made that abundantly clear! If you loved rk, you would not mistreat him, and you would not let that woman abuse him! Paul: You dont get it, do you? He is But. Do you think I would actually let one of my own out of my sight? Nancy frowned and said, This isnt going anywhere, and the day is wasting away while we squabble. Lets go to Sea World. **** They parked the car at a mall that was down the street from Sea World. Nancy and Paul were still quarreling, and no matter how hard she tried, Crystal could not block them out. Paul red at Nancy and said, You could get with another man and give birth to another baby. Im sure that in time youd forget all about rk. Dont worry, Nancy snarled. I will do just that. As for who I get with, that is none of your business. I wont stay at your house shamelessly. Paul was confused suddenly. He thought C She said that she wanted rk back, but now she is ready to leave? Only a heartless woman would give up their child so easily! While they were arguing, Eric whispered into Crystals ear, Does your friend want to get custody of her child? Its hard to tell right now Crystal: She wants custody. Why? Do you have an idea? Eric put his arm around Crystals shoulder and said, It wouldnt be easy, but we might be able to pull it off. If you want my help, though, you need to choose to marry me. Crystal: What if I dont? Eric: Youll marry me no matter what, but if you dont do it of your own volition, I wont help your friend. Crystals face turned white. Eric chuckled when he saw that, and he said, You can think about it. Marry me happily or marry me in tears. It is all the same to me. Once you figure it out, pick out the clothes for me. I want to wear a lovers clothes with you!Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Crystal looked at Nancy, who was trying to take rk away from Paul. She was cruelly pushed away, though. Crystals heart went out to her friend. If Eric didnt help, she thought that the situation was hopeless. Ill think about it, Crystal said. Im not happy about the situation that youve put me in, though Eric: Youll get over it. Just dont keep me waiting for too long. Eric tried to hold her hand, and this time she did not reject him. This gave him a measure of hope, and he smiled. Maybe next time I will try to kiss her C he thought. He looked at her delicate pink lips, and he began to salivate. Her lips were like a delicious honey peach, and he was drawn to their pink sweetness. **** Crystal followed Nancy into a family clothing store, and rk jumped for joy when he saw all the avable animal-themed outfits. There were ones with rabbits, kittens, elephants, and a plethora of others. But it was the zebra costume that he was most drawn to. I can see that you like this one, Nancy said. She kissed him on the forehead and asked him, Can Mommy wear one that matches yours? rk began to p and cheer, but there was a sneer on Pauls face. What about me? C he wondered C Am I not good enough for a zebra costume? Chapter 218: Everyone Is Waiting For Us Paul pointed to the zebra costume and asked the salesperson, Does thise in arge size? Nancy gave him an incredulous look. Youre going to wear this? she asked. Just the thought of it made her chuckle. Paul: Im rks Father. Whats wrong? Nancy didnt want to argue with him, so she stopped talking with him and turned to see what her friend was up to. Crystal was pointing to a Tee-shirt printed with a panda and asked a salesperson, Is there a parent-child clothing section? As she spoke, she pointed at Eric. Does she want me to be her son? C Eric wondered C If so, that could be fun! He smiled, but he did not speak. When the salesperson went inside the warehouse to get the clothes, he approached Crystal and whispered, Mommy, I want to drink your breast milk. While he was speaking, his eyes swept over her breasts, and she red at him. Instead of getting angry, though, Eric gave her a cheeky smile. Crystal pointed to another set of clothes and said, I think that those are more suitable for you. Eric turned and was surprised to see that she was pointing at a dog costume. Crystal chuckled and said, That one suits you. That one also suits Daddy, rk suddenly chipped in. Mommy always said that Daddy is a yellow dog. Eric rubbed rks hair gently and asked, What else does Mommy say about Daddy? rk wrinkled his nose and giggled. Daddy is a dirty, no-good rat! he shouted gleefully. Suddenly, Eric began tough. A rat! eximed. Then he turned to Paul and said, You do look like a rat! Paul scowled and told them all to fuck off. Then, when he turned his attention to Nancy, the dirty look he gave her scared her so much that she grabbed rk and ran for the stores exit. Stop! Paul shouted. Nancy was terrified that if she kept running, he would y hardball, and rk would suffer because of her. Thus, she stopped running. rk had begun to cry, so Crystal took him from Nancy andforted him. The little boy began to rub Crystals breasts, and Eric felt hot jealousy wash over him. He gave the child an angry look, and he began to cry harder than ever. Crystal red at Eric and said, Youre freaking him out! Why are all men the same? You guys have no fatherly love! Eric: Paul and I are different Nancy: Wheres the difference? You can always judge a person by their friends. In her eyes, the two men were both bastards, and that was the bond that held their friendship together.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Eric looked Crystal in the eyes and said, Ive changed. On the day I fell in love with you, I swore an oath that I would be good to you and our children. Mommy, rk murmured. He was worried about Nancy, but he could do nothing, and he was forced to watch as his father forced her into a dressing room. So, Paul hissed. Im a yellow dog, am I? Or was that a rat? Woman, you are getting too bold for your good! Nancy opened her mouth to defend herself, but Paul kissed her before she could say anything, and he bit her lips crazily. Nancys mind went nk. She had not expected this. She was not about to take it lying down, though. Once she came to her senses, she bit down on his tongue, and his blood tasted like a fishy sweet. Paul: Behave yourself. Or do you want me to fuck you right here? Nancy gradually gave up her resistance. At this point, she did not dare to defy him. Not in such a public ce. Being bullied always made her feel embarrassed. Crystal also felt somewhat embarrassed. So, to break the tension, she took the clothes from the sales assistant, threw therge-sized one to Eric, and pushed him into the fitting room to get changed. Then she went into the room next to his to change into her costume. By the time Crystal came out, Eric was already done changing. He took her hand, and when she looked at them in the mirror, she had to admit that they looked cute in their matching panda suits. Though they were both adults, Eric was ying the childs role, and she was ying the part of the Mother. He was very fond of her appearance, and when she tried to pull her hand away, he would not let her. Now that Paul was in the fitting room, Nancy helped rk into the zebra costume he had picked out, and then she changed into her matching costume. The suit was too big for her, though, and when she came out, Paul said, Your legs are too short for that, and it looks stupid. Arent you afraid of tripping? Nancys face flushed, but she did not dare to roll her eyes or stare at him. She was afraid that he would do more excessive things to her if she did. rk was his Mothers advocate, though. He didnt allow others, including his father, to say anything bad about his mother, and this would be no exception. He scowled at Paul and said, Dont listen to Daddy. Mommy is beautiful no matter what she wears. After receivingfort and kindness from rk, Nancy hugged and kissed him. My little rk is the most adorable kid in the world! she eximed. You are Mommys little knight. She smiled as she lifted his face and kissed him on the mouth. When Paul saw Nancy kissing their son, his face turned red from rage. Stop it! he growled. rk: Why? rk asked. Paul: Men and women should not kiss like that. rk: But Daddy kisses Mommy like that. Nancy cleared her throat to interrupt the conversation, and once she had their attention, she said, Everyone is waiting for us. Lets go. **** The minute they arrived at Sea World, Crystal began to look for an opportunity to slip away from the group. It seemed that Eric had gleaned her intention, though, because he stuck to her like glue. Nancy and rk were not having a good time either. Paul rarely took rk out, and he hadnt taken Nancy out much when they were married, so their atmosphere was awkward. Near the entrance, there was an undersea tunnel, and all kinds of undersea creatures swam overhead. There was even a whale, and when it passed by, rk was terrified. He began to cry, and he buried his face in his Mothers bosom. Nancy patted him on the back and said, Theres no need to be afraid, honey. They are locked up, and they cannot get out. The toddler stopped crying and smiled. Mommy, do you think that shark looks like Daddy? he asked. When Nancy heard that, she could not help butugh. She regretted it immediately, though. She knew that if Paul thought that she wasughing at him, he would be mad. Thankfully, he was too busy looking at the animals to pay attention to what was being said. Chapter 219: You Have No Right To Say No After going through the long tunnel, they walked to the dolphin performance pavilion. The dolphins were rks favorite animal, and there was a show starting soon. When they got there, there werent many people. It wasnt long, though, before the bleachers began to fill up, and they were full by the time the show started. Eric had stepped out to buy popcorn and drinks for everyone, and when he returned, Nancy gently hit Crystals arm with her elbow and said, You need to marry this guy. I can tell that he is a good man. I dont understand why you ran away from him? Crystal sighed and said, You dont know him as I know him. Can you drop it? I dont want to talk about him, Nancy nodded and apologized, and they turned their attention to the show. The dolphins jumped out of the water, and each trick was rewarded with cheers and excited apuse. rk was delighted, and he asked his Mother if the animals were going to dance. Maybe, she replied. Just wait and see. The trainer gave two of the dolphins a treat, and then he gave them each an end of a banner to carry in their mouths. They swam side by side to the middle of the pool, and then when they jumped in opposite directions, the g opened to reveal four words. It took a moment for the audience to read what was written, and then everybody began to hoot, holler, whistle, and look about. The words were Crystal Smith, marry me! and they were anxious to see who it was addressed to. Crystal was in shock. Oh, my God! Nancy eximed. Its so romantic. If I were you, Id say yes immediately. Crystal didnt answer her. She was looking at the words on the banner, and she was dumbfounded. Suddenly, Eric took out a bundle of red roses and a small jewelry box. He knelt on one knee, revealed a ring, and said, Crystal Smith, will you marry me? Crystal began to feel dizzy. All around her, people were chanting. Say, yes! Say yes! Say yes! But she couldnt think straight, and her vision was beginning to blur. Nancy squealed. Say yes, girl!Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Crystal felt like she was in a dream. It seemed as if she had an out-of-body experience, and her body was numb. Stand up, she said coldly. If you dont say yes, then I wont get up, he said. Then, without waiting for her to reply, he tried to force the ring on her finger. Crystal jerked her hand away. I did not say yes, she shouted. You have no right to say no! Eric eximed. If I want to marry you, then you have no say in the matter. I only asked as a formality because I was hoping you coulde to me willingly. So why are you acting this way? I will do everything you want and give you everything I have. What more could you desire? When Crystal heard this, her heart was moved, but she was still reluctant. She valued her autonomy. But how can I get out of this situation? C she wondered. After all, she still wanted Eric to help Nancy with her problem. Finally, she said, Ill marry you, but you have to get us out of here. Eric smiled and said, Thats not a problem. Our wedding will be held in a week. At that time, it will be up to you whether you want to stay here or go back home. Crystal did not answer him directly, but she reached out her left hand and allowed him to put the ring on her middle finger, and when the audience saw this, they cheered louder for them than they had for the dolphins. The only person not impressed was Paul. He red at Nancy and said, Its just a proposal. So whats the big deal? Nancy: Whats the matter? Paul huffed and said, Never mind. He was appalled by what he had just witnessed, but he did not think that Nancy would understand. Eric had always dered himself a top-quality bachelor, and heughed at Paul for giving up his wonderful bachelor life so early. But now, Eric was going to get married, and he had already gotten a divorce. **** Once the show had begun again, Crystal turned to Nancy. Eric promised to help us, she whispered. Just hold on for another few days. Nancy: If it is too much trouble, dont worry about me. I dont think that rk and I are going to have the Happily Ever After that I had hoped for. Crystal: Dont talk that way. Now that Eric is on board, it should be no problem. Nancy: You are a good friend. Thank you. And Eric seems nice. I think youll be happy with him. Suddenly, Nathans face shed into Crystals mind, and she shook her head to drive the image away. She did not know whether she would be happy or not. The thought of being happy seemed very alien to her. She had been happy before, but she did not think that she had deserved it. Any happiness she had ever known had ended with pain, so she tried not to think about the future. When the Dolphin performance was over, rk wanted to interact with the dolphins, so Nancy followed him to the stage. A dolphin trainer said something to Nancy that made her smile and jump for joy. When Paul saw that, he became so angry that he ran to the stage and kicked the trainer into the pool. Then he turned to Nancy and shouted, Youre dead! How dare you flirt with the dolphin man? I can flirt with whomever I want! Nancy. shouted back. We are divorced. Im not your wife anymore, so you dont get a say in what I do! Paul stood akimbo, and in a stern voice, he said, Fine. Flirt. But not in front of our son. Arent you afraid that he will be affected by your whorish ways? Chapter 220: You Are Unbelievable Nancy crossed her arms beneath her breast and glowered at her ex-husband. You are unbelievable! she growled. I am so d that we arent married anymore. You are a real brute! As the couple quarreled, rk squatted by the side of the pool and began to feed the dolphins. The dolphins were anxious to snatch the food out of the boys hands, and they somehow managed to drag him into the water. Nancy saw what had happened right away, and she began to panic. She didnt know what to do, so she took off her coat and prepared to jump into the pool. But then she remembered that she could not swim. Luckily, some of the people in the audience had seen what happened, and they began to call for help. Some of them even rushed towards the pool to save rk. The trainer who had been kicked into the pool was swimming towards the shore, and when he saw rk, he immediately swam over to rescue him. As Nancy pulled her son out of the water, Crystal ran over. Is rk all right? she asked. Hes fine, Nancy replied. Luckily, the trainer saved him. As she spoke, she turned to the trainer. Thank you. Can I have your name? She felt terrible that hed been kicked into the water, but she was grateful that he had been there when rk needed him. My name is Noah Laurent, the trainer replied. But please, call me Noah. The childs clothes are all wet. Let me bring him a towel. People who work in water usually have tanned skin, but Crystal noted that Noahs skin was rtively pale. When he returned with a towel, he offered it to Nancy, but Paul snatched it out of his hands. Then he threw it at rks head, and Nancy quickly dried the boys hair. Once rk was as dry as he would get, Nancy smiled at Noah and said, Can I bring the towel home? Ill return it after washing it. The boys clothes were still wet, and she was afraid that he would catch a cold. All she wanted to do now was wrap him with the towel and get him home. Paul took out a few notes from his wallet and threw them to Noah in an insulting way, but instead of epting them, Noah let the money fall to the ground. You can borrow the towel, Noah said. And I dont need the money. That isnt why I helped the boy. Nancy: Thank you. I will get it back to you ASAP. Suddenly, Paul picked up rk, and he began to carry him towards the front entrance. When Nancy didnt follow right behind him, he shouted, rk is cold. Hurry up! Nancy had wanted to ask Noah for his contact information, but with Paul up her ass, she did not get the chance. Crystal knew her friend well, though, and she said, He probably is single. Eric knew what she was thinking. Do you want to set him up with Nancy? he asked. Not exactly, Crystal replied. What she wanted to do was use Noah to provoke Paul. Eric: What do you want to do? Crystal: Guess? Eric: I guess youll find a way to use Noah to make Paul angry and envious. Hey! Crystal eximed. Youre not as stupid as you look! Eric: Thats why I can be your fianc. Here, let me run Nancys number back to Noah, and then Ill catch up. Crystalughed as she watched him run back towards the dolphin enclosure. Then, when he returned, he wrapped his arm around Crystals waist. She sighed but offered no resistance. I wish you would spend more time thinking about how to help Nancy get custody of rk, she said. And I dont like it when you put your hands on me. You know that! Eric: Do you want to burn your bridge before youve even crossed it? Crystal: Youre right. I can burn itter. Eric: You are a savage woman. I look forward to taming you. Crystal: Well see about that When they got in Pauls car, Nancy took off rks wet clothes and wrapped him up in the towel. Then she hugged him tightly and asked if he was cold. Cold rk murmured. Well be home soon, Crystal said. Hold on, baby. As she spoke, she took off her coat, gave it to rk, and motioned for Eric to do the same. He didnt want to do that, not because he was not a gentleman, but because Nancy was his friends ex-wife. Because Paul had not offered his jacket, he didnt think that he should either. Crystal scowled when she saw this, but then she smiled. She leaned into Eric and whispered into his ear: You promised me that you would do whatever I asked. Now, give the kid your jacket. Eric was taken aback, but he knew that she was right. Alright, he said as he handed Nancy his jacket. Paul red at him, but all he could do was shrug. Finally, Paul took off his coat and threw it to Nancy. Its for my son, he said, It is not for you. **** As soon as they arrived at the vi, Nancy rushed into the house with rk in her arms. Then she ordered the servants to fill the tub with warm water, and she bathed him personally. She put bubbles in the bath, which he loved, and as he yed, he said, Mommy, the dolphins were so cute, but they were a little fierce. They wanted the food too much! Nancy: Thats because they were hungry. They put on a good show, though. Right? Are you hungry? rk shook his head. His mind was distracted. After a minute, he said, Mommy, can I have a dolphin toy? So that I can sleep with it every night. Nancy: Fine, Ill buy one for you.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. rk: But Im a bad boy. Nancy was shocked to hear her good boy say such a thing. No! she said. Never. Why do you think you are a bad boy? Chapter 221: I Would Never Forgive You Nancys heart beat fast as rk exined how hed identally hung up the phone earlier that day. What if it was important? C shes worried. What was done was done, though, and she saw no point in punishing her son. It doesnt matter, she said. If it is important, theyll call back. Now, lets get your hair washed. After the bath, Nancy helped her son get dressed, and then she handed him over to a servant. With that done, she went to find Crystal. At first, she could not find her friend, but that was only because she was ying hard to get. Crystal was hiding in one of the spare rooms, and she was ying with her mobile phone. After the long morning that theyd had, she was trying to keep some distance between herself and Eric. When Crystal saw Nancy, she looked up, smiled, and asked, Whats up? Nancy: You received a call this morning. rk answered the phone, though, and he identally hung up before he could get it to you. You can look at the number. Maybe youll recognize it Crystal sat up and took a look at the odd number on Nancys phone. Ive never seen it before, Nancy: Dial back to see who it is. Crystal nodded, but when she rang the number, no one picked up. Maybe its a wrong number, she suggested. Nancy: But he asked for you by name Crystal shrugged. I dont know, she said. Nobody knows Im here Okay, then. Nancy pulled Crystal up from the bed and said, Lets go!Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Crystal: Go? Where? Nancy: To my ce. Lets grab some clothes and articles of everyday use. Before you and Eric are married, we can live here. It will be more convenient for you to stay here, and I can spend more time with rk. Crystal: Well I guess so. And we can stop by the hospital on the way. Nancy went to find the men, and when she told them her n, she was surprised at how quickly they both agreed to it. She supposed that it was because rk behaved better when she was there with him. And Eric didnt mind, either. Most likely, that was because he had promised to give her some freedom. So, after nning to go to the hospital for the whole day, the two women finally set off. **** Meanwhile, Nathans private jet had justnded in Kuerto. After rk had hung up on him earlier in the day, he had used his tech team to track the call, and then he had decided toe. From as far away as he was, though, his tech team had only been able to track the call to the city. To get an exact location, he would need to get Nancy back on the phone. But, unfortunately, time after time, when he called the number, no one picked up. There had been a series of ck cars and an RV waiting for him at the airport, and all he could do now was drive around and keep calling. Crystal had two small bags. One contained her hair, and the other held Pauls. She had pre-marked them so that when they got to the hospital, everything would be in order. The nurse who took the samples said it would take a week to get the results, which was about the same amount of time she had to n her wedding. It seemed everything was in order. In a week, she and Eric would go home, and Nancy and rk would be free. Crystal filled out a form and left her phone number so that the hospital could get in touch with her when everything was ready. The nurse clipped the form and the two bags of hair together, smiled, and asked if there was anything else. If I cant get to the hospital, can I get the results mailed to me? Crystal asked. It was not easy for her to get away from Eric, and that worried her. Its not a problem, the nurse replied. We have your address on the file that you just filled out. And if Im not mistaken, the doctor is ready to see you now. The nurse led Crystal into a consultation room, and something about it put her on edge. For one thing, the ce was pitch ck, which seemed a little suspicious to her. She took a step backward, but someone pushed her forward and closed the door behind her. The smell of disinfectant was thick in the air, and it reminded her of the morgue, an autopsy room, and death. She tried the doorknob and was not surprised to find that it was locked. She began to panic, but the overhead light turned on before her anxiety got out of control. And she came face to face with Nathan. No! No! No! No! she cried. She pushed him away with all her might. What the fuck are you doing here?!?! she demanded. Nathan did not respond right away. At first, all he did was look at her. But then he moved in closer and forced her into his strong embrace. I missed you, he said. Then he freed her hair from the stic that bound it and buried his head into her thick locks. God, you smell good. Just like I remember! Crystal tried to get away with all of her might, but he was way too strong for her. Ignoring her struggles, Nathan pulled off his tie and tied her hands with it. Are you a pervert? Crystal hissed. She was angrier than she had been in a long time, but her struggle was for naught, and all she managed to do was rub her wrists raw. Crystal started the day wearing a thin woolttice skirt and ck stockings, but Nathan ripped the stockings, pulled them off, and threw them on the ground. He knew that what he was doing was abominable, but he had to have her, and he could not wait another minute. He was afraid that if he did not take action now, she might be taken away by Eric and be Mrs. Bush. The most direct way to reach a womans heart that Nathan could think of was to force her. Better to ask permission than forgiveness C that was his motto. I said I would never forgive you, Crystal shouted. I hate you! I am going to marry Eric, and that is that. Thats not up to you! Nathan said, and as he spoke, he unbuttoned his shirt. Crystal bit her lips. She had to admit that Nathan had a gorgeous face, and his intense olive-ck eyes were intoxicating. The closer he got to that moment when he would take her, the more devoted to him she felt. She hated herself for that, but she could not deny it. Chapter 222: Let Him Do Whatever He Wants Nathans breath was hot on Crystals face, and his breathing was more irregr than it had ever been in his life. His chest rose and fell in skips and jumps, like that of a horny teenager. He was out of control. His face was flushed, and he felt he had no choice other than to give in to his lust. As overwhelmed by his manliness as Crystal was, she still longed to push him away. She knew, though, that if she tried to get away from him, it would only turn him on more. So, she closed her eyes and went limp in his arms, hoping it would make him lose interest. But, unfortunately, her actions had the exact opposite effect on him. Her soft, boneless response nearly drove him to go crazy. Once Nathan had had his way with her, he finally stepped away. He had a cheeky grin on his face that was reminiscent of that of Little Jack Horner, and she could easily imagine him saying, My, what a good boy am I! Get out! Crystal growled. Nathanughed and said, Not likely. Then he embraced her again and bit her shoulder. Please, Crystal cried. You got what you wanted. Cant you just leave me alone! Nathan held her tight and said nothing. He knew her weakness well and that if he continued to hold her like this, she would eventually stop fighting. I hate you! She turned her face away and said, Nathan, if you dare to do anything else to me, I swear that you will never find me again! Nathan smiled and touched her lips. What have I done to deserve this treatment? For one thing C Crystals mind raged C you forced me! Again! What a rascal! Nathan: Will you marry Eric? Crystal: Yes. And nothing you do to stop it. The look in Nathans eyes made him look like a panther hunting for food. Dont you want me? he asked. Huh? Why would I want you? C thought Crystal. Of course, I dont! she replied ufortably. And this is highly inappropriate of you, Mr. Davis. You are Helens fianc, and I am to be your sister-inw! Nathan smiled again as he gripped her chin with his fingers and forced her to look at him. You are jealous, he said. Crystal sighed and said, You think too much. Do I? Nathan asked, Or do you think too little? As he spoke, he dragged her over to the table. He pushed everything on it aside, spun her around, and pressed her against it. Then he held her down by the back of her neck, pped her ass, and said, Know this: Even if you belong to another man, I will still be able to fuck you whenever I want! Crystal wanted to say something, but her head was pressed so tightly to the table that all she could do was groan ufortably. Her entire face hurt, and tears began to fall from her eyes in torrents. Meanwhile, behind her, Nathan ran his tongue up her spine. Mmmmm, he moaned. Your sweat is like wine, and your struggles are intoxicating. He kissed the back of her neck, and as he lifted his head, he felt a sudden urge to bite her shoulder C so he did. Crystal shrieked as she felt his teeth press into her tender flesh, and the pain gave her the boost of the energy and strength that she needed to break away from him. She was not able to do much more than turn around before he captured her again, but at least if they were face-to-face, she would have a little bit of leverage. fuck you! she growled, and before he could guess what she was thinking, she leaned over and bit his shoulder. Much to her surprise, though, he did not resist orin. Are you enjoying yourself? he asked. You may tell me to fuck off, but your actions tell a different story. You want me so badly that youre giving me Love Bites. These are not Love Bites! Crystal shouted. She was furious. And I Do Not Want You. Really? Nathan took out his mobile phone, opened it, and clicked on an audio recording. Almost immediately, Crystals voice yed through the speakers, and it sounded like a man was pleasuring her. Crystal bit her lower lip as her moans droned on. It sounded like a pornographic movie, and she did not want to admit that it was her. Do you still want to marry him? asked Nathan. Crystal: Yes, I do. Even if I wanted you, I couldnt have you. You didnt forget that Helen is pregnant with your baby, did you? Nathan sighed and said, That little bastard in her belly is not mine. When Crystal heard that, her jaw dropped open, and her mind went nk. She was so surprised by what he had said that she did not react when he started kissing her. He kissed the corner of her mouth first, then her lips, and it wasnt until he began to lick her tears from her cheeks that she started to struggle. Nathan was undeterred, though. He held her hands behind her back with one hand and continued to kiss her. He kissed her earlobes, her neck, and her chest. Then he began to suckle at her bosom. As he kissed her, he would whisper and praise her delicate, soft skin, but his flirting only made her struggle harder. No matter what she did, though, she was his prisoner, and she could not escape his clutches. Finally, her mind told her to give up. Let him do whatever he wants C a voice in Crystals head whispered. But her body refused the message, and she begged him, Let me go! Let me go! Let me go! Nathan released Crystal for a moment, just long enough so that he could turn her around and press her against the table again. His hand returned to the back of her neck, and there was nothing she could do. He had broken her down, and she was as weak as she had ever been. It was time for her to ept her fate. Finally, she went limp, Do what you want, she muttered passively. She wasnt even crying anymore, I wont fight youContent rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Nathanughed as he spread her legs. To him, this was a significant victory in a war that he nned to win, and it was especially poignant because he was recording the whole thing. When they were done, he nned to send a copy to Eric. We will see if he still wants her then! C he thought gleefully. **** When he was done with Crystal, he took her to the consultation room. Heid down on the couch and had her cozy up with him with her head on his shoulder. She wanted to leave, but she had no energy to walk, let alone argue C and she just knew that he would turn it into a fight. He turns everything into a fight C she thought bitterly. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. It was Nancy, Crystal, are you in there? she asked. The servant called me just now. Eric has run away with rk. Chapter 223: Don鈥檛 Hurt Yourself When Crystal heard the news, she sat up straight and pushed herself off the couch. Nathan was taken aback for a moment, but as soon as he realized that she was about to leave, he scrambled to his feet to stop her. Before he knew what was happening, though, she had picked up a pair of scissors. Stay back, she warned. What are you doing? Nathan took a step forward but froze when she pressed the des in deep enough to draw blood. Dont hurt yourself, he cried. Just tell me what the problem is. Im sure that we can work it out together! Crystal: I need you to let me go and note after me! Nathan could tell that she meant what she said, so he stepped back. I will let you go! he said. Just dont hurt yourself He knew that if she left, he would never stop looking for her, but he was willing to say whatever it took to keep her safe. Crystal watched Nathan closely as she backed out of the room. Then she ran into the consultation room to get her clothes. Once she was dressed, she stole two hundred dors from Nathans wallet C A service fee for the sex, she muttered C and made her way towards the front door. By then, Nathan had joined her at the front entrance, and he was distraught. I didnt. mean to hurt you he said. You know that I wont let you marry him, dont you? Crystal sighed and said, Please dont make this difficult. Why cant you just be happy that Im happy? Do you think he will still marry you? Nathan scoffed. You are damaged goods!ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . He wont judge me! Crystal snapped. And he wont hurt me as you do. Suddenly, Nancy entered the room. Crystal! she eximed, cutting off whatever response Nathan might have had. Crystal embraced her friend and asked, What happened? Eric took rk away, she replied. Hes holding my son hostage! Crystal: What does he want? You! Nancy eximed. Crystal: Me? What do you mean C me? He said that if I bring you to him, he will return rk, Nancy replied. As she spoke, she noticed the strange man watching them. Who is this? she wondered. Crystal: This is Nathan. He is my ex-husband What is he doing here? C she wondered. Um okay. She turned to Nathan and said, Its nice to meet you, but we really need to get going. Nathan nodded and said, Well, dont let me hold you up. Its not like I can stop you from going **** Nancy drove as fast as she dared, and Crystal tried to keep a conversation going in the hopes of alleviating some of her friends anxiety. I cant believe Nathan would show up like this, she said. Is he really that bad? Nancy asked. He is the best-looking man that I have ever seen. Crystal snorted. Looks arent everything, she said. Nancy: Does he want to take you away? Crystal: Why else would he be here? Nancy: Do you love him? No Crystal shook her head and said, My heart has been broken so many times that it is dead to love. I just want to live a peaceful life; ordinary, simple, and, if possible, single. Nancy: I feel you, sister. fuck all men. fuck all men, Crystal agreed. Eric isnt all bad, though. He wont do anything to rk. He isnt capable of harming a child. Thats a relief, Nancy said. But she did not seem relieved, and she refused to ease up on the gas pedal. It was not long before she attracted the attention of the police, but she refused to pull over when they turned their sirens on. At the But Mansion, Eric and Paul were ying chess while discussing Erics uing wedding to Crystal. He nned to hold the wedding in Kuerto, and he had paid a wedding nner to rent thergest church on the ind. As Paul moved his Bishop forward three spaces diagonally, he looked up and said, Nathan is on the ind. I am aware, Eric said. I am not worried about him. In fact, I am inviting him to my wedding. After all, before all this, we were friends, and hopefully, when things settle down, we still will be. What if Crystal sleeps with him? asked Paul. Love covers a multitude of sins, Eric replied. Isnt that what the Bible says? Paul nodded. I forgot that you were religious. Not a problem. Besides, Eric continued. I, too, have a past. So all that matters is that I make her mine. Paul didnt think that the wedding would go smoothly, and he felt guilty about notifying Nathan about Crystals presence, so he was doing everything that he could to tighten up security for the event. I think that it is good that you are marrying her here, he said. I have a lot of leverage here, so I can help you in ways that I couldnt if you took her home and held the ceremony there. Eric patted his shoulder and said, l owe you. No, Paulughed. You owed me, he said. You owed me your life, but now we are even. Eric: As you wish. We are even. Paul: Have you thought about staying on the ind? Crystal seems to like it here, and she gets along well with Nancy. I have, Eric admitted. If we decided to stay, would you be able to help us find a ce to live? Paul: Mi casa es su casa. You know that you are always wee here. Eric: I know, and I appreciate that. I want my own ce, though. As you know, I value my privacy. Paul nodded. Just say the word, and Ill get on it. Eric thanked his friend, and then he said, Listen, Id like to change the subject for a minute. Why havent you gotten remarried yet? Paul: I have all the women I want. And servants. What do I need a wife for? Eric: I saw the way that you looked at Nancy at the aquarium Thats nonsense, Paul scoffed. I have only ever loved Michelle. Eric slid his queen across the board and knocked over his opponents king. The game was over. Why didnt you marry her? Before Paul could reply, Nancys car sped into the driveway. As soon as it came to a stop, she jumped out and ran towards the building. Crystal was right behind her. Slow down, she shouted. Paul is also here. He wouldnt let Eric do anything to rk. This whole hostage situation was a bluff! Nancy was too upset to hear her friends good advice. All she could think about was getting her son back. When they entered the vi, they saw Paul and Eric right away. Where the fuck is my son? Nancy roared. If you have harmed even one hair on his head, I will kill you. Both of you! Paul looked at his watch and said, You are ten minuteste. I told you that if you were everte again, you would never see your son again. Nancy was speechless. She wanted to throw the chess game to the floor and toss the table. She did not dare, though C not while rk was in his care. Please, she begged. I am his Mother. You must let me see him Paul: I dont have to do anything that I dont want to. Chapter 224: This Is Your Big Day Nancy looked Paul in the eyes and said, Fine. If we cannote to apromise, I will go. I will mind my own business, and you will never see me again. When Paul heard what Nancy said, he was confused. rk had always been her weakness. Do you think that you can treat my house as a hotel? he asked. Youe and go as you please. Obviously, you dont want to leave. Nancy: You dont really believe that. Do you? Need I remind you that we are divorced? Paul was speechless, and the room fell into an awkward silence. Finally, Crystal turned to Eric and said, Eric, we need to talk. Is there somewhere we can go? She was anxious to exin what Nathan had done to her. If he heard it from her first, she was confident that he would not blow it out of proportion. Eric stood up. He did not want to listen to Paul and Nancy quarrel, so he was happy to have an excuse to leave the room. This way, he said, and he led her to the porch in the backyard. There was a wooden bench swing, and they sat down together. Not wanting to beat around the bush, Crystal said, Nathan is on the ind.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Eric: If you want to help Nancy with rk, you know what you have to do. And you have toe to me willingly. Are you willing? I am, Crystal replied. Nathan and I had sex, though. He forced me Eric pulled her into his arms and said, If you sleep with me, then I will forgive you. Crystal pushed him away and crossed her arms beneath her breasts. She knew that she had to marry him, and she was not rejecting him. What she was doing was trying to increase his arousal by putting up some resistance. Much to her surprise, though, he did not push her into having sex with him. We dont need to do this now, he said. There will be plenty of time when we are married. Crystal: What about Nathan? Surely, he will not let me go without a fight. Eric smiled and said, You let me worry about him. Everything will work out. You will see. In fact, he will be a guest at our wedding, and he will be on his best behavior. He wont even make a peep! The news pierced Crystals heart like a knife, but Eric seemed not to notice that her expression had changed, which was probably for the best. Eric tilted his head and smiled wickedly. He knew that the road he was on was not an easy one to travel, but it was one that he hadmitted to taking. He pulled her into his arms, and she was startled, but she did not resist, and when he ran his hand through her hair, she rested her head on his shoulder. Eric turned his head so that he could kiss Crystal on the forehead. I am willing to fight your battles for you, he said. And I can even forgive your past, but I need you to promise me your future. Can you do that? Eric was extremely cautious with his words. Crystal was like a frightened doe, and if she became suddenly startled, he knew that her walls would go up immediately, taller and thicker than ever. It seems that he was saying and doing all the right things, though, and he could tell that his words had moved Crystal. He touched her cheek with the back of his hand and said, I will give you a grand wedding. You will like it. You will see. Can Nancy be my bridesmaid? Crystal asked. Its up to you, Eric replied. This is your big day. **** As Nancy argued with Paul, she felt an inner strength that had never been there before. She did not know where it came from, but she was d it was there. It gave her the confidence and stamina to stand up to her ex-husband for the first time. In retrospect, she would think C That is a power that God reserves for Momma bears for when their cubs have been threatened. Paul, she growled. You dont deserve to be rks father. Paul: I dont deserve him, eh? Then who does? You? Thats a joke! Anyone is better than you! Nancy shouted. Forget you. She rushed upstairs to find rk to make sure that he was okay. When Crystal and Eric returned, they saw that Nancy was not there, so Crystal went upstairs to check on her. She checked the bathroom, but no one was there. It was the same with the next room. It was not until she reached thest room that she found what she was looking for. rk had fallen asleep while ying with a puzzle. Nancy was sitting beside him. She ran her fingers through her hair, and tears of joy and relief flowed down her face. Mommy is here, she whispered. Mommy loves you. You are safe rk opened his eyes, and when he saw that Nancy was crying, he said, Whats wrong, Mommy. Why are you crying? Can I kiss your booboo? Nancyughed and said, Mommy is crying because shes happy. rk looked confused, and they could see that he did not understand why someone that was happy would cry. Nancy kissed his cheek. Are you okay? she asked. rk frowned and said, No one ys with rk. I can only y with myself. Crystal came in behind Nancy and said, Eric said that he could take us all away after we get married. Nancy nodded. God knew that she did not want to stay there for a moment longer than she had to. Thank God, she said. Is there anything that I can do to thank you? Crystal: Can you be my bridesmaid? Nancy: Is it appropriate? I am divorced, and I have a child Crystal: Why not? You are one of my best friends. You are like a sister to me. Please, dont refuse me. Nancy: Okay But who will be the groomsman? You will find out tomorrow when we try on the wedding dresses and take the wedding photos. The wedding was less than a week away, and although Eric had said that she only needed to be responsible for being a beautiful bride, she still needed to try on gowns and stand for photos. She did not look forward to the wedding, but she did not feel like their marriage would be legitimate without it, so she was willing to do what was needed to make it memorable. **** The next day was chaotic, but there was an undeniable air of festivity wherever the bridal party went. The wedding dress was handmade by a famous French designer, and the headdress weighed several kilograms. Even the flower bouquet was unique. It had been imported from Mexico for the asion, and Nancy volunteered to help Crystal with it. They were taking photos by theke, and Nancy held the bouquet carefully. She was so focused on the flowers, though, that she did not see the wet spot on the grass. She slipped, and she would have fallen on her ass if not for the gentleman that caught her. Who? She wondered. And when she looked up, she could not believe her eyes. Why are you here? she asked. Chapter 225: Don鈥檛 Be Ridiculous Are you here to get the towel? Nancy asked. It was the only reason she could think of that would exin why Noah, the employee from Sea World, would be there. Noahughed, and when he did, dimples appeared in his cheeks. He is a fucking hunk! C thought Nancy, and her face turned red. Noah helped her to her feet and said, No, no. Dont worry about the towel. Consider it a gift to your son. I am here because Miss Smith invited me here to be the best man at her wedding. Is there a problem? Nancy: No Im surprised, thats all I thought she would have asked someone that she is more familiar with, like a family member or a friend. Im sorry. I hope I havent offended you. Noah: No worries. I admit that this is highly unorthodox. Your friend asked me to do this favor for her, and I thought C Why not? It could be fun! I sent you a message yesterday, but you didnt respond I must not have seen it, Nancy lied. She actually had seen it, but she didnt want to have any contact with anyone of the opposite sex anymore. Noah: Your foot Does it hurt? Nancy: Probably, yes. It doesnt matter, though. It shouldnt be a problem. Noah looked at the bouquet of flowers in her hand and said, May I help you? Nancy frowned and said, You must think Im pretty stupid if you dont think Im capable of handling a fist full of flowers. Suddenly, Noah picked Nancy up and held her sideways. What are you doing? Nancy cried. Put me down! When he did not set her right, she began to struggle. Before Noah could reply, Paul appeared on thewn, and when he saw what was going on, he gave Noah a dirty look. Nancy was embarrassed, and her back stiffened. Since they had returned from Sea World, Paul had been acting very weird. His temper had be more and more unpredictable, and he often snuck around his own home like a ghost. He would appear out of nowhere, and at the worst possible times, with a sarcastic word ready on the tip of his forked devils tongue. Miss Smith paid me to put on a good show, Noah whispered. She said that you want to frustrate your ex-husband. Is that your ex-husband? Nancy nodded. She stopped struggling and decided to let him hold her. After all, with her hurt foot, it made sense for someone to help her. Noah nced at Paul. If he tries to hit me, will you help me? he asked. Nancy: If I dont help you, what are you going to do? This is a job, Noah replied. So, if I am injured, I will apply for Workers Compensation. Noah and Nancy looked at each other, and when they smiled, they looked like a couple in love. Pauls face got dark, and he turned away. What he saw bothered him. Noah chuckled and said, Even if your ex-husband doesnt love you, it makes him unhappy to see another man hugging his ex-wife. **** Crystal stood by theke, and the water reflected her beauty. Her white wedding dress was spread out around her like the petals of a daisy, covering arge area of grass. Noah stood nearby with Nancy in his arms and a bouquet of flowers in hers. The scene was picture-perfect. The only thing that seemed out of ce was Nathan. Why did Eric invite him? C Crystal wondered. She shook her head bitterly C Wouldnt it be better if he didnte? Why is your smile so stiff? Noah asked her. You want to have wedding photos that you will be proud to show off, dont you? Of course, you do! So, try to smile more beautifully. Nancy turned to her friend and said, He is right, you know. When you are old, you will want to be able to show these pictures to your grandchildren! Anyway, you should be happy. I envy you. Crystal: What do you envy? Nancy: I didnt get to have a wedding dress or a grand ceremony. Crystal: It is not a big deal; I promise you. How difficult is it to wear a wedding dress? You can wear one too if youd like. Then we would be matching!Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Nancyughed and said, Thats hrious. It is your wedding. I cant wear a wedding dress. Crystal: Whats the matter? I dont mind. Who made it a rule that a bridesmaid cant wear a wedding dress? Or, if you would prefer, you could get married on the same day. Then you would finally get the wedding of your dreams! I think that would be great. Nancy: Please, stop it. Who am I going to marry? Crystal looked at Noah, winked, and said, I can think of someone Nancy: Dont be ridiculous! Crystal: Im not ridiculous. Why dont you stop arguing for a second and give the idea some thought? Nancy was stunned when she realized that Crystal was serious. She had never done such a wild thing, but, suddenly, the idea began to appeal to her. She watched silently as the photographer started to pose for Crystal. Her veil trailed behind her, and a fan had been set up to create the illusion of wind. Noah helped Nancy to sit on the grass. Then he sat down beside her and took off her white high heels. Let me see your injury, he said. I know First Aid. I can help you. Nancy nodded, and he began to rub her foot. **** Eric finally arrived, and much to Crystals surprise, he was wearing a white suit. He typically wore leather or denim suits, and she had never seen him looking so slender and handsome. Paul followed him, but he was a few meters behind him. When Eric arrived at theke, Crystal smiled and said, Id like Nancy to get married the same day as us. Is that okay? Eric felt like he was caught between a rock and a hard ce. He had made a promise to Crystal, but he didnt have to look at his friend to know that he was probably furious. Who does Nancy want to marry? he asked. Crystal: Noah. From Sea World. Eric: Okay. The more, the merrier, I guess. Nancy opened her mouth to refuse the proposition, but then Noah grabbed her hand and said, Marry me! What? Nancy looked confused. Noah smiled wickedly and whispered in her ear: Were acting; remember? This is an additional service. As he spoke, he pulled a prop ring from his pocket and put it on her finger. Chapter 226: I Will Take What Is Mine As Noah slipped the ring on Nancys finger, he suddenly froze, and his face turned white. Whats the matter? implored Nancy. You havent said yes yet, and already Im putting a ring on your finger, he muttered. Im sorry, that was presumptuous of me Nancy could see the disdainful look in Pauls eyes, and it made herugh. She thought C I did not realize that I held so much power over him. If I had known sooner, I might have done something with it Oh, well. Theres no time like the present! With a giant grin on her face, Nancy touched Noahs hand and said, You are so silly. Of course, I will marry you. This is great! Crystal eximed. Now, the two of you can be in the wedding photos! There had been nothing to Nancys first wedding. It was just a means to an end. She had told herself that if they loved each other, nothing else was important. She had lied to herself, though. Like every woman, she longed to have the wedding that she had dreamed about ever since she was a little girl. The worst part about not having that ceremony was that Paul could have afforded the grand to give it to her, but he refused to do it. It was not until muchter that she figured out why he had been so cheap. It was because he had not loved her, and he had nned to drop her as soon as she dropped a child. Since then, Nancy had given up on having the wedding of her dreams. Thus, she was ecstatic to be a part of this wedding, even if it was a hoax. She stood up quickly, but she forgot about her injury in her excitement, and Noah had to steady her with his hands.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Noah: Are you this anxious to marry me? Nancy: Im excited to wear a wedding dress and to have you help me into it. Noah hugged tightly, and the grin that appeared on his face was like that of a hungry Cheshire cat. I can do that, he said. His words made her swoon, and she bit her lower lip lustily. It was evident why Crystal had chosen Noah to be her partner. Not only was he ruggedly handsome, but he was also a real charmer. Nancy took his hand and said, Alright, lets go. Crystal had been about to change into her second wedding dress, so she followed them to the area that had been designated for changing. She had not made it far, though, when Eric grabbed her from behind. He pulled her into a warm embrace and said, You are pretty. Kiss me. Crystal rolled her eyes and gently punched him in the face. It did not hurt, and as her hand returned to her side, he grabbed it and kissed it. Meanwhile, Paul was beginning to feel like the fifth wheel. He could not believe that Nancy was willing to marry aplete stranger, and as he watched them together, he thought C She doesnt know anything about him! Suddenly, he found it hard to breathe, and it seemed like the world was closing in on him. For the first time in an exceptionally long time, he had a panic attack. **** The fitting room door opened, and Nancy came out wearing a white wedding dress. Her skin was shining white, and the simrity between her and a porcin doll made everyone in attention tremble uncontrobly. Paul was aghast. He had never seen this side of this woman. While they were married, she dressed conservatively. She had the same hairstyle for several years. She was in her twenties, but she dressed like she was in her thirties. She acted like she was in her forties, and she had the world view of a woman in her fifties. Now, though, she shone like a brilliant diamond exuding radiant light. The dress made her look beautiful, but he hated it- hated what it represented. Nancy loved the gown, though, and she did not care how upset it made her ex-husband. She let the look on Noahs face be the judge of her appearance. Paul was giving Nancy dirty looks, but he was secretly in awe of her beauty. Crystal quietly approached Nancy and whispered into her ear: Good job. Paul is going to regret treating you the way that he did. Thats for sure! Even if he doesnt, I am still going to get married, Nancy said. Then Remember not to mention other men in front of Noah, okay. After all, they are all in the past. I dont want Noah to get the wrong idea. Crystal: You havent even married him yet, but you are worried about his opinion of you? Does this mean something? Nancy blushed and said, Lets talk moreter. First, we should get to the bridal shop. **** By the time Noah arrived at the bridal shop, Nancy and Crystal had been there for almost an hour. They had begun to get worried, but their questions were all but forgotten when he appeared with a fresh bouquet of flowers for Nancy. Noah kneeled in front of Nancy and said, A ring is not enough. You should have flowers. It is only proper for a bride to have flowers. Nancy smiled and said, Thank you. Eric was nearby. Women love sweet words, he said. They certainly do, Nancy agreed. Noah obviously knows what he is doing. Noahughed and said, I studied this subject, especially for Nancy. Nancy: For me? Surely, you jest Noah: For my future wife is what I mean, and here you are. Nancy was taken aback by his sweet words, but then she remembered that this was supposed to be an act, and she frowned. She had begun to have feelings for Noah. She whispered into his ear: Is this an act? Noah: No way. Crystal could overhear what they were saying from where they were standing, and something important urred to her. She pulled Eric aside and said, Dont forget your promise! Eric nodded, smiled, and kissed her on the cheek. I wont forget, he said. But I expect a bonus upfront. We understand each other, right? Crystal tried to push him away, but he would not budge. Let me go, she whined. I understand, and you know that you will get what you want eventually Eric sighed and let her go. I am looking forward to the day when you belong to mepletely, he said. I can be patient, but know this: I will not wait forever. If need be, I will take what is mine. I know, Crystal whispered. I am just not ready yet I can bide my time now, but you are going to have a rude awakening once we are married C thought Eric C Once I have imprisoned you, things will change. Chapter 227: It鈥檚 Time To Take More Photos Crystal took a step backward so that Eric could not reach her. She did not know why, but the thought of being intimate with him while Nathan was in the same country as they were in had her worried. She wished that Eric had not invited him to their wedding. Just the thought of his steely eyes on them as they said their vows had her in a panic. Nathan seemed to pop up wherever Crystal went, and his ability to know where she would be next scared her. She had thought that by escaping to the ind, she would be free of him and Eric, and then she would be fully autonomous. But things were right back to the way they had been at the Beverly vi, or nearly so. Crystal took a deep breath. She hoped that after she married Eric, Nathan would give up, and things would settle down. She did not think it was probable, but it was not outside the realm of possibilities. Thus, she refused to give up hope, and she was determined to look for the good. If not for Crystals wedding, Nancy would not have found Noah. Instead, she watched as he picked her friend up and spun her around. They were bothughing like happy children, and their rtionship seemed pregnant with possibilities. Paul, on the other hand, was gloomy. He wanted to rage, but he knew that in this situation, he was impotent. He had divorced Nancy, and now he had no hold over her. Thus, if he tried to intervene, he would look like a fool. If that happened, he knew that she would lord it over him for the rest of his life. The stores air was beginning to feel stuffy, and Paul was beginning to sweat, so he sprang to his feet and headed towards the exit. When Eric saw Paul leaving, he said, Hey! Where are you going? Paul: Out for a smoke. What of it? Eric: Again?Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Is he counting my cigarettes? C Paul wondered. It was true that he had been going out for one every few minutes C But how many cigarettes I have had is none of Erics business! Im a grown man, and Ill smoke as many cigarettes as I please, thank you very much! As Paul walked away, Ericughed. What crawled up his ass? he asked. The clerk brought out some suits for Noah to choose from. He did not know which one to choose, though, so he asked Nancy for help, and she picked out one that was royal blue, which happened to be his favorite color. Now that the suit had been chosen, Noah took it into the change room and began to undress. He had just taken off his shirt when his phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his pocket and read the text message. It said: If you are sure that the woman you are with is Pauls ex-wife, then you need to close the deal as quickly as possible. She is, and I know, Noah replied impatiently. Then he turned off his phone and shoved it back into his pocket. He changed into the royal blue suit, and when he came out, everyone agreed that he looked very dashing. Crystal smiled and said, Clothes make a man just as a saddle makes a horse. Even your temperament has changed since you changed your clothes. Nancys cheeks turned red as she nodded her head. You are really handsome. He had looked handsome in his casual clothes, but now he looked like a prince. Sheughed and said, Are you a prince in distress? Noah paused for a moment, and then heughed along with her. How did you know? he asked. Just a guess. Nancy thought he was joking, and she was happy to y along. So, when I marry you, I guess I will be a princess she said. Noah: You are indeed a princess in my eyes. Crystal folded her arms andughed. She wondered if marriage was contagious. She looked at the happy couple, and a pair of eyes like those of a ck panther catching its prey suddenly came into her mind. She remembered that Nathan had asked her, Are you over me? The words were like invisible hands tugging at her heart, causing her inexplicable pain. Crystal was lost in her thoughts, and when Nancy shouted for her to join them, she nearly jumped out of her skin. What is it? she snapped. Its time to take more photos! Nancy eximed. Get your head in the game! Crystal nodded and joined her friend. When Paul returned from having his smoke, he saw the two couples taking photos, and he frowned. Once again, he felt like the fifth wheel. **** After the session was over, everyone retired to Pauls house, and a servant brought rk downstairs as soon as they heard Nancys voice. The boy was wailing and flopping about, and it took all of the servants strength not to drop him. Nancy rushed over, embraced her son, and asked what was wrong. Daddy said that you dont want me anymore! rk wailed. The little guy was so insecure that he cried whenever he heard that his Mommy did not want him. Nancy was heartbroken. She picked him up and said, rk, honey, Mommy will never leave you. She rubbed his back as she carried him back upstairs, and sheid him down in bed. Crystal was standing on the balcony when her phone rang, and she did not need to check the Caller ID to know that it was Nathan calling. So she pulled out her phone, and sure enough, the LED screen said: Unknown Name Unknown Number. He had gotten her number at the hospital, but she blocked his number the minute he started texting her. But he was resilient. Throughout the day, hed been calling and texting her from various other numbers. He must have a number generator App, she muttered. It was infuriating. Finally, she epted the call. Nathan, what do you want from me? she demanded. Chapter 228: Did I Ever Tell You That I Love You? Crystal waited for Nathan to reply, but he did not. She could hear him breathing on the other line, but he remained silent. What the fuck?!?! C thought Crystal. What do you want? she demanded for the second time. Im tired, and I dont have the energy to put up with your bullshit! Dont marry him, Nathan finally replied. Crystal: Why not? We are over. You had your chance, and you blew it! Her words struck him like a sharp knife to the heart, and there was another long silence during which all she could hear was his heavy breathing. Once it became apparent that Nathan would not reply, Crystal said, I am so happy that I left you. I dont want to go back to the past. In fact, I have forgotten it. From now on, Im Mrs. Bush. It would be best if you remembered who I am and who you are. I dont mind you calling me your sister-inw, but that is where our rtionship ends. Nathan: Did I ever tell you that I love you? Crystals heart throbbed, and it radiated pain into her bloodstream until she hurt from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. I thought you stopped loving me she whispered. Nathan: How can I stop loving you? I have loved you since I was sixteen, and now you tell me that you are going to marry someone else. What do you want me to do? His voice began to tremble with emotion. Crystal was confused. You say that youve loved me since you were sixteen, but I dont believe it! she said. I would have only been nine! And if you are telling the truth, it does not look good on you. What kind of pervert would you be to have lusted after a child like that? I dont want to have anything to do with you! Everything Ive done is because of you, Nathan begged. And I would do anything to prevent you from marrying Eric! Crystal: Anything? Would you die? Nathan: You want me to die? Crystal: I want you out of my life. If you were dead, then you would be out of my life, and I wouldnt have to marry Eric. The only reason Im marrying Eric is that, between the two of you, he is the lesser of two evils. Nathan: I dont believe it. If you wanted me dead, you would not have used a tranquilizer gun when you left me. You would have used a real one. Crystal: I assumed that the tranquilizers would have been enough of a deterrent, and you would have left me alone once you realized that I was serious. Obviously, I was wrong. If I could go back in time and do it again, I would use a real gun! Nathan: Well, we dont have a time machine, but its not toote to get the job done. I will ask Vic to prepare a gun for you. You are wee toe and kill me if you wish. My door is always open to you, as is my heart, to love or to destroy. If you are going to marry Eric, you may as well kill me. So, when will youe and shoot me? If you dont kill me, then I will know that you cant bear to lose me and that you are meant to be mine.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. You are a lunatic! Crystal said. Nathan opened his mouth to tell her that he loved her, but it was toote. She had already ended the call. And I didnt even get the chance to tell her that I paid off her Mothers debts he muttered. He hadnt even had the chance to tell her how it was that he hade to love her when he was sixteen while she was still a child. Almost ten years ago, Nathan had received a cat as a gift, and he loved it with all of his heart. One cold winter day, while he was at school, the cat fell into the water. Everyone thought that it was dead, except for Crystal, who was nine years old at the time. She jumped into the water and saved it. When Nathan returned from school, he learned about the little girls heroic deed. She was holding the cat, and they were both trembling. He was amazed that it was not dead, and he said so. Crystal looked up at him with big eyes that sparkled like stars in the sky, and she said, It did die, but cats have nine lives. This one has eight left. Nathan thought that she was very brave, and he wanted to have her for the rest of his life. He had fallen in love with her, and he desperately wanted to protect her. Before he could say anything, he made her a picture, and when he finished it, he vowed never to paint again. After ten years, he could not believe that it could alle to naught. For a long time, he just sat there, not moving, with his phone in his hand. It felt like the room was spinning, and if he tried to stand, he thought he might fall. Absently, he traced the scabs on his arm. The cuts were healing well, but that was not what he wanted. He wanted the pain, and he wanted the scars that spelled out her name to stand out. Nathan dug his fingernails into the scab and slowly peeled it away, destroying the healed and healing flesh. The wound didnt bleed much at first, so he dug his fingers into his arm. Before long, blood was oozing down his arm. This is nice C he thought, and he began tough maniacally. **** By the time Nancy arrived at the door to Pauls bedroom, she was fuming. She could not believe that Paul had told rk she didnt love him, and she was ready to give him a piece of her mind. She knocked twice, and when no one answered, she tried again. When there was still no answer, she became convinced that he was ignoring her, so she turned the knob and let herself in. Much to Nancys surprise, the room was empty. She went in a little further, and when she heard the water running in the adjoining bathroom, she called out Pauls name. No one answered so she went into the bathroom to turn off the water. As she reached the doorway, though, Paul stepped into the bedroom, and he waspletely naked. His hair was wet, and there was water dripping off his massive muscles. Chapter 229: Now And Forever Nancys eyes nearly bulged out of her skull at the sight of her naked ex-husband. You! She eximed. He smirked, and she hurriedly looked away. Paul had a towel in his hand and was nonchntly drying his hair. Nancys face turned red as she wondered whether she should run or start arguing with him. I didnt know you were taking a shower, she said. Why wouldnt I be? Paul raised his eyebrows and said, This is my room. Theres no reason to be embarrassed, though. Weve seen each other naked plenty of times before. Anyway, why did you barge into my room? Nancy bit her lip and said, This is my room too. Isnt it? On such short notice, this was the best answer she could think of. Paul walked over to her. How do you figure? he asked. As close as he was to her, the smell of male hormones was overwhelming. Did you forget that I divorced you? This may have been your room before, but those days are in the past. Nancy: I didnt forget. Paul: Then what are you doing here? You are about to get married, and yet you barge into the room of a single mante at night. What are you up to? Nancy: I I came to talk to you about rks education. Paul: Liar! You are clearly here to seduce me. Nancy: Seduce you? I just barged in while you were taking a shower. I didnt do anything. It was you that walked up to me! You want to deny it? Paul shook his head and said, Nancy, I finally understand you. I thought you were a conservative, simple-minded woman. Now I realize that you are nothing but a c*ck-teasing wh*re. Are you tired of that guy from Sea World already, and now you want a real man? He put his fingers on her lips and rubbed them hard. The thought that the man might have kissed her made him want to do this. Nancy knocked his hand away and said, I dont know what youre talking about. Get the hell away from me! Though she was free to leave at any time, she felt guilty. After all, it was she who had burst in, and she felt some regret for not having been able to restrain herself. My entrance was bound to bring a shower of shame C she realized. She had known that it was no longer her room and that she had no right to enter without his explicit consent.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. I shouldnt have barged in like this, Nancy admitted. After living here for so long, it seemed natural just to walk in. That was my bad. It will never happen again. But I really want to talk to you about rk. Paul: You came in to talk while I was in the shower! Nancy: I didnt know you were taking a shower. Paul: Did you use the same trick with Noah? Nancy: I dont know what youre talking about. Youre being unreasonable. Am I unreasonable? Paul snapped. Youre the one that has to flirt with every man that you see! He had been putting up with her all day, and this was hisst straw. How dare you barge into my room and use me of being unreasonable when it is you that is acting unreasonably?!?! The look in Pauls eyes scared her, and she turned to run away. She was too slow, though, and before she had even taken a step, he grabbed her cor and yanked it backward. The material was not strong, and the dress ripped down the middle, fell to her waist, and caused her to fall on her ass. All that was left was her ckce underwear. Her breasts hung exposed like udders, and she began to cry as she covered her shame with her hands. Nancy wanted to wrap herself in a quilt or something, but he got the wrong idea when she looked at the bed. He assumed that she wanted to fuck. He smirked and said, Now I know why youre really here. You picked that dress intentionally, didnt you? And not wearing a brassiere was a nice touch, but Im surprised that youre wearing panties. But I guess you left them on so that Id have something to take off. Tell me Im right. Nancy was speechless. She would never have guessed that Paul was capable of such filthy thoughts. Not knowing what else to do, she shuffled backward until her back was against the sofa. By then, she had given herself a bad carpet burn on her ass, but the pain barely phased her. The sofa was not far from the door, and she carefully measured the distance between her and Paul to see if she could escape. After some consideration, she did not think she would make it. He had a hungry look in his eyes, though, and his manh**d was rock hard. I have to try at least, she muttered. She knew that if she didnt make it, she would be in a world of trouble. Nancy jumped to her feet and made a mad dash for the door, but Paul was too quick for her. He grabbed her around the waist, and as he lifted her off the ground, she squirmed and struggled against him. Stop it! Nancy shrieked. Let me go!! dont want you! Paul tossed her onto the bed, and she bounced a couple of times before she settled. Immediately, she rolled over and began to crawl away, but he grabbed her by the ankles and pulled her back. Nancy: Let me go. Im going to get married soon, and I dont want to cheat on my fianc! Please! Not only did she not want to cheat on Noah, but she also did not want to be forced by Paul. Every time he forced her, she felt like she was being tortured. Paul began tough as he dragged her to the middle of the bed. Then he sat on her back and pinned her hands behind her back so that she had no chance of escaping. Youre mine now! he eximed. Now and forever! Chapter 230: Get Out Of Here (Triggered Warning: This Chapter contains a sexual scene and inappropriate words. If youre notfortable reading it, kindly skip it and move to another chapter) Every cell in Pauls body was activated as Nancy struggled beneath him. She cursed his name, and the more of a fuss she made, the more he longed to possess her. He would never tell her about this, but he had an unspeakable dream about her the night before. In it, he pressed her under him and forced her to have sex with him over and over again. The dream had struck him as bizarre because he had neglected her for years. Lately, though, he had begun to feel dissatisfied, and it seemed that he only found what he wanted in his dreams; with her. Paulid down on Nancy and gnawed fiercely on her shoulder. She began to bleed, and as he dry-humped her buttocks, his desires were vented. She had never fought so hard, and her desperate wailing fueled his passion. Eventually, it was not enough for Paul to dry-hump her, so he spread her legs and hiked up her ass so that he could fuck her from behind. She was unprepared, though. Her cunt was as dry as a desert, and he could not prate her. But he was not one to be easily deterred, though. He ordered her to friggle herself, and he watched patiently while she got her juices flowing. Finally, Nancy was ready. Paul could tell by the sound her fingers were making as they went in and out. Thats enough, he said, but just as he was about to try again, he noticed how small she was. She was so little that,pared to him, she looked like a helpless child. Paul frowned at this realization. He folded hisrger hands over the backs of her hands, and he noticed how dainty her fingers were. He remembered then that even her vag*na was small, and he pitied her. I cannot do this C he realized not to the mother of my child. He sighed as he stood up. His c*ck was standing at attention, waiting to go into battle, and he felt awkward with it between them. When Nancy realized that she was not going to be forced, she clutched the sheets and shouted, Get out of here! Get out of here! I dont want you here! I hate you! Do you really want me to leave? Paul asked. He didnt believe her. Look at how wet you are If you dont want me, why are you so wet? It was true that her body had responded to her masturbation, but that was no indication of where her head was at. The problem was that she didnt know how to get this message into Pauls head. Finally, all she could think to say was, No, Paul. Just no and then she began to cry. He had never been gentle to her. From their first time until now, he had only been concerned with satisfying his perverted desires. The first time he fucked her was on their wedding day. He put her through Hell that night, and when she woke up, there were bruises, scratches, and teeth marks all over her body, and she was in so much pain that she wanted to die. When she got out of bed, she could not stand, and she copsed. She called out for help, but no one came, so she had to crawl to the phone. Only then was she able to call for help. After that, she had not been able to get out of bed for two weeks, and shed need help bathing and going to the toilet. Sex had gotten morefortable over time, but she had never forgotten how he hurt her. But Paul had no idea how she felt. He thought that she liked it rough and that all of her begging and screaming and yelling for him to stop was all a part of a game. Furthermore, he only had sex with her for one week out of every four, which gave her plenty of time to heal. To have a child, Paul had sex with her when she was ovting, and when she wasnt, he left her alone C and apart from the rough sex, he was generally kind to her. That all changed after rk was born, though. He began to sleep with other women. He brought them to their marriage bed, and he treated her like a second-ss citizen. Worse still, the women bullied rk, and when the boy spoke up, his father pretended not to believe him. ****ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Paul showed no sign that he would be leaving, so Nancyid on her stomach. She did not like him staring at her private parts. She looked forward to the day when he lost interest in her body. Only then would she be free. Paul thought that the only reason Nancy was behaving this way was because of Noah, and his ire began to rise. He looked at her, and suddenly all that he saw was a wh*re. Without warning, he grabbed her by the ankles and yanked hard, pulling her half off the bed. Her feet touched the floor, and he grabbed the back of her neck and pushed her face into the mattress. Then, with his free hand, he spread her legs, and this time, when the tip of his c*ck touched her vulva, he did not hesitate. It hurts so much C Nancy thought as she woke up the next morning. Everything hurt, and if she had not known how she was hurt, she might have thought that she had been run over by a car. She slowly sat up and looked around the room. Everything was a mess. The sheets were stained from blood, and the smell of sex was strong, and their clothes were all over the ce. She picked her phone up off the nightstand, checked the time, and frowned. It was 10:30. If she did not get a move on, she would bete for her appointment to choose her wedding photos. Chapter 231: You Bastard Nancy struggled to get up, but the moment her feet hit the ground, her legs went limp, and she fell to the ground. What did that jerk do to me yesterday? C she asked herself. The scratches on her thighs were horrible. There were bloody cuts and teeth marks all over her body. Blood had crusted to the side of her leg and inner thigh, and her wet core felt like it was on fire. She hurt all over, but all the painbined paled inparison to the throbbing agony that radiated outwards from her genitals. She cringed as she gently probed the area, and she told herself, If I can get through this, I can get through anything. She just wanted to leave. It took her a long time to stand up, and when her legs went wobbly, she managed to sit on the bed. She tried to call out for a servant, but her throat was so dry that all she could do was a whisper. Suddenly, the door opened, and as Paul walked in, she grabbed the bedsheet and covered her shame. He was wearing a perfectly tailored ck suit with a red tie. What do you want? she asked. Paul: Are you finally awake? Nancy: What does it look like? Obviously, I am awake. I wish I were dead, though? Paul: Would you rather die than make love to me? Make love? Nancy was exasperated. We didnt make love! she hissed. You forced me! I dont know what Ive done to offend you or to deserve this! Dont you? Paul scoffed. He marched over to Nancy and looked down on her. His face was a mask of fury. Did you forget my warning? I told you what would happen if you appeared in front of me again, so you must have a death wish or something. Otherwise, you would not be here. ording to your actions, you are asking to die. You cannot me me for what happened. I mean, what are you doing sitting on the bed? Are you waiting for me to get you out of bed? Were you hoping for another round? Because, if that is what you want, it can be arranged! Do you think I dont want to go? Nancy asked meekly. Her face was pale, and she was trembling. I cant walk. I cant even get up. Cut the crap. Paul snorted and said, You are no virgin! Nancy: I may not be a virgin, but Ive never been treated so viciously. Paul: If you are so delicate, how did you manage to satisfy so many men at one time? Nancy was taken aback by his cruel imagination. He was so full of shit that she did not know what to say. Quit ying dumb, Paul continued. I heard you calling for a servant. Are you really that much of a nymphomaniac that you need the fucking help to service your cunt?!?! Nancy gasped. That is NOT why I called for the servant! she eximed. I needed help. I cant even stand Paul reached down and tore off the bed sheet that Nancy was using to protect her modesty as she spoke. She closed her legs, and as she covered her breasts with her hands, she began to cry. She could not believe that the torture wasnt over. What else does this brute want to do to me? C she wondered. Paul smirked and forced her legs apart with his hands, and Nancy was so desperate that she pped him in the face. Paul red at her and said, Dont be so ungrateful. As he spoke, he looked between her legs, and he took inventory of her wounds. He looked at her wet core. It looked a bit like ground beef, and the sheets around where she was seated were saturated with blood. He had not known how much damage he had done, and he suddenly realized that she was more delicate than he had thought she was. Can you not stand up? he asked her. Tell me the truth. Nancy: I dont know why you would ask that question if you arent going to believe my answer. Please, just go Paul picked Nancy up and said, I cant leave you like this. Nancy: What are you doing? Put me down. Paul: Didnt you say you couldnt walk? Nancy: Im all right. Just put me down! Paul: Are you sure you want me to put you down? Nancy: Im sure. Put me down! Paulughed and said, As you wish. His hands fell to his sides, and shended on her ass a half-secondter. Paul! Nancy shrieked, You bastard! Why am I a Bastard? You told me to put you down, and I did! Paul knelt beside her and said, Do what I say if you want to feel better. Then, he carried her to the bathroom without waiting for a reply and put her in the tub. If you think you are going to wash me clean and then She could not manage to finish her sentence. And then what? Paul asked. Nancy saw him as a predator and pervert, and she was right; he was both of those things and more. Even now, he could barely suppress his desires. You know what will happen next, Nancy replied angrily. She turned her back to him, threw her arms around her body, and curled up into a fetal position.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Paul turned the showerhead on and tested the waters temperature with his hand. Once the water was warm enough, he ran it over her body. Then, when she looked up, he adjusted the pressure and sted her in the face. Paul! Nancy shrieked. What the fuck?!?! She felt like she was in Hell. Paulughed. Every time he heard her call his name while she was angry or in pain, his arousal increased. Water sshed on his shirt, and he rolled up his sleeves. He seldom bathed the women he slept with. He preferred to bully them. Thus, he was surprised by how horny he had gotten while bathing Nancy. The only thing that kept him from ravaging her right then and there were the bruises and cuts all over her body. Chapter 232: Do You Dare To Deny It? Nancys skin was very white, so her wounds stood out in stark contrast. Paul had never seen her look like this before. The sight of her caused his heart to beat fast. And for the first time in his life, he felt pity for one of the women he was screwing. He touched her shoulder, and she flinched away from him. Her skin is so soft, and she is actually quite delicate C he realized. When theyd been married, hed only seen her as a baby-making machine. Over thest couple of days, hed decided that she was a wh*re, just like every other woman. Now, though, she had somehow touched his heart, and he felt terrible about assaulting her. Now, when she cried out in pain, he seemed to feel it too. It was inexplicable and undeniable. What is happening? C he wondered. All he knew was that Nancy was really annoying. He was so distracted that he didnt notice that the water had run cold until she mentioned it. Then, without thinking, he turned it as hot as it could go. Its too hot! Nancy shrieked. Seriously? Paul eximed. He thought This woman was in more trouble than shes worth! He shut off the water and said, If youre going to be difficult, you may as well dry off. Nancy closed her eyes and held out her hand for a towel. When he didnt give her one, she put a hand on either side of the tub and tried to stand up. Just as she began to push, though, Paul put his hand on her shoulder and held her down. I need a towel, Nancy whined. Water hurts my eyes. Paul looked over his shoulder. The towel was far away, and as she cried out in pain, he began to panic. He grabbed the hem of his shirt and dried her eyes. Nancy was surprised by this, and she thought C Whats the matter with him today? One minute he is hurting me, and the next, hes helping me Id better let a servant help me, she said. Paul: Do you want everyone to know that we had sex? Nancy: Do you think thats what I want? Paul: I think you want Noah to help you. Nancy nodded and said, Better him than you; thats for sure. Paul squirts water in her face. What? Do you want him to see this? he asked. Nancy: What are you talking about? You did this to me! Paul: You came into my room and seduced me! Nancy: I didnt seduce you. I didnt do anything wrong! Paul: Are you sure? If you werent down to fuck, why werent you wearing a brassiere? Nancys face turned red. She couldnt believe how easily he was twisting the situation in his favor. Suddenly, Paul cupped her left breast in his right hand. He kneaded it gently, and when she tried to pull away, he twisted her nipple, not too hard, but just hard enough to keep her in line. The feel of her breasts caused him to fall in love with her, and he could not stop ying with them. Paul: Every time I have sex with you, you fight me and cry. If that isnt seduction, what is it? Nancy: Thats thest thing I want to do with you. Paul: Does that mean that if I tried to have sex with you again, you would fight me? That is exactly what I mean! Nancy shouted. When she saw the look in his eyes, she knew immediately that she had said the wrong thing. He looked like the Big Bad Wolf, and she felt like Little Red Riding Hood. She gulped when she saw the enormous bulge in his pants. If you didnt want it, then why are you seducing me now? Paul asked. Nancy was speechless, and she did not know what to do. The more she protested, the more he thought she wanted him. All she could do was wait and see what he would do. Paul turned the water back on, and he poured some bath lotion on a loofah. Then he began to rub her body with it. He scrubbed vigorously, and she dared not protest, no matter how much pain she felt. After several minutes, she forced herself to quit fighting orining. She knew that his brain circuits were different from others and that he misunderstood her struggles against him as an invitation to have his way with her. Paul chuckled and said, You are such a dirty girl. Nancy scowled and said, You are sick in the head! Me? Sick? Paul smiled and said, If you say so. Then he leaned in to kiss her on the lips. She tried to pull away, but there was nowhere to go. She was trapped in the tub. Paul kissed her hard on the mouth, forcing his tongue into her mouth, and sucking her tongue into his mouth, and the more he kissed her, the angrier he became. She should be mine! C he thought. He wanted to kill Noah so that she could not marry him. **** While Nancy dried off, Paul took the First Aid Kit out from underneath the sink. He had her sit on the toilet, and then he began to treat her wounds. He didnt know what to do, and he was going to call the doctor for advice, but she said, Dont ask him. I know what to do. Do you have any anti-inmmatory medicine? Its in the medicine cab, Paul replied. Ill get it for you. Nancy: Can I have some water, please? Sure. Paul handed her several medicines and went to get her a ss of water from the kitchen. When he returned, she took two anti-inmmatory pills and two extra-strength Advil. After she had taken medicine, Paul stared at her for a long time. Do you want me to apply some medicine to your wet core? Nancy: No, Ive already taken care of that. Paul: What? When? Nancy: When you went to pour the water. Paul: So soon?!?! Nancy: Whats the big deal? Paul opened the medicine cab and said, Which ointment did you use? Nancy: Why do you ask? Paul: Ill reapply it. Nancy: Well, no. One application is fine. Paul: Im sure you didnt apply it well. You were in a rush. Let me do it again. He held her down when Nancy still said no, pried her legs apart, and reapplied the medicine. This time, though, when he touched her, he was unexpectedly gentle. He watched her face as he did it, and when he was done, he kissed the sore area. There was something about the look on his face that made her uneasy, though. There was a knock at the door, and Paul looked up. Who is it? he asked. Sorry, Sir. It was one of the servants. He said, Mr. Noah Laurent is looking for Miss Nancy. He said that he sent her some pictures. Paul frowned. Tell him that Im bathing Nancy, he said. Nancy stared at him in disbelief. Paul: What? Do you want him to join us? Nancy: Did you do this on purpose? Wait a minute. Paul called the servant and said, Ask Noah to send up some clothes for Nancy. Nancy: Paul! You mustnt go too far! What? Paul looked at her, smiled wickedly, and said, Weve done it all. Do you dare deny it? Didnt anyone teach you that it is bad to tell lies? Momentster, Noah arrived with the clothes. He handed them to Paul, and when Paul received them, he said, She was so enthusiasticst night that she cant walk this morning. You are going to really enjoy her when its your turn. Nancy was left stunned and speechless.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 233: Please, Give Me Some Space From the way that Paulughed C arrogantly and triumphantly C Noah and Nancy could tell that his actions were deliberate. Unfortunately, Paul was not the type to let an opportunity like this go to waste. He turned to Noah, smiled wickedly, and said, Dont worry. Ive applied the medicine that will ensure that what we have done doesnt affect your bridal night. Be careful, though. Her secret ce is very delicate. Noah clenched his fists, and blue veins stood out on the back of his hands. His eyes had already turned a terrible shade of red. Meanwhile, Nancy had wrapped herself in a bathrobe. She picked up a bottle of shampoo and red at Paul. She could not believe that he could say such dirty words, and she cursed at him as she threw the bottle at him. Paul dodged the bottle very easily, but he was surprised that she had the audacity to attack him in front of another man. It seems thatst night was not enough C he thought C not if she still has the strength to attack me! Paul took a cigarette from a pack that he kept on his dresser, lit it, and took a couple of casual drags. Then he said, You should thank me for helping you by training her in advance. A woman should know how to please a man. Im sure you agree Paul! Nancy growled. You are such a bastard! Suddenly, she began to pick up everything she could, and she threw the items at Paul. He saw that she was angry, and he was slightly confused. What is this about? he asked. He thought C Is she afraid that Noah will despise her for what weve done and reject her? If so, does that mean that she really wants to marry him? Nancy felt very frustrated. She did not know why Paul had forced her. But he had. Thus, she didnt think that he had the right to humiliate her. She wondered C How could this man nder me in front of Noah like this? He acts like I am a slut, and he looks down upon me! Although Noah knew that Paul was acting, he still felt ufortable, and he did not appreciate Pauls provocations. He had a good education, though, and he was able to control his anger. Nancy is the kindest and most innocent girl I have ever met, he said calmly. Although she has been married, I believe that she did not give her consent. Even if she had, as long as she does not give me up, I will not give her up. I love her, and I would not toss her aside over something that you said. Tut Pauls contemptuous tone sounded more casual than Noahs. Noah turned to Nancy and said, I believe that what happenedst night was non-consensual. Am I right, babe?Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Paul frowned. Originally, he had nned to attack Noah fiercely. Now that he had seen his demeanor, though, he felt like he was the one being attacked. Why is that?- he wondered C And how can he be so calm about his fiance being with another man? Paul had deliberately let Noah into his room, and after seeing Nancys dirty look, he had thought that he would turn around and leave. At the very least, he thought Noah would see what was going on and gave up on Nancy. Non-consensual? Paul chuckled as he approached Nancy. Then he reached out and tried to rip off Nancys bathrobe. Nancy gasped. W-What are you d-doing? she stuttered. She pulled at the robe, and when she realized that it was a losing battle, she kicked him between the legs. As her foot connected with his genitals, he shrieked in pain and let go of her robe. Once Paul was over the worst of the pain, he red at Nancy and said, Are you afraid to let him see the evidence of your debauchery? Nancy was extremely furious. She had a hard time believing that a man could be this shameless. While they were arguing, Paul kept a constant eye on Noah. He could tell that the man was getting angrier and angrier, and he did not want to be caught off guard should there be an attack. And he was thinking C If Noah hits me first, then I will kill him! Paul was so distracted by his murderous thoughts that he was caught off guard when Nancy struck him. Her fist connected with his jaw, and he nearly fell to the ground. Nancy clutched her clothes and backed away. Her shoulders were shaking, and she pointed to the door. Get out! she roared. Both of you! Get out of here! Right now! She was tired. Her hands clenched and unclenched at her side. Her entire body was trembling now, and she did not have the energy to face either of these men C especially Noah. Nancy cared about her reputation, but she was too tired to defend it at the moment. If she were to marry Noah, they would need to talk about the things Paul had said, but now was not the time. Thankfully, Noah seemed to understand. He nodded and said, I will put your clothes by the door. You can put them on ande out when you are ready. Ill wait outside. After speaking, he backed out and disappeared down the hallway. When Paul did not follow suit, Nancy sighed and said, You too. Please, give me some space. Paul chuckled as he stepped forward and forced her to the wall. Then he grabbed her hands and pinned them above her head. Did you see? He asked. If not, you had better open your eyes so that you can see what kind of a person you are going to marry. That is pretty ripe,ing from you! Nancy scoffed. Open my eyes? Sheughed in his face and said, Compared to you, any man is a God. I dont need to open my eyes! I can find a man that is better than you with my eyes closed! Chapter 234: I Want To Go Home Paul squeezed Nancys wrists until she cried out in pain. How dare you talk to me like that? he hissed. Ill talk to you any way I please, Nancy replied. She was in a tremendous amount of pain, but she refused to be cowed. You arent even half the man that Noah is, she continued. At least he knows how to respect people. He knows what it means to have good manners. You, on the other hand, are a Chatan and a cad. If I could go back in time, I would not marry you. In fact, I would stay as far away from you as I possibly could! Anyway, were both single, right? And we both have significant others. You have Michelle, so why cant I have Noah? Dont I deserve to be happy? When Paul heard that, he wanted to clutch her neck and shake the life out of her. Cant we just go our separate ways? Nancy asked. I can forget what you did to me and wish you and Michelle happiness. Cant you do the same for Noah and me? Suddenly, Paul felt like the room was closing in on him, and he struggled to catch his breath. When they had been married, she would have never dared to talk to him like this. Well- he thought C I will have to teach her a lesson. He raised his hand, pinched her jaw, and said, You have quite the glib tongue right now, eh? Nancy bit her lower lip. She had never said this much to Paul at one time, so she was not surprised when he squeezed her chin so hard that it made her cry. I meant no disrespect, she whined. But you must know by now that our rtionship is over First, you divorced me, and now you have assaulted me, and all the while, you have been treating me like garbage. Worst of all, you allow Michelle to abuse rk! Stop right there! Paul growled. For a second, I felt some pity for you. But, then you brought up that lie about Michelle. We both know that you made that story up to try to destroy our rtionship! So, what do you have to say in your defense? I didnt lie, Nancy replied. Michelle is a monster! Paulughed and said, You never were much of an actress, so you may as well cut it out. Do you want me to believe that it was a coincidence that you showed up while Michelle was away? Dont tell me that the only reason that you are here is to see rk. Afterst night, you dont have a leg to stand on! The only reason I am here is to see rk! shouted Nancy. And the only thing that happenedst night was assault. Do you know how annoying you are? How about this: Since you doubt me, I will leave. I hope that you will not stop me this time. If you do, I will look down on you. Nancy pushed Paul away and walked towards the clothes that Noah had left for her. Her legs were still a little shaky, though, and she had to use the bed for support. Paul did not expect that she would leave like this, and he turned so that he could watch her. Finally, Nancy reached for her clothes. But when she crouched to pick them up, a bolt of pain shot through her body. Her face turned white. She bit the inside of her mouth so hard that she drew blood, and then she copsed. Paul had originally had no intention of helping her, but he could not control himself when she fell to the floor. He picked her up, along with her clothes, and helped her stand up. Nancy was imprisoned in his arms. He was a full head taller than she was. She bit his shoulder fiercely and begged him to let her go. Let you go? Paul raised his eyebrows and asked, Go where? I want to go home, Nancy replied. Paul squeezed her shoulders and shouted into her face: How dare you!! How dare I? Nancy scoffed. The minute I am free to go, I will go. Since you hate me so much, you should be happy to see me go! Paul did not know why, but her words enraged him. He threw her on the sofa, pointed to her nose, and said, Nancy, if you leave, I will send your son to a ce where you could never find him! Nancy felt like she had been stabbed in the heart. Where are you going to send my son? she asked. I will send him to the poorest country in the world, Paul replied, where he will spend the rest of his life in abject poverty and die at a young age. Nancy gaped at Paul in disbelief. You are really annoying, she said. And you are likely the worst father in the world. You do not deserve rk. Was your childhood like this? Is that why you are such a psychopathic bastard?!?! She knew that he had suffered a lot during his childhood, and she was using it against him. When they were still together, Paul often had horrible night terrors, and he talked in sleep. She had always done everything in her power tofort him, but now she wanted to hurt him. She believed that he would do what he said, though, so she did not dare to push him too hard.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Paul was a cruel man. While they had still been together, he threw rk into the water at a swimming pool to teach him to swim. The boy had been too young, though, and he had almost drowned. The next day, Paul had wanted to throw him in again, but Nancy had been able to convince him not to. Nancy shook her head. This painful memory, and the many others like it, was like a tap that could not be shut off. Please, dont send rk away, she begged. If he did, Crystals n would be ruined. Chapter 235: So, This Is The Famous Michelle Paul stared at Nancy for a long time without speaking. Finally, after a long time had passed, he took out a brassiere from his pocket and said, Raise your hands. Nancy gave him a nervous look and asked, Why? Dont ask why, Paul replied. If you dont want me to take rk away, then be obedient. Although Nancy did not know what he was going to do, she felt like she had to do what he said. She raised her hands, and he put her bra on for her. Then he took out a pair of panties and helped her step into them. This made her feel weird. It was the first time that he had dressed her, and not only did it make her feel like a helpless child, but it also made her feel like he had a hidden agenda. Once Nancys underwear was on, Paul helped her put on the clothes that Noah had brought with him. Paul was very satisfied with Nancys obedience, and he rubbed her messy hair in the same way that someone else would rub their pet cat or dog. Nancy wanted to run, but she was on a very short leash as long as Paul had rk. Do you still want to leave? Paul asked. As if what I want matters, Nancyined. Why do you even bother to ask? Too true. Paul put his hands on her head and rubbed it for a while. I do like to make a point, though, he exined. About half an hourter, he stopped petting her, and he said, You treat my home like it is a hotel, and you think you can just leave whenever you want? It is not a hotel, though, and you cannot leave whenever you please. Unless I let you go, you will not be allowed to leave. Nancy was about to say something, but before she could get a word out, there was a knock at the door. Whos there? asked Paul. Its me, Crystal, said Crystal. Is Nancy awake?Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Nancy took a quick look at Paul, and she hoped that Crystals appearance would open an opportunity for her to get away. Im awake! she replied quickly. Do you feel better? Crystal asked. Iming in. Wait a minute! Nancy eximed. The evidence of her being assaulted surrounded the bed. If Crystal came in, she would definitely see what had happened, and she would probablyugh at her. I need to put on my clothes. Can you wait for me in the living room? Crystal heard a hint of nervousness in her friends voice, so she insisted. She said, There is a guest downstairs, so I should wait for you here. A guest? Nancy nced at Paul, and when she saw that there was no change in his expression, she realized that he already knew. Paul rubbed her head like a pet dog, and he showed no sign that he would stop. Your guest is here, Nancy said. Are you going to do this all day? Before he could reply, a servant knocked on the door. Master, she called. Michelle is back When Paul heard Michelles name, he threw Nancy on the ground and went out to greet her. Now that the door was open, Crystal walked in, and she could tell right away that her friend had been brutally assaulted. Are you okay? she asked. Nancy was sitting on the floor, and she had a nk expression on her face. The knowledge that Michelle was back had really caught her off guard. Crystal hunkered down beside her and waved her hand in front of her eyes. Earth to Nancy, She said. Earth to Nancy. Come in, Nancy. Come on. Tell me whats wrong. Finally, Nancy told her everything. Well, thats great! Crystal eximed. If Michelle is here to distract Paul, he will be less interested in assaulting you, and it will be easier to take rk away. Nancy nodded, but she said nothing. She did not know why, but her heart hurt. Crystal looked her friend over, and she saw the bruises and cuts. This is not good C she thought. What now? asked Nancy. Crystal grabbed Nancys hand, helped her stand, and then she said, Lets go downstairs. Noah is still waiting for you. We should go and find him. The thought of Noah waiting downstairs made Nancy smile, and she allowed Crystal to lead her out of the bedroom. Noah was waiting for them at the end of the hallway, and when Nancy saw the gentle way that he looked at her, she could not believe that she had ever loved a hard man like Paul. Crystal hoped that Nancy and Noah would fall in love for real, but she knew that it couldnt happen unless they had some alone time together, so she turned to Nancy and said, Well, Ill go down first. Eric is waiting for me. Why dont you two get to know each other a bit? After speaking, she hurried downstairs. **** Eric was sitting on the floor in the living room with his legs crossed and ying games on his phone. At the door, the bodyguards were holding a woman captive. The womans eyes were blurry. Her cheeks were red and were drunk. She probably doesnt even know how terrible she looks C thought Eric. Her make-up was smeared so badly that she was barely identifiable. Her hair was also messy. Her clothes were wrinkled and torn. The bodyguards had needed to dress her in a long jacket to cover her genitalia, but she was so drunk that she was not ashamed of her appearance. When Crystal came down the stairs, she was shocked by the womans appearance. So, this is the famous Michelle C she thought C Not at all what I had expected She was so shocked that her jaw dropped open, and it nearly hit the floor. Soon, she felt Erics gaze on her. She looked at him, and in a tone dripping with sarcasm, she said, Your friend has such great taste in women! Chapter 236: Don鈥檛 Look Eric squinted at Crystal, but he kept his peace. He knew that, because of the way Paul treated Nancy, her impression of Michelle would be bad no matter what he said. Now, he assumed that it would be impossible to build a case against Crystals prejudice with the way things were. He picked up a cigarette, lit it, and took a couple of casual drag. He blew the smoke into the room, and when he saw Crystal frown, he realized that she did not like the smell of cigarette smoke. He smiled and said, If you dont like the smell, I can put it out Crystal gave him a curious look. So, if I do not want you to smoke, you wont? she asked. Is that correct? It is, Eric replied. I told you that if you agreed to marry me, I would do whatever you want. Then I want you to quit smoking, Crystal said. She knew that he was addicted to cigarettes, so she doubted that he could do as he said. After all, smoking is an extremely hard habit to break. Eric nodded and said, As long as you are with me, I wont smoke So, you should never leave me What if you cant quit? Crystal asked. Lots of people try to quit smoking, but they fail Failure is not an option, Eric replied. Anyway, I was already thinking about quitting. Why is that? Crystal asked. If we want to have a baby, I have to quit smoking three months prior to you getting pregnant, Eric exined. If I dont, it could affect the health of the fetus. A baby? Crystal was stunned. She had not thought much about being a mother. Of course, Ericughed. I will also ask the doctor to prescribe you some folic acid. You must take it every day. Crystal did not know what to say for a while. She had been very resistant to getting pregnant while she was with Nathan. Now that she had seen how worried Nancy was about rk, the thought of having a child of her own scared her. Furthermore, she was not sure that she wanted to marry Eric, let alone have a baby with him. Can we talk about this moreter? she asked. Eric nodded. Not a problem. Crystal thanked him, and then she asked him for a cigarette. Without thinking, he passed her one, and then he gave her the lighter. She was a little surprised that he would allow her to smoke, but then she remembered his vow. He had said that if she agreed to marry him, he would do whatever she asked. However, she knew that men often changed after they were married, so she was suspicious of his promises. Paul watched in dismay as Crystal lit the cigarette and took her first drag. I thought you hated cigarettes C he thought. Before he could question her, though, Paul came down the stairs. Then, without acknowledging Eric or Crystal, he turned to Michelle. By now, she had passed out. One of the guards had her in his arms, and he had been about to put her on the sofa. Paul frowned and asked, What happened? Michelle drank too much, and she passed out, the bodyguard replied. Where were you? Paul asked as he approached them. Then, before the bodyguard could answer, he pulled out a gun, pressed the barrel to the bodyguards forehead, and forced him to the ground. Wh-Wh-What d-did I d-do? the bodyguard stammered. I asked you to protect her! Paul roared. Is this what you call protecting her?!?! Michelle said that she wanted to eat ice cream, the bodyguard exined. What was I supposed to do? I am not her mother! And look: She is safe! Pauls hand shook furiously. You are the worst! he eximed. Then he pulled the trigger. The bodyguard fell backward, and Michelle slipped out of his arms and onto the floor. The sound of the guns st was deafening, and Crystal was shocked by the sight of the bodyguard. He had a hole in his forehead, and blood was pooling around his head. Eric walked over, embraced Crystal, and covered her eyes with his hand. Hey, he said. Dont look. Crystal pulled his hand away. Already, the other bodyguards were cleaning up the mess. She turned to Paul and was surprised to see that he had put his gun away. He was sitting on the floor beside Michelle, and he had her head in hisp. Its okay, he whispered. Everything will be okay.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. The sight of Pauls show of affection made Crystal extremely angry. From how he treated Nancy and rk, she assumed that he was a psychopath, incapable of true empathy or affection. She had been wrong, though. Paul truly favored Michelle over his son and ex-wife, even though she was a worthless party-girl. Crystal felt awfully bad for her friend, and when she looked up at Eric, she could tell that he knew what she was thinking. He turned her head and pressed it against his chest. I know, he whispered. Dont worry. I will help Nancy and rk. Crystal suddenly felt a little dizzy. She did not know how Eric had known what she was thinking. Indeed, until that moment, she hadnt understood that when a man loved a woman as much as Eric loved her, it was possible for him to read her thoughts, anticipate her every move, and meet her needs before they had been expressed. In this way, when she needed help, she did not need to do anything. A look and a movement were enough for him to know what she wanted. But how long would this kind of lovest? She wondered. Paul picked up Michelle and made his way towards the stairs. As chance would have it, though, Noah happened to be carrying Nancy down the stairs. The two men passed each other ufortably, each man ring coldly at the other. And much to Nancys surprise, Paul did not even look at her. It is as if I do not even exist C she thought C All he cares about is his mistress Crystal grounded her teeth together when she saw how easily Paul had dismissed her friend. She turned to Noah and whispered, I refuse to tolerate this. And you wont have to, Noah said. He will get whatsing to him. Youll see. Chapter 237: Special Watch Crystal met Nancy and Paul at the bottom of the stairs. The fact that Nancys face was pale and that she still was not walking bothered, Crystal. Whats wrong? she asked. Are you unable to walk? Nancy shook her head and said, I am fine. I just feel a little dizzy. Okay. Good. Crystal looked at Noah, thanked him, and said, Put her on the sofa. Noah cautiously put Nancy on the sofa, and he took a deep breath as he looked at her. Shell be fine, he said. She just needs some rest. Nancy looked around the room but did not see her son. Where is rk? she asked in dismay. I didnt see him, Crystal admitted. I looked around, but I couldnt find him Nancy frowned and called one of the servants into the living room. Where is my son? she asked. The servant was hesitant to reply. He was begging to see you, she finally said. The master told him that he was being disobedient, so he locked him in the ck Room. Nancy took a deep breath. The ck Room. She thought for a second. Are you talking about the utility room? The servant nodded silently. When Crystal heard that rk was in the ck Room, she could not help but tremble. She had been taken to another ck Room once. While there, she had been crucified and flogged. Why didnt Paull lock him in his own room? she asked. A ck Room is no ce for a toddler Nancy stood up abruptly, but her legs trembled beneath her. She shook her head in despair, and Noah reached out to support her. Master said that a boy shouldnt cry all day long, the servant exined. He said that the ck Rook would toughen him up. Noah turned to the servant. Oh, shut up! He snapped. We are going to get him out of the ck Room, and there is nothing you or Paul or anyone else can do to stop us! Then he pushed her out of the way. **** When they opened the door to the ck Room, they found rk shirking in a corner. His cheeks were still wet with tears, and he had a hollow look in his eyes. Nancy rushed forward to hug rk. He was so small, and his body was trembling. She patted his back gently tofort him. rk, dont be afraid, your Mommy is here, and so is Aunt Crystal. It was hard for her to keep herposure, but she knew that she had to be strong for her son. Why did Paul want me to give birth to his child, only to treat him like this? Nancy C wondered C This is all my fault Nancy med herself for being weak. No child should have to experience such a terrible thing! she eximed. Crystal helped Nancy take rk into his bedroom, but he could not stop sobbing even though he was safe. The pain in his eyes broke his mothers heart, and it made her want to kill her ex-husband. Noah helped Nancy sit down by the bed so that she could continue tofort rk, and then he and Crystal left the room. Crystal was only gone for a short time, though, and when she returned, she had a gift box in her hands. She handed it to Nancy and said, Here. It is an electronic watch. It is for rk. I asked Eric to modify it. It should have arrived long ago, but there was a problem with the program, so it had to be reset. What kind of programs? wondered Nancy. Crystalughed and said, The usual. Mostly recording and video apps. Now, if Michelle abuses rk, he can record it. Then you will have evidence against her, and Paul will have to believe you! What a great idea! Nancy eximed. And its shaped like a dolphin- Pauls favorite animal! Why didnt I think of this? Crystal shrugged and said, You are a good mother, but you cannot be expected to think of everything!Content ? N?velDrama.Org. How does the camera work? asked Nancy. It is equipped with a motion sensor, Crystal exined. Whenever someone approaches rk, the recording function will be automatically activated. The video will be automatically saved for seven days, and then it will be deleted. Nancy hugged her friend and said, This is great, and its so high-tech! How did you make it? I designed the style, Crystal replied, and Eric did the rest. He is very Tech-savvy. He is so nice to you. Nancy lowered her head enviously to conceal her loneliness. She knew that everyones fortunes were different, and she refused to hold her friends sess against her. Crystal smiled sadly and thought -Eric might be nice to me, but his goodnesses at the cost of my autonomy In her heart, she felt like she was as much a victim as Nancy was. Nancy helped rk with the watch. Do you like it? she asked. Aunt Crystal sent you this watch. We should thank her rk smiled shyly and thanked Crystal. Then raised his wrist so that he could get a better look at the watch. I love it! he eximed. Nancy sighed suddenly as a thought urred to her: Even with the evidence, what if Paul doesnt believe me? It doesnt matter, Crystal replied. If we have good evidence, then we can take it to the police, and they will be forced to take action. And if it were to go that far, your case against Paul for custody of rk would be stronger! Nancy smiled. I hadnt thought of that, she admitted. They began to show rk how to use the watch, and he was just beginning to get a handle on it when Noah returned. He had a giant smile on his face. What is it? Nancy asked. Its dinner time, he replied. Before we go down, though, would it be okay for me to give you a hug? Nancys body was still rtively weak, and her legs were like jelly. Therefore, she did not refuse Noahs request. That would be fine, she said. And you can help me down the stairs, right? Of course, I can! Noah replied. Chapter 238: Don鈥檛 Dare Lie To Me Before Noah could hug Nancy, rk grabbed her hand and shook it. Mom, he said. Do you want uncle Noah to hug you? Why do you want him to hug you? Cant you hug me instead? The boy was jealous, but because he had an immature face, he looked lovely. Nancy gently squeezed his small face. I feel a little ufortable, she exined patiently. So, I dont have enough strength to hug you anymore. When I recover, I can hold you again. Is that okay? I can hug you, Mom. After speaking, rk reached out his hands to hug Nancy. He stretched his arms as far around her as he could and buried his face in her stomach. Nancy was amused. She kissed her son on the cheek and said, rk, when you grow up when I am too old to walk, will you help me? She hoped that rk would grow up quickly. Once he was a real man, no one would be able to bully him. Noah helped Nancy downstairs, and then he left. Nancy would have invited him to dinner, but she did not have the right. After all, this was Pauls home. Nancy was not surprised to see Michelle waiting at the foot of the table. It was a ce of honor, and it had once been hers. By now, Michelle had sobered up a bit, and she was wearing the silk nightgown that Nancy and Crystal had vandalized. It had a cut in the armpit, and if she raised her hand, everyone would be able to see her breasts. Nancy and Crystal had not thought that she would wear the gown. She wore it with pride, though. She must not be aware of the damage C thought Crystal- She must have been drunk still when she put it on Michelle had removed her makeup to reveal her delicate facial features, and she was barely recognizable as the supermodel that she was. Eric watched silently as Crystal approached the table. He could smell the scent of battle in the air, which was extraordinarily strong, and it seemed that there would be a good show today. In a womens war, the men stood by and watched. Then, when the curtains closed, they could apud and help with the clean-up. That being said, Eric was a little bit worried about Michelle. Crystal was a vicious contender. Is this absolutely necessary? he asked. After all, we are visitors here, and I, for one, would not like to lose face. You want me to save face? Crystal snarled. For whom? Who do you think? Eric asked sarcastically. Crystal spat on the ground and said, Paul, obviously. But why would I care what Paul thinks about me? Touch. Eric sighed. What are you going to do? he asked. You know what I am going to do, Crystal replied. Dont y dumb with me! Paul frowned. Sometimes, it seemed that he could read her like a book. Now, though, he had no idea what she was thinking. Finally, he admitted defeat. Whatever you are going to do, he said. Do it. See if I care Crystal turned to look at Michelle. She had stood up already, and when their eyes met, sparks flew between them. They looked at each other with contempt, and Crystal was not afraid of her opponent. Michelle was not so confident, though. As they prepared to spar, she nced at Nancy, and then she looked at Eric. It is almost as if she is waiting for someone to intervene- thought Crystal. When no one came to Michelles rescue, she took a step backward and hung her head in shame. Then, after a moment of silence, she said, Wee to Kuerto. You must all be distinguished guests. Help yourself to whatever you see. Mi casa es su casa. Crystal nodded and sat down beside Eric. He put his hand on her leg, and she smiled. Michelle walked towards Paul and said, Pauls friends are also my friends. I hope that you can all feel at home here. If you have any needs, please do not hesitate to ask me. I hope that you can all have a fun time while you are here. Once she was finished speaking, she smiled and looked around. It was obvious that she was finallypletely sober, and she was embarrassed about her appearance earlier that day. A servant pulled out the chair at the foot of the table for Michelle. It was across from Paul, and she quickly sat down. After sitting down, she nodded to the guests one by one and said, Dig in. Get it while its hot. The food had been set already, and when Michelle reached for the potatoes, she froze, and her face turned red.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Paul looked at her and asked, Whats the matter? There seems to be something on the chair, she replied. It seems that I am stuck. One of the things that Nancy and Crystal had done when they had vandalized Michelles gown was cut a hole in the bottom. Then, when Nancy saw what she was wearing, she put superglue on her chair. Because Michelle was not wearing any underwear, her bottom and private parts were stuck to the chair. She did not know what had happened, though, and when she tried to get up again, she screamed in pain. Crystal and Nancy looked at each other. They wanted tough, but they were able to restrain themselves. Whats the matter? Paul asked for the second time. Crystal began to eat casually, and after swallowing her first bite, she looked up and said, I identally broke the chair. I asked a worker to fix it. When the glue was being applied, I identally spilled some. I was just about to tell Michelle, but everything happened too fast. It is not a problem, is it? Once we are all done eating, we can give her some privacy, and she can slip out of the nightgown and run upstairs to change. Crystal blinked her big eyes innocently. She was not afraid of Pauls furious re. She turned to Eric and said, I am sorry. It seems that your friend is very angry. I am very afraid. Eric pinched her nose and smiled. Because of him, Paul would not attack her. He knew, though, that the mishap had been an intentional attack. If it had been an ident, the glue would have dried already. Paul shot Nancy a dirty look. Do you know anything about this? he snapped. And dont you dare lie to me! Nancy remained silent, and she refused to look him in the eyes. It was obvious that she was at least partially responsible, but she would never admit it. The ce where Michelle was sitting had once been reserved for her, and she was bitter about being reduced to a second-ss citizen in what had once been her home. The day that Paul had given Michelle her seat, that had been the day she realized that she had lost her ce in his heart. Chapter 239: Help Yourself Crystal was enraged by the things that Paul was saying to Nancy, and she was unwilling to let it continue. She stood up and said, Paul But, this has nothing to do with Nancy. Its just a misunderstanding, so please dont make such a fuss. Paul rolled his eyes at Eric and chuckled. Look after your wife, he said. Shes getting more and more arrogant every day. Arent you going to put her in her ce? I cant, Eric replied. I have a weakness for my wife. Are you willing to lose a friend over a woman? Paul asked. I dont know, Eric snapped. Are you? The two bickered like kids until Michelle finally interrupted them. She turned to Paul and said, Forget it. They are our guests, and I dont want the atmosphere to be ruined because of me. Paul frowned. But Are you alright? he asked. At the moment, no. Michelle shook her head, forced herself to smile, and said, I will be, though, after the meal. Crystal smiled back at Michelle. Im sorry. I didnt mean to make you feel ufortable. She picked up her ss, lifted it in the air, and said, To show that my apology is genuine, I would like to make a toast. Heres to you and your generous hospitality! Crystal drained the ss in one swallow. The toast had been disingenuous, but she felt like it was important to put on a show of gratitude for Paul. Michelle also picked up her ss. She smiled and took a hesitant sip. Because of how much shed already drunk, it made her feel nauseous. Her face turned white, and she began to perspire heavily. She wanted to get up and go to the washroom. She did not think she was going to vomit, but she wanted to y it safe. Unfortunately, her buttocks were still stuck on the chair. She tried anyway, and she ended up hurting her private parts. Paul gave her a concerned look and asked, Where are you trying to go? Are you okay? As Michelle turned to Paul, the wine she had that moment came up, and she puked all over him. What the fuck?! Paul shouted. He took a towel from a servant and wiped his face. You only had one sip. So, what gives? I d-dont know Michelle stammered. Crystal pointed to a servant and said, Could one of the servants identally put some paprika in the ss? I remember seeing her set the table today. The servant immediately shook her head and denied it. She was the one who had broken Pauls favorite cup and med rk. The boy had been punished, and she did not even care, so Crystal was more than willing to get her into it. Why are you shaking your head? she asked. Am I wrong? Wasnt it you who set the table? It was m-me, the servant stuttered, b- b-b-but I didnt do anything t-to the g-ss. Paul frowned again. He could see what was going on, and he said, Miss Smith, I know you want to help your friend, but I suggest that you look at where you are. You are in my territory. Crystal smirked and said, When women talk, men had better not interrupt. I suggest you learn from my husband. Paul did not expect Crystal to cause him to lose face like that. He turned to Eric with a gloomy expression on his face and said, Eric, seriously, I dont like your woman. Eric picked up his ss and took a sip. The red wine moistened his lips, and it made them look evil but beautiful. Casually, he said, It doesnt matter. She is my woman. I like her, and that is enough. Anyway, you are taking things too seriously. Since when do men meddle in the affairs of women? He raised his ss, and I invited Paul to drink. Come on, let us drink a toast. Paul was about to lose his temper, but he did not think that getting angry with his friends wife would be very gentlemanly, so he suppressed his anger. Michelle watched irritably as the two men drank. She was covered in vomit, and she wanted to leave, but with her buttocks glued to her chair, there was nothing that she could do. She red at Nancy and Crystal. She knew that they were responsible for her predicament, but she could not make the usations she otherwise would have as the hostess. She forced herself to smile and said, Help yourself. **** Once everyone had served themselves, Michelle stabbed a potato with her fork and brought it to her face. Before she had even opened her mouth, though, Crystal snatched it away from her. Michelle had to give up the potato, so she turned her fork to the other items on her te. Once again, Crystal snatched the item off her fork. When Paul saw this, he immediately ced the te of stewed beef with potatoes in front of Michelle. Eat up, he said. Crystal rolled her eyes at Paul. She had thought that this Love Rat liked to bully women, but it turned out that he only liked to bully Nancy. Paul hand-fed Michelle. Eric hand-fed Crystal. Crystal hand-fed Nancy. Nancy hand-fed her child, and Michelle smiled triumphantly. When Crystal saw the triumphant look on Michelles face, she lost her appetite. After dinner, Paul asked someone to deal with Michelles buttocks. He ordered everyone else to leave the room, but Nancy hid behind the door so she could watch. As Crystal passed by her, she said, She will be alright, right? Dont worry. Crystal chuckled and said, Im afraid that we didnt use enough glue. After all, we intended to hurt her genitals, right? Nancy sighed and said, I suppose. Paul must hate me very much, though. Dont you think so?Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Why do you care what that Love Rat thinks? asked Crystal. I dont know, Nancy admitted. Hes like a bad habit that I just cant break. Speaking of habits, though What is Eric doing? I thought he promised to quit smoking! He did! Crystal growled. She turned, and when she saw that Eric had a lit cigarette in his hand, she said, Ill be right back. I have to put Eric back in line! Chapter 240: Michelle Is A Vicious Woman Eric was used to smoking after a meal, so he had not even thought about his promise to Crystal when he sat down on the sofa and lit a cigarette. Crystal was infuriated, though. She marched over to him and said, You said that you would quit smoking for me. It seems that men take their vows about as seriously as they do their farts. As soon as Crystal began speaking, Eric remembered his vow, and he immediately snuffed out the cigarette. He threw it in the ashtray and said, I forgot. I am sorry. This isnt easy. I am trying, but you will have to be patient with me. I am doing my best This is your best! Crystal scoffed. Now that she had him in a corner, she asked him if he had given Michelle the bracelet that she wore on her wrist. I know you did, she insisted. Eric frowned. The question hade out of the left field. H-H-How d-do y-you know that? he stuttered. I saw it at dinner! Crystal hissed. It was on her right hand, and I had to look at it every time she lifted her fork!ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Erics face had turned white. What makes you think its from me? he asked. Crystal red at him and said, Last night, when I was in your room, I identally opened a gift bag, and I saw a bracelet in a gold velvet jewelry box. Thinking that it had been a present for her, she hadnt given it much thought. But today, the bracelet was on Michelles wrist. Crystal knew why Michelle was wearing it. Typically, women did not wear this kind of jewelry while wearing a nightgown. Michelle was clearly showing off. While she had been having dinner, she had even touched the bracelet a few times on purpose as if to draw attention to it. This proved to Crystal that she was not as gentle and kind as she pretended to be. She is nothing but a scheming bitch C thought Crystal. Eric put down the mobile phone, smiled, and said, Do you think you know everything? I know enough. Crystal scowled and said, Dont try to change the subject. I saw that the bracelet had diamonds in it. Tell me why you would give her such an expensive gift. It is just a wee gift, Eric replied. A wee gift? Crystal scoffed. Really? And there is nothing else between you two? What do you think? Who knows. You are a man, and men are always drawn to beautiful women. Thats not my style. I would never hook up with a friends woman. Really? When Eric noticed that Crystal was unhappy, he held her hands and said, I have no interest in her. Im only interested in you. Crystal was not pacified so easily. She said, If that were true, you wouldnt have given Michelle such an expensive gift Michelle?!?! Of all people, why would you give anything to her?!?! You know how she abuses rk! Eric took a deep breath and said, Be rational. We all know that you want to help Nancy, but do not let something so trivial affect our wedding ns, okay? You know that weve received a lot of help from Paul. Thus, it is not appropriate to bully his woman. We have to save his face. He gently pinched her wrists, and in a low voice, he added: If you want to y with Michelle, I can help you, but not now. You do want to y with her, dont you? What are you talking about? Crystals eyes brightened with curiosity. Eric raised his eyebrows naughtily. Do you really want to know? he asked. Dont keep me in suspense! Crystal eximed. Speak up! Kiss me, and Ill tell you. Crystal did not kiss him, of course, but he told her anyway. Have you wondered why Michelle is so important to Paul? he asked. Well, it has to do with his past. Michelle was Pauls childhood sweetheart, but she left him four years ago. Are you curious about why she left or what happened during the years that she was gone? Not really. Crystal shrugged and said, Im not interested in that woman. Why should I care if she was Pauls childhood sweetheart? If you dont know your enemy, you cannot defeat them, Eric exined. What are you going to do? Crystal asked. Im not going to tell you, Eric replied. Crystal looked at the portentous and mysterious expression on Erics face, frowned, and said, I dont like your answer. She clenched her teeth together and wished that she could bite him. Eric touched her leg and said, Once rk and Nancy are safe, and we are back home, I will give you a more satisfactory answer. Crystal had no clue about what his n entailed. If he were going to betray his friend, though, she could not think of a better time than the present. **** Nancy watched Michelle from the safety of her secret hidey-hole. Finally, the moment of truth was upon them. Michelle began to pull away from the chair, and one of the servants was pulling the chair away. A moment passed, and then she began to scream. Nancy felt guilty suddenly, and she looked away. Crystal and Eric were talking in the living room, and she suspected that they were gossiping about her. She walked over and said, What are you guys talking about? Were talking about how were going to get rk back for you, Crystal replied. Nancy sighed and asked, What are we going to do in the meantime? Dont worry. Ericughed and said, As long as were here, we can protect you and your son from Michelle. Nancy smiled and thanked them both. Its not a problem! Crystal eximed. Now, why dont we go find that son of yours? Nancy smiled and said, Yes. Lets. As thedies stood up, a few of Erics men happened to pass them. They stopped in front of Eric, and one of them handed him a file. Whats this? Eric wondered. This is the information you requested, the guard replied. Eric nodded and opened the file. Inside, the documents pertaining to Michelles recent history. As he read the first page, he thought C It is just as I thought. That woman is not as simple and gentle as she appears to be. He nodded to the guard, smiled, and said, Thank you. Chapter 241: Nod If You Understand That night, Crystal had to share a bed with Nancy and rk. Before going to bed, though, she decided to have a bath. When she was finished, she went into the adjoining room to get the hairdryer. Nancy had been reading a bedtime story to rk, and he had just fallen asleep. As Crystal entered the room, someone knocked on the door, and she rushed over to open it before the noise woke the baby. She thought that the intrusion was from one of the servants, so she was surprised to find Michelle standing in the hallway. She had an absent look on her face, and she was wearing a ckce nightgown. The nightgown was translucent, and her private parts could vaguely be seen, giving her a look that was sexy and bold. Whats wrong? Crystal asked. Michelle pouted and said, Im looking for Miss Carter. Crystal stepped aside so that Michelle could see Nancy, and then she went back to the bathroom to dry her hair. Michele forced herself to smile and said, Can I talk to you for a minute?Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Nancy sighed and said, Not tonight. Im sorry, but I am going to go to sleep now. As she spoke, sheid down. She had nothing to say to Michelle, and she did not want to hear anything that Michelle might have to say either. But, unfortunately, Michelle would not be put off that easily. Instead of leaving as expected, she swaggered in. Nancy was afraid that Michelle would wake rk up, so she got up and sat down on the sofa. Itste, she whispered. What do you want? Michelle sat down beside her, smiled, and said, You and your friend caught me off guard today, but do you actually think that Paul will change his mind and take you back? Nancy shook her head. I have no interest in Paul. Good! Michelle snorted and said, I suggest you get control over your heart and that hungry hole between your legs. Paul is mine C now and forever! Nancys ire began to rise, and she took a couple of deep breaths to calm herself down. Did you forget that I divorced him? she asked. He is a part of my past now. I wish you both a happy life. Now, can you get out of my room? Michelle red at Nancy and said, If you have no interest in him, why are you here? I am here for rk, Nancy replied. I am d I left Paul. He is bad news, and I do not want anything from him. I just want my son! Michelle smirked and said, I dont trust you. So you must want to use the kid to get to Paul? Believe what you want. Obviously, I cannot change your mind. Regardless, rk is asleep. I dont want to wake him up, so please leave. Michelle looked at rk. He is a very lovely child, isnt he? A shark-like Cheshires grin appeared on her face, and she said, It would be a shame if anything happened to him. The color drained from Nancys face, and she stepped between Michelle and rk. I wont let you bully my child anymore! Do you know what I hate most? I hate people who appear to be innocent and harmless, especially children! Then you should hate yourself most of all! Nancy hissed. You pretend to be gentle and harmless, but God alone knows all the evil that you have done! Michelles face turned red from anger, and she revealed a set of ckce undergarments. Are these yours? Nancy was dumbfounded. She had not realized that Michelle had her underwear with her. Michelle threw the undergarments in Nancys face and said, I found these under Pauls bed. Those could belong to anyone But they dont. Michelle smirked and said, You are a little slut, and they belong to you. You said that I am a fake, but who is the real pretender here? The minute you slept with Paul, your true colors were revealed. Nancy shook her head. We both know thats bullshit. I readily admit that I had sex with Paul, but he assaulted me. I dont believe you. Michelle stood up so that she could look down on Nancy. You divorced Paul, broke his heart, and now that hes found happiness with me, you are trying to step between us. That is a joke. Nancy smiled, but her grin was cold, and it did not reach her eyes. It was you who forced your way into my rtionship with Paul. You are the slut, not me. Paul and I have known each other since childhood. Are you sure that Im a third party? Im positive. Nancy chuckled and said, Then why did he marry me? Was it because you abandoned him and ran away with another man? She was not sure if this was the truth, but it was a rumor that she had heard from one of the servants, and it sounded legitimate to her. Michelle opened her mouth to defend herself against these usations, but before she could speak, Nancy cut her off. None of that matters, though, does it? Nancy continued, Because I am not interested in Paul. I am here for rk! Where did you find the courage to talk so boldly? Michelle asked. Now that your friend is here, do you think that you are safe? If so, I have got some news for you! Before Nancy could reply, Michelle pped her twice across the face, and as her hand swung through the air, she sneered. You are one weak bitch. And to think, you thought you could face me ande out victorious. That is a joke.. Nancy made a fist, and she tried to punch Michelle, but Michelle caught her wrist andughed. Please, Nancy whined. Let me go. Michelle applied pressure to Nancys arm and jeered. If you dare to hit me, I cant guarantee your sons safety. After all, you know my capability. Nod if you understand. Nancy nodded obediently. Chapter 242: I Saved Your Life Nancys bottom lip was trembling, and tears began to well up in her eyes. She looked up at Michelle. What did I ever do to you? she cried. Why do you have to keep torturing us? Do you even have any conscience? And if you hurt my child, arent you afraid that Karma wille for you if you have any children? Karma! Michelle scoffed. That bitch has already taken her pound of flesh from me, so I am not afraid of her anymore. After all, when my child was taken from me, I had done nothing to deserve it! For the first time, Nancy saw a c*ck in Michelles armor. There were tears in the other that she had been severely hurt in the past. She thought C This is probably the reason why she doesnt like kids and why she abuses rk. But who could have hurt her so badly? She did not think it was Paul. After all, he treated her like a princess. Nancy sighed and said, I can see that you have been hurt and that you thought that the love of another man might heal your heart, what gave you the right to step in and destroy my family? Does it matter? You were not happy anyway. I gave you a way out. It would be best if you were thanking me, not interfering with my life. You have no business in this house, let alone the Master bedroom with Paul! You are such a vicious woman. Nancy smirked and said, It is no wonder that man abandoned you. You deserved it. A cruel woman like yourself doesnt deserve to have a child. What?!?! Are you deaf? I said, A woman like you does not deserve to be a mother! When Michelle heard that, she began to go wild. She grabbed a fist full of Nancys hair and tried to p her with her free hand. This time, though, Nancy was prepared. She grabbed Michelles hand and gave it a hard twist. Michelle shrieked in pain and let go of Nancys hair. As soon as Nancy was free, she grabbed Michelles hair with her free hand. She twisted it as she made a fist, and then she pushed her away as hard as she could. Michelle, still shrieking, fell on her ass, and it was a miracle that rk did not wake up. Michelle staggered to her feet and grabbed the lit candle that was sitting on the dresser. Beneath the candle, there was a tablecloth, and she grabbed that too. Meanwhile, Crystal had just finished drying her hair, and as soon as she turned off the hairdryer, she heard what was going on between Nancy and Michelle. She barged into the bedroom, and Michelle was so startled that she tipped the candle, causing the hot wax to spill all over her thighs. Michelle screamed as her body caught fire. Nancy was scared. She watched as the tablecloth caught fire, but her mind had gone nk, and she did not know what to do. Fortunately, Crystal knew what to do. She ran into the bathroom, filled a pitcher with water, and dumped it over Michelle. It was her bathwater, and there was still foam floating on the surface. In retrospect, Crystal wished that she had poured scalding hot water on Michelle, but now it was toote C The fire was out. Michelle sat, flustered, on the ground. Her nightgown was made from silk. Now there was a big burnt hole in it, and her wounded private parts could clearly be seen. What a coquettish woman C thought Crystal C How can she walk around without wearing any underwear? I wonder what Eric would think if he saw her like this. Michelle had choked on some of the water, and once she got her coughing under control, she wiped the water off her face. Where did you get this water? she asked. It tastes like ass. It was my bathwater, Crystal replied. Arent you going to thank me for saving your life? Michelle was so disgusted that she vomited all over herself. Crystal began tough, and once Michelle was done being sick, she said, What the fuck is so funny? You are. Crystal pointed to her head and said, You burnt your hair! Michelle ran her fingers through her hair, and as she did this, her face turned white. There was a moment of silence, and then Crystal turned to Nancy and asked what was going on. She pounced on me, Nancy exined, But her n backfired on her. Your face is red and swollen. Did she p you? Nancy nodded but said nothing. Damn it! Thought Crystal C What a scheming bitch! She pretended to be generous and decent in front of Paul at dinner but intruded into Nancys room to beat her? She was furious. She pointed at Michelle and shouted, Whats wrong with you? Its past midnight. Why arent you sleeping? Are you asking for trouble? If so, I am warning you. If you dare bully Nancy and rk again, you will get what ising to you! Michelle red at Crystal, and she was about to speak. Before she could, though, Crystal kicked her. Michelle squealed and shied away from Crystal. Crystal smirked. What are you waiting for? Leave! Or do I need to drain my bathwater down your throat? Suddenly, Michelle jumped up. She grabbed the candle and sprang at Crystal. The candlestick was made of copper, and she brandished it menacingly over her head as she charged. Crystal was not caught off guard, though. She stepped aside, stuck her leg out, and tripped the other woman. Michelle fell t on her face, and when she tried to get up, Crystal pushed her back down with her foot.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. What is your problem? asked Crystal. I saved your life, but you want to kill me? Nancy grabbed Crystals arm and said, Be careful. You are going to get us into trouble. Why? Crystal pressed down on Michelles back and said, We have a right to defend ourselves. Im afraid that Paul might not see it that way Just then, rk sat up, rubbed his eyes, and called for his Mommy. When Michelle heard his voice, she chuckled and said, You had better let me go. The health of that boy rests on how you treat me from now on. Chapter 243: Do You Think I Want To See You? When Nancy heard Michelles threat, she turned to Crystal and said, Let her go. Crystal nodded and took her foot off Michelles back. Then Nancy rushed to rks side. She was terrified of what Michelle might do to her son. Michelle used the night table to help herself stand, and once she was on her feet, she red at Crystal. This is not over, she promised. Not by a long shot. Before Crystal could respond to this veiled threat, a servant stepped into the room. When she saw Michelle, her eyes lit up. Miss Michelle! she eximed. I finally found you! I am so happy! My Master has been looking for As the servant was speaking, she noticed the mess, and the rest of her sentence caught in her throat. She looked at Michelle. Wh-Wh What h-happened to you? she stammered. Crystal sneered and said, She was sleepwalking when she walked into our room. She identally hit the candle on the dresser. It tipped over, and it started a fire. Luckily, Crystal was there, Nancy continued. She came to the rescue and put out the fire. She is a hero! If she had not been here, the whole house might have burnt to the ground. I am d that you are here, though. Please help her back to her room so that she can get some rest. The servant hurried to Michelles side and helped her out of the room. Once she was gone, Nancy let out a long, relieved sigh. Then she turned to Crystal and said, Things cant go on like this. When Michelle tells Paul about what happened, shit is going to hit the fan. We need to move out of this house as soon as possible! What do you think? Crystal frowned and asked, Why are you so afraid of her? I know her well, Nancy replied. She is certain to make things worse, and if Paules to me, he will not let me and rk go. If we are going to leave, now is the time. But you didnt do anything wrong It doesnt matter. Michelle will lie to make herself look better, and Paul will believe her. Then he will force me to confess to crimes that I did notmit, and he will punish me C and likely assault me. I dont want to go through that again. Youre not thinking straight. Crystal seized Nancys wrist and said, What about rk? Only then did Nancy think about rk. She gave him a squeeze and kissed him on the forehead. I cannot leave without him, she replied. And you cannot leave with him. Not now. Crystal exined that Paul would sic thew on her if she did, and then she would never see her son again. She said, Running away is not the solution. You have to face this problem and find a real-legal solution. But Nancy, listen to me. You should face your problems without fear. If we leave, Paul will win. Do you understand? Nancy thought about it for a moment, and then she nodded. So, what do we do? she asked. Just hold on for a few days. After the wedding ceremony, Eric will fulfill his promise and take us away. It may be hard to wait, especially if Paul decides to hurt you, but you can manage. You have done it before. You are stronger than you realize. Just then, the servant returned. Crystal looked up and asked, What do you want? Paul wants to see Nancy, the servant replied. Nancys heart sank. As she had expected, Michelle had gone straight to Paul, and most likely with a basket full of lies. After a moments consideration, she said, Im not going. Just tell him Im asleep. The servant frowned and said, He isnt going to like your reply. Nancy shrugged, and the servant went away. Momentster, though, Paul barged up the stairs. Before he reached thending, though, Nancy shut and locked the door. She could tell that he was angry, and she did not know if she could face him again. Once Paul reached the door, he pounded on the door and shouted for Nancy to let him in. When she refused, he began to repeatedly punch the door, creating a terrifying cadence that did not stop until the skin over his knuckles had split, leaving blood sttered all over the ce. Nancy hugged rk in her arms and covered his ears. Please, leave, she cried. Im already in bed. I just want to go to sleep. Crystal stepped forward and said, If you are here about what happened with Michelle, we can exin. Michelle provoked everything. She attacked Nancy, and she identally started a fire. I put out the fire. None of this was Nancys fault or mine. Get out here! Paul roared. Were not leaving this room, Crystal replied. We didnt do anything wrong. This is yourst chance! Paul eximed. Get the fuck out of this room! You are being yed for a fool, Nancy interrupted. Michelle is up to her old tricks again. The child she was carrying was not even yours. She admitted it to me just now. If you do not believe me, then I have nothing more to say. Just forget that I said anything at all And go away. Paul clenched and unclenched his fists at his sides. How dare you talk to me like that? he growled. You cannot even look me in the eyes. That is how guilty you are! It has nothing to do with guilt, Nancy exined. The problem is that your face makes me want to puke. Paul was angrier than he had ever been in his life. He thought C How dare this woman make Michelle have a miscarriage? Now she has burnt Michelles hair! What will she do next?!?! Do you think I want to see you? Paul shouted. You are such a stupid woman! Nancy smiled and said, If that is true C and I hope that it is then when the wedding is over, there is no reason for us ever to see each other again, and you can have your Happily Ever After with Michelle! I think you are the perfect match for each other, especially since you are willing to raise another mans child! Nancy Carter! The tone in Pauls voice was terrifying. I am warning you for thest time. Open the goddamn door! Crystal chucked. And what if she doesnt? she asked. Are you going to huff and puff and blow the door down? Almost as soon as she finished taunting him, he began to rage, and as he began to kick at the door, her face turned white.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . I think I have gone too far this time C Crystal realized, and her whole body began to tremble from fear. Chapter 244: I Am Telling The Truth Paul shouted obscenities as he kicked at the door. You are going to pay for what you said, he roared. He was strong, and the thin wood could only resist him for so long. Eventually, it began to splinter, and his foot appeared in the bedroom. When rk saw the wood splinter inward, he began to cry, and he pressed his face into his mothers neck. Nancy looked to Crystal, shook her head, and smiled bitterly. See? I told you. He wont believe me. He would rather believe that woman. Crystal shook her head. Until that moment, she had not fully understood what a bastard Paul really was. The next kick was the straw that broke the proverbial camels back. The door burst open, and Paul rushed in. His eyes were red from anger, and when he turned to Nancy, Crystal could see that he had murder on his mind. Crystal immediately stepped in front of Paul. She spread her arms to protect Nancy and rk, but Paul grabbed her and threw her across the room. Nancy cried out for her friend. Then she set down her son and ran over to see if she was alright. Before she could take more than a couple of steps, though, Paul grabbed her hair and yanked her backward. Nancy shrieked, but Paul paid her no mind. Youre getting bolder, he growled. How do you think I should punish you? His eyes were bloodshot and filled with fury. You have no right to punish me! Nancy argued. How dare you talk back to me? Paul hissed.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. When Paul had his back turned, Crystal picked up a vase from the dresser and tried to smash it over his head. Paul saw her in the mirror, though, and he backhanded her without even having to turn and face her. Instead, the vase flew across the room and smashed against the wall. Crystal swooned and fell to the ground. Paul picked Nancy up and carried her over his shoulders. He had a horrible sneer on his face. Nancy had tears streaming down her face. Let go of me, she cried. I didnt do anything to anyone Nancy struggled desperately. She punched, kicked, and bit him, but none of it helped. rk crawled over to Paul, and he sped his leg in an attempt to stop him from hurting his mother. Paul was not bothered, though. He shook the boy off as if she were nothing. He hauled Nancy out of the room, and as he passed through the door, he ordered his servants to keep an eye on Crystal and rk and to not let them out of the room. Then he carried Nancy into his bedroom. **** Michelle was lying on her and Pauls bed, and a servant was applying medicine to the wounds on her private parts and massaging them for her. The burnt hair on her head had already been trimmed. She had lost half of her hair, and her head felt lighter. There were a few scalds on her arms and legs that the hot wax had caused. They were a little bit red, but they did not seem too serious. Michelle looked up when Paul came in, and she was dismayed to see that he had Nancy with him. Paul ruthlessly threw Nancy on the ground by the bed. The floor was covered by a thick carpet, but she had been thrown from a height of almost two meters, so it did little to break her fall. Michelle got up and stood at akimbo. She red at Nancy and then at Paul. What the fuck is this? Paul smiled, ran his fingers through her hair, and said, Baby girl, I brought her for you. Dont you want to vent your anger? Michelle returned the smile and waved her away. Just forget it, she said. Luckily, Im not seriously injured. She may go. When Nancy heard this, she was speechless. She thought, Is this woman the same person that pped me and pulled my hair? Where is her momentum now? This must be a part of the Good Girl act that she invented Let her go, Michelle continued. I dont think she pushed me on purpose, and the fire was an ident. Paul nced at Nancy with cold eyes and said, She said that you pped her, though, and that you were responsible for the fire. Michelle looked incredibly surprised. Really? She said that? She lowered her head, sighed, and said, Whatever. It is water under the bridge. It doesnt matter who is right or who is wrong. Paul rolled his eyes and said, I dont know whats gotten into you, but of course, it matters! This is my home, and I will not permit anyone to bully you while you are under my roof. Besides, this woman is a hopeless liar. If I dont teach her a lesson, I cant imagine what she will do next time. Michelle shook her head. Just dont go too far, okay. She is still the mother of your child. She may have given birth to a child, but she is no mother. This bitch has a wicked heart! Michelle sighed and said, Fine. You are right. What do you want to do to her? Paul turned to Nancy and snarled. Michelle is kind, but that doesnt mean that I will let you off. Kind? Nancy scoffed. She wants me to die! Pauls face turned red, and he spat on Nancy. You need to give up this victim act. It is ugly. She did not say anything bad about you. She actually wants to show you mercy, so what is your problem? Maybe, if you had been a little bit kind to her, I would be willing to show you mercy. There is no way I will, though. Not now. Nancyughed and said, You know nothing. Ask the servant about what happened. She saw everything! The servant did not see what happened, Michelle interrupted. By the time she arrived, I was already lying on the ground. Paul turned to Nancy and said, Enough with the lies. This has to end, okay! I am telling the truth! Nancy cried. Humph! Paul pinched her chin. Didnt you say that she pped you in the face? She did! Nancy eximed. You can see her handprints on my face! Enough with the lies, I said! Didnt I say that?!?! Paul lifted his arm, showed her the back of his hand, and said, How about I turn your lie into a fact? Chapter 245: What If I Fail? Before Paul could hit Nancy, Michelle intervened. Stop! she cried. Pauls hand froze, and he turned to look at Michelle. Why shouldnt I punish her? he asked. Even if she is guilty, spare her for the sake of your son. She smiled. Just let her go. Ask her to move out. I dont want to see her again. When Nancy heard that, she began to panic. She thought C If he kicks me out, what will be of rk?Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Alright, Paul grunted. It was a mistake to let here back. I can see that now. Nancy sighed and said, Thank you! If you let me, Ill go right now! Go then, Michelle said. Nancy grunted as she got up, but Paul ordered her to stop as she made her way towards the door. Nancy froze. You said that I could leave she said. So, what gives? I didnt say that you could go, now, Paul replied. You still need to be punished! What are you going to do to me? Nancys lower lip quivered, and she said, It feels like you arent going to stop until youve killed me Paulughed and said, Thats funny. Until you said that, Id forgotten that you are afraid of dying. I was. Nancy red at him. But Im not anymore. Thanks to you, I now know that there are worse things than dying. Paul turned to Michelle and said, We have to teach her onest lesson. What do you think we should do? Can she paint a picture? Michelle suggested. You want her to paint? Thats it? Paul scowled and said, You are too kind. She is always bullying you. She deserves severe punishment. Do you want to break her fingers, maybe? And then make her paint? I just want her to paint a picture, Michelle said. Every time I pick up a pencil or paintbrush, I get a headache. Concentration is hard, painting is not easy, and headaches hurt a lot. Paul raised his eyebrows and said, That may be so, but as a punishment, it is too light. Is it? Michelles smile turned into a shark-like Cheshire grin. Let me show you what I mean. She turned to Nancy, crooked her finger, and said, Come forward. Paul suddenly realized what Michelle had in mind. Are you sure that this is what you want? he asked. I just want her to know who you belong to, Michelle replied. Then she will give up on you. If she still has expectations and fantasies about you, she will not marry Noah, and that will ruin her life. She is still young. She deserves a better future. Right? Why are you still so considerate of her? She treated you extremely badly. You are obviously a better person than I am. You can say that again. Michelle chuckled. We are both women, though. I understand her, and I feel pity for her. Well, she is pitiful. Paul smiled, touched Michelles nose, and said, Fine. Have it your way. Nancy was still unhappy about being punished, but she felt better now that Michelle had taken over the task. After all, she would rather paint a picture than be beaten or assaulted by Paul C as was his way. She looked nervously in his direction and thought C Stay cool, Nancy. He may be calm now, but if you step out of line, he will be on you like an owl on a field mouse. Paul saw the look of fear on her face, and he chuckled. He looked at the door and said, You want to run, dont you? But do you have the guts to run? That is the question. I dont think you do. Nancy did not answer him. She did not even look him in the eyes. Why dont you talk? He smacked her across the back of her head. Where is that sharp tongue of yours, now? It takes a big man to hit a helpless woman Nancy muttered. Youll soon find out what kind of a man l am, Paul sneered. Nancy was not stupid. She quickly guessed what punishment Michelle was proposing, and it did not involve painting a picture. Just the thought of it made her face turn white, and she felt as if she was going to be sick. Nancy felt stupid for being so na?ve. When she had been married to Paul, he had made her watch while he fucked Michelle. Now, it seemed that Michelle wanted her to watch for old times sake onest time. Like before, she would not be allowed to look away or close her eyes. Michelle had seemed reluctant to punish Nancy, but the fact that this had been her idea showed that, between her and Paul, she was the most vicious. Nancy had to admire the other womans skill as an actor and as a master maniptor. She looked at her and smiled bitterly. Paul picked up the phone, and Nancy frowned when he asked a servant to bring in a drawing board, papers, and paint. Did I misread the situation? C She wondered C If so, I was off by more than a mile! Once everything was set up, Paul turned to Nancy, and in a cold voice, he said, You can sketch, or you can paint in watercolor. Do whatever you are good at. You cant leave until you have created something that meets our standards. What if I fail? Nancy wondered. Then you will try again. I dont care if it takes you all week, so long as you dont stop. What if I cant paint well all night? Then go on painting tomorrow; then the next day and the day after that. You will keep at it until you are finished, and we are satisfied. Nancy squinted her eyes and said, You wont get away with this. Oh. Paul smiled yfully. The Curse of Nancy. C I am practically shaking in my boots Not!!!!! If God doesnt punish you, then I will retaliate against you. Thats funny. How, pray tell, would you get even with me? Tell me, eh? The cruelest revenge is not hatred. It is indifference. I no longer have any feelings for you. You are nothing to me. If you died today, I would not even waste my time spitting on your grave. And no matter what you do, you cant hurt me; not anymore, because my heart is dead! When Paul heard what Nancy had to say to him, he was surprised by the way her words hurt his heart. He frowned and, without thinking, took off all his clothes. Chapter 246: How Shameless (Triggered Warning: This Chapter contains a sex scene and inappropriate words. If youre notfortable reading it kindly skip it and move to another chapter) Paul was a musclebound hunk, and Nancy and Michelle were both surprised to see him taking off his clothes. Certainly, neither of them expected that he would throw his underwear over Nancys head. How shameless! C Nancy thought C How dirty! She closed her eyes and pulled his underwear over her head. Once she could see again, she saw that Paul had positioned himself on the bed, and he was snapping his fingers. The servants that had been massaging Michelles genitals retreated. She climbed on the bed, sat on Pauls chest, turned to Nancy, and said, Well, get to it! She sneered. Let us see if you are as good of an artist as you im to be Only now did Nancy understand the full extent of the punishment. She frowned as she chose a pencil, and she began to sketch a likeness of Michelle and Paul. Paul smirked and said, When youre done, let me inspect it. Unlike Pauls treatment of Nancy, he treated Michelle with gentle indulgence. He kissed her hair, forehead, nose, and all the way down to her toes. Finally, he asked her if she was ready. I like it when you kiss me, Michelle replied. Kiss me a little longer. Paul smiled, and as he kissed her, he began to touch her body. They seemed to havepletely forgotten that they were not alone. Suddenly, Paul shouted, Lookout, Michelle! Imin in He tore off her panties, and she cried out in pain as he forced himself inside her. It hurts she wailed. Nancys hand shook as she drew. She took a deep breath and tried to ignore Michelles pain. She hated the other woman, but she had been in her position and did not think anyone deserved this kind of treatment. Does it hurt, baby? Paul finally slowed down and said, Im sorry, I was so rude just nowContent ? N?velDrama.Org. It doesnt matter. Michelle stroked his face lovingly and said, Just get it over with. You are a man. You have needs. I understand. Nancys sweat was dripping onto the paper. She gripped her pencil, and as it snapped in two, she thought C Paul, I hate you! Oh, Paul, Michelle moaned seductively. I love you so much. As he fucked her, she ran her nails down his back. Paul gasped. Baby, I love you, too. Im finished! Nancy announced. But it was the wrong time, and she was so loud that Paul almost ejacted. Do you want to die? Paul grabbed her chin and squeezed it. Because that is what is going to happen to you if you keep shouting like that! You were so into it that I was afraid you wouldnt hear me. Nancy picked up her drawing and said, Ive finished the painting. Mr. But, please check it. She felt humiliated. She felt like a schoolgirl turning in ate assignment to a preupied teacher. Paul was slightly annoyed by Nancys announcement, and he did not stop fucking Michelle. Cant you see that Im busy? he growled. Give it to me! Nancy stood up and handed him the picture, but he just took one look at it and dismissed it. Try again, he said. Then he crumpled up the paper and threw it away. Why? What was wrong with it? It wasnt good enough. It should be picture perfect! Tears welled up in Nancys eyes, and she said, I am doing my best. It would help if you were more cooperative Paul froze mid-thrust, sighed, and said, What do you need from us? You could stay still while I draw? Nancy suggested. Paul put Michelles leg over his shoulder, giving Nancy a clear view of their genitals and Michelles sweaty breasts. Hows this? he asked. He smiled, and as his eyes lit up, he slowly pushed himself inside her. This was more than Nancy could handle. Suddenly, she felt the contents of her stomach begin toe upon her. She sprinted to the bathroom, went down on her knees, pushed the toilet seat up, and vomited. Then, when she was done, she stood up and looked in the mirror. How did things get this far? she muttered. Her face was pale, and there was a chunk of vomit on her chin. Nancy turned on the tap, ran the water as hot as she could, and washed her face. Some of the colors returned to her cheeks, but she felt no better. She looked herself in the eyes, and she began to cry. Why am I letting him get to me? C she wondered C It is just a picture Up until her wedding day, Nancy had not known anything about sex. Before she went to her wedding bed, though, the servants had shown her some porn. After that, she had thought she was prepared, but the things Paul had done to her were nothing like what she had seen in those movies. She supposed that she had PTSD from having sex with Paul. If that were the case, it made sense that this would trigger her. Nancy did not want to be pushed around anymore, but she did not know what to do. She waited for as long as she possibly could, and then she returned to the bedroom. Paul and Michelle were still going at it, but he looked up as she entered. He said, Our time is limited. If you do not get this right tonight, you will have to try again tomorrow. Nancy red at him. Im sure I can do it tonight, she said. Or are you not as virile as you used to be? When he did not reply, she calmly returned to the easel, picked up a pen, and adjusted the Angle. As she began to draw, she directed the lovers. She said, Michelle, raise your hand, please. Yes, hold it there. Paul put your right hand on her left breast and try to show some enthusiasm if you can. As Nancy painted, she tried to focus on the mechanical task while distracting herself with other thoughts. She hade from a good family, and although she was not a rich girl, she was the apple of her parents eyes. When she was a child, she studied hard in the hopes that she would marry a good man one day. It had alle to naught, though, and her talents were being wasted. Nancy drew very carefully. She readjusted Paul and Michelles bodies from time to time, and the more she interfered in their act, the less passionate it became. Eventually, Paul became aware that the painting was affecting his stamina, and as hard as he tried to get it back, he could not. Michelle ran her hands through his sweaty hair, raised her body to kiss his ear, and said, Paul, are you alright? His ear was the most sensitive spot on his body, and he froze when her lips touched his skin. Chapter 247: Are You Tired? Michelle frowned. She had kissed Pauls most sensitive ce, but even that failed to arouse his interest or desire. He seemed to be weak, suddenly, and she could feel him going soft inside her. She did not want to give up, though. Are you too tired? she asked. Do you want me on top? Paul scowled and said, Hush your face. He was impatient to finish before he wentpletely limp. He covered her face with his hand, thrust into her a few times as hard as he could, and as he came, he cursed her name. That was your fault, he muttered as he rolled off her. Michelle began to whimper. Paul? she cried. Whats the matter with you today? What did I do wrong? Never mind. Paul rolled over slowly and turned to face the wall. Meanwhile, Nancy had finished, not one, but more than a dozen drawings. Finally, she stood up and said, Im done. Do you want to have a look? I carefully painted every pose, and I am confident that you will be pleased. Paul rolled over, took the drawings from Nancy, and as he casually looked them over, he thought C These are actually very good. He was amazed. **** Nancy watched nervously as Paul looked over her drawings. Then, after what seemed forever, he finally looked up. Who told you to draw so many pictures? he asked. No one did, Nancy replied. With so many to choose from, though, you are sure to find at least one that you like. Let me see, Michelle said. She hugged Paul from behind and rested her chin on his shoulder. She looked at the pictures and sighed. She had requested them to upset Nancy. Now that she had achieved her goal, the pictures meant very little to her. Paul, on the other hand, was not so easily appeased. He tore up the papers and threw them in Nancys face. Why did you do that? asked Nancy. Were you not satisfied? If not, I will paint for you again tomorrow, or the day after, or any other day. Ill draw as many pictures as you want Provided you can keep up with me, I am at your service. Her tone was remarkably calm, and it infuriated Paul. He could tell that shed found an inner reserve of strength and that no matter how many pictures he forced her to draw, he wouldnt break her. Paul red at Nancy and gnashed his teeth. It was evident that he wanted to tear her to pieces. Nancy! he growled. You slut! How am I a slut? Nancy smirked and said, I didnt do anything. Have you mistaken me for your mistress? Hardly! Pauls face turned red from anger. What we did was natural, but what you drew was the kind of smut that only a slut could produce! When Nancy heard that, she began to chuckle. Are you kidding me? sheughed. Not only did youmission those pieces, but you forced me to do them! Do you do everything that youre told to do? Paul asked. Would you kill someone if I asked you to? You dont have any principles! he said self-righteously. Do you get turned on by watching us? Is that why you seem so unfazed? As he spoke, he reached out to grab her by the jaw. Nancy stepped back to avoid his hand. You are all over the ce, she said. First, you touch Michelle, and now you want to touch me? What gives? She looked at him with disdain, and his eyes lost their luster. His heart seemed to be blocked by something. She thinks I am a piece of shit C Paul realized C Damn woman! Nancy smirked and said, I have done the painting ording to your request. Can I leave now? Michelle noticed suddenly that Pauls odor had changed. They had known each other since they were children, and she had always been able to read him, but today was different. She did not know why Paul was unhappy, and she could not guess where his anger came from. This scared her. She thought for a moment, and then she began to rub his back. She kissed his shoulders and said, Let her go. This is getting old Paul did not say anything, so Michelle nodded to Nancy and said, You can go now. Nancy was thrilled. She turned to leave, but Paul grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back in before she reached the door. Dont touch me! she squealed. She shook her head back and forth, struggled against him, and called him a dirty pig. Paul was momentarily caught off guard. He had not expected her to act this way, and he nearly lost his grip on her. How dare you call me a dirty pig? he growled. Stupid woman! Youre courting death. I am not, Nancy argued. I just want you to let me go. Besides, I am just calling a spade a spade. What kind of a man forces their wife to watch them fuck their mistress? Only a dirty pig would do that! How dare you talk to me like that? Paul shouted. He was about to lose his temper when he suddenly felt something wet on his shoulders. He turned and saw that Michelle was crying. He frowned, and his anger slipped away. Why are you crying? he asked.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Dont you love me anymore? Michelle asked. Paul wondered why she had asked this question. He let go of Nancys arm so that he could give Michelle his full attention. Maybe you love me less than you used to? Michelle suggested. Is that it? You said that you would love me no matter what happened and that no matter who I liked, your would only love me So, what happened? Paul gently wiped away Michelles tears. He looked her in the eyes, kissed her on the lips, but remained silent. Michelle frowned and said, I want you to answer me. I did say those things, Paul admitted, and I meant them. So, what is this all about? You must choose between her and me, Michelle replied. Paul smiled, Boopd! Her nose, and said, Silly girl. How can youpare yourself to her? She doesnt deserve to bepared to you, so dont put yourself down. Do you. understand? But In my eyes, you will always be a unique rarity. He turned to Nancy and said, What are you waiting for? Get the fuck out of our room! Nancy looked at the door nervously. Every time she had been told that she could leave, it had been a cruel trick, and she was tired of being made to look like a fool. Go on, Paul growled. Scat! Chapter 248: Her Inner Strength Nancy took a deep breath, turned, and ran out of the room. She took the stairs two at a time, and she did not begin to slow down until she was free of the house. Once she reached the road, she stopped to catch her breath. She looked around and found that everything seemed surreal. A cool wind blew through her nightgown, and her skin broke out in gooseflesh. A moment passed, and she realized that her feet hurt. She had left the house without putting on her shoes. Nancy turned left, and she followed the sidewalk until she could walk no further. There was a park nearby, and she hunkered down beneath a tree. What a fool I have been, she muttered to herself. Why do I have such bad taste in men? She med herself for everything that had happened to her. At least I am finally free Despite everything that had happened, Nancy felt confident about her inner strength for the first time in her life. She was not even crying anymore, and she had not cried since shed left the bathroom. She was no longer the fool that she used to be. Never again would she cry in a corner. If she got in trouble again, she would face the danger and find her way through it! Suddenly, Nancy heard footstepsing towards her, and she tried to make herself as small as possible. Inch by inch, her confidence slipped away. Given her present state, she would make the perfect victim. She was tired and weak. The dark figure of a man passed through the park. When he was about ten meters away from her, he stopped, looked around, spotted her, and walked over to where she was hiding. However, it was not until he was approximately two meters away that she realized who it was. **** Nancy looked up and said, Why are you! here? Noah smiled. I have your medication. I saw you walking down the street in your pajamas. I was worried, so I followed you. He took off his coat, put it on her shoulders, and said, Here. Youre cold. Then he leaned forward and tried to pick her up. Nancy pushed him away and said, No. I can do it by myself. She no longer wanted to have to depend on anyone C let alone any man. Instead, she wanted to be able to stand on her own two feet. Noah saw Nancys determination, and he did not insist on helping her. But when she saw her bare feet, his eyes went wide, and he asked her, Where are your shoes? Nancy scratched her head in embarrassment. Errrr I was in such a hurry that I forgot to put my shoes on. Noah rubbed her head. Why were you in such a rush? Was there a monster after you? Nancy chuckled and said, You might say that. Do you need to cry? Noah gave her a concerned look and said, We are alone. You can cry if you want to. Why should I cry? Nancy shook her head and said, Im not sad at all. Dont worry about me. Im fine. If you want to cry. Nancyughed and said, Give it a rest already. You are starting to sound like a broken record! **** Paul was standing on the balcony. He was holding a ss of wine in one hand. His other hand held the rail as he looked out into the night. It was dark, but he had eyes like a cheetah. Nothing got past him. He watched with interest as Nancy fled the building, and he saw Noah trailing behind her. The rail was shaking slightly, and it took a moment for him to realize that it was his hand that was shaking. He gripped the wood with all his strength, took three deep breaths, and the shaking stopped. One of his bodyguards was with him. Did you see the man that followed Nancy? Paul asked. The bodyguard nodded. I did, Sir. Follow him. The bodyguard nodded again, and he left without a word. As soon as he was gone, Michelle joined Paul. She had an unhappy look on her face. She said, You want her. You may as well admit it You worry too much.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Then why the interest in her? You two are divorced. It is none of your business what she does or who she does it with. I am not wrong, and you know it. So, please answer my question. Why do you care so much? Paul sighed. He noticed that the rail was shaking again. This time, he could not stop it, so he put his hands in his pockets. She was right, and he knew it. She touched his arm and said, Paul, I am afraid that you are going to leave me. Should I be? Paul turned and stared at her. I love you. You are my everything. Michelle buried her head in his chest. She had gotten pregnant with another man, but Paul had never given up on her. On the contrary, he always cared for her. He promised that if the fetus came to term, he would regard it as his own, and he would love it, care for it, and give it everything. Paul had even divorced Nancy for her. She wondered, though, if he regretted doing that? Isnt what Ive done enough to prove that I love you? Paul asked. Michelle snatched the wine from his hand and took a sip. Then she leaned over and spat the wine into his mouth. He kissed her, but when she took his member into her hand, it did not respond. She sighed. Her wet core was drenched, and an idea urred to her. She took his hand and used it to touch herself. You see how much I love you, she said. As she slipped his fingers inside of her, though, he froze, and he sprayed her in the face with the wine. But you dont love me Michelle began to cry. Paul wiped away her tears. You are so mistaken, he said. He smiled, took her legs, wrapped them around his waist, and carried her into the room. I will show you how much I love you. Chapter 249: How Dare She Noah took a hot drink out of the vending machine and handed it to Nancy. She had his jacket over her shoulders and his shoes on her feet. She looked incredibly silly. They had been sitting on a bench for the better part of the night, and as the sky began to lighten, she said, The sun will be up soon. If Noah had note after her, she would have been alone all night, and without the shoes and jacket, she might have frozen to death. Luckily, Noah was wearing a warm sweater, and his socks were extra thick. Noah smiled and said, Lets go. Where are we going? A hotel. You can have a rest. When you wake up, I will tell Miss Smith to pick you up. Nancy did not expect that would be so thoughtful. She wanted to thank him, but she had thanked him a million times already. Alright, was all she could think to say, and when he offered her his hand, she took it, and she allowed him to lead her to the hotel. **** A ck RV was lurking around the corner from a cathedral. Vic was sitting in the drivers seat, and Nathan was sitting beside him. Nathan coughed, and Vic frowned. He said, You havent eaten for days, Sir. The doctor said that your stomach is in bad condition. You need to take your medicine! Nathan coughed again. He was in rough shape. Vic had been with him for many years, and this was the first time that he had seen him looking so haggard. The car was parked in a secluded ce, where they could see the movement of the partitioners. Are you sure that this is where Eric and Crystal are to be married? Nathan asked. His heart ached at the thought of her marrying another man. Vic nodded. So says the inte. How dare she! Nathan hissed. I dont like it any more than you do, Vic muttered. **** Crystal began to scream with one hand covering her eyes, forcing her head down, and another pursued the stic on her panties. She began to writhe in agony as cold fingers slipped beneath the fabric. They passed through her pubic hair like a medium-toothedb, and then they applied pressure to her vulva. Invisible lips kissed her, and a familiar tongue forced its way into her mouth. Its Nathan! C she realized, and she was horrified. Did you miss me? He chuckled and said, I think about you all the time. You are mine. You can run, but you cannot hide. I will always find you!Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Nathan bit into her shoulder, and Crystals eyes snapped open. It had all been a dream. rk was snuggled against her. She had been having these dreams recently, but that is all that they were dreams. She was safe, and Nathan had no idea she was here. **** Crystal was stroking rks sleeping face with the back of her hand when, without warning, a bodyguard pushed open the door and rushed in. What do you want? she shouted. She looked around and was unsettled by the fact that Nancy was nowhere to be seen. rk sat up, and the bodyguard grabbed him. Crystal reached out to stop him, but he pushed her away. The boy began to cry for his Mommy, but his tears did not seem to faze therge man. Please Crystal begged. The bodyguard sighed and said, I am only doing my job. If you do not like it, then take it up with Mr. But. Where is Nancy? she demanded. I dont know. **** Crystal followed the bodyguard to the master bedroom. He opened the door, carried rk inside, and shut it behind him. She began to knock, but two other guards appeared, and they drove her away. What is this about, she asked as they shoved her. The smaller of the two thought for a moment, and then he said, Im sorry, Miss Smith. Our young master is still resting. This is not a good time. He wants some alone time with his son. I am sure you understand. Crystal frowned. She did not know what to do, so for a while, she just stood there. It was not long before the next door opened, and Eric walked out. Why are you awake so early? he asked. Why dont you go back to bed? Never mind that, Crystal replied. Did you hear anythingst night? Eric chuckled and said, I heard a lovers quarrel. I would not mention it, though. Paul can get rather pissy when people stick their nose in his business. Crystal scowled and said, If that Rat, But, did something to my friend, then its my business. Dont you think so? Erics face turned white, and he was momentarily speechless. Anyway, Crystal continued. Your response doesnt surprise me. After all, that rat is your friend! If you call him a rat, I can only imagine what you call me behind my back, Eric muttered. Do you have to make this about you? Crystal hissed. My friend is missing, and Im quite sure that your friend is responsible. Come on. Eric sighed and said, I know what youre worried about, but Noah took Nancy to a hotel. We can go there now if youd like. Did she move out? Crystal was confused. Did Paul let her leave? I dont know. Eric shrugged and said, Even if he didnt, eventually, he will have to. Mark my words: Michelle will not tolerate her presence forever. Crystal nodded, but she was not convinced. Dont think about it for now, Eric said. Come on. Get dressed quickly. You must be hungry? Alright. I could eat. She turned towards the room she had been sleeping in, but she only made it halfway down the hall when a thought urred to her. Her face turned white, and she turned back around. What about rk? she asked. Hes Pauls son. Hell be fine. But we dont know if he abused him, she said. There was a fire in her eyes. I dont trust him any further than I could throw him. And you dont need to. Eric chuckled and said, Rest ease. Children are safe around men, whether they are good or bad. Its the women that you need to watch out for. Crystal frowned. She was dissatisfied with Erics reply, but she let the matter rest. Even if he was wrong, there was nothing that they could do about it. *** There were three days till the wedding, and the radio stations were abuzz with gossip. Already, the cathedral had beenvishly decorated. The mystery was: Why had nobody been invited. Apart from the journalists, it looked like it would be a closed affair. Crystal was surprised that Eric would invite so many reporters, but when she asked him about it, he said, I want the whole world to see your happiness so that women all over the world may look upon you and admire you. He looked like a prince in his white suit. It matched his tended luxury car, and he had countless bodyguards deployed around it. There were fireworks set up on both sides, and they would be set off as Crystal and Eric drove past them as the roadpeted to bloom where the float passed. Crystal did not know that Eric had secretly invited every person he could think of, including everyone that resided on the ind, and since he had promised an open bar, he was sure to get a good turnout. Chapter 250: He Should Be Mine The day of the wedding finally arrived, and Crystal was feeling very anxious. She had said that she wanted a simple ceremony, but Eric had disregarded her wishes, and all he had to say for himself was, Surprise!Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Fuck my life, she muttered, and he hadughed as if she had been joking. She hadnt been. On the way to the ceremony, she looked out the window and frowned. There was a helicopter hovering adjacent to the RV, and it was filming her approach. No doubt, it is being streamed online C she thought. This is too much, she said. Eric smiled and said, Its for you. I spared no expense. The road was lined with guests. From among them, Crystal spotted Nathan, and her face turned white. What is Nathan doing here? she cried. I invited him, Eric replied. Since he is your ex-husband, it only seemed right that he should be here to bless your new life with me. How could you do this? Crystal whined. Why did you do this without consulting me? She knew that whatever Eric said next would be bullshit. He did this as an open deration of war. Have you forgotten our agreement? Eric said. I pamper and spoil you, and you help me get revenge! Revenge? Crystal red at him and said, I never agreed to this! **** Nancy opened the window and looked at the people on the street. Pedestrians were waving to her, and she waved back. She wondered why so many people hade to the wedding. It made no sense to her, but it did not bother her like it did Crystal. She was happy to be the center of attention, if just for one day. Then, suddenly, the helicopter flew towards her. **** Paul was watching the event on his phone, and when he saw Nancy, he scowled. He had not gotten a wink of sleep since she left. He felt like his heart had been torn asunder, and he was miserable. I hate you, he muttered. After today, all over the world, people would know that Nancy was Noahs wife. Angrily, Paul opened the wardrobe in his room and ran his fingers over his various suits. Finally, he chose one that was light blue and put it on, along with a matching bowtie. Then he looked in the mirror and congratted himself for how dignified he looked. Dressed like this, he muttered, I am sure to steal Noahs thunder. Michelle came in with a cup of coffee, and when she saw Paul all dressed up and ready to go, she asked him where he was going. Im going to the wedding, he replied. What the hell?!?! Michelle stood at akimbo and said, Didnt you promise me that you would not go to the wedding? Paul sighed and said, How could I miss his disgrace? I need to be there! Michelle frowned. Whose disgrace? she wondered. Never mind, he replied. Michelles brows furrowed. Paul, what are you going to do? Dont worry. Just be here when I get back. He kissed her on the forehead, picked up his phone, and left. Michelle cursed, and then she called after him: Paul, you forgot your coffee! You can finish your coffee before you go, cant you? She flinched as his car door mmed shut. That bastard! She had never been on the receiving end of such indifference. **** Paul pealed out of the drive-in his limited edition silver sports car. He gripped the wheel with his left hand and his cell phone in his right. He was still watching the live stream from Nancys wedding. He pressed down on the gas pedal and ground his teeth together. He was prepared to do whatever it took to ensure that todays event did not go ording to n. He was going to make Nancy pay. Elsewhere, Nathan was watching the same broadcast. The wind blew through Crystals hair, and his scowl was nearly the mirror image of Pauls. The sun beat down on Crystals face, and as angry as Nathan was, he could not deny that she was beautiful. **** When Nathan saw the smile on Crystals face, he presumed that since she had left him, she had found happiness. Unfortunately, her happiness was the cause of his misery, and ever since she had left him, he had stopped taking care of himself. His face was pale. His hair was too long. It covered his eyes, and he had not shaved in a week. Why am I even here? -Nathan asked himself. On the morning that he had received the wedding invitation, he had cursed, crumpled it into a ball, thrown it into the bin, and forgotten it. He had tried to forget it, at least. Vic cleared his throat, and once he knew that he had Nathans attention, he said, Master Davis, there are a lot of journalists out there. If you carry off with the bride C Nathan raised his hand to interrupt Vic, and then he turned back to the live stream that was ying on his phone. The church was full of journalists from all over the world, and every move that the bridal party made was being captured, magnified, and transmitted to viewers all over the world. **** Joyce didnt bother saying hello. As soon as Cecelia answered the phone, she blurted out, Have you seen what that bitch, Crystal Smith, is up to? Im watching the ceremony now, Cecelia replied. Its on every channel. I cannot believe my eyes. Is Eric Bush really going to marry her? He should be mine! C she thought bitterly. She had always had a secret crush on Eric. Cecelia thought about Erics evil but intoxicating eyes and the cold but charming smile that always lingered at the corners of his mouth, and her heart ached. Joyce was nearly as upset as her friend was. As the event yed out on the television, she clenched her teeth. If it had not been for Crystal, she would not have be such a joke on the inte and in real life. Once the obscene video had been posted online, she had been condemned by her ssmates as well as the public. Now, instead of paying for what she had done, Crystal was being given every womans dream wedding. Chapter 251: She Can鈥檛 Help You Joyce stared at the television carefully. She was trying to find fault with Eric, to make herself feel better. But the more she looked at him, the more fascinated she became. She wished that she could take Crystals ce. If wishes were horses C she thought sadly C then beggars would ride The makeup artists were fixing Nancys makeup, and as she looked in the mirror, she thought C I wonder if people will be able to see C She had been told that there would not be a lot of people and the ceremony C So, why are there so many journalists? There was chaos all around her, and everyone was busy. Crystal was doing an interview with the journalists, and she worried that they would want to talk to her next. For the moment, at least, she had been left alone, which was a mixed blessing. It was nice not to be the center of attention, but she would have felt better if she had Noah by her side. Paul came up behind her, smirked, and said, No amount of makeup will cover your natural ugliness. I dont know why you even try Nancy frowned. He was thest person that she wanted to see. She tried to stand up so that she could walk away, but he pressed down on her shoulders and forced her to stay sitting. Paul looked around the room and ordered everyone C including his bodyguards C to leave. It took a moment for everyone to shuffle out, and he closed the door behind them. Then he walked back to Nancy and pinched her jaw. Look at you, he hissed. Your face is a picture of lust and dissatisfaction. Doesnt Noah Laurent satisfy you? Why do you need so many men? Nancy sighed. You dont know what youre talking about. You never do! What are you doing here anyway? She pushed his hand away, and without waiting for a reply, she said, Get out of my face! Go away! I dont want to see you! The sight of him was enough to trigger the memories of him assaulting her. The memories haunted her, humiliated her, and made her feel dirty. She stared at him with disgust, as if he were a piece of shit. When Paul saw the look in her eyes, he frowned. Hey! He said, Today is your big day. I am only here to give you my blessing. Nancy smirked and said, Thanks, but I dont need your blessing. Just leave. Paul scowled. He was used to being in charge, and he did not appreciate Nancy ordering him around. Do you hate seeing me so much? he asked. How can you be so heartless? How can you forget your ex-husband so quickly? Was it so easy to rece me? Nancy was confused. She did not believe that he was only there to offer his blessing, but she could not figure out his real motivation, and she certainly did not know why he was talking this way. After all, he had reced her with Michelle. He had been the one who had asked for a divorce, and he had driven her out of their home. And just the other day, he had ordered her to get out of the house. Paul touched her cheek and said, You loved me once, didnt you? You know that I did, Nancy replied. Paul smirked and said, I guess its true what they say: You can never trust a woman. He looked at Nancys reflection in the mirror. With the makeup, her delicate features appeared to be prettier and more attractive than they usually were. With the bright red lipstick, her lips were intoxicating. While they were married, he had forbidden her from wearing makeup, especially rouge lipstick. From the moment he had taken her home, he had treated her as his possession. He had not allowed her to show her beauty to anyone, and the thought of his possession marrying another man upset him. He squinted and wiped her lips with his thumb. Pauls thumb was rough, and when Nancy flinched away, she identally dropped her veil on the ground. When he saw that, he sneered and said, Youd better mess up your hair, shred your dress, and walk into the church in disgrace. Then everyone will see what kind of a person you actually are!Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Nancy was finally fed up with Pauls disrespect. What the hell do you want? she shouted. Didnt you sleep wellst night? he asked, changing the subject and deflecting her question. Whats with the bags under your eyes? You werent up prematurely knocking boots with Noah, were you?!?! What I do is none of your business! Nancy snapped. You cant humiliate me because I dont care about your opinion! Dont you? Paul chuckled. Thedy doth protest too much, methinks As he finished speaking, he thrust his right hand into her dress and grabbed her breast. Nancy froze momentarily, and then she began to yank at his arm. He was too strong, though, and as she pulled, he squeezed her breast. Let go of me! she shouted. Paul But, you pervert! Youre hurting me! This is what you deserve. He twisted her nipple until tears were streaming down her face. You know that I hate it when women tell me what to do, he said. Did you actually think that I would follow your orders? And instead of letting her go, he licked her neck. Nancy trembled, and her body broke out with goosebumps. She finally understood what he hade for. You want to destroy my wedding and embarrass me, she said. Do you deny it? I do not. Paulughed. He let go of her breast and said, I told you that I never wanted to see your face again, but here you are, strutting your stuff for the whole world to see C and that is why I am here! Nancy stood up abruptly. She hoped that if she could catch Paul off guard, she could make it to the door and escape. After taking only one step, though, he had her by the waist. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his arms. She called Crystal. Help me, Crystal! Help me! She cant help you! Paulughed. She is surrounded by journalists. She cant even hear you. Chapter 252: I Was Never Like That Nancy turned in his arms so that they were facing each other, and she pounded on his chest with her fists. She could tell that she was not hurting him, and she quickly gave up. Do you think you can hurt me? Paul smirked. You are a weak woman, he said, and then he ran his hands through her hair, ruining the up-do that had taken two hours to set straight. He had wanted to make her look like a ragamuffin, but her disheveled appearance had the opposite effect. It made her look like an innocent, simple princess. Pauls breathing became disordered, and he began to pants. He had not intended to take possession of her today. He had only wanted to embarrass her. At this moment, though, she looked pure and attractive, and her appearance made his heart beat fast. Without even thinking about what he was doing, he started to tear open her wedding dress. What are you doing? shrieked Nancy. Stop! Help! She tried to resist him, but she was powerless against him. Somebody, please help me! she wailed. The wedding dress had been customized especially for her, and she didnt think that it could be repaired on short notice. Soon, there was beautifulce scattered on the ground. Youre really too much Nancy whined. Too much? Paul raised his eyebrows and said, If you dare to show up at the wedding, you will see what too much is. Why? Nancy was sobbing by now. Why are you doing this to me?!?! A slut is not qualified to marry anyone, Paul answered ruthlessly. Especially you, Nancy Carter. But Im not a slut! Nancy argued. Michelle is the slut! Pauls pupils dted. What did you say? he shouted. Youve already had her, Nancy replied. She was desperate. Why do you keep pestering me? You bastard! Not knowing what else to do, she opened her mouth and bit his arm. She clenched her teeth as tightly as she could, but even as her mouth filled with his blood, he seemed unfazed, at least as far as the pain went. To her horror, it affected him in another way. Suddenly, Nancy felt Pauls manh**d pressed against her. He was as hard as a rock. Before she knew what was happening, he had pressed his lips against hers. He forced her mouth open with his tongue, and then he prated her mouth with it. Nancy wanted to spit his tongue out of her mouth, but he was holding her head, and there was no escape. After a while, kissing was the least of her problems. As Paul kissed Nancy, he began to caress her private parts. As he massaged her genitals with one hand, he tore off her bra with the other. Before he could go any further, though, she pped him across the face. Pauls pupils shrank. He could not believe that she had hit him. You bitch! he hissed. For a second, he just stared at her. Then he grabbed a fist full of her hair and yanked her head backward. He looked her in the eyes and shouted, Woman! Do you see who I am?!?! I know who you are! she cried in disgust. Youre nothing, and youre definitely not my husband. You have no right to touch me, let alone kiss me with your dirty mouth! She picked up a bottle of perfume from the table, unscrewed the lid, and poured a mouthful into her mouth. She rinsed her mouth with the perfume and then spit it out. Almost immediately, Nancy regretted what she had done. She felt nauseous, and she was quite sure that she was going to be sick. Her face turned green, and when Paul saw that, he chuckled. It looks like the cure was worse than the cause of your concerns, he said. There was a smug expression on his face. Go away! Nancy whined. I dont want to see you! As she spoke, she threw the empty perfume bottle at him. Paul dodged it easily. Who is dirtier? Paul asked as he unzipped his trousers. You or me? You! Always, you! Nancys eyes opened wide, and she backed away from him. Donte over here, she said. I am begging you. She did not think her nerves could stand much more of this, and she was afraid that she was already going mad. Paul had his manh**d in his hands, and it was jutting out of his trousers. Why are you acting like youre frightened? he asked. Youve seen this big boy before. Its like youre some polished virgin. I still remember that time you dr*gged me and took advantage of me! It wasnt like that, and you know it! Nancy shook her head and said, I was only doing what the doctors told me to doContent rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Pauls eyebrows furrowed. That bullshit, he said, And we both know it. Ever since that day, Ive been able to see through all of your schemes. Nancys face turned red. It was not like that, she argued. You often drank alcohol. Your health was poor, and the medicine was for your kidneys Paul seemed intent on not taking Nancys exnations seriously. The problem was that, at the time, she had been too na?ve, and she had not fully understood the doctors instructions. Nancy had put all of Pauls pills in the same ce, and after several days, he had begun to feel strange, until finally, he went into a psychotic rage. During this episode, he had humiliated her. He had called her a scheming slut, a prostitute, a bitch, and many other foul names. Then he forced her to take all his pills and gave her a stick to pleasure herself with. To stay calm, Nancy had spent the night having an ice-cold shower. The next day she had a fever. She fell into aa, and it took her three days to recover. When Nancy thought about the past, she felt stupid. After taking the pills, Paul had chosen to release his sexual urge by fucking prostitutes instead of making love with her. He is a real pervert! C she thought angrily C And I hate him! It was never like that, she replied. Tears were running down her face. And you damn well know it! But thanks for reminding me of these past pains. Pain? Paul scoffed. He grabbed her hands and said, You deserved everything you got, and then some! To make it up to me, how about fulfilling the promise you made to me two years ago? It will be my wedding gift to you. What do you say? Chapter 253: You Had My Fortune As Paul finished speaking, he separated Nancys legs. She tried to fight him off, but he was too strong. No! she shrieked. I am not the kind of woman that you think that I am. You said that I pretended to be innocent and pure. You said that I lied to you, but if I had, what would my purpose have been? Because you coveted my money! Paul eximed. Bah! Nancys face soured. What have you ever given to me, other than heartaches and headaches? I had to bear your bad temper for simple things like getting a new dress, and you certainly never gave me money! Thats one of your schemes, Paul exined. You bore all of this. You hid your pride to rx my will so that you could gain my trust and defeat me. But luckily, I saw through your schemes. When did I get your money by doing that? Nancy scoffed. Paul sighed and said, The minute you had my heart, you had my fortune. When did I have your heart? Nancyughed. That is supposed to be a joke, right? From day one, in your eyes, I was nothing but a baby maker. Once I had served that purpose, you reced me with Michelle. Then you demanded that I divorce you! I should never have married you in the first ce. I cant believe what a stupid girl I was. Paul smirked and said, Maybe youre right. You are stupid. You did marry me, though, and now you are paying the consequences for what you did. All I ever did was love you. She wiped the tears from her face and said, I may have been a stupid girl, but Imitted no crimes. Suddenly, Paul caught the ne that was on her neck. There was a ring hanging from it, and he red at it. If I did not give you anything, what is this? It is your wedding ring, isnt it? If youre going to marry Noah, why are you still wearing the wedding ring I gave you? Nancy spat in Pauls face and said, Take it back! Take your dirty things back! Paul glowered, and as he wiped the spittle from his face, he thought about murdering her right there and then. He thought better of it, though, and he did not even hit her. He knew that if he started, he would not be able to stop. He took a deep breath to calm himself, and then he said, If you want to keep it, dont pretend that you dont. Be honest. I am being honest, Nancy smirked as she unsped the ne and put it into his hand. As Paul stared at the ring, his ire began to rise once more. He thought C You are a fucking bitch!- and he threw the ring as far away from himself as he could. You have soiled the ring just like you soiled our marriage! he shouted. Why would I want it? Just leave, Nancy whined. Please Not before I give you your wedding present. He grabbed her by the waist with one hand and said, Youre going to like this. He had already spread her legs with his other hand, and as he finished his sentence, he forced three fingers inside her. Nancy gasped, and all the air rushed out of her lungs. It was as if shed been punched in the gut. No! she cried. Let off, please Paul did not let off, though. Instead, he began to force himself in and out of her at a rapid pace. He was determined to ruin her for her wedding night. He leaned into her ear. How ironic is this? he whispered. When we were married, you begged me to touch you, but now that Im touching you, youre begging me to stop. He began tough. You women, youre all so indecisive. Even if you dont know if youreing or going. Nancy begged and pleaded with him, but he refused to show mercy. For convenience, he tied her hands behind her with her stockings. Then he picked her up, sat on the chair, and straddled her on hisp so that they were facing each other. Nancy could feel his manh**d pressing up against her ruined core, and she tried to squirm away from him. She did not care that her hands were tied and that she wouldnt be able to catch herself if she fell. All she wanted was to be away from him. Ill charge you with ra*e, she cried. Whatever you are thinking of doing, you had better think again! Charge me. Paulughed and said, Here, in Kuerto, I have thew in my back pocket, so go ahead and do your worst! As he said this, he gripped her buttocks and pulled her closer so that he could force himself inside her. **** When the journalists were finally finished with Crystal, she made a beeline for the dressing room. It was the only ce she could think of that would be quiet. It was only a half-hour until the wedding was scheduled to begin, and she was already exhausted. She had not wanted all this attention, and she was still worried about Nathan appearing and ruining everything. When she walked towards the dressing room, she was surprised to find two of Pauls bodyguards at the door. Something is wrong C she realized. She stood akimbo and said, Let me in. Its my wedding! One of the bodyguards looked at her sympathetically and said, Im sorry, but we cant do that. We were given strict orders not to let anyone in, not even the bride. I understand. Crystal turned around and pretended to leave, then she rushed past the guards, turned the knob, and pushed her way into the room. When Nancy saw her friend, she turned away in shame. Dont look at me, she cried. Nancy was sitting on Paulsp, and he was fucking her. The back of the chair was facing away from Crystal, which meant that she had his wicked grin to contend with, and her tied-up wrists were a dead giveaway that she was being forced. Crystals face turned red from rage. Paul But! she shouted. What the fuck are you doing! Get off her! Paulughed as he fucked Nancy. He looked Crystal in the eyes, and he did not even slow down. The bodyguards appeared, and they grabbed Crystal. Meanwhile, Nancy was still begging her to avert her eyes. Please dont look at me, she cried. Just go I am nothing nowContent rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. One of the bodyguards asked Paul what to do with Crystal, and he said, Get her out of here and be more careful next time. No one should be able to get past you, let alone a weak woman! Do you hear me?!?! The guards lowered their heads in shame. They nodded, and then they dragged Crystal away, kicking and screaming. Chapter 254: You Can鈥檛 Back out Now After having been thrown out of the room, Crystal took out her cell phone and called Eric. When he answered, she told him everything that she had seen. Paul put his fingers under Nancys nose, and when she smelled the scent of her vag*nal fluids on his fingers, she nearly threw up. Paul grinned. You like that, he said. Dont you? Then, when she opened her mouth to protest, he crammed his fingers between her lips. Nancy began to gag and squirm, but Paul held the back of her head with his free hand so that she could not get away. What a dirty girl. Heughed as his fingers rubbed over her tongue. Nancy growled deep in her throat, and she bit them as hard as she could, but it did not help. Paul did not let up. Instead, he sighed and said, We were just about done, but now I have to punish you for biting me. You just dont learn, do you? No! Nancy cried. Please. I learned my lesson. I wont bite you again. I can be a good girl! Before Paul could reply, the door burst open, and five people barged in. He recognized Crystal and Eric but not the three burly men behind them. He figured that they were his bodyguards. Paul smirked and pushed Nancy to the ground. She hit the floor like a sack of potatoes, without a word or grunt. For now, at least, she had disconnected from the world, drawn inside of herself- and that was a mercy. What a pity, Paul smirked. He nudged Nancy with his foot, and when she didnt respond, he said, If your friends were not so annoying, I could have had you one more time. Youve gone too far this time! Eric shouted from across the room. Get out of here. You have three minutes to dress and leave. If you are here at the end of the three minutes, I will sic my bodyguards on you! Pauls brow furrowed. Look at you, Mr. High and Mighty, he scoffed. I may not be innocent, Eric argued, but Ive never been this guilty. In the past, they had tag-teamed women, but they had never ra*ed any of them. Paul nodded. He wiped off his manh**d, put it away, and zipped up his trousers as if nothing had happened. Except for the wrinkles on his suit, he looked the same as he hade in. Nancy, on the other hand, was a total mess. Paul began to walk towards the door, and as he passed Crystal, Crystal rushed to him and pped him across the face. Paul frowned. Being pped by two women in one day was humiliating. Crystal lifted her hand, wanting to p him again, but Paul seized her arm this time. He looked her in the eye and said, You are Erics wife, but it doesnt mean you can do whatever you want. Touch me again, and youll see what will happen. How about that? Eric warned him, Paul! Paul gave Eric a nce before he smirked, Twenty minutes until Go Time, he said. And it looks like there will only be one couple getting married today. Congrattions, Eric. Although Crystal still wanted to give Paul another p, she saw that her friend needed to be her priority. Nancy was curled up on the floor. She was trembling all over, quietly weeping, and when Crystal looked into her hollow eyes, she felt heartbroken. Crystal asked Eric for his coat to cover Nancy. Then she knelt, and as she rubbed her friends back, she said, Im here. Dont be afraid When Nancy did not reply, she turned to Paul and shouted at him. Paul But, you are going to go to hell for what youve done to her today! Whatever. Paul shrugged and said, Im looking forward to your wedding. The room went silent for a moment. Then Paul patted Eric on the shoulder and left the room. Once he was gone, Crystals attention returned to her friend. She ran her hand through Nancys hair and said, Dont worry. Someday we will pay him back for this. You will see. But what about rk? Nancy asked. I dont want to lose my son. Silly girl. Crystalughed and said, Trust me. Things will work out. We have bigger things to worry about right now. The wedding is supposed to start in eighteen minutes. At least your dress is intact C Thank God for minor miracles. Im not in the mood anymore, Nancy whined. Seeing Nancy in the state that she was in made Crystal not want to get married either. After all, who was to say that Eric would not be just as abusive as Nathan or Paul? You cant back out now, Eric cut in. The whole world is watching us. What do you think people will say? I will not allow you to shame me in this manner. If need be, I will drag you down the aisle myself. You would look much more dignified if you walked down the aisle without the need for force, though. Dont you think so? He eyed Crystal. And that goes for you, too. So, I do not want to hear anything about you getting cold feet. Is that understood? Crystal sensed his determination, and she nodded dutifully. I really dont think Nancy is up to this, though. She used her eyes to plead with Eric. He was overbearing, but he had promised to do anything she asked. Fine. Eric sighed and said, Her wedding can only be canceled. Its not real, anyway. When Nancy heard that, she found an inner strength that she had been unaware of. She gritted her teeth and said, No! I will not be intimidated by Paul. He wants to stop me from getting married, but the likes of him wont scare me! Crystal was astonished to hear that. He said that I didnt deserve to be happy, Nancy continued. I must prove him wrong! She looked at Crystal and said, Help me get ready. I dont want to be held back by him anymore! Crystal gave her a curious look. Nancy, are you serious? Yes. Nancy nodded forcefully and said, I used to be a coward. I let him bully and humiliate me, but those days are over! Crystal smiled and said, I am d to hear that. I had hoped that you would find your backbone for rks sake, if not for your own. Nancy nodded and said, I have to set a good example to him and teach him to be strong and brave.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Eric looked at his watch and frowned. It was ten minutes till Go Time, and they needed a few minutes to get from the dressing room to the church. I dont know how youll get Nancy ready in time he said. Chapter 255: His Plan B Nancy turned to Eric and said, Go to the church. Tell them to dy the wedding by thirty minutes. Eric sighed and said, I can give you twenty minutes, but not a minute more. I will wait for you at the church. Dont bete! Once Eric was gone, Crystal shouted for the makeup artist. Do we have enough time? Nancy asked nervously. Im not sure, Crystal admitted. Your makeup is one thing, but what about your dress? It looked fine at first, but now I can see that it is not. Hand it over. Ill see if I can fix it? How? Nancy frowned and said, There are no needles or thread here Just give it to me! Crystal eximed. I need to wash it before I can even try to mend it. Nancy nodded, picked the dress off the floor, and handed it to Crystal. The garment stank of sex, and Crystal flinched when the scent hit her nostrils. Never mind that she told herself C You have smelled worse things in your life. She went to the sink and turned on the faucet. By the time the makeup artist had arrived, Nancy was waiting for her. The girl quickly washed Nancys face, and then she began to reapply her makeup. You will be better than ever, she said. You have nothing to worry about. Once the dress was clean, Crystal held it in front of her so that she could inspect the damage. It was worse than she had thought it was, but she had an idea. She picked up a pair of scissors and cut off the torn pieces. The zipper was broken too, but that was an easy fix. She untied the bow-chain belt and created shoulder straps with them. It took a lot of pins, but she was able to hide them, and in the end, she thought the dress looked better than ever. Crystal looked over at Nancy nervously. They needed to be at the church in five minutes. Thankfully, the makeup artist was finishing up. Quick! she eximed. Get dressed! Nancy frowned. But what about my hair? she asked. Indeed, her updo had been ruined, but it had settled, and it hung beautifully over her shoulders. You look perfect as you are, Crystal replied. Trust me. Noah is going to be pleased. Nancy blushed. Once she was dressed, Crystal covered her head with hazy gauze. Stepping back, she smiled and said, Nancy, you look like a princess that has been lost in a misty forest. **** Eric had arranged for a pianist to perform for their guests to stall the wedding, and while the man yed, a ballet dancer fluttered about in white dress. Then, as thest notes of thest song rang out, Crystal and Nancy appeared. For an instant, the beams of lights fell on the two brides, and everyone Oood and Ahhhd as they approached their grooms. Eric looked at the watch. They were five minuteste, but he paid for those minutes, not mind. The journalists began to take pictures all around them, and the church lit up like Main Street on Christmas Day. Crystal smiled. She looked as decent and elegant as a goddess. Nancy appeared gentle and sweet and innocent and attractive. The flower girls stood on either side of the aisle, and they scattered petals in front of brides. And when thedies reached the front, their grooms held their hands, knelt on one knee, and kissed the backs of their hands. Paul was sitting in one of the reserved seats. His legs were crossed, and there was a casual smile on his face. But that changed when Nancy came into view. His body stiffened, and his ire began to rise. Do not worry- he told himself- Calm down. You still have n B. Once the grooms stood back up, the bridal party took their ces, facing the crowd. Almost immediately, Nancy spotted Pauls disgruntled face, and all her fears returned. He red at her, and she quickly looked away. She thought C If I pretend that I dont know him, maybe he will leave me alone. She knew that it was wishful thinking, but it was all that she had to keep her fears at bay.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. **** Kitty-corner to the church, arge number of aircraft, tanks, and artillery had appeared from nowhere. A toon of soldiers was marching towards the church, and suddenly, the wedding didnt seem quite so interesting to the people outside. **** After reading from their Bibles, the priests prayed and then asked the two couples the routine questions: Eric Bush, do you take Crystal Smith to be yourwful wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day on, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live? And Noah Laurent, do you take Nancy Carter to be yourwful wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day on, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live? Eric looked at Crystal, and Noah looked at Nancy. Yes, I do, the two grooms answered at the same time. The audienceughed affectionately as the priests turned to the brides. Crystal Smith, do you take Eric Bush to be yourwful wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day on, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live? And Nancy Carter, do you take Noah Laurent to be yourwful wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day on, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live? Nancy and Noah gazed affectionately into each others eyes. She smiled and looked around, and she happened to spot Paul again. I will not be beaten by you! C she thought. Her oath was like a deration of war; she turned back to Noah, smiled, and said, I do. Unlike Nancy, Crystal seemed to be in a daze. Eric furrowed his brows and coughed. In a low voice, he said, Dear? When Crystal heard Erics voice, she finally came to herself. She took a deep breath and said, I do. The audience burst into thunderous apuse that echoed throughout the church. Once the cheering died down, one of the priests said, And now, please exchange your rings. Suddenly, Paul jumped to his feet and shouted, Hold on! Before the ritual ispleted, I have a slide show that I have prepared. Everyone thought the wedding had beening to an end, so they were quite curious to see what the slide show would be about. Around the church, there were a fewrge screens. Prior to the wedding, they had been showing wedding photos and videos, but nobody knew what Paul had in store for them. Chapter 256: Do You Like Present? The journalists adjusted their cameras so that they could get the best possible pictures. These were seasoned reporters, and when the slideshow began, even they were caught off guard. The images on the screen were pornographic. They were not expected or appropriate for a wedding. The audience gasped in unison. Even though the private parts had been blurred, the photographs left nothing to the imagination. Nancy was dumbfounded. She was the woman in the pictures! The slides kept changing, and each photograph was more incriminating than thest. Worst of all, the pictures had been carefully chosen to protect the identity of the man in them. The one thing that people could tell about the man, though, was that he was not Noah. Nancys mind went nk. She could not believe that Paul had humiliated her like this, and on her wedding day of all days. She looked in the direction of where Paul had been standing, but he was already gone. She was not surprised about that, though. After all, the sooner he left, the fewer questions he would have to answer. Paul had not left the building, though. He watched the chaos from an inconspicuous corner, and he sneered like a demon. Luckily, I had a n B C he thought C Do you like my present, Nancy Carter? **** Nancy felt like her head was in a fog. She had taken all that she could from Paul and then some. She was unable to bear the humiliation he had caused her. She looked around the room. Everyone was staring at her. They were making ugly faces, and they were whispering amongst themselves. Suddenly, the walls felt like they were closing in on her, and she cried out for help as her body started to fall to the ground. Luckily, Noah was there to catch her. There, there, he said as he kissed her forehead, Everything is going to be alright. It never will be, Nancy cried. Why is Paul humiliating me? Does he want to kill me? Or is he trying to force me tomit suicide? The shes from the reporters cameras were making her head hurt, and she thought C maybe Ill have a stroke C and the idea did not bother her as much as it should have C After all, things could not get any worse, could they? Some of the reporters were taking pictures of Nancy and Noah, but most of the cameras were pointed at the screens. They were all talking at once, and the church was in chaos. Upfront, a priest was shouting for everyone to settle down, but no one was paying him any mind. As Noah led Nancy to the lounge, Eric ordered his bodyguards to take control of the situation. The first thing that they did was cut the power, and all the screens went nk. As far as the big picture went, this was inconsequential. By then, the videos had gone viral, but not having to see them gave Nancy some peace of mind. Eric frowned. He hadnt anticipated Paul ruining his wedding. He turned as one of his guards tapped on his shoulder. What is it? he asked. The building is surrounded by military tanks, the guard replied. Military Tanks? Eric raised his eyebrows and said, It looks like he has finally arrived.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Where is Paul? Crystal asked anxiously. We need to find that bastard and make him pay. Eric sighed and said, I am afraid we have bigger fish to fry at the moment. What do you mean? Nathan is here. When Crystal heard that, she felt a cold chill run down her back, and her body broke out in gooseflesh. Hes here for me, she murmured. Isnt he? Before Eric could say anything, another guard burst through the crowd. He was out of breath, and his face was red. The first tank has entered the building, he gasped. Suddenly, cannon sts could be hearding from the foyer, and ck smoke: poured into the sanctuary. What is going on?!?! the priest shouted. Who dares to defile this house of God?!?! A second tank smashed through the outer wall, and this one did not stop in the foyer. It pressed on, barging into the sanctuary and smashing the pews under its treads. People were running around like chickens with their heads cut off. They were screaming and crying as they trampled one another. The smarter ones headed for the emergency exits, and when the doors opened, they set off rms. When the dumber ones heard the sirens, they saw what the smarter ones were up to, and they followed them, and it was not long before the church was mostly empty. The tank did not stop until it was inches away from Crystal. The priest was holding his Bible in his hand and screaming as he ran towards the door. Eric stopped the priest with a word, and as he turned his head, all the color drained from his face. My wedding is not over yet, Eric said. So, where are you going? The Priest muttered something unintelligible. His whole body was shaking. No doubt, he thought that this was the Armageddon that he had feared all his life. Suddenly, a toon of bodyguards flooded into the sanctuary, and they stationed themselves between Eric and the tank. They were all carrying submachine guns, but the guns looked like kids toyspared to the tanks cannon. Eric had Crystal, though, which meant that he still had the upper hand. She was in his arms, and Nathan would not do anything to jeopardize her life. Ive been waiting for you for a long time, Eric shouted. Unless you are a coward,e out. A minute passed, and when Nathan did note out, Eric motioned for the priest to carry on. The priest nodded and opened his Bible. Then, in a trembling voice, he said, Mr. Bush, do you take Miss Smith to be yourwfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part, ording to Gods holy ordinance? Eric smiled. Yes, I do. The priest turned to Crystal and said, Miss Smith, do you take Mr. Bush to be yourwfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part, ording to Gods holy ordinance? Crystal stared at the big tank. Her heart beat rhythmically in her chest, and it seemed to be getting louder and louder. Suddenly, the top of the tank opened, and Nathan appeared. There are fifty cannons outside the church, he said. You must have some inkling of what will happen if she marries you. Ericughed contemptibly. Fancy meeting you here. He took Crystals hand into his own and said, I was starting to think that you werent going to show up. Chapter 257: Do You Want To Kill Me? Nathan red at their hands, and the daggers that shot from his eyes cut deep into Crystals heart. Why is he here? she asked herself. C He must have known that nothing good coulde from barging in like this Remove your dirty hands from my woman, Nathan shouted. There were over a dozen guns aimed at Erics head, but they did not seem to faze him. Your woman? Eric scoffed. Good Sir, she is my wife! She didnt say, I do. Nathan chuckled and said, If yet she goes, I will let you live. Eric shrugged, Im not afraid of your tanks. However, you should look outside and see how the situation has changed. Nathan pulled out his radio and asked for an update, and as his second inmand gave him the report he had asked for, his face turned white. Tanks surrounded the church, but ck ops helicopters were hovering over them, and each one was prepared to drop a bomb on the vehicles below them. It was a Mexican Standoff. Except for the sirens, the sanctuary was silent, and for a while, it seemed that it would stay that way until finally, Crystal spoke up. She red at Nathan and said, Cant you just leave? I do not love you, and I do not want to be with you. You knew that, though, so why did you evene here? A tear ran down Nathans cheek. He looked Crystal in the eyes and said, Do you really not want to see me, or are you worried about my safety? **** Crystal felt a sudden inexplicable urge to go to Nathan, and her heart melted when he whispered her name. She knew better than to let her feelings show on her face, though. She shot icicles from her eyes into his, and in the coldest voice she could manage, she said, I told you to leave. Are you an idiot? What do you not understand? If you do not leave, I will kill you. Nathan revved the tanks engine. You are going to kill me? he scoffed. I would like to see you try. I cant believe that you came here and ruined my wedding! Crystal growled. Just leave. Havent you done enough damage to me? Eric tightened his grip on Crystals hand and said, Since he is here, we should ask him to participate in our wedding. He should at least have a ss of wine before he goes. Crystal looked indifferent, but she had already begun to worry. Eric was not an ordinary person, and she was worried that he had an ulterior motive for inviting Nathan to their wedding day. Suddenly, a bodyguard fell to the ground. And then another. And then two more. Crystal looked around, and she quickly discovered that there was gas seeping out of the flowers that adorned the church. Eric smiled gloomily and said, It seems that the toxic gas has begun to work. Nathans eyes began to droop as he inhaled the noxious gas, and his body began to feel weak. Are you poisoning everyone? Crystal asked. Its a dr*g that makes peoples limbs lose their strength, Eric replied. Its not harmful. He saw the worry on her face, and he chuckled. Dont worry. I already gave you the antidote. Of course, he and his bodyguards had also consumed the potion. Nathans hands began to shake, and even if he had his gun in hand, he wouldnt have had the strength to lift it. Using poison gas is despicable, Crystal remarked. Wasnt it banned at the Geneva Convention? It may have been, Eric admitted. But who the fuck cares? I certainly dont. After all, look at all the damage Nathan has done and how far he is willing to go to take you against your will. I am sure you can see that my action here today will save a lot of lives. Crystal sighed and said, You may be right, but hell juste after me again when he wakes up. Or do you n on killing him? I think that is a good idea. Eric smiled as he motioned for one of his bodyguards to give him a pistol. Didnt you say that you wanted to kill him? He checked to make sure that it was loaded, and then he handed it to Crystal. Crystals whole body shook. She wanted to shoot Eric in the head -I wish I could do it- she thought. Do you want me to kill him with one shot? she asked calmly. Or do you want him to suffer? Do it however you want, Eric whispered. Would it be okay if I just severely wounded him? Crystal asked. Then he will learn his lesson Thats fine. Eric chuckled and said, Be careful where you point that gun, though. I dont want you to shoot me identally. Crystal frowned and said, I dont know if I can do it. You can! He rubbed her back and said, He deserves it. After all, Helens miscarriage was his fault, and he makes her life a living Hell. Suddenly, Eric was as giddy as a child on Christmas morning. Do it! he squealed. Shoot him now, while he is vulnerable! Will you let him go after I shoot him? Of course. Crystals brow furrowed, and she said, If you lie to me, I will kill you! Eric smiled grimly. It is enough for me to see him suffer, he said. The main thing is that he gets it into his thick skull that you are mine, and he leaves us alone. Nathan nervously watched them as they casually discussed whether he would live or die. His life was in their hands, and he was shaking in his boots.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Crystal nced at Nathan, then she looked at Eric C and a wicked shark-like Cheshires grin appeared on her face. She is going to kill me C Nathan realized, and he used what was left of his strength to hold hisposure. If this was his time to die, he was determined to die with dignity. Unbeknownst to him, though, Crystal had not made up her mind yet. Things had really gone to shit, and he had done some very bad things to her, but there had been good times too, and those old memories made her hesitate. She would never love him again, but that did not necessarily mean that she wanted him dead. Nathan tried to catch her attention with her eyes. He wanted to hug her. He wanted to tell her how much he had missed her and how much it hurt not to have her by his side. Unfortunately, the cold expression on Crystals face was unreadable. Crystal walked over to the side of the tank, and she looked up at him. Nathan looked up at her. Do you really want to kill me? he asked. I dont want to, Crystal admitted. But you said that if I wanted to end our rtionship, I would have to kill you. And I told you that if I saw you again, I would kill you. Since you are here, I must assume that it is because you want to die, so who am I to deny you? Nathan sighed, and another tear rolled down his cheek. Do you really want to kill me? he asked again. His voice was hoarse and weak. I suppose that I do. Crystal raised the gun until it was pointed at Nathans head. Yeah, she said. I want to kill you. Your existence is my greatest misfortune! Then do it, Nathan whispered. Chapter 258: I Will Kill Myself The gun seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, and Crystals arms were trembling. Her face was flushed, and her forehead was damp with perspiration. She had thought that she could shoot him easily, but something was holding her back. Crystal wanted to turn around and point the gun at Eric. She felt like she was in a nightmare, and she wanted time to stop so that she could walk away from all of this. Nathan smiled weakly and said, If you are going to do it, do it. You have my blessing. I cannot live without you anyway. Crystals whole body began to shake, and she began to weep quietly. She turned to Eric. Im sorry, she whined. But Im not a killer Eric nodded encouragingly. He smiled and said, You can. I believe in you, you just need to believe in yourself. She cant do it! Nathanughed out loud. She is nothing but a chicken. Even in the state that I am in, I am an eaglepared to her. She is nothing but a garden variety prairie hen. Peck peck! Peck peck! I am not a chicken! Crystal roared as she turned and pointed the gun at Nathans chest. His eyes lit up as he realized his mistake C and then she pulled the trigger. Crystals eyes went wide. Had he not antagonized her, she never would have had the strength to pull the trigger. And now that the deed was done, she was deeply ashamed, and she prayed that he was not dead. The sound that the gun made in the cathedral was deafening, and as it echoed through the hallways, it seemed that it would go on forever. Nathan was not dead, though. The bullet struck his sternum, its path deviated, and then it lodged itself in his abdomen. That being said, the attack had shaken him to his core. Never in a million years would he have thought that she had it in her to shoot him. He looked down at the hole in his chest. It was seeping blood, and he put two fingers in the wound to stop the bleeding. It hurt like Hell, but he was determined not to let her see how much pain he was in. Eric sighed as he turned to look at Nathan. He said, Its a pity that I didnt hit your heart. It was a good shot. You must have a horseshoe up your ass. You are lucky to be alive. Anyway, you once shot me, so I guess we are even now. Eric wrapped his arms around Crystals waist, and he imprisoned her in his arms. You have avenged me, he said. For that, I thank you. Crystal red at him. She wanted to put the pistol into his mouth and force him to shut up! He waspletely oblivious to her thoughts, though. For the moment, he was more interested in what Nathan was going through. How are you feeling? Eric asked. Ill live, Nathan muttered absently. Despite the blood oozing out between his fingers, he looked like a man that didnt have a care in the world. Eric nodded to one of his guards and said, Bring him out. Crystal grasped his hand tightly and stared at the tank. He wont die, will he? Look at him, Eric cackled. He wont die. He pointed to Noah and said, Luckily, we have a doctor on hand. Crystals lips were pale, and she found it difficult to breathe C what with the smell of the poison in the air, that and the smoke, and the tangy scent of Nathans blood. She looked over at Nathan, and she felt sympathy for him. Eric cruelly pinched her jaw. The more you care about him, he hissed, the more tortured he will be in Mrs. Bush, we need to make something clear: You are married to me now, and that means that you belong to me. You are the devil, Crystal growled. Why did you make me shoot him? If I knew how cruel you are, I might not have been so quick to marry you! Eric was startled by Crystals candor, and by the time he had formed a response, it was toote. The guards had brought Nathan to him, and they were waiting for their next instruction. Nathans bleeding had increased, and he was fading in and out of consciousness. Crystals heart was beating extremely fast, and she was scared. Is he going to live? she asked. You promised me that he would live! He will live! Eric hissed. If I tell you a thing, you dont need to keep pestering me about it! Why do you care so much about this piece of shit anyway? At first, I thought that killing bothered you, but now I see that it is the thought of killing Nathan that bothers you?!?! Crystalposed herself. I dont like the idea of killing Nathan or anyone else. He isnt special in this regard. She denied her feelings for Nathan because she did not want it to be something that Eric couldter use against her. Anyways, she continued. You said that if I shot him, you would let him go. I promised to let him go, Eric admitted. But didnt I promise to let him leave Crystal frowned. What do you mean? Eric exined: When I said that I would let him go, I meant that I wouldnt kill him, which is fundamentally different from letting him leave the premises.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Fuck that! Crystal shouted. She pulled herself away from Eric and said, I am not going to y your word games. You knew what I meant, and you promised that you would do whatever I said. Now, if you do not fulfill your end of the bargain to my satisfaction C I wont finish this wedding, and you can go home alone for all I care! Just half an hour ago, our wedding was broadcast live worldwide, Eric said coldly, and dont forget that you signed the marriage agreementst night. The legalities areplete. This ceremony is nothing but a bunch of traditional nonsense. He spat on the ground in front of her. Legally, you are my wife, and I dont need you to say, I do! I will kill myself, Crystal threatened. Then kill yourself, Eric scoffed. But what will happen to your parents if you do? What about Nancy and rk? He smiled leisurely. And if you die, then Nathan will be the first one to follow after you. He smirked. How do you like them apples? he asked. Chapter 259: Stop Fighting Fine, then, Crystal growled. She red at Eric and said, If you insist on acting this way, our marriage will never be consummated C That, I guarantee! Erics pupils dted, and when he spoke, his voice was cold. You do not fulfill your obligations to me, I will noty a hand on you. Instead, it will be your family and friends that feel my wrath. You should think carefully about what you say next, because it maye back to haunt you. If you break your vows, then I can also break mine, and without me, what will happen to Nancy and rk or your ailing father? And Carlos? Crystals eyes went wide. What does any of this have to do with Carlos? Eric burst intoughter. I will give you time to think about that, he said. I am sure that you will figure out what Im talking about. **** In the lounge C Since Nancy and Noah had left the auditorium before Nathan made his attack on the cathedral, they had no idea about the chaos that had ensued after their departure. The newlyweds had a few drinks, and then he took her up to the room that they had reserved for the night. Once the door was closed behind them, Noah put Nancy on the bed. He was cool and calm, she was anxious and nervous. Its okay, Noah said. We can take it slow. He ran his fingers through her hair, and just as he went to kiss her, the phone rang. He picked it up, and Crystal was on the other end of the line. She said that there was an emergency and that they needed him in the sanctuary. Im on my way, he told her, and he hung up the phone. When Nancy heard that, she began to cry. Please, she whined. Dont leave me. With everything that had happened, she felt helpless and alone, and Noah was the rock that was keeping her anchored to reality. Noah sighed and said, Nancy, someone has been injured. I need to go. Ille back soon. Dont Noah frowned. I have to, he said, and he opened the door to leave. Before he could take even one step, though, Nancy had jumped out of bed, ran to him, and wrapped his arms around his waist. Just stay with me for a while, she begged. If you stay for ten minutes, or even just five, then I will be okay. Please, will you stay? She was afraid that if he left her alone, she would die. At this point, she did not even care about rk, let alone some stranger in the sanctuary. Suddenly, the wardrobe opened, and Paul stepped out. Noah and Nancy werepletely gobsmacked. Bravo! Paul began to p. There was a wicked grin on his face. Behold! The great wh*re of Babylon C the Mother of prostitutes and her bastard lover! The sight of Paul, and the sound of his mocking them, caused Nancy to tremble. You are an abomination on this earth, Paul continued, a subus whose appetite knows no bounds C and by tomorrow morning, the entire world will see you for what you truly are. Nancy recognized his words from the Book of Revtions, and they terrified her. What are you doing here? she cried. Please, get out of here! Noah looked at Paul, and then at Nancy, and for a second, she was sure that he was going to stand up for her. Thus, it felt like her world was crashing in on her when he walked towards the door instead. Look at that! Paulughed. Even he doesnt want anything to do with you. As Noah passed Paul, though, he punched him in the jaw. Noah had been fighting since he was a child, so he was strong, and his fists were like iron. The force of his attack almost shattered Pauls bones; he swayed backward, and it looked like he would regain his bnce, but then Noah pushed him, and he fell hard on his ass. Oomph! Paul groaned. Why did you have to go and do that? Noah hovered over him. His face was grim and cold. I have had enough of you, he said. Now that Nancy is my wife, I will no longer stand by and let you continue to mistreat her. Nancy was terrified. She had seen Paul at his worst, and she knew what he was capable of. Stop, she yelled. Noah, stop! You cant beat himContent rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Noah turned and looked at her in dismay. He could not believe that she didnt believe in him. Ive got this, he whispered. Youll see. While he was distracted, though, Pauls leg shot up, and his shoe nted itself in his groin. All the air burst out from his lungs, and he keeled over. Paul tried to punch Noah, but he blocked it andnded a sessful counterpunch. As they fought, Nancy shrank into the bed and tried her best to stay out of harms way. Noah was a good fighter, but Pauls cheap shot had given him the upper hand, and it quickly became apparent who the winner would be. Finally, Nancy crawled to the end of the bed, and in the act of desperation, she grabbed Pauls arm. Please! she begged. Stop fighting! Youre killing him! If I killed him, would you feel sad? he asked. Of course, I would, she shouted. He is my husband! Pauls face darkened, and he shoved Nancy away with all his strength. Then he turned his attention back to Noah, and he began to wail on him mercilessly with his fists. Noah gasped. He was quickly losing his strength, and the will to fight had long since left him. Paul hit him in the mouth, and two teeth flew across the room. Blood seeped from his lips and streamed down his chin. Noah fell backward, and he hit his head on the floor, and if it were not for Paul kicking him in the ribs, he might have passed out, maybe forever. He is going to kill me C Noah realized, and with the amount of pain he was in, he almost didnt care. From somewhere far, far away, though, he thought he could hear Nancy begging for his life. His eyes focused on Pauls right leg, and he thought, I am not going to die like this. Chapter 260: Her Strong Prayer Noah grabbed Pauls ankle, and he pulled it towards him as hard as he could. It was totally unexpected, and as Paul fell t on his ass, he shrieked in pain. His tailbone was shattered. For the first time in her life, Nancys reflexes were quick. She grabbed themp on the bedside table and smashed the base against the back of Pauls head, and he went down like a sack of bricks. Then she crawled off the bed and went to sit with Noah. She cradled him in her arms and asked him if he was okay. Noah did not reply. He was severely injured. His face was bruised and puffy, and there was congealed blood under his nose and mouth. She ran her hands through his hair as he flickered in and out of consciousness, and she wept over him. There, there, she cried. Everything will be alright. Beside them, Paul slowly opened his eyes, and when he saw that he was not being watched, he quietly got to his feet. First, he looked down at Nancy scornfully. Then he lifted his foot and stomped on Noahs chest as hard as he could. Thats what you get! he roared. There was a satisfying crunch as Noahs ribs broke and popped out of his chest. Nancy was stunned. Paul she gasped. You This was beyond anything that she would have guessed he was capable of. Paul nudged Noah with his foot, then he looked at Nancy and said, You must be disappointed by such a miserable failure. Can you believe that he actually thought he could beat me?!?! Let him go! Nancy wailed. He is innocent! No one is innocent, Paul scoffed. Nancy grabbed Pauls leg, and she tried to pull him away, but he was like a rock. He could not be moved. Finally, in desperation, she grabbed themp that she had hit him with before, but he justughed and said, Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice Ah, who are we kidding? I will not be fooled again. You stupid bitch. It would be best if you had killed me when you had the chance. Now your little boy toy is going to pay for your mistake with his life! Paul stomped on Noahs chest again, and two more shattered ribs popped out. Nancy swung themp with all her strength, and he caught it. Then, he pped her across the face with his free hand, and she let go of her weapon. The force of the blow sent her reeling. Her thighs hit the bed, and she fell backward into it. Paul kicked Noah in the head, and he did not even make a peep. This frightened Nancy, and when she sat up, she realized that she could not tell if he was breathing. She begged Paul to stop, but she might have well saved her breath.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Finally, when it seemed that Noah was gone, Paul turned his attention back to Nancy. He walked towards the bed, and she backed away from his approach. She knew that there was no escape for her, but her brain continued to look for a way out. She sped her hands tightly in front of her chest as if she were getting ready to pray. What do you want? she asked. If you are going to kill me, then kill me. Just dont make me suffer the way that you did, Noah She closed her eyes in preparation for death. In her head, she was reciting Psalm 23 C Ye, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil She felt his scorching breath on her face and his spittle on his cheek, but she refused to open her eyes. She just kept on praying C For thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, thyfort me Paul looked at her in a weird way, as if it were his first time seeing her. There was a glow about her, and he suddenly realized that no matter what he did, he would never again control her. She began to mutter something, and he leaned in so that he could make out what she was saying. Nancy was surprised that she was still alive, but she still refused to open her eyes. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies. She prayed in a whisper. Thou anointed my head with oil. Paul recoiled from her words. He suddenly felt guilty over everything that he had done, but before he could atone for his sins, the demon inside him wed its way to the surface. Woman, he hissed. Is this how you want to die, sniveling like a dog to an impotent God? He sneered like a devil, and his eyes practically glowed red; they were that bloodshot. Had Nancy opened her eyes, she might have been so frightened that she wet herself. She did not open her eyes, though. She squeezed her eyes shut as tightly as she could, and as she continued to pray, her voice grew louder. And my cup ruh over! Then, as she opened her eyes, Pauls inner demon fled, and his heart softened towards her. His hands fell to his sides. He got off the bed, turned, and left the room. Nancy knew that this was not the end, but she thanked God for this: Her first victory. She sat there for a moment, basking in the silence, and then she remembered Noah. **** A bomb fell from one of the helicopters gaping mouths. Itnded beside one of the tanks, and then it began to hiss. Before long, poisoned gas began to billow out of it. All around the cathedral, other bombs just like this one were being dropped, and soon the fog on the ground was so thick that you could not see through it. Vic looked around frantically. It was not in him to give up or surrender, but the battle was lost. His boss had been captured, and there was nothing left for him to do but to call for a retreat. Chapter 261: Let Him Starve Nancy felt helpless. She worried about Noah constantly, but other than keeping himfortable, there was nothing that she could do to help him. After the wedding, both couples had settled down in a castle in Kuerto, and they had each chosen a room for themselves on the second floor. Noah, who was still barely holding on, was given the room closest to the bathroom. They had brought Nathan with them as well, but he was put in the servants quarters on the main level. A week had passed since the ceremony, and both men had shown signs that their conditions were improving, but thedies were still nervous. The doctor had said that neither of them waspletely out of the woods yet. In the kitchen, Nancy was brewing turkey stock from the bones that had been saved from Thanksgiving dinner. She scooped some out with a spoon, tasted it, and added some more pepper. Crystal was leaning on the counter beside her, but for a long time, neither had spoken. After taking a second taste, Nancy began to weep quietly. Crystal came over, wrapped an arm around her, and said, There, there. Everything will be alright. Youll see. You cant know that, Nancy snapped. Even the doctors dont. She pulled away from Crystal and said, I dont know why Im even bothering with this broth. Its not like it will make a difference Crystal returned to Nancys side. She touched her arm and said, Dont give up hope. Its not over yet. And no matter what happens, you are not alone. We will get through this together. Nancy wiped the tears from her eyes and rposed herself. She forced a smile and said, I appreciate that, but I cannot always rely on you. I have to learn to face my problems and handle them on my own. But what about Paul? What about Paul? Nancy scoffed. I have nothing to lose, so why should I be afraid of him? Nancy! Crystals eyes went wide, and she said, You dont need to put up a false front; not around me at least Nancy nodded. Crystal, Im fine. Why dont you let me support you this time? Since you dont love Eric, I do not think it will work between you, and I think you know that as well as I do. So, what are you going to do? I dont know, Crystal admitted. Nancy was right. She could not go to Erics bed, but up until now, she had refused to dwell on the matter. All she could think about was Nathan. I really dont know, she said again. Nancy drained the stock into a smaller pot, and then shedled the broth into two bowls. She offered one to her friend and said, Do you want to feed Nathan? Crystal shook her head sadly. I had better not, she replied. Eric has eyes everywhere. If he found out that I had been in Nathans room, there is no telling what he would do Nancy sighed and said, I understand. Then she summoned a servant to do the task. Once the bowl was on its way to the servants quarters, she turned back to Crystal. What are you going to do now? she asked. I need to find a way to get in touch with Nathans people so that they can rescue him. She was thinking about Vic when she said this. Noah was lying in bed. His whole body was bound and bandaged, but he had finally regained consciousness. He would still need a plethora of surgeries, but now that he was awake, his chances of surviving had increased tenfold. He looked up as the door opened, and when he saw Nancy, he smiled. Nancy smiled back nervously. Ive brought you some turkey broth, she said. It will help with your recovery. Noah tried to sit up, and when she saw that, she rushed to his side and said, Dont move. You will only make things worse. I can help you if you want something. Noah nodded and rxed. Im sorry about what happened, Nancy said as she fed him a spoonful of broth. It was all my fault. I guess what they say is true: No good deeds go unpunished Its not your fault. I knew what I was getting into. And besides, a Gentleman has to stand up for a damsel in distress. Nancy leaned over and kissed his forehead, and then she offered him another spoon full of broth. He had a few more bites, and then he said that he had had about as much as his stomach could handle. Can we try againter? Nancy asked. I would like that, Noah replied. But I would like to get some rest now. Just make sure that you wake up C Nancy thought. I will stay by your side for a while, she said. That way, if you wake up needing anything, you wont have to try to yell for help. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, Crystal had been watching them from the doorway. She had seen the way that Noah looked at Nancy, and she could tell that he was very much in love with her. Unfortunately, she was not overly optimistic about their rtionship. They have not known each other long enough to make it work C she thought dismally. She would not say anything about this to her friend, though. She wished her friend all the happiness in the world. Crystal had been thinking about knocking, but when she heard Noah say that he wanted some rest, she decided to leave the couple alone instead. She crept back downstairs as quietly as she could, and when she went into the kitchen, there was a servant anxiously waiting for her. What is the matter? she asked.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. The gentleman will not eat, the servant replied. And he beat the servant that tried to feed him! Then let him starve, Crystal replied. I am sure that the gentleman will be more civilized after having missed a meal or three. But he keeps calling your name, and he wants to get out of bed. What is wrong with you people? Crystal growled. In his weakened state, you should have no problem keeping him under your control! Before the servant could reply, another appeared. This ones face was white, and she was sweating profusely. Now what? Crystal shouted. Chapter 262: Are You Reluctant? The servant dropped her eyes, and it seemed that she had been struck dumb. Well? Crystal hissed. Out with it, or away with you! M-M-Miss S-Smith, the servant stammered. The g-gentleman has been p-pounding on his w-wounds with his f-fists. Do I have to do everything myself? Crystal growled. She gave the servants a dirty look, and then she stormed off in the direction of the servants quarters. I should just let him die, she muttered. After all the trouble we went to in saving his life, this is how he shows his gratitude?!?! When she reached the room that he had been recovering in, she pushed open the door and barged in. The interior smelled of blood, bandages, antiseptics, and perspiration. Crystals nose crinkled in disgust. She looked around the room and took note of each servants: frightened face, and then she turned to face Nathan. He was hunched over in bed, and his thin white robe was stained with blood. His hair was sopping wet, and his face looked pale. She red at him for a moment, and then, in the calmest voice she could manage, she asked, What seems to be the problem, Mr. Davis? She knew that he hated it when she addressed him in this formal way, but this time it seemed like he didnt even notice the slight. Youve finallye, Nathan replied, I knew that if I made enough of a ruckus, you would. He puckered his chapped lips and blew her a kiss. Why didnt you kill me? Was it because you still love me? He smiled coldly and asked, Are you reluctant?Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Crystal smirked and said, Those are big words for such a little man. Nathans face turned red as his ire began to rise. He tried to stand, but hecked the strength, and he fell back into the bed. If I am wrong, he hissed, you would have killed me. Isnt that true? Crystalughed. Killing you would have been a mercy, like putting an old dog out of his misery. The reason I did not kill you is that I wanted to make you suffer like you made me suffer. I want to find new and exciting ways to torture you each and every day. She walked over and pressed her thumb into his wound. Do you see? she asked. The student has finally be the master. Suddenly, Nathan grabbed her hand and pulled her thumb deeper into the hole in his chest. Crystal was aghast. So far, this had been a game- a charade C but Nathan was raising the stakes. She gasped. What are you doing? What do you think Im doing? He pulled her thumb deeper into the wound until her palm was flush against his chest. She could feel his sternum and the pressure of his blood as it seeped out around her digit. She gagged, and she was sure that she was going to be sick. Nathan snickered. Does it hurt you to hurt me? he asked. Crystal yanked her hand away from him, and she held it in front of her body as if it had gone gangrene, and she could not bear to look at it. Does it hurt you to hurt me? he asked again. Hell no! Crystal sneered. Youre crazy! You know that, dont you? When I look at you, I dont even know who Im talking to from one minute to the next. Are you Nathan, or are you Gerald, or am I talking to some other fucked up personality that I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting? These words struck Nathan like a p across the face. His color drained away, as did his will to fight C or so it seemed. Crystal smiled, confident that she had won this round. She did not like having to use his schizophrenia against him, but she had been desperate. She looked him in the eyes and said, If I call for the doctor, will you allow him to treat your wounds? I would hate for you to die before our games are through Nathan nodded sheepishly, and Crystal sent one of the servants to fetch the doctor. While she was distracted, though, he took her hand and kissed it. Crystal felt his lips on her skin, and her mind went nk for a second. As soon as she caught her breath, though, she snarled and pulled her hand away. What the fuck was that? she shouted. Nathan smiled coldly. I look forward to being tortured by you, he replied. If you spent the rest of your life torturing me, I would never ask for anything ever again. Crystal rolled her eyes and said, Well see if I cant change your tune. Nathan smiled. I wee whatever tune you choose to y. He made another grab for her hand, but this time she saw iting and pulled away in time. Crystal gave him a hard look, and then she turned to leave. Before she made it to the door, though, he called her back. Dont you want to torture me a bit before you leave? he asked. Can you at least tell me what youve got nned? What a scoundrel C thought Crystal. She could not think of a single thing to say that would put him in his ce, but then she remembered how Paul had tortured Nancy, and her face lit up. She turned around and said, Have patience. Once Eric returns, he and I will make love, and I will force you to watch. How does that sound? Suddenly, Nathan began to feel dizzy. His heartbeat increased. He began to perspire, and it felt like the room was closing in on him. He had a panic attack. Nathan could tolerate all manner of torture, but this was beyond anything he could endure. As if on cue, one of the servants entered the room and announced that Eric had returned. Will you go to him? she asked. Im on my way, Crystal replied. Meanwhile, please ensure that he doesnt self-harm. Bind his wrists to the bed if you need to. Chapter 263: Go Make Me Something To Eat Eric was sitting on the sofa in the living room. His feet were on the coffee table, and he was watching a surveince recording that had been taken from the room Nathan was upying. He was watching Crystals performance, and so far, he was pleased with what he had seen, that is until he saw the kiss that Nathan had given her. His cold eyes filled with anger, and when he heard Crystaling down the stairs, he turned and said, I saw the kiss. Do you mind telling me what that was about? Crystals face turned red from shame, and she said, He caught me off guard. It wont happen again. It had better not! Eric growled. He abruptly got up from the sofa, strode towards her, and picked her up. He threw her over his shoulder, and then he carried her into the bathroom. What are you going to do? Crystal cried. Youll see, Eric replied ominously. Once he had the door shut behind them, he sat her on the toilet, and he used a wet cloth to scrub away Nathans kiss from her hand. He was using too much force, though, and when Crystal could no longer stand the pain, she begged him to let her wash her own hand. When Eric heard that, he added soap to the cloth and scrubbed even more fiercely than before. Please, Crystal whined. You are scraping the skin right off me! It will grow back, Eric said cruelly. You are my wife, and nobody elses lips should be touching your skin! And if you think this is bad, wait until you see what I do to him! Crystal sighed without any furtherint. Then, after having scrubbed her dermis down to her hypodermis, he finally let up. Then he gently rinsed the back of her hand off with warm water, towel-dried it, and tenderly kissed the ce that had so offended him. There, he said. Clean te.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. What about every other ce that has been kissed by men that are not you? Crystal asked nervously. Those dont matter, Eric exined. We were not married at the time. Anyway, what do you think we should do to punish Nathan? If you dont have any better ideas, I think I will cut out his tongue and soak it in wine! Crystal was taken aback. How dare you?!?! I just do. Eric chuckled. Is there a problem? Crystal sighed and said, I dont know. Can I think about it for a while? Why not? Eric patted her on the bottom and said, In the meantime, why dont you be a good little woman and get me my dinner? Crystal was speechless. She did not appreciate the way he had spoken to her, but she did not want to rock the boat. Eric patted her on the bottom again. Dont just stand there lollygagging, he said. Im hungry. Go make me something to eat! Crystal nodded wordlessly, turned towards the kitchen, and walked away. Eric called after her: Call me when youre done. And then he returned to the sofa and picked up his newspaper. Nancy was in the kitchen, and when she saw Crystal, she said, I heard what happened. Did Nathan eventually eat? Crystal shook her head. It doesnt matter, though. When he gets hungry enough, he will eat. Anyway, since you are here, can you help me cook supper? Eric is hungry, but you know what a bad cook I am Sure. Nancy smiled and suggested that they use the turkey broth and make a soup. Then, while she was instructing Crystal on how to make the soup, she made a plethora of other dishes on her own. The meal took an hour to make, and when it was finished, the servantsid it out on a table in Nathans room. This seemed an odd choice for a ce to eat, but this is where Eric wanted everyone to eat, and he was the master of the house. When Nathan saw the servants setting up the meal, though, he just turned away, and he refused any of the food that was offered to him. Then, when he heard that Crystal had prepared the meal, he reconsidered his resistance. Did she make this all especially for me? C he wondered. If so, then he would eat C How could I not? Once the food wasid out, the servants filled the sses with wine and lit the candles. After that, they called for their master. Crystal and Nancy walked into the room first, and Eric followed behind them. When Nathan saw his enemy, his pupils dted, and he felt the temperature drop. Crystal refused to look at Nathan. She just sat at the table and tried to keep to herself. She had not realized that Eric could be this cruel. The meal was delicious, but Crystal had lost her appetite. Eric smiled up at her after having a couple of bites and said, Darling, I didnt know that you were such a great cook! Crystal was speechless. Eric touched her hand and said, Darling, I want a piece of beef. Dont you have hands? Crystal muttered. Im not your mother Eric frowned. Crystal tried to control herself. She forced herself to smile, and as she served him three slices of beef, she said, My love, I was only having a bit of fun. You should have seen the look on your face, though. After hed had a bite, she asked him if he liked it. Everything you give me is delicious, he replied. Keep iting. Crystal wanted to poke him in the face with her fork. Eric took her hand suddenly. He stroked it and kissed it, and then he said, In the future, though, you can leave the cooking to the servants. Crystal was speechless. What is he up to? C she wondered. Eric cut a piece of pork that was in his ce and brought it to his mouth. Then, at thest minute, he changed his course and offered the meat to Crystal. Not knowing what else to do, Crystal opened her mouth and epted the food. Her cheeks turned red from embarrassment, though. She did not like it when he treated her like a helpless child. Chapter 264: You Will Be My Queen Nancy was shocked by Crystal and Erics behavior. She knew how Crystal felt about him, so it did not make sense that she was letting him feed her. Eric smiled as Crystal chewed. Do you like it, Darling? Its not bad, Crystal replied. But can you please not call me that? Alright, Eric thought for a while, and then he said, You can be My Little Pretty! Now get me a bowl of soup, My Little Pretty! Crystal gazed at her fork on the table. I dont like that either, she grumbled. Be my baby, be my baby, Eric sang. It was an old Phil Spector song that had been made popr by The Rtes in 1963. Will you be My Little Baby? Dont call me that either, Crystal hissed. People will think that I am your child. Eric chuckled. My little princess, if you please? What is wrong with you? Crystal hissed. Whats wrong, My Little Princess? He touched her chin yfully and said, A little Princess depends on her parents. The Queen depends on herself, and the Princess depends on her husband From now on, you will be My Little Princess. Crystal raised her eyebrows. What if I want to be a Queen? She asked. Then you will be My Queen. Fine. Crystal folded her arms across her chest and said, Call me what you want, just dont call mete for dinner. I am famished. Nathan stared at the cozy couple. Since he had been shot in the abdomen, he had been having trouble holding down his food, but with all this food on the table, the scents were driving him crazy with hunger. His stomach growled, and when Eric heard it, he seemed to remember Nathan suddenly, and he said, Oh, I forgot about Master Davis. I dont think that he has eaten anything yet. Nancy stood up and said, Should we serve him some food? Maybeter, Ericughed. Then he turned to Crystal and said, Queen, feed me more meat. Crystal nodded, and then she began to feed him patiently. With the smell of food in the room and the sound of Nathans stomach from time to time, Eric seemed to be in a good mood. In contrast, Nathan had begun to withdraw. He looked ill, but Crystal could see strength in his eyes. It was a power fueled by hate. If he gets the chance to kill Eric, he will do it C Crystal realized. Nancy was eating quietly, and she was doing her best to keep to herself, but when her phone rang, everyone turned to stare at her. Eric glowered. He did not approve of cell phones at the table. At first, she ignored the phone, but it kept ringing, and Eric told her to answer it. When Nancy pulled her phone out of her pocket, she saw that the call wasing from her father. She epted it and said, Daddy, I wasnt expecting this call. Is everything alright? Is this Miss Carter? asked the voice on the other end of the line. It was not her father. It wasnt even a man. Uh, hello. Who are you? Never mind that, the woman replied. Your father, Mr. Carter, has been in a car ident. We found his mobile phone in his pocket and called you. Are you his daughter? Nancy felt like she had been punched in the gut. Suddenly, she found it difficult to breathe, and she could not process the words that she was hearing. The room seemed to be spinning, and she had to grip the table to prevent herself from falling out of her chair. Crystal could see that something was wrong. She put her hand on her friends arm and said, Nancy? What happened? Is everything alright? Its my Dad Nancy murmured. She passed the phone over to Crystal and said, You talk to them. As soon as Crystal was done talking on the phone, she said, Dont worry, your father is not dead. Nancys eyes lit up. Really? That was the Seattle police department, they said that your father has been sent to the hospital. He is safe now. And everything is fine? Not quite, Crystal admitted. He is in aa, and he might be paralyzed from the waist down. Why was he in Seattle? Eric asked. Nancy sighed and said, He was there for work The police think the ident was caused because her father was distracted, Crystal exined. There was a newspaper in the car, and there was an article about her and her mother on the front page. Nancy frowned. What do my problems have to do with my mother? she asked. I also think its weird, Eric said. Dont worry. I will have one of my servants book our tickets to Seattle, and Crystal can have a copy of the newspaper faxed to the castle ASAP. Crystal smiled. Thank you for helping my friend book a ne ticket. Whats the fax number here? Eric leaned over to whisper in her ear. I can tell you, he said. But how will you reward me?Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Will a kiss suffice? Erics eyes lit up, and he smiled wickedly. I want a tongue kiss. Crystal felt her body tense up. She thought C But I dont even want a peck. Eric was staring at her gloomily. He had hoped that once they were married, she would loosen up. By now, he had thought that he would be fucking her, but she still balked at the thought of a little bit of tongue action. He wanted to force her the way that Paul had forced Nancy, but he was afraid of Crystals temper, and he knew that it would give Nathan a measure of satisfaction to see her refuse him. What am I going to do? C he worried. Suddenly, Eric remembered that the ball was in his court. I am going to touch you now, he whispered. And if you resist me, I will not help your friend. Eric cupped Crystals left breast with his right hand, and he was stunned when she pushed it away. How dare you? he growled. I will not allow you to take your liberties with me! she hissed. If you do not help Nancy, then so be it. I can figure out a way to help her without you. I am not some helpless woman. I dont need you. The reason I came here was in part to get away from you, or did you forget that. As a matter of fact, he had forgotten that. Eric struggled to speak, but nothing came out of his mouth, and when Crystal walked away from the table, there was nothing that he could do to stop her. Chapter 265: A Man Cannot Serve Two Masters It was not hard for Crystal to get the castles fax number. After all, most of the servants knew it, and after making a few calls, she had tickets booked for an eight oclock flight to Seattle and a copy of the newspaper in her hands.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. On the front page, in bold letters, were these thirteen words: AND THE AWARD FOR THE MOST UNFAITHFUL WOMAN OF THE YEAR GOES TO: Beneath that, there were a series of indecent images. All of Nancy and Pauls private parts had been censored, but there was no mistaking that the main person in the images was Nancy. Along with these photos, there were others with Nancy and her mother. Nancy was sitting beside Crystal, and she traced the subtitle with her index finger and cringed. It said: Like Mother, Like Daughter ording to the newspaper, a year ago, her mother had an affair with a married man, and they fled the country together. How could this happen? Nancy shook her head, I never knew I always thought that my parents divorce was over a personality sh. My Dad loved my Mom so much, and he gave up everything for her. I cant believe that she dared to treat him like this Dont be so hard on her, Crystal said. She is still your mother, and you dont know her side of the story. Dont condemn her until youve talked to her. Youre right. Nancy sighed and said, This is all Pauls fault. He said that he would ruin me But it never urred to me that he might alsoe after my parents She had never hated anyone as much as she hated Paul at that moment. Coincidentally, half a mile away, Paul was sitting in a pub reading the exact same article. Once he was done with it, he pulled out his phone to check if he had missed any calls. He had not. He frowned for a minute, and then he chugged the rest of his beer. A week had passed since the wedding, and he had expected to hear from Nancy by now. He sent a text message to Eric: Is Nancy with you? Is she alright? Shes fine, Eric replied, and as if to prove the point, he sent Paul a picture of Nancy cooking turkey broth. He glowered at the image for a while. Nancy looked particrly kind and calm, as if she didnt have a care in the world. Why havent you called yet? he muttered. He had paid his servants to nt copies of the paper all over the castle where Nancy was staying. Unbeknownst to him, though, Erics servants had been quietly cleaning them up and incinerating them. **** Nathanswyer, Mr. Carter, was on a business trip in Seattle, and when he saw the newspaper featuring Nancy and her mother, he went into a rage. He was so angry that he drove to the airport immediately. Unfortunately, because he was in such an emotional state, he got into a car ident. **** Michelle snuck up behind Paul and wrapped her arms around his waist. Youve spent an awfully long time staring at your phone, she said. Whats up? It seems like your phone hasnt left your hand in a week Paul grunted but said nothing. Later that night, it was the same, and Michelle did everything that she could to get his attention. Im not used to you acting like this, she told him. And youre starting to scare me. Michelle had seen him ignore Nancy, and she had known what that meant. Now she knew how it must have hurt Nancy, and she had a small measure of guilt. She said his name, and when he didnt reply, she took a step backward and crossed her arms over her breasts. Fine, she said. But if youre going to act this way, I am leaving! Leaving? Paul turned around abruptly. Where are you going? To a ce where you will never find me, Michelle hissed. Paul scowled. She had disappeared once before, so he knew what she was capable of. His brows furrowed, and he said, No. I will not allow you to leave. I just want to go Michelle whined. I will never allow you to leave me again, Paul solemnly vowed. Really? Michelle scoffed. I dont think you need me that much anyway. What? Paul frowned. Who told you that? Does it matter? Michelle shrugged. You are not as good to me as you used to be. Paul walked over to her and picked her up. I do want you, he told her. Michelle sighed and said, A man cannot serve two masters. It says so in the Bible. What do you mean? Paul was confused by her words. If you want me, she exined, you can only have eyes for me. Okay. Paulughed softly and said, I only have eyes for you. Michelle let her arms swing low, and she stroked his manh**d eagerly. Once she was sure that she had his full attention, she said, Then I dont want to see you moping and fantasizing about Nancy all day. Do you hear me? It is pathetic! Are you a man, or are you a dog? I am a man! Paul exined angrily. Then act like a man, Michelle moaned. And she cupped his genitals in the palm of her hand. Lately, she had sensed that he had lost interest in her, and she hoped to be able to resurrect his lust for her with her hand. But he did not rise to the asion. Instead, his manh**d remained limp in his pants. This is not a good sign C Michelle thought. Typically, Paul let his manh**d do all his thinking for him, and it took little more than a stiff breeze to rouse his attention. Now, though, nothing she did seemed to make a difference. Eventually, Paul pinched her jaw and kissed her. Then he stepped away from her and said, Wait for me. Then he went into the next room. When he came back, he had a condom in his hands. Chapter 266: This Is Too Much Of A Coincidence Michelle red at the condom in Pauls hands. Whats that for? she asked. Paul smirked. With a bit of protection, I think I might be able to manage an erection. I dont want this! Michelle eximed. Arent we trying to have a baby?!?! Paul sighed and said, I dont like it either. But not enough time has passed since your miscarriage. It is too soon to try again. But I want a baby, Michelle whined. And you will get one, Paul told her. You need to be patient, though. Fine, she humped. It will be as you say. Michelle lifted her skirt andy on the bed, seducing Paul with her thighs and their promises. What are you waiting for? She asked. Come on She was exceptionally good at seducing men, and most men could not resist her charm. She was the opposite of Nancy, who was conservative and boring. Pauls pupils dted, and a predatory look graced his face. Michelle threw the skirt over his head. Im waiting for you, sheughed. Paul gripped her panties with his teeth, but just as he began to pull them down her legs, his phone rang, and he froze. Almost immediately, his interest in sex disappeared. He slipped out from under her dress and grabbed his phone. It was Nancy. Paul pressed the hang-up button indifferently, knowing that she would call again. Sure enough, a moment passed, and the phone rang again. Paul picked it up, and before Nancy could say anything, he said, I cant talk right now. I am swamped. You bastard! Nancy shouted. You sent those pictures. Didnt you? Me? Paul asked innocently. Why, I have never been so insulted. Have you considered that the pictures were taken by one of the many reporters that were on hand? If you want to me anyone, maybe you should me Eric. After all, he was the one that invited everyone The line went quiet for a long time after Paul finished speaking, and for a minute, he thought that they had been disconnected. Finally, Nancy said, Fine. Even if you didnt submit the pictures, I know that you were responsible for the show. If it were not for you, there would not have been anything to report on. Will you admit to that at least? If I do, then what? Then I will hate you forever! My poor na?ve child. Paul chuckled.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. What is hate? Isnt it true that you cannot hate something unless you first love it? Love. Hate. They are two sides to a coin. Michelle could hear Nancys voice, and the longer Paul talked to her, the angrier she became, and she became more aggressive than ever. Michelle took off all her clothes, and as she rubbed her naked body against Paul, she moaned. Im so hot Paul pushed her away. Wait. Be patient. No, I want you now I am so wet **** When Nancy heard Michelles voice, she felt like she had been struck by lightning, and she hung up the phone. She felt stupid. Why cant I stop thinking about Paul? C she asked herself C After all, he is a piece of shit, an abusive husband, and a deadbeat dad! Crystal patted her shoulder. What do you want to do? she wondered. Nancy thought about it for a moment, and then she said, Since he cares so much about Michelle, I will ruin her. Then what? Then I will kill myself. Nancy rolled her eyes. Isnt that obvious? she asked. Crystal was slightly surprised. Nancy, tell me that you are kidding. Im not. Nancy closed her eyes to keep the pain in. I couldnt do it before. I was too much of a coward. But I am stronger now. Before Crystal could say anything about that, Nancys phone rang. It was Paul. Nancy epted the call but said nothing. Are you dering war on me? he asked. Youll see, Nancy replied ominously. I didnt call to beg you to take me back if that is what you were thinking. Paul was taken aback. That is exactly what he had been thinking. A few seconds passed, and then he said, You should be begging me to take you back. You would be if you knew what was good for you. I already begged you, Nancy shouted. How much good did that do? I still dont even know what you want from me, but I dont care. Do you know what I want from you? To be free of you. If I begged you, would you let me go? No, you would not. So, why should I pointlessly degrade myself? Shut up! Paul roared, cutting her off mid-sentence. Nancy, you are the most annoying person on this God-forsaken. Did you know that? I hope I annoy the shit out of you, Nancy replied. And Paul if my Dad has any problems, you had better start sleeping with one eye open. If anything happens to him, I might burn down your vi! Paul frowned. Whats wrong with your father? Dont y stupid. I know what you did! Oh, tell me. What did I do? My father was distraught about what he read in the newspapers, and it caused him to get into a car ident. That is a bit of a stretch, Paul argued. Your old man was a bad driver, and bad drivers get into idents. So you are lucky that hes lived as long as he has. And besides, he deserves whatever he gets for impregnating your wh*re of a mother! How dare you? Nancy roared. Say what you want about me, but my mother is off limits! Off-limits? Paul scoffed. That bitch is on the cover of every newspaper around the world. From now on, her reputation will precede her wherever she goes C and it will be the same for her little wheel - Suddenly, Paul felt Michelle take his manh**d into her mouth, and he lost his train of thought. He groaned and grabbed her hair. Michelle, he muttered. D-Dont and then, D-Dont s-stop. His member had finally risen to the asion. On the other end of the line, Nancy could hear slurping and moaning, and she had a fairly good idea of what was going on. She felt like she was going to be sick. Goodbye, she snarled. And then she terminated the call. **** That evening, Crystal apanied Nancy to the airport, and Erics bodyguards followed in a car behind them. Crystal had set up everything in advance, but when they got there, a Spanish clerk said, I am sorry, but there are no tickets under your name, and the flight is sold out. No tickets? Crystal frowned. Are you sure? We booked them over the phone. The clerk gave them an apologetic look and said, I double-checked. Nothing. Nada. De nada. Now can we get this line moving, please? Nancy frowned and looked at the board. Then she asked if there were any indirect flights. I dont care how many transfers I need to make, she said. I need to get to Seattle! The clerk sighed impatiently and said, Im really sorry. This is very unusual, and there is nothing that I can do Now can you please move along? Crystal touched Nancys shoulder and said, Come on Nancy. We will figure something out. Yes, we will. She shot the clerk a nasty look and said, This isnt over. Nancy was not stupid. She thought C This is too much of a coincidence. Paul must have had something to do with this. And then she allowed herself to be led away. Chapter 267: The Bad Controversy Nancy and Crystal stood at the window facing the tarmac, and for a while, they were silent. One ne took off, and then another. Crystal sighed, and in a voice that was barely audible, she said, This is bullshit. You think? Nancy growled sarcastically. Who the hell does he think he is? And what gives him the right to fuck with my life like this? Crystal shrugged. She knew that nothing she could say would help improve her friends disposition, so she said nothing. What are we going to do? Nancy asked. Were not without options, Crystal replied. If we took a direct flight to any of Washingtons neighboring states, once wended, we would have a plethora of options. That is a good idea, Nancy admitted. I cant believe that I didnt think about it first They walked over to the flight board, and as they scanned the list for options, they were both thinking the same thing. They were trying to figure out why Paul had gone to such trouble to keep them on the ind. Once they figured out where they would go, they returned to the clerk. When they told her their destination, though, she said, I am sorry, but every flight leaving the ind over the next 48 hours is booked. Every flight? Crystal scoffed. She could not believe what she was hearing. This cant be, Nancy grumbled. I dont believe it. She looked the clerk in the eyes and said, I have been put on a No Fly list, havent I?Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. The clerks cheeks turned red, but she fervently denied Nancys usation. Tell me the truth, Nancy growled. Crystal pulled at her arm and said, Nancy, calm down. We will figure this out. Dont do anything you will regretter. I am calm! Nancy snapped. Obviously, she wasnt. I just dont understand why he is doing this to me. I just want to see my father! A moment passed, and then she said, Why dont you call Eric? Crystal nodded and pulled out her phone. After exining what was going on, though, he apologized to her and said, There is nothing I can do. Everything in Kuerto is outside of my sphere of influence. Cut the crap! Crystal shouted. This is urgent, and I know what you are capable of when you set your mind to it. Now, can you please set your mind to this? Hmmm. Eric chuckled and said, I think we can work something out if you agree to fulfill your duties as my wife If you agreed to my terms, Nancy would be allowed to go, but you would stay here with me. When Crystal heard this, her ire began to rise. Y-Y-You b-bastard, she stuttered angrily. That is not the only requirement, Eric continued. If Nancy wants to leave the ind, she must beg Paul for permission. He is here with me, so I can give him the phone when shes ready. Crystal was confused. Are the two of you in cahoots? she asked. We are friends, Eric replied. There is a difference. This is too much, Crystal croaked. Nancy. will never beg Paul for anything! Suddenly, the line went dead, and Crystal looked at Nancy in disbelief. He hung up on me Lets go to the train station, Nancy suggested. We could take a train to another city and try to get a flight out of there. **** Unfortunately, when Nancy and Crystal arrived at the station, they discovered that Paul had been two steps ahead of them. As a result, not only were they denied passage, but the attendant confiscated their ID cards and kicked them out of the building. For a while after that, they just stood there. They were like shell-shocked soldiers returning from war. Their minds were mostly nk, and when they tried to think about what they should do next, they found it extremely difficult to concentrate. Suddenly, one of the men on the boardwalk that surrounded the station looked up from his paper, and when he saw Nancy, his eyes practically bulged out of his skull. He pointed to her and shouted, Look, everyone! Its the slut from the cover of the newspapers! And to emphasize his point, he closed his newspaper and held it up so that everyone could read the caption on the front page: AND THE AWARD FOR THE MOST UNFAITHFUL WOMAN OF THE YEAR GOES TO: Oh. My. God. Nancy groaned. Not this again Crystal grasped her hand and said, Ignore them. They have no right to do this to you. You were a victim of ra*e, but they dont know that, so you cannot me them. If you dont make a scene, this will all go away. I promise. Dont worry. Nancy turned, looked her in the eye, and said, I dont me them. This is all on Paul. He was the one who ra*ed me. He secretly recorded it, and then he made it public. So, I will not make a scene here. When I see Paul again, he is going to wish that he had never been born. Thats a good girl. Crystal smiled and picked Nancy up. And as she carried her towards the car, she said, Now, lets get out of here. Not knowing where else to go, Crystal took Nancy back to the castle. **** That night, Crystal could not sleep. Whenever she closed her eyes, she saw images of Nathan on the back of her eyes, and he seemed to be calling to her. In the middle of the night, a storm rolled in, and that did not help. Every time she started to fall asleep, lightning lit up the room, and the thunder was so loud that it shook the castle to its core. Nathan, Nathan, Nathan, she muttered. Where art thou, Nathan. Compared to Paul and Eric, Nathan was a saint. And she felt a longing for him in her loins that was undeniable. Once upon a time, he held her tenderly and whispered sweet words in her ears. She remembered a time when he had cared for her and what it had been like to share a bed with him and have him inside her. He had been forceful, but he had never left her unsatisfied. Crystal bit her lower lip as she tried to force these thoughts out of her mind. When that didnt work, she tried to dwell on all of the times he had hurt her, but her mind insisted on minimizing the events. Chapter 268: He Is In A Bad Shape There was a razor de on the night table. She looked at it for a minute, and then she picked it up. To cut or not to cut, she murmured. That is the question And then she began to giggle. What is it about Shakespeare and me this evening? C she wondered. Still smiling, she brought the knife to her Radial Artery. Back and forth, not up and down C she reminded herself. Just as she was about to begin cutting, someone knocked on the door. Miss Smith! Miss Smith! Are you asleep? It was one of the servants. There must be an emergency C Crystal thought, and she immediately assumed that it had something to do with Nancy. Come in! she shouted. The servant entered the room, bowed, and said, Im sorry to bother you sote, but I am worried about Nathan. He is still refusing to eat, and he will not take his medicine either. He is in bad shape. Where is Eric? Has he note back yet? The servants were supposed to notify him if there were any problems with Nathan. This was because he did not like her spending time with her ex-lover.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. The servant shook her head and said, Mr. Bush has not yet returned. So, it would be best if you came quickly. I am afraid that Nathan will die if you dont. He vomited two mouthfuls of blood. Thest time I checked, he wasnt breathing, and his heart wasnt beating either. All I could think to do wase and get you! Crystal nodded and said, Well lets get going. Time is obviously of the essence. Then, as she took the stairs two at a time, she shouted for another servant to call for a doctor. **** Crystal was in such a rush that her foot caught on thest step as she reached thending, and she fell t on her face. A servant hurried to help her. Grasping her arm, the servant said, Miss Smith Are you alright? Crystal stood up, and without answering the question, she hurried off in the direction of the servants quarters. When she got to the door to Nathans room, though, she dared not go in. She gasped as she pressed her palms against the doorframe. Her hair was wet with sweat, and her face was horribly pale. She had never run so fast in her life, and her heart was beating so fast that she thought that it might burst. The servant caught up to her, and after giving her a curious look, she said, Go inside and have a look Crystal could not, though. She was too afraid. I-I-I she stuttered, and as she tried to talk, her body began to tremble, and tears welled up in her bloodshot eyes. The servant seemed to understand what Crystal was going through. She gently touched her arm and said, Let me go first. Crystal nodded and stepped aside. The servant went in, and when she came out, she had a slight smile on her face. Miss Smith, she said. He is alive. It turned out to be a false rm. What? A false rm? Its true. You cane in and see him. His heart beats once more. There were several servants gathered around Nathans bed, and they all looked relieved. Still, though, Nathan looked more dead than alive. He was pale. His body was covered in a sheen of sweat, and Crystal could not tell if he was awake or asleep. But hes breathing, she muttered. And thats the important thing. Crystal turned to the servant that had disturbed her and said, You roused me for nothing. He does not need me. He needs a doctor! The servant bowed and apologized. I have erred on the side of caution, she said. Next time, I will make sure he is dead before I call you. Crystal noted a sarcastic slight in the servants voice, and she uttered an unhappy, Hmph. One of the senior servants stepped between them and said, I am sorry. I was the one who sent her. He was not showing any signs of life, but he must have been in shock for a few minutes. Sometimes people go into shock like that. Shock? Crystal asked in a tone that implied disbelief. Yes, the nurse replied. Shock. Crystal sighed. She was exhausted, and after all this excitement, she doubted that she would get any sleep. At least Nathan is fine C she told herself C That is what matters. She realized, though, that if he died, her situation would be much easier. After all, her rtionship with him was the biggest cause of all the chaos in her life. Without him in her life, she would be able to turn her attention to the biggest mistake of her life: Marrying Eric. **** It did not take long for the doctor to arrive, and the first thing he did was check to see if Nathan had gone into shock. Once he was done, he said, Shockes in different forms. Sometimes, the man has a heartbeat but isnt breathing. Sometimes, he has no heartbeat and isnt breathing. Shock is a funny thing. Why did he go into shock? asked Crystal. These things happen. The doctor shrugged. Maybe he was lying on his back, and when he started coughing up blood, it blocked his throat Nathans hands and feet were bound because they did not want him to hurt himself again. They did not realize that his limited movement was what had caused him to cough. Crystal told a servant to untie him and asked the doctor, Why is he coughing blood? He has a nasty stomach problem. Its getting worse and worse He has a stomach problem? Crystal was shocked. Is there anything that can be done to stop him from getting worse? He has to take medicine and eat some food. It can be something as light like soup or porridge, but he has to take in some calories. The doctor smiled and said, It doesnt help that he was shot in the abdomen and doesnt seem interested in recovery. As I said, he should be eating regrly, taking his medicine, and getting lots of rest. This isnt rocket science. Chapter 269: Is That You? Crystal nodded, and then she turned to a servant. Go and cook arge pot of porridge and keep it hot. If he does not eat now, maybe he will eatter. Then she took wet clothing that was on the night table and wiped off the blood around Nathans mouth. I tried to do that, one of the servants said apologetically, But he wouldnt let me. He even spat blood on my uniform. It should be easier now that he is asleep. Crystal turned and saw that it was true. He was asleep, after all. Nathan. Nathan, Nathan, she murmured. Then, she sighed and said, You are such a troublemaker. And so stubborn too. She knew that he would not let either of them bathe him while he was awake, so she quickly fetched a new basin of water and began to unbutton his clothes. Once he was naked, she started to clean his body. Suddenly, as she was scrubbing his legs, he woke up, and he grabbed her wrist. Crystal felt his slight grip and trembled all over. She looked up and saw that Nathan was smiling. Unbeknownst to her, he had started waking up while she was washing his mouth. Up until now, though, he had been ying possum. Crystal, he said. Is that you, or do I have a beautiful dream? Crystals body froze. She was speechless. Crystal, is that you that is taking care of me? Nathan asked again. Yes, its me. She took a step away from him. Youve startled me. That is all. Anyway, youve got blood in your mouth. Will you rinse your mouth for me? I will if you help me, Nathan replied. A servant handed Crystal a ss of water, but as she stepped closer to the bed, Nathan knocked the ss out of her hand. You dont care about me, do you? he hissed. If you did, you would have visited me by now! Crystal rolled her eyes and said, Hush, now, and dont talk stupid. I will not hush, Nathan growled. Why didnt you want to take care of me? Are you ashamed of me? Or are you afraid that Eric will be unhappy?!?! You think too much! Crystal scoffed. She threw the bloody rag in his face and said, I am not your nurse, and I am not your wife, so I do not owe you anything! I only came because I thought you were dead. Now, I almost wish you were. Now that I can see that you are not, it seems like a good time for me to leave! Nathan silently seethed. If he had his strength, he would have put her in her ce with the back of his hand. As it was, though, he didnt even know if he could sit up. Crystal took a deep breath to help calm herself down. I will say one more thing before I leave, she said. If you want to live, you are going to need to be more agreeable. Eat the food that is offered to you. Take your medication. And chill out. Nathan smirked and said, Ah, so you want me to live after all. Oh. My. God. Crystal clenched and unclenched her fists. You are infuriating. Then, without saying another word, she turned and stormed out of the room. **** As Crystal reached the doorframe, a final thought urred to her, and she spun around to face Nathan. You are going to recover, she said confidently. I will make sure of it, and it will not be because I love you. Rather, it will be because I hate you. I am sure that you remember how I promised to torture you? Well, that is still on the docket.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. You w-wouldnt, Nathan stammered. Thats indecent She had said that she would make love to her husband before him, and he knew that this was the one form of revenge he could not bear. Crystal saw the look of anguish on his face, and she chuckled. Then she turned to a servant and said, Itste. Take good care of him and remember to give him something to eat. Im going back to my room. What if I refuse to eat? Nathan shouted. I can do that, you know!!! Crystal froze mid-step. What do you want? she asked. You must know that Im not going to let you go, and I am not going to change my mind about your punishment. Of course, I could strap you to a tube, but I dont think either of us wants that. Nathan was silent for a moment, and then he said, I understand, and I will eat. All that I ask is that you visit with me after my meals Crystal gave him a skeptical look. Thats it? Thats it, he replied. There are no tricks up my sleeve. If you sit with me, I will eat, and as I recover, you can do whatever you want to me. Fine. Crystal nodded and said, I wille as soon as you finish your meals. If you do not eat, I will note. And I would like it if you would make me a puppet, Nathan added. I think that is also fair. A puppet? Crystals brow furrowed. He is audacious as ever C she thought C Even now, he is calling the shots And I am actually considering his request! I want to put a recording in the puppet, Nathan exined. In the recording, I want to hear the most beautiful sounding words in the world. Can I have one? Dont push your luck! Crystal replied. I have agreed to visit you, which is more than you deserve after everything that you have done to me. Now, why dont you focus on eating and getting better? Just then, a servant appeared with a bowl of porridge. She came to stand by the side of the bed, and Nathan epted the food that she offered. He chewed, swallowed, and asked for more. All through the meal, though, his eyes remained fixed on Crystal. It was as if he were afraid that she would leave him at any minute. Crystal frowned. She felt like he was holding her hand to swim, and she suddenly felt very confused. She thought C If he didnt care about me, why did hee to my wedding? And why does my love for Eric irritate him as much as it does? She thought that it might be because he was possessive by nature, but she was not convinced. Chapter 270: Nancy鈥檚 Revenge Eric and Paul sat at the bar a half a mile away from the castle, and they were both half-drunk. You arent much of a man, Paul scolded. A real man knows how to keep his woman in her ce. She has a very strong temper, Eric growled. Perhaps thats not it. Paul snicked. Perhaps you are having problems. Down there There are dr*gs for that, you know? Have you ever heard of Viagra? Shut the fuck up! Eric hissed, You and I both know that isnt the problem. You and I have gotten into enough trouble together that you should know better than to even say that! Paul sighed and finished what was left of his beer. He belched contentedly, and then he said, Ahhh, those were the days When a man could be a man, and a woman knew better than to say no. You can say that again. Eric sighed. I have a suggestion, Paul popped up. Get her drunk and dr*g her. Then make a video of you assaulting her. Then, when she wakes up, you can show her the video and show her what a despicable slut she is. After that, she is sure toply. Eric squinted. Why didnt I think of that? C he thought. What do you think? Paul asked. Its a good idea, right? Ericughed and said, Paul, do you know your nickname? Paul frowned. What is it? Paul, the rat. Paul pondered this for a while. Am I a jerk? C he wondered. It was a thought that had never urred to him before. Who called me that? he asked. Was it your wife? It was your ex-wife. Eric smiled and said, I would have thought it was obvious!Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Hey! What gives? Paul red at Eric. Im giving you good advice. Must you insult me? You should be thanking me! Thanking you? Eric scoffed. I cant dr*g my wife. I dont have the dr*gs! Is that your problem! Paulughed and said, Shall I get you some good, myrtle? I guarantee that it will be colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Thanks. Eric smiled. Ill leave it to you. **** Nancy tossed and turned all night. She could not stop thinking about her father, who had been in a car ident, rk, who had stayed with Michelle, her mother had run away with some other man, and Paul, who was a jerk. How can I sleep with all these troubles and worries? C she wondered. She suspected that she was going to be depressed the next day. If she saw Paul, she swore that she would torture him. Eventually, the sun came up, and she got up and went downstairs. **** The first thing Nancy heard when she came downstairs was Paul snoring away on the couch. What the fuck is he doing down here? she muttered. His hair was disheveled, and he smelled of alcohol, so she guessed that he must have been drunk when he came in. As she approached him, her ire began to rise. Paul! she hissed. Wake the Hell up! There was no response from him, which was not a surprise. Paul typically slept like a log when he was drunk, and even after you woke him, he seldom remembered what had happened. You are a Rat! she growled, and she gave him a tentative kick in the ribs. Then, when he was still unresponsive, she became emboldened. She went straight to his head and crushed his face with a pillow. Suddenly, Paul could not breathe. He felt like a mountain was pressing against his face, but his brain was so muddled that he could not fight back. Nancy had wanted to kick Paul for a long time, and now that she had done it, she regretted that she was wearing slippers. She looked around, and she noticed his big shoes sitting at the foot of the bed. She smiled as she kicked off her slippers and put his shoes on. Then she pulled the pillow away, lifted her foot, and stomped on his face. Paul grabbed Nancys foot C as a reflex C and he pushed her so hard that she nearly fell on her ass. You r-r-really crossed a l-line this t time, he stammered drunkenly. I am g-going to k-kill you for this! Nancy stumbled backward, but she caught her bnce at thest second. She turned to Paul, and when she saw that he was serious, she ran upstairs and grabbed a pair of scissors from the bathroom. Just in case he manages toe after me- she thought. She waited for a while, and when he did note after her, she snuck downstairs to check on him, only to discover that he had passed out again. Well, well, well C she thought C Such a dirty man should be punished! She cautiously approached Paul, and when she reached the couch, she began to cut his clothes. The first thing she did was cut the crotch out of his trousers. Then she slipped a hand into his underwear and pulled out his genitals. Nancy wrinkled her nose at the sight of his shriveled-up worm, and she covered it with a pillow. Even with them covered, though, he could smell the musky smell of his genitals, and she cringed in disgust. Never mind that C she thought C You have bigger fish to try. Nancy smiled as she cut into Pauls shirt. When she was done, she put the scissors in Pauls hand. Let him make of that what he will C she thought giddily. Dawn hade, and the sun was shining through the window. Throughout the house, Nancy could hear the servants preparing the house for the day, and she ran out the front door before any of them could figure out what she had been about. The morning air was cool and refreshing, and invigorating. She felt particrly good about what she had done to Paul, but in retrospect, she wished that she had stabbed him in the heart. If she had done that, there would be nothing to stand between her and rk. When the servants saw Paul lying on the sofa with his genitals exposed, they were shocked. They saw the scissors in his hand and asked each other, Why did he do this? and, If he was drunk, how did he make such precise cuts? They could not believe their eyes, and before long, every one of them had made their way to the living room to inspect their masters manh**d. Gradually, Paul opened his eyes. His head hurt. The room was spinning, and it took him a full minute to get his bearings. It surprised him to discover that he was not in his bed and then that his servants had surrounded him. Their eyes were wide open in shock, and they seemed more surprised to see him than he was to see them. What is going on? C he wondered worriedly. What are you all looking at? he growled. Get back to work! The servants looked away shame-faced and scurried off to their regr duties. Paul had a terrible headache. He had drunk so much the night before that he could not remember anything that he had done. Chapter 271: Who Did This? Eric straightened his cor and came down the stairs. He had also drunk a lot, but he had not lost control or cked out. Thus, he did not have a hangover. As he reached thending, he saw the servants gathered around the couch in the living room, and his brow furrowed. What is this?- he wondered. A moment passed, and then he heard Pauls voice. Almost immediately, the servants turned around and began to clear out C and he was able to see what all the fuss was about. Oh, my God? Eric chuckled. What happened to you? I had a hangover, Paul replied. And it is all your fault. Can you get me a couple of Advil and arge ss of ice water? My head is killing me! Eric told one of the servants to get the water and medicine, and then he slowly approached his friend. You were pretty drunkst night, he said. I am surprised that you had the energy to do anything other than pass out. What are you talking about? Paul threw a sofa pillow at Eric and said, Speak inly, man! Well Eric rubbed his chin thoughtfully. I doubt Nancy took you back, so you must have fooled around with one of the servants. Paul frowned. Is that how little you think of me? he asked. I would never be desperate enough that I would fuck around with the staff. Not even if you were ckout drunk? Eric smirked and said, You should really watch how much you drink. Just look at yourself. I think that you might have a problem! Paul looked down, and his face turned white when he saw what Eric had alluded to. Who did this? he gasped. Then the color returned to his face, and he said, Never mind. I. will check the security cameras. **** Pauls face turned angry as he watched the security footage. How dare she? he muttered. First, Nancy had stomped on his face. Then she had cut his clothes and exposed his genitals. This is unforgivable. He watched in dismay as the servants hovered over him. One of them leaned over and poked at his shriveled-up manh**d with a pen. She flinched when it twitched, and she stepped away in disgust. Ericughed so hard that he dropped the cup that was in his hand. He had neverughed so hard in his life. This is what happens when you let a woman run wild, he said. Dont say I didnt warn you! That damned woman! roared Paul. Where the fuck is she?!?! **** Nancy was squatting in the flower bed in the castles backyard, gazing off into the distance. She did not know what had be of rk since she hadst seen him, and she missed him very much. Suddenly, a branch broke behind her, and a flock of birds took flight. Its Paul C she realized. And somehow, she knew that he had figured out that she had been the one that had disrupted his sleep. Nancy. The footsteps stopped behind her, and Paul said, Dont move! Nancy did as she was told. She was not a fool. She knew that if she ran, he would catch her. Are you here to try to hurt me? she asked casually. In the past, she had obediently let him hit her, but those days were over. Paul inched closer to her, and with the sun behind him, his shadow fell over her like a foul nket. He is like a demon C she thought. What now? she asked. You know what youve done to me, Paul replied. And turnabout is only fair y. I will do to you what you did to me, plus interest. He smirked wickedly and said, Im going to strip you naked and offer you to a group of horny men. Dont be ridiculous. Nancys face turned pale. I dont know what youre talking about! I didnt do anything! Didnt do anything? Paul scoffed. How dare you lie to me like that? Dont you know that this castle is rigged with security cameras? I saw everything that you did to me, so there is no point denying it.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Paul reached out to grab Nancy, but she was prepared for this. When she came out to the garden, she had brought the hose with her. Until now, she had kept it hidden in herp. Now that he was about to attack her, she spun around, pointed the hose at him, and sted him in the face with ice-cold water. And such was the force of the hose that it blinded him and sent him reeling. Finally, Paul was able to get out of the way of the hose, and Nancy turned it off. Shall we parley? he asked. Fuck that! Nancy shouted. Get away from me! She shook the hose menacingly. And unless you want more of this, you had better leave me alone from now on. Nancy! Paul roared. Stop it, you stupid woman! You asked for it! After getting to her feet, Nancy turned the water back on, and she began to force him to retreat. Bit by bit, he inched away from her until he reached the drop that marked the end of the property. He lost his footing, fell into the river, and was swept away by the current. Paul tried to swim upstream, but it was no use. The current was too strong, and it took him over a short waterfall. There, the water settled, and he was able to pull his waterlogged body to the shore. Once Paul had regained his wits, he stood up and began to climb up the side of the waterfall. When Nancy saw this, she grabbed a bamboo stick and started jabbing him with it, and after only hitting him a few times, he fell back into the water. Then as he struggled to his feet, sheughed hysterically. Whats the matter? she asked. A little water never hurts anybody! Paul shook his fist in the air. I will kill you for this! he shouted. He began to climb the cliff again, but when Nancy went to shove him back down again, her face lost all its color. Paul had mysteriously disappeared. He was hiding under ayer of lotus leaves, but she could see neither his hide nor hair. Nancy stared gloomily into theke with the bamboo pole in one hand and the water hose in the other. He has to be here somewhere, she muttered. Suddenly, she felt a tug on the other end of the bamboo pole. She stumbled forward, and if she had not had the water hose, she would have gone over the cliff. She felt another tug on the pole, and this time she let go of it. It was either that or went over. But now Paul had the weapon, and she was vulnerable. Paul brought the pole down on Nancys shoulder, and she copsed. Paul hauled himself over the edge. He stood over Nancy and basked in the glory of his sess. He spat on Nancy andughed. Are you ready to meet your maker? Without lifting her head, Nancy said, Youre forgetting something. Then she rolled over, and just as she was about to shoot him in the face with a st of ice-cold water, she saw something moving among the lotus leaves. It was a crocodile. When Paul saw the Terror in Nancys eyes, he jabbed her in the side with the pole and demanded to know what the problem was. Its a c-c-c-crocodile Nancy stammered. Is that all? Paulughed. He did not believe her. You should be more worried about what I am going to do to you. Compared to me, a crocodile is nothing! Chapter 272: Don鈥檛 You Dare Run Paul hit Nancys hand with the bamboo pole, forcing her to let go of the hose. She was all that he was thinking about, so it caught him off guard when the crocodile bit his bottom.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Nancy could not help butugh. She had warned him, but did he listen? Of course not. She thought C Men are single-mindedly stupid! Paul cried out in pain, and as the reptilian beast increased its grip on his heinie, the bamboo pole fell to the ground. Had he not had previous experience with crocodiles, this might have been the end of him. Paul fell backward, and as his weight fell on the beast, it was forced to let him go. Then, when it attacked again, he was ready for it. Paul reached out, grabbed it by the mouth, and pulled it open as far as he could. Eventually, the skin began to tear where the crocodiles upper and lower jaw met, and there was a loud cracking sound as its articr bone snapped. Blood and bits of bone gushed out of its mouth as it made its retreat into the wends. Nancy could not believe what she had seen. Now that she had seen what Paul was capable of, she was more afraid than ever. A voice in her mind shouted, Run! And so, she ran. Dont you dare run! Paul shouted. He prepared to give chase, but as he took his first step, he felt a twinge of pain course down his leg. It was intense, and he could not ignore it. **** When Crystal came down for breakfast, the servants excitedly told her about everything that had happened that morning. Unfortunately, they did not know what had happened after Paul went outside to find Nancy, so she sent one of her bodyguards to the kennel. Bring me my dog, she ordered. Once she had her pet, she took it out into the backyard. And as she stepped off the porch, Nancy came running towards her from the grassy patch ofnd beyond the garden. Crystal! Nancy shouted. Crystal met her halfway and asked her if she was alright. Nancy was out of breath and panting, and all she could do was nod. Then, when she was finally able to speak, she asked about the dog. Hes my guard dog, Crystal exined. Eric bought him for me. Momentarily, Paul appeared on the horizon. He wasing from the same direction that Nancy hade from. He was moving slowly, though, and Crystal could see that he had been injured. And that he was angry. There is nothing more dangerous than a wounded animal, she muttered. Nancy gave her a curious look. Come again? Its just something my Dad used to say. Ancient wisdom or something Crystal passed the dogs leash to Nancy and said, Here. I think you will need him more than I will, at least until things settle down. Nancy epted the leash with a trembling hand. Is he safe? she asked nervously. For you and me, it is. Crystal chuckled. But God help anyone who tries to hurt us. And because he is a male, he will be extra loyal. What does an animals sex have to do with anything? She sounded skeptical. Dogs appreciate beauty as much as humans do, Crystal exined. Didnt you know that? Nancy shook her head, and her cheeks turned pink. I didnt I specifically asked Eric to choose a nice male dog for me. Crystal smiled. Did you know that dogs have an eye for beauty? Do they? Yes. Crystal smiled and continued: Dogs will tease beggars, but they will stop and do tricks for beautiful women like us, The dog wagged its tail merrily as if it understood what they were saying and was excited to have the opportunity to prove Crystals words true. Shes pretty great. Nancy ran her hands through the dogs hair and asked what his name was. Crystals eyebrows wriggled mischievously, and she said, I call him Wolf. I gave him that name because he is part wolf. He will help you with your Paul Problem. How is that? Nancy asked. It seemed rather far-fetched to her. I just watched him tear apart a crocodile. I doubt he is afraid of dogs. Crystalughed when she heard that. That has nothing to do with it, she said. Paul is allergic to dog hair. But how do you know that? Nancy was stunned. Eric told me. While they were talking, they had been casually watching Pauls approach. Now that he was within spitting distance, Wolf began to bark at him. Paul cursed under his breath. Then he red at Nancy and said, If you obediently ept what ising to you, I will go easy on you. Fuck off! shouted Nancy. Beside her, Wolfs volume increased tenfold. I dont owe you anything, and Im done submitting to your will! You bitch! Paul roared. Ill teach you! Suddenly, Wolf lunged at Paul, and if it were not for his leash, he might have torn the mans throat out. Paul was not afraid of the dog in a traditional sense. He was afraid of how his body would respond to Wolfs hair. His allergies were bad, and he had lost his EpiPen in the water. Should he be attacked, his face would swell up, his throat would constrict, and his body would break out in small red sores. Without his EpiPen, he could die. Who said that you could have a dog on the premises? he shouted. It was Eric, Crystal replied. Paul watched in horror as Nancy hugged the dog. Now, she was as much a hazard to his health as the dog was. How does she know that I am allergic? C he wondered. It was one of his only weaknesses, and he kept it a secret. He lifted his eyes to meet hers and said, You will regret this. And then he walked away. Once he was out of sight, Nancy turned to Crystal and said, I want to leave this ce Where do you want to go? Crystal asked, Where could we go? This whole ind is under Pauls control, and he wont let us leave. I know. Nancy sighed sadly and said, I should be in Seattle, though. I cant imagine what my father is thinking. He probably thinks that I deserted him Crystal hugged her friend, and as they pulled apart, she said, You dont need to worry about that. I called the hospital this morning, and they said that your father is still in aa. Thats even worse, Nancy cried. Now, I dont even know if he will live or if he will die! There, there. Crystal patted her back and said, I will figure something out. Dont I always? Chapter 273: He Wouldn鈥檛 Care When Crystal told Nancy her idea, her eyes widened, and she shook her head. No, she said, I cannot involve Noah in this matter. I do not want to involve anyone else in this unless we must. Fine. Crystal sighed and said, We will only use Noah as ast resort. Anyway, we also have Nathan, and if I can get word to Vic, we might find that we have more options than we realized; if he will help, that is. It shouldnt be a problem. Nancy giggled, and her cheeks turned red. I can tell that he has a crush on you. If you y along with it for a few days, he is sure to go along with whatever you say. As for your father, with a little bit of help, we shouldnt have any problems having him transferred to Kuerto. After all, you are his next of kin. Suddenly, a servant came running down the hallway. When she saw them, she stopped, and without taking a moment to catch her breath, she said, Miss Smith, there you are. I have found you atst. Nathan is still refusing to eat. Will youe and talk to him? **** Eric had already watched the video of Crystal bathing Nathan, so it came as no surprise to him that she had returned to his bedroom. He could not understand why Crystal was visiting Nathan. She had begged him to rescue her from his clutches. But now she seems more interested in him than she is in me C Eric thought, and it infuriated him to the point where he wanted to kill his rival. He looked down at the vial of dr*gs in his hands and thought C Tonight, winner takes all! With one fell swoop, he nned to take possession of Crystal and have his revenge on Nathan. Crystal sat on the sofa in Nathans room, and she was flipping through her book. She did not need to look up to feel the heat of his eyes on her. She sighed deeply, her heart fluttered, and she cursed her traitorous body. He had treated her badly, and she knew that he was in bad shape. Nevertheless, she was drawn to him. Finally, she closed the book. Have you had enough? she asked him. He took a bite and chewed, and it took him a few minutes to swallow. It was just porridge, so she suspected he was stalling. I could never get enough of you, he replied. How long are you going to be eating that bowl of porridge? Crystal asked impatiently. I am an injured man, Nathan whined. I am going as fast as I can. Crystal doubted that was true. Eat faster! she hissed. And quit staring at me. Nathan smiled, and he continued to stare at her as he slowly ate. What the Hell are you looking at? Crystal yelled. You, Nathan replied. How did you sleepst night? I slept fine, Crystal replied. What do you care about? Didnt you enjoy your husbands caressesst night? Nathan asked. Crystal scowled. You are so annoying. What she wanted to do was drop the book on Nathans head. And unless we torture you, what we do in bed is none of your business! Crystal could not find the words to describe Nathans childish, possessive behavior. I am someone elses wife now, she continued. Why cant you get that through your thick skull? It must be on ount of how thick my skull is, Nathan replied in a tone that was intended to make a joke of her and her question. Now, where is my puppet? Im working on it, Crystal replied. Dont rush me. Fine, then. Nathan patted the edge of the bed and asked her to sit with him. I have something that I want to give you. Its a reward for taking such good care of me. Crystal was immediately suspicious. As far as she knew, he had no possessions. Give it to a servant and let them bring it to me, she insisted. Do you have to be so defensive? Nathan smiled and said, In my weakened state, you have nothing to fear from me. Crystal remained hesitant, and her distrust showed on her face. Come on, he urged her on. What are you waiting for? Crystal put down her book and walked slowly over to him. Then, when she reached him, he took her by the arm and pulled her into his embrace. He tried to kiss her, but she pulled away just in time to stop him. Nathan, what are you doing? she gasped as she realized that he had been ying possum all along. He was nowhere near as weak as he had made himself out to be. Thats your reward, he replied. Do you like it? I dont care for your stupid reward, Crystal replied angrily. And you damn well knew that I wouldnt, so knock it off and let me go. Youre lying. Nathan tightened his grip on her and said, You do want me. You may not believe it now, but you will once youre watching me fuck his brains out right in front of you! Crystals words stung him, and when she pulled away, this time, he was unable to stop her. You c-cant d-do that, he muttered. Its inhumane Whatever. Tell it to the pigs. Maybe they will care! She grabbed his mostly empty bowl of porridge, and as she headed for the open door, she said, Have a good rest. Nathan shouted for her toe back, but she paid him no mind. **** Wolf fell in love with Nancy almost immediately, and he was happy to wait with her in the kitchen while Crystal took a bath. She had just finished feeding him, and now she was sitting beside him stroking his fur. Suddenly, a servant walked in. She looked at Nancy and said, Just an F. Y. I.: Paul has returned, so you may want to be on guard. Nancy scratched behind Wolfs ears. Im not worried, she replied. I have Wolf. As if to prove her point, Wolf barked twice and scampered into the living room. He was only gone for a second, though, when the sound of a gunshot echoed through the castle. No! No! No! No! No! C thought Nancy C He wouldnt dare Or would he? Wolf was whimpering when he stumbled back into the kitchen, and his fur was matted with blood. A momentter, Paul appeared, and he had a shotgun in his hand. Nancy jumped to her feet and stepped between Paul and Wolf with her arms crossed beneath her breasts. You are a brute! she hissed. Only an unloving monster would think about hurting an animal! Unloving? Paul scoffed. You need to take a look in the mirror. You are the only one in the room that would hurt a pregnant woman?Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Michelle set me up, Nancy shouted. And if you were thinking with your brain instead of your p***s, you would see that. Paul smirked. You tried to feed me to a crocodile! I warned you about the crocodile, Crystal reminded him. Its not my fault that you were too stupid to heed my warning. Paul was getting angrier by the minute. He looked at his rifle and then at Nancy. You deserve to die for the things that youve done, he shouted, and there was murder in his eyes. Suddenly, Wolf appeared at Nancys side, and he began to bark frantically. Paul smiled as he nudged the dog with the barrel of the gun. Before he could pull the trigger, though, Nancy grabbed the barrel and pulled it up so that it was pointing at her chest. She said, You can shoot him, but youll have to shoot me first. Paul nodded and said, So be it. Chapter 274: The Precious Wine Pauls heart began to beat fast as he prepared to shoot his ex-wife. A slight sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead, and as his hand began to tremble, his confidence faded. He did not know if he could shoot her. His life would be so much easier if he did, though. He could go back to his normal life, marry Michelle, and have the children that he had always wished he had. But he could also imagine Nancys life spilling out through a hole in her chest in front of him, and that disturbed him. He had wanted to teach her a lesson. It had never been his intention to kill her, but she had boxed him into a corner, and he did not know how to back out of it without losing face. Are you going to shoot me or not? Nancy mocked him. Not, Paul muttered in defeat as he lowered the rifle. I will get that dog, though. You just wait and see- and then I will eat him! Hell no! No? He raised an eyebrow. If you want to keep him alive, youll have to beg for my forgiveness. Then I want you to start thinking about how you are going to make it up to me. Why should I apologize? Nancy scowled and said, I didnt do anything wrong. You ungrateful woman! Paul roared. No more games! Whatever. Nancy turned her back on Paul, and then she shouted at a servant to call for a doctor. Wolf had been lucky-the bullet had barely grazed him C but his wound still needed to be treated. Otherwise, it might get infected. Nancy knelt beside her dog. She ran her fingers through his hair and said, Dont be afraid, Wolf, I am here. I will always be with you. Paul frowned as he watched Nancy. He was reminded of a time when she had cared for an injured bird. She was a genuinely kind person, and that infuriated him because he knew that she thought she was better than him. He wondered C Why is she so kind to the dog but so cruel to Michelle and me? Listen, he hissed. If you dont want me to eat the dog, then you had better make me something to eat! Nancy turned and red at Paul. She wanted to kill him. And then I would be the one eating you- she thought angrily. **** Once the doctor was finished patching up Wolf, Nancy started preparing lunch for herself and Paul. If serving him a meal would pacify him, she was willing to do that. As she was cooking, the servants set the table. They helped her bring out the food, and when everything was ready, Nancy called everyone: Lunch Time! Get it while its hot! Paul sat down first, and Crystal shot him a look ofplete disgust. By now, Nancy had told her everything that had happened that morning, and to say that she was unimpressed would have been the understatement of the year. She scowled and nearly chastised him herself when he served himself a double portion of every dish on the table. Now, everyone would leave slightly hungry. Paul noticed the look she was giving him, and he said, If you want me to leave that mutt of yours alone, you need to tow the line. And quit it with the evil eye. Youre going to ruin my appetite! As if on cue, Wolf appeared, and he began to go from person to person begging for food. Nancy was going to give him a bit of boiled egg, but Paul shouted at her to stop. Do not feed that beast from the table! he roared. Animals do not belong at the table! Then what are you doing at the table? C Crystal thought. She giggled, but she knew better than to share her thoughts with the group. Nancy stared at her friend nervously. It was impossible to predict what might trigger Paul. Hows the food? she asked. Do you like it?This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Its good, Crystal replied. Its a shame that someone took twice their share. Now there is not enough to go around I suppose he could use some bulking up, though Suddenly the room went quiet. Nobody could believe that she had the audacity to say such a thing. What is that supposed to mean? Paul grumbled. I am just as big as Eric. Am I not? Crystalughed. If you say so, Boss Eric responded with a smile. Shall we have apetition? he asked. Without waiting for an answer, he went back to his meal. That is some weird- thought Crystal C it is like he suddenly forgot what he was saying Nancy watched as he ate. He had a contented look on his face, which was a little disappointing. She had switched his meat with hard dog snacks that were intended to grind teeth, but Paul did not even notice. He seemed to be really enjoying them when he gobbled them up. Paul looked up and asked, How was this beef prepared? Nancys heart began to beat fast, and her forehead broke out in a sweat. What am I going to tell him? C she wondered. She opened her mouth, and nothing came out. Finally, she said, Its a secret, but I am d that you like it. Its a bit crunchy, Paul admitted. He smiled, finished thest two bites, and washed them down with a ss of milk. Then, after wiping his mouth, he turned to Crystal and said, By the way, I have something for you. It will help you celebrate your marriage to my friend. He snapped his fingers, and a servant appeared with a tray. On it, there was a bottle of wine with a red bow around its neck. A bottle of wine? Eric snorted. You are too generous. I couldnt ept such avish gift. Paulughed and said, You can, and you will. And why not? If it were not for you, I would not be alive today. Nancy looked intently at the bottle and wondered how much it was worth. She thought it was probably a lot. Otherwise, they would not be making such a fuss over it. How old is it? she asked. Ive kept it for over 40 years, Paul said, But it was already old by then; I dont know how old, so dont ask. I do know, though, that a mouthful of this wine is worth a building. The servant quickly took the wine and carefully put it on the table. She was afraid of identally breaking it. Crystal suddenly spoke up. This makes no sense, she said. You said that it has been in your possession for over forty years, but you arent even thirty years old yet! It has been in the family for over forty years, Paul exined. I apologize if that wasnt understood. My father gave it to me. Since this wine is so precious, why are you willing to give it to us? asked Crystal. Paul smiled and said, Eric and I have known each other for years, and I want to show him how much he means to me. Are you guys going to open it? Eric nodded. He nned to get Crystal drunk tonight. Then he could slip the ra*e dr*g into her drink and do something to her, just like what Paul had done to Nancy. Chapter 275: Do You Want Me? As evening approached, the servants were given instructions to move Nathan upstairs. He was to be put in the room next to Erics. There was a door between the rooms, but it was no longer in use, and bookcases had been set up in front of it on either side. Once Nathan was set up, these barriers were removed. This way, when Eric took Crystals that evening, he would have a front-row seat to the show. Downstairs, Paul, Nancy, Crystal, and Eric were casually drinking in the living room. Up until now, they had been having cocktails, but the time had finallye to open the bottle of wine that Paul had gifted to the newlyweds. When it came to pouring Nancy a ss, though, Paul refused her. Hey! she hissed. Why arent you giving me? Who do you think you are? Paul sneered. Do you think you deserve a wine as fine as this? Ever the diplomat, Crystal turned to Paul. Shouldnt you be getting back to Michelle? I would imagine that she is starting to miss you by now? You do not need to worry about whether she is lonely or not, Paul replied sneakily. I would kindly ask you to mind your own business. There was nothing kind about his words. Crystal humphed but said nothing. Justs and Qs, she thought resentfully. By now, she realized that nothing she could say would be of any help. Nancy watched jealousy as Crystal sipped the wine. How is it? she asked. Its no different from regr wine, Crystal replied. Do you want a sip from my ss? Nancy waved off her friends request. Thank you, but Im good. There is an odd odor to it. Can you smell that? When Paul heard that, he stomped on Nancys foot. He stepped on her so hard that, as a reflex, she gave him a good kick in the shins. Paul grimaced in pain, but he did notin. Are you sure that you dont want a sip? Crystal asked. Id rather die than drink it, Nancy replied. Have it your way. Crystal finished the ss, and Eric topped it off for her. Then, after a few sips from the fresh ss, she stood up suddenly. Her cheeks were red, and she had a giddy expression on her face. I have an announcement! she said. Im drunk! And as she sat down again, everyoneughed. Crystal was having a great time, but eventually, she began to feel nauseous, and it showed on her face. Whats the matter? Eric asked. Dont you feel well? Maybe you should get some rest Without waiting for her to answer him, he got up to help her stand. My hero, Crystal muttered. She was really drunk now. Eric picked her up, and as he carried her up the stairs, he said, Little thing, you are such a lightweight. Eric wondered what Paul had put in the wine. He had only had a little bit, but even he was feeling its effects. He was a little dizzy, and his whole body was warm. Once they were upstairs, Eric kicked open the door to the master bedroom andid Crystal on the bed. Then he pushed her bangs aside and kissed her forehead. I wish you hade to me willingly. He sighed and said, But any port in a storm, right? Any port, Crystal replied iprehensibly. Eric felt guilty about what he was about to do for a moment, but the moment quickly passed, and he chastised himself for his weakness. A feverish excitement rose within him. Eric had never wanted a woman so badly. He did not know whether it was the dr*gs in the wine or if it had something to do with Crystal, but he actually had a hard-on. I cant believe it! he eximed. He was extremely proud of himself. Suddenly, Crystal began to undress him feebly. Her equilibrium was shot to Hell, and her hands were shaky. He appreciated her enthusiasm, though, and it wasnt long before she had gotten a few buttons undone. All Eric could think about was his erection. A thing so rare should be cherished C he thought. And he felt an urgent desire to be inside of her. He needed her somewhat sober, though. For the video to have any value, she needed to struggle, otherwise, it was just another vani vored sex tape. Ericid down beside her with a determination to wait. It wasnt easy, though. His erection was rock hard, and it was begging to be set free. Crystal wiped the sweat from her forehead and asked, Why do I feel so hot? I dont know, he replied. Shall I fan you? Would you? Crystal wondered. She yawned suddenly, and as she stretched her arms, her breasts strained against her top. They were magnificent, and her nipples stood out like sore thumbs. Just looking at them sent Eric into a frenzy of lustful thoughts and fantasies. Then her eyelids gradually closed. In her drunken state, Eric became Nathan, and she was suddenly incredibly damp. She heard her name and her whole body trembled. Eric looked at the door that separated this room from the one that Nathan was in. It is almost time C he thought. But time seemed to be going excruciatingly slow. Crystal stroked his chest eagerly. Where is it?- she wondered. She did not know what she was looking for. Rather, she was driven by an instinctive desire that had taken over her body. Eric smiled. My little goblin, he whispered. Watch where you are touching me. Are you so eager? If you keep flirting with me like that, I cant help but bully you. In the trance that Crystal was in, she thought that she was with Nathan. It was the medicine, and she was doing things that she would not have otherwise done. Eric ran his hands through her hair and said, This is the first time that I have seen you so eager. Youre so cute, Crystal. In the next room, Nathan began to stir, and when he awoke, the first thing he heard was the sound of the bedsprings in the next room over.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Eric sensed that Nathan was awake and smiled maliciously at the secret door that separated the two rooms. He turned back to Crystal. Do you want me? I want you, she replied. I do! I do! I do! Call me My husband, and I will give you what you want. Why would I call Nathan My husband? C Crystal wondered, and suddenly it seemed that the room was circling around her. She felt dizzy. It was hard to think, and she thought that she might be sick. Now that she had started to sober up, though, the dr*gs began to kick in harder than before. Ignoring the turning in her stomach, Crystal clutched at Erics shirt with her dainty hands. Then, without warning, she jumped on top of him and began to rip his clothes off. Eric smiled and said, Wife, I am ready. Tonight, I am yours, and I am fully at your disposal. As he spoke, he stretched and folded his hands under his head. Just as he did this, though, he identally touched a sensor. The bed made a mechanical whirring sound, and then his hands and feet were mped in ce. His brow wrinkled, and the smile at the corners of his mouth froze. Paul he muttered. What have you done? Eric could not think of anyone else that could have been responsible for such a nefarious deed. Then, to make matters worse, Crystal leaned over and vomited all over his chest. Chapter 276: How The Table Has Turned? The pungent smell of puke spread through the air, and it was made worse by Crystals inability to stop vomiting. Eric was upset, but he tried to be patient. He knew that this was not her fault. After all, she had not dr*gged herself. He said, Crystal, stop puking and help me take my clothes off. Crystals vomiting fit tapered off until she was just dry heaving. She looked at him for a moment, and then she said, Im sorry, but I need to go to the bathroom first. Her throat felt like it was on fire, and her cramps were unbearable. Without waiting for Eric to reply, Crystal stumbled out of bed and began to crawl towards the door. When Eric saw the direction she was going, his eyes went wide. Hey! he shouted. Honey! Youre going in the wrong direction. Thats not the door to the bathroom! On the other side of the door, Nathan could hear everything that was being said, and he called out to his love. Crystal! he cried. Can you hear me? Crystal frowned when she heard Nathans voice in the next room. She thought C If Nathan is in the next room, who did I just throw up on? By now, she was feeling feverish, and nothing was making sense. She had a good idea, though, that once she opened the door, she would understand everything.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. When Eric saw that she had not changed her course, he began to struggle against the metal cuffs that bound him to the bed. It was of no use, though, and he was not surprised. After all, Paul was all about efficiency and perfection. Eric remembered his friend once said, Anything not worth doing well is not worth doing at all. Finally, he gave up. He tried calling Crystal again, but she did not seem to hear him, so all he could do was wait and see what would happen once she opened the door. Nathan watched the door with anxious anticipation. He regretted the way he had treated Crystal, but he had not realized what he had until hed seen her with another man. And by then, it had been toote. The first time Crystal showed her love for Eric, his heart felt like it had fallen into an ice cave. When he hit bottom, his chest caved in, and it became hard to breathe, especially when he thought about them together. If I am forced to watch them make love C he thought C then I will surely die Nathan thought that the punishment that Eric and Crystal had thought up was beyond cruel. His heart was numb, and his purple lips pressed tightly together. He could hear Crystal, but he refused to allow himself the luxury of hope. The sound of the doorknob turning seemed to tear Nathans heart asunder. If he were able, he would kneel before her, makepromises, and burn any bridges she asked him to. Nathan shuddered, and his hands clenched into fists. How did I get here? C he asked himself C And how did I let things get so bad? If he were able, he would tie her up and haul her away. The door opened, and he could tell right away that Crystal was drunk. Of course, he knew that she had been drinking, but he had not expected her to be so corked. For some reason, Crystal was not surprised to see him. She looked him in the eyes, and she seemed drawn to him. As she stumbled forward, Eric shouted at her to Get back, here! But she paid him no mind. Eric had sent his guards away before carrying Crystal upstairs, a decision he was now regretting. Because of his mistake, no matter how loud he shouted, no one would hear his pleas for help. Crystal finally reached the bed. She reached out her hand and slowly touched Nathans face; his eyebrows, eyes, nose, lips. Nathan opened his mouth, and she drew two fingers into his mouth. He began to suck them gently, and a pleasurable shiver ran down Crystals back. He nibbled on them, and there was a moment of slight pain, but it was nice. She felt a warmth in her loins. It spread out to the rest of her body as he caressed her left breast with his right hand. Finally, Crystal could bear it no more, and she threw herself recklessly into the bed. She began to tug at Nathans clothes, but she identally bumped his abdomen with her elbow in her hurry. Nathan gasped and cried out in pain. Crystal froze. Nathan looked up and frowned slightly. What are you doing here? he asked. Its too hot, Crystal exined, and she began to tug at her clothes. Nathan could tell that she was not herself, and his eyebrows furrowed. Have you been dr*gged? He did not feelfortable taking advantage of her. If they were to make love, he wanted it to bepletely consensual. Crystal was so focused on taking off her clothes that she did not hear what Nathan had said. Once she was naked, she tried to get his pants off, but she could not undo his belt buckle. She could feel his erection, and her inability to ess it infuriated her. Nathans frozen heart came to life again as she massaged his manh**d. It beat wildly, and it urred to him that she had rescued him from the ice cave it had fallen into C And as she smiled at him, all his concerns slipped away. Slow down and be gentle, he said. I am still in recovery Crystal nodded. Then she slipped off the bed so that she could take off his trousers and underwear without hurting him. Nathan uttered a sigh of relief as his soldier stood to attention, and she gave it a little kiss. From the next room, Nathan could hear Eric shouting angrily, and he smiled wickedly. My, how the tables have turned C he thought. Crystal climbed back onto Nathans chest, and they both moaned in satisfaction as the two became one. For a while, they did not f**k or make love. Crystal leaned forward, and with her bare breasts pressed tightly against his chest, she held him. It was nice just toy there together. Connected and as still as they were, Erics shouting seemed like it was a million miles away. Chapter 277: Do You Know Who I Am? (Triggered Warning: This Chapter contains a sexual scene and inappropriate words. If youre notfortable reading it kindly skip it and move to another chapter) Nathan kissed Crystals neck, and she shivered. Do you know who I am?! he asked. Crystal was no longer listening, though. Her libido had just kicked in hardcore. Thus, the time for talk was over. Crystal! He gasped as she fucked him harder than he had ever been fucked before. Slow down He was used to being the one on top C the one in control C which meant that he waspletely outside of his safety zone.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. For many hours, Crystal used and abused Nathan until finally, they were both spent. Then, with him still inside her, she fell asleep and swiftly slipped into a pleasant dream. In it, she was making love to him. Unlike what they had done, this was gentle and full of tender loving care. Some part of her knew that she was dreaming, though, and she hoped that she would never wake up. Unfortunately, as the sun began to rise, Crystal did wake up. She opened her eyes and let out a confused cry for help. Nathan was facing her, and their faces were close enough to kiss. She did a quick body scan and was appalled to discover that his p***s was inside her. What the f**k is this happy horseshit?!?! C she wondered unhappily. What is going on? she demanded. What the hell did you do to me? Dont you remember anything fromst night? Nathan asked, appalled. You did everything that was done! My body is weak. I didnt have the strength to do anything to you, with or without your consent If anything, some might say that you assaulted me Crystal frowned unhappily, and as her ire began to rise, she felt his manh**d twitch and turn to stone inside her. Why are you hard? she asked irritably. Are you having dirty thoughts? You dont know whats in my head. Nathan chuckled and said, Never mind the why just dont go anywhere. I waited on you all night long. Will you satisfy me now? Crystal felt cold suddenly. She did not want to leave him, but she knew that she had to. So, she gently pulled away from him. Her muscles twitched as the head of his p***s ran up the length of her vulva and rang her bell, but she tried to pay it no mind. I felt that. Nathan smiled and said, You obviously want more. Shut up! Crystal hissed. I do not want more! Not now, and not ever! Tell the truth and shame the devil. He had a shark-like Cheshire grin that stretched from one ear to the other. I wontugh at you, he promised. Crystal bit her lip, and as she began to get dressed, she tried to map out the events of the previous night. She remembered drinking, but after that, everything was ck. There were shes of memory, but when she put them together, they made no sense. What happened to Eric? C Crystal wondered. After being on her feet for a minute, she began to feel dizzy again, and she had to sit down. The servants had incense burning in the room 24/7. It was supposed to help with Nathans recovery, but it made Crystal feel sick to her stomach, and while it was burning, she could barely think straight. She mentioned it to Nathan, and he had one of the servants remove it. The servants had just begun their morning rounds, and they seemed unsurprised when they found Crystal half-naked on the floor. As if this happens all the time C thought Crystal worriedly. And on the tail of that thought: What the Hell have I gotten myself into? Once the incense was gone, Crystal stood up, walked to the window, and let in some fresh air. She stood there for about ten minutes, and during that time, nobody spoke. Then, finally, Nathan broke the silence. He asked her if she was feeling better and if she would help him get his pants and underwear back on. She looked him over, and what she saw disgusted her. She was ashamed of what she had done with him. I am going to have a bath, she replied coldly. Ill send a servant to take care of you. Nathans pupils dted, and when he spoke, Crystal was taken aback by the aggression in his voice. Dont you dare let another woman touch me! he growled. You did this to me. Now take responsibility for your actions! Crystal sighed. If I get you dressed, will we be even? she asked. Even? Nathan scoffed. Hardly! Help me take a bath. Then dress me, and then we will be even. Nice try, Crystal smirked. Suddenly, Eric called out to Crystal, and she rushed into the next room. Erics eyes were bloodshot, and he had a troubled expression on his face. Never had he been so cowed in his life, and he was so upset that he felt like killing himself. His wife had spent the night with another man, and not only was it all his fault, but he had been forced toy there and listen to it all. He was angry at himself, but he was even angrier at Paul. If it were not for Pauls bad idea, none of this would have happened. When Crystal saw Eric, her first thought was that he had given her to Nathan for the night, but that did not sit right with her. Eric wouldnt do that C she thought C Or would he? It urred to her then that she did not actually know a lot about her new husband. As she got closer to him, she saw that he was chained to the bed, and right away, she knew that her theory was incorrect. Who locked you up like this? she asked. Crystal wondered if she had been the one to do it. She doubted it, but with her memories being as scrambled as they were, it seemed that anything was possible. Just get me out of these cuffs, he whined. Crystal stood at akimbo. You havent told me who locked you up. Does it matter? Erics expression was cold. You cheated on mest night. Im so angry! Crystal red back at him. I can see that youre angry, she said. But you had better aim your venom at someone else. I am sure that you had more to do with my altered state than you are admitting. Eric was speechless. And wasnt it you that set up Nathan in the next room? Crystal continued. Eric felt like crying. What she said was true. Nothing had gone the way that he had nned. Now, all he could do was try to save face, and the main way he could do that was by refusing to admit that he was at fault in any way. Just help me out of these cuffs, he said again. Crystalughed. You are not going anywhere until I have some answers! Crystal! Eric raged. He pulled at the cuffs that held him to the bed, but it was useless. You are going to regret this! Threaten me if you want. Crystal walked over to the foot of the bed and gave the cuff a good tug. Eric winced as pain shot up his leg andnded in his testicles. I like seeing you like this, she said. And even if you werent chained to the bed, I still wouldnt be afraid. After everything I have been put through, nothing scares me. Eric was taken aback. He had never seen her like this. Are you going to keep me restrained like this forever? he asked. For now, at least. Crystal shrugged. Never in her life had she felt as in control of a situation as she did at this moment. She smirked and said, While youre locked up in istion, why dont you work out some of your inner demons? Chapter 278: I Will Only Allow You To Touch My Body From his bed in the next room, Nathan could hear every word that Eric and Crystal had said, and from what he heard, he was able to glean the truth: Eric had nned to torture him, but the n had backfired, and Eric had gone from being the bully to being the victim. Nathan let out augh so deep that it caused his chest to vibrate. He had notughed so heartily in a long time. Hisugh was so loud that it echoed off the castle walls, and each gale was like an ice pick in Erics ears. Nathan! Eric shouted. Get your chuckles in while you can because I will have thestugh. You may have won this battle, but I will win the war! You are hrious. Nathan smirked and said, The war is over, and I am the victor. Youre the victor? Eric scoffed. I have won. She has married me, and now she is my wife. Are you such an idiot that you cannot see that? I am no idiot, Nathan replied. But maybe you are blind. Surely, you realize that Crystal can divorce you whenever it pleases her to do so. Personally, I think that day is just around the corner. Then it will be just her and me like it was before. Besides, with all the spunk I dumped inside herst night, she might already be pregnant with my child. Crystal watched silently as the two men argued. They were acting like children, and it was a struggle to keep fromughing. She felt very dirty, and she did not want to get pulled into their little squabble. She wanted to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Finally, she was sure that they were not paying attention to her. She made her way to the bathroom, closed the door behind her, and quickly took off her soiled clothing. Once she was in the bathtub and the water was running, she allowed herself to rx. She did not know what would happen next, but from this safe ce, she was able to gather her thoughts without having a panic attack. After everything that Eric had done, she thought he deserved what he got and more, so she decided that she would not allow him to retaliate against Nathan. It hadnt even been Nathans fault. The dr*gs hade from Eric and Paul, but she knew that her new husband would not willingly ept responsibility for his actions. She did not know if Paul was home. She thought C If he is, I must figure out a way to drive him out as quickly as possible. Otherwise, he will release Eric. If that happens, I will be the one in trouble Her thoughts returned to Eric and Nathan, and she giggled. They were both subdued and helpless, yet they sounded like powerful overlords from the way they argued. It was all false-bravado, and it was hrious.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Crystal waited until they quit fighting before getting out of the tub. She dried off and dressed in the bathroom, and when she came out, Eric looked at her and said, Darling, youve finished bathing. I can smell your peach-scented shower gel. Come over and let me get a better whiff of your beautiful hair. Thanks, but no thanks! Crystal grimaced. You owe me some rewards. He smiled and said, You should let me go What do you know about what I should and shouldnt do? Crystal asked. She raised her eyebrows. I think I should do what I want, and what I want right now is to keep you chained to that bed. Erics ire began to rise. His face turned red from anger, and he said, You are making a mistake. Trust me, you do not want to make me angry. Is that so? Crystal asked. And why is that? I dont care if you get angry. Especially now. So, go ahead and do your worst! There was a special incense in Nathans room, and Crystal brought it into Erics room, and when he saw it, his eyes went wide. It had the power to make people weak and light-headed. Please Eric whined. Mrs. Bush, why are you treating me this way? Revenge, Crystal replied. This will do what you did to me. Dont you know that turnabout is fair y? Nathan resumed hisughter in the next room, and they both turned their heads. How does it feel to be victimized by your own wife? Nathan wondered. It feels so great! Eric snarled. This is what couples do for fun. I am not surprised by your ignorance. Nice try. It had been a long time since Nathan had this much fun teasing someone. Now, he continued. Why dont you send your wife over so that she can clean my body. No way! Eric turned to Crystal and said, Darling, Im hungry. Can you fix something for me to eat? I dont think so, Crystal replied. Get some sleep, and Ill bring some foodter. After speaking, she went into Nathans room and closed the door behind her. Nathans eyes brightened when he saw her. C-C-Crystal he happily stuttered. You cho cho-choose me! Crystal sighed. Dont get your hopes up. I didnt cho-cho-chose either of you. She checked to see what he needed, and as she walked to the door that led to the hallway, she said, Have a good rest. I will send a servant to bathe you and care for your wounds. Someone else wille with some food. Nathan frowned and said, I will only allow you to touch my body. Crystal looked to the sky and addressed God. Why must all men be so irrational? she asked. She waited a moment to see if He would reply, and then she opened the door and walked out. Nathan felt his energy slip away as he watched Crystal leave. At thest moment, he said that he loved her, but she did not hear him. A servant closed the door behind her, and he was left alone with his thoughts. His brow furrowed, and he closed his eyes. He had not realized how tired he was, and as he slipped into a deep sleep, a voice in his head said, Weve got to find our way back into her good graces and then to her heart. And in his dreams, all was well. Chapter 279: How Dare You To Make Me Feel Bad Paul was sleeping soundly on the couch when his cell phone rang. I should have turned it off before Iid down, he grumbled. The handy phone was sitting on the coffee table, and he red at it, willing it to stop. It rang six times, and then C Oh, sweet merciful C Jesus C it went silent. C only to begin ringing again three secondster. Paul cursed as he sat up and picked up the phone. He was ready to freak out, but when he saw who was calling, his anger dissipated. It was Michelle. Paul smiled as he epted the call. Good morning, baby, I was sleeping. Is there a problem? You havent been home for two days Michelle replied. She sounded upset as if she were on the verge of tears. Didnt I tell you that I had business abroad? Paul sighed resolutely. It is only temporary, so you dont have to keep calling. I will return soon. I promise. Can you give me a date? Michelle asked. I cant, Paul replied. I will be here until I finish my business, but these things take time, and thingse up. But I miss you very much I am alone, and I feel very lonely. I want you to know I know! I know! I know! Paul cut her off mid-sentence. He could hear that she was beginning to cry, and he felt somewhat guilty about that. I miss you too. he finally said. How dare you make me feel bad C he thought resentfully. It would not have been so bad if it were just this one call, but she was calling him over ten times a day. I have to go, Paul said, and he ended the call without saying goodbye. Now that he was awake, he no longer felt sleepy. He stood up and immediately regretted it. He had forgotten about the crocodile that had bitten him, but the sharp pain in his ass served as a quick reminder C and the injury made him think about Nancy. I wonder where she is, he muttered. Paul frowned and began to wonder what his motivation for staying at the castle was. Am I here for her? C he wondered. He tried to convince himself that he wasnt, but the thought nagged at him. There was a servant in the dining room, and once he had her attention, he asked, Wheres Nancy? Miss Carter is walking with Mr. Laurent in the garden, the servant replied. You can see them through the back window. Paul nodded and went to the back window, and when he saw that Nancy was holding Noahs hand, he felt like he had been stabbed in the heart. They were walking and talking andughing. You cant let this stand, a voice in his head said. No, he muttered. I cannot. A wicked smile graced his face, and he called for a servant. Get me my shotgun, he ordered. **** After having spoken to Crystal, Nancy decided that it was finally time to get Vic involved. Noah was the only one that had a chance of getting the message out, and she was just about to tell him about their n when the sound of a shotguns st split the sky. There was a pigeon about three meters from where they were, and it fell out of the sky. A frightened squawk emerged from Nancys mouth, and Noah held her in his arms. Her whole body was trembling, and she clung to him as if for dear life. Nancy had never been this close to Noah before, and with her head pressed against his chest, she could hear the steady pit-a-pat of his heartbeat. She squeezed him as hard as she could, and he flinched. She looked up, and from the grimace on his face, she could tell that he was in severe pain. She had forgotten all about his injuries. Nancy blushed. Im so sorry. I forgot that you were injured.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Noah kissed her on the forehead and told her that it was fine. **** Pauls face turned red from rage. He had thought that the shotguns st would force Nancy and Noah apart, but it had brought them closer together. Inconceivable, he grumbled. I will show them! He raised his shotgun and began to shoot down every bird in sight. All the while, he kept his eyes on Nancy. This way, when she looked to see who was shooting, she would be forced to meet his angry gaze. Finally, she spotted him, and when she did, he shifted the barrel so that it was aimed at Noahs head. No! Nancy cried. What are you doing? she took a short step forward and to the side so that she was standing between Paul and Noah. Paul fired a bullet into the dirt at Nancys feet, and she jumped. A momentter, a wet spot appeared on the front of her pants, and it spread down her leg. She was devastated. She pulled away from Noah, and when he tried tofort her, she would not let him. Dont look at me she cried. How do you like them apples? Paul shouted, and as he set his gun aside, he started to cackle like a crazy person. **** Nancy covered her face with her hands, and for a long time, she refused to let Noah look at her face. She had never been more ashamed and embarrassed in her life. Im a grown woman, she wailed. What business do l have to wet my pants?!?! Eventually, Nancy tripped over one of the dead birds, and her survival instinct took over and forced her to stop covering her face. She quickly regained her equilibrium, and she was so appalled by what she saw that she did not even think to cover her face back up. The ground was littered with dead birds, and most of them had been blown to bits. There were at least twenty of them. She spotted a few that were still suffering, and it urred to her that it would be up to do the responsibility. Hes a monster, she said. He is, Noah agreed grimly. Chapter 280: I鈥檓 Sick Of Your Games Nancy looked to the window where Paul had been, but he was gone. Noah put his hand on her shoulder and said, At least Wolf wasnt with us Nancy shuddered. She could easily imagine what Paul would have done had the dog been with them. She turned to face Noah and said, This has gone too far, but I have a n to make it stop. Noah smiled hopefully. Is there anything that I can do to help? As a matter of fact, there is, Nancy replied. But I was hesitant to ask. Dont be silly. Noahughed. I am at your disposal. Tell me what you need, and if it is within my power to do it, then I will. Can you help us escape?Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. You want to escape? Noah pondered this for a moment. It had not crossed his mind that this would be her request. Then, finally, he said, Sure, I will help you. What do you want me to do? I have a contact on the outside, Nancy exined. But I have no way of staying in touch with him. With his help, nothing can stop us. Noah opened his mouth, but a rifle fired three times in session before he could say a word. They looked to where the sound hade from and saw Paul approaching them. Nancy was shocked, Quickly, she said. Go. Find Crystal. She will tell you who it is that you need to contact. Paul fired again, and they both flinched. They both knew that he was missing on purpose. At any time, though, he could aim. **** Crystal waited until she was sure that the incense had done its work before returning to her room. Then, when she saw how weak he looked, she could not help butugh. She smirked and said, My, how the mighty have fallen! When will you let me go? Eric whined. Beforeing in to see you, I secured Nathan to his bed, Crystal exined. Once the two of you have learned to be obedient and kind, then I will consider letting you both go. You will prove that youve learned your lessons by bing the best of friends. Best friends? Eric sneered. Crystal had left the door between the two rooms open, and when Nathan heard what had been said, he began to curse. If that is the case, he shouted, then we will die in these beds. I would never befriend such a lowlife piece of shit. Chill your t**s, boys. Crystal chuckled. Nathan and Eric both frowned. Were not boys, Eric insisted. We are men and both grown-ups, And we dont have t**s! muttered Nathan on the other side. There. Crystal smiled and said, Look at that, you two things inmon. Anyway, Its supper time. Eric gave her a funny look. Darling, our hands and feet are restricted. How will we eat? With your mouth! Crystal replied. Obviously. Eric sighed. Be reasonable. If you are not going to let us go, then you feed us by hand. Heughed and said, Let me have a look at what you made. Did you cook it by yourself? Never mind that. Crystal fetched the meals, brought the first dish over to Eric, and sat down beside him. She offered him a spoon full of peas, and he ate them without incident. Nathan called to her from the other room, and she said, Hold your horses. I will feed you next. Crystal brought a bit of meat to Erics face. He took it, and as he chewed, a thought urred to her. I should have a servant do this, she said. I dont know what I was thinking. I must not have been thinking at all! I wont eat unless you are the one feeding me, said Eric. I wont either, said Nathan. So, what now? Will you feed us, or will you let us starve to death?. Im tempted to let you both starve to death, Crystal admitted. You are like a couple of hard-headed baboons, and I rather suspect that you actually would starve yourselves on principle. So, it seems that I must feed you Excellent, Nathan smiled and said, Feed me first. You were already feeding me, Eric grumbled. You should finish what you started. But Im starving, argued Nathan. Bullshit! Erics face turned red from rage, and he said, Between us, you were thest to eat. Nathan red at Crystal. How dare you feed him first! I am the one who is injured and need more food to recover, Thats enough! she shouted. If you guys cannot act in a civilized manner, you will go hungry. She took a moment to collect her thoughts, and then she said, I will feed you both at the same time. How will that work? Eric wondered. I will give you three bites, then I will give Nathan three bites, Crystal exined. And I will go back and forth until you are both done eating. Since I have given you some food already, it is Nathans turn. Crystal walked into the next room, and when she showed Nathan his food, he humphed. Crystal gave him a dirty look. What is your problem now? she asked. My food is inferior to Erics, he replied. Whats up with that? You were shot in the abdomen, Crystal reminded him. You are on a special diet. Nathan smiled and said, I knew that you cared about my well-being! Dont make me regret this, Crystal said angrily. She brought some pasta to his mouth, but he flinched away from it. What now?!?! Its too hot, Nathanined. Too hot, my ass! Crystal shouted. I am sick of your games. Try it for yourself. Fine, Crystal growled. She stirred the pasta, filled her spoon, and brought it to her mouth. The heat caught her off guard, and she nearly choked. It was actually ridiculously hot, just like hed said. Im sorry, she muttered. I will blow on them for you. Nathan ate two more bites without incident, and then it was Erics turn to eat again. Chapter 281: Please Make This Work By the time Crystal was done feeding Eric and Nathan, she was exhausted. Her body was slick with sweat, and she was anxious to have some alone time. Alright, she said as she prepared to leave, Sleep well. Darling, Eric cried, I need to go to the toilet. Crystals body stiffened. I beg your pardon? I have been tied up all night until now, Eric exined. I have physiological needs. He raised his eyebrows. This request is legitimate. His request is reasonable C Crystal realized C But how can I let him pee without letting him go? And what will I do when he needs to take a shit? She sighed and said, For now, just piss yourself. I will figure something out by the end of the day. I havent wet the bed since I was a five-year-old kid, Eric argued. If I do that, then you will have to change my pants. Crystal chuckled and said, You mean, you were still wetting your bed when you were five? That is funny. And embarrassing. But if it helps, why dont you pretend that you are still a child. You act like one, anyway, so it should not be too much of a stretch. And I will send one of the servants up to change you.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Eric couldnt fake his smile anymore. Mrs. Bush, you need to understand that you cant lock me away for much longer. Once I have been gone for 24 hours, my people will start looking for me. If you do not let me go right now, then when they find me, it will be your turn to be tied down. You will be the one pissing your pants like a child. What do you think about that? Crystal thought for a moment, and then she said, Why dont we stuff your p***s into a bottle, create a seal, and strap it to your abdomen? That way, if you have to pee, you can pee, and you wont have to worry about soiling your clothes. Eric was speechless, and by the time he thought of something to say, she was gone. Crystal returned momentster, and she had arge bottle in her hand. Erics eyes went wide, and his face lost its color. You cant be serious! As Crystal undid his pants, he began to shout and curse, but she paid him no mind. She pulled hisid p***s out of his pants and shoved it into the bottle, and because it was such a tight fit, no sent was necessary. Then she took off his belt and used it to secure the bottle to his abdomen. Once the bottle was secure, Crystal took a step back. She examined her handiwork and saw that it was good. Then she looked Eric in the eyes and said, Pee. It took a moment for Eric to get a stream going, but once his urine came, it shot from his dickhole in a torrential outburst that caused the bottle to shake violently. As soon as his stream tapered off, Crystal asked if he was done. He nodded, and she carefully removed the bottle from his p***s. It was nearly full, and she was extra careful not to spill it on herself. The urine stank and Crystal quickly put the cap on it. She showed him a wicked smile and said, I can tell that youve been holding that in! F**k you, Eric grumbled. You are one extreme bitch! Yes, yes, Crystal replied amicably. I know. F**k me. I am such a bitch. Whatever Suddenly, Nathan called her name. What do you need? she asked. And it had better be good. My patience is running thin. I also have to pee, Nathan replied. This is too much C Crystal thought. I will ask a servant to serve you. Thats not fair, Nathanined. I am her husband! Eric eximed. I get special treatment. Bollocks to your special treatment. Nathanughed and said, I guess it doesnt really matter. She may be your wife, but I was the one f*****g her all night long. Crystals face turned red, and she turned to the door that led to Nathans room. Shut up, you! she shouted. You can ept a servants help, or you can piss yourself. I do not care which you chose to do. And without waiting for a reply, she left the room. **** Once Noah was out of sight, Nancy was defenseless. So, when Paul threw her over his shoulder, there was nothing she could do exceptint. He carried her to his room, and then he assaulted her repeatedly until they both passed out from exhaustion. Nancy woke up as evening turned to night, and for a moment, she thought that it had all been a terrible nightmare, but then she realized that she was still in Pauls arms. He was asleep, though, and she thought C Now is my chance to escape! Unfortunately, she was so weak that she could barely move. Her eyes closed, and she fell back asleep. Meanwhile, Crystal had been waiting for her in the living room. She had seen Paul carry Nancy into his room, and she had assumed that he was going to assault her. She had not expected it to take so long, though. Eventually, she got tired of waiting, so she asked Noah to take the incense burner from Erics room and put it into Pauls room. Once Crystal was sure that Nancy and Paul were asleep, she snuck up the stairs. When she opened the door to Pauls room, the smell of incense mixed with the strong scent of intercourse hit her like a brick, and she had to cover her face with her hand to keep herself from gagging. Before moving on, she took a vial of peppermint oil out of her pocket and took a sniff. This would rece the other smell in her nostrils, and it would prevent the dr*g from affecting her. Finally, she walked over to the side of the bed where Nancy was sleeping. Crystal dabbed some of the peppermint oil onto her finger and rubbed Nancys philtrum. She looked up, and as she waited, she prayed to a God that she was not sure even existed. Dear God, she whispered. Please make this work. Chapter 282: What A Good Idea Almost immediately, Nancy woke up. Where am I? C she wondered. She looked up and was startled to see Crystal hovering over her. Whats going on? she asked. Crystal put away the oil and whispered, Get up. The game is on, and I need you to be alert. Nancy stood up dizzily. I dont feel right, she muttered. Whats wrong? Crystal asked nervously. She was worried that the dr*gs might have had negative side effects. That was not the problem, though. Nancy was having trouble making sense of what Paul had done to her earlier. This was not the first time that Paul had assaulted her C not by far C but it had been the first time that she had taken pleasure from the abuse. What is wrong with me? C Nancy wondered. He had humiliated her, and she was ashamed of her bodys response to what had happened. Its nothing, she replied. Before Crystal had a chance to call Nancy out on her lie, she began to cry. There, there. Crystal embraced her friend and said, Whatever happened was not your fault, and it will never happen again. Now lets get down to business. Are you able to walk? Nancy nodded, and Crystal helped her get dressed. Unfortunately, they were not quite enough, and Paul stirred. Without opening his eyes, he reached out to where Nancy had been sleeping, only to find that she had slipped away. What the Hell? he grumbled, and when he opened his eyes, the first person that he saw was Crystal. Suddenly, it urred to him that he was naked, and he pulled the sheet over his genitals.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Crystal saw this, and sheughed mockingly, Do you think that I want to see your body? she asked. I would rather have my eyeballs burnt out with a hot poker. There really is not much to see, though. Is there? Haha! It is just a little worm Pauls ire began to rise, and his face turned red from anger. He tried to stand up and was startled to discover that hecked the strength. It was then that his senses detected the incense, and he realized what had happened. He turned to Nancy and shot her a dirty look. How dare you do this to me?!?! he roared. Thats enough, Crystal interjected. This has nothing to do with Nancy. I did it. Paul red at Crystal, and then he looked at Nancy. I dont care who did it, he said. You are clearly in this together, so you will both pay! Crystal smirked. Those are big words for a man that cannot even get out of bed. We could kill you now, and there would be nothing you could do to stop us, so maybe the time for making threats has passed. What do you think? The color drained from Pauls face, and the expression that was left there was a mixture of fear and rage. The girls could tell that he wanted to say something, but he did not quite dare to. There was a soft knock on the door. Crystal knew that it was Noah, so she invited him in right away. When Noah walked in, the scent of sex and incense struck his senses, and his face turned red from embarrassment. He looked at Nancy, and he could see that she had been through an ordeal, and he felt guilty. If he had known that Paul would assault Nancy, he never would have left her side. What do you need me to do? he asked. Your word is mymand. Wrap him in a quilt and carry him to the room below, Crystal replied. Nancy nced at Noah and said, That wont work. He is an injured man. Noah responded faintly: I am fine. Paul looked Crystal in the eye and said, He had better not touch me. Is that so? Crystal asked. As she spoke, she picked up his bet and whipped it across his chest. Paul shrieked in pain. Crystal wriggled her eyes yfully. You still think youre in control, dont you? I think thats cute. She turned to Nancy. Dont you think thats cute? Thats pretty cute, Nancy replied. Let me try. Crystal handed her the belt, and she struck him three more times, once for herself, again for rk, and the third time was for the pleasure of hurting him. Pauls body was strong and firm, but it was little help to him when it came to Nancys vengeance by the belt. By the time she was done, there were giant red welts all over his chest, and he was whimpering. P-P-Please, he stammered. N-No m-m more Nancy lifted the belt to strike him again, but Crystal stopped her. She gently took it away, saying, I think that is enough. You have made your point. Nancy nodded. Alright, she said. Then she turned to Noah and told him to take Paul away. As Noah rolled Paul up in the quilt, his whimpering began to taper off, and he began to curse. Should I shove a dirty sock in his mouth? Noah asked with a grin on his face. I am sick of all this shouting. It is giving me a headache. Yes, Nancy replied. What a good idea! How dare you stuff a smelly sock in my mouth? Paul shouted. You are a fucking bitch! Nancy ignored the insult. When Paul saw Noahs hand approaching his face with a balled-up, dirty sock, he closed his mouth as tightly as he could. Ive got this! Nancy eximed. She rushed over and punched Paul in the side of the head as hard as she could. His mouth opened, and Noah shoved the sock in. Crystal was amazed. How did you know to do that? Ill never tell, Nancy replied. In the past, when Nancy had refused to let him put his hard member in her mouth, this was what he would do to her to force her to open it for him, and it gave her great pleasure to show him how it felt. Chapter 283: How Did They Get You? Paul was bundled up so tightly that Noah could walk past the bodyguards with him under his arms, and they were none the wiser. Nancy and Crystal were giggling, though, and although that seemed unusual, the guards did not think too much about it. What is up with them? one of them asked. They are just girls, the other replied. Nothing but space in their heads, as you know! They bothughed. Nancy smiled and leaned over so that she could whisper into Crystals ear: There is nothing worse than an idiot that doesnt know how dumb they are. Crystal nodded, and once they were a safe distance from the guards, she said, We are ready for the next phase of our n. Nancy was ufortable with the smell of Paul, and she proposed that they bathe him before they do anything else. We could do that, Crystal replied. Then she turned to Noah and said, Bring Paul to Nathans room. I will arrange a couple of servants to join us. **** When Crystal entered Nathans room, he was caught off guard by her cheerful disposition. Why are you so happy? he asked. He had rarely seen her so delighted. Crystal went about her business without replying. Nathan frowned. Crystal, didnt you hear my question? He had always been an arrogant man, and he could not stand to be ignored. She knew this, and she was acting deliberately. Despite his insistent tone of voice, she did not even look at him. Noah arrived with Paul under his arm, and Crystal pointed at the swivel chair. Put him here. Noah frowned. The chair is too small, he said. Well have to unroll him, Crystal exined as she closed and locked the door. Do you understand?Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. I do, Noah replied hesitantly. This idea did not seem prudent to him, but he followed the direction he had been given, and in a matter of minutes, Paul was sitting on the chair. He was naked, and there was a dirty sock stuck in his mouth. His face was red and blotchy, and he had a gloomy but furious expression on his face. Crystal stood in front of him with her arms folded beneath her breasts. She looked him in the eyes and said, If you try anything, I will poke out your eyeballs. And dont even think about trying to get that sock out of your mouth! While she was talking, Nancy had been rummaging through the dresser drawers. Once she found a pair of underwear, she passed it to a servant and said, Get these on him, would you? The carpet had been bound by a hemp rope which Noah used to bind Paul to the chair. Instead of tying him up in a normal sitting position, though, he tied him upside down. His calves were flush against the armrest, and his head was resting ufortably on the floor. As Noahpleted this task, Crystal and Nancy-and even Nathan burst into gales of uncontrobleughter. You had better pee yourself, Noah told Paul. If you do, it will end up all over your face Paul felt like he had gone from the frying pan and straight into the fire. He had never been so embarrassed in this life. He wanted to fight back, but he could not. And to make matters worse for him, Crystal pulled out her phone and took several pictures of him. A little insurance, she said. Once Noahs task wasplete, he copsed onto the floor, and Crystal suddenly realized how exhausted he was. She said, Thank you so much for everything. But how are you holding up? With all of your injuries, maybe you shouldnt have been doing all of this hard work Noah smiled and said, Dont worry. Im fine. Im just tired. Thats all. Crystal nodded knowingly. You should get some rest. I will call you when we need you again. Noah nodded, thanked them both, and left. Once the door was closed behind him, Nancy turned to Crystal and asked, Do you think we might be going too far? I dont think were going far enough, Crystal replied. After everything that he has done to you, I am surprised that you would ask that. You are too kind. Do you know that? I have been told that, Nancy admitted. And, as usual, you are right. Of course, I am! Crystal eximed. This man deserves to be cut up and fed to Wolf. He should be grateful that we are showing him mercy! This is what you call mercy?!?! Nathan eximed. Crystal Boops him on the nose, and in a congenial tone of voice, she said, Shut up, will you? You are not improving your situation. Nathan red at Crystal, but he didnt say anything. So, what now? Nancy asked. I think that it is time to let him see his good friend, Nancy replied. If you open the door to the next room, I will push him in. I think you will like what I have in the next room. Nancys brow furrowed. What is she talking about?- she wondered. Of course, nothing could have prepared Nancy for the sight of Eric chained to his bed. We are a couple of bitches she muttered. Every man in this house is bound to a bed or chair Whats wrong with us? Whats wrong with us? Crystal scoffed. There is nothing wrong with us. We have a right not to be abused, and not every man is bound. Noah is fine, and that is because he is a good man. These three are not! Nancy saw the truth in her friends words, but she was too overwhelmed to say so. Eric was shocked by the sight of Paul. He red at Nancy and Crystal and said, You two are crazy! His face had lost all of its colors, and he looked terrified. What are you going to do to us? Crystal walked over to him and smirked. That is for me to know and you to find out. Eric turned to Paul. How did they get you? Paul tried to say something, but all that came out was a muffled mumble with the sock in his mouth. Crystal wanted to know what he was saying, so she pulled the sock out of his mouth. After having been tied upside down for so long, he was barely hanging on to his consciousness, but after coughing a few times, he was able to speak. They dr*gged me, he murmured. And then they whipped me with a belt Oh my God. Erics body began to tremble. They dr*gged me too He was terrified. He thought C If they whipped Paul, what would they have nned for me? Chapter 284: Piss Off, You Evil Bitch! Nancy looked at Paul, smiled, and said, Now that he is up here, I am not as concerned about bathing him as I was. I would rather torture him. What do you think? What do I think? Crystalughed. I think that I like the way that you think. Lets do it! Nancy gently touched Crystals arm. Can you do me a favor? she asked. I would like to torcher Paul by myself. Would you mind torturing Eric or Nathan? Its not a problem, Crystal replied. She winked at Paul and said, Count your lucky stars. If it were me administering your punishment, it would be a thousand times worse than whatever Nancy has nned!. Nancy uttered a frustrated humph. Whats the matter? Crystal asked. Do you know how you want to punish Paul? I have an idea, Nancy replied. I want to shave a word into the side of his head and take a picture. Is it okay? Its perfect! Crystal replied. Which word did you have in mind? Bastard. She knew that Paul cared about his appearance a lot, especially his hair. Eric nced at Paul sympathetically. I n to mourn the loss of your hair. If you dare to cut my hair, I will kill you! Paul shouted angrily.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Crystal gave Paul a nasty look and said, Keep it up. I would love nothing more than to shove that sock back into your mouth. Pauls mouth snapped shut. Nancy went into the bathroom and quickly returned with the electric razor. She plugged it in, put a # 2 guard on it, turned it on, and slid it across Pauls head. Once his head waspletely shaved, she took off the guard so that she could write the letters. When she was done, she took a step back, smiled, and asked Crystal what she thought. I like it. Crystal ran her fingers through his hair, and then she took a series of photos with her camera. Do you have any harsher punishments in mind? I dont think he has suffered enough Can we just leave these guys here and go save rk? Nancy asked. By the time someone sets them free, we could be long gone! You wouldnt dare to leave me! growled Eric. Mrs. Bush, please remember that you are my wife. Vows were made! Paul lifted his head and shouted, Nancy, you had better not abduct my son! You arent much of a father, Nancy argued. You only acknowledge his existence when it suits your needs. As if on cue, rk appeared in the doorway. His hand was red and swollen, and he was crying. Nancy rushed over to rk and picked him up, and without another word to anyone, she carried him downstairs. Crystal followed her friend, but she stuffed a sock into each of the mens mouths before she left. Im sorry, she said. I cant have you calling out for help. And just so you know, I will let the servants know that these rooms are empty and off-limits. Downstairs, Nancy was examining her sons hand. She asked what had happened, and he said, Mommy, my hand was burned. What happened? Does it hurt? It hurt Nancys heart to see her son in pain. rk hugged his mother. Purr Mommy. If you blow it it wont hurt anymore. Nancy blew on the wound. What happened? she asked again. Mommy, I am fine. Its not painful. If you blow it again As Nancy blew on his wound, she began to cry. When rk saw this, he stretched out his small hand to wipe her eyes. Mommy, dont cry! A servant entered the living room. She had a First Aid Kit with her. Here, she said. I will apply medicine to the burn. It will help with the pain and reduce the likelihood of any scarring. Nancy nodded and let the servant do her work. Once the ointment was applied to the wound, the servant wrapped his hand. This is to keep it clean, she exined, and prevent infection. Almost immediately, rk stopped crying, and Nancy thanked the servant. Do you know what happened? she wondered. The young master identally poured boiling tea on himself, the servant replied. That doesnt make sense. Nancy frowned. Are you sure that is what happened? I dont understand your meaning, the servant replied. You dont need to, Crystal interjected. She turned to rk and said, let me see your watch. rk nodded and obediently gave her his watch. Have you been wearing this all day? Crystal asked. All day, every day, he replied. Just like Aunty told me to. Am I a good boy? The best! Crystal replied. The watch was special. It had a hidden camera built into it. Beneath the cover, there was a tiny screen. If you wanted to see what happened, you just turned back the time and pressed y. Crystal set the clock back an hour and was not surprised to see that Michelle had been bullying the boy. It is as I suspected, she muttered. Noah returned as she was strapping the watch back on rks wrist. He had his bodyguards with him, and she asked him, What are they for? I dont know he admitted. But I have a bad feeling, and I would rather have them on hand and not need them than need them and not have them. And as it turned out, they would need them. **** Michelle had been sleeping peacefully when she was woken by noise in the living room. She wondered what was going on, and she got up so that she could find out. She assumed that it was Paul and Eric getting up to their usual shenanigans, so she was surprised to see Nancy and rk and Crystal, and she was taken aback by the angry expressions on their faces. She smirked and said, What crawled up your asses and died? Nancy gritted her teeth. Piss off, you evil bitch! How dare you talk to me like that? Michelle was furious. Where is Paul? Paul asked us to take rk away. What do you mean, away? asked Michelle suspiciously. Away from you! Nancy replied. He has seen the video of you mistreating his son, and he is furious. I wouldnt want to be in your shoes when he gets home. Chapter 285: Seize Them Michelle was not the type to give up without a fight. She turned to the servants and said, Seize them! Luckily, Noah had the foresight to bring his bodyguards, and they intervened. They defeated the servants, and then they took Michelle as a prisoner. Crystal pointed at a servant and said, You, go and get a pot of boiling water. Me? The servant shook her head violently. You cant boss me around. This is your chance to redeem yourself! Crystal eximed. Which side do you want to be on when your master returns? The servant thought for a moment, and then she hurried into the kitchen to boil water. This is bullshit, Michelleined. By now, she had figured out that rks watch had a camera hidden in it, and she demanded to see it. When Crystal refused to show it to her, she made her hands into ws and lunged at her. Luckily for Crystal, she had quick She stepped aside, stuck out her foot, and used Michelles momentum to propel her to the floor. The angry womannded on her face, and there was an audible crunch as the cartge in her nose broke reflexes. There was a moment of silence, and then Michelle sat up. The anger in her eyes turned to distress as she brought her hands up to her bleeding nose. She cried in pain: Help me Please She tipped her head back to try to stop the bleeding, and when she opened her mouth, everyone gasped. Her two front teeth were shattered, and her mouth was full of blood. As she tried to talk, it dribbled down her mouth and ran down her chin, mixed in with the blood. There were bits of flesh, enamel, dentin, and cementum.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Those are my teeth C Michelle thought sadly. She had always been proud of her smile. Crystal frowned. This might be Gods will C she thought C but it is a pity that I didnt knock out a whole row of teeth Michelle shouted for her bodyguards, but Crystal hadmandeered Erics men, and they had restrained Michelles bodyguards. Crystal smirked. Nobodysing for you. She pulled out her phone, took a few photos, and said, I had better document this. I am sure you understand. Its for posterity. You bitch! Michelle snarled. I may be a bitch. Crystal shrugged. But at least my face isnt ruined like yours. There is no way that Paul will want you now. She turned to Nancy and said, If I remember correctly, she pped you. Do you want to avenge yourself? Nancy looked at rk and then at Michelle, and then she thought about it for a while. Finally, her lips formed a smile, and she said, I will punish her; not for what she did to me, though. I want her to pay for what she did to rk. Aye, Crystal chuckled. Let Vengeance be thy name! Michelles entire body began to tremble. If you dare hurt me, Paul will make you pay! she shouted. Nancy rolled her eyes. Look at you. What is done is done. She stood up, folded her arms beneath her, and said, There is no going back. In for a penny, in for a pound, Crystal giggled. Hurt her good, Nancy! Nancy asked Noah to wait outside with rk. He doesnt need to see this, she said. rk frowned, and he began to cry. I want to be with you, he whined. Ill only be there a few minutes, Nancy promised. Be a good boy for Mommy, okay. rk blew a kiss to her and said, Okay, Mommy. I will wait for you. Once Noah and rk were gone, Nancy red at Michelle. I have been waiting for this for a long time, she said. But that shouldnt surprise you. Wh-Wh-What are y-you g-going to d-do to m-me? Michelle stammered. I want to p you, Nancy replied, But I dont want to get your blood on me. So, I guess Ill have to get you cleaned up first. She turned to one of the servants and asked if the pot of water was boiling yet. I like the way you think, Crystal said admiringly. Even your kindness is cruel. She needs to pay for what she did to rk, Nancy said coldly. It is one thing to mistreat another adult, but it takes a real degenerate to hurt a child. After today, she will think again before she hurts anybody! The servant nodded and brought the pot of boiling water into the living room. If we had more time, I would strip her down to her skivvies and throw her into a tub of boiling water, Nancy exined. She looked at Michelle and said, So, consider yourself lucky, and let this serve as a warning. Nancy instructed the servants to hold Michelle in ce. Once Michelle was secured, she slowly lifted the pot. Michelle began to struggle frantically, but it was all for naught. Why are you scared? Crystal asked. You did this to a child, so you must not think it is that bad You will go to Hell for this! Michelle hissed. Both of you! By now, the pot was above Michelles head, but as Nancy began to tip it, her consciousness spoke up in the back of her mind. It said, You cant do this. It is wrong, and if you do it, you will be as much of a monster as she is. Crystal frowned as she watched her friend straighten the pot. Whats wrong? she asked. Im sorry, Nancy replied. I cant do it. Do you need my help? Crystal asked. Its better to let the bodyguards do it, Nancy replied. That way, our consciences will remain clean. Crystal nodded and helped Nancy pass the pot to a bodyguard. That is some pretty fucked up reasoning, Michelle grumbled.. Shut up! Nancy hissed. Nobody asked you! Nancy opened her mouth to object, but her screams cut off the words as the bodyguard poured the boiling water over her head. She squeezed her eyes shut, but she could not manage to keep her mouth closed, and some of the water rushed into her mouth. It burnt the inside of her mouth, her tongue, and her throat as it made its way into her stomach. Michelle was in so much pain that she wished that she were dead. Finally, mercifully, she lost consciousness. Crystal turned to Nancy, smiled, and said, Lets go. Chapter 286: How Did You Know? By the time Nancy and Crystal made it to the car, rk was half asleep. But after all that he had been through, this was no surprise. Not only had Michelle burned the boys arm and beaten him, but she had also deprived him of sleep and nutritional food. When he heard his mothers voice, though, he opened his eyes and sat up straight. He nuzzled up against her and said, Thank you for saving me, Mommy. Nancy ran her fingers through his hair and said, rk, my sweetie, we are going to leave all the bad people behind us, and they will never find us. We will live together forever, and we will be happy. **** Having rescued rk, the next step was to rescue Nathan from the castle and meet up with the ship that Noah had arranged for them. After crossing the border of Kuerto, Vic would send a helicopter to greet them. Then, they would go their separate ways. Nathan would go off on his own, Noah would return to the ind, and the other three would proceed to Seattle. Noah was sitting in the drivers seat, and Crystal was sitting behind him. After they had been on the road for a while, she tapped him on the shoulder. Are we going to the port now? she asked. Noah smiled and nodded. Crystal frowned. But what about Nathan? I have sent some of my men to rescue him, Noah replied. He will meet us at the port. Are you sure that everything will work out okay? Crystal asked. If there are any problems, my men will contact me. Dont worry. Crystal had been tempted to leave Nathan behind, but she knew that once Paul and Eric were set free, they would be out for blood. She did not think Noah would be any safer, though. She met his eyes in the rearview mirror. I still think that you shoulde with us, she said. I worry for your safety. Noah sighed and said, I wish that I could, but there is something that I still have to deal with. Crystal begged him. This may be your only chance to escape. If you are on the ind, Eric and Paul will not let you go, and there is no knowing what kind of torture you will be forced to endure. I am aware. Noah lowered his eyes. He sighed and said, If I could go, I would. Please dont make this any harder for me than it already is. Nancy began to cry. You have done so much for us; too much, really. If I had known how much helping me would cost you, I never would have let you get involved. This is all my fault, and I am so sorry. Noah smiled. No matter what happens, I am d to have helped. Mr. Laurent, will you please leave with us? Crystal asked again. Noah sighed, and a tear ran down from his eyes. Suddenly, it urred to Crystal that she may know what was holding Noah back. She turned to Nancy but did not say anything. It was not long before Nancys brow furrowed. Nancy was confused, Why are you staring at me? Before Crystal could reply, Noah interrupted, and for the first time since they had met him, he sounded angry. Wont you let the matter rest? he asked. I would like to go, but I cannot. Now stop going on about it! Crystal and Nancy were taken aback. The car remained silent for a long time. Nancy was not ready to let the matter go, though, and she leaned over to whisper in Crystals ear: What should we do? I dont want him to get hurt. Maybe he has his own principles, Crystal suggested. Maybe we shouldnt force him But Crystal smiled. On the other hand she whispered. if you insist on ensuring his safety, we could knock him out and take him with us. Nancys eyes lit up, and she thought Crystal always had the best ideas! Crystal put her hand on her friends tight and said, Dont get too excited. You may save his life, but he might resent you for it That is a risk that I am willing to take. **** Back at the castle, Paul and Eric, and Nathan were all asleep. After having struggled for so long, their energy waspletely depleted, and they passed out almost immediately after the women left. Time passed without incident, and Paul was the first to wake up. Then, because he was hanging upside down, the sock in his mouth had loosened up, and he was able to spit it out. He saw that Eric and Nathan were asleep, and he shouted at them until they woke up, and they were also able to get the socks out of their mouths. I wish you hadnt woken me up, Nathan groaned. I had a wonderful dream. You and I both, Ericined. Never mind that! Paul eximed. You sound like a couple of little girls! We need to work together and find a way to escape. He turned to Eric. If we shout loud enough, your subordinates are sure toe. Right? I doubt it, Eric replied despondently. I believe they have beenpromised How did ite to this? Paul whined. I have always been the master of my universe, but now look at me. Tied up like this C upside-down C I cannot even take a piss! It is so humiliating. We definitely underestimated the girls, Paul replied. And I never would have guessed that Noah had recovered to such an extent. Eric sighed. I dont get it either. One minute he is on his deathbed, and the next, he is hauling you about the house like some strong man. It makes no sense! Paul smiled and said, At least they cant escape. I have this ind in my back pocket, Paul exined. Nobodyes or goes without me saying so.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Thats all good and well, Eric scoffed. But if nobodyes to our aid, we will surely die here. After having that sock stuck in my mouth for so long, my body is already dehydrated. I am so thirsty! Someone will bring us water soon, Paul predicted. Just as Eric opened his mouth to argue Pauls prophecy, a guard opened the door and walked in, and he had a bottle of water in his hand. There was another guard behind him, and Paul recognized them as belonging to Eric. Erics jaw dropped open. How did you know? he asked. Chapter 287: Will You Finally Admit The guards offered the three prisoners the bottled water, and they drank the liquid of life with unadulterated pleasure. But when Eric asked the guards to release them, they ignored his request. Paul stared at Eric sullenly. Arent these your subordinates? he asked. What is going on? Eric said nothing. There was nothing to be said. He had no idea how his servants had been turned against him. Once the guards had finished giving them water, they left the room without having said a single word. For Paul, the worst of it was having to be upside down, and he almost wished that they had not been given water. A part of him wished for death, and the water would just extend his life. Eric saw that Paul had fallen into a funk, and he said, Cheer up, bro. They will release us in two days. Paul eyed him suspiciously. How do you know that? We have been given water, which means they want us alive, Eric exined. Thedies just want time to run away. Once they think that they are safe, they will call the guards and order them to set us free. Paul smirked and said, They will regret that. Once we are free, there is nowhere in the world that they can go that I cannot find them. Suddenly, two strong men walked into Nathans room. They went to the side of the bed and began to untie him. Thank God! Eric eximed. We are saved. I am afraid not. Nathan chuckled and said, This is my exit. Ill see you both in Hell, suckers! ****Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Noah got his group to the pier without incident, and Nathan arrived shortly after. The cruise ship was ready, and as soon as they boarded, it set sail. For the moment, Noah was still with them. Once they were out of sight, he would take one of the smaller boats back to the ind. Crystals only regret was that they had not been able to torture Eric and Paul any more than they had. However, the smiles on Nancy and rks faces made it all worth it. If they were happy, nothing else mattered. Crystal looked at the food in front of her and asked rk if he liked sea crabs. He said that he did, so she invited him to help her peel them. After peeling one, she smiled and said, This is really rxing. I am d that you are doing it with me. rk nodded and said, I like seafood. Crystal selected another crab, but rk took it out of her hand. Ill do it, he said. Crystal smiled. Alright. When he was done, he held it in the air and said, This ones for me. Uncle Noah can have the bigger one. Crystal was startled. rk had never called Noah his Uncle before. Before she could put too much thought into what that meant, one of the guards came running from below deck. Whats the matter? she asked. It took a moment for the guard to get his breath, and then he said, Master Davis has refused to eat. He said that his stomach hurts, and he wants to see you, Miss Smith. Crystal cursed under her breath. She raised her eyebrows and thought C This mans arrogance knows no bounds! He knew that she cared whether he lived or died, and he was using that knowledge against her. By mentioning his stomach problems, Nathan knew that she was sure toe. She sighed and said, Go back and tell him that if he doesnt eat, I will throw him into the sea. He can feed the sharks for all I care. Tell him those exact words. The guards face turned white, and he hurried back the way he hade. Crystal chuckled, but when she turned back to rk, she saw that he looked as afraid as the guard had. Will you really feed him to the sharks, the boy asked. No, no! Crystalughed jovially. I was just kidding, she exined. Do you understand? rk nodded and said, That is good because I dont think he would like it very much He definitely wouldnt, Crystal agreed. Now, lets get back to these crabs. Within minutes, the troublesome guard returned. What now? Crystal sighed. The guard looked desperate. Miss Smith, Master Davis still wont eat. He says that he is in a lot of pain. Fine. Crystal sighed and said, Im on my way. Nancy smiled and said, You still care about Master Davis, dont you? I care for him, Crystal admitted. But not in the way that you are thinking. Nobody deserves to fall into the hands of Paul and Eric! Nancy nodded and said, Good thing we remembered Wolf! Good thing! Wolf wasying down, gnawing a bone, and he barked amicably when he heard his name. Crystal stood up and went below deck, and when she got to Nathans room, she went in without knocking. He had one of the shipsrger rooms and was luxurious. He was lying in bed, and there was a steak on his night table. Crystal sighed and said, I cant believe that you are still giving me a hard time. After having been on a limited diet for so long, I would have thought that you would be anxious to eat such a choice cut of beef. I ordered this especially for you, and you refuse to eat it. Is there something wrong with your stomach? Do you want me to find a doctor for you? Nathan did not reply. He had his hand on his stomach, but his face was expressionless. Have you taken your medicine? Crystal asked. She walked to the side of his bed and checked his temperature with the back of her hand. You look fine and your forehead isnt warm. Nathan smiled and grabbed her wrist. You have finallye, he said. You tricked me! Crystal sneered. You dont have a stomach ache at all, do you? I only said that I did to prove a point, Nathan replied. You wouldnt havee if you didnt care for me. Dont you think that it is about time you stopped lying to yourself? Crystal felt like he could see into her heart, and she quickly turned away so that he would not see how exposed she felt. I just dont want you to die on the boat, she said. Your death would bring us bad luck! You could have let me die in the castle Nathan let the sentence hang. Dont put too much stock in that. I also saved Nancys dog. She shrugged and said, It is not in me to let a person die if I can save them. Even if I dont like them! Am I nothing more than a dog to you? Nathan asked. Exactly. I am fine with that. Nathan grinned and said, So long as I can be your dog. What do you think about that? I dont think very much about that, Crystal replied. Even if you were a dog, I wouldnt want you. I would nurse you back to health, and then I would send you to the pound. Nathan was still holding her hand, and when she tried to pull away, not only did he increase his grip, but he pulled her forward so that she fell into his arms. Crystals ire began to rise as he wrapped his other arm around her. Let me go! she growled. When Nathan saw that she was getting angry, he softened his tone and said, If I let you go, will you finally admit that you care about me? Chapter 288: Do You Have Any Evidence? Crystal did not know what to say. She felt like she was in a real bind. She thought C I dont want to tell him that I care about him, but if I refuse, he may never let me go Ill be happy if you say that you care about me, Nathan continued. Why must you torture me so? Havent I done enough to prove my love for you? You have done enough for me, Crystal admitted. She red at him and said, Simrly, you have done enough for Helen. Do you deny it? Nathan rolled his eyes and said, You have always been jealous. I forgot about that. Jealous? Crystal scoffed. I am not jealous. I am hurt You hurt me Thats not my fault, Nathan argued. If you had told me that you minded, instead of pretending that you didnt, things would have been different. Besides, Helen is not pregnant with my child. Now, whos lying to themselves? Crystal growled. If that were the case, you would not have hidden so many things from me. Nathans eyes filled with tears, and he said, I will tell you everything, starting now. Perhaps it will make a difference. Let me tell you what happened. Crystal thought about it for a second, and then she said, If you let me go, I will listen. I cant think of anything you could say to change anything, though Nathan let her go, and then he slowly told her the whole story. He exined why he pretended to be sick, treated her cold, and pretended to be nice to Helen. Then he told her about the paternity test of the child and that he had not instructed his guards to crucify and whip her. They should never have done that, he said sadly. My Grandfather ordered them to do that. When he was done talking, he looked Crystal in the eyes and waited to hear what she would say. This story sounds moving, but I dont believe it, Crystal murmured. I dont think there is such a ruthless Grandpa in the world. Nathan grimaced. You have seen him, he argued. You have seen how horrible he is. How can you doubt that he is capable of this? Crystal frowned. Do you have any evidence? she asked. I only have your word and that is not enough. I am your evidence, Nathan replied. I was captured by Eric. That should be all the evidence that you need. What does that have to do with anything? Crystal asked. It is everything! Nathan eximed. Dont you see?!?! She did not. He seemed so sad and sincere, though, that it broke her heart to deny him. I am sorry, she said, but I need more evidence; real evidence, not this flimsy, nonsensical exnation. Please, Nathan begged. Give me a chance to show you some evidence. Come back home with me, and I will prove to you that I am not lying.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Okay, Ill go home with you! Crystal said sarcastically. Sure! That sounds like a great f******g idea. Once we are there, you would never let me out of your sight. Isnt that so? Do you think that Im a fool? Nathans face turned white. I have never thought that you were a fool, he said. On the contrary, you are very smart! Crystal gave him a dirty look and said, I dont need you sucking up to me, and you may as well not bother because it wont change anything. I wasnt sucking up, Nathan argued. But never mind that. If you arent going toe home with me, then where will you go? As if I would tell you! Crystalughed cruelly. Im only asking because I care about you, Nathan murmured. Hearing this, Crystal felt like her heart was being stabbed. Bullshit You do not care You are just trying to get me to let my guard down. Tears began to stream down Nathans face. I care for you deeply, he said. Bullshit, I dont believe you! You have to believe me, Nathan cried. My heart was rent asunder when I learned about what happened to you! If I had a knife, I would cut my heart out of my chest and show you! Cut it out. Crystal rolled her eyes and said, Dont be such a drama queen. It hurt her to see him hurting, but this was more than she could handle. Please dont roll your eyes at me, Nathan begged. I am bearing my soul here, and you dare to make a jest of it! And why is that? You are reluctant to let me plunge a knife into my chest. Is that because you love me? Crystal, I thought you were extraordinarily strong, but now I find out you are a coward. Only a coward would be too afraid to profess their love! It has nothing to do with fear! Crystal eximed. She took a deep breath and said, You are egomaniac, and you live in a fantasy world. I do not love you. In fact, I am sick of you! Since you dont love me, why do you care if I die? Nathan demanded. We have been over this, and it is getting old, Crystal replied. But if you insist She walked to the coffee table and picked up the knife that was sitting beside a fruit te. He asked for it C she thought bitterly as she walked back. She offered him the de without saying anything. Nathan took the knife from her hand and aimed the sharp end at his chest. He began to apply pressure, and a small pool of blood appeared and ran down his chest. So be it, he said. I will show you my heart. But Crystal once I take it out, I cannot put it back. Dont think that Im going to stop you. Crystal red at him. Men are so stupid C she thought as she picked up a wastebasket. She handed it to him and said, You can put your heart here, where it has always belonged. Oh, and try not to stain my sheets with your blood. She hoped that her indifferent attitude would give him cause to pause. It did not, though. Without looking up, Nathan increased the pressure. The flow of blood increased, and a groan passed through his lips. It was clear that he was in an incredible amount of pain. Youre crazy! Crystal muttered. Tears began to trickle from her eyes and down her cheeks. Im not, Nathan argued. My thinking is crystal clear. I would rather die than live without your love. The knife scraped across Nathans sternum and created a sound reminiscent of nails on a chalkboard. Suddenly, blood began to gush out of the wound. The sound turned Crystals stomach, and she began to feel dizzy. Her lower lip started trembling, and tears welled up in her eyes. Finally, Crystal could not take it anymore. This is one game of chicken that has gone too far C she thought. You can stop that now, she said. Please Why? Nathans brow furrowed as he looked up. I just dont want you to do this! Crystal eximed. It is disturbing, and I dont like it. You say you love me. Well, if you do, prove it by not putting me through this ordeal. Nathan nodded, and as he withdrew the de, he used his free hand to stop the bleeding. When he saw how upset she was, he smiled, patted the bed, and said, Come here. Sit down. Crystal nodded, and without overthinking it, she sat down beside him. Her hands were trembling, and he held them and gave them a reassuring squeeze. What were you afraid of? he asked. Were you afraid that I would kill myself? Is that it? Crystal looked away. She was crying uncontrobly by now, and she was ashamed. Why do you care if I live or if I die? Nathan wondered. Is it because I have a position in your heart? Crystal continued to sob silently. By now, she had covered her face with her hands, and she felt the beginnings of a panic attacking on. Despite her despondence, Nathan carried on with his little speech. He said, I have died once, and the fear of death has no hold on me. But if you admit that you care for me, then I will live for you! Please, love me once, and I will be at your disposal! Chapter 289: I Love You Very Much Crystal was a little startled by just how cheeky, and sly Nathan was, not to mention how maniptive. He had set a trap for her, and he was so confident that she would fall into it that he had put his life on the line C Supposedly. Now that she realized that his suicide attempt was nothing but a game, she was able topose herself. She would not allow herself to fall victim to his devious n. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve, shook her head, and said, I dont love you. I never did, and I never will. To Crystals surprise, Nathan pressed the knife back into his chest, and he twisted it so that the bloody wound became bigger. He was gripping the handle so tightly that his knuckles turned white. There was an evil shine in Nathans eyes and a creepy little smile on his face. What did you say? he asked. I said Crystal began to sob again, and in a hoarse voice, she said, I said I didnt love you but I lied. Nathans eyebrows wriggled. How so? How could I not love you? Crystal whispered. What do you mean? Blood began spurting out of Nathans chest, but he seemed not to care. Do you love me or dont you? You still havent answered my question. Let me get you some help, Crystal cried. Im begging you. Your wound is bleeding badly If you dont answer my question, itll bleed more, Nathan threatened. Crystal stared at him in anger. Havent you achieved your goal? she shouted. Isnt what Im doing an obvious answer? Why do you have to force me like this? She could not stand the sight of so much blood, and she began to panic. Curiously, Nathan was as cool as a cucumber. He had lost a lot of blood, though, and he was growing weaker by the minute. He said, You are being ridiculous. Why is it so hard for you to say that you love me? You know that I do, Crystal replied. So, what is the big deal? I want to hear you say it. His voice was unsteady. And if you dont say it now, you will not be able to say itter. This is yourst chance Crystal lowered her eyes, and she finally admitted that she loved him. Nathans eyes lit up, and he said, Your words sound as sweet as the most beautiful song in the world. Alright. Crystal sighed and said, Ill call Noah in now. Crystal began to shout for help, but when no one came, it urred to her that she was not being heard. She told Nathan that she would go get Noah herself, but he would not let her go. Now that she had professed her love for him, he wanted to hear her say it again and again until it seemed that she had said I love you a million times, and still he wanted more! He is acting like a spoiled child C Crystal thought. I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you! Now can I go get Noah?!?! Not yet. Tell me who it is that you love. Nathan puckered his lips and said, Say my name. Nathan Davis, I love you. Crystal, Nathan whispered her name. I love you too. I love you very much. Ill go on loving you for the rest of my life. And tears were streaming down his eyes. I love you very much! Crystal wanted to hit him for the grievances she had suffered, for the lost time that they could have spent together, and for what he had just done to himself. In the condition that he was in, though, she didnt dare. All she could do was cry. Silly girl, what are you crying for? he asked while wiping her tears away with his thumb. Are you an idiot? Crystal shouted. Who would stab themselves to make a point. That was so stupid of you, and now you wont even let me get a doctor! I did what I did to prove my sincerity so that you would feel safe enough to proim your love for me, Nathan exined. I had tried every other way that I could think of, but nothing else worked. This was myst-ditch effort. And now that you have said that you love me, even if I die, I will die happy. He tried to kiss her, but hecked the strength. Crystal leaned over and kissed Nathan, and she was taken aback by how cold his skin was. She felt like she had kissed a corpse. She pulled away from him and said, Youve lost too much blood. If you dont let me go and get Noah, you are going to die. Say you love me one more time, Nathan whispered. Then you may go. Why do you have to be so stubborn? Will you ever say it again? Yes, I will as many times as you like. I will say it to you every day, okay! Now let me go, you big lummox! Yes Nathan murmured. Go Bute back His eyes closed as she dashed out of the room, and within seconds he lost consciousness. **** How is he? Crystal asked. Will he live? Hell be fine, Noah replied. When he had arrived, the first thing that he did was check Nathans breathing. It was very shallow, but Noah was optimistic. Next, he checked Nathans cirction. Then he began to treat the wound, and as he worked, he kept Crystal up to date on the situation.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Dont worry, Noah continued. The de didnt hit any key organs. My only real concern is with how much blood he has lost. Can we give him a blood transfusion? Crystal asked. We could, if we were at a hospital, but we dont have the right equipment on this ship. Noah sighed. Mostly, not having the transfusion just means that his recovery will take longer. His prognosis is good, though. As long as there is no infection, he should be up and about in no time. Noah cleaned the wound, gave it six stitches, applied Polysporin, and bound it uptight. You will need to help him for the next week or so, he exined. He will need assistance eating, bathing, and going to the washroom. Are you up to the task? Crystal nodded. There was a knock on the door, and Nancy came in, and when she saw Nathan all neatly bound up, she asked, How is your patient, Doctor? Noah smiled and said, Hell be fine. I just cant believe that he stabbed himself to force Crystal to say that she loved him. What a Neanderthal! Not to mention a maniptive bastard! Nancy added. Luckily, Nathan was still unconscious. If he had heard what was being said about him, he would have blown a gasket. Never mind that, Crystal muttered. Can we talk about something else? Sure. Nancy smiled and said, Your wish is mymand. What would you like to talk about? Chapter 290: Say My Name Crystal wriggled her eyebrows yfully as she turned and returned Nancys smile. Whats going on between you and Noah? she wondered. Nancys smile turned to a frown, and she said, I dont know what you mean. Dont y coy with me, Crystal chided her. rk likes him, and he relies on him. I always see him following Noah around. The boy may as well be his shadow. So, please tell me what you think about him! You must have some feelings for him. After all, you married him! Noahs back was stiff. He was pretending that he could not hear their conversation, but it was getting harder by the minute. Well Nancy sighed. I didnt expect him and rk to be so close. Normally, my son is standoffish around men. Friends? Crystal scoffed. Is that what you think they are? I feel like they act more like a father and son than a couple of buddies. Noahs back became stiffer. Nancy was taken aback by her friends words. Are you suggesting that I let Noah be rks Godfather? she asked. Godfather? Crystal was speechless. Is Nancy really this dull? C she wondered. Before she could say anything more, though, Nathan stirred, and his eyes opened. He looked around the room, and when he saw Crystal, he smiled and said, Youre still here.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Crystal shrugged. I was waiting to see if you would die. Nathan sighed and said, You care about me. You cried for me. You said that you love me. Are you going to deny it? He seemed to not see the other people in the room. He only had eyes for Crystal, and the expression on his face made her feel slightly embarrassed. Crystal rolled her eyes. Nathan Davis, you are such a jerk! I may be a jerk. Nathan chuckled. But you love this jerk! This is neither the time nor the ce for this conversation! Crystal scolded him. Are you afraid to let your friends know that you love me? Nathan asked. His chummy words left her tongue-tied, and she could only stare at him in silent protest. Crystal was starting to regret saving his life. I should have given him to the sea like Id threatened to do C she thought. Nancy was beginning to feel awkward, so she cleared her throat and said, You two seem like you need some privacy. She nodded to Noah. Lets leave these two love birds alone. Of course. Noah closed his medicine bag, turned to Nathan, and said, If you need anything, have one of the girls call me. In the meantime, we will start thinking about dinner. Before Crystal knew what was happening, she was alone with Nathan. She coughed nervously, and then she got up to change the water. As she picked up the basin, she asked Nathan how he was feeling, and he said that he thought he had a fever. Crystals brow furrowed, and she set the basin down. Let me see, she said as she reached out to touch Nathans forehead. Then, as their skin touched, he grabbed her hand. F**k that noise! Crystal growled as she tried to pull away. How dare you try to trick me again?!?! I just wanted to see if you cared, he replied. He refused to let her hand go. He brought it to his heart and pressed her palm t against his chest. Can you feel my heart? he asked. Its beating super-fast. You caused that You are too much. Crystal sighed. Are you ready to eat yet? I am, Nathan replied. I want you to feed me, though. Will you do that? You wish! Crystal replied. You have enough strength to feed yourself, and your hands are fine. Then say you love me. Nathan bargained with her. Crystal smirked. Why should I do that? You know why, Nathan replied. You promised me that you would say it as many times as I like! You believed that? Crystal scoffed. I said that because you were in danger. Nathan Davis, when did you be so silly? Nathans pupils dted, and his face turned red. Crystal Smith! How dare you go back on your word? Crystal smirked. You cant prove that I said anything! Cant I? A shark-like Cheshire grin appeared on his face, and he said, I recorded everything that you said. To prove it, he stretched his arm, pressed a button on his watch, and Crystals words came back to haunt her. Oh, f**k! C thought Crystal. The recording started, and she was embarrassed by the sound of her begging and sobbing. How dare you record this?!?! She was infuriated. I couldnt miss such an important opportunity, he replied. You were finally being honest. Ive never heard such a touching deration of love. Turn it off! Crystal shouted. The recording made her feel ufortable. He paid no mind to herints, though. Instead, when the recording ended, he started it over from the beginning. Enough! Crystal shouted. Im ordering you to turn it off! The recording continued without interruption C (Tell me who it is that you love, Nathan; Say my name. Crystal sighed and said, Nathan Davis, I love you.) That is the most beautiful sound that I have ever heard, Nathan said, and he rewound it so that he could hear that part again C (Crystal sighed and said, Nathan Davis, I love you.) Whatever, Crystal hissed. She picked up the basin and went to the bathroom to change the water. She took her time, hoping that he would fall asleep while she was gone, but when she returned, she found him as attentive as he had been when she left him. Crystal had to clench her fists to suppress the impulse to beat him up. She could not see how devious his n had been. She thought C What a scheming bastard! He had known that she still cared about him, and he had used her feelings C her weakness C against her. That will be enough of that, she said. I am going to leave now. Dont go. Nathan pleaded with her. Say it again, and Ill turn it off right away. What do you say? Those three words be cheap if they are said too often, Crystal replied. When those words are spoken casually, they are meaningless. I am not like you. I do not say them casually either, Nathan argued, and I do not believe that you did either. Obviously, the love that you have for me willst a lifetime! You dont know what youre talking about. Crystal looked him over and grimaced. I dont intend to spend my life with such an overbearing, unreasonable man. You bring nothing but bad luck, and getting together with you was the biggest mistake of my life! There was a knock at the door, and Nancy walked in. She smiled and said, Dinner is ready. Shall we all eat in here with Nathan? Sure,e on in. I didnt expect it to be done so soon. Nancy pushed the door fully open to make room for Noah and the small dining car that he was pulling. rk and Wolf followed behind them. With Nathans stomach problem, I thought I should get dinner on as quickly as possible. I noticed that he didnt touch the steak, so I made a simple soup with pasta. Crystal nodded and said, Im sure that he will appreciate your thoughtfulness. Meanwhile, Nathan continued to y the recording on repeat. Chapter 291: Does It Hurt? Nancy was taken aback when she heard the recording of Crystal professing her love for Nathan. O. M. G.! she gushed. Youve finally admitted it! Ive always known that you love him! Crystal was mortified. Nathan turned to Nancy. He smiled and said, Miss Carter. Nancy was amazed. She had been friends with Crystal for a long time, but in all that time, Nathan had hardly looked at her, and he had never spoken to her. This sudden attention made her afraid. Wh-Wh-Whats the- m C matter? she stammered. Is the f-food not to your l-liking? What has Crystal told you about me? he asked with great interest. Err What do you mean? Just what I said, Nathan replied impatiently. Do I need to repeat the question? Nancys face turned red, and she looked at her feet. N-No, she replied. To b-be honest, she hasnt said much. Were c-close, but she g -guards her heart. That she does. Nathan thought about her answer for a moment, and then he thanked her for her candor. Now that that is settled, what is to be done about her marriage to Eric? asked Nancy.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Nathan turned to Crystal and stared deep into her eyes. Yes, he whispered. What do you n to do about your husband? Crystal looked around the room frantically. She did not know what to say and felt very vulnerable, like a bug pinned to a corkboard. Finally, she opened her mouth to reply, but before any words came out, rk and Wolf rushed over to the side of the bed. The boy looked up to Nathan and said, Mister, what happened to you? Why are you in bed? I have an owie, Nathan replied kindly. Does it hurt? the boy asked excitedly. It looks like it hurts! I wont lie. It hurts a little bit. Nathanughed and said, Ill be okay, though. Thank you so much for being so concerned. Is Nancy your Mommy? Hes my son, Nancy murmured. His name is rk. I like that. Nathan turned back to the boy. Just like Superman, right? rk Kent! Heughed again and said, My name is Mister Davis. Its nice to meet you, Uncle Davis. rk threw his arms around Nathan and gave him a big hug. Crystal was shocked. She had assumed that Nathan didnt like children. Nancy was equally impressed. She nudged her friend and asked, When are you two going to have a baby? Never, Crystal replied. Very soon, Nathan replied. Really, Nancy ignored Crystal and responded to Nathan instead. If you have a girl, then she could marry rk one day! Nancy Cater Crystal clenched her teeth. Nathan smiled and said, I think that is a great idea! Really? Nancy couldnt believe her ears. It was just an idea. I didnt expect you to say yes. Why not! Nathan eximed. I believe in nning ahead. Nancy was overjoyed. With you and Crystal as her parents, she will be the most beautiful baby ever! I told you guys that Im not going to have a baby! Crystal shouted. Thanks for your soup and pasta. The implication of her words was obvious. She wanted everyone to leave. Nancy scowled. Am I interrupting you? she asked. Yes. Crystal smiled politely. I understand, Nancy teased her. You need some privacy so that you can get to work on making that baby! Nancy Crystal warned. All right, all right. Nancy chuckled. Well leave. Wolf left first, followed by rk, and then the two adults. Once they were gone, Crystal closed and locked the door. Then, when she turned around, she was caught off guard by Nathans wolfish grin. What? she asked. You really are anxious to get down to business, he replied. Crystal rolled her eyes and said, If you eat the soup and pasta yourself, I may consider it. Without hesitation, Nathan picked the bowl up and began to scarf the food down as quickly as he could. Careful, Crystal warned. You dont want to get indigestion, do you? Nathan grunted and did not slow down. Dont forget to eat the fish, she added. It will help you recover quicker. There was fish in the soup. Nathan swallowed and said, Forget the fish. I am ready to eat you now! You lustful jerk! Crystal red at him. Behave yourself. Dont forget that you are still injured. If Im not lustful, how can we have a big-eyed baby, Nathan wondered. He could not stop thinking about all the fun he had in assaulting her the night before, and his member was already rock hard. He finished thest few bites of soup, and then he was ready for the next course. Crystal looked at him for a moment, and then she said, Let me give you a shave first. He had not shaved in days, and his face was a mess. Without waiting for a response, she went to the washroom and brought out everything that she needed. Once she had his facethered up, she ran the de down the side of his face. Nathan sighed and asked, Why are you suddenly being so nice to me? Its just a shave, Crystal replied. Dont overthink it. Well, its a nice change from how you normally treat me Stop talking. I dont want to cut you. Nathan zipped his lips and stopped talking. However, as she took the scruff off his face, his hands were busy caressing her face. His fingers touched her eyebrows, nose, and lips, and he ran them through her hair. All the while, his breathing was so unstable that she could feel the hot breath spraying out from his nose. Suddenly, his nose twitched, and she identally cut him. Crystal cursed and said, I told you not to move, dammit! Sorry, muttered Nathan sheepishly. Crystal continued to shave his face, and his face remained motionless, but his hands were getting more courageous. First, he touched her neck, then her corbone, and before she knew what was happening, he had gotten ahold of her breast over her bra. Crystal caught his hand and pulled it out of her shirt. Im telling you to stop! she shouted. Can you hear me? Youre taking too long, Nathanined. Crystal gave him a dirty look and said, If your hands dont stop moving, Ill leave. Nathan frowned. Are you deliberately torturing me? he asked. Torturing you? Crystal scoffed. Is that what you think Im doing? A second ago, you said I was being kind. So, Mr. Davis, which is it? Nathans ire began to rise, but he said nothing. He hated it when she called him Mr. Davis, but she was right. He had said that she was being kind. Finally, the shave was over, and the second after Crystal finished wiping away the foam, Nathan spread his arms and prepared to jump on her. Not yet, Crystal chuckled. I still need to trim your nails! What the f**k?!?! Nathan eximed. Whats wrong? Crystal asked. You should be grateful to have such attentive care. Nathan sighed and said, I appreciate the thought, but now is hardly the time Crystal gave Nathan a hard look and said, We are not doing anything until Ive got you cleaned up! Do you understand? Fine, Nathan grumbled. He offered her his hands and said, Lets get this over with then. Chapter 292: Don鈥檛 Bother Saying You Don鈥檛 Once Nathans manicure was done, he sighed and said, I suppose that now that youre done with my fingers, youre going to want to cut my toenails next? Youre so smart, Crystal replied sarcastically. Not! I wouldnt touch your smelly feet with a ten-foot pole! Nathans eyes lit up when he heard that. So, can we start? Crystal pretended to think about it, and then she said, I dont think it is a good idea. You have serious injuries, and you should not be overexerting yourself. We could still do it, but I would need to do all the work. To prevent your hands and legs from moving, I would have to tie you up. How does that sound? It sounds great, Nathan replied. He was into BDSM, and she knew it. Crystal nodded and encouraged him toy spread-eagle so that she could bind him to the bed with her stockings. Once he was secured, she climbed on top of him, and she got a little surprise when his swollen member Boops her between her butt cheeks. Whats this? she chuckled. You must really want me I do Nathan gasped. Well, maybe you will get me She smiled at him wickedly. Eventually What does that mean? Nathan asked nervously. Youll see, Crystal replied. The tables had turned, and finally, after all this time, it was her turn to torture him. For the next six hours, she dry-humped him, rubbing up against him until she had rubbed him raw and he was begging for her to f**k him already, or just stop. She was as relentless as he had been with her, though, and she showed him no mercy.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. When she was finally finished, she was shocked to discover that he still wanted to make love to her. Crystal, he moaned. Im waiting for you. Crystal gave him a seductive smile, and she drew circles on his chest with her fingers. She looked into his eyes, and she felt like she was being drawn into them. It was inconceivable to her that he was still hard, but he was, and when she adjusted his manh**d, she was startled to discover that he was sopping wet. At first, thought that he had an orgasm, but then she realized that it was a vag*nal discharge. She had soaked through her clothes, and it was all over him. She could smell it, and it made her want to f**k him. Crystal, I want you Nathans voice became hoarse. Finally, Crystal gave in to her carnal nature. She bent down, kissed him on the chin, and said, I want you too Nathans face turned cold, and he said, Well, now it is your turn to want something and not be able to get it! What is that supposed to mean? Crystal asked. But as soon as the words came out, she understood everything. f**k you! she growled. Didnt you say that you loved me?. I only remember the cost of your love, Nathan replied. You love me, but you treat me badly I love you, Crystal cried. But that doesnt mean that I want to be with you forever. You ask too much of me. Are you really going to deny me now?!?! Poor baby! Nathan mocked her. Its not fun to be teased and denied and treated like an animal. Maybe youll learn something from this! Whatever, Crystal grumbled. She gave him onest look, and then she climbed off of him. Nathans eyebrows furrowed angrily. You want to leave? he asked. Crystal nodded and said, From now on, we will have nothing to do with each other. She smoothed her wrinkled dress and sighed. Goodbye, Nathan. Do you think Ill let you go? he shouted. He began to thrash about, and the stockings dug so hard into his wrists that he began to bleed. Finally, the nylon snapped, and he jumped out of bed. Crystal was amazed, and by the time her brain had processed what had happened, he had stepped between her and the door. Let me out! she shouted. And why would I do that? Nathanughed. He picked her up and threw her back on the bed. Crystal watched in amazement as a spring-loaded knife emerged from Nathans watch. Her face turned white, and she thought C If he had this de all along, why didnt he use it to free himself while he was being held captive in the castle? Another thought urred to her, and she said, With all the devices hidden in that watch, you must be able tomunicate with the outside world. You have been in touch with Vic all along, havent you? Why didnt you ask him to save you? I was too weak, Nathan admitted. I had been shot, then dr*gged, and I wasnt thinking clearly. Furthermore, the watch is new. I didnt even think about it until muchter. and then I wanted to see what you would do to me if you thought that I was helpless. Dont I feel like a fool? Crystal sighed. Finally, everything made sense. You pretended to be weak, and it gave you the opportunity to cheat Eric and steal my heart. Even after being exposed, you have lost nothing, and I am still stuck in your trap. You are quite the evil genius! Nathan smirked. And I can see that you are quite proud of yourself too, Crystal added. Indeed, I am! Nathan eximed. He pressed his body against hers and said, This turned out better than I could have ever hoped it would. Who would have guessed that after escaping, you would send someone back to rescue me? That was a real shocker for me! Crystal clenched and unclenched her fists at her sides, So, you are triumphant? So what? At the end of the day, you are still alone! It never would have ended this way if we had fucked. Nathan sighed and said, What I did was very stupid. Crystal, do you know that I am very angry at myself right now? Good! Crystal spat on the ground. But I am way angrier than you are! Nathan gave her a skeptical look. Oh, Really? If that is so, why dont we vent our anger together? Let me go! Crystal growled. You had your chance, and you blew it! Crystal was so annoyed that she identally punched him on his chest. Nathan began to tremble as he clutched the ce where she had hit him, and a moan escaped her lips. Realizing that she had hit his wound, Crystal tried to retract her hand, but he grabbed it. Then he grabbed her other hand and lifted them both above her head. Next, He tore open the bow-shape strap on her waist and tied her to the bed. No! Crystal began to cry. You want it, whispered Nathan. Dont bother saying you dont. Crystal glowered at him and cursed. Nathan Davis! she hissed. You are a real jerk! Nathan leaned over, kissed her on the lips, and said, I may be a jerk, but Im your jerk! Get off of me! Crystal shouted. I hate you! From now on, if you say that you hate me, I will know that you are trying to say that you love me. His eyes glowed. I know how you like to y The Opposite Game. f**k off! Nathan grinned and said, If you tell me to f**k off, it means that you want me. Chapter 293: What Crawled Up Her Ass? As Nathan spoke, he stroked Crystals thigh. He started at her knees and slowly made his way to the hem of her panties. He had wanted to do this to her for a long time, but up until now, he had been at her mercy. But now that the table had turned, he was free to do to her what he wanted to. And now, after everything she had put him through, he felt like hanging her up and pping her ass until she begged for his mercy. Too much work C he thought, and without further dy, he pushed her panties aside and forced himself inside her. She was sopping wet, and he slid in easily, but the expression on her face suggested that she was in a great deal of pain. There was a measure of pleasure in her pain, though it vexed her to know that he knew that. Do you know what I want to do to you now? Nathan whispered. Ill give you a hint: Once Im done, you wont be able to walk for three days. Please, cant you get your thing out of me? Crystal begged. Her eyes were swollen, and there were tears streaming down her face. Nathan smiled. My thing is already in you, he replied. Am I not deep enough? As he spoke, he arched his back, and then he forced himself inside of her with all of his strength. For an instant, Crystals brain went nk, and then she began to shriek. Get your thing out of me! she shouted. Its as deep as it will go, Nathan exined. How deep do you want? He is making a mockery of me C she realized. You are a real bastard If you say so. Nathan wriggled his eyebrows yfully. When you call me a jerk or a bastard, I know that you intend those names as terms of endearment. Crystal wanted to shake his head and asked him if he was suffering from hallucinations, but before she could open her mouth, her sex drive kicked in, and her body was overwhelmed by an overwhelming desire to f**k. From then on, for the rest of the night, her brain was enveloped by fog. Her pleasure centers took control of her body, and she could not think straight. And when the fog cleared, she did not know how long she had been tortured. All that she knew was that her body felt like it was about to fall apart. Crystals eyshes trembled as she looked about the room. The ce was a mess, and when she looked at her body, she saw that it was covered in love bites. She looked at Nathan, and she could not believe that he had the strength to cause such destruction. Crystal sighed. She had lost again, and there was no point in denying it. Nathan watched passively as Crystal stumbled off the bed and struggled to get her clothes on. She stumbled to the door, opened it, and slipped into the hallway. After everything that had happened, Crystal was more desperate than ever to get away from Nathan. She thought C I should have taken the ne Noah had arranged to take me to a ce where he would never find me In life, though, there were no mulligans. **** Nathan looked fresh and energetic. He was wearing a clean suit, and he was sitting at a European-style coffee table, talking with Nancy. Meanwhile, Noah was ying Frisbee with Wolf, and rk was watching them. Vic was standing behind Nathan, and he had several bodyguards waiting in the next room. Crystal could not believe her eyes. After leaving Nathans room, she took a long shower. Then, when she came out, this was the scene that she had walked into. Everything felt surreal. What could Nathan and Nancy have to talk about? C she wondered. Until now, Nathan had only spoken to her once, and now they looked like they were best friends C And what is Vic doing here? As it turned out, Nathan had approached Nancy and asked if they could talk. At first, she was afraid, but when he said he wanted to talk about parenting, her inhibitions slipped away. When it came to the topic of parenting, Nancy could go on for hours, and the fact that Nathan hade to her for advice impressed her. She thought C If he cares about children, he cant be half as bad as Crystal said that he is. When it came to children, Nancy had endless words to say. Nathan noticed Crystal and said, You were in there for a while. I was beginning to get worried. Im sure you were, Crystal replied sarcastically. What crawled up her ass? C Nancy wondered. Crystal looked around the room, and she realized that everyone was looking at her, and she suddenly felt very out of ce. How did Vic get here? she asked. It should be obvious, Nathan replied. His boat has been following ours ever since we left the dock. I bet that you feel pretty foolish right about now, dont you?Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. You! Crystal growled. How dare you talk to me like that? She walked over to him and raised her fist. Before she could punch him, though, he grabbed her wrist and squeezed it. Are you flirting with me in front of everybody? Nathan asked. You are so adorable. Im afraid that I cant help but kiss you. Crystals face turned red. Nancy saw that she was unhappy, and she cleared her throat. Crystal, she interrupted. Would you like a cup of tea? Also, I made some delicious cakes. Nathan smiled and said, That sounds wonderful, but before myzy little kitten eats anything, she needs to wash her hands. My hands are clean! Crystal argued. I just got out of the shower! They can never be too clean, Nathan exined. Dont worry. I will help you. And before she could reply, he picked her up and carried her towards the bathroom. Crystals face turned white. What about your wounds? Crystal worried. You shouldnt be carrying me! Nathan smiled and said, Ill be fine. My strength has returned, and the wound on my abdomen is fine. Once they were in the washroom, he ced her on the counter and washed her hands. Then he brushed and braided her hair, and when she looked in the mirror, she was amazed. The braid was perfect. Toplete the look, Nathan took a white camellia from the vase on the table and inserted its stem into the end of the braid. What do you think? he asked. Crystal had to admit that it was stunning. The bangs on her forehead werebed into the braid to reveal her smooth forehead, and the camellia added an element of pure elegance to her appearance. Chapter 294: Sounds Good Nathan smiled as he picked Crystal up. You must be hungry, he said. Ill take you downstairs. Nancy should have the tea and cake set out by now. Although Crystals legs still hurt, she could walk, but since Nathan insisted on carrying her, she saw no point in making a fuss about it. As they descended the stairs, a thought urred to Crystal, and she said, A man who can weave braids must be a sissy or a homosexual. Isnt that right? Nathan frowned. Do you really think so? I do, Crystal replied. Thats what my father always said. I dont think so. Nathan smiled and said, At least not in every instance. I, for example, learned how to do it so that I could do it for you. I thought that you would like it. Crystal did not say anything. This hairstyle suits you well, Nathan continued. I saw a woman with this hairstyle, and I wondered what it would look like on you, so I learned how to do it. Honestly, I thought that you would appreciate the effort Am I going mad? C Nathan wondered. Before, when he saw a pretty woman, all that he could think about was having sex with her. Now, though, he had begun to pay more attention to womens essories, and when he saw something nice, he would think of Crystal. For example, if he saw a woman with a sexy dress, he would think C I wonder how Crystal would look wearing that And if he was able, he would buy it for her. **** Nathan sat Crystal down at the table, and when Nancy saw her braid, she said, Crystal, youve got your hair done up in a braid. How beautiful! It really suits you. Crystal pursed her lips uneasily. She thought C Its just a braid. Is it that big of a deal? Nathan ced his hand on Crystals thigh and said, You should learn from your friends honesty. Crystal coughed. Do you two have to make such a big deal about everything? What do you mean? Nancy was puzzled. It was Nathan who did my hair, Crystal replied. Didnt you know that? What? Nancy nced up at Nathan. Him? How does it look? Nathan was clearly in a good mood. Nancy pped her hands. It looks great! she eximed. I am impressed! What a sweet and romantic gesture! Maybe you can do my hair one day! Nathan shrugged nomittally. Maybe Crystal felt a headacheing on, and she rubbed her temples. He is so nice to you, Nancy continued. You are hardly the greatest judge of character! Crystal scoffed. You said the same thing about Eric! Did I? Nancy thought about it for a moment, and then she said, Maybe I was right on both ounts, maybe they are both good to you!Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Or maybe they are both bad to me! Crystal red at her friend. Did you ever think about that?!?! Nathan and Eric are still both better than Paul, Nancy argued. Do you have to keep bringing up Eric? Nathan asked. Its killing the mood! Crystal raised her eyebrows and said, In that case, I will have to mention him more often. He is my husband, after all, and in the future, he will be the one braiding my hair! Nathans pupils dted, but he kept his anger in check. Instead ofshing out, he pressed a button on his watch, and Crystals voice could be heard saying, I lied when I said I do not love you. Nathan! Crystal shouted. That is enough! Nathan shook his wrist and said, If you bring up another subject that makes me ufortable, I will make you listen to the recording one hundred times! Nancyughed. Thats funny. You two are really a quarrelsome and loving couple C like Lucy and Ricky Ricardo from l Love Lucy! Crystal red at her. This isnt funny. Nancy, you set me up. No, I didnt, pleaded Nancy. Dont ever think that! Then why are you talking andughing so early in the morning? Crystal asked angrily. How much did you tell him about me? I didnt say anything about you, Nancy cried. He was just asking me questions about what its like to be a parent I swear! Crystal took Nathans hand and said, Since you get along so well with my friend, shouldnt you do her a favor? What can I do for her? he asked. Crystal smiled and said, Her father was in a car ident, and he is in the hospital in Seattle. Her ex-husband is going to bring him to Kuerto, but she wants him to be with her. Will you help? If youe home with me, I will help her and her father, Nathan replied. Crystal gritted her teeth. She knew that the cruise ship was now full of Nathans bodyguards. So, even if she didnt agree to return with him, he would make her go with him. She forced herself to smile and said, Alright, back home it is. What a perfect choice. Nancy was grinning from ear to ear. Home is where the heart is, right? This is so great! If you dont mind, rk and I wille with you. Crystal nodded indifferently. Sounds good. Nathan smiled and said, Once were back, Crystal and I can get to work on making a bride for that boy of yours! Crystal red at Nathan. I said that I didnt have children! she shouted. Are you nning to cheat on m - Nathan cut her sentence short with a passionate kiss. Sometimes he wanted to sew up Crystals mouth so that she couldnt speak, but before he could do it, he always remembered how much he loved to kiss her. **** Later that day, a series of videos were leaked to the press, and by the next morning, they had gone viral. The first video was the one that Crystal had taken from rks watch. In it, Michelle was abusing the boy and refusing to feed him. The pice de resistance was when she grabbed the boys arm and burned his hand with boiling water. The world was shocked by these images, and once she was linked to Paul, the public was able to put two and two together, and they realized that he had been the one that had assaulted Nancy in the video from her wedding. This theory was confirmed by the other videos that were released that day. The second video contained an interview with Nancy. She was teary-eyed and pathetic-looking. Nancy looked into the camera and said, My ex-husband is a perverted maniac. He likes to chew on his socks, tie himself to a chair, and be abused. Hes a masochist, and the more masochistic he gets, the more excited he gets. She held up images of Paul tied to a chair in a frog pose, and then she continued: His private life is very messy. He has numerous mistresses, one of whom he allowed to abuse our son, as you saw in the previous video. Suddenly, Nancy began to cry, and the screen went to ck. The next video was simr to the one before, except in this one, Crystal was reading a letter that Nancy had written: Why do you all condemn me and beat me? I have done nothing to deserve it, and it is unbearable. If not for my son, I would not havee forward to exin. I would have just ended my life. I do not want to be a public figure, and I dont want anyones sympathy. I just want you all to stop attacking me so that I can give my son the normal life that he deserves. Chapter 295: The Medicine Soup In less than a day, everything changed. All the negative press that Nancy had been getting had been redirected to Paul and Michelle, and for the first time in what seemed like forever, Nancy was able to breathe a little easier. Not only was Paul in the doghouse, but she and her son were on their way to safety. Nancy would have been no surprise to know that Paul nearly had an aneurism the first time he saw the videos. And it would have pleased her. What would have surprised her, though, was that he had never endorsed Michelles behavior. Never in a million years would he have suspected that she was abusing his son, and he was shocked. He wanted to confront her, but all of the servants had fled the castle in fear of retribution, and Michelle had disappeared right along with them. He had not been able to reach her on her cell phone, and thepany she worked for had not heard from her either. **** Inconceivable, Paul muttered as he used the remote control to turn off the television. There was nothing to watch, here or on the web. It seemed that wherever he looked, all anybody was reporting on was what had happened between him and Michelle. He understood that people got upset when they heard that a child had been abused, but this seemed over the top. Paul suspected that he had been targeted and all the attention he was receiving as part of a conspiracy to bring him down. Suddenly, his cell phone rang, and after checking the Caller ID, he epted the call. Whats the news? he asked. You were right, Eric replied. You have been targeted C Its Nathan! He is behind all of this! Nathan! Paul gritted his teeth. I thought it might be him. This is such bullshit! My reputation is ruined. My wife has run away, and Ive lost my son. Eric was silent for a moment, and then he said, I can rte. I lost my wife and some of my men. I also lost a lover, Paul whined. I dont know what will be of me now. **** When Nancy woke up the next morning, she had a sinking feeling in her stomach that something was wrong. She had dreamt that Paul had climbed out of Hell and that he was trying to drag her back with him. There had been mes everywhere, and she had kicked him back into them, and as he fell back, he shouted, Ill be back. Nancy shivered. She thought about the videos that they had released the day before, and she wondered what the repercussions for her actions would be. When Crystal came out of her cabin for breakfast, she noticed that Nancy seemed out of sorts, and she asked her if there was a problem. Im fine, Nancy replied. Crystal sighed. She did not believe her friend, but she decided not to push it. Its going to be a cold day, she said. Make sure you and rk are dressed warmly. You do not want to catch a cold Where is that boy anyway? The dog was curled up under the table, and rk barely ever left his side. rk and Noah are still in bed, Nancy replied. What? Crystal was surprised. Last night rk wanted Noah to y with him, and they fell asleep in his room, Nancy exined. But I will bundle him up when he wakes up. **** By the time they had reached the end of their journey, it had been decided that they would all live together, and Nathan bought a modest two-story apartment. Nancy, Noah, and rk were given the first floor, Crystal and Nathan took the second floor, and there was a dog house in the backyard for Wolf. Nathan kept his word to Nancy. Her father was transferred to a nearby hospital, and much to everyones surprise, the media continued to follow Paul around. Nearly every day, he made front-page news. One morning, Crystal showed Nancy an article in the newspaper. She pointed to a photograph and said, Look! A waiter in Kuerto recognized Paul. He had also assaulted her, and she was so outraged that she took some leftover soup from the kitchen and poured it over his head.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Nancys eyes went wide when she saw that. No way! she eximed. Crystal smiled and said, He deserves it! Oh my gosh! He must be furious. Who cares? Crystals expression was cold. That man deserves to be castrated and locked away. You have to know that hell offend again! You are right, Nancy admitted. Of course, you are. But I am getting sick of seeing his face everywhere. That Chapter in my life is over, and I want to focus on the next one. **** Shortly after the soup incident, Paul boarded a ne out of Kuerto. It had taken him longer than he had expected to find Nancy, but now that he knew where she was, he was determined, not only to retrieve her but to force her to clear his name and publicly apologize to him. Even though he was seated in the first-ss cabin, he still had to wear sunsses and a scarf. If he were recognized, he knew that the flight crew would make his trip a living Hell C And all thanks to Nancy! **** Crystal scowled at the bowl of medicine soup that had been ced in front of her. The soup is ready, the servant said. Drink it while its hot. Crystal wrinkled her nose. For three days straight, Nathan had made her drink this soup at least three times a day. He had delivered it to her personally the first few times, and when she had refused it, he had threatened to kill Nancy. Now that the servants were delivering the soup, though, Crystal felt empowered to refuse it. I dont want to drink this, she said. You must drink it. The servant frowned and said, It is good for you, and it will be good for the baby. I dont even want a baby! Crystal eximed. She was afraid that her heart would be shaken again if she had a child, and she would go back to her old ways. Cant you just say that I drank it? I cannot lie to my master! The servant was aghast. Anyway, there is nothing wrong with Mr. Davis. He is sweet to you. He even carefully arranged every aspect of your life for you. Crystal folded her arms beneath her breasts and said, That sounds like Hell! Crystal Smith! Nancy eximed. She had been standing at the doorway, and she said, All you ever see is the negative! Most girls would be happy to be in your position, but all you do isin! Whatever. Crystal sighed as she picked up the bowl and began to eat. Chapter 296: You Are Acting Like A Child After having been out of the office for so long, Nathan had a lot of catching up to do. Thus, for the first week or so, he was seldom home. He left before dawn every day and came backte at night, which meant that Crystal seldom saw him. Unfortunately, he called her on the phone all the time. Sometimes Crystal thought about ignoring his calls, but she never did. She knew better than to risk upsetting him. Crystal spent most of her time on the first floor with Nancy and rk. She and Nancy would sit on the couch, talking and drinking tea while the boy yed with his toys on the floor. There were toys everywhere. Mommy, look at me! rk had a transformer in his hand, and he was flying it around the room. Bumblebee is flying! he shouted gleefully. Nancy apuded. Sweetie, you are amazing! This had all been arranged by Nathan, and Crystal knew that it was anotherponent of a trap that he was setting for her. Nancy would be grateful to anyone who was kind to her son, and he knew that Crystal cared about her friend. He was doing all of these nice things to get closer to her. He did not really care about rk or Nancy. Suddenly, rk grabbed Nancys hand and said, Mommy, I want to go on the merry-go-round. Okay, Mommy will take you! There was a miniature merry-go-round in the center of the room. It had two seats, and they were adorned with red gems and blue crystals. One was blue, and the other was red. rk was dressed in a white suit, and when he was sitting on the ride, he looked like a handsome prince. He held on to the little blue horse and pointed to the little red horse, and said, That seat is for my sister. Who? Which sister do you mean? Nancy was confused by what rk had said. Uncle Davis told me that I would have a sister, rk exined. Nancy touched her sons head and said, Okay, Ill get started on making one for you right away. Thanks, Mommy. rk grinned. I will y with my sisterter. Sounds like fun. Nancy turned to Crystal. Im going to the hospital this afternoon to see my Dad. Can you take care of rk for me? No problem. But where is Noah going? I have no idea, Nancy admitted. I havent seen him sincest night. What do you think of him? Crystal asked. Nancys brow furrowed. What do you mean? Why do you ask? He is your husband? Crystal replied bluntly. That is true. Nancyughed. I forgot about that. He is nice, but I dont have feelings for him. Crystal frowned. What kind of person do you have feelings for? Are you looking for another Paul? You loved him so much, but what did you get at the end other than a failed marriage? I dont want to be with anyone, Nancy exined. Ive got rk, and he is my entire world. You are my world too, rk interrupted.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Yes, rk. Nancy smiled and gave her son a kiss. And soon, you will be an adult. Then you will be able to take care of me, so why do I have to get married? Thats a long time to wait, Crystal remarked. She picked up her cup of tea and said, You seem to have a problem taking care of yourself. Even if you dont have feelings for Noah, he could be useful. Do you disagree? Nancy frowned. Why would I need a man when I have you? Crystal was taken aback by her friends words. Did you think that I would stay with you forever? Nancy burst into tears. You w-want to l -leave me? she stammered. Crystal sighed. I didnt say that, but you are acting like a child! Nancy turned away. I thought you were my friend she cried. Dont be like that, Crystal grumbled. I came here to give you a surprise, but all you want to do is give me the cold shoulder! Nancys eyes lit up, and she forgot her frustration. Whats the surprise? Crystal snapped her fingers, and Serenity walked through the door. Serenity! Nancy was so excited that she jumped up and embraced her old friend. I missed you so much. Serenity weed her with open arms. Nancy turned to her son and said, rk, this is your Aunt Serenity. Serenity Boops his nose and said, Thest time I saw you, you were just a bump in your mothers belly, now youre nearly a man! rks chest puffed out with pride, and for a moment, he looked like the man he would grow up to be. Once they were done catching up, Serenity handed Crystal a sealed envelope. Inside it was the DNA test that would prove if Paul and Crystal were rted one way or the other. Crystal was hesitant to open it. On the one hand, she did not want to be rted to Paul. If she were, though, then it would be a major step towards discovering more about her heritage. Come on. Open it! Nancy was more anxious than Crystal was. Finally, Crystal cracked the seal, and after reading the results, she said, The test results are negative. Were not rted. **** Nancy and Serenity were going to the hospital, and Crystal was staying behind with rk and Noah. On their way out the door, Serenity hugged Crystal and asked, When are you going back to school? Crystal shook her head sadly and said, Im not sure. Nathan had suspended her from going to school. Serenity nodded. She did not approve, but she understood. Shortly after they left, a servant picked up the phone and said, Mrs. Davis, Mr. Davis wants to speak to you. Im not Mrs. Davis! Crystal snapped. That train had passed ages ago! Hes still on the phone Just say that Im sleeping. *** By the time Nathan returned home from work, everyone was eating. He waste because hed stopped to purchase more toys for rk, a baby cradle, and an assortment of baby clothes. rk was excited about the toys, and as he took them out of their bag, he showed Nancy. Mommy! he eximed. Uncle Davis bought me more toys. This time he brought me a remote-control car, a small ne, and a train. Did you say thank you to Uncle Davis? rks cheeks turned red. He turned to Nathan and said, Thank you, Uncle Davis. Youre wee. Nathan chuckled. He patted the boy on the head and said, Now why dont you sit back at the table. You can y with your new toys once you have finished eating. rk nodded. Yes, Sir. Nathan hung up his coat. He joined them at the table, and as he poured his first ss of wine, it began to snow outside. Chapter 297: I鈥檓 Married To Someone Else Dinner was about halfway through, and it seemed that the evening would pass without incident. The falling snow had put everyone in a jovial mood, and everyone was exchanging stories about winters from their childhood. And for the moment, all was forgotten, and there was only this moment. Even rk seemed to have forgotten his bag of toys. But then Nathans brow furrowed, and he turned to Crystal. Why didnt you answer my phone call from earlier? His tone was cold. And why didnt you eat the medicine soup that was prepared for you? Do you think that you can get away from me? That is nuts, by the way. By now, you should know that I am not that easy to get rid of! As he spoke, he reached forward and began to manhandle Crystals breasts. Crystal was aghast. She shoved his hands away, and then she looked around the table. Thankfully, everyone was paying attention to the snow. No one had seen what had just transpired between them. What is your problem? she hissed. Have you no decency? None at all, he replied. I want to have a baby. Until you are pregnant, nothing else matters. By the way, have you seen the cradle that I bought? Crystal red at him. Im not even pregnant. Why did you buy a cradle?Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Dont worry. Nathan chuckled. It wille in handy, and sooner rather thanter. Youll see! Crystals ire began to rise, and her cheeks turned red. Nathan, did you forget that Im married to someone else. You could divorce him just as easily as you married him, Nathan argued. Then we could get married! We were happy once, werent we? So, why cant we be happy again? Crystal shook her head sadly and said, No. Its not going to happen. We cannot go back. And besides, I was never happy with you. I was your prisoner! At the very least, you should divorce Eric! Nathan shouted. You dont love him either! Erics not going to let me divorce him, Crystal replied. He is nearly as possessive as you are! Nathan lit a cigarette. He took a long drag and blew it into her face. Then, while their faces were close, he whispered into her ear: What do you want from me. I want you to let me go, she replied. Nathans pupils dted. You know that I cant do that. Crystal felt like she was about to explode, but rk grabbed her hand, and she had to force herself to calm down and force herself to smile. What is it, little guy? rk smiled and said, Aunt Crystal, its snowing outside. Crystal was stupefied. Shall we go and see the snow? he asked. Crystal could not help but smile. His innocent excitement had served as the perfect antidote to her anger, and his insertion into the situation had forced Nathan to back off. Nathan looked at Crystal with rk. He saw that she was good with the boy, and he was more determined than ever to have a child with her, to serve as a mediator between them. Crystal scratched rks nose and said, Little thing, you havent even finished your meal yet. If you do not eat it up, you will get hungryter. rk turned to Nancy and said, Please, Mom Please! Please! Please! Sure. Nancy shrugged. I can make you a pizzater. Its not a big deal. Crystal gave Nancy a skeptical look. Are you sure? Im sure. Nancy nodded. This is the first time he has seen snow. Of course, he is excited. Would you like to go out and y? Pizza and Snow! rk pped his hands. Come on, Auntie! I love pizza, and I love snow! Nancy smiled at Crystal and said, By the way, I made you something delicious to celebrate the fact that youre not rted to Paul. Nathan looked startled. He raised his eyebrows. Are the results in? he asked. They are, Nancy replied. And Crystal and Paul are not rted. We can celebrateter, though. For now, lets go y with rk in the snow! It only took a few moments for everyone to get dressed, so it was still snowing when they got outside. Wolf had been sleeping in the doghouse, and when he heard the door open, he jumped to his feet and ran over to greet them. When he got to rk, he started jumping around and wagging his tail like crazy. rk gently tugged at the dogs tail, and he began to shout, rk rides Wolf! rk rides Wolf! rk rides Wolf! Are you going to ride him again? Crystal asked. Hes a dog, not a horse rk is so little that Wolf is a horse to him! Nancy exined, and she helped her son mount the dog. rk squealed with glee as the dog carried him about the yard. Be careful! Nancy shouted. Hold on tight, and dont fall. Hes quite the dog! Crystal eximed. Nathanughed. Dogs are intelligent animals. Crystal, Im surprised that you didnt know that Nathan, you are such an asshole sometimes. Having said that, she crouched down, formed a snowball, and threw it at Nathan. Unfortunately, it missed, and the one that he threw back at her did not. Nancy! Crystal shouted for backup. Youve got to help me! Nancy clumsily formed a snowball and handed it to Crystal. She threw it at Nathan, but because it had not been packed well enough, it split apart into a million pieces. Noah was better at making snowballs, though, and he handed Crystal one that was the size and weight of a hardball. Dont aim for his head, he whispered. Its an ice ball! Crystal felt its weight, and after a second, she said, Its too heavy. You throw it! Noah nodded, took aim, and threw the ice ball at Nathan with all of his strength. Nathan turned and ducked at just the wrong moment, and it hit him in the back of the head, forcing him face first into the snow. The minute he hit the ground, everyone startedughing. Are you going to surrender? Crystal asked. Never! Nathan snarled. He had an angry expression on his face, but everyone could tell that he was having fun. Suddenly, Vic came around the corner. He had two snowballs, and he gave them both to Nathan. Both snowballs missed their targets, though, and they all erupted into fits ofughter. Even Nathan and Vic wereughing. Crystal had not been so rxed for a long time. Shey back in the snow, looked up at the sky, and thought C This will be my first Christmas with Nathan. She remembered previous Christmases with Carlos, and she marveled at how much had changed since then. Chapter 298: Don鈥檛 Leave The House Suddenly, a shadow fell across Crystal, and she looked up. It was Nathan, and he was offering her his hand. Silly girl, its too cold to lie here. What are you thinking about? I was thinking about my father, she lied. She knew that if she told him the truth C that she had been thinking about Carlos C it would ruin his good mood. Were you thinking about your DNA test? he asked.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. I was, Crystal lied again. Nathan took her cold hand, and when he realized how cold it was, he lifted his shirt and pressed it against his chest. I could be your father until you find your real father, he suggested. I will make sure that you are always safe and warm. Crystals body stiffened. First, he wanted to marry her, and now he wanted to be her Daddy?!?! What is wrong with his brain? C she wondered. Nathan saw the look on her face and frowned. He asked, Whats wrong? I just want you to be warm. I dont need your help, Crystal grumbled. Can you leave me alone already? Go back. inside! Now? Nathans brow furrowed. Yes! Now! Crystal pulled her hand away and pushed him away from her. Go away! As if! Nathan leaned over her, grabbed the furthest shoulder away from him, and rolled her over so that she was on top of him. Crystal tried to get away, but he wrapped his arms around her and held her with all of his strength. Why are you doing this? she cried. Have you forgotten what I said before? He had an impish grin on his face. When you tell me to go away, what you really want is for me to have sex with you. Crystal frowned. Thats not what I meant! Nathan pinched her bum yfully. So that is what you meant! What should I say if I actually want you to go away? Crystal asked. She felt like things were spinning out of control, and she was getting nauseous. Nathan raised his eyebrow and pressed his thumb against her lips. In that case, you must say that you want me. Nathan! Youre trying to trick me! She seized him by the hair. She wanted to pull it out by the roots, but she could not bring herself to do it. Its not a trick. Nathan smiled and said, Its only a game. I am just trying to lighten things up. He wanted to make it easier for her to open her heart and show her love for him. Why should I believe you? I will prove it to you. While this was going on, Nancy had been building a snowman with rk and Noah, and she wasnt really paying attention to the other two. Thus, when Nathan grabbed Crystal and threw her over his shoulder, she was shocked. N-N-Nathan, she stuttered. Wh-What are you d C doing? D-D-Dont you want to p-y in the s -snow? Nathan chuckled and said, Were going to go make a little snowman of our own He winked. If you know what I mean! **** Crystal was sitting on the bed with her legs hanging over the edge, and Nathan was sitting behind her. Four hours had passed since he had brought her in from the cold, but it felt like much more time had passed. He kissed her on her shoulder and neck as he massaged her shoulders. Did you like that? he asked. I did not, she replied. Nathan grinned. So, you did like it He was still ying The Opposite Game. Crystal bit her lower lip and looked away from him. He had already f****d her several times, and she was burnt out. Now more than ever, she wanted her privacy. She wanted to shower in peace and go to bed. Is that too much to ask for? C she wondered Apparently, it was. Nathan had been serious about making a baby, and her opinion had been taken out of the equation. Not only had he refused to wear a condom, but he had chosen specific positions to facilitate a pregnancy. Beforehand, they had washed, and he had checked their temperature. Everything has to be in order, he had exined, and he had gone so far as to calcte her ovtion period. She was furious and fought him. But in the end, he took that which she would not give freely. A few of the times, Crystal was able to pull away at thest moment, and his spunk soiled the sheets. When that happened, he held her tight, and her strength began to ebb. And his stamina seemed to know no bounds. He kissed her earlobe. Shall we go again? he whispered. Hell no! C she thought but did not say. When Crystal did not respond, he got off the bed and stood in front of her. He pressed her back to the bed, forced her feet behind her head, and he forced her from a standing position. There was nothing that she could do, so she took the abuse passively, and she sent her mind to her Better ce. Unfortunately, even in her Better ce, she could not stop worrying about what would happen if she got pregnant. If she had a child, she would be stuck with Nathan for the rest of her life. A fate worse than death C she thought absently. She couldnt believe that, not so long ago, she had lusted after him. Once Nathan had ejacted, he rolled off of her. See, he said. That was nice, wasnt it? He curled his lips contentedly. His forehead was dripping with sweat. Crystal mustered up thest of her strength and sat up. Im getting up now, she said. Im getting dressed, and Im leaving. You can leave when I permit you to leave. Nathan grabbed her arm and chucked. Crystal sighed. May I be permitted to leave? You may leave this room, he replied. He let go of her arm. But dont leave the house. And do not even think about sneaking off. My guards will have their eyes on you 24/7. **** Almost immediately after Pauls post went live, it went viral. The whole world had been waiting to see how he would respond to Nancys usations, and now he had. He was suing her for Defamation of Character, and he was charging her with Kidnapping, Assault, Attempted Murder, and there were a few other minor usations listed. As evidence, Paul provided a series of photographs. Among these, there were images of him being tied to a chair, getting his hair shaved, and being rolled into a rug. Finally, he was locked in a secret room for two days with only drinking water. Apparently, these images had been taken from the castles security monitors. Many of the pictures included images of Nancy and Noah, and they did not look good. So, by the end of the day, they had reced Paul and Nancy as the intes newest Viin and Viiness. ording to the post, Nancy had pushed Michelle to the ground while she was pregnant, and it had caused her to miscarry. This suggested that the video of Michelle abusing her son was a fake, which made everything Nancy had said unbelievable. Not only did the public forgive Paul for his supposed indiscretions, but they began to think that, if there had been any abuse, Nancy probably deserved it. Unlike Nancy, who had been unstable in her video, crying and trembling, Paul remained calm and confident. He said, I haveplete faith in the Judicial System. There will be a trial. When it is over, I will have my son. As for Nancy, she will be in jail. So, to those that still believe that I am at fault, I would ask you to reserve your judgment until the judge has made his ruling. Of course, if Nancy refuses to defend herself in a court ofw, then you will know without a doubt who the guilty party is. Chapter 299: Mommy, Don鈥檛 Cry The next day, when Crystal discovered what Paul had done, she was furious. Crystal reread Pauls post for the third or fourth time, and with each reading, her anger grew. Of all the ways that Paul could have drawn Nancy out of hiding, this was the most despicable. If Nancy did not show up at the courthouse, the public would see it as an admission of guilt. She had already lost their approval, and the only way to redeem herself would be to stand up for herself. Of course, if she did that, then she would be vulnerable. Until this moment, Nancys life had begun to show some improvement, and it was hard to believe how quickly things had turned to shit. Crystal pounded the table with her fist. Eric must be involved in this, she muttered. Between him and Paul, he was the more capable one, definitely, the more intelligent one. But what is his motivation? Pauls was apparent, but there was no reason for Eric to get involved in this way, especially if he was still trying to prove his love for Crystal. **** The snow was still falling, but the heat from the hot springs warmed the snowkes before they touched the water. The pool was half full, and everyone was having a good time. Only Eric seemed out of ce. Eric lounged in the corner of the pool with a ss of champagne in his hand. There were half a dozen half-naked women on the other side of the pool. He watched their breasts bounce about enticingly, but he did not join them. asionally, one of them would blow him a kiss, but his d**k did not respond. Paul waved to him. Come on! he shouted. Have some fun, why dont ya? Eric frowned, took a sip of his campaign, and said, No thanks. Maybeter. Whats the matter? Paulughed. Is somebody hiding a hard-on? Not me, Eric replied sadly. How about you? Paul scowled. I dont have one either. And as they faced each other, it urred to them that they both had the same problem: They were both impotent. This is all Nancys fault! Paulined. He looked down and punched himself in the d**k. That little bitch! His friends show of aggression disheartened Eric. He looked at the girls and thought C Why not? He waved two of them over, and they obediently joined him on the other side of the pool. The first one stood behind him and began to massage his neck and shoulders. She moaned into his ear. You are so tense Let me help you with that. The second girl gave the first the evil eye as she sat down beside Eric. She brought his right hand to her breast and encouraged him while her right hand slipped into his swimming trunks. Do you think shell show up in court? Paul wondered. Who?All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Nancy! Paul eximed. Who else?!?! I am not sure, Eric admitted. Arent you always sure? I used to be, but Im not anymore. With Crystal in my life, I feel like Im riding a roller coaster backward. Everything seems to catch me off guard, and Im always on the verge of throwing up Does that make any sense? It does, Paul replied. Nancy makes me feel the same way. That is why this little war between us is so aggravating. I called her, but she didnt call back, and she blocked me on all of her Social media. Eric smiled and said, It sounds like you are in love with her. They are likely with Nathan. Go to his home and bring her back with you. If you do that, your erection is sure to return! I will do that! Paul eximed. But not because I love her. I will do it because I want to torture her. I cant let her be happy. Good for you, buddy! Eric smiled and casually told the girl beside him to Get the f**k away from me. Finally, he was ready to go inside. **** Nancy began to tremble at the sight of Paul on the television. This was supposed to be over C she thought. But with Paul, nothing was ever over. rk was quietly ying with his Legos, but when he heard Pauls voice, his eyes lit up. He looked at the TV and said, Mommy! Look! Its Daddy! Hes on TV! Nancy nodded. Paul was speaking to a reporter, and in the top left-hand corner, a video of Michelle abusing rk was being shown. Nancy could not believe her eyes. She had always suspected that Paul knew what Michelle was doing to their son. Now that it had been exposed, though, she never would have thought that he woulde to her defense. Paul cleared his throat, and then he said, By now, I am sure that everyone has seen the shocking images that my ex-wife posted. If they were real, I assure you that I would be as livid as you all were when you saw them, so I do not me anyone for the angry things that have been said about me. Thankfully, the videos were fake. None of the things that were shown in the videos were real, and my son was never harmed while he was in my care. Unfortunately, he is no longer in my care, and I have no way of knowing if he is safe. We have all seen what Nancy is capable of, and it scares me to think that she could use our son to hurt me. Tears welled up in Nancys eyes, and before long, she was wailing into her hands. rk climbed up into herp and wrapped his arms around her. Mommy, dont cry. Dont worry, honey. Mommy loves you, and everything will be alright. Suddenly, the television clicked off, and they both looked up. Noah was standing in the middle of the room, and he had a sad smile on his face. I think weve seen enough of that, he said. I think we need a media ckout. Nancy nodded. Agreed. Agreed,ughed rk. Chapter 300: I Never Lie Crystal had been taking a nap when Nancy started crying, and the noise woke her up. By the time she got to the stairs, though, Nancy, Noah, and rk were hugging it out. She paused to catch the moment on film, and then she joined them. Nancys face turned red when she saw her friend. I suppose you saw all of that. Not really. Crystal shrugged. But Ive got a picture of you guys hugging. A blind man could see how much you love each other. As rk climbed onto the sofa tofort Nancy, Crystal took out her cell phone and took a few more photos. Whats with the photos? Nancy asked. I want to show the world what a happy life youve given rk, she replied. It wont work, Nancy argued. Paul will just say that the pictures are fake. He might, Crystal admitted. But I still think its our best defense against his usations. We can also use older photos and videos like the ones the servants took of us ying in the snow yesterday. The more photos the better. Nancy smiled hopefully. Isnt that right? Exactly so, Crystal agreed. Lets stay positive. I have a feeling that everything will work out in the end. Nancy frowned and said, I wish I had your ability to stay positive. **** Nathan arrived home that evening as per his usual time, with Vic walking in front of him. Today, though, when he reached the door, it opened automatically. Crystal had a giant grin on her face as she pulled it inward. Youre back! she eximed. And she held out her hand for his coat. Feeling a little surprised, Nathan raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, Whats all this? hung it up. You must be cold, she said. Crystal brushed the snow off his coat, and The snow melts when it sees you. Nathan shook his head and chuckled. So, how could I ever be cold? Nathan kicked off his shoes, and rk offered him a pair of warm slippers. Uncle Davis, he said. Put on your slippers. Then, while he was putting the slippers on, the boy put his shoes on the shoe rack for him. Nathan could not figure out what was going on, but he liked it. Multiple times, he asked them why they were being so nice, but they evaded the question. He was about to try again, but as he opened his mouth, Nancy called from the kitchen: Dinner time. Everyone up to the table! And as she spoke, the scents struck him, and his mouth began to water. There was a box of toys under Nathans arm, and he handed it to rk. These are for you, he said. Now, lets go and eat!All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. They sat down at the table, and as Nathan dished his food onto his te, Crystal asked him how his day went. Nathan frowned and asked, Why are you so nice today? Whats that supposed to mean? Crystal grumbled. You make it sound like I am usually a real bitch No, no, no. He gave her a kiss and said, Thats not what I meant. You have to admit that you are being a lot more attentive to me than you usually are. Well, okay. Crystal smiled. He kissed her again, this time more passionately, but when he tried to gnaw on her lip, she pulled away. What the heck? We cant do this in front of rk, Crystal replied. We cant be bad role models. She pointed to the porch. Lets go over there. Dont you think that it will be exciting to sneak off to kiss? Once they were on the porch, they embraced, and he pressed her against the wall. They kissed passionately as they explored each others mouths with their tongues and their bodies with their hands. As they were kissing, Nathan noticed that Crystal was keeping an eye on what was going on in the house. He bit into her lip, and she yelped. What was that for? Crystal hissed. You are very distracted, Nathan replied. Stay with me. He slipped his right hand into her dress and caressed her left breast. Why are you being so kind to me today? When Crystal did not respond, he lifted her skirt and rubbed himself against her thighs. She wanted to resist, but she was afraid of making a big noise and drawing everyones attention. Dont you dare! she hissed. Nathan chuckled. He pressed his index finger against her lips and shushed her. We cant do this here, Crystal whispered. We could be found out at any time Nathan wriggled his eyebrows and said, Thats what makes this so exciting. He pushed her panties aside, and he was about to insert two fingers into her wet core when Wolf came around the corner. He was barking and wagging his tail, and rk was on his back. Crystal hastily pushed Nathan away so that she could greet the happy intruders. rk! she eximed. Look at you! You are such a big boy! rks brow furrowed. Aunt Crystal, what were you doing with Uncle Davis? The color drained from Crystals face. For a moment, her mind waspletely nk, and just as an appropriate answer came to her, Nathan said, Were making a little sister for you! Crystal red at Nathan. Why did you say that?!?! she shouted. I never lie. Where will my little sistere from? rk asked. Nathan grinned and said, Girls are born with a hole, and boys have a duty to fill it. That is what you crawled out of: the hole. And your little sister will do the same, and she will also have a hole. Crystal gritted her teeth and pinched him. What are you talking about? Nathan grunted but said no more on the matter. rk stared at them for a moment, considering what had been said, and then he rode away on Wolf. **** Later that night, Nancy noticed that rk was rummaging through his clothes, and she asked him what he was doing. He looked up at her, smiled, and said, Uncle Davis said Aunt Crystal has a hole Oh? Nancy was shocked, but she hid it as best she could. I crawled out of your hole, he exined. My baby sister will crawl out of Aunt Crystals. But you must mend your hole, Mommy. Let me fill it for you. Nancys mouth dropped open. She almost fainted. She began to blush, and she did not know what to say to her son. Crystal and Nathan were in the next room, and they heard everything. Look what youve done! she growled. Nathan just shrugged. Hell have to know sooner orter. Hes just a toddler! Crystal eximed. If I get pregnant, I wont let you near the baby, not if this is the kind of parent youll be! Nathans eyes lit up. So, youre going to get pregnant! Oh, happy day! What the f**k? Crystal could not believe what she was hearing. He was like a child. He only heard what he wanted to hear. If you want to have children, she said, you will have to have them with someone else! Chapter 301: Michelle Evil Scheme Before going to bed, Crystal released the first series of photos and videos showing rk having fun with his mother, and like all the media that went before them, they went viral. The snowball fight video was particrly touching, and by the morning, it was all that anyone was talking about. The tide of public opinion had turned once more, and once again, it was Pauls word that people were suspicious of. Unfortunately, things were not as one-sided as they once were. The public was now divided between those who supported Paul and those who supported Nancy, and #TeamPaul and #TeamNancy was trending on all Social media. One thing about Pauls followers, though, is that many of them were bots, and those that were not had been misled by his propaganda. Paul had a tech-savvy team that supported him. They created fake news and made it go viral. They went into chat rooms and stirred up animosity towards Nancy, and his bots voted against her in online polls. Of course, Nathan hired people to defend Nancy, but he was limited by her decision that they would only tell the truth. If that were not the case, the battle between them would not have been as close as it was. As it was, the two opponents were standing neck-and-neck. However, everything changed when a doctor came forward and said that Michelle had been admitted to the hospital where he worked. ording to his police statement, she had suffered severe burns to seventy percent of her face and a blow to the bridge of her nose. Two of her front teeth had been knocked out, and she had a broken leg. Suddenly, #TeamPaul and #TeamNancy was a thing of the past. #SupportMichelle was everywhere. Michelle had been abandoned in a secluded ce in Pauls backyard, and by the time she was found, she had been in aa for a long time. Furthermore, her wounds were severely inmed and infected. She is being treated in the Intensive Care Unit, he concluded. The doctors statement was leaked to the media, and when it aired, they showed a video of Michelle. She could be seen lying on a hospital bed, and so much of her body was wrapped in gauze that she looked like a mummy. The screen split suddenly. On the left side, an image of Nancy and Noah appeared. On the left, there was an interview with a police officer being live-streamed. The officer looked into the camera and said, If you have seen either of these individuals, we will encourage you to contact your local police station or dial 9-1-1. After that, there were a series of clips from interviews. An olddy that lived next door to Paul said that she had heard a heartbreaking cry for help on the same day that Michelle had been hurt. A youngdy who lived nearby also imed that she had heard the screams. Several servants testified that Nancy had instructed her bodyguards to pour boiling water over Michelles head. **** Outside of the hospital, Michelles fans held a vigil by candlelight. There was a giant poster of her on the wall, and beneath it, there were flowers and plush toys, cards, jewelry, and an assortment of other items of significance. They were all praying that she would have a swift recovery. Inside the hospital, Michelles doctor was carefully removing the gauze from her face, and she smiled when she saw her reflection in the mirror. The burns had covered seventy percent of her face, but there would only be a minimal amount of scarring. Her nose had been repaired, and her two false teeth looked real. As she examined her face, the doctor pulled out an apple from his pocket. He polished it on his shirt and began to cut it up. Its a miracle! Michelle eximed. She turned to the doctor and said, Thank you so much! Youre wee. The doctor smiled. He stuck a piece of apple into Michelles mouth and said, In a few months, once the swelling has gone down, you will barely even notice the scars. Michelle touched his chest and let her fingers slide down his body, and when she got to his belt, she gave it a seductive tug. Whatever can I do to repay you? I have an idea, the doctor replied. He quickly closed the blinds and went to the foot of the bed. Then he pulled up the quilt and began to kiss her toes, and it wasnt long before he was sucking on them. Michelle moaned. Baby, you are so nice to me! The doctor looked up, and her big toe slipped out of his mouth. He smiled and said, I would do anything for you. I have been a fan of yours since you first began your modeling career. Ill never forget your spread in Victorias Secret magazine Michelle smiled and wriggled her toes yfully, but just as he began to lick in between her big toe and her index toe, somebody knocked on the door. The doctor quickly covered her feet, smoothed out the quilt, and stood up. Come in, he said. It was one of the nurses. She came over and whispered something into the doctors ear. He nodded grimly and promised, Ill check on it. Is there anything else, he asked irritably. The nurse hesitated for a moment, and then she said, There are a lot of Michelles fans outside the hospital. They are holding a candlelight vigil, and they have brought presents. Should I let them in? Absolutely not! the doctor eximed. The patient needs rest. They are not allowed toe in. But I want those gifts, Michelle interrupted. And I want to tell my fans that Im on the mend. I dont want them to worry about me.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. The doctor coughed and said, Fine. He turned to the nurse and instructed her to bring the presents in. Very quickly, the room was filled with flowers, fruits, and dolls that had been modeled in Michelles image. When Paul had seen the images of Michelle abusing rk, he had been inclined to believe what he was seeing. Then, when it seemed that she had run out on him, her guilt seemed like a certain thing. Now that he knew what Nancy had done to her, though, it was clear to him who the real victim was. Now that he knew the truth, he called the hospital and asked the doctor to take care of Michelle, and before hanging up, he said, Please ask her to call me as soon as she wakes up. Paul ended the call without saying goodbye, and he called his bodyguard, who had been sitting in the hallway. Whats up? The bodyguard asked. I want Michelles room guarded 24/7, Paul replied. Who knows what Nancy is capable of. Chapter 302: Something Was Wrong As chance would have it, Crystal saw the report about Michelle at the same time as Paul. Their reactions, though, were vastly different. By the time the segment had reached its conclusion, she was thinking C Some people might think we went too far, but I think that we did not go far enough. We should have killed her! If we had killed her and disposed of her body, we would not be in the position we are in now! Because Michelle was a public figure, her case would receive much more attention than it otherwise would have. But if there had been nobody, then there never would have been a story. Crystal was trying to think of ways to punish. Michelle C it would be hard with an ocean between them C when wolf began to bark, she went to the window, and she saw that Noah and rk had been building a snowman in the backyard, but the dog was running around in circles in a way that suggested to her that something was wrong. Nancy was in the living room, and when she heard the barking, she came to the same conclusion: Something was wrong! She got up right away and ran towards the back door. Crystal was also on her way, and the two friends mmed into each other as Nancy passed the stairs. Crystal almost fell on her ass, but Nancy grabbed her arm and helped her steady herself. Quick! Crystal huffed. The backyard Trouble I know! Nancy eximed. Theres no time to wait! They ran to the back together, and when they stepped outside, they were both relieved to see that rk was alright. But then they saw Noah. He was lying in the snow, and he was clutching his chest. Nancy ran to his side. Noah, whats the matter with you? Nancy picked up rk, who was frightened. Noah did not reply, and Crystal noticed that his breathing was shallow, so she called for several bodyguards to carry him into the house. Once he was inside, she called for a doctor. When the doctor arrived, he examined Noah, and when he was done, he said, It looks like shock caused by heart atrophy. Heart atrophy? Nancy frowned. Does that mean that he had a heart attack? No, I dont think so. It looks like there was a contraction caused by ack of blood flow to the heart. Nancy touched Noahs arm. How could that be? Will he get better? The doctor sighed and shook his head. His rate of exhaustion is extremely high. At this rate, he will soon be dead Nancy grabbed Crystals hand to support her shaky body. Does he have a history of heart problems in his family? the doctor asked. Im sorry. Im not sure. Nancy sighed. Youre a doctor. Cant you find out? I cannot, the doctor admitted. How long does he have? Crystal asked. Three days? Five days? A month? It depends on his situation, the doctor replied. Noah struggled to sit up, and he red at the doctor. Who are you to say that Im dying? he growled. I think that I know my body better than you do! He stood up and began to walk towards the door. He was about halfway there when Crystal shouted at him. Stop! Noah stood still. He was still clutching his chest, but he was doing his best to hide his pain. Who do you think you are? he snapped. I am a grown man. I cane and go as I please! Is that so? Crystal smirked. Then she turned to the guards that had carried him in and ordered them to put him in his bed. And despite his curses andints, they followed her order. **** Later that evening, when Nathan came home, Crystal sat on hisp and told him about Noahs prognosis. Once everything had been said, she asked him what he thought, but he just shrugged. Why do you care so much about him? he asked. He saved you once. Crystal put her hands around his neck. He saved me, too. He saved Nancy and rk. Doesnt that mean something to you? Not really. If he had not been there, I would have arranged for someone else to rescue you. Crystal pleaded with him. Dont be so cold. The point is that he was the one that saved us. It wasnt anyone else, and now he is sick. We cant turn our backs on him. Without his family history, what can we do? Nathan wondered. If the doctors cant find it, and he wont tell us, then there is no hope for him. What do you know about Noah? Crystal stared at him suspiciously. She knew that by now, he would have done a background check on Noah. That was just the kind of person he was. He did not trust anyone. I dont know anything, Nathan replied.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Are you sure that you dont know anything? You dont believe me? Nathan was taken aback. You are hurting my feelings I highly doubt it! Crystal red at him. Anyway, can we not make this about you? This is a matter of life and death for Noah, and youre acting like a spoiled child. Cant you just help? If not for his sake, then for mine? Fine. Nathan sighed and said, Well get to the bottom of this. You have to hurry! Crystal eximed. The doctor says he wont live much longer. She put her arm around his neck and kissed him on the forehead. Ill leave it to you. Okay? Nathan nodded and said, I will do my best. **** Nathan felt like he was stuck between a rock and a hard ce. Noah had been poisoned, and only Paul had the antidote. He could tell Crystal this, but there was no point in doing so because Paul would never hand over the anecdote, and they could note up with it on their own. So, it seemed that the best option was to pretend to search for a cure. Then, when Noah died, everyone would think that he had died of natural causes. Chapter 303: How Could I Have Forgotten? While Crystal was in the shower, Nathan picked up his cell phone and sent Vic a text message. Has the bracelet been finished yet? he asked. It is done, Vic replied. I havent picked it up yet, though. Do you want me to pick it up now? Nathan replied that he did, and as he put his phone away, he began tough. Crystal had escaped him before, but with what he had in mind, that would never happen again **** The next day, Crystal was rudely awoken by a hard tug at her wrist. Her eyes popped open, and when Nathan saw the startled look in her eyes, he burst into gales ofughter. Whats this? Crystal growled. Its time to get up, he replied. Dont be such a cker. Crystal sat up in bed, swung her legs over the edge, and kicked him in the shins. Ouch! Nathan yelped. His pupils dted, and he cursed her out. Thats what you get. Crystal chuckled as she got out of bed. She went over to her wardrobe to pick out an outfit, and as she lifted her hand, she saw that there was a strange bracelet on her wrist. She frowned and turned to Nathan. Whats this? she asked. Its a GPS Locator, Nathan replied. It is a permanent fixture, so you might as well get used to it. The only way to get it off is by cutting off your hand. What the f**k? Crystals face turned red from rage. Youve gone too far! Why did you put this on me? You knew I wouldnt approve! Nathan smiled. This is my way of ensuring that what is mine remains mine. Im not yours! Crystal hissed. She red at him, and she wanted to kick him again, but she knew that it would not help. More likely than not, it would just turn him on. Ive got another gift for you. On cue, a servant appeared in a white dress. Try it on, Nathan prompted. I will not! Crystal stomped her foot and said, Take off my bracelet first. Then I will try the dress on. Nathan frowned. So, he said. You dont want to save Noah? Crystal glowered at him angrily. Finally, her voice softened. Am I going to some party? she asked. No. Its not a party. Where are we going? We are celebrating a very important asion, he replied. No more lollygagging. Do you hear me? Clean up and get dressed.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Crystals cheeks turned red from embarrassment. She did not like it when he treated her like a child. Where are we going? she shouted. I wont go unless you tell me where we are going! Fine! Nathan smirked. Be that way. And when she still did not move, he picked her up, threw her over his shoulder, and carried her into the bathroom. Once inside, he cleaned her himself, washing her face, brushing her teeth, and braiding her hair. Finally, when she was all ready to go, he said, Were going to an auction. Why are we going to an auction? Crystal asked. And why couldnt you have just said that from the start?!?! It was more fun this way, Nathan replied. And the reason that I want to go is that there is a rare treasure that I want to bid on, **** After breakfast, Nathan and Crystal drove to a small airfield where a helicopter waited to take them to the auction house. Crystal did not understand why Nathan had insisted that she go or even why he wanted to go. In the past, if Nathan took a fancy to something, he would ask Vic to buy it. When she asked him about it, though, he just shook his head and said, Youll see when we get there. The trip wasnt long, and when they arrived, Nathan handed her a fox mask. He had a wolf mask for himself. Crystal thought that they were gaudy, but she kept her opinion to herself. Near the entrance, there was an army of journalists, bodyguards, and security guards. Crystal was full of questions, but there was no one to ask. All that she could do was link her arm with Nathans and go where he led her. Vic and six bodyguards followed them. When they entered the auction hall, Crystal noticed that almost all of the guests were lovers. Thats weird C she thought as the receptionist led them to balcony seats on the second floor. Beautiful models walked around and posed on the auction stage to disy an assortment of gems and nes. Did you notice that there are a lot of couples here today? Crystal asked. Nathan nodded and said, You must know why. Its Valentines day! Crystals face turned white. How could I have forgotten? she gasped. **** Several strong men carried items to the stage one at a time, and the Auction Master exined what each one was and what the starting bids would be. There were antiques, paintings, and jewelry, but nothing caught Crystals eyes C That is until a lunch box was opened to reveal pieces of what looked like a paste. They were ck and white, ck as ink and white as congealed fat, and they appeared edible. Cupids Arrow, the Auction Master called them. They were refined from ancient birds. This kind of bird mates for life, and if its partner dies, it never remarried. If one bird is caught, the other will follow it. They would rather die than live on their own. Crystal had never seen anything like it. She turned to Nathan and asked, Would this save Noah? Nathan frowned. Why are you always thinking about other men? Isnt this medicine? Crystal began to cry. If it isnt medicine, then what is it? Just watch! Nathan hissed. On the stage, a ss cab protruded from the ground floor, and in the center of it, there was a wooden box carved with a pair of birds, and there were two balls of ck and white Cupids Arrow. It was very lifelike, and when the reporters saw it, they began to take pictures excitedly. Every person wants to be their partner one and only, the Auction Master continued. But how many rtionships actuallyst? Typically, love fades, but that neednt be so. Ancient Egyptians created Cupids Arrow for use by Pharaoh on his beloved concubines. The interesting thing about Cupids Arrow is that it has a built-in fail-safe. If, after taking it, you betray the person that you havemitted yourself to, your heart will seize, and you will die. Chapter 304: You Drive Me Crazy The ck and white pieces glowed mysteriously in the ss cab. Could there really be such a strange medicine C Crystal wondered. It sounded more like magic than science to her, and she had never believed in the supernatural. The Auction Master continued. He said, There are plenty of couples who want Cupids Arrow. Mostly, some have investigated this peculiar dr*g beforehand, and I admire the courage it takes to take your love to the next level! Nathan gave Crystals hand a light squeeze as if to say, I love you. He leaned over and whispered into her ear. Do you know why I brought you here? Crystal shook her head. Nathan showed her his biggest grin and said, After we eat Cupids Arrow, we will never want anyone else, and if either of us betrays our rtionship, then that person will surely die! Crystal nibbled on her lower lip. She did not know if this was what he wanted. It sounds so ridiculous C she thought C It sounds like a prison! Like Hell on Earth! So, why is my heart beating so fast? Nathan circled her waist with his arm. If you do this with me, he said, I can give you a lifetime of love, which is a thousand times what Eric has to offer.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Crystal mouth felt dry, and her head began to spin as an old Brittney Spears song yed out in her head C You drive me crazy With the mask on her face, she felt like she could barely breathe. While she was distracted, Nathan held her hand. He gave it a loving squeeze, and then he stealthily slipped her wedding band off her ring finger without her noticing. He looked at it for a second, and then he threw it on the ground where she was unlikely to see it. I should have done that a long time ago C he thought. But the time had never felt right. And now, with it gone, he felt his entire body rx. Nathan stretched out his arm, wrapped it around Crystal, and embraced her. You dont know how much I love you, he said. I cherish you more than my life. Crystal Smith, I love you. His sudden honesty made Crystals heart flutter, and her cheeks turned red. This is not the first time that I have said these words to you, he continued. I have to say it again, though, because Im afraid that I did not dere it earnestly enough. I am also afraid that I dont have enough time to let you know how much I love you. Crystal did not know what to say. She felt like the room was spinning, and when he kissed her, not only did she let him, but she kissed him back. Meanwhile, the bidding on the pieces of Cupids Arrow had begun, but they were too involved in their kiss to notice what was going on around them. Nathan had not intended to get involved in the bidding war anyway. His n was to wait until the very end, and then Vic would swoop in and outbid everyone else. Their kiss continued, and even though Crystal knew that she was falling into his trap, she did not resist him. A tingling started in her midsection and spread through her body until she was immersed in a euphoric bath. She gripped his shirt and moaned. She was infatuated with the feeling, and she wanted more, but there was an inner voice that demanded her attention. It sounded like her mothers voice. Use your mind, her mother said. Dont trust your body or your emotions. They will betray you. She remembered all the times he had betrayed her, and some of the passion faded. Suddenly, a beam of light fell on them, forcing them to squint and cover their eyes with their hands. Its ours! Nathan eximed, and he lifted his fist triumphantly. Vic had sessfully bid on the pieces of Cupids Arrow. Crystal frowned. She had been secretly wishing that someone else would win. In the dim auction hall, everyone turned to see who had won the pice de resistance. Every eye red enviously. There was only so much Cupids Arrow in the world, and their likelihood of ever getting any for themselves had just reduced exponentially. Nobody was happy for them. Nathan shrugged and went back to kissing Crystal. Let them hate C he thought C Haters gonna hate It was not so easy for Crystal to ignore them, though. She could not handle everyone looking at her, and she pushed Nathan away. Nathan sighed. Alright, he said. Lets go. He took her hand, and they stood up together. Luckily, they had aisle seats, and they were able to leave without interrupting anyone. Much to their annoyance, though, the spotlight remained on them. Crystals curvy figure was wrapped in a white close-fitting dress. The fox mask covered the upper half of her face, and from her elegant temperament and manner, people could tell that she was a great beauty. Nathan was wearing a hand-made exclusive suit, and his olive-ck pupils never moved away from Crystal. It was obvious to everyone that he was in love. They were going to exit the way they hade, but the Auction Master called them to the front, and with so many eyes on them, they felt like they had no choice but to do as he said. Crystal felt like she was going to cry, and Nathan could sense her distress. He squeezed her hand gently and leaned over so that he could whisper into her ear. Well make this quick, he promised. Crystal nodded silently and allowed herself to be led to the stage. As they approached, the Auction Master carefully opened the ss box. He took out the wooden box with the carved pattern on it and passed it to Nathan. Instead of taking the box, though, he opened it, took out the ck piece, and put it into his mouth. The audience gasped in unison, and then they began to p and cheer. With this gesture, he won them over. The journalists jumped to their feet and began taking pictures. Nathan motioned for Crystal to take the white piece, but she was hesitant. Dont worry, he said. It tastes good! How does it taste? she asked nervously. It tastes like Nathan paused and thought about it for a moment. Then he smiled and said, There isnt really a taste. When you chew it, it ignites a feeling. For me, it was the feeling of loving you. The Auction Master was astonished. He had never seen anything like this. He turned to Crystal. Do you know what this means? he asked. Crystal frowned and shook her head. The Auction Master smiled. It means that whether you take the other piece or not, he will be unconditionally devoted to you until the day that he dies! Crystals mouth dropped open. She had known that she was being pulled into a carefully devised trap, but she had not realized howplex or devious it was. It was beyond her ken. How far down this rabbit hole are you willing to go? It was her mothers voice again, and only she could hear it. Why did my mother leave me in his care? C she wondered C There must have been a reason! Nathan raised his eyebrows. Are you going to eat the other piece now, or do you want to save it forter? What if I dont want to take it at all? Crystal asked. Then I will respect your decision, Nathan casually lied. Of course, if she refused to take it, then when they got home, he would force her to take it. Chapter 305: Good Boy Much to Nathans surprise, Crystal picked up her piece of Cupids Arrow, popped it into her mouth, chewed, and swallowed. His eyes lit up when she opened her mouth to show that it was empty, and the crowd stood up to give her a standing ovation. **** Nancy was now standing by the windowsill. It was a beautiful sunny day, and the suns glow was reflected off the snow in a way that implied that everything was right with the world. From her perspective, though, it seemed that nothing was right with the world. She had just learned that Paul had poisoned Noah. That was what caused his heart problem, and it was unlikely that they would find an antidote. At this point, Crystal was her only hope. Crystal had a way of making the impossible possible. Nancy did not know how she did it, and she was always amazed by how she managed to turn things around. Unfortunately, she had no idea where Crystal was. Crystal had gone out earlier that morning, and she had not returned. Now it was the middle of the afternoon, time was of the essence, and she had no way of reaching her. Crystal had recently changed her phone number, and Nancy did not have the new number programmed into her phone yet. Thus, all she could do was wait. The longer she waited, the more anxious she became. The doctor said that Noah did not have much time left, and Nancy feared that he would die while she waited. Wolf stepped out of his doghouse, and when he saw her, he barked and wagged his tail. She called his name and said, Good boy! It was good to have a distraction. If Crystal did not show up soon, she would be forced to call Paul and beg for the antidote, and that thought terrified her. **** The next morning C Eric was wearing a white fencing suit. He had his sword in his hand, and he was practicing a variety of jabs and stances. His victimy defeated nearby. Finally, he stuck his weapon in the ground and took off his mask to reveal a wicked grin. He wiped the sweat off his forehead, and then he offered his opponent a hand up. The other man scowled and pushed his hand away. Eric had been interested in fencing for a few years, but no one had expected that he would one day defeat his fencing coach, who was a fencing champion: A world champion. Eric tossed his mask to one of the servants, and then he walked to the table with water on it. He poured himself a ss, sat down, and as he took his first sip, a servant rushed in. He had a yellow envelope in his hand, and after putting it on the table, he said, Master Bush, this is from Master Davis. Eric rolled his eyes as he opened the envelope. I cant imagine what this is, he muttered.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Inside the envelope, there were pictures from the auction and a short description of what had taken ce, and as Eric scanned the images, his ire began to rise. Finally, he crumpled the photos into a ball and threw them on the ground. He thought- Nathan Davis If it is a war that you want, then it is the war that you shall get! He looked at the photos with scorn. Even crumpled and ruined, they seemed to taunt him. Along with the pictures and the short descriptions, there were media clippings, and many of them featured Nathan and Crystal. From these clippings, Eric could tell that they had been the talk of the town. By sending them, Nathan had sent a clear message: You may as well give up. Crystal belongs to me now! **** When Crystal woke up, it was nearly noon, so she was not surprised to find Nathan was not by her side. He seldom slept in. rk had taken his spot, and he was staring at her. Finally, he smiled and said, Good morning, Aunt Crystal. She ruffled his hair and said, Good morning, sweety. How long have you been here? So long, rk replied. Forever, I think. Aunt Crystal, wheres my Mommy? Crystal frowned. You dont know where your Mommy is? rk shook his head sadly. Mommys gone. Where could she be? Crystal wondered. She was having a hard time thinking straight, and she had to give her head a shake to get her thoughts in order. When she returned from the auction with Nathan the day before, he had brought her upstairs and f****d her until midnight, and now her whole body was numb. Did she leave any clues? Crystal wondered. After all, she has to be somewhere, right! Theres a paper on the table, rk replied hopefully. But I cant read Here, Ill go get it. Without waiting for a reply, the boy dashed off, and he was back in no time. He had a piece of paper in his hand and a giant grin on his face. Crystal took over the note, and as she read it, she began to panic. It said, Crystal, I have gone to look for Paul. I will be back as soon as I can. Take care of rk while I am gone. Love, Nancy. P. s. I know what I am doing, so dont worry. Dont worry! Crystal eximed. She thought C How can I not worry? Nancy didnt even say why she was looking for Paul. And even if she has a good reason, wouldnt her time be better spent looking for a cure for Noah?!?! Wheres my Mommy? rk asked again. I dont know, Crystal admitted. Im sorry. I want my Mommy, rk whined, and he began to cry. Im scared I know. Crystal gave him a big hug and rubbed his back. There, there, she said. Im sure that she wont be gone for long. For a long time, rk did not say anything. He cried into her bosom and crutched his sleeves tightly in his tiny fists. Finally, he began to settle, and it seemed to Crystal that he was on the verge of falling asleep, but then the front door open and his eyes opened wide. Is that Mommy? he asked hopefully. It must be her! Lets go find out, Crystal replied hopefully. It was not his Mommy, though. It was Nathan, and when the boy saw him, he curled up on the couch and began to suck his thumb. It was a habit that he had broken almost a year ago, and it hurt Crystals heart to see him like this. Nancy had better have a good reason for abandoning him like this C she thought angrily. Nathan frowned. He looked at Crystal and asked what was going on. She exined everything, and he was as disconcerted by Nancys actions as she was. I dont know what to do she cried. And I dont like seeing rk like this. Dont worry. Nathan gave her a big hug and said, We will find her. I will arrange for a search party, and the fact that you know what she likes will help. Crystal kissed him hard on the mouth and said, Thank you so much. I do not know what I would do without you. rk and I will get ready, and then we can go. Hold your horses. Nathan chuckled. I dont want to go off half-cocked. If we are going to find your friend, we need to be smart. So, while I get things in order, you have some time. Have a shower, eat, and do whatever else you might need to do. Crystal nodded. Alright. You are right. It is best that we keep our wits about us. Chapter 306: Don鈥檛 Overthink It While Crystal was getting ready, Nathan attempted to feed rk, but the boy kept his lips tight and refused to eat. Did you forget that Im your Uncle? Nathan asked. Im not hungry, the boy grumbled. I just want Crystal to hug me. Shes tired. Dont care. rk pouted. Nathan sighed unhappily, and then he called up to Crystal: rk is not willing to eat, what should I do? Ill be there in a second, Crystal replied, and as she came down the stairs, she said, Dont worry about it. Hes not familiar with you, and hes going through a tough time. But I bring him toys every day, Nathan grumbled. Thats true, Crystal admitted. But how often do you y with him? Nathan red at rk. What does that matter? It makes all the difference in the world, Crystal snapped. Now quit acting like a child! Im not a child, Nathan muttered. He scowled as he sauntered over to Crystal. Ill show you that I am a man! Crystal began to tremble as he mped his hand on her shoulder. He gave it a hard squeeze, shoved her against the wall, and grabbed her vag*na with his free hand. I think I am ready for round two, he chuckled. How about you? We dont have time for this! Crystal cried. We have to find Nancy! Nathan smirked. He did not care about Nancy. Apart from Crystal, he did not care about anyone, and if it were not for Crystal, he could have happily let Nancy die. At this point, his only reason for helping was to get rk out of his hair. As if on cue, rk began to cry. What a boner-killer, Nathan muttered. No matter where Crystal went, rk followed closely behind her, leaving no chance for him to have his way with her, and every time the boy approached, Crystal pushed Nathan away for fear of setting a bad example. Crystal, is my Mommying back soon? rk asked. Just finish the meal, Crystal replied. She will return when she returns. Thats all that I know. rk thought about that for a moment, and then he said, Ill wait until she gets back. Then we can eat together. Crystal scooped a spoon of macaroni and took a sniff. Dont you want to eat? she asked. I made this special for you, and by the time Mommy gets here, it wont be good anymore rk stuck out his bottom lip and pouted. Not hungry! Nathan smirked and said, If he doesnt want to eat, I will eat it for him. Crystals eyes went wide. You see? If you dont eat it, your Uncle Davis is going to eat it, so hurry up! Crystal put the spoon in front of Nathan. She was pretending to feed him while observing rks reaction. Much to her surprise, Nathan actually stole the boys food. What the Hell was that? Crystal demanded. Nathan Davis, you are such a pervert! This is rks meal! Hey! Nathan wriggled his eyebrows and said, If you put food in front of my face, I will eat it! But you knew it was for rk! Crystal shouted. I was only offering it to you to coax him into wanting it. And I think you knew that! Nathan shrugged. You are super childish! Crystal hissed. Now, do not make any more trouble, okay. The servant said that he hadnt eaten anything sincest night and I was worried. Where the Hell is Nancy? What if she doesnte back? What if rk continues to refuse to eat? Mommy wonte back? rk began to cry again. I no Crystal did not know how to exin away what she had identally said. Nathan rolled his eyes and said, Dont worry about the kid. When he gets hungry enough, he will eat. Worry about your own food before it gets cold. Crystal sighed. I have no appetite either, she admitted. I am worried about Nancy If you dont eat, you wont have any strength he winked at her. You know to do the dirty. Crystal gave him an angry look. Stop thinking about that, she hissed. I will sleep with rk tonight. What about me? Nathan protested. Crystal smirked and said, You can sleep outside with Wolf. So, Im in the doghouse! Nathan growled. Is that how it is? You can sleep where you want, Crystal replied. Once youve decided where you want to sleep, rk and I will sleep somewhere else. We could all sleep together, rk suggested. Nathan gave the boy a dirty look. You cant sleep with her if you dont eat! he hissed. Since you dont want to eat, you will be locked in a dark closet! When rk heard that, he began to wail. Are you going to eat? Nathan wondered.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Crystals face had turned red from rage. Hey! she shouted. How could you be so cruel to a child? It worked, Nathan replied. He pointed to rk. Sure enough, he was eating. Youre the good cop, and Im the bad cop. This will be the way that we educate our child. There is no way that I would ever threaten to lock my child in a closet, Crystal shouted. But it doesnt matter. If you ever made me pregnant, the child would never be allowed to be born. I would use a coat hanger if that were my only option! **** After giving Cark his bath, Crystal read him a story and put him to bed. She snuggled with him for a long time, but he refused to fall asleep. Finally, she lifted her head and said, I need to give your Uncle Davis his bath, but I will be back soon. Okay? rk frowned. But Uncle Davis is an adult Why cant he do it by himself? Before Crystal could reply, Nathans deep low voice sounded in the bathroom. She sighed and said, Dont worry about it. She handed him his stuffed gori. If you cant sleep, then y with your toy until you feel sleepy. rk smiled. Okay, Auntie. Nathan was sitting naked in the bathtub. Crystal sighed. Youre annoying, you know? Nathan smiled sheepishly. Come here, okay. Crystal walked over to the side of the tub and scowled. How do you expect to be a father if you are more of a baby than rk is? Nathan ignored the question. He reached out and tried to pull her into the tub, but before he could get any traction, rk began to cry. Crystal pulled away. I have to check on him, she said. Hes crying. Nathan shook his head. I dont hear anything. You imagine things. He gave her a serious look. Why did you eat the piece of Cupids Arrow without hesitation? Do you know what it means? It doesnt mean anything. Crystal shrugged. Dont overthink it. Maybe you arent giving it enough thought Nathan reached for Crystal, but she pulled away. This conversation is over! she eximed. I have to go to rk! Nathan was not so easy to be ignored. He pointed to his hard member and, sure enough, it was as hard as a rock. Be reasonable, he groaned. I need some relief, and I cant wait another minute! Crystal scowled at Nathans genitals. Finally, she said, Take care of it yourself, and then she stormed out of the room. Chapter 307: Are You Sure You Can Handle Him? Crystal sat down beside rk. He was clutching his toy gori, and tears were streaming down his face. Why is Mommy sote? he cried. I dont know, Crystal admitted. Hopefully, she will be here by the time you wake up. Why dont you put on your pajamas? I could read some more stories to you, and we could fall asleep together. Would you like that? rk nodded and said, Thank you, Aunt Crystal. I love you. Crystal smiled and kissed him on the forehead. I love you too. **** Nathan waited for a half-hour before he angrily gave up on Crystal. He took a cold shower to calm his lust, and then he got out of the bathtub. After drying himself with a towel, he went back into the bedroom, only to find Crystal and rk asleep. The boy was sleeping in the middle of the bed, so there was no room for him to sleep next to Crystal. Something about what he saw, though, sated his anger. By the way that Crystal had cared for Nancys son, he could tell that she would make a great mother. He stood over her for a few minutes, and then he tucked in her quilt, kissed her on the forehead, whispered that he loved her, and slipped out of the room. **** The following day, when rk woke up, he thought that Crystal was his mother. When he tried to roll her over, he saw that he was wrong, and he began to cry. It was not a pleasant way to be woken up, but Crystal felt empathy for the boy, and she embraced him. There, there, she whispered. All will be well. You will see. Crystal noticed that rk was extra wiggly. Do you have to pee? she asked. rk nodded. Well, what are you waiting for? rk jumped out of bed and went into the bathroom. Nathan was already there, so he helped him. And as the boy did his business, he thought C I would never let Crystal help the littled pee! Crystal was making the bed, and as she listened to rk pee, she felt an unexpected warmth in her heart. She thought C If time suddenly stopped, and rk belonged to Nathan and me, I could be happy Before she had a chance to examine that thought properly, Nathans cell phone rang. It was in his coat pocket, which was hanging over a chair by the window. It was his private phone, so she figured that it was Vic calling to give him an update. Without overthinking it, she got the phone and checked the Caller ID. That is strange C she thought. She didnt recognize the number, and the phone didnt either. Nevertheless, she epted the call and brought the phone to her ear. Master Davis. I am sorry to bother you. It was a mans voice. Nathan is in the bathroom, Crystal exined. If you have anything urgent, Ill let him know that you called. Is this Crystal Smith? the man asked. Crystals brow furrowed. This is Crystal. Who am I speaking with? This is Mrs. Daviss butler, the man replied. I was actually looking for you, but I didnt have your number. Me? Crystal looked at the bathroom door uneasily. Yes. Miss Smith, Mrs. Davis wants to see you. Thats weird C thought Crystal C Why does Nathans mother want to see me? After a moment of silence, she asked where Mrs. Davis wanted to meet. The butler gave Crystal the information, adding, Could you please keep our conversation confidential? Why? Crystal wondered. Mrs. Davis wants to meet you in private, the butler exined. She said that it will simplify the meeting.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Crystal said, All right, and she ended the call without saying goodbye. Then she deleted the calls record from the phone. She was putting it back in Nathans jacket when, from out of the blue, rk began to scream. Crystal barged into the bathroom. She looked at rk, and then she looked at Nathan. What the f**k is going on here? she shouted. Nathan had stripped off the boys clothes and was trying to force him into the bathtub. Did I wake you up? Nathan asked. You did not! Crystal hissed. But dont try to change the subject. What are you doing? He just had a bathst night! Are you some kind of pervert? Do you like little boys? Is that it? How dare you! Nathans face turned white. He missed the toilet and piddled on his feet. I thought you were sleeping, so I was trying to clean him up myself! Crystal frowned and said, You could have just given him a couple of baby wipes. This is something he could have handled himself. He is capable of doing more than you give him credit for. And now you have upset him. Just leave, okay. Ill handle this. Nathan crossed his arms beneath his chest and knitted his brows. I will not leave, he said. From now on, the only man that you are allowed to bathe is me! I will not allow you toy eyes on his little thingy! Nathans words were so ridiculous that Crystal could not help but burst into gales ofughter. Hes just a kid, she said. How can you be this jealous? Are you mentally ill? Nathans face turned red from embarrassment and anger. I am not mentally ill! he roared. Crystal smirked and said, I think thedy doth protest too much. At this point, Nathan would have thrown a fit if not for rks intervention. Uncle Nathan! he shouted happily. I want Uncle Nathan to give me a bath! The sound of these nine words was like music to Nathans ears, and they calmed the savage beast within him. Crystal gave the boy a skeptical look. You want Uncle Davis to give you a bath? rk nodded his head excitedly. She looked at Nathan. Are you sure you can handle him? she asked. Sure. Nathan seemed to be full of confidence. Id like to show you that I can be a good father. Crystal shrugged and said, Fine. I will y the role of a good big sister today, and I will make everyone breakfast. Where are you going? rk asked. I want you to give me a hug Im going to make breakfast, Crystal replied. I will hug youter when you are clean. Your Uncle Davis will help clean you up and get dressed. Then you can have your hug, and we will all have breakfast together. When rk heard that, he started to cry again. Oh, my f*****g God! Crystal grumbled as she grabbed the baby wipes from the counter. She pulled out two wipes, knelt in front of rk, and hurriedly cleaned his feet. He had been crying. Now he was wailing, but Crystal paid him no mind. Once he was clean, she looked him in the eye and said, Now, shut up and quit acting like a cry baby! I do not know what game youre ying, but it stops right now. Do you hear me? rk nodded unhappily. There was a stream of snot running from his nose, and it cascaded over his partially open mouth. Now, I want you to go to your room and get dressed, she continued. When you are dressed, if you have stopped crying, you cane downstairs for breakfast. Until then, you are to stay in your room. No crybabies at the table! Nathan smiled as she watched Crystal in action. The sight of her taking control like this was more arousing than anything he had ever seen before. Crystal was so angry that she did not even stop to change out of her pajamas after storming out of the room. Chapter 308: You Would Die Without Me As Nathan and Crystal sat down to eat C rk was still in his room crying C she asked him if he had heard anything from Nancy yet. He said that there was no news, except that her phone had been found in the underground parking lot of a downtown high-rise, along with several articles of clothing. After that, there was not a lot to say, so they ate in silence. They were just about done with their meal when Vic appeared. He had a big bag in his hand. Whats in the bag? Crystal asked curiously. Nancys clothes and her mobile phone, he replied. I just picked them up from the parking lot. Crystal took the bag and poured its contents on the floor. There was a coat, a sweater, and a pair of shoes. She recognized the garments right away. These belong to Nancy, she said, Did you check her cell for any recent calls? I did, Vic replied. But, sadly, the call history was deleted before it was abandoned. There are a few threads from WhatsApp, but nothing of interest Crystal thought about it for a moment, and then she said, Nancy may not be here, but we should still be thinking about Noah. She turned to Nathan. I think that he was poisoned, and I think that youve known about it all along. Do you deny it? I cannot, Nathan replied. I just didnt want you to be worried. Anyways, I am working on it. Sure, you are, Crystal scoffed. Dont lie to me. I can only imagine what you would have said to me if I had never figured out what was going on. You would have said that he had an incurable disease, and after he died, we would have moved on with our lives as if nothing insidious had urred. For a moment, Nathan was speechless. That is exactly what he had nned. There is something that you are keeping from me, Crystal continued, and I want to know what it is and why you have kept it from me. Is it because you fear that I will encounter Eric, and we will have a love affair? Nathans eyebrows furrowed. It is as if she is reading my mind C he worries. When Nathan did not reply right away, Crystal turned around to leave. Before she could take a single step, though, he grabbed her and embraced her. This is all my fault, he cried. But I only do what I do because I am afraid of losing you Tears began to well up in his eyes. Maybe you were right Maybe I am mentally ill When Crystal heard that, her anger dissipated, she knew that it must have been hard for him to say those words. She smiled sadly and said, I appreciate you saying that, but you cannot go around acting like this. It is not right, and I think that deep down, you know that. It would be best if you tried to do better. Can you do that? For me? I can and I will, Nathan replied. And I promise to do everything that I can to find the antidote. Crystal kissed him on the cheek. You must also promise not to do silly things. You will never have a true friend or a family of your own if you insist on misbehaving. What can you say about this? Will you promise? Nathan smiled. With you by my side, he replied, I know that I will be able to behave. But you have to promise me something in return Crystal gave him a sideways nce but said nothing. Nathan kissed her forehead and said, Promise me that no matter what happens, you wont leave me, okay? Crystal smiled and said, I promise. **** There was a squeak on the stairs, and everyone turned to see what had caused the noise. rk was standing on the third step. He was fully dressed, and not only had he stopped crying, but he was smiling. Ill be a good boy, he said. Im sorry that I was bad. I am worried about my Mommy. Thats alright. We forgive you. Crystal went to rk and gave him a big hug. When Nathan saw that heughed and said, Look at you, Crystal. You will be such a great mother! Crystal frowned. What about you? What about me? What Crystal had said hurt him. Why cant I be a good father?. I dont know. Crystal thought about it for a minute, and then she asked rk what he thought. The boy was happy to be included in the conversation, and he said, Would a good mother and a bad father give birth to a baby like me? He was thinking about how his mother was good, but his father was bad. We would, Nathan replied. But our baby would be a girl. Nathan winked and blew Crystal a kiss, but she just rolled her eyes and said, Anyway, its almost time for lunch. Were going to have spaghetti, and rk must be starving. Starving! rk agreed. Im starving! **** They were just about done eating when rk suddenly started to cry. After a minute, he pushed away his te and said, Not hungry! Crystal frowned. She had thought that they had moved past this. Whats wrong, she asked. rk rubbed his eyes with his hands. Mommys not here, he whined. She must be starving too! You little fool! Nathan hissed. Wherever your Mommy is, I am sure that she has eaten. It would be best if you ate so that you would have the strength to protect her when she returns. If you do not start behaving, you are going in the dark closet for the rest of the day! Suddenly, rk began to punch himself in the face. Im not listening to you! he shouted. Youre a bad, bad daddy. And I dont love you! Crystal red at Nathan. You promised to stop doing silly things! she growled. I will deal with youter, though. For now, I need you to get out of here. Go figure out how to save Noah and how to find Nancy. Once Nathan was gone, Crystal knelt in front of rk, took hold of his hands, and held them to his sides. Once he was subdued, she embraced him andforted him. This was not like earlier when he had been ying games. He was deeply upset about his mothers disappearance. **** Despite everything that Crystal had done, she was unable to get rk to stop crying. He did settle down significantly, though. His wails turned to sniffles, and the torrent of tears that had run down his face had been turned down to a trickle. And eventually, she was able to leave him in front of the television. When Nathan returned, he cornered Crystal, pinned her to the wall, and said, Youre babying that brat. He needs to be taught who the boss around here is. You are not his boss! Crystal argued. That job belongs to his mother. You are a bully, and not only is your behavior inexcusable, but you are breaking your promise to be!This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Nathans face turned red. He knew that she was right, but he did not want to admit it. F**k you! he growled. He pushed her to the ground and stormed away. Where are you going? she shouted antagonistically. Are you going to go and cry in your beer? I have a business to attend to, he snorted. Now piss off. Im sick of your face! As if! Crystal smirked. You would die without me. You said so yourself. Chapter 309: Does He Actually Love Me? The time for Crystal to meet with Mrs. Davis had arrived, so she got dressed, arranged for rk to be taken care of while she was gone, and set out. At first, she could not think of why Nathans mother would want to meet with her, but then she remembered that the older woman disapproved of her rtionship with her son. Most likely, Mrs. Davis wanted to scare Crystal away, but she did not frighten easily. Besides that, now that she had the bracelet, Nathan would have no trouble finding her if she disappeared. Mrs. Daviss ck RV was waiting for her in the parking lot. So far, everything was set exactly as the older woman had said it would be. Crystal had her driver park next to the RV, and before getting out, she instructed the driver to get the RVs License te number. Just to be on the safe side, she said. If I am gone for more than three hours, contact Master Davis immediately and tell him that I am in trouble. The driver nodded and said, Be careful, okay? I will be, she replied, and after shutting the door behind her, she climbed into the RV. Mrs. Davis had said that she would be waiting for her in the RV, so Crystal was taken aback when she realized that the only other person in the car was the driver. Where is Mrs. Davis? she asked nervously. Im the driver, the driver replied. I was sent to pick you up. Crystals brow furrowed. This isnt what we discussed, she grumbled. Im out of here. She tried to open the door, but they were locked. Whats going on? she asked. You arent getting out, so you may as well settle in and enjoy the ride, the driver replied. The scenery is pleasant, and there are beverages and snacks in the cooler between the seats. Crystal sighed and sat back in her seat, and she did not move or say anything until they had reached their destination. It took a half-hour to get to the zoo, where Crystal was transferred to a tour bus which brought her to a huge indoor farm. At the door, someone received her and led her to an open hall. They walked through the open hall, down a flight of stairs, turned a lot of corners, and continued walking for a while after that. The longer they walked, the more uneasy Crystal felt. Why did they bring me here? C she wondered. Atst, the bodyguard pushed open a heavy iron door. On the other side, there was a warm, delicate room. There were a few wooden tables and wooden chairs, and the firece cast eerie shadows on the wall. Her guide closed the door behind her and retreated. A man was sitting in front of the firece, with his back to Crystal.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Are you the butler? Crystal asked. You must be so where is Mrs. Davis? The mans head turned slightly, and when she saw who it was, she gasped. Ericughed. I see that you are surprised to see me. That is an understatement! -thought Crystal. He was thest person in the world that she had expected to see, but now all of the secrecy madeplete sense. E-E-Eric She stuttered his name. She knew that she should say more, but her brain seemed incapable of forming words. Whats wrong? Erics smile disappeared. Are you not happy to see your husband? You l-lied, Crystal muttered. You are not Mrs. Daviss butler Wh-Wh-What are you d- doing here? What am I doing here?!?! Eric shouted. You are my wife. Isnt it right that I shoulde for you? The call dide from Mrs. Davis butler, though. Youre lying! Crystal shouted. That call was made by you! No Eric chuckled. Dont you think you would have recognized my voice? I would have C Crystal realized. Her face lost its color. Why would the butler have set this up? she asked. She felt like she was in a cheesy mystery movie from the 1980s, where the butler was almost always the evil mastermind. You still dont get it, do you? Eric smirked. Mrs. Davis is my ally. As if on cue, a voice sounded in Erics Bluetooth headset. Master Bush, has she arrived? She has, he replied. Please tell Mrs. Davis that I like her wedding gift very much. Eric disconnected the headset, and as he stood up, he let it fall to the ground. Crystal took a gun out of her pocket and pointed it at his head. Donte any closer, or Ill shoot you! She had stolen the pistol from Nathans bodyguard. Just to be on the safe side C she had thought. Never in a million years would she have expected to be using it. Eric frowned. Would you shoot your own husband? Does that upset you? Crystal asked. He was nowhere near as angry as she would have expected him to be. I am not angry, he replied. I am sad. Are you really going to kill me? If I am guilty, my only crime is loving you he took a step towards her. Does he actually love me? C Crystal wondered. Her hands were trembling. Donte any closer! she cried. I am not kidding! I dont want to shoot you, but I will if I have to You dont have to do anything that you dont want to do. Eric remained as cool as a cucumber. And, as you said, this isnt what you want to do. Think about the repercussions. My men are everywhere. What do you think will happen to your friends if you shoot me? Crystal was taken aback by what he said. Wh-Wh-What do you mean? she stammered. Suddenly, she had a hard time staying focused on her target, and while she was distracted, Eric stepped forward and knocked the gun out of her hand. Crystal cried out, and before she could say anything, Eric grabbed hold of her chin and squeezed it. Do you know why I wanted to meet with you here? he asked. It is because I wanted to show you something amazing. And I still do, so dont give me any more trouble. Crystal was terrified. She had no idea what he was up to, but she doubted that it was anything good. It was not until the man outside started screaming that she realized how diabolical he actually was. Even though the walls were thick, the sound was loud, and Crystal recognized the voice immediately. It belonged to Carlos. What the f**k are you doing to him? Crystal growled. You are a smart girl. Eric chuckled. Why dont you take a guess? How the hell am I supposed to know? Crystal hissed. Why do you care so much? He gave her a nasty look and said, He is your ex-boyfriend. You dont still have feelings for him, do you? I do not have feelings for him, Crystal argued. But I am a Humanitarian! Eric scowled. What in Sam Hill is a Humanitarian? Is that like a Trinitarian or a Vegetarian? Crystal could not help but chuckle. She thought he was such an ignoramus. As a Humanitarian, I believe in the intrinsic value of life, she exined. And I believe that we have an obligation to do good and reduce suffering whenever we can! Whatever you have done to Carlos goes against everything that I believe in! You made me do this, Ericined. You drove me to do it. Dont you dare pin this on me! Crystal pulled her chin away and took two quick backward steps. Now, where is that gun? C she wondered. She looked around, but she did not see it. Wheres Carlos? she spat on the ground in front of Eric and said, Take me to see him! Why not? Eric shrugged casually. I cant wait to see the two of you talk about the old days. If he can still talk, that is. Eric led Crystal to a small iron door. There was a poorly vented passage on the other side. It led to a flight of stairs. At the top, there was a prison-likepound. There were a dozen bodyguards ced around the perimeter, and each one carried an Electric baton. Inside thepound, there were a plethora of individual cages where all manner of beasts were on disy. There were wolves, tigers, mastiffs, and leopards, and their stench was most heinous. They were obviously being mistreated, and it broke Crystals heart to see them this way. Chapter 310: He Looks Like A Dead Man The beast closest to them was a ferocious mastiff, and when it heard them, its eyes lit up, and it began to growl. Crystal could tell that it had been mistreated and that if it ever got out, it would kill whatever or whoever got in its way. A cold shiver ran down her back as they walked past the angry beast. In the middle of thepound, they found Carlos. He was in a cage, curled up in a corner, and his eyes had a vacant look to them. He was no longer screaming, but the fresh wounds on his back implied that he had been recently whipped. Crystal whispered his name, and he snarled at her. Crystal was dumbfounded. She thought C He doesnt even recognize me Eric turned to the closest guard. Was this animal roaring just now? he asked. He was, the guard replied. But we gave him an injection, and it has already taken effect, as you can see. Crystal gave Eric a dirty look. What dr*g did you give him? she asked. And why have you locked him up like some kind of violent beast? Thats enough of that! Eric snapped. Did you forget what I said? You are to be med for his suffering. I will not ept the responsibility for this! Crystal shouted. Dont be so fucking stupid! You did this! It is on you! Carlos flinched when he heard Crystal yelling, and it gave Crystal hope. She turned to him and said his name, but all he did was a growl. She said it again, and this time he tried to attack her. Just as he reached the bars, though, Eric thrust an electric baton into the cage and jabbed him in the midsection. Carloss body did the Jitterbug as Eric pushed and twisted the baton. The sound that came out of Carloss mouth was unlike anything Crystal had ever heard. She grabbed Erics arm and shouted for him to stop. Eric stopped right away, but he seemed to be confused by her reaction. I was protecting you he exined. Thats bullshit, and you know it. Crystal red at him hatefully. Hes in a cage. Even if he were a vicious beast, he would not be able to get to me. Now shut the fuck up and let me see if I can help him. Do what you want, Eric grumbled. Its your funeral. Has anyone told you what an unappreciative bitch you are? Crystal ignored Ericsments, and she knelt in front of Carlos. She looked him in the eyes and said, Carlos, dont you recognize me? I am Crystal. You once loved me Do you remember? Carloss face had a nk expression, and there was nothing there to indicate that he had even heard her. Crystal was not one to give up easily, though. She stretched her hand through the bars and touched his arm. Its me. Crystal Still, there was no response. Eric stood over her with his arms crossed. You see, he said. He is not a man. He is still a man. Crystal ran her hands through Carloss hair and gently touched his face. I can reach him. Youll see. Suddenly, Carlos turned and bit into her arm. His teeth dug into her flesh, and he tugged at it viciously. Crystal did not fight him, though. She just looked him in the eyes and said, I am not a threat to you I am your friend Carlos paused, and for a second, Crystal thought that she saw the light in his eyes. It was quickly extinguished, though, the moment that Eric pressed his electric baton to his ear. Crystal was let go, and Carlos began to il about you. Bad dog! Eric growled. I will teach you to bite! One of the other guards jabbed his baton into the cage, and he pressed it against Carloss genitals. Carloss pelvic thrust forward, and he pissed himself. Then he began to vomit. Eric thought it was jolly good fun, and heughed uproariously. Without warning, Crystal pped Eric across the face, and the baton fell out of his hand. She pped him again. Then again; C three times in quick session. Erics pupils dted. Darling, if you dare to p me again Before his words were finished, she pped him again. His threats meant nothing to her. Finally, Eric grabbed her arms. He held them to her sides and smirked. Crystal was not to be deterred, though. She hocked a loogie and spat it into his face. Some of it went into his mouth, and he began to gag on a wad of hot, salty snot. You are a real bitch, He muttered. Who does that? He had two of his men hold Crystal for him so that he could clean his face. Crystal had thought that the wad of snot would send him into a blind rage, and she found his calm demeanor disconcerting. She thought that she only had a chance if she could get him so angry that he could not think straight. Only then would he start making mistakes. She looked him in the eyes and said, Eric, you are not a man! You are nothing but a pansy-ass little girl! Eric smiled wantonly. Fine. Im not a man. Its time to get this show on the road. Crystals brow furrowed. I dont want to see a show. Too bad. Eric shrugged. The show must go on. Isnt that what they say? Crystal began to tremble as Eric approached her. He had his baton pointed at her, and he was grinning. N-No! she pleaded. No please. Ill be good Eric sighed. Its toote for that, he said. Nobody spits in my face and gets away with it. He jabbed the baton into her ear, and she shrieked as the electricity passed through her body. Now it was her turn to do the Jitterbug. She was vaguely aware of the fact that she had wet herself, and then she lost consciousness. **** On the opposite side of the zoo, there was a stadium, and this is where Crystal found herself when she woke up. She was sitting high up in the bleachers. Her arms were tied behind her back, her legs were tied together, and she noticed that her pants had been changed for her. For that, she was equal parts grateful and humiliated. She wondered who had seen her vag*na and if anyone had done anything to her. She did a quick body scan, and she could not tell. After being electrocuted, her entire body felt numb. The ce was very bright, and it took a second for Crystals eyes to adjust. Once she could see, she looked around. There was a guard to the left of her, and Eric was sitting to her right. She realized then that the ce smelled like death, like blood and guts and pissed and shit, and her nose scrunched up involuntarily. Wheres Carlos? she asked. As she asked the question, she noticed the shark-like Cheshires grin on Erics face, and she wished that she could take the question back. I will take you to see him, Eric replied. Then he stood up and threw her over his shoulder. Crystal hated it. Unfortunately, bound up as she was, she had no way to resist. She wanted to kill him, though, and she thought that if the opportunity showed itself, she would. As Eric took the stairs two at a time, Crystal began to cry. What are you crying for? Eric growled. He hasnt been eaten by those beasts yet, so you have no reason to be so upset. Crystal bit her lips hard. She knew that it was useless to cryPlease check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Finally, they reached the ground, and Eric set her on the ground. He pointed to an entrance where the yers would enter from if there were a sporting event going on. As it was, there was a gate over each entrance. They are electric, Eric exined. It keeps the beasts from rushing the stadium. Crystal shaded her eyes and squinted so that she could see the gates better, and then she gasped. Carlos was leaning against the cement wall. He looks like a dead man C she thought. From this far away, there was nothing to suggest that he was actually alive. Chapter 311: That鈥檚 Not Fair Carlos was released into the stadium first, but he did not move, and a guard had to encourage him with an electric baton. The tiger was released next, and it attacked right away. He is dead C thought Crystal C he does not even know where he is. Suddenly, and to everyones great surprise, Carloss survival instinct kicked in. He dodged the attack and punched the tiger in the face. The tiger growled. Carlos growled right back at him, and they began to circle each other and assess each others strengths and weaknesses. The tiger was caught off guard when Carlos took the offensive. Carlos jumped through the air andnded on the beast with his nails extended. His movements were so fast that Crystal could not see what was going on. It was not until the final stroke had been struck that things slowed down. The tiger copsed at Carloss feet. Did you see that! Crystal eximed. If I hadnt seen it with my own eyes How did he do that? You dont know? Ericughed. Did you think that he did that on his own? I gave him a serum that I am developing. He is my first guinea pig. Crystal could not believe it. You are a monster! Am I? Eric seemed genuinely surprised by her statement. Without my serum, he would be dead. Never mind that, though. Just watch the show. By the end of this, I am sure you will have a newfound sense of appreciation for my work. I doubt that C Crystal thought but knew better than to say. There was a clicking sound, and the gate reopened. Behind it, there was a wolf, and it immediately began to stalk Carlos. Please, Crystal begged. Make it stop. Eric smiled and said, Only you can save him. If you promise to stay with me C never to see Nathan again and never to betray me, then I will let him go. I have already married you! Crystal eximed. Isnt that enough? What else do you want from me? Do I have to kill Nathan to prove my loyalty to you? That would be nice, Eric replied. But it is not necessary, and it wouldnt prove anything anyway. Even if you killed him, his memory could live on in your heart. What I want is for you to remove him from your heart. I want you to root him out. You are crazy, Crystal cried. Hearts do not have On/Off switches. How can I remove him from my heart? I have a way to keep him alive and torture him at the same time, Eric exined. If you did your part, he would be removed from your heart. This ought to be ripe C thought Crystal.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. What is it that you want me to do? she asked. I want you to catch him and let him be my prisoner, Eric replied. I regret not having poisoned him when I had the chance. If I had, he would be dead by now. Crystals face turned white. You want me to poison Nathan and turn him over to you? She could not believe what she was hearing. Eric smiled and ran his fingers through her hair. You dont have to do it by yourself, he exined. I will help you. You will be the bait, and I will be the trap. No. Crystal had a grave expression on her face. I will not help you. I will not trade Nathan for Carlos. It would be best if you let them both go. Only then will I willingly stand by your side. Eric frowned and said, Hush your mouth. Were missing the show. Below them, Carlos had just torn the wolfs throat out, and he had his fist raised triumphantly. There was gore dripping down his arm, and from the grin on his face, Crystal could tell that he had regained some of his humanity. It looks like youre losing, she said. Dont count your chickens before they have hatched, Eric muttered. He lifted his right hand and showed two fingers. Almost immediately, two gates were opened, and a pack of wolves emerged from each of them. Oh, my God! thought Crystal. Thats not fair! she cried. Twenty to one is not fair! Who said that life is fair? Eric chuckled and said, This should be fun. Crystal felt like she was losing her mind. She thought about all the things she could do if she had not been bound, and her helplessness taunted her. **** The wolves approached Carlos. They formed a circle around him, and thergest one slowly approached him. It raised its head and howled proudly, and the other wolves joined their voices to his. It was a terrifying sight to behold, but Carlos seemed unaffected by their show of strength. He looked at the wolf in front of him, stuck out his tongue, and made a rude noise. Almost immediately, the wolves pounced. Crystals whole body was trembling. This is the end C she thought. She wanted to cry, but the tears would note. All she could do was close her eyes and wait for the end. **** A few minutes passed, and when Crystal heard Eric begin to grumble, she slowly opened her eyes. She looked down, and she was amazed by what she saw. The pack had been nearly eradicated. Unfortunately, those that remained appeared to be the strongest of the two packs. They were hungry, and they were desperate, which made them incredibly dangerous. Before this, Carlos had never been so fast, agile, or strong. But Crystal feared the serum would not be enough. She turned to Eric. Do you know that if you kill him, you will lose your bargaining chip? Eric scowled. Hush If you cannot watch the show in silence, I will have your mouth duct-taped closed. Crystal turned back to Carlos. She did not want to watch this, but she feltpelled to. Three wolves attacked Carlos at once, two from the front and one from behind. He dodged one, punched the other in the face, but he had not seen the one behind him. She opened her mouth to warn him, but it was toote. Carlos shrieked as the wolfs ws scraped down his back. He lost his bnce, and he fell to the ground. Crystal shouted his name as loud as she could. She knew that Eric would punish her for it, but she did not care. She wanted him to know that someone was rooting for him. You can do it! I know you can! You are the strongest person that I have ever known! Chapter 312: It鈥檚 A Miracle That He Is Alive Carlos made peace with the fact that he was about to die. The wolves were circling around him. I never really had a chance C he thought not against twenty wolves. But he was proud of himself for how well he had managed with what he had. He closed his eyes and began to recite Psalm 23. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death Suddenly he heard a woman calling his name. Carlos! she shouted. He recognized the voice. It belonged to Crystal. What is she doing here? C wondered. You can do it! she shouted. I know you can! You are the strongest person that I have ever known! Is that true? C he wondered. He opened his eyes. The wolves were closer than ever, but they suddenly seemed like less of a threat than they had a moment ago, and as he got to his feet, he continued his prayer: I will fear no evil for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff theyfort me. Crystal cheered as Carlos arose, and Eric was so shocked by what he was seeing that he did not strike her. Its impossible, he muttered. Totally Completely Impossible. **** Thergest of the wolves approached Carlos, and he faced it like a warrior. He drew back his arm as the wolf lunged, but just before his fist met the wolfs face, a gunshot echoed through the stadium and his foe dropped dead at his feet. Carlos gasped. What the fuck just happened? C he wondered. A second wolf attacked, and it too was shot dead. The bullet passed through its left eyeball, and its brains exploded out the other side of his head. When the other wolves saw what had happened, they began to retreat. Suddenly, a bell rang. It signified that dinner was ready. When the wolves heard it, they all turned around and returned to their cages. The show was over. **** And now, finally, the tears came, and it was like a dam had been broken. They came in torrents. What the f**k is your problem? Eric growled. He lives. Does this mean that you are going to let him go? Crystal asked hopefully. You care so much about him, but what about me? Eric asked. If I died, would you even care? Or would you jump for joy? It is not like that, Crystal exined. I like you both equally. If you let him go, I will do whatever you want. Everything except to hurt Nathan He is as innocent as Carlos. There must be something that I can do instead Eric thought about it for a moment, and then he wiped her tears away with his thumb. Now that I think about it, there is something. Whats it? Crystal asked nervously. If you give me a child, I will know that Nathan is no longer in your heart, and I will be able to let Carlos go.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Crystals back stiffened. I have taken a dr*g. It is a special medicine. Im afraid that I cant I know, Eric interrupted. You know? Nathan informed me, Eric exined. Dont you see? That is what this is all about. Crystal was shocked. How do you think it makes me feel to know that you took Cupids Arrow of your own volition? Eric asked angrily. I gave you everything that you wanted, but you betrayed me. Crystal clenched her fists. She finally understood why Eric was acting so crazy. What am I to do now? Eric asked. I dont know why you married me if this is what you were going to do Im so-sorry, Crystal stuttered. I d-didnt p- n it. But what d-does this h-have to d-do with C-C-C-Carlos? I am using your weaknesses against you, Eric replied. Do you think I am stupid? N-no. Crystal was trembling. I dont know what you want me to do, though. I have already taken the dr*g, so I cant have sex with you, and if I cant have sex with you, how can I give birth to your child? Ericughed. Didnt you know about the loophole? If you give birth to a child, the effects of Cupids Arrow will be rendered null and void. Crystal frowned. Why are you so desperate to have sex with me? I am in love with you, Eric exined. Everybody knows that sex is the quickest way to a womans heart. And once you are knocked up, we will finally be a real family. Crystal smiled bitterly. Eric, I am speechless. How did youe up with this n? It is despicable. I dont see how it matters, Eric replied. If you do not like it, take it up with yourself. You were the one who turned your back on your husband and took Cupids Arrow with another man! Crystal Sighed. I said I was sorry. Now, will you please release Carlos? How can I? Eric chuckled. You still havent given me your answer. Do I have other choices? There is the third option, Eric replied. But if you are willing to continue to watch Carlos suffering, then you are more of a monster than I will ever be Crystals head was spinning. No choice felt right, and the voices in her head were driving her insane as they debated which option was the best. Give me some time to think about it, she begged. Alright. Eric shrugged. I will give you 24 hours. That is too short, Crystal cried. I need three days. Eric frowned. If this is another one of your sick games, Carlos will pay for your error in judgment. Dont torture him anymore, Crystal begged. Let him out Why not? Eric smiled and nodded to one of the guards. A few minutester, they returned, and Carlos was with them. Carlos was a mess. His body was covered in bruises and matted with blood. His hair was disheveled. It was sticking out all over the ce, and Crystal could see that chunks had been pulled out. The worst, though, was the inmed wounds on his back. It is a miracle that he is alive C she thought. Is someone going to help him? Crystal asked. It saddened her to see that he had reverted back to his previous state. Once again, he was a shell-shocked husk of a man. How can I think straight when I know that Carlos is dying somewhere? Eric nodded amicably. Then he turned to the guards. Bring him to the infirmary. Get him cleaned up. Have the veterinarian look at his wounds. There are clean clothes in the locker room. Then he turned back to Crystal and said, Consider this an act of goodwill. If you betray my trust, you will regret it, but it will be worse for Carlos. Chapter 313: You Are Not Safe The guards led Carlos to the infirmary. Eric cut the rope that bound Crystals hands and legs, and they followed behind them. They had not been waiting long when they heard one of the guards begin to yell. What was that? Crystal wondered, and she ran into the infirmary. When she opened the door, she saw that Carlos had knocked a guard to the ground. The other guard was so frightened that he had backed himself into a corner. Crystal approached him as if nothing were out of the ordinary. She held out her hand to him and said, Carlos. Its me, Crystal. Let me help you. Carlos hung his head but said nothing. Crystal nodded to the guards, and they ran out of the room. Then she put her hands on Carloss shoulders, turned him around, and led him to the next room where the showers were. There was arge bench running down the center of the room, and there were four open showers on either side of it. Each one had an extendable showerhead so that people could bathe from a seated position. Crystal sat him in front of the shower closest to the entrance. Crystal was about to get the showerhead, but before she could, he grabbed her, pulled her closer, and sniffed her body. He liked the smell. It helped him calm down so that he could start to arrange his thoughts. Seeing him in this state made Crystal cry. She could not imagine what horrible dr*gs he had been given. She lifted his chin, and when she looked in his eyes, she saw the remnants of his humanity. Hold still, she said. Let me get you cleaned up. Everything seemed fine, but then Carlos bit her wrist. Crystal could not believe it. This was the second time that she had been bitten by him today. Damn my bad luck! C she thought. Her first instinct was to pull away, but she knew that it would only make the situation worse. So, instead of fighting him, she forced herself to rx. She ran her hands through his hair and said, If you need to bite me, I dont mind. It doesnt hurt. She looked him in the eyes. Will you feel better after youve bitten me? Carlos eyed her suspiciously. There was blood streaming out from either side of his mouth. I dont know if you regret meeting me or not, Crystal continued. I am sorry that you have had to suffer because of me. Tears began to stream down her face. If it were not for me, Eric would not have hurt you. Finally, Carlos let her go, and he used his hand to stop the flow of blood on her wrist. Crystal smiled meekly and said, Will you let me help you? Carlos nodded and let her go. This time, when Crystal went to get the showerhead, he did not stop her. **** Eric watched from the hallway as Crystal took care of Carlos. He had his phone pressed against the side of his face. Paul was on the other end of the line. It looks like you are ahead, Eric admitted. But dont get too excited. This is just because your prey is more stupid than mine is. Is my prey stupid? Paul asked. You had better watch your mouth if you wish to remain my friend. But you call Nancy stupid all of the time, Ericined. I can call her stupid because she is mine, Paul exined. What gives you the right?This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. I suppose, nothing, Eric replied. I apologize. The call came to a quick conclusion after that, and when his eyes returned to Crystal and Carlos, he stepped into the room. When Carlos saw him, he immediately became restless. He bared his teeth, and he let out a warning sound between grit teeth. Crystal immediately turned around and told Eric that he needed to leave. He had already seen the bite on her hand, though, and he refused to go. He bit you again, Eric argued. You are not safe! Im fine! Crystal eximed. You are bleeding! Eric shouted. Dont you see? You are not fine. If your wound is not taken care of, it will get infected, and you could die! No one is going to die! Crystal rolled her eyes and said, Dont be so melodramatic. Eric scowled, and he red at her. An animal who has bitten once will bite again, and it will keep on biting until it is put down! Dont call him an animal! Crystal gave Eric a dirty look and said, He is a human, and he is not being put down! Is he human? Eric asked sarcastically. He cant even speak, and he doesnt recognize anyone! But that is your fault! Crystal groaned. What dr*gs did you give him? Can you change him back? Eric smiled and said, Of course, I can, but first, you need to promise to let me get you pregnant. But you had better make up your mind quickly. The longer you take, the less of him there will be when I give him the antidote. How long will it take? Dont worry. If you give me the right answer in three days, everything will be fine. Alright. Crystal sighed and said, I will think about it. In the meanwhile, let me get Carlos taken care of. He is going to catch a cold. Catch a cold? Eric scoffed. He is a cold-blooded animal now. He cant catch a cold. What do you mean? Erics words had given Crystal a bad feeling in her gut. It is all a part of my experimental serum, Eric exined. Dont you worry your pretty little head about it; you hear me? What happens if your experiment fails? Crystal asked nervously. Eric shrugged. Then he will die. It is no great loss. Crystals eyes widened with horror. Eric took her into his arms. He kissed her on the forehead and said, Dont worry. You can change his destiny at any time. I get it! Crystal hissed. Will you finally let me take care of Carlos? I will not, Eric replied. It is too dangerous. My guards will take over. It is more dangerous for them than it is for me, she argued. Eric snickered. Watch and learn, my young padawan. Watch and learn. Chapter 314: Her Negotiation Eric cleared his throat, and three guards entered the infirmary. They carried each other with an electric baton. Crystal could tell right away what they were about to do, and she shouted for them to stop, but it did no good. All at once, they pressed the batons to his flesh, and he began to il about. It looked like he was having a grand mal seizure. I dont think that hell be putting up much of a fight now, Ericughed. **** Crystal felt like a shell-shocked soldier, and when Eric led her into the next room, she went along obediently. He sat her on the bed, and he began to treat her wounds. There was a clock on the wall, and its steady tick-tock-tick-tock rattled her brain. She looked up at it and saw that it had been two and a half hours since she had stepped out of her car. Before long, the driver would notify Nathan. At that point, the shit was sure to hit the fan. He will use the GPS on my wrist to find me, but what about Carlos?- she wondered. Does Paul have Noahs antidote? Crystal asked anxiously. Erics hands froze for a second, and then he said, I didnt even know if Paul was still alive. I thought that Nancy killed him unless he killed her. He smirked. Crystals face turned white. She could not believe that Nancy would be stupid enough to go after Paul by herself. Do you still want to save her? Eric asked. If you submit to me, there are many things that I could do for you and for the people that you love. It is very selfish of you to shun me. You are lucky that I am such a good man. I could assault you and force a baby into you, but I want you toe to me of your own free will. How many men can say the same? Crystal was bbergasted. If you must ckmail me intoing willingly, then I havente willingly, have I? Why are you so intent on having me anyway? There are probably millions of girls who would love to be by your side. And do not tell me that it is because you love me. Eric sighed and said, You are my wife. Do you think that I would marry someone that I didnt love? And if you had not put up so much resistance, I wouldnt have had to go to such extremes to keep you with me Crystal crossed her arms beneath her breasts. You are making a big mistake, she said. The more you hurt the people around me, the more I hate you. You may be able to force me into doing your bidding, but you will never win my heart this way! Be that as it may Eric thought about it for a moment, and then he said, If I cannot have your heart, your body will have to suffice. And who knows? Once we have a family, you may grow to love me. Do you think that you might love me eventually? I dont think so, Crystal replied. After what you have done to Carlos, I feel disgusted just looking at you. Eric frowned. You cant mean that.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Of course, I do! Crystal eximed. But what if I give Carlos the antidote? Eric asked hopefully. Would that change your opinion about me? It would be a start, Crystal admitted, At the very least, it would show that you have the capacity to empathize with someone, so I would be less disgusted by you. Ericughed happily. You are the first woman to use your disgust of me to negotiate with me. Crystals eyebrows rose, and she thought- I did not realize this was a negotiation. How about this? she said. If you give Carlos the antidote, I will give you one month to prove that you are a good man. Erics eyes lit up. He had hoped that she would give him her life, but he had known that it was unlikely to happen. This was an eptablepromise. I have one more condition, though. Crystal looked him in the eyes and said, I want you to stop trying to kill Nathan. I may have feelings for him, but I am with you. Sure. Eric shrugged. I never wanted to kill him. Crystal eyed him suspiciously. But in Kuerto, you imprisoned him and abused him. Eric chuckled. I was just having a little fun with him and punishing him. If I had wanted him dead, he would be dead. Well, he wasnt having fun, Crystal hissed. Now, if you want to have a child with me, you must let Nathan go and stop trying to catch him. No more traps. Do you hear me? No more traps? Ericughed out loud. Where is the fun in that? Crystal had a grave expression on her face. If you cannot ept my condition, then there is no deal. Good men do not behave that way that you do, and I would not want my child to grow up in an environment full of hate. What about Nathan? If you prove yourself to me, then I will put him out of my mind. Eric was satisfied with her answer, and he said, I can let go of the hatred, but will Nathan let go of his? Are you really willing to put this behind you? Crystal asked skeptically. She wanted to believe him, but she had her doubts. If you do, then I will handle Nathan myself, and you will have to trust me. For your sake, I will let this grievance go, Eric lied. It was not in him to forgive and forget, but if he could cate her with false promises long enough to get her in a Family Way, then she would be stuck with him, and he would be free to deal with Nathan in whatever manner pleased him. Dont you believe me? I dont know He stood up. Believe it or not, I would never think about killing him. I have been cruel to him in the past. That was because of what he did to Helen, but maybe he has been punished enough. By the end of the month, you will see that my word is good. Crystal nodded absently and said, Well see Does this mean that you have finally decided to have a child with me? I will tell you in three days, Crystal replied, as per our agreement. Eric scowled at her. I had hoped that you had forgotten about that, he grumbled. Chapter 315: What Are You Here For? Crystal looked Eric in the eyes and said, You have put me in a tight space, and my anxiety is through the roof. I cannot make a big decision in this environment. It would be best if you let me go. If you do, I will return in three days with my answer. Then, regardless of what I decide, I will stay for a month. You w-want to- l-leave. Eric was taken aback. The thought of letting her go had never been a part of his n. How can I trust you to c e back? You have Carlos, she replied, and your arm is long. I know that if I crossed you, nobody in my life would be safe, and Noah would never get the antidote. If you let me go, I would have to return. You must see that. Erics brow furrowed. Crystal, no one has ever tried my patience or vexed me the way that you do. Do you know that? I know it, Crystal replied meekly. Will you let me go? Besides thinking, what will you be doing while you are gone? Eric asked. I will set my affairs in order, Crystal replied. I cannot just disappear without a word. People will worry, and they wille looking for me. If you do note back, I will kill Carlos. I will slit his throat myself, but his blood will be on your hands. Do you understand? I understand, Crystal replied. I will return. She nced at the clock. By now, Nathan would have received word from the driver, and there was no doubt in her mind that he was on his way. I need to go now. Why are you so anxious? I have an appointment with Nathan. He will be suspicious if I dont return on time. A thought urred to Eric, and he frowned. He said, Once you tell Nathan your ns, he is unlikely to let you leave Crystal smirked and said, He may try to keep me in, but I know how to get my way. Look at today, for example. There is no way that he would have approved of me meeting up with his mother. Okay. Eric nodded. I believe you. You may go if that is what you need to do. Thank you. Crystal took out her mobile phone and asked her driver to pick her up. Then, as she put it away, Eric put his hand on her shoulder, and she asked him if there was a problem? Its cold outside, he replied. Put on my jacket. I will see you out. Dont bother. I dont want him to see you. That wont be a problem, Eric exined. My driver will take you where you want to go, so you may as well cancel your car. Alright. Crystal knew that it was pointless to argue, so she did as he said. But what about the antidote for Noah? Paul has it. I will bring it to you tomorrow. Do you know where I live? Of course, I do. Ericughed. I know everything about you. A chill ran down Crystals back. Thats creepy C she thought. Alright, she said. Tomorrow it is. As she began to walk towards the door, Eric stopped her. Wheres my goodbye kiss? Crystal smiled, gave him a kiss on his cheek, and hurried off in the direction of the car. The cold air hit her in the face, and a grin appeared on her face. Eric still had her in his grasp, but at that moment, she feltpletely free. She looked back at the zoo and sighed. If it were not for Carlos and Noah, there is no way that she would even think about returning. **** Crystal had the driver drop her off at the mall. She knew that she was about to upset Nathan, and she thought that a gift might pacify him. She had barely stepped out of the car, though, when her phone rang. When she saw that it was Nathan who was calling, her heart sank. With trembling hands, she epted the call and brought it to the side of her head. H- Hello she stuttered. Are you carrying a small ck backpack? Nathan asked. She was. Crystal looked around, but she saw no one. The parking lot was nearly deserted. Are you wearing a blue jacket and ck boots? Nathan asked. She was. Can you see me? Crystal began to feel scared. Where are you? Take a guess? Stop ying around, Crystal cried. Are you in the malls parking lot? I dont see you! The line went dead, and Crystal began to look around frantically. Suddenly, the entrance to the mall opened, and Nathan emerged. He had a wicked grin on his face, and several bodyguards walked behind him. Not knowing what else to do, she walked towards him, and they met in the middle of the lot. What are you here for? Nathan asked. I wanted to buy you a gift, Crystal replied. Nathans eyes lit up. What were you going to get me? I was thinking about gloves, Crystal replied, I didnt know if you preferred ck or brown, so it is a good thing that you are here! Nathan thought about it for a moment, and then he smiled. Can I have them both? Crystal chuckled. He is like a kid in a candy store C she thought. But then her face turned white. Im sorry, she said, But I dont have enough money for two pairs. Where is your card? Nathan took out his wallet. I forgot to bring it. Nathan rubbed her head. He Boopd her! nose and said, You are so cute. Anyway, it is the thought that counts, right? I will pay for the gloves, but they can still be a gift from you.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. When Nathan brought the gloves to the counter, the clerk took one look at him, and her eyes lit up. It was the first time that she had seen a man with such a charming silhouette. Crystal cleared her throat and said, Wrap it up for us, please. The clerk started to wrap the gloves, but Nathan stopped her. He turned to Crystal and said, Darling, please put them on for me. Chapter 316: Do I Need A Reason To Hug You? The clerk let out a disappointed sigh. Sure enough, she thought all the good men in this world were taken Crystal smiled as she slipped the gloves over his fingers. They are perfect! Nathan eximed. What made you want to buy me a gift? I suddenly remembered that I have never bought you a gift before, Crystal replied, and I wanted to rectify the situation. But you have bought me a gift, Nathan said. On my birthday. Dont you remember? Crystal blushed, and she turned her head in embarrassment. On his birthday, she had given him herself to him as a gift. Nathan kissed her neck. That was the best gift I have ever received, he whispered. Of course, I also like these gloves. Crystal smiled. I am d. Have you found Nancy yet? I think that she is in the hospital, Nathan replied. I am waiting for verification. Crystal gave Nathan a hug and thanked him. Then, she said, To show my appreciation, I will make you a tasty dinner. Can I make dumplings? What do you think? rk also likes dumplings very much. Okay. Nathan shrugged. Everything you make is delicious. But why are you being so kind to me today? First, you bought me a gift, and now you want to make dumplings for me? **** Crystal looked into Nathans eyes and frowned. Arent I always kind to you? she asked. Nathans brows furrowed. He thought about what she had said for a moment, and then he said, Actually, you arent. In fact, you have never made me a dumpling before. So, what gives? You either want something, or you are looking for forgiveness for something that you did. Well Crystal sighed. New Years Eve is approaching, and I want to spend it with you. So, I bought you a gift. I am also going to make pizza, just the way that rk likes it. So, whats the big deal? I dont know, Nathan admitted. Maybe nothing All right, then. Crystal pped her hands together. From now on, we will spend every New Years Eve together. She gave Nathan a big hug. Whats the matter with you? Nathan wondered as he returned her hug. Crystal shook her head. Do I need a reason to hug you? Nathan smiled as he lifted her chin. He pressed his lips to hers, and he kissed her violently. Crystal shook all over, and she tried to push him away. His grip on her was too tight, though, and she was forced to ept his kiss. The crowd surged. They were slightly surprised to see this couple boldly kissing in public, and they liked what they saw. A long time passed before Nathan let go of her lips. Why did you hug me? he asked. Never mind, Crystal replied. You overthink everything! It is so annoying She tried to pull away, but he would not let her go. Tell me why you hugged me! Nathan shouted. More people turned their heads to stare at them, but he didnt care. Crystal froze for a moment, and then she said, I miss you. What did you say? his eyes went wide. Say it again! I miss you, Nathan. A look of surprise appeared on Nathans face. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear: I kissed you because I love you. Crystal was surprised by his sudden deration of love. Every time I kiss you, it is my way of telling you that I love you, Nathan continued. You are mine. What is yours is mine, and I am the only one that you can kiss. Crystal felt warmed by Nathans heartfelt words. He did not ask for much. He looked so happy, and he danced with glee at the slightest bit of affection from her. **** On the opposite side of the mall, there was a festival taking ce in the parking lot. Children were running about, and fireworks were being shot into the sky. Nathan put his arm around Crystals waist and asked her gently, What are you looking for? Well, nothing. Crystals cheeks were red, and her heart was beating fast. She looked around, made sure that no one was near, and said, Nathan, I love you. Nathans ear twitched. He thought he had misheard her. Crystal lowered her head, and she avoided looking him in the eyes. Strangely, she was not afraid of death, but this simple confession seemed to have taken all of her strength. Nathan stared at her closely as if he were probing a difficult question. What did you say? I said what I said, Crystal mumbled. Please, dont be like thisPlease check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Say it again. I didnt catch what you said the first time. I wont repeat it! Crystal eximed. I never say my words twice. Hey, Crystal! Nathan pulled her back. I really didnt catch what you were saying. I am not ying around. It is too noisy here. Crystal looked left and right to confirm that they were alone, and then she gave him a quick kiss on the lips. Did you hear that? she asked. Nathan grinned from ear to ear. He felt like he had been electrocuted but in a good way. Thest time Crystal had said that she loved him, he had been forced to stab himself in the chest to get her to say it. This time, all it had taken was him telling her first. He rubbed his palm against her cheek and said, You do love me! Before Crystal could reply, a nearby firework exploded. It filled the air with excitement. Nathan scooped her up in his arms and kissed her hard. Crystals heart began to beat hard, and her face turned red. Nathan gradually intensified the kiss, and as they walked through the crowd, they bumped into people without even knowing it. Crystal wrapped her arms around his neck. Her whole body was hot, and her face was burning. He kissed her hard as he poured out his love for her. And to his delight, she seemed to be as into the kiss as he was. Finally, Nathan pulled away and said, We should head back to the car. Chapter 317: Does He Know Something? The bodyguard opened the car door, and Crystal fell into the seat with Nathan, and as soon as they were alone, he tore her clothes off. No! Crystal cried. You dont have to be so eager. We can do it after we Before she could finish her sentence, he pressed his lips against her mouth. As excited as he was, he was like a child that could not control himself. He buried his face in her arms and sniffed her. Suddenly, he froze, and Crystal felt the tension in his body. Is there anything wrong? she asked. You look like youve seen a ghost Where have you been? Nathan raised his head and frowned. And what have you been doing? Crystals heart sank. He seemed extra sensitive today. Does he know something? C she wondered. I havent been anywhere, she replied. I just wanted to buy you a present, so I came here Is something wrong? Were you with another man? he asked. He had an expressionless look on his face. Why would you ask that? Crystal grumbled. Dont you trust me? I thought that I could trust you, Nathan replied. But I can smell smoke on you. Crystal remembered that Eric had been smoking, and he had put his coat over her to keep her warm. Smoke? she replied skeptically. Do I smell like smoke? She looked down and smelled her sleeves. I dont smell smoke. Maybe it is your imagination. It is not my imagination, Nathan snapped. Men are very sensitive to the smell of smoke, so if I say that you smell like smoke, then you smell like smoke! Suddenly, Nathan realized that she had changed her clothes, and he asked her why. Crystals heart sank. She had changed her sweater after Carlos bit her. It had been covered in blood. How do you know that I changed? she asked. I have so many sweaters. Oh, I know! Nathan grinned. I know all about your clothes, including your underwear. I know their size, color, and smell. There is nothing that I dont know about you! He grabbed her arm, and she cried out in pain. By chance, he had grabbed the ce where she had been bitten. Nathans brow furrowed as he let her go. Whats this? he wondered. **** Crystal froze, and her mind went nk. The color drained from her face, and her heart began to race. She looked at Nathan, and a nervous voice inside her head whispered, Whatever you say, it had better be good. Finally, she took his hand, gave it a gentle squeeze, and said, Earlier this morning, I went to the hospital to see Nancys father, but when I got there, a psycho rushed out of his room and bit me. Im sorry that I didnt tell you. I just didnt want you to worry. When Nathan heard this, he was furious. Who did this? he growled. Who dared to bite my woman. He was a psychopath, Crystal replied. That is why he is in the hospital. He is not right in the head, so dont be mad. Besides, the wound is superficial. Dont you know how dirty human saliva is? Nathan was aghast. Im taking you to the hospital for an examination. Dont make a big deal out of this, Crystal argued. I have already been to the hospital. I am fine. I promise. Nathan shook his head. Did they give you a rabies vine? Come on. Crystalughed. I wasnt bitten by a dog. What if that patient has rabies? Are you kidding? Crystal smirked. And besides, what would you do if he did have rabies? I would tie you down, Nathan replied. I would keep you by my side, and no one would be able to take you away from me. Anyway Crystal smiled. The doctor said it wasnt rabies. The man is a psychopath, and psychopathy is not contagious. He probably just needs a medication adjustment. Nathan had a serious expression on his face. He said, If it were contagious, I would let you infect me. Then our brain waves would be in sync, and we would be able tomunicate. Crystal humphed. You dont know what youre talking about. No matter. Nathan shrugged. If you were sick, I would take care of you. He leaned forward and kissed her, and before long, the car was filled with the smell of their sweaty, entwined bodies. The car moved steadily forward, and Crystal leaned into Nathans arms. She felt both happy and sad. Why must men ckmail women into being with them? she asked. You do it. Paul and Eric do it. It is disgusting. Nathan kissed her on the top of the head. Do you really want to know why? Well, yes. She looked up hopefully. If we dont do it, then we cant control you, Nathan exined. In order to have full control of you, I have to have full control of the people around you. Then if you get out of line, I can use them to put you in your ce. Crystal nodded. His answer madeplete sense to her. She looked out the window. Were almost home.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. **** As they took off their shoes, Nathan noticed that Crystals socks were wet. His brow furrowed. What happened to your feet? he asked, Your socks are wet! I stepped on a snowbank. Crystal shrugged. Whats the big deal? Whats the big deal? Nathan was taken aback. Do you want to get pneumonia? Quick! Take off your socks. We need to get your feet warmed up! Nathan bent over, took off her socks, and asked her, Do you care about me? I do, Crystal replied. Then she took her socks from him and went upstairs. Nathan smiled and followed her. When he got upstairs, he found Crystal in the washroom. She was sitting on the toilet, and when she saw him, she shouted at him: Hey! Do note in! Go sit on the bed. I will not be long. Nathan scowled. What on earth are you doing? Leave me alone, Crystal cried. Im almost done. What are you doing that is so shameful? Nathan asked. Chapter 318: Something Is Not Right With Her Im just going to the washroom, Crystal replied. I dont understand why you want to watch me do my business Fine, Nathan grumbled. He went into the bedroom, and he saw an unfamiliar bag on the bed. Inside, he found sewing materials, and he thought C From this, Crystal will make my puppet! C and he was overjoyed. A few minutes passed, and then Crystal emerged from the bathroom. She had a smile on her face, and she was carrying a water-filled foot massager. Nathan stood up and offered to help, but she stopped him. She said, Stand still, with your back to me. Nathan ignored her instructions. He held up the bag of materials and said, I thought you forgot. But you remembered. How could I forget something that you said? You cant forget what I said? Nathan stared at her for a moment. About what? About anything, Crystal replied. Be it good or bad, if you said it, then I remember it. Nathan frowned. Have I ever said anything bad to you? Crystal smirked. Of course, you have. You have said more bad things than good things. That cant be true, Nathan argued. Give me some examples of bad things that I do or have said or done. No thanks. Crystal sighed and said, I dont want to y that game. That way lies madness. She shuddered at the thought of a back-and-forth war of grievances. Just let it go. Put your feet in the tub, and Ill turn the massager on. Nathan nodded, and he was about to put his foot in when Crystal said, Wait a minute. She bent over and folded the bottom of his pant legs. Then she guided his feet into the water and turned the massager on. Almost immediately, the water began to turn and bubble. Crystal sat down beside him and kissed his cheek. Does that feel better? Much better. Nathan moaned to show his appreciation. He gave her a hug, and as they embraced, he noticed that her temperature was low. I can fix that C he thought, and he guided her feet into the tub. Do you like it? he asked. Its nice, isnt it? Mm-hmm. Imfortable, too, he whispered. Crystal, we are inevitable. You know that, dont you? What do you mean? Crystal wondered. You have been so good to me, Nathan replied. We are destined to be together. But what about all of the bad things that you said about me? Nathans brows furrowed, and he seemed to be genuinely confused. What do you mean? You cant be serious! Crystal eximed. You have said many bad things about me. You said that I couldnt do anything and that I am no match for Helen. Nathan was shocked by her words. I thought that you liked girls like Helen! Crystal continued. ording to you, she knows everything, and she is good at taking care of people. Is that what you expect from me; to act like Helen? Because if that is what you are looking for, youre in for a rude awakening. I cant even cook! Whatever you cook, I will like, Nathan argued. It is the thought that counts. Besides, I like you the way you are. I dont care about Helen. She was a phony, but you are the real deal. Crystal sighed. But thats not what you said. Every bad word that Ive said to you has been false, Nathan said. They were said out of anger, pain, and jealousy Is that so? It is, he replied. You can only trust the good things that I say and do. So forget the bad, okay?Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Crystal nodded. She gave him a big hug and said, Im d that we have worked this out. **** Crystal kissed Nathan again C this time on the lips, and then she said, I am afraid that one day I will do something so bad that you will not be able to forgive me That could never happen. Nathan kissed her ear and whispered, I have certain rules that I never break. Is that so? It is, Nathan replied. Rule Number One: My wife is always right. Rule Number Two: If my wife is wrong, refer to Rule Number One. Easier said than done C thought Crystal. She did not believe that he would forgive her for the agreement that she had made with Eric. Nathan hugged her and asked, So, what did you do wrong? I didnt do anything, Crystal replied. I was just asking. Nathan sight. Just tell me. I promise I wont be angry. I really didnt do anything. Nathan did not believe her. Crystal had been nice to him today, so he knew that something was up. Crystal got a towel to help Nathan wipe his feet when the water began to cool, but he stopped her right away. Never touch my feet again, he hissed. Why? Crystal was taken aback by his tone. Whats the problem? You know what? Nathan shook his head mournfully. I can wash your feet, but you will never again wash mine! Crystal said nothing. She put on her shoes and went back into the bathroom. Nathan heard the water running, and he thought that she was taking a bath, but when he went inside, he saw that she was washing his socks. He squinted his eyes and asked her, Why are you washing my socks? They are dirty, Crystal replied. It is not a big deal. Nathan frowned. Dont we have servants? Crystal smiled meekly and said, Please allow me to show my love to you asionally. As I said, I will be doing yourundry and cooking, shaving, and ironing and tying your ties. Whatever. Nathan sighed and walked away. Once he was gone, Crystal insisted on ironing his clothes, and asionally he checked on her. Something is not right with her C thought Nathan, and the more convinced of it he became, the more anxious he was. While he was checking on Crystal, she held a coat out and asked him, Will you wear this coat when you go out tomorrow? Nathan stared at her and asked, Why? I think you look great in this coat. Dont I look great in all of my clothes? Of course, Crystal replied. It would be cool if you wore this one, though. I will iron it out, and you will look just dashing. What do you say? I would prefer it if you took care of your hands, Nathan replied. I will do both. Crystal sighed and said, You worry too much. Since Crystal was determined to be a housewife, Nathan did not object. Chapter 319: Suit Yourself That evening, Crystal let rk help her make the pizza dough, and he was ecstatic. But he still missed his mother. Auntie Crystal, he said. I really miss my Mommy. When will shee back. Crystal smiled and said, If you make her a pizza, maybe shelle back for it. rk smiled and said, Alright! Lets do it! Crystal smiled and looked up at Nathan, who was sitting opposite her. Why are you staring at me? she asked. You are my wife. I can look at you for as long as I want. Suit yourself. Crystal shrugged. Suddenly, rk lifted a wad of dough into the air. Is this good? he asked. Its getting there, Crystal replied. But it needs to be kneaded more. Thanks, Auntie. rk pounded the dough on the table and said, When this is done, Mommy is going toe home for sure! Im sure she will love your pizza, Crystal agreed. Nathan gave the kid a dirty look. Then he looked at Crystal and said, Forget rk. Instead, teach me how to make pizza! No! rk cried. I need to make it so that my Mommy wille back. Too bad! Nathan hissed. She is going to teach me! Crystal stood akimbo and red at Nathan. Why must you fight with children? **** Outside, a series of fireworks lit up the sky; Nathan, Crystal, and rk watched the spectacle from the table on the deck while they waited for the pizza to be done. Finally, the timer went off, and they all went back into the kitchen. Nathan smiled and said, It smells delicious. That must be the one that I made. Crystal humphed and said nothing. Beside her, rk was practically vibrating with excitement, and she hoped that the pizza would distract him from thinking about his mother. She should have known better, though. Once he had his te in front of him, he frowned and asked, Why isnt Mommy back yet? I miss Mommy. My little heart hurts.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. What do you know about heartache? Crystal scoffed. Do you even know where your heart is? rks stomach growled. He pointed to it and said, Thats my heart. Oh, sweetie. Thats not your heart. That is your stomach. You are hungry. Go ahead and eat. rk nodded and one of the slices on his te. Crystal smiled. Was that good? rk nodded vigorously and said, Wow! This was yummy! Congrattions! Crystal eximed. You did a great job! Auntie, why dont you try mine rk picked up a piece and fed Crystal. You are a good boy. Crystal ate the pizza. Although it looked ugly, it tasted good. Nathan picked out a piece from his pizza, and he put it in front of her face. Try mine. Okay. Crystal took a bite. Nathan waited for a moment. Well? he asked. Is it good? Its delicious. Take another bite. Nathan fed her again. rk did not want to be left behind. He picked up a piece, smiled, and said, Auntie, eat this one. Since his mother was gone, he looked to Crystal for positive affirmation. Dont worry. Crystalughed as she rubbed rks hair. I will eat whatever you put in front of me. She opened her mouth to show that she meant it. When Nathan saw this, he began to get angry. What the Hell? he grumbled. Why are you putting him before me? Crystal rolled her eyes and said, Dont be like that. I am very hungry. I will also eat whatever you put in front of me, the same as him. Crystal took a bite from Nathan, then one from rk, then one from Nathan, and it went back and forth like this for quite some time. Every time Nathan fed her, he grinned triumphantly, and every time rk fed her, he red at the boy as if he wanted to kill him. Finally, it got to be too much, and rk began to cry. Crystal gave rk a hug. There, there, she said. Whats wrong? Im scared, rk replied. He grabbed Crystals clothes. Why is Uncle staring at me? He is like Auntie Michelle. He is going to hurt me I just know it Crystal frowned. She looked at Nathan and said, He hasnt done anything wrong. Why are you looking at him so fiercely? I am doing no such thing, Nathan argued. It is all in his imagination. The kid misses his Mommy, and he isshing out. This is Child Psychology 101, babe! Thats bullshit! Crystal eximed. What do you know about Child Psychology? Besides, you still have a fierce look in your eyes. It is no wonder that he is afraid of you. Nathans face turned red, and he looked away unhappily. Crystal wiped rks tears away. Are you ready for your Lucky Money? What is Lucky Money? If you say Happy New Year to me, then I will give you Lucky Money, Crystal exined. She showed him a small red envelope. But I dont want money. I want my Mommy. Suddenly, Nathan reached out and grabbed the envelope. He chuckled and said, If he doesnt want it, then Ill take it. He tested the envelopes weight and smirked. Theres not much money here. It is not even enough for you to buy me for the night. But, since you are a regr customer, I will give you a New Years Eve discount. Nathan! Crystal was shocked. She grabbed the red packet and said, The Lucky Money bes unlucky when you say things like that! Then, without saying another word, she went into the kitchen to clean up. **** rk was still on the porch watching the fireworks when Crystal returned. Nathan had moved back inside, and he was watching the news in the living room. He patted the seat beside him and invited her to sit with him, but she ignored him and went outside to watch the fireworks with the boy. It was not long before the disy was over, and Crystal turned to rk. She had a grin on her face that stretched from ear to ear. I have a surprise for you, she said. I bought some fairy fireworks at the mall today. Would you like to set them off with me? rks eyes brightened. Really? he asked. Really!! Hurrah! Hurrah! rk danced with excitement. Will they be BIG?!?! We wont let off any super big ones, like the ones the city sets off, Crystal exined. It would be too dangerous. We can try the small ones, though. One of the servants will join us and take some pictures. It will be fun. I promise. rk nodded. He understood. Chapter 320: I Am Yours Crystal had the fireworks stashed under the porch, and they took them to the middle of the yard. Once they were settled, she began to set off the fireworks, and she danced with rk on thewn. asionally, Crystal thought about Nancy. She had no idea what could have been so important that she would abandon her son. If she did not return soon, Crystal would have to take rk with her when she went to live with Eric. The alternative was to leave him with Nathan, but she was afraid that he would abuse the child. And then there was Noah to worry about. If she was loyal to Eric, then he would give Noah the antidote. Perhaps then, Noah could raise rk until Nancy returned. It was just a thought At least with Noah, the boy would be safe, and they already acted like a Father and son when they were together. Crystal hugged rk and gave him several kisses on his forehead. The poor child was young, and he was practically an orphan. She thought of Little Orphan Annie and her sad song C The sun wille out tomorrow. Tomorrow, I love you Suddenly, Nathan barged out of the house. As usual, he had two bodyguards with him. What are you doing out here? he growled. We are setting off fireworks, dancing, and taking pictures, Crystal replied. The fireworks are so beautiful. Would you like to take a picture with us? Without saying a word, Nathan came over and put his arms around Crystal. The servant adjusted the camera and shouted, Cheers! rk immediately reached out his hand. He made rabbit ears on top of his head, and his fingers blocked Nathans face. The servant looked at the picture, frowned, and said, Mr. Davis, your face is blocked. Lets try again. The servant counted down again C One, two, three, Cheers!- and at thest minute, up went rks hand. Nathans face began to turn red. He thought there was only so much aggravation that I could handle from this brat. First, he ruins dinner, and now he is trying to ruin these pictures! Crystal could see that Nathan was getting angry, so she picked rk up and said, Lets take one more picture. This time, put your arms around my neck. But my Mommy says its cute when I take pictures like this. He showed her his rabbit ears. That move is corny, Crystal argued. Lets try something different, okay? At thest minute, why dont you give me a kiss on the cheek? Nathan was furious when he heard this. What did I tell you about other men kissing you? he shouted. He turned to one of his bodyguards and ordered him to take rk away. Once the boy was gone, he put his arm around Crystals shoulder and told the servant to take a picture. The servant looked at the camera, and his face turned white. What now? Nathan hissed. The battery is dead Well, this day sucks, Nathan whined. He sat down on the ground and stuck out his lower lip. He looked so pathetic that Crystal could barely contain herughter. Dont make such a big deal out of this, she said. It is nothing. You can have your picture taken anytime you want. Lets go inside and get our phones. Then we cane back and take as many pictures as we want. Fine. Nathan sniffed. Just keep that kid away from me. Crystal nodded. Suddenly, a thought urred to her, and she said, Im surprised it took you so long toe outside. Were you watching the news the whole time? I was taking care of something, Nathan replied. Would you like something to drink? Sounds great. Crystal smiled, but then she realized that he had dodged the question, and her grin disappeared. What is he up to? C she wondered. The thought that he was up to his usual shenanigans made her uneasy. Nathan snapped his fingers, and a servant appeared. She had a tray bnced on her right hand. On it, there was a bottle of red wine and two goblets. He poured her a ss first, and when she took it, she took a sip. The minute the ss touched her lips, Nathan began to watch at her intently, but she did not notice. It was not until she had finished the ss that she realized that he had not touched his. Why arent you drinking? Crystal asked. I was distracted by your beauty, Nathan replied. He poured her a second ss and smiled. I could watch you all day Crystalughed and put her arm around his neck. Her whole body felt warm, but as her body moved, something strange happened. Her head began to spin, and her eyes went blurry. Whats wrong, she murmured. I only had one g-ss, but I feel like like Ive h-had a whole b bottle Did you p-put s-something in the wine? Nathan put his arm around her waist and said nothing. You d-dr*gged m-me Crystal was shocked, but she was also helpless. She tried to push him away, but her body did not respond. A second passed, and she lost consciousness. **** The song came to an end, and Nathan turned to look at Crystal. She was wearing ace nightgown. Her face was delicate, and her hair hung down over her shoulders. He thought C She is like an elegant, holy goddess. Dont move, he said. Crystal froze as Nathan knelt in front of her. He kissed her toes, her instep, her ankles, and all the way to the hem of her nightgown. He took a cheeky peek to see if she was wearing panties. Then he kissed her knees and inner thighs.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. He moaned her name, and her eyes blurred as he kissed her provocatively. Just before he reached her panty line, though, he stood up and kissed her on the lips. Crystals mind went nk, and when she closed her eyes, she imagined that Nathan was a noble God. When she had first met him, he was arrogant, conceited, and sarcastic. Now, though, he was different. I am yours. Nathan kissed her earlobe, and he whispered her name repeatedly as if it were a mantra. Crystal smiled shyly as she opened her nightgown. And I am yours. **** It was the first time that they had made love in the living room. Normally, they were more private, but their lust had been so intense that it had not allowed them the time to move their lovemaking to Nathans bedroom. Now that they were done, they lied face-to face on the sofa, with only a small nket to cover their nudity. Nathan ran his fingers through Crystals hair. She touched his cheek and whispered his name. She ran her fingernails against the short stubble on his face. Are you tired? she asked. Not really. Maybe a little bit. Nathan shrugged. Are you? Im exhausted, but I dont think that I could sleep. Im too wound up. Why dont you tell me a story? Chapter 321: Are You Happy That I鈥檓 Sick? Nathan gave her a curious look. You want me to tell you a story? Well, yes. Crystal smiled nervously. We can move to the bedroom, and when youre done, we should be able to fall asleep. Nathan smiled, gave her a quick kiss on the lips, and said, If it is a story that you want, then a story it shall be. The couple moved to the bedroom, and once they werefortable, Nathan began his story: When I was sixteen, I had a cat that I liked very much. One winter day, the cat fell into the water. We thought that the cat was dead, but then a little girl jumped in to save it. Unfortunately, the cat still died. It froze to death. Thats a sad story. There were tears in Crystals eyes. I guess cats dont have nine lives after all. What was its name? We called her I love you, Nathan replied. You lie. Crystal rolled her eyes and said, Nobody names their cat I love you. Nathan chuckled. He pressed a button on his watch, and Crystal knew immediately what he was up to. He had tricked her into saying, I love you so that he could record it. She groaned and said, You are such a scoundrel! I am not. Nathan looked like he had been hurt by her words, but Crystal could not tell if he was ying possum. I just wanted to do something nice. I already put a recording of me saying that on your watch, and now I will have a recording of you for mine. It was supposed to be a surprise. That is why I was being so sneaky. But you caught me in the act Crystals brows furrowed, and she asked. him, Who taught you to be such a romantic? Im just improvising. I swear. Alright. Crystal nestled in his arms and listened to his heartbeat. After a while, she looked up and said, No more games, though, okay? No more games. Nathan kissed her eyes and told her to go to sleep. Unfortunately, whenever she closed her eyes, an image of Carlos appeared in her minds eyes. Most likely, he was still being tortured, and it would not stop until she returned. Eris had been right, though. Nathan would not let her go. And as far as Carlos went, he was her ex-boyfriend. Thus, she did not owe him anything. A voice in her mind scolded her for such thoughts. It said, But it is your fault that he is in this mess! The voice was, of course, correct, and the more Crystal thought about it, the sadder she became. The way that Nathan was treating herplicated everything. Now, no matter what she did, she would be burdened by guilt. She felt like the woman from Sophies Choice, except instead of choosing which of her children would live, she had to decide which man she would be loyal to. Crystal opened her eyes and ran her fingers up and down his arm. A tear slipped from the corner of her eye, and she quickly bit her lip to stop her crying. If she cried, her eyes would be swollen the next day, and he would notice it immediately. He was so attentive to her. Suddenly, Crystal noticed that Nathan was abnormally warm. She put her hand to his forehead. Most likely, he had caught a cold while lighting the candles on the beach, and already he was feverish. **** Crystal ced a fresh cloth on Nathans forehead. She had been taking care of him through the night. He had just woken up, and he seemed to be disoriented. He looked at her and frowned. He asked, Am I awake?Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Youre awake. Crystal sighed. She stroked his forehead and said, And youre still running a fever. Nathan chuckled feebly. Are you happy that Im sick? He seemed to think that his situation was amusing, but Crystal was not amused. Since you are sick, I am d that I am here to take care of you. But no, I am not happy that you are sick. I had hoped that I would be able to do something for you, though Nathan rolled his eyes and said, Youve done enough for me. Be that as it may Crystal let the sentence hang for a moment, and then she asked him what he wanted for breakfast. Can I have anything I want? he asked. He grabbed her arms and held them tightly. He had a wolfish gleam in his eyes. Because what I want to have is you. Crystal was appalled. How can you have the energy to be so naughty when you are sick? She had a book under her arm, and as she struggled, it fell onto the bed. Nathan let her go immediately so that he could grab the book. Dont open it! Crystals face turned white. Please she begged. Nathan looked at the cover. Whats in here? Its just a book, Crystal replied. Do you think Im stupid? Nathans ire was beginning to rise, and Crystal could see from the look on his face that she would have to give a little. She said, I sketched you while you were sleeping. She took back her sketchbook. Theres nothing to see. Can I see what I look like in your eyes? Crystal shook her head and said, No, not yet. When will I see it? Nathan was not a patient man. Just wait until I finish it, Crystal replied. It is for you, and I dont want to ruin the surprise. Nathan thought about it for a minute, and then he said, Fine. It was clear, though, that he was not happy. Crystal ced the book in a drawer, locked it, and put the key in her pocket. Im not a criminal, Nathan grumbled. You dont need to keep it under lock and key. Crystal smiled sweetly and said, No offense, but I was worried that the temptation would be too much for you to handle. Now get some rest while I get you something to eat. As Crystal reached the kitchen, she got a feeling that something was wrong. She went back upstairs, and when she went into Nathans room, she found him attempting to jimmy the locked drawer. Crystal stood akimbo over him. I thought you said that you werent a criminal. What do you have to say for yourself now? Nathans face turned red, and he stuttered an apology. He looked like a child that had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and she could not stay angry at him for long. Alright, she sighed. Back to bed with you. And no more getting up. Do you hear me? Nathan nodded sheepishly, and he did not say anything. Before she left, Crystal retrieved the book, and she took it with her. Chapter 322: If Only I Could Hold On To This Moment Not only did the book contain a sketch of Nathan, but it also contained some of Crystals most intimate thoughts. If Nathan read them, there was no telling what he would do. Crystal knew that it had been foolish to write all of her intimate thoughts down, but journaling had always helped her think. It had been a close call, though, and as much as she hated the thought of it, she knew that it would be best if she destroyed the book. She brought it outside and threw it in the fire pit. She stood over it for a long time, but she could not bear the thought of destroying it. Finally, she took the book and a shovel out to the beach. She found the spot where Nathan had set up the heart-shaped candle disy, and she looked around. Nearby, there was a beautiful lc tree, and its rich scent drew her to it. This is the ce C she thought. The sand was so soft that the hole practically dug itself, and the book was safely underground in no time at all. Crystal raised her head slightly and watched the tidee in. The sun reflected off the water, and she thought C If only I could hold on to this moment If I could, I would never let it go. She knew that she had to tell Nathan about Eric, but she was afraid of what he would do and what Eric would do if she didnt follow him. It was a lose-lose-lose situation, and her hands were tied. **** When Crystal got back to the kitchen, she picked up her cell phone and called Eric. He was surprised to hear from her, and he was ecstatic. Honey, he said. It hasnt been three days yet. What? Did you miss me? He sounded like he had just woken up. Crystal asked, Did I wake you up? You did, Eric replied. But Im d to have been woken up by you. Have you been drinking? I had some drinks with my friendsst night, Eric admitted. But Im not drunk. Dont worry me. Im staying out of trouble. Are you clear-headed? Crystal asked him. Im quite sober. Good. Crystal cleared her throat and said, Tomorrow afternoon at five oclock, I will be at the mall. Send someone to pick me up. No problem. After a pause, Eric chuckled. Why did you call me in advance? Is there something wrong? I need your help, Crystal replied. Is there any medicine that can make someone lose their short-term memory? Hmmm Amnesia Eric thought about it for a moment. Is this for Nathan? Because, if it is, I will not provide it. He wanted Nathan to feel the same kind of pain that he had forced Crystal to endure. If Nathan lost his memory, all bets would be off. I think that its for the best, Crystal argued. If his memory is intact, he will never stoping for me! Just let him try! Eric hissed. Ill be here waiting for him! Please, dont be like that, Crystal cried. You said that if I promised to be your Baby Momma, that you would end your grudge with Nathan. Im tired. I dont want to be sandwiched between the two of you anymore. What I want are a stable life and a warm home. I wish Nathan could forget everything. If that happened, then the three of us C you, me, and the baby C could start our new lives together. Isnt that what you want? It is. Eric sighed and said, But I really do not have such medicine. If I had it, I would be the first to take it. Crystal was shocked. Why do you want to take it? Do you think it feels good to hate someone? It doesnt! My heart aches! It is as if I am in a state of constant torment. If I could escape my past, I would! I will do it in a second! Crystal took a deep breath and said, Well, just forget it. She understood the pain that he was suffering. You need to let go of your past. Could you forget your past? Eric asked. If there were such a medicine, and Nathan were to take it, what about your feelings for him? I wouldnt need the medicine, Crystal replied. I would turn my feelings off. The line went silent for a moment, and then Eric sighed. He said, I did not realize that you were so cold-blooded. Whatever. Crystal shrugged. I really must hang up. If I am on the phone for too long, Nathan will find out. Eric giggled and said, Give me a kiss before you go. This is not a good time, Crystal hissed. Now stop acting like such a child. But I ju- Crystal ended the call before Eric could finish his sentence. She did not need to hear what he was trying to say to know what he was getting at. She thought C All men are so predictable, but why do they have to be so damn needy? Suddenly, she felt a rash of gooseflesh all over her body. She was not typically the kind of person that liked to show affection. Over thest twenty-four hours, though, her heart had softened, and she looked forward to cozying up to Nathan. The thought of giving that up-of throwing him away C made her want to cry. She stared at the phone for a moment, and then she put it away and opened the fridge. She wanted to make some chicken noodle soup for Nathan. When the soup was done, Crystal took a sip from thedle. Its quite good, she said. Yummy, yummy. Her cooking was getting better, and she was proud of herself. She had been practicing for Nathan, and she hoped that he appreciated her effort. Crystal smiled as she filled two bowls. She put them on a tray so that she could serve them to Nathan in person. She knew that chicken noodle soup was good for people with fevers, and she hoped that he was hungry. **** Crystal had barely reached the first step when she heard a loud sound from Nathans room. It sounded like something had hit the wall. There were two more crashes, and she took several hesitant steps forward.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. What is Sam Hall going on? C she worried. Apart from her wanting to rush up the stairs, another part of her wanted to flee. That part of her was saying, Whatever is going on up there; it is none of your business! She had a bad feeling in her gut. Crystal was about to turn around and go back downstairs when, suddenly, the bedroom door opened. A servant rushed out, and she almost hit Crystal on her way down the stairs. Hey! Crystal eximed. Watch where youre going! The servant stopped and turned around. She had a terrified expression on her face. She said, Miss Smith, Master Davis is out of his mind! I quit! Im out of here! Then she turned and ran in the direction of the servants quarters. Crystal looked up. Nathans door was half-open, and the room was quiet. She wondered what could have gotten him so riled up. Did he overhear your phone call? a voice in her head wondered. No C she thought That was impossible. Isnt it? Chapter 323: She Does Not Deserve My Compassion Crystal peeked into Nathans room. She was hunkered down so that he could not see her. The room looked like a tornado had passed through it. The dresser had been pushed to the ground. The vases were smashed, and there was ss everywhere. The pictures had been taken down and destroyed, and there was clothing everywhere. Again, Crystal thought of her conversation with Eric. Not knowing what else to do, she picked up the tray with the two bowls of soup, stood up, and went into the room. Nathan was sitting on the bed. He was naked, but there was a nket covering his private parts. His hands rested on his knees, and they were covered with blood. No! Crystal put down the tray and rushed to his side. What happened to you? She suddenly realized that one of the servants was standing in the doorway. What are you waiting for? she shouted at her. Go and find some medicine to stop the bleeding! The servant took off down the stairs, and Crystal went into the bathroom to grab a towel. When she returned, she asked Nathan to show her where he was injured. Much to her dismay, though, he waved her away dismissively. Then, after she refused to go, he grabbed her by the neck and began to squeeze. Crystals face turned red, and her eyes bulged. She could barely breathe. This is the end C she thought wildly. She could see murder in his eyes, and moments of her life shed before her eyes. I knew that there had to be a reason why you were being nice to me! Nathan growled. And what aboutst night? What was that? A Mercy fuck? He spat in her face. Then he took a moment to calm down, and he said, I bet you wereughing at me behind my back the entire time! Crystal felt the pressure on her neck lessen slightly, and she was able to breathe. It was clear, though, that her life was in his hands. What you have done is unforgivable, Nathan continued. But maybe if you tell me why you did this, I might let you live. I have neverughed at you. Her voice was so dry, and her throat was in so much pain that she could barely speak. Be that as it may Nathans brows furrowed. I want to know what you are up to.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. What is the point of all of this? C Crystal asked herself. She was stuck in this lose-lose-lose situation, but Nathan was offering her a way out. Just kill me, she croaked. I deserve it. Fuck off! Nathan let go of Crystals neck, ced his palm against her face, and he pushed her so hard that she fell backward. The back of her head hit the ground, and she cried out in pain. Then he snapped at her: Youre not getting off that easy! As Crystal tried to get up, she identally bumped her watch, and it beeped. This means something C she thought. She looked at it for a long time, and Nathan watched her. He is like a teacher C she realized C he is waiting for me to solve a particrly difficult problem. At the top of the watch, she could see a battery. Next to that, she saw the Bluetooth symbol. Then the Wi-fi and Data. At the very end, there was a symbol that she did not recognize. She pressed it, and when she saw what it was, the pieces fell into ce. It was a Baby Monitor. Nathan had been using it to listen in on her private conversations. The cat was out of the bag. He had heard every word that she had said to Eric. He knew that she was nning on meeting up with him. He knew about the amnesia medicine, and he knew that she was nning on leaving him. She had only wanted the medicine to spare his feelings, but she doubted that he would see it that way. Nathan stared at her. He knew that she knew that he knew, and there was a look of hurt disgust on his face. With a tone of voice that was more sad than angry, he said, You are like a worm-infested apple. You look and smell so delicious. You feel firm and ripe and full of potential, but it only takes one bite to discover that you are rotten to the core Crystal felt her throat tighten. She thought C this was worse than being strangled. At least with strangtion, there was a hope of deaths sweet release. She did not know how to exin to Nathan why she had turned on him or if she should even try. Nathan was still looking at her again. He said, I feel so dirty, and just looking at you makes me feel sick. I have always been this way. Crystal sighed. She stood up, crossed her arms beneath her breasts, and in a callous tone of voice, said, Think of the tale of the Farmer and the Snake. You are the farmer, and I am the snake. The farmer took pity on a frozen snake and brought it home. He nursed it back to health, and in return for his kindness, the snake bit him. As the farmery dying, he asked the snake, Why did you bite me? I took you in. I brought you back to life. The snake replied, You knew I was a snake.. Crystalughed, and a cold chill ran down Nathans back. Do you get it? Crystal hissed. I am the snake! I am poison to you! I am no good to anybody! Tears were streaming down her face. Do you get it?!?! Nathan hung his head, I get it He was growing more and more despondent by the second. He said, I used to think that I was the problem. I thought that you would have me if I changed my behavior, and I did change C for you! Crystal wanted to flee, but it felt like her legs were nted into the ground. She was frozen in ce. She did not know what to say, but even if she did, she doubted she could speak. She was so overwhelmed that she could not move her muscles. I didnt know that a person could be as selfish as you are, Nathan continued. His heart was broken, and he doubted that it could ever be repaired. You are a heartless, vicious, cold-blooded, blood-sucking bitch! Crystal was weeping now, and she was struggling to catch her breath. Loving you was a waste of my time! Nathan eximed. It will be the greatest regret of my life! Crystal flinched. She felt like she had been pped in the face. Nathan could see that he was hurting her, and even now, his heart said that he should go to her andfort her. No!- he thought angrily C She does not deserve mypassion. Chapter 324: You Think You Are Special? Finally, Crystal wiped the tears from her eyes. She stood up straight, looked Nathan in the eyes, and said, You said that I am selfish but youre just as bad You said that you loved me, and you forced me to love you back. But that is not how love works. You cannot force love! If you try, the best you can hope for ispliance C bitterpliance! Nathan frowned and said, I may be ruthless, but I have done everything that I can think of to show you that I love you and to win your love. I would dig out my heart to prove my love. Is that what you want? Crystal, I loved you so much beyond what you could imagine, but you hurt me! For an instant, Crystal felt a lump in her throat, and she turned her face away from his. She could not bear the pain of seeing him being hurt. I dont need that, she muttered. Please, please, please, forget me. I dont deserve your love. A cold light shed over Nathans eyes. There are countless women better than me, Crystal continued. Why did you have to choose me? The heart wants what the heart wants. Nathan took a deep breath. You dont choose who you fall in love with. You may not be perfect, but I was never looking for perfection. I was never looking for someone that was better than you. Its only you and always be you, Crystal. How could I tell myself to stop loving you? Do you understand? Tears welled up in his eyes, and Crystal could tell that he was in pain. You need to move on, she insisted.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. There is someone out there that is better for you. I promise! You dont understand! Nathan shouted. How could you understand!? My love is limited, and I gave it all to you! My heart is ruined, and my capacity to love is exhausted. Crystal opened her mouth, and a sob escaped. Tears began to fall down her cheeks. Oh, Nathan, she cried. Poor Nathan. What have I done to you? Her heart was beating rapidly, and she began to hyperventte. Nathan looked at Crystal, and he frowned. He wiped his tears away. What are you crying about? he snarled. You can no longer manipte me with your tears. Those days are over! Crystal nodded unhappily. No matter what you think of me, I just hope I just hope that you can find a way to be happy I hope that you meet a better woman, one who loves you and is worthy of your love. Nathan froze for a second. His brows furrowed, and he gave her a suspicious look. Is that what you wanted all along? he asked. For me to be happy? Is that why you wanted me to lose my memory? Yes Crystal nodded. I have to go to Eric. I have no choice. But I had hoped that if I could erase your memory, then you could be happy without me. You had to? Nathan was skeptical. No one can make anyone do anything that they dont want to do! Be honest, now. Did you want me to forget so that I could be happy, or so that you and Eric could be happy and live a life without my constant interruptions? Crystal put her hand under his chin and lifted his head so that she could look him in the eyes. It doesnt matter if Im happy or not, she said. It is your happiness that concerns me Nathan rolled his eyes and said, Your bullshit is getting exhausting. Is there no end to your lies? Big tears rolled down Crystals cheeks. She was desperate to exin, but she could not. Please, she whined. Im not lying Whatever. Nathan stood up slowly. He was like a defeated general to Crystal, and her heart ached to see him this way. A voice spoke up in her head, though. It said, This is for the best; one big hurt, like a band-aid being torn off. He may not think so now, but he will recover, and he will move on. The alternative would have been for him to continue to fight for her for who knows how long. We were never meant to be together, Crystal muttered. When Nathan heard that, he was filled with rage. He grabbed the bed with trembling hands, lifted it, and threw it across the room. The bed hit the floor and then the ground, and the sound echoed off the walls. He shoved his finger in Crystals face and shouted at her: You! Shut up! Havent you done enough? Will you not stop until I am dead? Dont push me, Crystal Its you two who keeps pushing me! Crystal argued. You are the one that keeps pestering me. Once you let me go, I will go! You think you are so special! Nathanughed like a maniac, and Crystal flinched. Get a clue, Crystal Smith. You are not special. If you had married me, being my wife would have been the only thing special about you that would have been special. And you were right. It will be easy to rece you. So, go already. Do you hear me? I heard you Crystal murmured. And dont worry about erasing my memory! Nathan continued. I am already over you! Crystal looked around nervously. She felt like she had fallen into a deep pool. She felt helpless and desperate. This situation seemed surreal, and she felt like she was being set up. It seemed, though, that he was letting her go. Unlike before, his eyes, expressions, movements, and tones were serious and determined. He had made up his mind. Crystal knew Nathan very well. He was paranoid. Once he decided on something, he would not change his mind. He had been that way with his love. Once he decided to love her, no matter what the difficulties he had had to face, he had determined to face them and actualize their rtionship. Now that he had decided not to love her anymore, she believed that he would do as he had said: Forget her and move on. She took a deep breath and bit her lower lip. What is wrong with me? C she wondered C Why am I mourning this rtionship? Isnt this what I wanted? I should be happy. It is a better ending than I expected She had never expected that Nathan would let go of her, though, and now that he had, her feelings surprised her. Am I not worthy of being loved? C she wondered. Are you s-serious? she stammered. N-No regrets? Nathan did not answer. He snorted coldly, picked up his trousers, and put them on. He turned, looked her up and down, and said, In my eyes, you are no different from the prostitutes on the street. Youe with a hefty price tag, but you are dirty and cheap! Crystal frowned. She said, Say what you want. You may even be right on some ounts. I still wish you a happy life Chapter 325: I Told You To Kneel There was a knock at the door. They both turned, and Crystal smiled when she saw that the servant had finally returned with the First Aid Kit.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Crystal nodded and said, I was just about to leave. Please take proper care of his injuries. I do not want them to get infected. Nathan frowned, and he stopped Crystal with a word. He said, Wait, and she turned back to face him. He was confused. He wondered why she cared if he received proper treatment or not. He said, Didnt you say that you would be staying here for three days? There are still one, and a half-day left. Why are you leaving early? Why? Crystal was confused, You just told me to leave! What is wrong with you? Now that everythings out in the open, what would be the point of my staying? What is the point? Nathan could not believe his ears. Dont you think you owe me that? You have never treated me nice, except for thest day and a half. I want my full three days of you treating me nice! And to be clear, I ordered you out of my room, not out of my house. You have always been such a drama queen! Crystals face was pale, and she was trembling. She did not know what to say. In the past, she had treated him badly because he had treated her badly. He had changed, though C for her, and she had changed for him. There had been nothing hypocritical about her actions. Her love for him was real, but it could not grow, so she would rather go. Of course, she could not say that to him, so she agreed to stay. Crystal turned back to the servant and said, Bring over the First Aid Kit. I will get him cleaned up. She walked over to Nathan, but when she got to him, he ordered her to kneel in front of him instead of showing her his wound. Kneel. Crystal frowned. But why? Are you, or are you not willing to do everything for me? Nathan smiled and said, I told you to kneel, so fucking kneel! At this point, kneeling in front of him felt like no big deal to Crystal. She had even knelt in front of Eric. So, without any further hesitation, she dropped to her knees in front of Nathan. Nathan looked down on Crystal with a look of disgust on his face. He could not believe how easy it had been to make her degrade herself in this way. It is as if she gets off on it C he thought rudely. His parted lips were stiff. He had thought that torturing her would make him less angry, but he was wrong. He was angrier than ever. Crystals heart was beating fast. Her stomach was in knots, and she felt like she was going to be sick. Unlike that time when she had knelt in front of Eric when she had begged for Carloss life, she felt her self-esteem disintegrating. The difference was that she loved Nathan, and she hated for him to see her like this, and she hated that he had made her do this! Nathan nudged her with his foot. Crystal Smith, wheres your dignity? He grabbed her hair and pulled it hard. Crystal was forced to look at him. My dignity is dead, she replied. It died a long time ago. You killed it C you and other men just like you! Is that so? Nathan smiled. If I ordered you to kiss my foot, would you do it? Would you do that for me? Crystal drew in a deep breath and said, Sure. Which one do you want me to kiss? The right one or the left? As she spoke, she bent slightly and kissed the instep of his right foot. The moment her lips touched his foot, his c**k responded. A secondter, it was as hard as a rock. He watched her, and as her tongue slipped between his toes, he chuckled. The sound of Nathans creepyughter sent a cold chill down Crystals back. He sounded psychotic, and he frightened her. She was reminded of his alter-ego, Gerald Davis, and the love she had felt for him turned to hate. He had said that he would let her go, but she no longer believed him. Nathan leaned forward and pulled her hair again. Her head jerked up, and he said, I want you to remember this moment for the rest of your life. When you get old, and you think about the olden days, you should remember the taste of my feet and feel a sense of honor to have served me. No matter what Nathan said, Crystal did not reply. Of course, you will regret betraying me, Nathan continued. Unfortunately, time cannot be reversed. You cannot undo the things that you have done, and for the rest of your life, you will be miserable. Crystal remained silent and expressionless, and her indifferent attitude made him extremely angry. You will regret this, wont you? Yes. Crystal smiled meekly and said, I will regret it very much. It was the truth, but she hid her pain as best she could. Damn it! Nathan cursed. He knew that she would go straight to Eric once she left him, and he thought that she would forget about him. Thus, he did not think that she was telling the truth. Nathan thought C I will not let you forget me so easily! I want you to feel guilty forever! I am going to be a relentless thorn in your side, and no matter how often you cry out to God for relief, He will turn His face from you! His hate was as strong as his love had been. Hate gnawed at his reason. It made him crazy, and he was desperate to retaliate against Crystal. Suddenly, he put his right foot flush against Crystals face, and he pushed her so hard that she fell backward. Then he stood up, put on his shirt, and walked past Crystal without saying another word. For a while, Crystal remained on the ground. She worried that Gerald had taken control of Nathans body. If he had, she knew that there was nothing that she could do. Eventually, she sat up and looked around. The room was a disaster, and since she had nothing better to do, she began to clean it up. Chapter 326: What I Have Done? (Triggered Warning: This Chapter contains a sex scene and inappropriate words. If youre notfortable reading it kindly skip it and move to another chapter) As Crystal swept the rest of the broken ss into a dustpan, she thought about Carlos. It would be so easy to abandon him. She wished she could run away and leave all of the men in her life in her past, but she refused to do that to Carlos. If not for her, he would not be in the trouble that he was in. He was innocent. If she did not save him, he would die. If that happened, she knew that her conscience would never let her rest. As she was lifting the dustpan, a shard of ss slipped past the guard and sliced the back of her hand. For some reason, though, she did not notice. It was as if her mind was so preupied with her predicament that her body was on autopilot.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. **** When Nathan returned to the bedroom, he did not announce that he was there. He was surprised to find her cleaning the bedroom. It was a task that was usually delegated to the servants. There was something sexual about a woman cleaning, though, so for a while, he just stood in the doorway and observed her. Her attention to detail aroused him, but when she cut her hand, his heart bled as surely as the back of her hand did. There was a sad expression on her face, though, and he found it odd that she had not cried out in pain. Suddenly, it urred to Nathan that Crystal was pretending. He had always known that she was a good actress. He folded his arms across his chest and stepped boldly into the room. When she saw him, she flinched. He sneered and said, Im on to you. No matter how pathetically you act, Im going to punish you today! Fine. Crystal nodded. How are you going to punish me? I look forward to it. It will be our final transaction. There was a knock on the door, and Nathan scowled. Without turning to see who the intruder was, he shouted, WHAT?!?! There was a servant at the door, and she looked frightened. M-M-Master D-Davis Her voice trembled. WHAT?!?! There was a hot fire burning in Nathans eyes. Ive g-got the stove, the servant stammered. Finally, Nathan turned to face the servant. He said, Well, what are you waiting for? The servant nodded. She left the room, and when she returned, she had a stove with her. She set it up, turned one of the elements on, put a ring on it, and left the room. Crystal was terrified. At this point, there was little doubt in her mind which was in control. She did not think that Nathan was capable of doing whatever he was about to do. She thought C This must be the work of Gerald! Nathan picked up a small pair of iron tongs and used them to pick up the ring. The ring was made of gold, and there was a rose where there would normally be a gem. He red at Crystal, and she saw a trace of hesitation and pity in his eyes as if the real Nathan were trying to fight his way to the surface. Almost immediately, the look was snuffed out of existence, and it was reced by rage. He brought the ring up to her face, and her whole body trembled. She clenched her fists in anticipation. She was ready, but the anticipation was killing her. Do it already, she hissed. She spat in his face and told him not to be such a p***y. Nathan pressed the ring against Crystals forehead, and she sent her mind away. She could smell her flesh cooking as he branded the rose into her forehead, but she refused to feel the pain. She would not give him the satisfaction of hearing her cry out. Nathan applied more and more pressure to the ring, and she began to feel faint. In a disconnected sort of way, she thought it would be funny if she did pass out. It would rob Nathan of his moment C Ha! Ha! She smiled. You bitch! Nathan roared. Why are you smiling? Do you think that this is funny? I guarantee you that you will not beughing once you look in the mirror. There is no way that you can forget me now! The ring had begun to cool off, and Nathan finally set it aside. Crystal immediately lifted her hand to touch it, but he grabbed her wrist and stopped her. Dont touch! he snapped. It still burns, she murmured. Even now it still burns Your flesh is still cooking, Nathan exined. How l-long? Crystal whispered. Her lips were pale, and her vision was blurry. The searing pain seemed to be seeping into her blood vessels. The misery spread to her limbs until her whole body was suffering. Not long, he replied. But seconds likely feel like hours to you right now. There waspassion in his eyes, and it seemed that Nathan was in control again. He frowned and shouted for a servant to bring a cloth and a bucket of ice water. A momentter, a servant appeared. He had a cloth and a bucket of ice water. Nathan dipped the cloth in the water and wrung it out. Then he put three chunks of ice in the middle and folded it up to create a coldpress, which he pressed against Crystals forehead. For the first time since he had pressed the ring to her forehead, Crystal cried out. The pain was too much, and she tried to push him away. Nathan sighed. Let it be. It hurts now, but it will be soothing before you know it. He lifted the cloth for a moment so that he could see the brand. He smiled and said, Now you will never forget me. I will forget you, though. Crystal looked up at him with empty eyes. She thought C You win. But who cares? He hadnt really aplished anything. She would be out of his life in a day and a half, and that would be that. Nathan red at her. Do you think Eric Bush really loves you? His brows furrowed. Or is he just trying to torture me by snatching my love away from me? Now that I do not love you, do you honestly think that he will still want you? Maybe not Crystal shrugged. If that is the case, then I will finally be free! She smiled bitterly, I would live the life I wanted. Away from men who tortured and ruined my life! You miserable cunt! Nathan roared. Nothing she had ever said to him had ever made him as angry as what she had just said. If she was speaking the truth, then his revenge was ruined, and she had yed him like a fiddle. You selfish woman! You are going to die cold and alone! Maybe so. Crystal shrugged again. But that is my business. You need not concern yourself. As they say, I have made my bed I musty in it Nathan was so angry that he could not speak. He wanted to hit Crystal. He knew, though, that if he started hitting her, he would not stop until she was dead. For a while, he just stared at her without saying a word. Finally, it seemed that she was going to break the silence. She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, her face turned white, and she slipped into unconsciousness. He caught her out of reflex, and as he looked at her face, he felt a stab of pain in his heart. Oh, my God, he muttered. What have I done? Chapter 327: Seeing You Suffer Makes Me Happy Nathan held Crystal in his arms, and he wept for what he had done and for what he had lost. He had crossed a line with Crystal, and he knew that there was no going back. Gently, he picked her up, carried her into the next room, and ced her on the bed. He tucked her hair behind her ears and forced himself to look at the brand. Never in his life had he felt such great regret. He did not know what hade over him. It was almost as if a psychopath had possessed him. He stayed with her for as long as he could, but eventually, his grief consumed him, and he fled. **** Crystal did not regain consciousness untilter that evening. She sat up and looked around. She was surprised to find that she had been moved, but she was grateful for the privacy.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Next to the bed, there was a full-length mirror, and she stood up so that she could get a good look at what Nathan had done to her. And when she did, she cried out in anguish. At the center of her forehead, a rose had been seared into her skin, and she gasped when she saw it. It was the symbol that Nathan used to seal his letters. The logo could also be seen on his private helicopters, luxury cars, and yachts. The servants and guards wore the symbol on their uniforms. As surely as a dog marks his territory by pissing on a fire hydrant, he had imed her for himself. Suddenly, Crystal was sick. She bent over and puked into the wastebasket that sat by the door. There was no way that she could have made it to the washroom. Crystal wiped the vomit from her mouth with a shirt she found on the floor, and then she returned to the mirror. She stood up straight and touched the rose. This will never fade away C she realized, and she punched the mirror with both of her hands in rage. No! she shouted. My life is over Where is that bastard? -she wondered. She was surprised that Nathan was not there to gloat over what he had done. She began to cry, and she was d that he was not there to see her breakdown. Not knowing what else to do, she went back to bed, curled into a ball, and cried herself to sleep. It was not long before Crystal woke up again, and she was happy to discover that the need to cry had passed. She got up and went to look out the window. From where she stood, she could see Nathan. He was on the beach, and he was digging holes, looking for her sketchbook. Already, there were over a dozen holes, and it looked like he was not about to stop until he found what he was looking for. Oh, fuck C she thought C I should have burnt my book! But how could Nathan know that this is where I hid it, though? It makes no sense **** Nathan shivered as he dug. He had a high fever, and his servants had been begging him for the past hour to return, but he would not. He ignored their words, and he kept on digging. He was like a machine that was breaking down, though, and with each hole that he dug, he grew weaker. One of the servants stepped forward and said, Master Davis, please stop. Let us help you. Piss off. Nathan waved his hand dismissively. All of you, piss off. Crystal slipped to the ground, wrapped her arms around her legs, and began to cry. She had never felt so alone or so helpless in her life. I wish I was dead! she shouted. Of course, there was nobody there to hear her. **** The servants were afraid that Nathan would overexert himself, but it still came as a shock to them when he finally keeled over. They shouted his name as they ran over to help him, and it took four people to carry him inside. When Crystal heard themotion, she crept downstairs to see what was going on. Then, when she discovered that Nathan had passed out, she stopped one of the servants and said, Im leaving the ind now. What should I do? The servant raised one eyebrow and said, You know that we cant tell you. You should ask Master Davis when he wakes up. Crystal frowned. Nathan was on the couch. He was still wet, but they had thrown twoforters over him, knowing that it would warm him up in no time. He looked like an angel asleep as he was, but she knew that he was a demon from Hell. Crystal did not want to be there when Nathan woke up. Unfortunately, his subconscious must have heard her voice because his eyes opened almost immediately after she spoke. And apparently, he had heard everything. I have trusted her over and over again C Nathan thought C And every time, she has yed me for a fool! When will I ever learn? He threw the nkets off and sat up. There was a rush of blood to his head, and for a minute, he felt dizzy, but the dizziness quickly passed. One of the servants gave Nathan a nervous look. Master Davis, she said. Youre wet all over. You need to keep warm, and you need to rest. Soon. Nathan smiled at the servant and said, I have some business to attend to first. Crystal began to tremble. She knew that she was the business that Nathan was talking about. He nced at her. Do you want to leave? he asked. Sure, you do, of course! But did you actually think that you could leave without my consent? You promised to let me go Crystal muttered. Her eyes were swollen from crying. And I wasnt expecting you to wake up so soon I did promise, Nathan agreed. But I did wake up, and your three days are not up. You may leave at 5 pm tomorrow. Until then, you are mine to torture C And we have just gotten started! Why are you doing this? Crystal groaned. Seeing you suffer makes me happy, Nathan replied. He tried to stand, but his legs gave out. Luckily, two of his servants were able to catch him before hended on the ground. Once he was upright, he smirked at Crystal, and he said, Come and help me to my room. Crystal walked over, put his arm around her neck, and tried to lift him without answering. He was much too heavy, though, and they both fell to the ground with him on top. They were face-to-face, and he was drooling at her. After a moment, he slurped his spit, grinned, and said, You are so full of shit! Can you not hold me up? Yeah, right! Now quit ying your stupid little games and get me upstairs! Chapter 328: I Will Carry You Up Crystal gasped. She thought C How could I ever carry Nathan up a flight of stairs? He was nearly two hundred pounds, and it had taken four servants to carry him inside. I c-cant d-do it, she stammered. Cant or wont? Nathan hissed. I have done so much for you. What have you done for me? His cold fingers pinched her chin. Crystal, what have you done for me except hurt me? Be reasonable. Crystal sighed and said, You are too heavy. I am afraid of dropping you. Do you honestly think that I care about being dropped? Nathan asked, You have broken my heart thousands of times. What is one more injury? Crystal raised her head and looked directly into his eyes. Then she gritted her teeth and said, Fine. Ill give it a try. Dont me me, though, if you crack your skull! Well Nathan smiled. What are you waiting for? Crystal nodded, turned around, and bent her knees slightly so that he could climb on her back. The second that she felt his weight on her, her breathing becamebored, and she felt her knees buckle. You cant do this a voice in her head whispered. Youre going to kill yourself trying. She tried to force the voice to shut up, but it was hard. She felt like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. She hooked his legs with her arms and took her first step, and as she moved, his chest rubbed against the wounds on her back. She took another step, and she began to whimper. She could not help it. Whats wrong? Nathan asked skeptically. Am I too heavy? Crystal ignored his questions and concentrated on her third step. The servants could see how hard this was for Crystal, and they lined up on either side of her. One of them said, If anything happens, we will catch you. Crystal nodded and took the final three steps to the stairs. Then she looked up in horror. With Nathan on her back, thending at the top looked like it was a million miles away. She lifted her right leg, and as the weight shifted to her left leg, she stumbled. Nathans foot touched the ground briefly, and he hissed into her ear: Crystal, is this what you call carrying me? You are too heavy. She gasped and said, I told you not to me me You can give up at any time, he said in a gloomy voice. I will give you time to practice, but you cannot leave until you have carried me to my bed. F**k you! Crystal growled. You are a masochist. Do you know that? Are you going to carry me to my room or not? I will carry you up, Crystal replied. If I fall, it is your own fault. She let go of Nathans legs so that they were dragging on the ground. Then she grasped the handrails on either side of her and hauled herself up the first four steps. Then she had to stop and catch her breath. Sweat dripped from her forehead. Her back was slick, and she was in agony. Not only was the weight killing her, but her wounds felt like they were on fire. Crystal bit her lower lip to keep from crying out, and the coppery taste of blood in her mouth somehow distracted her from the pain. She put her hands back on the handrails and found the inner strength to make it to the top.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Almost there. Nathan chuckled and told her to keep going. Crystal frowned, and then she smiled as a thought urred to her: If she leaned backward, they would both be thrown down the stairs. Not even the servants would be able to save them. They would break their necks, which would be the end of their story. That would be nice C she thought C It is a pity that I still have so many unfinished tasks. If shepleted suicide, she knew that Eric would kill Carlos and that he would not help Noah. Thus, she had an obligation to live. Yes, Crystal muttered. Almost there She took two more steps, and as she put her weight on her right foot, it buckled, and she copsed. She fell forward, and hended on top of her, and his body was so heavy that she could not move a muscle. Now, more than ever, Crystal wished that she were dead. She wished that she had leaned backward, and not even the thought of Noah and Carlos could convince her that her life was worth living. For a long while, Crystal justy there. Finally, she felt like she had enough energy to get up. She bent her arms and put her hands flush against the floor, and she tried to do a Girls push-up. From there, she hoped to get herself into an upright position. Unfortunately, she only made it about four inches off the floor before her body gave out again. f**k a duck, she grumbled. I dont know what I am going to do with you, Nathan Damnit! Nathan hissed. While Crystal had been trying to get up, he had been getting angrier by the second. If you cannot stand up and carry me, then crawl. You can be my horse! He bit into her shoulder, and she yelped. He was so angry that he thought that he was about to vomit blood! A secondter, he coughed, and he actually did vomit blood. It went all over Crystal, and some of it sshed back into his face. Disgusting C he thought. A servant rushed over. She said, Master You you are v-vomiting blood Her face was a pale shade of green. All of the servants wanted to help him, but no one dared to intervene on his behalf without his say-so. Finally, Nathan rolled off of Crystal. He stood up, nudged her with his foot, and grimaced. Crystal he grumbled. You are such a ruthless woman. I hope you know that I hate you! I wish you were dead. I have asked so little of you, but you couldnt even help me to my bed when I was sick. Crystal remained silent, and her silence exacerbated his rage. Nathan thought- No matter how much I hate her, she remains indifferent. The hate that he now felt for her was as extreme as his love had been. Finally, he turned to his servants. Well? he shouted. What are you waiting for? Get me to my room! Chapter 329: What Is She Trying To Say? Crystal had passed out in the hallway, and by the time she was awake, it waste in the evening. She was surprised to see that someone had put a nket over her, and there was a bottle of water within reach of her arm. She smiled when she realized that someone had taken the time to care for her. It was not until she saw the bottle that she realized how thirsty she was. She was hungry too, but she knew that her stomach would have to wait until after she had checked on Nathan.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. The water was divine, and she drank it much faster than she meant to, and when she tried to stand, she realized that she would be sick if she moved too soon. While she waited, she did a quick body scan. Everything hurts. Her back had been ravaged, and she thought that she would need surgery, but nothing was broken, and she thanked God for minor miracles. Finally, she got on her hands and knees and crawled into Nathans room. He was lying on his side, and he saw her right away. She made her way over and copsed in front of him. I need to get out of here C she thought. She looked up at him and pleaded her case with her eyes. There, she cried. Please tell me that our score is finally settled. Nathans brows furrowed, and he said, I am sick. You need to take care of me. **** Crystal took the thermometer out of Nathans mouth and checked the reading. His temperature was 39. 6 degrees, which meant he had a serious fever. Thankfully, they had everything they needed to give an infusion, and some of the servants were trained nurses. Once she told them what his temperature was, they rushed off to get everything prepared. While Crystal was waiting, she helped Nathan take off his wet clothes. Then she brought out a cloth and a bucket of warm soapy water so that she could clean his body. He epted all of this withoutint, but he flinched when she touched the area around where he had been shot. I think that its infected, she muttered, and she applied Polysporin to it. Once that was done, she bandaged it up. Just looking at it had made her feel guilty. The servant returned with the infusion, and before she could get to work, Crystal said, Give it to me. I will do it. The servant gave her a skeptical look. Are you sure? she asked. I am a trained nurse. Crystal nodded and said, Leave it to me. The servant nodded. She handed the infusion to Crystal and took a step back. She knew her ce in the house, but she was obviously wary. The look on her face said, Do your worst. I will be here to clean up your mess. Crystal straightened Nathans left arm, wrapped a rubber band around his triceps, and inserted a needle into his forearm. Then she attached the needle to the IV, put a butterfly on the IV to keep it attached to his arm, and removed the stic. Finally, she gave the nurse a dirty look and said, Mission aplished, bitch! The servant frowned and left the room without saying another word C and just like that, Nathan and Crystal were alone again. She turned to look at him and smiled. The expression on his face made him look like a naughty boy who had yed on the beach for a long time, and she could not help butugh. Suddenly, Crystal remembered her sketchbook, and herughter died in her throat, and her face turned white. She knew that he would never stop looking for it, and when he found it, he would use it against her. She looked at him again, and in that instant, she hated him more than ever. She thought C A man who would do this to a woman is no man at all! There was morphine in the IV solution, and Nathan fell asleep immediately. Crystal threw a quilt over his body, and then she went back downstairs. Now that he had passed out, her first instinct was to run, but she thought better of it. There was nowhere to go, and even if she had a ce to go, she had no way of getting there. Without Nathans consent, she was stuck. What to do? What to do? C thought Crystal. Ideally, she would be asleep, but she was too wound up for sleep. Suddenly, she remembered that she had a spare sketchbook in the living room. Drawing would be a good way to kill time, and it would help her rx. Crystal smiled as she went into the living room. She sat on the couch, pulled out her book and a pen from the coffee tables drawer, and began to draw. She had only been drawing for a short while, though, before the cut on the back of her hand split open. She bit her lower lip as searing pain ran up her brain. Luckily, the wound was covered, so she did not bleed on her book, but red roses pressed through the cotton. Fu*k it! C she thought, and she kept on drawing. And while she was drawing, an idea urred to her. An hour went by, and Crystal hadpletely forgotten about her wound, that is until a drop of blood dripped down the side of her hand and sttered in the upper-right corner of her page. Crystal felt extremely disappointed when she saw that, but she refused to let it get her down. The drawing had helped her rx, and it would still serve its purpose, so there was no point in getting all riled up again. She went into the washroom, took off the old Band-Aid, cleaned and treated the wound, and put a new Band-Aid on it. This time, she put a second wrapping over it to ensure that this did not happen again. Then she went back to the living room and cleaned up. She looked at the paper, tucked the sketchbook under her arm, and smiled. Even with the bloodstain, it would do. She was tired now, and she was ready to sleep. **** When Nathan woke up the following day, he could not believe his eyes, and at first, he thought he had another Fever Dream. Just in case, he pinched himself. When nothing changed, he knew that he was awake and what he was seeing was real. Crystal was lying on the bed next to him, asleep. Her eyes were blotchy, and he could see that she had been crying, but that didnt matter to him, not when she was sleeping right beside him! Crystal stirred and opened her eyes. Youre awake, she said as if there was nothing out of the ordinary here. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the clock. You have had a high fever. How do you feel? Nathan raised his head, and he saw that there was a book between them. What is this? he asked. It is my sketchbook, Crystal replied. The one with your portrait. I hope that you like it! Nathan opened the book, and he was surprised to see what a good artist she was, but the blood was disconcerting. Why would she ssh blood on my portrait? C he wondered C What is she trying to say? Chapter 330: Don鈥檛 Pretend To Be Devastated Nathan stared at the drawing for a few minutes. Then he looked up at Crystal, grabbed her by the cor, and shook her. What is the meaning of this? he shouted. Is this because you are afraid that I wont let you go?!?! Crystal frowned. Why do you always have to assume the worst? Why wouldnt I? Nathan shouted. You have given me a portrait of myself with blood on it! What am I supposed to think? Is this some sort of threat? Are you trying to frighten me? Crystal flinched as Nathan tore the page out of the book and ripped it in half. Then he crumpled the two pieces into balls and threw them into her face. One hit her just above her right eye, and the other bounced off her forehead. Crystal sat there numbly. It made her sad to see her work destroyed. She had put so much effort into it, and she had captured his beauty perfectly. She had hoped that he would frame it and that it could remind him of their better days. She would never have expected him to make such a big deal about a little bit of blood. Suddenly, she was overwhelmed with grief, and she began to weep. What are you doing? Nathan grumbled. Do you feel aggrieved? he stared at her sullenly and said, Dont pretend to be devastated! Im okay, Crystal lied. She regained herposure and got off the bed. Have a good rest. Ill ask a servant to bring you some food. When Nathan heard this, he mmed his fist on the bed and shouted, Sit back down! Crystal stared at him skeptically and took two cautious steps away from him. Nathan red at him. Crystal Smith, dont you dare ignore me! Do you hear me? Okay. Crystal pretended that she had not heard him. Ill tell the servants to bring you up for some breakfast. She took another step towards the door, waved, and said, Goodbye. Nathan tried to stand up so that he could go after her, but he fell back into his bed. His body was too weak, and now his brain was foggy. It seemed like he was being drawn into aa, and he fought it off with what little strength he had. If he fell into aa, he did not think that she would be there when he woke up. Wordlessly, he watched her watching him, and he was in agony. She was so close to him, but she seemed like she was a world away. He thought that all that she wanted to do was get as far away from him as possible. Crystal walked out the door, but she returned momentarily with his medicine and a bottle of water. She put the items on the bedside table and said, Here is your medicine. Make sure you drink all of the water. If you dont, you will be dehydrated. Then she picked up the two crumpled-up papers and threw them into the trash. She felt his eyes on her all the while, and she noticed that he had not touched his medicine. Crystal went back to the side of Nathans bed. She poured a few pills into her palm and offered them to him, saying, You should take your medicine. Nathan dry-swallowed the medicine, but he did not say anything. Crystal smiled and offered him the water. Nathan nodded, and he drank the entire bottle in a matter of seconds. She offered to get him more, and he nodded again. When she returned with another bottle, he asked for it in a ss. She poured it into a cup that was sitting on the night table, and the second he had it in his hand, he sshed the water on her face. Crystals face turned red as her ire began to rise. What was that for? she shouted. You are sick, and I have done nothing except take care of you! Cut the crap! Nathan hissed. Take off your hypocritical mask. We both know that you dont do anything nice unless you have an ulterior motive! Crystals mouth dropped open. Even though she already knew that this was what he believed, it still stung to hear it. After everything that he had put her through, she felt that she deserved better. She wiped her face quickly and said nothing. Why dont you speak? He sneered. Curse me! Crystal felt that Nathan had been more terrifying over thest twenty-four hours than ever before. And she was terrified. Or are you going to pour water over me to get revenge? Nathan continued. You are such a conniving bitch! Crystal sighed. He was being ridiculous, and she knew that nothing she could say would help him see things clearly. At best, she could appease him until it was time to go. He was all over the map, though, and he was determined to see everything she did in the wrong light. Luckily, she was saved from having to reply by a knock on the door. There was a servant in the doorway, and she had a bowl of chicken noodle soup in her hands. The servant ced the soup on the bed stand, and Crystal took a few backward steps. She was worried that Nathan would ssh her with it. He gave her a curious look, though, and ordered her to feed him. Crystal rolled her eyes as she returned to his side. She filled the spoon with soup and brought it to him, but he refused to open his mouth. Crystals brows furrowed. Whats the problem now? she asked impatiently. I want mouth-to-mouth service, he replied. I used to do it for you, so you owe me.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Crystal shrugged and said, Fine. Whatever makes you happy. She brought the spoon to her mouth and slurped it up. Then she leaned over him and let it drizzle into his open mouth. She wasnt expecting anything untoward to happen when he startled her by putting his hands on top of her head and pulling her face to his. Then he kissed her hard and shoved his tongue into her mouth. And while he kissed her, he bit her lips. The coppery taste of the bloodbined with that of the soup made Crystal feel like she would throw up, but no matter how hard she struggled, he would not let her go. Not knowing what else to do, she kissed him back. Eventually, he loosened his grip on her, and she was able to pull away. Once she was free, she grabbed the bottle of water, rinsed it out her mouth, and spat it into the wastebasket. Nathan frowned. Was kissing me really that bad? he asked. Its not that, Crystal muttered. And to prove that she had no problem with kissing him, she leaned over and kissed him again. Chapter 331: Are You In Pain? Once Nathan was done eating, he pulled Crystal into his arms and gave her a giant hug. He seemed happy, but when he squeezed her, he flinched, and Crystal asked him, Are you in pain? Its my chest, he replied. My wound opened when you were carrying me. It is your fault, so you should be the one to fix me up. Crystal leaned back, looked at his chest, and said, It doesnt look too bad. I will take care of itter. Nathan gave Crystal a dirty look and said, Do it now. I dont want to be in pain when you serve meter. What is that supposed to mean? C Crystal thought C Has he thought of a new way to punish me? **** While Crystal was attending to Nathans wound, a servant brought her something to eat. Then, when she was done eating, she stood up and made her way towards the door. She was only halfway there, though, when Nathan called her back. Where are you going? he asked. Im still hungry, she lied. Then have a servant bring something up for you. Crystals face turned red from anger. She did not like being told what to do, and she was sick of being pushed around by Nathan. Unfortunately, until he let her go, she was his ve. Fine, she said, and she called the servants to have someone bring her a bowl of soup. Crystal tucked her hair behind her ear, and her fingers happened to brush against the brand on her forehead, and she felt dizzy for a moment. It urred to her then that she would never be free no matter how long she was away from him. People would see the mark wherever she went, and they would assume that she belonged to Nathan. This was exactly what he had wanted, and it drove her crazy to think that he had won. She hated him, but he hated her so much that he wanted her to hate him as well. Thus, even in this, he got his way. The food came. Crystal had no appetite, but Nathan forced her to eat. Waste not, want not, he said, and he would not let up if the bowl were empty. Finally, he took the bowl and set it down on the night table. He raised his eyebrows and asked, Are you full? Yeah. Do you have all of your strength now? The strength for what?- Crystal wondered. What do you want from me? she asked nervously. Rinse your mouth, he replied. Crystal nodded and went to the bathroom, and when she returned, Nathan ordered her to get on the bed. She nodded again, approached the bed, and began to undress. She thought that was what he wanted, but he told her to stop when he saw what she was doing. What are you doing? he asked. Crystal frowned. I thought you wanted to punish me, she replied. As Nathan sneered, he gave her a look that was full of disgust. Crystal, your body is so dirty. Why do you think that I would want to have sex with you? Do you think that you deserve to sleep with me again? I wouldnt touch you if you were thest woman on this! Crystal rolled her eyes. He had just been forcing her to kiss him, so this seemed like a whole lot of horseshit. Dont worry, she said. I dont want to have sex with you any more than you want to have sex with me! This reply seemed to make Nathan angry. He shouted, Take off my pants! Crystal was puzzled. If he did not want to have sex with her, why would he ask her to take off his pants? It made no sense, but she knew better than to argue. Dutifully, she took off his pants. He was not wearing underwear, and when she saw his manh**d, she asked him if he needed to pee and if he needed a bottle to go in. When Nathan heard her question, he grabbed her hair fiercely. Do you think that I am willing to y Second String with Eric? Or are you obsessed with putting manh**d into bottles?This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Crystal was taken aback. Without thinking, she said, You, Sir, need to get your head out of the gutter. One day youll regret all the maltreatment youve done to me, The words had barely passed her lips, and she felt the sting of his hand on her face. He had pped her. She cried out in pain and brought her hand to her face. Crystal told herself to take it in stride. This was herst day with Nathan, and then she would be free. What do you want me to do? she asked. I want you to please me, Nathan replied. With your mouth. Crystal froze. Her face turned pale, and her heart began to beat fast. This was the one thing that she had not expected. It was low, even for him. Nathan pointed at his d**k C by now, it was as hard as a rock C and he said, Well, what are you waiting for? Crystal red at his c*ck. In her mind, this was something that only prostitutes did, and just the thought of his swollen member in her mouth made her feel like she was going to vomit. Oh, do you feel disgusted? Nathanughed at the expression on her face. He touched the brand on her forehead, and she winced. He smirked and said, Now that you belong to me, you will do what I tell you to. Before you get to gobbling, though, I think that I would like you to put on some sexy lingerie. There are some in the closet. Now get going! Wh-Wh-Why? Crystal stammered. A wh*re should dress like a wh*re, Nathan replied. There was a wicked grin on his face. Crystal swore silently and went to the closet. She put on the first outfit she found, but Nathan had her change several times before he was happy with her look. There was a nurses outfit, a sailor outfit, a leopard outfit, and a bunny outfit, but he preferred a snow-white plush miniskirt with a beige push-up bra. Nathans eyes dimmed. Do you know what you are wearing? he asked. I dont know, she replied. Chapter 332: Why Are You So Nasty? This is what Sugar Babies wear, Nathan exined. His eyebrows lifted provocatively, and he said, And if you are a Sugar Baby, then I am your Sugar Daddy, and if you want, you can also have Sugar Brothers, Sugar Cousins, Sugar Uncles, and Sugar Aunts. Crystals brow furrowed. Why are you so nasty!? Thats big talk for a wh*re, Nathan scoffed. Come here! Crystal numbly walked over The warm morning light shone brightly through the window, and her skin looked elegant and angelic. Her cheeks were rosy red, and the color in her eyes shimmered. She is such a charming woman C Nathan thought C as proud and holy as a queen. She is such a gorgeous beauty. Even if she isnt smiling, she is still attractive Nathan squinted his eyes narrowly. He could not tell whether he liked her because of her appearance, or because of her smart rebellious temperament, or maybe because he wanted to pursue a proud beauty, or because she had aroused his innate desire to conquer. The one thing he knew was that it was not because of her personality. He thought C This woman is like a fancy jewelry box with nothing inside of it. He grabbed both sides of her head and forced it into his crotch without warning. Kiss it! he roared. Kiss my d**k! She did not kiss it right away, and he mmed his fist into the side of her head. Kiss it, you dirty wh*re! She raised her face and looked at him fiercely. Her jawline clenched tightly, yet she didnt utter any words. This is thest straw of her patience, and she counts on her head from one to ten. Horrible monster C she thought. Crystal tried to do as he asked, but she was frozen. She thought that this day would traumatize her for the rest of her life. She looked up again into Nathans eyes. His expression was cruel and hideous. Nathan looked back at her and frowned. Why are you looking at me? he shouted. Dont look at me!Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Crystal smiled sadly. Why are you doing this to me? she asked. Is this because of what your Grandfather did to you when you were a child? Are you happy seeing me like this and calling me wh*re? Nathans body began to tremble, and tears began to fall from his eyes. Hate me! Hate me as much as you want because Im humiliating you again and again,, he begged. Crystal did not move, and when Nathan couldnt handle her looking at him anymore, he flipped her over so that she was on her back, and he pressed a pillow over her face. Look at what I am doing to you, he shouted. This is the price you pay when you betray me. By all rights, you should hate me. But if you refuse to hate me, then I will kill you! Crystal felt her strength ebbing. The pressure on her face was so heavy that she could not move her head, and it was getting harder and harder to breathe. She was doing everything she could: Kicking, punching, grabbing, and scratching. But it was useless. She was helpless. Even though Crystal did not want to live anymore, she was determined to fight for her life for as long as she could, if not for her own sake, then for Carlos and Noah and Nancy and rk. Once she had her affairs in order, she could reassess her situation and decide if she wanted to live or die. I wonder why I dont hate Nathan; instead, I pity him for being ruthless but living like an empty shell- that was Crystalsst thought before her body went limp and she lost consciousness. A moment passed, and Nathan threw the pillow across the room. What have I done? he cried, and he tried to wake her up. Almost immediately, Crystal found herself looking down on Nathan. He had been sitting on her chest and pressing the pillow against her face. All the while, he had been cursing and crying and trembling all over. Now, though, he appeared despondent. His face was a mask of grief. What is going on here? C she wondered. It took her a while to realize that she had an out-of-body experience. Her body felt light, and her body waspletely free of pain. She had heard about people having out-of-body experiences when they died, so she was not afraid. She looked around for a light, but she did not see anything C nothing to go into! She thought C shouldnt my dead rtives be here to greet me? And where is Jesus? Moments of Crystals life began to sh before her eyes, and they made her smile. She saw herself as a child. Her mother was holding her hand, and they were walking on the frontwn. Her mother tilted her head slightly and smiled at her. She was teaching her daughter how to walk. She saw herself as a teenager. She was in her room, and Serenity was waiting outside for her. Their bikes were on thewn. She saw herself with Carlos. It was their Senior year, and they were sitting in a movie theater. She remembered how he had passionately pursued her. He had acted as if the fate of the word would be determined by whether he could catch her eyes. Every day he had put an apple and a milk bottle in her drawer. He had been a real charmer. Countless other memories flooded in. They ignited a desire to live in her, and she forced her spirit to settle back in her body. **** Crystals eyes opened slightly. The sun hit them like shards of ss, and she quickly closed them again. Her head hurt like a son of a bitch. How much time has passed? C she wondered. She hoped that enough time had passed that Nathan would let her go. She could feel his body next to hers. He had an arm lying on her stomach. His fingers had slipped under the stic band of her panties near her hip, and they made her feel ufortable. Crystal turned her head away from the window C towards Nathan C and forced her eyes open. The light still hurt her head, but now it was manageable. She stared at him for a long time. You could have had the world, once, she whispered. But you threw it all away. And for what? She thought about how he had her crucified and flogged until the flesh was stripped from her body. She thought that it was a pity that he would never understand how much he had lost. Only then would he truly feel the kind of pain that he deserved. Crystal quietly removed his arm and got out of bed. She went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. She rinsed her mouth with Scope and touched some of her injuries, lingering on the bruises on her neck. She felt like a piece of meat that had been tenderized, and there was not a part of her body that did not hurt. Chapter 333: You Didn鈥檛 Deserve The Truth Suddenly, the bathroom door was pushed open, and Nathan appeared in the doorway. Crystal was startled. She had been drinking water from a ss, and as a reflex, she yelped and threw it at his head. Nathan dodged the ss, and it bounced harmlessly off the carpet in the bedroom. He raised one eyebrow but said nothing. He stared at her with sullen eyes. He thought that she was like a frightened bird, but that did not make sense to him. In his eyes, she had always been impervious to fear, but she had not even batted an eye when he pointed a gun at her. Nathan was determined to get to the root of this fear. He looked Crystal up and down, acknowledged cuts and bruises, and wondered if they had anything to do with it. He walked over and pressed his hands on the counter in front of her. Then he casually leaned over and whispered, Did you sleep well? For a while, I wasnt sure if you were going to wake up? What the f**k! C thought Crystal. He was acting as if he had not just about killed her. The truth was that he actually had killed her, only she had been able to revive herself by sheer strength of will. Are youfortable? He asked. He smiled, and he gripped her buttocks with his strong right hand. Crystal looked down at her apparel and frowned. She was still wearing the lingerie that he had picked for her, and there was no doubt in her mind that he was in the gutter. He let her go, and then he spanked her three times. She cried out in pain each time, but she knew that it could be worse; she feared that it would get worse, but for now, her bum was the only part of her body without any previous injuries, so the pain was less than it might otherwise have been. Crystal wanted to leave, but she knew that he would not let her go. Not only that, but if she struggled, she knew that it would only further fuel his lust. Nathan put his arms around her, and she bit her lower lip to keep from crying out in pain as he embraced her. He nibbled on her earlobe and whispered, We still have six hours left, and we are going to make them memorable. Crystal groaned. She could not help it. All of a sudden, she wished that she had stayed dead. Six more hours with him sounded like an eternity. Nathan walked behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and grabbed both of her breasts. You know that I have ruined you, dont you? He traced her right nipple with his thumb, gave it a squeeze, and said, Since you have taken Cupids Arrow, you can never be with another man, and the abstinence will kill you. As you know, women are like flowers. If they arent watered, they will shrivel up and die. But do not worry, I will make sure that you are good and watered before you leave. But how does it feel to know that you will have to live like a nun for the rest of your life. He chuckled and asked her if she knew why nuns were called nuns? Crystal shrugged and said that she didnt. Its because NONE is all they get! he exined. Heughed out loud, and the volume of his voice pierced her eardrums like hot pokers. Despite the pain, though, she could not help but smile. He obviously did not know about Cupids Arrow Loophole. If she had a baby with Eric, she would be safe and could imagine how much that would upset Nathan. And the promise of his dismay gave her the strength she needed to carry on. Are you going to live as a widow forever? Nathan asked. Crystal shrugged and said, Whatever you say. His eyes bulged when he heard her answer, and she could not help butugh. Crystal did not want to rile him up any more than he already was, so she said, I wasughing at my own stupidity. Im sorry.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Why would you think that youre stupid, Nathan asked. You are the most cunning woman in the world! If I were so cunning, you wouldnt have been able to con me so easily, Crystal argued. You didnt tell me the truth about Cupids Arrow. You had no right to lie to me like that! Nathan gritted his teeth and said, You didnt deserve the truth. Furthermore, I only keep my promises to women who deserve my love. You, Crystal, definitely dont deserve love! Crystal shrugged and said, I am okay with that. Since you dont want me, there should be no problems when I go to Eric. If he dares to touch you, be ready to prepare his grave! Nathan snarled. You dont make any sense, Crystal cried. You are like a child in a field of daisies, chanting rhymes as you pluck petals of flowers. You love me. You love me not. You want me. You want me not. Give me a fucking break. She tore away from him. She felt so dirty, and she had wanted to take a bath, but now she knew that it would not be possible until she was with Eric. Crystal took off her lingerie and put on some clean clothes. Fortunately, it was wintertime. No one would question the turtleneck sweater that she had put on to cover the bruises. By the time Crystal was dressed, Nathan had returned to the bedroom. He was sitting on the edge of the bed and smoking. But for the tick-tock of the clock on the wall, the room was silent. Crystal stood as far away from Nathan as she could. Will this day ever end? C she wondered. It felt like every minute was an hour. Nathan finished his cigarette and looked up. He checked the time on the clock and thought C It is time. He got up, walked across the room, opened the door, and went out into the hallway. His actions frightened Crystal. They made her worry that would break his word. Suddenly, Crystal felt weak all over. Her heart felt fuzzy, and her legs began to tremble. It felt as if they could not support her weight. She thought she was going to copse, but then Nathan returned. He threw a key at her and said, There is a helicopter on the top floor! Lets go! Chapter 334: Goodbye, Nathan Davis The key bounced off her chest andnded on the floor in front of her. Crystal stooped to pick it up, and as she put it in her pocket, he asked her if she knew how to fly a helicopter. She wanted to say no, but she was afraid that he would get angry, so she nodded and said that she did. Anyway C she thought C I had seen pilots on television. It looks easy enough. That being said, a licensed pilot seemed preferable to her, and she said so. Are you saying that you dont know how to fly a helicopter? Nathan demanded angrily. I c-can Crystal replied. But Im not very skilled at it. Nathan gave her a strange look, and then heughed weirdly. It seemed that he knew that she could not fly a helicopter and that he was trying to embarrass her. Arent you afraid that you will crash? he asked. He took a step forward, and when she took two steps away from him, he sneered. Why are you afraid of me? Are you afraid that I wont let you go? Crystal sighed and said, Nathan, I am begging you to stop torturing me like this. You promised to let me go. Why cant you just be a man and do what you said you would? Nathans face turned red from anger. He did not appreciate her questioning his manliness. A part of him wanted to deny that he had ever promised to let her go, but he thought better of it. He asked, Do you have the key? Crystal lifted one eyebrow but said nothing. You dont love me at all, do you? Tears fell from Nathans eyes. One day, you will love someone as much as I loved you. When that happens, I hope that he tramples on your heart, and no matter how much you beg him, I hope he still leaves you and that he doesnt look back Only then will you understand how much you have hurt me It is a pity that we will never have a child together. Crystal bit her lower lips until they bled. It seemed that Nathan was waiting for her to respond, but she had nothing to say. She just wanted the conversation to end, and she wanted to be as far away from this ce as possible. Finally, Nathan nodded. He said, Go, and then he turned away so that he did not have to watch her leave. Only then did Crystal realize that he was giving her a helicopter. That is what the key was for. If she could figure out how to fly, she would be free to go wherever she wanted. For a second, she was frozen in ce. She quickly thawed, though, and she ran to the stairwell and made her way to the tarmac on the roof. She ran as fast as she could. She was afraid that, at any moment, he would change his mind ande after her. After all, for all she knew, this could be another one of his games. When Crystal got to the helicopter, she was greeted by a bodyguard. Who are you? she asked. And what do you want? Miss Smith, I am your pilot. I will take you where you want to go. Crystal was stunned. Nathan had been ying games with her. He had never actually intended for her to pilot the helicopter. **** In Nathans imagination, he could already hear the helicopters des cutting the sky. He knew it was too soon, though. There was no way that she had made it to the tarmac this quickly. The thought of being alone made himugh. Why? Because sometimes it was eitherugh or go crazy. He wanted to chase after her, and it took all of his strength not to. He knew that she was not good for his mental health, and the sanest part of him was anxious to cut her out of his life. Then, if they happened to meet again, they would be strangers. Nathan looked out of the window in time to see the helicopter streak across the sky. From where he was, he could see Crystal. Suddenly, he remembered his final trick, and he smiled. Goodbye, he whispered. Then he took off his watch, kissed it onest time, and threw it out of the window. The recording that he had once regarded as a treasure was gone Before long, the helicopter had left his field of vision. Finally, he turned around and returned to his bedroom. Then he took off his clothes and went into the bathroom to take a shower. Once he was clean and dry, he put on one of his most handsome suits. He picked out a tie, fastened it, and checked himself out in the mirror. He smiled arrogantly and chuckled. Without Crystal in his life, he suddenly felt stronger. Even so, his heart still hurt. He just lost her beloved woman, and it brought him so much pain. **** Crystal watched the world pass beneath her, but her mind paid little attention to it. She was too lost in thought. She was d to be free, but a part of her wished that Nathan hade after her. Without knowing why she began tough, and then she began to cry. In her secret heart, she had not believed that Nathan would ever let her go, and now that he had, she did not know how to feel. For the most part, she felt numb. She turned to the watch on her wrist, sighed, and whispered, Liar! You said you loved me, and you will die without me in your, but all are just part of your game. Goodbye, Nathan Davis! She assumed that Nathan was still listening to her and that he would hear it. **** The helicopternded at the International Airport. From there, one of Nathans drivers brought Crystal to the mall where she had been picked up three days prior, and on the way, she called Eric to arrange for her pick-up. However, it was not until she stepped out of the vehicle that she realized that she still had a chain sped around her ankle. She had been afraid that he had one final trap set for her, and here it was. Crystals face turned white when she realized that the only way to remove it would be to contact Nathan. f**k! she moaned. Will I ever be free from all these evil men?Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Chapter 335: I Am Not Like You At All Eric was waiting for Crystal in the parking lot, and he smiled when he saw her. He got out of his car, walked towards her, gave her a big hug, and said, It is so good to see you. You wouldnt believe how much I have missed you! Crystal hugged him back, but she waited until he let her go to say anything. Do you have Noahs medicine? she asked. I brought it with me, Eric replied. Will you apany me to the vi so that we can pick up Noah and rk? Crystal asked. Lets discuss it in the car, Eric replied. Its very cold outside. Why arent you wearing more clothes? It is what it is. Crystal sighed, and she allowed herself to be led to the car. Before getting in, Eric put his coat on her shoulders and said, This will keep you warm. Eric got in on the other side, and once they had their seatbelts on, Crystal reminded him about his promise: If she came back in three days, he would help Noah, and he would set Carlos free. When she was done talking, Eric smiled and touched her cheek. My darling, he said, You have kept your promise. Of course, I will keep mine. He took her hand, rubbed her palm, and did not say anything about Nathan. I am surprised that you came in person, Crystal said. Werent you afraid of an ambush? Not really. Eric shrugged. I think that Nathan would be reluctant to use you as bait. I dont think that he would expect me to pick you up in person anyway. Crystal thought about that for a minute, and then she nodded. He is right C she realized. Not only that, but Nathan thought that she was choosing to go. He did not know anything about Carlos or Noah or that she would have stayed if the choice had been hers. Thus, he had no reason to ambush Eric. He never actually cared about you, Eric continued. You must know that. He was just on a power trip. That guy is selfish. The only person he thinks about is himself. Youre wrong, Crystal whispered. Nathan is not as selfish as you think, and even though he imprisoned me, it was only because he was trying to protect me. Eric scowled, and his face turned red from anger. Why do you insist on pissing me off? he hissed. You are my wife, but you speak up for other men! Crystal did not know why she had defended Nathan. In retrospect, she realized what a stupid thing it had been. Im just stating the truth, she repliedmely. You dont need to make such a big deal about it. Whose side are you on, anyway? Eric asked. You are such a hypocrite, Crystal muttered. Sometimes, there arent any sides. She looked out the window and said, Look out on the street. You said that you were not worried about being ambushed, but Ive just noticed that you have your men nted everywhere. Eric began slow sarcastic apuse. Nice! He forced himself to smile and said, You think that you are so smart You think you know everything, dont you? Yes! Crystal eximed. From the first time that I saw you, I have seen through your lies, and your hypocrisy is as in to see as the nose on your face! And do you know why? Crystal turned her face away. She no longer wanted to look at him, and if it were not for Carlos and Noah, she would have tried to kill him. Do you know how I can read you so easily? Eric smiled maically. It is because we are cut from the same cloth. That is why you understand my thoughts so easily. We are Soul Mates! Bah! Crystal shook her fist. I am not like you at all! Then who do you like? Are you like Nathan? Ericughed. I could see it. He is a self-centered person, arrogant and defiant. He never puts others first. He thinks that he is the king of the universe. He has a fierce temper, and he is extremely conceited. Anyone who dares to provoke him is severely punished. This is why he has no friends. He has lovers, but nobody loves him. And his lovers are not really lovers, are they? They are ra*e victims! The car went silent, and it took a while for Crystal to formte a response. Finally, she said, How do you know him so well? He knew him even better than she did. Actually, I know everyone, Eric exined. I was born with a unique insight into human nature. I also took psychology as an elective. That makes sense-thought Crystal. Besides, Eric continued. I am an outgoing person. I am nothing like that lonely weirdo. Erics rant was draining Crystals Chi, and she was beginning to feel faint. Why do you have to keep saying bad things about Nathan? she asked. I get it already! You do not like the guy. Can we move on already? Im just telling you that you made a very wise choice when you returned, he replied. He leaned over to kiss her, but she scowled and pulled away. Whether it was wise or not is to be seen. She red at him and said, I am in a bad mood today, so stay away from me. If you do not, I might lose control of myself. You wouldnt want that to happen. Eric chuckled. He remembered her temper clearly, but he was not afraid. Finally, the driver started the car, and they were on the road pretty soon. Crystal looked out the window and watched the other cars. She was exhausted, and Erics proximity to her was making her so nervous that she thought she would have a panic attack. The thought of being his wife and bearing his children made her sick to her stomach. A few minutes passed in silence. Then Eric handed Crystal a bottle and a pill, and for a moment, she just stared at them. What are these for? she asked. Just in case. In case of what? she asked. In case you got pregnant while you were with Nathan, Eric exined. If you did, then this will kill the baby. He rolled his eyes and said, Jesus! You really are dense Crystal took the medicine numbly with a shocked expression on her face. Eric watched her indifferently. He lit a cigarette and said, Tell me, how did you escape this time? I can only imagine how many times he fucked you C not that I want to imagine it he grimaced. I can smell him on you, you know? Crystals back stiffened. She said, You must have known what would happen while I was away I did, Eric nodded. Thus, the pills. You need not fear me. Consider this your Last Hurrah. You have promised to end everything with Nathan. If you have done that; if you have removed him from your mind and forgotten him, then we are even. Of course, if you have not What does that mean? Crystal asked nervously.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. If you have not removed him from your mind, then I will have him killed, he replied. And you would be punished. From now on, you are a one-man woman, and I am that man. Do you understand? Chapter 336: Maybe It鈥檚 For The Best Crystal felt very tired. She wanted to hit Eric, but all she could do was nod her head. She promised him her loyalty, but she was reluctant. She was only doing it in exchange for the lives of Carlos and Noah. When Eric saw how tired she was and that her eyes were red and swollen from crying, he decided to stop pestering her. He smiled at her and said, Why dont you call the apartment and have a servant send rk and Noah out. We are almost there. ****This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Noahs pain was enormous, and it never let up. He was seldom hungry, and when he did eat, he threw the food up half the time. Thus, he had lost a lot of weight in a short amount of time, and he appeared haggard. He was lethargic and out of shape, and he was so weak that he could not get out of bed to meet Crystal. Not knowing what else to do, he asked one of the servants to contact Vic and ask for help. The servants thought it was odd that he would choose Vic as the person to call, but they did as they were told. Little did they know that Noah was slightly delirious, and he had meant to ask for them to contact a bodyguard for help C Anyone but Vic! **** Vic was surprised to hear that Noah had called him for help. He nced at Nathan through the rearview mirror and turned on the cars Bluetooth so that he could hear the conversation. After Crystal had left, Nathan had doubted his decision to let her go so easily, so he had set after her in his private Lockheed SR-71 ckbird. The ckbird is the fastest ne in the world. It can go over two thousand miles per hour, whereas the Marine One C the helicopter that Crystal had taken C only went one hundred and fifty miles per hour. Thus, he easily beat her to her destination. He could easily locate her with the mp around her ankle. At the moment, though, he had just been cruising around and formting his next move. Vic felt very puzzled, but he did not dare to ask about his bosss personal affairs as a subordinate. Nathan was not happy to hear that Crystal was on her way to pick up rk and Noah. For some reason, it felt like a major betrayal. What is this all about? Vic finally asked. He could no longer contain his curiosity. I thought she was with you and imprisoned. But now I hear that she has returned and that she is up to her old shenanigans? Why did you let her go? Nathans frown deepened as his depression turned to despair. But then he had an idea, a homicidal re shed across his eyes, and a satirical smile suddenly appeared at the corners of his mouth. The moment the idea appeared, though, he gave it up. Maybe its for the best, he muttered. I dont need to kill her to get my revenge. Whats that? Vic asked. I didnt hear what you said. Never mind, Nathan replied. I have an idea. I was hoping you could pack up all of the things at the apartment where Crystal and Noah are staying. Do not leave anything. I want them to return to an empty home. And from now on, Crystal Smiths name is never to be spoken in my presence. Vic was shocked. He remembered all of the things that Nathan had done to prove his love for Crystal, so this seemedpletely out of character for him. Of course, he was not privy to the events of the previous 72 hours. Did the two of you have a falling out? he asked. He was careful not to mention Crystal by name. Nathans expression darkened. Mind your own business! he growled. I am sorry, I care about you. Thats all Save your fake pity! Nathan hissed. And if you mention her again, by name or otherwise, I will shut you up forever! Vic closed his mouth, but he was not buying his bosss false bravado. If it ever came down to it, he figured that he would be the one making the killing, not the other way around. Big talk for a little man -Vic thought. He smiled. Although he would never say it to his boss, he secretly believed that real men could take care of themselves and they did not need bodyguards. When he had a moment alone, Vic called the servant back and said, An order has been given to clear your house. I cannot say anything more than that. I am giving you this warning so that you can save the childs belongings. And then he ended the call. This is the first time he had ever gone behind Nathans back, but rk was innocent, and he was not even rted to Crystal or Nathan. Thus, he did not think it was right that he was getting caught in the middle of all this petty squabbling. **** Crystal felt a stirring in her stomach as she got out of the car. It became worse as she took her first step, and she vomited all over thewn. Thankfully, her stomach was mostly empty, and after the initial deluge, she went straight to dry heaving. The driver hurriedly got out of the car and came over. Mrs. Bush, are you okay? Crystal nodded, and once she was standing straight, he said, Mrs. Bush, hurry up, Master Bush is waiting for you. Alright. Crystal sighed and began to walk towards the house. rk had been waiting at the window, and when he saw her, he ran outside and met her halfway. He gave her a giant hug and said, Auntie Crystal! I have missed you so much! Crystal returned his hug and kissed his cheek. She held him for slightly longer than necessary, and they were both crying before long. For the first time in over 72 hours, they felt safe. Eventually, she wiped the tears out of his eyes. Wheres Mommy? she asked. Has she returned yet? rk shook his head sadly. He said, I think shes gone forever, and I was worried that you were gone too. What would have happened to me then, Auntie Crystal? I think Noah is going to die. I dont know whats going on with your Mommy, Crystal admitted. But I will never abandon you, and I brought some medicine that will make Noah well again. As if on cue, Noah appeared in the doorway. A servant on either side of him supported his weight and several more behind them. They were carryingrge and small bags of luggage. Except for some clothes, they were filled with rks gifts. When Crystal saw them, she said, We dont need those. You can take them back inside. We were ordered to send them with you, a servant exined. Whatever is left will be thrown away. Crystals body stiffened. She had a feeling that Nathan was behind this, and that scared her. If she was reading the situation correctly, it meant that he was still meddling with her life, and there was no knowing if he would ever stop. Fine. She muttered. There is plenty of room in the trunk. Her heart was beating fast, and her chest hurt so badly that she thought that she might be having a heart attack. rk seemed to sense that something was wrong, and he asked her if she was okay. She assured him that she was and told him to get into the car. Then she continued walking towards the house so that she could help Noah. Crystal felt like she was in a trance. Her body was shaking. A million thoughts were spinning around in her head, and she was barely holding herself together. The thought of what would happen to Noah if she broke down gave her the strength to continue. I can break downter -she promised herself. She took a deep breath, counted backward from ten, released the Carbon Dioxide from her lungs, and continued to put one foot in front of the other. Chapter 337: You Are As Cold As Flint The more she was at this time, the less she could be defeated. Crystal hugged rk and asked him how he had been these days. Nathans servants were very kind to him and would apany him in ying games and making delicious food for him. But rk quietly wiped a tear. I dont like the evenings the most, Why? I miss Mommy very much in the evening. I miss Aunt Crystal, too. I feel pain here! rk covered his little heart. This time he covered his heart instead of his stomach. It seemed that he was sorrowful. Crystal smiled and wiped the little fellows eyes. Maybe he had left Nancy so many times and been dumped so often that he had a reflex arc of being discarded at any moment. Ill get your mommy soon, okay? Okay. Eric opened the car door and greeted Crystal. Seeing her patience with the little boy, he raised his eyebrows. Well, you will be a good mother. Crystal looked slightly shocked. You promised me youd leave Noah and rk alone. Where do you want to send them? Send them abroad and pay them alimony. They can also be given shelter. No, if you are generous, you can give them more alimony, and they will buy the house they want to live in. Eric burst into a funnyugh. You clever little thing. Youre afraid I wont keep my word, are you? Crystal pressed her lips slightly and said nothing. rk, after all, was a stranger to Eric and looked at him curiously. Eric had a harmless face. He asked Crystal, teasing the child. When are youing with me to the hospital to do the tests? Crystals arm tightened unnaturally. Cupids Arrow had forbidden Crystal from having sex with men other than Nathan. But if they wanted to have children, they could have in vitro fertilization, which was not difficult for Eric. Even though it was just sperm on her own body, Crystal resisted. She didnt want her future child to have Erics blood at all! Ive done everything you asked me to do. What else do you want? Theres one more person you didnt help me save. Carlos? Dont worry. Hell be back to normal soon. Nancy. Eric frowned slightly. Paul had the stupid woman in his hands now, and judging by Pauls stubbornness, Eric knew that Paul wouldnt let Nancy go. You promised me that you would save the child if I married you. Now the childs out, and Nancy is in again. Crystal just wanted to buy time. It would be better if everyone got out and then she ran away. It was foolish of her to fall into Pauls hands. Whether shes stupid or not, you need to settle her and her child first. Eric rubbed his chin. He was also clear about Pauls personality. It was easy to rob a man on his turf now. But Pauls temper was fiery, and Eric couldnt y hardball. So the best way to do that was to challenge himself. This allowed Paul to let Nancy go, not to me Eric. Just give me a day, and Ill bring Nancy back. Crystal frowned. Only in one day could he make it? Eric gave a scheming smile and said, My dear wife, because of you, I have to do something to my brother. That is a matter of your character, not of mine! Crystal was in no mood to make fun of him. You are as cold as flint. There was a cry of pain from the room, the door was flung open, and the servant rushed out. Crystal hurried over and nearly ran into the servant. Eric walked behind her, lip raised. What? Didnt you sedate him? Not enough? We did. Hes awake now. Try again. No! Crystal stopped him. Too much of that stuff isnt good for his brain! Hes a brute now, Eric reminded her. Crystal, dont you forget he bit you twice. Ill give him another chance to bite you? Not this time. Crystal dashed into the room. Carlos was squatting against the window. The whole room was a ruin. The sheets were chewed and tattered, and goose feathers flew everywhere. A chain was fastened to the iron window, and Carlos had a cor around his neck. He was trying fiercely to break the chain. Carlos, Crystal ached every time she saw him. What are you doing? Carloss figure jerked and turned his handsome face. As soon as he saw Crystal, he made a few quick leaps from the window to the bed and jumped at Crystal. But the length of the chain allowed him to move only so far. He held it on the bed, his hands outstretched toward Crystal. Crystal was about to step forward, her shoulder pinned under Erics. Dont get close to him. He has no sense. But he knows me. The medicine has turned him into a beast. How can he remember you when he doesnt even know who he is?Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. I knew he knew me by the way he looked. at me, Crystal said doggedly. When are you going to get him back to normal? Look at him. I didnt put him in the Wolf house. I treated him very well. As soon as youre pregnant, Ill give him the antigen. Crystal looked at him coldly. She knew Eric wasnt that easy to fool. Carlos howled at Eric, showing his terrible teeth and ws. Carlos, sit down. Carlos gave a slight pause, hands down naturally, and sat down like a dog. Look, he listens to me. He really knows me. Let me go! Crystal forcibly removed Erics hand and strode over. Eric narrowed his eyes and tried to grab Crystals hand, but it was toote. She already walked up to Carlos, reached out, and stroked his head. Good boy. Carlos rubbed his head against her palm. He looked at Crystal with clear amber eyes. He had a few more marks on his face and a cut on his hand. Crystal touched his wound gently. Youre hurt. Howl Eric, did you have him beaten? Crystal asked. Eric leaned against the door and said in a cold voice, how could I let someone beat your pet? Im afraid he hurt himself when he destroyed the room. How could you hurt yourself? Crystal snapped. You mustnt do that again! Eric squinted at the interaction between the girl and the animal. It was a miracle. Carlospletely lost his mind and forgot himself, but he could still recognize Crystal. It could be seen that in the depths of Carloss heart, the person with the most profound imprint was Crystal. Carlos once said that I wont forget you, Crystal, even if one day I forget the whole world, even myself. Crystal bit her lip. He really made good on every promise he made to her. Well, youve seen your pet. Shouldnt you be in the shower and getting dressed for the party tonight? A party? Didnt you want to rescue Nancy? Sess or failure hinges on tonight. Crystal was exhausted. She just wanted to have a good rest, but the thought of Nancy stillnguishing outside made her feel sorry. She was covered in bruises, which Eric didnt see. Her hair also covered the scar on her forehead. If Eric saw it, it would be another storm. Chapter 338: The Luxurious Dresses Crystal gritted her teeth, lowered her head, and said to Carlos, Ill see youter. Wait for me. Honey, remember to dress up for the evening party, Cant I just dress like that? This is our first public appearance since we got married. We should dress more formally. Did you call the reporters again? Are you going to have a live world broadcast again? Eric shrugged. Its a party tonight. Its a gathering of high society. And a lot of my friends couldnt wait to see Mrs. Bush. Its none of my business. It would be better for you to get Nancy out if you had been dressed nicely. Eric had the carrot and the stick. It was a threat to her! Crystal knew too much about Eric. As soon as he snatched her from Nathan, he couldnt wait to show his results and happiness. Crystal wished she could hide from Nathan at such times and never be seen again. And yet, at this time, she had to appear in public at parties of high fashion. He was bound to see her, and this was no doubt another irritant in his wound. She already hated Eric deeply in her heart, but there were so many people in his hands that she could not wholly follow her own mood until she rescued them. Crystal dismissed the servant and went to the bathroom by herself. Out of the bathroom, Crystal went into the changing room next door. Apparently, Eric had made this locker room for her. A floor-to-ceiling cab against the wall was filled with shoes. And the clothes cab was like a small shopping mall. Crystal walked into the rows of clothes. Clothes were also ssified into daily clothes and special formal dresses. These clothes were brand new, and the logos hadnt been taken off yet. Crystal could see that every dress was luxurious and of great value, no matter in style or fabric. Crystal frowned slightly. She did not want to thank Eric for his generous treatment of her. However, judging from the styles of the clothes, she found some of them were prepared months ago. In other words, Eric was so determined to get her back into his hands. Yet, he also knew that one day she would wear everything he had carefully chosen for her. Crystal thought of this and felt a pang. The mans mind and deliberate strategy were reflected in the clothes, which made her resist the clothes in front of her. She would rather go out naked if she could. Only the thought of those who had fallen into his hands made her repress these feelings. Crystal chose a small whitece dress with long sleeves that reached from her legs to her ankles and covered every inch of her skin. Even the cor was high. She wore a purple jewel ne with a warm oval stone hanging at the front of her neck. Crystal sat in front of the dressing mirror. The dressing room was surrounded by delicate European style, with beautifully carved flowers in the frame and arge crystal chandelier shining brightly. Makeup tables were filled with makeup and essories. A dazzling variety was enough to reflect Erics intentions. However, Crystal was dismissive and even disgusted with it. Crystal sat in the chair, reflecting every side of her in the four mirrors perfectly. In fact, such extreme luxury was probably every girls dream. But what could she not be satisfied with? She tossed her hair high with a cold smile, and a few bangs dropped at random. But it would show the scar on her forehead. Crystal stared at herself in the mirror, lifted up her bangs, looked again, pulled open the drawer, and took out the full set of cosmetics. Half an hourter, Crystal appeared in the hall. Everywhere she passed, she was a great surprise. The servants were even more surprised. Although they had seen Crystal on TV, from the wedding broadcast live around the world, they knew she was breathtakingly beautiful. But they did not expect that Crystal, with all this dressing, would refresh their view of beauty once again. Eric sat with his legs crossed on the luxurious leather sofa, forced to look up at the sound of his servants screams. Crystal, who wasing down the stairs, was as beautiful as a queen and made his eyes light up. Eric today was wearing a white suit with a blue shirt. He was a man of great stature. He stood next to Crystal, making a perfect match with her. Whats that on your forehead? Erics eye fell on Crystals forehead. Crystal did not speak. Eric saw her forehead clearly. It was a rose of fiery red color with a gold rim, looking breathtaking.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. If he didnt look at it carefully, hed think shed drawn it with a pen. Why do you draw a rose on your forehead? I identally cut my forehead, so I did some make-up to cover it up. Isnt that nice? Eric took her hand and gave her a pious kiss on the back of her hand. I am more and more d to have married you. **** On the other side of town, Paul received a dress from Eric, opened it, and was about to change it for Nancy. Donte over here! Ill change it myself. Nancy held her chest tight. She came to get the antidote from Paul, only to be imprisoned by him. He said he was taking her to some party when she woke up. Tut, Ive seen all you look. I have no interest in your t chest. Paul scoffed at her response. Nancy had been told off for feeling inferior before, but this time she popped up two cups and said, Do you get it? Im C Cup. Im so thin, and its nice to have a C cup. They all say Im nice. Paul frowned and gritted his teeth. They? Seeing her getting beaten up for saying the wrong thing, Nancy called out, Thats what the waitress at the clothing store said, and Crystal as well. When Crystal took her shopping for clothes, she was ashamed of her figure. Paul snorted. If the clerk doesnt say nice things about you, how can you buy something from her? And as for Crystal, do you believe herforting words? Im not bad! At least youre the smallest cup size among the women Ive ever had sex with. Nancy, momentarily deted, grabbed her dress and said, Ill go to the bathroom to change. Paul put his hand on her shoulder, stripped her naked, and helped her into her dress. Chapter 339: Why Would You Take Me Out? Then, both were stunned by the effect of the dress! The dress had an oversized V-neck, which showed off Nancys big breasts. Eric! Paul gritted his teeth. What rags did he send? Well, If you dare to walk around in this, youll die! Who is the designer? Paul fumed, taking out his cell phone, ready to question him. Im going to rip his brain open and see what dirty thoughts are inside. Excuse me, Said Nancy carefully. I think youre putting it on backward. Paul was stunned. Look, this is supposed to be in the back. Paul reacted and dropped his phone coolly. Is it? Your front and back are the same, so its no wonder you wear them all the same. Paul, you mean man! He didnt even know the front and back of her dress. But he went out of his way to humiliate her. Nancy took off her dress and wore it on the other side. It was her bareback that had so displeased him! Even though it was just showing her back. If he could, he wouldnt even show her arm. Paul nced coldly at her as Nancy pulled acing out of the box. She skillfully tied a bow around her waist. The beauty of her waist became apparent, and her figure became protruding. Nancy! Who gave you permission to tie this? Pauls face turned ck. Err Its supposed to be a costume. Untie it! But when I take it off, the dress is too roomy. It was a full skirt, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, with severalyers under it. If she didnt tie a bow, she was a lovely girl. If she did, she was a charming little woman. Paul obviously didnt want her to turn from a girl into a woman Only he could see her curvaceous! He immediately tugged at the bow, pulled it off, and tied it around her neck. **** Who would tie a belt around her neck? Thats the way its supposed to be tied. Come on. Its clearly meant to be tied to the waist. Paul frowned fiercely. Nancy, when I say tie to the neck, I mean tie to the neck. You have a problem with that? Forget it, Nancy quit arguing with such an unreasonable man. She couldnt win even if she were right. Nancy jumped out of bed while he went to the bathroom and ran into the mirror. Not bad, actually. She didnt think it would be nice to tie it around the neck. This way of tying the bow was special and suited her very well. Nancy held two hemlines and looked around in front of the mirror. She found out that she still had a good figure, which was not as t as Paul said. Paul walked out and saw the woman standing in front of the mirror, coquetting. He coldly hummed, Dont you ever fear having nightmares after you look at yourself in the mirror? Nancy shrugged off his taunt. Seeing such a beautiful woman only makes me feel good. How can I have nightmares? Crystal had told her to show him confidence when he discouraged her. Rustics tastes are tacky. Do you call yourself a beauty? Paul suddenly appeared behind her and looked at her in the mirror. He had a pen in his hand and drew several lines in the mirror. In the mirror, three cat whiskers appeared on each side of her cheek, and on her forehead were the words: Ugly Woman. Arent you afraid to shame yourself by taking me out to parties when Im so ugly? Nancy got angry. Im not going. Do you dare to act up with me? Youve been humiliating me all the time. Im not going! As she spoke, she grabbed her hair and rubbed it vigorously, turning it into a mess. Let me stay like this. She could run away until Paul went away. You are not bent on getting your death, are you? You said I was ugly, and my butt hurts. Why dont you just give me a good rest. You have slept all day and all night. You can still sleep. Are you a pig? No matter what he said, she wouldnt go to the party with him. Nancy threw herself on the bed and tried to get away from her dress. A big hand grabbed her wrist, and Paul tried to hit her, but he couldnt get his hand down. And he tried to curse her, but this woman was immune to it and didnt care. Do you want to see Crystal? Paul pulled out his trump card. Youre lying! I dont believe you anymore! What do you want? Paul frowned fiercely and growled. The man was so temperamental in his mood. He was nice just now, but he suddenly got fierce. Nancy never promised him that she would go out. She had been waiting for Paul to leave, and she was running away. If she had been with him, she wouldnt have had a chance to escape. As for her willingness to wear a dress, it was because it was so beautiful that she could not help trying it on! Just because she was wearing a dress didnt mean she was going with him. But if she said no, she didnt have a justified reason. Paul had been calling her ugly for so long that she could excuse herself from going to the party. Stupid woman! What do you want? You told me I was ugly. Why would you take me out? Nancy muffled her words. Was the woman asking him for apliment in disguise? Paul clenched his fist. Well, youre not ugly! Why do you have to say that so reluctantly You want your ass beaten again, dont you? I really have a sore butt. I dont want to go. All right, he said coldly. If you dont go, take off your dress. Please me, and then Ill go. Of course, Nancy knew what he meant, and her body immediately strained in resistance. She would not let him touch her. Take your choice. If you dont want to do that, thene with me. After a pause, he said, You think I dont know what youre up to? Do you think you can run away alone when Im gone? Ill have my bodyguards watch you 24 hours so you dont freak out and go out on the terrace and do something stupid again. He was very thoughtful. All the windows were sealed. Hearing that she couldnt get away with it, Nancy crumpled up.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. All right, Ill go. Paul hooked his lips. Help me change. Chapter 340: It Was So Haunting During these days, many people began to light fireworks. Now and then, there would be fireworks exploding in the sky. Inside the apartment, Nathan, drunk, heard the noise and moved slightly on the big bed. He smelled of wine, his eyes were bloodshot, and his whole body was full of terrible rage. The sound of the fireworks made him feel so noisy. He opened his eyes as if Crystal was sleeping next to him, smiling slightly. Crystal, he said, reaching for her and trying to hug her. But he failed to get her. His heart sobbed with pain. She was gone. She was nevering back. He felt the pain of dr*g addiction. How was he going to go through all this? He pressed the bell hard, and soon the servant ran up to him. What do you want, sir? Its noisy. There are fireworks going off outside. Silence it. But Get out of here. The joyous sound pierced his ears, and he could not sleep at all. Nathan stared coldly at him. What are you doing? Are you waiting for me to throw you out the window? The servant rushed out and happened to meet Vic head-on andined to him. The young master said that the fireworks outside were too noisy and should be silenced immediately. He also said that he would fire me. You go down first. Vics eyes were dim. The servant nodded, Well, my job Leave it to me. Ill take care of it. Nathan sat down on the couch with a splitting headache and temples. He saw two books lying beside him, one still open. He picked it up and looked at it. It was a book about pregnancy. Crystal was reading and taking notes. He leafed through the book and saw that many of the key points had been marked.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. She wanted a child, their child. What did she want to do with these books? Did she want her and Erics baby? Unfortunately, it would be wishful thinking for her life. As soon as Vic came in, those two books were thrown at him. Nathan rose sulkily and rushed to the bathroom. He threw Crystals towels, toothbrush cups, and cleaning supplies into the Vic one by one. Soon he rushed out and opened the wardrobe room. Sure enough, the contents of the wardrobe room were not cleaned. There were also two womens pajamas hanging. It was like Crystal curled up in that wardrobe room. Nathan jerked back a few steps. He seemed to see here out in her nightgown and throw her arms around him. He yanked the clothes from the wardrobe and threw them on the floor with a slight frown. Thats something to forget. Of course, she only lived here for a few days, but why are there so many memories of her everywhere? Get all her things out. Vic stood up silently. Right now! What are you doing standing there? I told you to clean up! If I had to, Miss Smith touched everything in this apartment. Nathan paused. Why would he want toe back when Crystals memories were all here? The apartment was bought for her. Nathan gave a low, cold breath. And if he did, where would he go? It was not the apartment that was full of her memories, but he carried them with him! Wherever he went, he saw everything, and he thought of her. It was so haunting. **** He thought of her everywhere he went now. When it rained, he wondered if she had an umbre. When it was cold, he wondered if she would put on more clothes; he would guess if she liked it with this firework outside. Also, he would wonder if she had taken care of the burn on her forehead. Nathan tried hard to press down his mind and heard Vic whisper. Sir, do you want to go out? I heard that Mr. Garcias casino is opening today. He invited you a few days earlier. Nathans eyes went dim. Since he had Crystal, he had not appeared in public for a long time, as if he was out of touch with society. He could have any woman he wanted. He gave Crystal every chance, and she didnt cherish it. It would be a waste of affection for him to grieve for her any longer. **** The huge gambling boat belonging to The Garcias was sailing slowly in the open sea. It was a different kind of boat. There were so many different kinds of bets. Except for gold and silver, you could bet on anything you thought was more important than money, such as love, loyalty, and human life. The gamblers vessel, richly decorated and furnished with all kinds of gambling, was a paradise of high society. There were several expensive wines and champagnes, music, saxophone ying, bunny girls everywhere. The enchanting beauties were dressed in bunny suits and silk stockings at the gaming table, tempting the entire body across the desk to deal with the cards. Rich boys cuddled with their girlfriends while pyramids of chips piled up at their tables. They indulge themselves in sensual indulgence. I want someone to disappear. I want to enjoy romantic love. This boat could satisfy all odd demands. The money was decided by the stake. If someone couldnt pay enough for the stake, they would be turned down. The boats owner, Mr. Garcia, was said to be the leader of a ck gang of killers. No one dared to stop him from taking someones life. He could steal everything he wanted, such as treasures, organs, and antiques. Someone wanted to buy love, and this boat could provide them with trained female professional lovers. Those girls specialized in analyzing mens psychological world and meeting mens needs, so they could absolutely give men the most exciting love course. In short, there was nothing the ship couldnt do, but you couldnt imagine. Of course, such things as death and rebirth, which only gods could do, were not included. Crystal didnt expect Eric to bring her here. As stunning as her, she immediately aroused many men in the casino coveting as soon as she entered. Because at this casino, anything could be a bet. Everyone had a chance to win what they wanted! Chapter 341: Have You Finished Speaking Ill Of Me? Crystal hated the naked, lustful eyes as if they wanted to eat her. Youve got them interested. He raised his lips with satisfaction. My woman is really attractive. Why do you bring me to a ce like this? Just wait for the show Right away, someone asked Eric for an offer. Excuse me, our young master is very interested in the beauty around you. Would you like to sell it? No. Our young master bid ten million. Ten million? Crystal coldly cursed, Get out of here. That was all she was worth? Ericughed. Dont get angry, he said. The rules are like this. If you dont want to, you can refuse. He was just asking you, not asking for my advice! Because youre so beautiful, they think youre a sale. The so-called sale was the meaning of the bet. If you lost the bet, you would lose the money, and if you won, you could take what you want at home. Crystal! Nancy waved excitedly and saw Crystal from a distance. She was so dazzling. Paul coldly pulled Nancys hand down. Hey, dont call out in public. Crystals eyes lit up when she saw Nancy, too, and she hurried over. Youre finally ready to let your stupid girl out for a walk. Eric joked at Paul. This dress is so silly. Seeing her belt tied around her neck, Ericughed again. Paul, why dont you tie her bells? So thats more awesome. Paul touched his chin as if considering the offer. Ignoring the two men, Nancy took Crystals hand. I miss you so much, Crystal. She was an emotional person, and immediately her eyes filled with tears, and she began to wipe them away. Crystal whispered reassuringly. Whats wrong? Rat bullied you these days, didnt he? Crystal, dont gossip every time you catch me. Paul barked. Why do you cry in public? Watch your manners, Nancy! Watch your horrible attitude. What kind of man are you, being cruel to women? Crystal stared coldly. Exactly. Someone backed her up, and Nancy pulled herself together at once. Paul raised his fist. Tell me if you want a spanking. Crystal, he spanked me. My butt is swollen, Nancyined. I just had a bumpy ride, and it was killing me. Paul snorted coldly. You deserve it! You need to get a taste of butt pain. He was bitten on the ass by a crocodile, fidgeting, more serious than her. Crystal gave Paul a cold look. Shame on you, Mr. Rat. Nancy leaned over and said, Well, I punished Mr. Rat, too. Crystal raised her eyebrows. Huh? I have so much to tell you. Lets talk over there. She could amuse Crystal by telling her all about Paul pping himself, calling himself Rat, and jumping into theke. Nancy! Paul grabbed Nancy by the arm with one of his big hands and grabbed her back to him. Paul found that he hated Crystal more and more because Nancys endearment to Crystal made him very unhappy! Stay by my side, and dont wander off anywhere. Just let girls whisper around. Shall we talk? Eric stood like a breeze in noisy casinos. No. Pauls squinting eyes hit Crystal in the face like lightning. He hated the way Nancy made out to Crystal. Eric smiled faintly. Ive seen people jealous. Why are you doing this because of Crystal? Paul raised his eyebrows unhappily. Eric, is this the party you mentioned? Ive never been interested in gambling. My friend just opened this new boat. Ill take you to see it. This is no ordinary betting boat. Trust me, and youll be interested. Crystal asked the waiter for tissues and then leaned over to wipe Nancys eyes. Wipe your tears. Paul reached out and scratched Nancys face. He snatched up his paper from Crystal and wiped his hand. Stupid woman, you stained my hands!This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Nancy was d she was not wearing makeup. Otherwise, Pauls smear campaign turned her face into a mess. Crystal asked the waiter for two sses of juice and handed Nancy one. Are you thirsty, Nancy? Paul lifted a ss of champagne directly from the buffet table beside him. Drink this! he said. But I like to drink the juice. Its not up to you. Paul forced it on her. These two cute couples attracted a lot of attention. Whats more, many people knew Eric and kept saying hello to him. Besides, someone seemed to recognize Paul and Nancy. The people who came here were all of the upper ss, so naturally, they were not curious about what they saw or heard. They wouldnt gossip around them. Nancy insisted on walking with Crystal, and Paul insisted on going with her. So the four became side by side. The road was not wide. Eric was very popr and soon stopped by someoneing over. A row of four went into a row of three. As they crossed thene, Paul was pushed to the edge. Cant you guys walk properly? What do you do by walking in a row? He yelled angrily. Nancy looked at him strangely. I didnt ask you to walk with me. You stupid woman! He realized he shouldnt bring her here. Cant you just walk behind? The road is not wide, and you are so big that you block it! Paul raised his eyebrows coldly. How could he be so sick of his two best friends? He didnt want Nancy to stick Crystal. It was true that Nancy relied too much on Crystal. How could Paul, a stalwart guy, understand girls sticky friendship? Crystal, let me tell you something. Nancy leaned in Crystals ear again. Crystal listened to her and then gave Paul a look of slight surprise. Really? How could he do that? Nancy whispered something again and startedughing. Are you exaggerating it? Would he box his ears? Crystal could not helpughing too. Hush, hush. Dont let him hear you. Hell be upset. Well, then, what else did he do? Oh my, there is a ton of his stupid behaviors. Hes been so cute and silly these days. Women had an endless supply of whispers. Nancy could not helpughing as she spoke, and Crystals eyes drifted unconsciously toward Paul. As they spoke, the three of them walked down a two-person aisle. There were gambling tables on both sides, and Pauls clothes were scratched in the corner of the table and almost ripped off. He had endured to the limit. Have you finished speaking ill of me? Chapter 342: You鈥檙e In Love With Her A thunderous roar went through Nancys ears. Her back stiffened. Were not saying anything bad about you. Im talking to Crystal. Tut, look at the stupid way youre smiling. If youre not talking about me, who are you talking about? Nancy rolled her eyes. I didnt bother to mention you. I was asking Crystal about rk. Oh, her baby boy, rk. How could she forget him! Crystal, I miss rk so much. He misses you, too. But hes fine, and Ive settled him. Crystal said quietly. Ill get you back together when we get you out. Really? Crystal, can you save me? Will you help me get rid of Rat? Well, yes. Is it enough, you two women? Paul was furious again when he saw them blocking the sidewalk and having to get out of the way. Eric stood at a distance by the fountain, a ss of champagne in hand, looking at the strange trio. Marcos Garcia was standing next to him, and they were very handsome. I think theres a line that suits that couple, Eric spoke softly. What is it? They loved each other but didnt know it. Marcos gently sipped his mouth and asked him, when did you be so literary? Im just improvising, Eric said, tossing his ss. Ill leave that stupid woman to you. Marcos clinked his ss gently and said, No problem. There was an unnatural shadow of gloom in his eyes. When he saw Nancys smiling face, he seemed to remember something. This time he didnt make a move. He didnt think Eric would happen to deliver the prey to him. Crystal and Nancy took a tour of the gambling boat, and sure enough, they found a lot of strange chips. Along the way, many wolf-like eyes stared at Crystal. Naturally, a lot of people came up to Paul frequently to ask if the beautiful woman next to him was for sale. Although Nancy was pretty, standing beside Crystal, she was like a quiet star, blocked by the moon all luster. Pauls response grew increasingly impatient. Asked by another daredevil, he punched the man far away. Did all these people have eye problems? Why would his woman go unattended? Although he often made sarcastic remarks about Nancy, he was not at allfortable with his own woman being ignored. Why did you hit him? Nancy screamed in a low voice. Paul stared at her fiercely. I hit him because he couldnt see. Mind your own. business. You are strangely apt to lose your temper. What on earth are you doing here? Paul began to think about leaving. Just then, suddenly, a voice sounded somewhere. Ladies and gentlemen A swing fell from the high ceiling, and a voluptuously young woman sat with her legs crossed and a microphone at her ear. Ladies and gentlemen, wee to Las Vegas on the Sea and have a nice evening here. As this boat is opening today, we have prepared an impromptu program for you. Everyones attention was drawn away. The bunny girl, hanging from the wire, danced on the swing and went on, Property for love. Arge screen in the center of arge turntable suddenly showed Hustons beautifulndscape. The girlughed lightly and said, As long as you bring a girlfriend, you can take her as a sale. If you win, take all the real estate in a city, and if you lose, give up your love, of course. As soon as this bet came out, it immediately caused an uproar. Even though all the people who came here were rich, no one was rich enough to have all the real estate rights of a city at hand! If you win, you can keep betting on your offers The girl smiled and jumped into a swing seat, where a cascade of buds burst out in an instant. She shook it gently, holding the ribbon in her hand. If youre lucky enough, you can take a few cities in. Its so exciting, isnt it? People who didnt bring a date began to regret it! Unfortunately, they had no chance to turn back once the boat left port. This is an opportunity too great to miss. The people below began to cry loudly, What if we were all willing to give up our love? Does anyone with a sale have a chance to bet on it? You will have apetition of the sale first, and the winning sale is eligible to bet. The womans ethereal voice drifted away, off with the swing. Apparently, there werent many men with a date this time. There were about a dozen couples here. Eric sauntered over. It looks like you got a great deal off the shelf, Paul. What do you mean? You brought a date. Paul said sharply. Is she a woman? I dont think of her as a woman at all. It doesnt matter. In the eyes of others, she is a woman. Nancys ears moved. Why am I not a woman? Paul gave her a sarcastic look at her chest. He didnt say anything, but the way he looked at her showed that she was t. Nancy said angrily, Crystal, am I t-chested?Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Crystal was thirsty and drinking champagne. She almost spat it out. **** Nancy! Paul grinned hard, and then he saw Erics eyes shooting Nancy from the neck down and above the abdomen. He lunged at Eric with his elbow. Eric, where the hell are you looking? Im identifying. Eric blew up in an instant. I think its pretty big, Eric said honestly. Shes womanly enough. Shes skinny and petite. Shes as good as she gets. Nancys eyes lit up. Paul, did you hear that? Paul snorted. Even so, its because Ive been taking care of it every day for years. Nancy was speechless. You think youre where you are without me? Indeed, you have toil as well as merit. Eric patted him on the shoulder and said, Mr. Rat, youve been working hard. Paul jerked his hand away. Look at her again with your eyes, and Ill dig them out. Tut, I wonder when you get petty. Why do you suddenly care so much about a woman? Pauls body froze. Is it love? Nancy opened her eyes wide! Paul, admit it. Youre in love with her. Paulughed contemptuously. Are you kidding me? Crystal knew that Erics provocation had begun. Crystal knew it without saying anything. No wonder youve been after Nancy. Youre in love with her. But isnt the way you love her too perverted? Chapter 343: Don鈥檛 Call Me That Paul smelled so bad that he couldnt admit it. Ill never love this stupid woman. Nancy looked at him in surprise and said, You, you Rat, so you love me? Dont call me that! Lets see, if you dont love this stupid girl, how could you give up everything ande to Huston from Kuerto and chase her down. Besides, when you caught her that night, and she tried to jump off a building, you pped yourself ten times Shut up! Paul felt it was the greatest humiliation of his life. Dont ever talk about the past! He swung at Eric with his fists. Erics body swung sideways. If it wasnt for love, how could a man miss such a great opportunity? Didnt you always want to get your power into Huston? Now is a great time. Shes just a stupid woman. Without her, you can have any other beautiful woman you want. Pauls thoughts snarled, and a burst of anger reached his throat. He couldnt even exin his strange behavior recently. He left the injured Michelle in Kuerto. Why did hee to Huston looking for Nancy? Crystal, what should I do? Hes not really in love with me, is he? Nancy said suddenly in a tearful voice. What are you doing that stupid face for? Paul roared. You have no shame. When did I say I love you? If you dont love her, why dont you bet? Crystal scoffed. You still love beauty more important than property, right? Is she a beauty? Come on. Just then, a quarrel began to sound nearby. A woman pped her face on a mans face. You said you loved me! But now youre gonna bet me on it. You liar! Honey, stop it. You know love isnt worth anything. Arent you rich? Arent you having lots of money? You still give a shit on this property? This is half the country If Im lucky today, Ill bet on a few cities. Do you have any idea about this? If I am lucky today, I can gamble in several cities. The man hugged her shoulder andforted her. We shall never have so much more. But you said you loved me! How about 50-50 for my bet? No matter whether you win or lose, we are over, for sure. Said the woman firmly. You make me sick. Just as it was over, another woman picked up champagne and threw it in a mans face. After hearing the rules of this bet, dozens of couples began to nest infighting just topete for a PK quota. Its not like youre going to be chosen. Its just a chance. Why are you making such a fuss? I hate it when women cry. Paul darkened his eyes. With the exception of Crystal and Eric, there were 18 couples, meaning Nancy had only a 1 in 18 chance of being chosen. He nced at Nancy, a woman who had taken on a how could he love her look. The sight of her made Paul furious. Eric saw Paul was shaken and added, If you dont love her, do what men do. What are the rules of PK? Its very simple. It depends on the points of the cards. Whoever gets the most points wins. What if I lose? Eric lit a cigarette, squinted, and chuckled. If you lose, shes the property of the casino ship. What will happen to her? Eric shrugged. Its up to Mr. Garcias decision whether she ends up as a dealer or is won by some other guy who wants her. Mr. Garcia was the one we had thest dinner with? Paul recalled. Thats right. Then Paul thought things got easier now. He could bet Nancy back with this old friendship. Besides, it was a 1 in 18 chance of being chosen. Nancy wouldnt be the one with her bad luck. Eric seemed to know what he was thinking, but he smiled without saying anything. Have you thought it through? Paul coldly took away Erics cigarette and took it in his mouth. Im in. Crystal breathed. She didnt expect Paul to be so easily hooked. He probably never expected to be cheated by his best friend. Paul looked at Nancy again. Who do you think you are? Would I really fall in love with a stupid woman like you? Wake up. Your mind is filled with fantasy and unreality. Nancy wrinkled her nose. That was right. If he loved her, how could he have abused her for four years? Gentlemen ready to pk, please bring your girl over here. Said the fiery bunny girl standing beside the dealer. Soon, 18 couples were taking up positions around the machine. Crystal and Eric stood at the nearby viewing area. Why bother? This is your ce. You can just take Nancy back. Wouldnt it be better for him to let her go voluntarily? You want her to run away? Ericughed. In fact, based on his position, he would prefer Paul to admit his love for Nancy at this time. In that case, the bet doesnt have to be made. Paul, Nancy, and rk would be reunited. Paul would have been happier if he had known his heart. It was just a pity that Paul, the ass, was so deep in the fog that he couldnt see himself. I know what youre thinking, Crystal said coldly. At this point, youre still thinking about him. Cant you see that Paul has changed? Of course, Crystal saw it. So what? Hes toote to repent. Nancy used to like him, but now she doesnt. If Paul had turned over a new leaf, she might not have fallen in love again. I hope not. Why? Hes rks real father. He was a man who abused his wife and abused his son. Even if he did fall in love with Nancy, he wouldnt get any better. Besides, there are too many bad memories between them, which can never be erased. Eric reached out and pinched her chin. What about you and me? I dont seem to have any bad memories for you. On the second floor, near a carved table in a VIP stand, a man sat sipping wine.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. He had been sitting here for a long time, and he had seen Crystal the moment she entered. His thin lips curled up. He did not expect to meet her just after parting from her. At first, he thought it was just another hallucinationing from his thoughts until he saw Eric right behind her. The bones of his fingers were white as he held the ss. His eyes were cold. Chapter 344: This Is A Tactic Crystal felt like a pain in her back. She always felt a pair of familiar eyes staring at her in the dark. She coldly removed Erics hand and turned to face the card table. The bunny carried a ck cane with a triangr diamond at the top. She pressed the cane, touched the dealer, and the center disc began to turn and send out the cards. Everyone looked so nervous that they were too nervous about picking up the cards. But Nancy, as soon as she saw it, reached for the card excitedly. Crystal had already told her about her n for the evening and would use her as a wager to get her out, so she should be the most rxed of all. She was not stupid enough not to notice that Crystal and Eric were acting. Nancy touched the card, and Paul gave her a good whack on the back of her hand. Hey, why did you hit me? It hurts! Why do you touch it before it is dealt out? The machine was still dealing, and Nancy said crossly, Nobody makes a rule that you have to wait until the deal is done before you see the cards! Paul gave his eyebrows a big squeeze. Damn it. Why was this woman so excited and so desperate? Why was his heart weighed down like a mountain? He pressed her hard on the shoulder. Do you know what it means if we win? You should be happy. If you win, you get the property. I mean you. Me? Whats wrong with me? Are you stupid? I mean, did you ever think about what would happen if we lost? Paul gave her a vicious look. Youll be sold to be a dancer. Then he shook his head vigorously. No, its not your size to be a dancer. That suits you. Paul pointed to a nearby man in a thick furry bear costume. Youre only supposed to be funny. Rat never got enough ofughing at her. Nancy gave him the cold shoulder. Then the Bunny said, Please turn over your card in three minutes. Once you have looked at your card, you will have no chance to give up. The rabbits red lips moved in a very sexy way. Or are you going to dress like a bunny and deal cards to people every day? No. Then, its still toote for you to give up.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. He hadnt looked at his card yet. Nancy curled her lips. Nope. Id rather be a bunny-dealer than around you. Paul got mad. This damn woman! What was she talking about? People around them watched their cards gradually. Some people immediately showed a sad expression, while others kept silent. Well, please read the cards and turn them over to everyone. One after another, people started flipping cards. Paul pressed his card on the table and then lifted a corner of his card. He nced at the cards that had been turned out of his desk, the biggest of which was the heart K. That was to say, the only way to win was to get the king of spades, and the odds of winning were almost infinitesimal. Nancys little hand snuck up to the card and tried to get it. Paul grabbed her by the wrist. For some reason, he had a very strong hunch tonight. Theres onest couple that hasnt flipped the card. The bunny flipped her hair, looked at them, and said, Please. The man who had the heart K was getting impatient. If you dont have the spade K, give it up while you can. Eric raised an eyebrow and came over to him. What, you cant even turn a card? Since when are you afraid of losing a woman? This is a tactic! Who would care for that woman! Dont bite your tongue. If someone takes her away, dont regret it. Now is yourst chance to confess. Eric forced Paul to say, Tell her that you love her, and then bring back your son. It will be great fun for the three of you. Paul hissed, exasperated. He did not hesitate to pick up the card. He did not look at it and threw it on the dealer. Well, it was Spade K. That was a tiny chance. But it just happened. The others were surprised, but the owner of the Heart K had no smug look at all. Wow! Crystal, do you see that? Its Spade K. Nancy was unabashedly happy and pped her hands. Winning meant she qualified for the finals, so she felt like she was really going to be rescued. At the thought of this, she couldnt help but pick up the card and give it a few hard kisses. rk, Mommy ising to see you soon! Nancy eximed in her heart. The expression on Pauls face was hard to describe. He watched Nancy swoop up to Crystal and give her a big hug. This damned woman! Was she so happy that she could leave him? She was so stuck to him that she could not be shaken off in those days. She spent every day trying to please him, hoping that he would admire her. Paul felt a dull pulling pain in his chest widen. His lips went white, and his heart began to tremble. He always felt that he had lost Nancy before he knew it. Eric smiled calmly. Whats wrong with you? You won the pk match, and you look so miserable? Paul, distracted, tugged at his bow tie and took a deep breath. The bunny smiled and waved her cane and said, Sir, congrattions. Youre in the final tonight. This final was in the form of a roulette. The wheel came in three forms: the star, the moon, and the sun. The ss ball would decide if he won or lost. If the ball rolled to the sun, he would get the property rights of a city at random. If it was the moon, it meant he could turn the wheel again. If it was a star, he lost and ended the game. Crystal knew they were going to get the Spade K because Erics friend was behind the scenes. As for the roulette, of course, the guy was going to let Paul win two rounds, give him a sweet taste, and then make him lose. On the one hand, it didnt make Paul suspicious. On the other hand, it could be Paulspensation for losing Nancy. Eric had walked back to Crystal, and Nancy was pulled over to the roulette wheel by Paul. Honey, what are you thinking about? Eric asked cheerfully. Ive been thinking that by giving him two wins, theyre going to give him two properties. It seems like a terrible deal. Eric said quietly, There is a city-sponsored by me. Out of Mr. Garcias generosity. Crystal thought it was so weird. Not only did Garcia want to y this scene for Eric, but would he be willing to lose a city? Eric knew nothing could escape Crystals eyes and smiled faintly, Do you want to know why? He didnt wait for her answer but hung her head. Kiss me, and I will tell you. Crystal gave him a disgusted look and wanted to p him. She didnt bother talking about him and looked away. Eric said mysteriously, Because Mr. Garcia is interested in Nancy. Chapter 345: Can You Tell Me Now? Crystal looked at Eric with wide eyes, repeated, What? Mr. Garcia is interested in Nancy? Or else why do you think I asked him for help? And why is he willing to help despite the trouble? Eric took out a cigarette, offered his lighter at full stretch to Crystal, and said, Darling, light a cigarette for me, Ill tell you everything you want to know. You are not disabled; cant you light it up yourself? Roasted Crystal. I prefer your help. On the second floor, a pair of cold andckluster eyes were focusing on the two far away. The two were talking and smiling happily in his eyes, exactly a harmonious picture. Crystal took over the metal embossed lighter, lit the cigarette dangling from the corner of Erics mouth. Eric naturally held her hand, kissed her on the back of it. Thanks, Darling. Can you tell me now? Originally, I was hoping Nancy would be with Paul again, and thats the best. But since Paul is so stubborn and refuses to confess his true thoughts, he cant me me for pushing Nancy to others. Marcos is also a powerful eligible bachelor, its not bad for your friend to be with him, exined Eric. In this way, Crystal would no longer have to worry about Nancy, and at the same time, it could probably stimte Paul to face his heart. Of course, if Paul kept being ame duck, he deserved to lose Nancy. Crystal hummed. She did not expect Eric to care about his brother so much. On the other side, Paul held Nancy tightly in his arms as if it were thest time he hugged her. The bunny girl exined the rules with a sweet smile, The game is divided into three rounds, that is, you can not consider whether to continue or give up until rotating the roulette three times. Onlookers surrounded the roulette with curiosity, everyone was looking forward to the oue of the gamble, except for the couples. Different from the other onlookers, more than a dozen couples were now looking on withplex emotions. They had failed to obtain the qualification for the gamble and lost their love. Nancy, wheel it! Paul grabbed Nancys hand, his eyes were serious. He had three chances, and as long as he won, he could stop the game. The casino suddenly fell into silence, everyones eyes focused on them. Holding the roulette wheel and being covered by Pauls hand, Nancy didnt know why she was particrly nervous. The big hand drove her hand with force. The roulette wheel started to rotate at high speed clockwise. Nancy, where do you want it to stop? Stars! Answered Nancy. In an instant, booing andughter burst out. Ha-ha! Did she want stars? What a silly woman! Paul seized her shoulders and shook her hard, cursing, Are you a fool? Do you want me to lose? I like stars! Nancy refuted. You can only like the sun! Paul pressed her, Say, what do you hope it to be? The force on Nancys shoulders was getting stronger and stronger. Nancy felt pain and could only say, The sun The roulette wheel was getting slower and slower, the tension in the room rose, and everyones eyes were rolling with the ss ball. Then, slowly, the ss ball stopped at the sun. Paul picked up Nancy, spun a few turns, and kissed her repeatedly with immense relief. While he kissed, Nancy kept wiping her face with disgust. Put me down! Theres saliva all over my face, Nancy protested. Seeing the fun couple, the crowd couldnt helpughing, some even whistled at them. The bunny girl smiled at them, Congrattions. Youve acquired the property rights of a city. Paul raised his eyebrows, feeling today was his lucky day. Lets have another round. He couldnt wait to win the second city. The twos hands folded so tightly together that Nancy could feel the sweat in Pauls palm. His chest was clinging to her back. His heart was beating so fast that it made Nancy nervous too. One, two, three, go! After Paul counted out, the roulette wheel rotated again. Crystal was sitting at a table with interest, drinking a ss of wine elegantly. Oddly enough, she always felt an invisible sight at her back. She looked around, there were only onlookers in the casino. She smiled bitterly, no matter where she was, she was used to having Nathan around. When she lowered her head and noticed the diamond bracelet on her wrist, she began to fall into a trance. All of a sudden, cheers came from the stage. Its the sun again! Sir, you have the Midas touch tonight. The bunny girl shook her head. Paul put on a bright smile.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Again, he lifted Nancy and turned a few circles. Crystal sneered, slightly shook the wine in the goblet. Justugh,ugh as much as you can. Im waiting to see you cry in the next round. She could hardly keep her bnce when Nancy was put down after spinning. If we win thest round, Ill give you something, Paul whispered, biting her earlobe ambiguously. What? Something you can see but cant touch. Something you dream of having. Nancy knitted her brows. What will it be? But whatever this bastard gives could not be good things. I dont want it, Nancy rejected while shaking her head hard. Paul was in a good mood tonight, so Nancys decisive rejection did not ruin his interest. What he was going to give Nancy was hisst name. He was going to marry her again Although he did not love her as his belongings, Paul would like to keep her home rather than let her harm others. He took Nancys hand and rotated the roulette wheel again. Sun! He shouted at the wheel with determined eyes. The atmosphere stirred the hearts of the onlookers. They followed Paul, Sun! Sun! Sun The roulette wheel slowed down under everyones anticipation. Nancy clenched her fists, Paul held her tightly, even Crystal was infected by the tension. Would the wheel go wrong? Please, we sacrifice the two cities in vain The pointer slowly stopped at the sun. Just before Paul cheered, the pointer trembled and fell on the stars next to it. Chapter 346: You Have It Coming Crystal heaved a sigh of relief; she had thought that Eric cheated her. On the contrary, Paul stared nkly at the pointer, could not believe his eyes. Booing sounded again. For the onlookers, they didnt care whether Paul won or lost at all. What they enjoyed was just joining in the fun of gambling. In an instant, Paul won two cities, with Nancy in exchange. The charming bunny girl shrugged with regret. Im sorry, sir, you lost. But youve gained the property rights of two cities. The future development rights of the two cities from now on belong to you! Another bunny girl walked over with a tray with documents, pens, and ink pad on it. Sir, please sign your name on the document. The bunny girl presented the documents to Paul. Whats this? Paul finally came to himself. This is the property rights you won. As long as you sign the document, the two cities will be yours, the bunny girl exined in patience. Paul leafed through the document and did not want to sign at all. But it was like an arrow on the bowstring, he had no choice but only to sign it. Besides, only fools would reject such a pie in the sky. Paul, what are you hesitating about? Eric urged Paul while ying with the chips in his hand, Just sign it. Bet is a bet. Besides, youve won two cities so easily. I didnt expect that silly woman could bring you such a big benefit, added Eric. Without retreat, Paul forced himself to pick up the pen. His fingers paused in the air, and finally, he signed his name on the document. **** The contract was in triplicate. The bunny girl gave one copy to Paul and let the other two be taken away. Then she took out another document. This is the selling contract of your plus one, please sign your name here, at the Guardian column. Paul stood still. Miss, please sign here, the bunny girl turned to Nancy. Without hesitation, Nancy picked up the pen. However, Paul suddenly gripped her wrist tightly. He gazed at her with meaningful eyes. A tide of emotion rose in his mind. Do you know what it means if you sign it? Asked Paul. I know. Youve told me, Nancy blinked. Then why are you signing it?! Paul didnt understand. Nancy gave him a bright smile. Why not? Paul But, Im fed up with you! Every minute, every second staying with you is a torment. I dont know whats the point of you keep pestering me. If you want a son, countless women queue to have your baby, you dont need to cling to rk and me. Though I know youre just trying to create difficulties for us Nancy broke away from Pauls hand, added, I have to thank you for taking me as a bet so that we can end everything between us. Please, dont pester me anymore! A trace of surprise and appreciation shed over Erics eyes, the woman was not as silly as he had thought. Her words undoubtedly added fuel to the me, its thest blow to Paul. She cut off their retreat in full view, and if Paul urged her to stay beside him, his pride would be trampled under Nancys feet. End everything? Great! Fine. Stupid woman. You have iting! I shouldnt stop you! Paul severely dropped her hand, smiled evilly, If you cant bear the torments someday, you cane to beg me for recycling you. Nancy raised her chin, goggled at him with stubborn eyes. Dont worry, I will never beg you! Pauls heart ached like being drilled. Nancy signed her name on the contract smoothly and neatly and made a fingerprint on the name at the request of the bunny girl. Okay, Im done. Your turn! Nancy urged. Paul coldly took over the pen. The expectant looks on Nancys facepletely angered him. He sneered, thinking that Nancy had been captive all the time, did not go through any waves or storms. Its a good chance for her to experience the danger of society so that she would realize how good he was. Finally, he signed. The bunny girl took over the document and said to them, Now that youve signed the agreement, you have to abide by the items of it. Paul did not speak, while Nancy nodded with obedience, Um! I will! At this time, a loud burst of apuse came from above. A refined and courteous good-looking man in ck suits appeared. Marcos held the goblet, with one hand thrusting in his pocket, proposed a toast to the guests, and drank up the ss of wine. The guests were all friends of Marcos. They raised their goblets one after another. Keep having fun, my friends. Today is the opening of my gambling yacht. Everyone can get a million-dor chip as a weing gift for my dear guests. If you lose, just keep it on my ount. Wish you good luck! Said Marcos. A great cheer went up from the crowd, obviously, the guests were satisfied with Marcos generosity. As soon as Marcos finished his speech, he walked towards the gaming tables. After gaining million-dor chips without effort, the crowd scattered away to the gaming tables to have fun. Its just that a few couples were still grumbling about the roulette he had arranged. Mr. Garcia, youre too cruel-hearted. You screwed us over, a guest said to Marcos. Take it easy, its just the touchstone of your love If you two are not in true love, youll break up sooner orter. Why waste each others time? No one could resist such a temptation. Marcos raised his chin, took a nce at Eric.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. See? There is one. As soon as they entered the casino, they had already noticed Eric, who had a magnificent aura, as noble as a king. And the woman beside him was exceedingly stunning. Every man was desperate to possess her The man quipped, With such beauty in arms, I would be willing to give up everything. His ex-girlfriend heard his words, picked up the goblet, and poured another ss of wine at his face. Marcos giggled, Help yourselves, I gotta greet my old friends. Excuse me. Chapter 347: He Looks Familiar After he turned around, his smile disappeared, a hint of cunning flickered over his eyes. Except for Eric, no one knew that the invitation cards sent to some of the guests had specially requested them to bring a plus-one. These more than a dozen couples had ever had grudges with him. In the business world, even if there is strife, business people give tacit consent to maintain the fake politeness between them and always show a smiling face to each other. The waiters and waitresses all greeted him with respect wherever Marcos passed by. The bunny girl bent her knees on one leg, supported herself with the cane, and saluted Marcos. Is this called killing people without spilling blood? Eric bantered. He was leaning back on the chair, ying with the lighter. Its just a small lesson for them, answered Marcos. Nancy frowned, looking at Marcos strangely. He looks familiar. Have we met somewhere? Marcos held Crystals hand and kissed her gentlemanly on the back of her hand. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Bush. Crystal gave him a polite smile as a response, suspecting that he must be a sinister and cunning man like Eric. Birds of a feather. Hes Erics friend, he couldnt be an ordinary man. And an ordinary man could not gain the power and wealth he owned. Seeing Nancy staring at Marcos without even blinking her eyes, Paul showed great displeasure. Nancy Carter, do you want to lose your eyes? He scolded Nancy. Youve lost me in the game. Does whom I look at have anything to do with you? Mr. Rat. Do we know each other well? Nancy taunted him. You damn woman! Paul cursed in his mind. Marcos then turned to Nancy with a smile. He suddenly leaned forward to Nancy and kissed her cheek to everyones surprise. Being startled by his sudden enthusiasm, Nancy did a double-take. Atst, Marcos kissed her on her lips at the end of the greeting. Cheek-kissing is usually a greeting between family and good friends, and strangers dont need to do that. Paul was clear about this. Nancy was frightened to be stiff all over by Marcoss passionate offensive and did not know how to respond. While Pauls fists were creaking, had it not been for Erics sake, he had given Marcos a punch on the face. Im Marcos Garcia, Marcos only introduced himself to Nancy. Crystal narrowed her eyes, waiting to see an interesting show. Hello, Im Nancy Carter, Nancy made a brief introduction stiffly. I know, Marcos smiled. You know? Nancy was confused. I know more about you. his pretty face approached her, Have you forgotten me?This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Nancy stepped back to erge the distance between them. Indeed, you look a little bit familiar, but I just cant remember who you are. Normally, she wouldnt forget such a handsome man even if she only met him once. She didnt understand why she couldnt recall the man in front of her. Marcos raised his eyebrows. Really? Think again. Nancy knitted her brows, seemed to be trying to recall something, but finally shook her head and gave up. Hospital, Marcos whispered to remind her. Hospital? Nancy stupefied for two seconds and eximed, Youre the one who dropped the key? Marcoss smile turned bigger. I cant me you. At that time, I had had a car ident and was in the hospital. My head was wrapped in gauze, and my hands were in a cast. When I took out the car key from my pocket on the way to escape from the hospital, it fell into the sewer by the side of the road. Then you helped me hook it up with a branch and even sent me home. But what a pity, you dont remember me. Nancy widened her eyes. That day she had just gone to get medicine for rk and happened to see a man with gauze and cast wrapped all over staring at the sewer. Thus, she had walked over to offer to help him pick the key up and send him to his destination. What a coincidence When she was in a daze, recalling the past, Paul pulled her behind him, saying in an aggressive tone, Come here! Marcos leisurely looked straight at Paul and reminded, Dont forget, youve lost her at the roulette. Paul took a fierce nce at Eric. How did I know theyve known each other before, Eric spread his hands. Its not important whether Nancy and I have known each other or not before, the important thing is that, Marcos looked at Nancy before going on, from now on, shes mine. Now that he had taken the bet and signed the agreement, he must obey the rules. A bet is a bet, he had to ept the consequence. So, he could only force his anger down. Come here, Marcos extended a hand to Nancy. Paul turned to gaze at her with horrible eyes, which seemed to be roaring: just go over, if you want to die! Nancy took a peek at the abominable Paul, and another peek at the smiling and gentleman-like Marcos, chose thetter without hesitation. Paul could only watch Nancy walk forward and give her hand to Marcos. Theres a small stage in the center of the hall. Music sounded, Marco took Nancys hand and went towards it. Can you dance? Im wondering if I have the honor to invite you for a dance? Asked Marcos in a soft voice. Err Nancy hadpletely lost her thought. She bowed her head, dared not to see Marcos eyes, like rejecting but at the same time agreeing. Looking at Nancys coy look, Paul punched hard on the gambling table next to him with force. The pile of chips on the table fell to the ground. Eric Bush, you betray me! He glowered at Eric. Eric shook the wine in the goblet. Im helping you. Helping me? Ive created countless opportunities for you to confess, but you keep pushing her away yourself. If you love her, how would you take her as a bet? Eric looked back in Pauls eyes and went on, Since you dont love her, and shes the bestie of my wife, of course, I have an obligation to help her get out of the abyss of misery. Get out of the abyss of misery?! Chapter 348: Did I Hear It Wrong? What Paul wanted to do now was exactly kick Eric into the abyss. What kind of woman do you want? I will find you the best one, Eric asked. He had no interest in any other woman, he just wanted Nancy. Damn it! Paul couldnt help cursing. He seemed to fall into an infinite loop. He didnt love Nancy but wanted to possess her. Why? He asked himself. He looked at the stupid woman who had a hand like afoot. She stepped on Marcos feet several times and even almost fell into Marcos arms. She must be on purpose! Nancy was always obsessed with handsome men. Now, her eyes were glued to Marcos good-looking face. What a shame! How can that stupid woman attract that Marcos Garcia!? Fury and confusion were full of Pauls eyes. But thinking that after Marcos saw Nancys true colors and how stupid she was, he must be disappointed, Paul was less angry. Sure enough, before the dancing was over, Nancys stomach began to growl. Are you hungry? Marcos bowed his head to ask her. Nancy blushed and muttered, I didnt eat a lot today After waking up, she had just eaten a potato sd and then came here and began to gamble. Theres no chance for her to eat. You should have told me earlier, Marcos smiled brightly, took Nancys hand, walked down the stage, and walked to the dining area. Paul stood up from his seat and walked over. He pushed a te with roastmb chops in front of Nancy, smiled evilly, You must be hungry. Isnt this your favorite? Every time Nancy sawmb chops, she would overeat on them regardless of her image. As expected, Nancy swallowed a mouthful of saliva. But immediately, she turned her face away. I dont want to eatmb chops today! Really? Paul provoked her. Themb chops are too big unless someone helps me pick the meat out. Did I hear it wrong?! Blue veins bulge on Pauls forehead immediately. Marcos snapped his fingers, and a waiter came over at once. Pick the meat out of themb chops, Marcos ordered. Nancy squinted her eyes with a sweet smile, Thank you, Mr. Garcia. What else would you like to eat? How about roast beef? Um! I like roast beef! The roast beef was cut into pieces and easy to eat so that Nancy would not be afraid of losing face in front of Marcos. Paul understood what was in Nancys mind. At this moment, he wanted to pour the te of beef on her head. Marcoss eyes didnt remove from Nancy for more than three seconds, and he even picked up several foods for her in person. Hes in a ck suit and a pair of white gloves, extremely noble and elegant. When he smiled, Nancy felt as warm as the sunshine in the Spring. The man in front of her was so charming. Suddenly, Paul patted her on the face with force. Hey, Woman! Your saliva is about to flow down. Come back! Until then, Nancy came to herself, finding that Marcos was handing over the te to her, while she didnt take it over but was staring at his face. That isnt very pleasant. After so many years, her boy-crazy faults did not change a little bit. Due to the fault, she had married Paul and reaped what she had sown. However, after meeting gentle and considerable handsome men, she still lost her reason. Fire zed in Pauls eyes. He picked up a fork, stabbed the beef on his te hard. Theyve just known each other for half an hour, which allows him to call her Nancy and be so intimate with her!? The mes of fury in Pauls eyes were warning Marcos to stay away from Nancy. However, Marcos took no notice of him nor cared about him. They were in Huston and Marcos gambling yacht. Again, Paul picked up a few knives and forks. And then, Eric and Crystal could see an extremely incongruous picture: Marcos was feeding Nancy with food gently. Nancy ate with a glow in her eyes while Paul was stabbing the steak with knives and forks. The poor steak was soon stabbed into a dozen holes. Seeing this scene, Ericughed so happy that his eyes turned to a beautiful falcate shape. On the contrary, Crystal looked absent-minded all night and wasnt in the mood to enjoy a good show. Id like to wash my hands, Crystal stood up and said. Darling, escaping can not solve problems, Erics cold voice sounded behind her, you can only y for time for thest night! Eric had met all her requirements, he would catch her to the hospital tomorrow even if she wasnt willing to. Crystal closed her eyes hard and strode away. Wherever she went, Nathans face kept lingering around in her mind. When she took a bath, she would think of Nathans favorite smell of the shampoo, though he seemed to like her body fragrance. When she dressed, she would wonder how Nathan would like her to wear it. When she ate, she would worry about the idiot Nathans bad stomach, wondering whether he ate on time. Even when seeing Nancy and Paul bickering, she would fantasize that the two were her and Nathan. How could I carry Erics baby in such a condition? Ignoring Eric, Crystal strode forward. Suddenly there were fireworks. Someone was setting off fireworks outside the gambling yacht. She went upstairs to see the fireworks but unexpectedly heard Vics voice. She stopped, wondering if she had heard it wrong. **** Miss Smith, Vic greeted. Crystal frowned. Sure enough, Vic was standing in front of the door of a private room, with two bodyguards behind him.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. The bodyguards were wearing the familiar straight suits, with their hair neat andbed sleek. Its self-evident that they were Nathans men. Crystal looked around, asked in surprise, Why are you here? Rtive to Crystals surprise, Vic looked a lot calmer. What a coincidence. I apany Master Davis toe and have fun and happen to see you and your friends here. A bang sounded in Crystals mind. Is this just a coincidence? How could there be such a coincidence? She didnt believe it. He must be stalking me! Is he in there?! Questioned Crystal. Yes Vic answered. Crystal knitted her brows, wondering if it was fate. There were restrooms on the first floor, but she had walked while thinking nonsense and unconsciously arrived on the second floor and met Vic. She turned around to leave. But on thinking of the chain bracelet in her hand, she still pushed the door in with hesitation. Vic reached out to stop her but finally put down his hand. Chapter 349: Did He Throw The Watch Away? Nathan had been in low spirits all day. The problems between them could only be solved by themselves. The door was unlocked. Being pushed gently, it opened. As soon as the door opened, Crystal caught sight of a lonely figure sitting on the chair by the window. Master Davis, herees Miss Smith, Vic reminded Nathan. Nathans figure trembled slightly, but he did not immediately turn back. There were some empty wine bottles on the table, and the room was filled with the smell of alcohol. Crystal knew that the wine was not enough to make him drunk. The window in front of Nathan was a huge screen for the people on the first floor. But seeing from the window in the room, each move on the first-floor hall was clear. Crystals heart sank. You are stalking me, arent you? She tried to make herself sound indifferent, You promised to let me go but stalk me the next day? Vic gave a low hollow cough, Miss Smith. I told you, this is a coincidence. How could it be a coincidence? Crystal did not believe it, no wonder she always felt a pair of eyes looking at her tonight. The air around Nathan was as cold as ice. He stretched his hand, poured himself another ss of red wine as if he didnt see Crystal. Nathan Davis, a man should put it down and go ahead. Dont you remember what you told me at the manor? It has just been one day, and you already cant stand it? Crystal did not want to get entangled with him anymore, and she wanted to cut everything off. Crystals original intention was to minimize the harm to him, but he stalked her like that, watching her be with Eric was the cruelest torment for him on the contrary. Miss Smith Vic coughed again, you misunderstood Master Davis. At this time, a womans voice sounded behind. Is this the room? Crystal turned around. A sexy woman in a professional uniform walked in. She had seen such kinds of women when she went on board, Eric had especially introduced her to what service those professional women offered Seeing Crystal in the room, the woman was a little confused. Fuck off! Nathans low voice sounded. Receiving the order, the woman turned around to leave. Nathans eyes kept fixing on the window, but there were as if another pair of eyes at the back of his head. Not you, another woman, he spoke in a cold and indifferent voice that Crystal had never heard. The horrible aura given out from him was warning Crystal about the consequence of staying. Miss Smith, please leave, Vic hurried to say. A boom roared in Crystals brain instantly. Vic had thought that Crystals appearance could solve the problem, but it seemed that he had underestimated his masters determination this time. Miss Smith, please leave. Young Master is in a fit of anger. No matter what misunderstandings you two have, I think now is not a good time to clear it up. Vic hastened to invite Crystal out and closed the door without further dy, leaving the professional woman and Nathan inside. Crystal stood still at the door, stiff all over. Of course Ill leave, but theres a locator in this chain bracelet. Master Davis already threw the watch away. He wont be able to see your whereabouts anymore, said Vic. Did he throw the watch away? Crystal didnt believe her ears. Vic had heard it from the servants in the manor. It seemed that this time, Nathans determination was unshakable. Crystal seized her wrist, pressing hard on the chain bracelet. The chain bracelet didnt match her dress at all, but she remembered what Nathan had warned her: Never take it off! You have to wear it every minute, every second! But ironically, the one who took it off first was Nathan himself. Besides, its really a coincidence that you meet the Young Master here, Vic exined, Mr. Garcia is one of his business partners. They used to be in a good rtionship. So, after receiving an invitation from Mr. Garcia, I proposed to the Young Master to adjust his mood by attending the party. So, is it indeed a coincidence? Vic showed Crystal the invitation card. Look, we received the invitation card a few days ago. If Miss Smith doesnt believe me, you can seek proof from Mr. Garcia. In an instant, Crystal blushed with shame. Do I misunderstand him? Indeed, theres no need for Nathan to stalk her and spy on her in such a sneaky way. Moreover, if he didnt mean to put their past down, he would have shown up when seeing her be with Eric together. But he hadnt, his attitude towards her was so cold, even he hadnt felt like taking a look at her. Now, Crystal regretted that she had rushed into the room very much. Nathan must have already put down everything, he threw the watch, came here to have fun, and even had a woman on a date Hes really going to let it go Crystal smiled bitterly. It turned out that she was ttering herself She felt tight in the chest. Even the air around her became thin. So she walked out of the cabin to take a fresh breath on the deck. The sea breeze was cold at night, and her dress could not keep her warm at all. She hugged herself with folded arms, trembling and breathing out. The night was really cold, but she did not want to go back to the cabin. Upon looking at the sea in darkness, her eyes were empty, seeming like they were losing direction. Is my choice right or wrong? She didnt know, but maybe someday, when she recalled all the past, she would get the answer. All of a sudden, a steady string of footsteps sounded behind her. Step by step, the footsteps were approaching her. Crystal was nervous. Her hands grasped the railing tightly. A coat with a masculine smell was draped over her shoulders. The smell was like a basin of cold water, putting out the fire of expectation in her heart. Eric whispered, Darling, dont forget that we have to do the check-up tomorrow. You cant catch a cold. A trace of mockery appeared at the corner of her lips. Crystal Smith, what on earth are you looking forward to? She questioned herself. Eric held her hands, finding her fingertips were as cold as ice.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Dont get sick, he exhorted. Eric Bush, do you care about me or care that I cant do the check-up if I get sick? Of course, Im caring about my wifes health. Really? Then you must hide your regard so well that I cant see it at all Chapter 350: Did I Sleep Long? Crystal shook her head, drew back her hands, and strode away. After a few steps, she felt that she couldnt breathe, everything seemed to be rotating, and in the next second, she cked out and fell on the ground. The continuous fatigue and torments exhausted her, and she hadnt taken a good rest for a long time; thus, she finally couldnt stand it. Crystal fell ill, seriously ill. Her cheeks were abnormally red, her breathing also got more and more difficult. When she woke up in the morning, she found herself in Erics vi. Day already broke. She jerked up, the servant who looked after her was dozing off and was rmed by her. Mrs. Bush, what happened? Asked the servant. Did I sleep long? Crystal asked in a hoarse voice. She was weak and powerless all over.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. You slept for two days and nights. Two days and nights? Shouldnt I had gone for a physical check-up yesterday? But I slept for so long Ill call the young master. The servant trotted out of the room. Eric was just in the next room. After they married, they never slept in the same room because Crystal hadnt allowed that before, but now its because of Cupids Arrow. Eric couldnt have sex with her, and thus he had to keep his distance in fear that he could not be able to control himself. The door was pushed open with a bang, Eric rushed in a while, putting on a shirt. What are you doing? Asked Eric in anxiety. Ive promised you to do the check-up. Lets go now. Eric frowned, How can you do it now!? Im fine. And I dont want to wait any longer. Carlos could not afford to wait, too. Send me to the hospital Right after she finished speaking, she gave out a few coughs. Eric strode over, pressed Crystal down on the bed. Theres no need to check to know that youre not healthy. Just lie down. We can wait until your recovery. As he spoke, he noticed the love bites on Crystal again, making his face turn gloomy instantly. Thats why he hadnt stayed to look after her at night. When the servant had changed pajamas for Crystal, he had seen those love bites and almost overturned the bed. He had clearly guessed what would happen as long as Crystal returned to Nathan. He had thought that he had prepared for that, but he could hardly control himself when he saw the reality himself. Eric pulled over the quilt to wrap her to avoid seeing the eyesores. The blue veins on the back of his hands bulged. Dont move, lie down. No, I must do the check-up right now. We can do it anytime after your recovery. But if it takes too much time for me to recover, it will dy the time to cure Lucas Then what do you want? I want to do the check-up and cure Carlos as soon as possible. Crystal, stop pretending, Erics pupils were as dark as a bottomless hole, do you think I cant see through your little trick? What do you mean? Crystals lips went pale because of guilt. Its all your plot. To avoid the inspection, dy the time to do the IVF, youre ying the sympathy-getting ploy. Crystal shook, I dont know what youre talking about. You know, you know it well. Eric suddenly straightened up, waved his arm, and swept themp at the bedside onto the ground. He gripped his clothes with his arms crossed, walked heavily around the room, and even kicked down a chair, trying hard to suppress his temper. Crystal seldom saw Eric being so irrational like that. But quickly, Eric managed to calm down. I can excuse all your tricks. But I warn you, Crystal Smith, if you hurt yourself again, thats equal to forcing me to take actions that you wont hope for. The room fell into a weird silence. Crystals face was as pale as a white paper, she closed her eyes to avoid Erics sight. The night beforest, before attending the party, she had bathed in cold water for half an hour until she shivered all over with cold. She hadnt expected her body to be so strong; otherwise, she would have bathed in iced water. After she had met Nathan on the second floor of the yacht, she had also blown cold wind on the deck on purpose. She had thought that if she got sick, Eric would cancel or at least dy the check-up for the sake of her illness. So, she had intended to take a cold bath secretly every day so that her illness could not recover in a short time. But unexpectedly, Eric saw everything through so quickly. When did you know that? After a long silence, Crystal finally asked in a soft voice. Eric buttoned up his clothes coldly and asked in reply, Does that matter? Then what matters? Your health matters the most. Crystal licked her lips, did not speak. In fact, Eric had be suspicious only when he saw Crystal blowing winds on the deck. He knew that Crystal kept thinking of bad ideas and that she wouldnt be at his mercy. Its just that he had never expected that she would choose the stupidest way and hurt herself. However, she was sick now, Eric could do nothing but forgive her. Eric held back his anger and took a ss of water to her. Being extremely thirsty, Crystal stretched out an arm to take it over. Hide your arm back in the quilt! Eric ordered with his harsh eyes staring at her arm. Dont let me see the dirty marks on you, otherwise. Otherwise, what? Crystal looked at him, raised the corner of her lips, I dont know that Master Bush is so jealous and possessive. I thought you were big-minded. Eric gave her a stony look. Crystal looked up and down at him with strange eyes, You knew that once you let me return to Nathan, we would Shut up! Eric sternly warned, Im now in a very bad mood. Dont provoke me to anger any more! He had let her go back to Nathan, knowing that she would have to have sex with Nathan, and he had even given her pill calmly, but why did he so furious when seeing the love bites on her? Crystal had no idea. After feeding her with water, Eric touched her forehead to check her temperature. He had given Crystal the best antipyretic, so shes getting better. As long as you stop torturing yourself, your fever will go away in a few hours. What if it doesnt? If youre so fond of torturing yourself, Eric went on before pausing, I will torture the people you care about. Dont! Crystal bit his lower lips, I will be fine. Dont hurt him. Theres a voice echoing in her mind: ept the fate, Crystal Smith. Carry Erics baby, everything will be fine. Chapter 351: He Is Not A Pet As Eric said, her fever waspletely gone a few hourster, though she was still weak. The servant stewed the most nourishing chicken soup for her and several dishes Crystal liked. Crystal had to admit that Eric knew her well. He always knew what she liked. No matter food, clothes, or jewelry, he could always choose those Crystal liked. However, she began to miss Nathans domineering attitude. Crystal requested an inspection in the afternoon, if everything went smoothly, she wanted to do the artificial insemination at once They had originally intended to do the IVF, but its said that the sess rate was rtively low, and it took longer for the embryo formation. Thus, the doctor suggested they do the artificial insemination so that they could test the pregnancy a weekter, and the inspection was also less cumbersome. Eric nned to dy for another two days until Crystal returned to her perfect health, but Crystal insisted on doing it today. Since she could not escape, she decided to face the truth. **** Youngdy, please get ready. The young master is worried that you are not in good condition while it is cold outside, and it will be troublesome to go ande back from the hospital, so he ns to have you checked at home. Crystal was choosing clothes, when she heard this, her body suddenly froze. Then she closed the closet and asked, He called the doctor home? Yes. We dont have the equipment, will that be okay? It should be enough to check your health. Unexpectedly, no one had known that this IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) would turn into a prelude to an own goal However, it was really too rushed. It would be best to test it three days after the womans menstruation. Everything was in a hurry now. Throughout the afternoon, Crystal had received variousplicated inspections. Fortunately, all the doctors Eric found were female doctors, and they were very gentle to her, therefore the whole process was not as painful as she had imagined. After the examination, the results showed that both of them were very healthy. Although Crystal was weaker, it did not affect her conception. Eric stood by the window coldly, watching the gloomy weather outside the window. It was a rainstorm. He had a deep look at her, Are you sure to do it today? Crystal was lying on the bed with empty eyes, Since the doctor said we are all healthy, why not solve it today? Its too rushed. I dont want to wait anymore! You know, I have to wait at least a week to see if my pregnancy is sessful or not can Carlos wait for it? He has to wait for it. I dont want to see him suffer anymore! Since you insist, Eric turned around, I respect your decision. Artificial insemination went smoothly. The next day, Crystal took Carlos outside to bask in the sun.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Eric promised that she could look after Carlos anytime and anywhere, but she was not allowed to get too close in case she was bitten. Crystal knew that if Carlos recognized her, he would never bite her again. Carlos, this is the cookie I made by myself. Its your favorite taste. Crystal put out the cookie and ced it in front of him. Carlos sniffed, lowered his head, and took a big mouthful. He directly crushed the biscuits, and his mouth got dirty. He licked his lips, which looked indescribably graceful. The servants looked from a distance, and they all thought that Carlos was crazy, without knowing the truth, it was a pity for such a handsome man C Crystal took out a tissue, Look at you, your mouth is full of biscuit crumbs. She wiped his mouth carefully. And she remembered that he used to cook for her and wipe her mouth like this in high school, all of which he had done for her. Carlos, I can only do this for you Crystal knew that once Carlos returned to normal, she and he would never have an intersection. After being domesticated by Crystal, Carlos could have alreadyid on a chair like a human. But when he got excited, he would still jump up suddenly. Sometimes if he were stimted, he would even jump to the tree. Standing on the terrace smoking a cigar, Eric squinted coldly while watching the warm and lovely picture in the sun. Considering that Crystal cooperated to get pregnant for a week, he allowed her to indulge. After Crystal fed him a cake, then she picked up the juice, Are you thirsty? Drink some juice. Carloss amber eyes darkened, licking the juice The servant couldnt help but exim, So cute. Really cute I really want a pet like this. Crystals face changed, and she shouted, He is not a pet. He is a human! As soon as Carlos saw that Crystal was upset, he immediately bared his teeth and let out a wolf howling voice at those servants. If there hadnt been the ne and chain around his neck, he would have rushed to bite those people for the first time. The servant screamed in fright and fled around. Be quiet, sit down! Crystal ordered, Carlos, stop. Carlos eyes rolled, and he drooped quietly in an instant. Crystal was holding his hand, his arm twitched suddenly. He was seemingly unustomed. Crystal gently took his hand and said, Sit back on the chair Crystal patted his leg and signaled him to put it down. At this time, Nancy shouted, Crystal! Carlos was stimted and started barking in the direction of the voice. Nancy followed a servant through the garden path to this side Crystal looked up and saw Nancy wearing a Scottish dress and a British Style coat, with a broad-brimmeddy hat C she looked like another person. If she hadnt had the familiar figure and face, Crystal would not have recognized her. Crystal, I heard that you are pregnant! Howl- Nancy stopped with excitement, it was the first time that she had seen Carlos, Who is this? Carlos, she is my friend. Crystal stroked Carloss head, Are you here alone? Wheres Master Garcia? He was called away by Eric as soon as he arrived here. He dressed you up? Yeah Nancys cheeks were slightly red, and she looked a little shy. When Crystal saw her, she felt better, How does he treat you? Very well, he bought me delicious food and beautiful clothes And he doesnt let me do chores. Hearing this, Crystal was slightly relieved. Nancy took off her hat while saying, I was going to see you yesterday, but I called Eric, and he said that you are busy with making a baby. Can we just not talk about unhappy things? Why? Are you unhappy to have a baby? Do you want to have a child whom you dont love? Nancy nodded, I see. But since you love Nathan, why do you leave him? Lets talk about thister. Could Crystal tell her that she had been threatened? Chapter 352: Your Taste Is Getting Worse Nancy looked at Carlos again and asked curiously, Who is he? I have never seen him before. He looks handsome! Even though he was not very friendly and his expression was also strange. Crystal did not know how to exin to her. Hello, my name is Nancy, I am Crystals friend. Nancy greeted tentatively. Suddenly, the hat in her hand was snatched away. Carlos turned the hat and bit the brim. Crystal, he bit my hat. Carlos put it down. Carlos suddenly jumped onto the tree. Wow, his jumping ability is amazing! Paul had a hangover in the guest room on the first floor, and his brain almost exploded. He vaguely heard someone chattering in the yard, which was really annoying. He seemed to have returned to Kuerto, and Nancys voice buzzed along with his ears like a fly. He shouted coldly, Nancy, shut up! But the talking andughing sound in the yard did not stop at all. Suddenly he opened his eyes. Nancy? It was actually that womans noisy voice. His heart suddenly choked! Paul staggered out of bed and opened the window The morning sunshine fell, and it was a rare sunny day. Nancy took off her coat and wore an elegant white pleated skirt with a big butterfly. The skirt had a narrow waist design, and her waist was originally very slender, with a European-style strap on the back. The ck leather boots made her look like a delicate doll walking down from the shop window. It seemed that she looked like 18 years old, and her face still looked childish. This dress even made Crystal feel amazing, fully revealing Nancys temperament. Paul squinted, he felt a little unreal. It seemed that this damn woman had lived extremely well these days, the smile spread on the corners of her eyes and brows. She waspletely in the glow. How long had he not seen her smile like this? **** When Paul had met Nancy for the first time, she had originally been a beam of warm sunshine who liked smiling innocently no matter what happened. Paul then looked at himself in the mirror, and his face was particrly haggard because of alcoholism. His beard had not been shaved for a few days, and he had indulged himself. He touched his stubble and grabbed his greasy hair How could he fall behind Nancy! Damn, damn, damn! Paul suddenly opened the closet, rummaging through the clothes. These were all Erics size, but their body shapes were simr, so he could temporarily wear them. He had seriously chosen one suit. Then he walked into the bathroom, took a shower as quickly as possible, shaved, and regained that clean and handsome face. Then he used some breath spray before he was ready to go out. Nancy didnt expect that Crystal would have picked up the Wolf here too C In fact, it was because Nathan does not allow to keep anything belonging to Crystal. Nancy hadnt stood in the yard for a long time, Wolf might have smelled her scent and rushed over immediately. Nancy then yed with the Wolf and threw a frisbee in the yard. As they were ying around, they approached Pauls window. Suddenly a slender figure stood behind her and said coldly, Nancy, you dont have to dress like this even if you have no good clothes. Nancy suddenly felt her back cold The chilling air behind her made her tremble subconsciously. As Nancy turned her head, she saw Paul leaning against the window, holding his arms around his chest, mocking coldly. Whats wrong with my dress. Your taste is getting worse and worse. Country people certainly have a poor taste. Nancy was provoked. The Wolf came back with the frisbee in his mouth, his front legs half stood with his tongue out. The Wolf was a dog who liked beautiful women a lot. He used to like Nancy, and today he liked her even more. Nancy just ignored Paul, Wolf, do you think I am beautiful today? The Wolf barked and nodded. How beautiful? The Wolf suddenly fell on the grass, made a motion of fake death, got up quickly, and continued to stick its tongue out. Wow, you almost fainted because of my beauty? Bark! You must have been fascinated by me. Paul looked aside, Then he said sarcastically, Such a shameless woman, are you so depraved to ask about the aesthetics of a dog? Nancy snorted, Your aesthetic is not as good as a dog, so I dont care about it. Wolf, lets go to y there I smell a stench here. Stench? Paul frowned, stretched out his hand, and began to sniff his arm. Damn it, how dare this silly woman to taunt him! She was really different after someone was behind her back! Nancy, stand there- Nancy put her hands on her waist fearlessly, Are you asking me to stand here? Mr. Rat, I am not familiar with you! Why should I listen to you! Paul was so furious that he suddenly jumped out, pressing the window sill with his hand. Nancy was dumbfounded! After all, she was still afraid of Paul from the bottom of her heart, and when she saw him chasing her, she subconsciously ran wildly. It was a pity that the shoes she wore were very heavy, and she had fallen to the grass before she could have run far. Seeing that Paul was about to rush up and grab her, Wolf leaped into the air, guarding in front of Nancy, barking at Paul. While Paul was not afraid of dogs, he was allergic to dog hair Once he touched a dog, he would feel very itchy, and a lot of disgusting little bumps would grow out. Crystal had just brought Carlos back to the room, but she didnt expect that Paul had already appeared in a blink of an eye. She knew that when Nancy came, this vi must be lively. She had already asked Eric to drive Paul out because of his existence, she had to hide rk carefully.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Paul had been drinking alone in his own room for the past two days, carrying wine bottles everywhere, like a stinking drunk. He put the shoes and clothes on the sofa directly. ording to the servant, he hadnt showered in two days. But now, Paul looked clean and handsome, dressed neatly, and his hair had obviously just been washed, which still had a little watery light in the sun. Crystal hooked up her lips slightly, obviously, she had seen through the changes of Paul However, it was a pity that the more he cared about Nancy now, the more he would suffer in the future. Chapter 353: You Can Ask Her Tentatively In the study room, Eric and Marcos have been seriously chatting. Propose? Eric rotated the leather chair and turned around, Are you serious? The long figure leaned against the bookshelf. Marcoss face was deep and handsome, he picked up a photo album casually and flipped it. Do I look like Im joking? Eric tapped the table with his fingers, and the ring on his finger suddenly shone. Marcos appreciated the wedding photos in the album and asked, Do you regret getting married? Eric pondered and said meaningfully, Are you ready to be tortured in hell? Fully prepared. Soon, there were four ring boxes ced in front of Eric. You know women better. In your opinion, which one would she like? There were different styles of rings in the four boxes. There were diamonds, gem, pearl, crystal, which were all tailored to the size of Nancys finger. Eric couldnt help but say with a smile, It seems that you are really well prepared. I never fight unprepared battles. That silly woman behaves weirdly, so I cant figure out her preferences. Eric closed the boxes, You can ask her tentatively. Eric didnt expect that Marcos action would be so fast as if he were afraid that Nancy would be robbed away if he were one stepter. Did stupid women start to be hot these days? Eric wondered how Paul would look when he heard about this news Eric raised his eyebrows, Dont you think its too fast? Marcos closed the photo album, Love alwayses identally and uncontrobly. You have known each other for such a short time. Arent you afraid that Nancy will refuse your marriage proposal? Marcos pursed his lips, If she refuses me, I will propose again. I will change her mind with my sincerity until she marries me. Marcoss eyes were full of determination. Since he had found her, how could he let her go again The sun was warm but not scorching, and the fragrance of grass permeated the backyard. Nancys fall was really severe, and her nose had been hit, suddenly she felt hot currents rushing from her nose Paul turned her over, Damn woman, I finally caught you, lets see how I will punish you. Nancy raised her face, and two lines of nosebleeds flowed down. Paul looked at her without a word, His brain went nk for a few seconds, and he immediately grabbed the back of her head. Put your head up Nancy felt that she was a tragedy. Who let you run! If she hadnt run, how would she have fallen down? Of course I should run. You are chasing after me I will not eat you! Nancyined in her heart, How can she believe that he will not! His expression just now meant to eat her Nancy was hugged directly by Paul. Then, without enough time to walk through the front door, he directly stuffed her through the window and took her into his room. Crystal had witnessed this incident from the second floor and immediately rushed downstairs. Halfway through, she did not forget to tell the servant, Notify Master Garcia that Miss Carter has fallen down and got injured! Paul made two paper balls and plugged them into Nancys nose rudely. Sit here and dont move! While Nancy was sneaking up to the door, she was caught by Paul again and pressed back to the bed. He twisted the wet towel and wiped the bloodstains on her face and neck At this moment, the door was suddenly opened by an unfriendly force, which was so huge that the door was mmed open. Marcos walked in with a few servants, his sharp eyes swept over the basin, and there was still blood on it. Without my permission, who gives you the courage to break into my room? Paul straightened up sullenly. Marcos walked over and grabbed Pauls cor with a punch. Pauls evasion speed was also extremely fast, but his cheeks were still slightly scratched by the knuckles. The ring on Marcoss middle finger was sharp, which drew a bloodstain on Pauls cheek. Paul swiped it with his thumb, and blood immediately flowed on his fingers. Anger suddenly rose in his eyes. They fought with each other fiercely, and both of them were quite agile. However, things around gradually suffered, such as tables, chairs,mps, cabs, and hangers Nancy stared wide-eyed, Hey, you two, stop fighting! What are you doing? Crystal frowned and shouted, Stop! Crystal didnt expect that Marcos was so fast. He even arrived before her. Mr. Garcia, Mr. Rat, before you fight, please see whose house here is? Marcos first withdrew from the battle, holding Nancys hand, and was about to take her away. Just when Nancy stood up, Paul grabbed her other hand. Take your hand away. Paul punched him again. Marcos easily avoided, Mr. But, you probably have forgotten that you have lost her to me. You set a trap for me! But you are still willing to do so. Both of them held Nancy, moving their fists and feet while talking. Nancy only saw fists flying in front of her, Mr. Garcia, please dont fight anymore, lets go, just leave here, is it okay? Marcos lowered his eyes and looked at her, there was a gentle light in his aggressive eyes, You are mine, no one can bully you. Nancy was slightly moved, Thank you, Mr. Garcia. We dont have to care about savages like Mr. Rat Is your nose okay? Um I identally fell down by myself. Paul was so angry that he was about to vomit blood. They treated him as invisible again?! Then he punched Marcos again, who clearly looked down at Nancy, but he seemed to have heard the wind direction of his fist and avoided it in time. Paul was very good at fighting, it was rare to meet opponents who could y against him. After a sparring round today, he found that Marcos strength was not bad he must be good at fighting too. Paul, you are enough. Mr. Garcia, please stop. After saying that, Nancy then said to Paul, Only a guy like you with a simple mind and well-developed limbs will solve problems with fists every time. This sentence pierced into Pauls heart like a needle. His fist stopped abruptly, and he stared at Nancy fiercely. There was still a cut on his cheek that Marcos punctured because of his carelessnessAll content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. However, Marcos looked like nothing had happened. Chapter 354: He Is Just My Buyer Rising anger burned Pauls heart, he had never felt so cowardly. Nancy didnt feel sorry for him at all. He had hurt Noah so fiercely before, he even had stepped on and broken his ribs. Therefore, Paul deserved it! Master Garcia, your things fell on the ground. Crystal reminded him coldly behind. Several ring boxes had fallen to the ground one after another during their fight. Nancy bent down to pick them up. She found that one of them had been opened after falling to the ground, which was an empty box. Obviously, these were ring boxes. She looked down at the ground, and sure enough, she found a ring with a pigeon-egg-sized diamond. Nancy squatted down, picked it up, and asked, Mr. Garcia, why do you carry so many ring boxes? Even with so many rings C The word ring instantly made the atmosphere very strange.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Crystal and Paul naturally understood the function of this ring. Marcos had originally nned to propose a better atmosphere, but it was obviously messed up. Moreover, he didnt want his wife to recall such an awkward situation in the future when she recalled the scene of the marriage proposal. However, since Nancy had seen the rings, Marcos just picked up the other boxes and opened them one by one. Which one do you like? Nancy nced at the rings in his hand, They are all beautiful. You like them all? Yeah! Nancy nodded, So you want to open a jewelry store? If you want, I can consider opening it for you. There was a hidden meaning in Marcos words, and he looked at her with full ambiguity. Nancys cheeks became red, thinking that there were still two paper balls in her nose In an instant, she embarrassedly ran towards Crystal, holding Crystal hand, and ran away first. Marcos raised his brows and was about to follow them. Paul gripped his cor fiercely, You want to propose? Its obvious, isnt it? What do you like about her? Everything about her. Paul gripped his cor tighter. He always used his fists to solve problems and really wanted to beat Marcos directly. But he thought of how Nancy had just described his simple mind with developed limbs. He suppressed his anger and growled, She is a stupid,zy, and retarded woman. She is a foodie, very gluttonous, and she will even fall down when she walks on the street! She has a super poor sense of direction Marcos had seen all of these. He chuckled softly, In my eyes, the sillier she is, the more precious she will be. Most prudent women live sorrowful lives because they think everything too clearly, but stupid women live happily because she is innocent and optimistic by nature. Paul, do you still not understand? This worldcks sunshine. Although you dont cherish her, there are still many people waiting for her salvation in the dark. Paul was slightly startled. Sunshine, wasnt this the feeling Nancy initially gave him? Her smile, behavior, sillynguage, reckless personality They all gave people a rxed and sun-drenched feeling. You think too much. Is she so great? Paul sneered. In my eyes, she is. Marcos gently broke free of his fists, arranged his expensive suit, turned away, and left. For him, his world was tooplicated and full of traps. The innocent Nancy was like a wless treasure. Marcos was afraid that it would be toote to love her, how would people want to hurt her? Paul squinted his eyes, stiffened his body. Obviously, it was only at this moment that he had known Nancy was so popr! Paul thought in his mind that this must be another trap designed by Eric and Crystal, just like Noah, the fake marriage! Paul tried hard to persuade himself but still couldnt get rid of his anger. Damn it! He kicked the sofa hard. On the other side, in the living room. Marcos treated Nancys bloodstains in her nose with cotton balls dipped in alcohol. Suddenly Nancy stopped him. After all, her nose was no longer bleeding, which made Nancy feel so embarrassed Well, I can do it myself, you keep staring at my nose, which makes me feel so strange. Marcos chuckled softly, In my eyes, every angle of you is beautiful. Crystal shivered hard, thinking that it was really insufferable when a man spoke loving words. There was a raging sound of footsteps getting closer and closer at this time. Sure enough, it was Paul again! **** Crystals eyes moved with the man, and her eyes were full of warnings, while Nancy thought he was going to fight again, so her whole body stiffened. However, Paul sat on the sofa grimly and threw a newspaper on the sofa fiercely. The content of the newspaper was about his abuse of rk, with a picture of Nancy on it. Paul coldly raised his eyebrows, Remote control. The servant turned on the TV immediately and brought him the remote control. Paul looked like the owner of the house, treating everyone as air, watching the TV like a lord, pressing the buttons on the remote control continuously. He had changed dozens of channels in a row, but he was satisfied with none of them. It seemed that he was looking for something. Sure enough, he stayed on one channel. At this time, there was a report about Nancy, the child, and Paul. Although he didnt say anything, his purpose was already obvious. In fact, he just wanted to let Marcos understand that Nancy was a married woman who was involved in various scandals and had a four-year-old child. Whoever wanted to marry her had to face public opinion. Besides, basically, all men disliked abandoned second-hand women, not to mention Nancy even took a child with her. Based on Marcos conditions, he was actually lowering his own standards to choose Nancy. Seeing the report on TV, Nancy immediately felt very ufortable. She couldnt see the child being abused, Turn off the TV! Oh, are you afraid to let your new lover know about your execrable past? Nancy, I really didnt expect that you are indeed a wh*re under such an innocent face, you are really good at seducing men. Paul began to behave rudely, First Noah, and now Mr. Garcia As long as a man shows up, you can immediately use your despicable means to seduce them. Crystal suddenly got up and pulled the plug. Nancy shouted angrily, Paul, pay attention to your words. What did I do? You know what you have done! Mr. Garcia and I are very innocent. He is just my buyer! Buy your one night? Paul sneered coldly, Nancy, how much does it cost for your one night? Will you sleep with people as long as they pay you? Marcos frowned, but the gentlemans demeanor made him hold his anger back. Chapter 355: The Strange Call After a while, he suddenlyughed and said, I have read these reports. Sorry to let you see the ugliness of my family I can understand it. Who would never meet one or two scumbags when they were young? Marcos smiled lightly. What do you mean by scumbags? Mr. Garcia didnt name you, please dont rte to yourself. Nancy said to Paul, Paul, rk was abused by you. You dont have any responsibility and love as a father. Now, you even want to use it to insult me. You really dont deserve to be a father. I dont deserve it? So, he does? Do you want to marry him so eagerly? Yeah, at least he is better than you. I really want to marry him. Nancy said angrily, If he proposes, I will marry him immediately. Marcoss expression changed slightly. He immediately held her jaw and asked excitedly, Really? Nancy, are you serious? Are you willing to marry me? He didnt expect that she had already wanted to marry him before he proposed. The light in his eyes instantly shined like stars in the dark sky. Pauls face changed drastically, Nancy, you are really shameless. Why am I shameless? You are so cheap! How can you propose to a man? I am just kidding Youd better just be kidding. Paul looked at her with warning eyes, If you dare to marry him, I will make you live a restless life forever. What an arrogant tone! Then well see if you have this ability or not. Marcos said with a cold face, If you dare to interfere, do you believe that I can expel you? Pauls face changed, and he suddenly jumped up. He had never encountered such a cruel warning that he couldnt wait to kill Marcos immediately. As they were about to fight again, Erics voice came gracefully, What are you talking about so happily? The servants saluted one after another, Young master. Crystal rubbed her temples, I think that it is better to send Mr. Rat back to Kuerto as soon as possible. Paul clenched his fists. No one here wees him. It doesnt make sense for him to stay here stubbornly, right? After speaking, Crystal looked at Paul sarcastically. I will leave. Paul said gloomily, But I will also take my son and this stupid woman away. Dont dream. You have signed a contract to sell her to me. I I dont want to go back with you either. Nancy also said boldly. Mr. But, you have lost the qualification to take her away. Marcos reminded him calmly. Seeing the atmosphere go wrong, Eric hurried to mediate between them, My wife is conceiving recently, she needs peace. I wee you to stay here as guests C but since this is my house, I dont want you to fight again, otherwise, I will drive away from the person who provokes the fight again. At that time, dont me me for not giving face to you. Darling, are you satisfied with my treatment? Crystal looked at Pauls sullen expression and thought that it would be too kind to let him go back so easily. He just began to be concerned about Nancy. It was not bad to let him get jealous because of Mr. Garcia. Then Crystal nodded reluctantly, If he hits people again, he must leave here. Yes, madame. Paul punched the coffee table fiercely, causing some cracks in the ss. When had he been treated like this before? But now, if he left, it would not be easy for him to find Nancy again, he had no power here at all! Therefore, he must endure and find the right time to take Nancy away. And once Marcos was in his hands, he would definitely make him crumble! **** At this moment, Nathan had just finished a meeting. He had been running around the world these days, even spending time off on the ne, which made him look extremely exhausted. Nathan wore an expensive handmade suit, calm and capable, seemingly domineering and arrogant, who seemed to have be the previous cold and cruel Master Davis. The assistant took a thick pile of documents and put them on the desk, Mr. Davis, this is ourpanys financial statements for this quarter. Nathan pursed his thin lips tightly and kept flipping through the documents. The long-time work without enough rest made his nerves tense. He rubbed his temples fiercely while looking at the dense numbers in front of him. Then he dropped the pen, turned the leather chair, and looked down at the heavy traffic. Suddenly, a lively and smart face appeared on the ss. Crystal smiled gently, hooking her fingers C She was enchantingly sending him an invitation from hell. Nathan suddenly mmed on the ss, as long as he rested for a while, Crystal would appear all the time. It was said that the hardest part of detoxification was the beginning because once the dr*g addiction attacked, it was difficult to resist the temptation. Undoubtedly, these few days had been the most difficult time for Nathan. He could only keep working, buried himself into the documents to paralyze his nerves! Suddenly, his mobile phone rang. No one had ever called on his personal mobile phone Nathan took it out, which showed a strange number. Nathans heart seemed to be numb. He had been waiting for her call for the first few days. He had dreamed that she might have wanted to call him. Therefore, he had never changed his mobile phone number. After so many days, the cold lips slowly hooked upAll content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. He picked it up, but after hearing the voice over there, his expression changed rapidly, his eyes became cold and dim,ter he threw the phone to the ground. Then he opened the file again and reviewed it insensitively. At this time, Crystal was sweating, struggling in bed with nightmares. Suddenly she opened her eyes in horror and sat up abruptly. Eric held her hand and asked, Crystal, do you have a nightmare again? Eric still had sleepy eyes while a servant was standing behind him. Apparently, Crystals nightmare shocked the servant, so she immediately called Eric. Crystal had been having nightmares every night, so Eric had sent a servant to apany her. Chapter 356: Your Wife Is Pregnant This time her dream was the bloodiest. It was probably because she had too much mental pressure. Dont be afraid, dreams are fake. Eric wiped the sweat from her forehead, Do you remember what day is tomorrow? Pregnancy test. Its also Valentines Day. Crystal pressed her lips lightly and said nothing. Go back to sleep. He tucked the quilt for her and sat on the edge of the bed. Crystal turned her back to him, not wanting to see his face. Even so, she could still feel his gaze at her. She asked indifferently, Why are you still here? Ill apany you. I dont need yourpany. Darling, cant you be a little gentler to me? Why do you have to treat me so coldly? Erics voice sounded still frivolous, but if people listened to it carefully, they would hear the loneliness in it. Crystals attitude was still cold, You make use of Carlos and my family to threaten me, how can I give you my gentleness? Eric didnt speak, he just got up and walked to the window, looking at the night outside. Crystal seemed to hear the click of a metal lighter. She unconsciously thought that When they were in Kuerto, he had promised that he would never smoke again, and she would take a trip every time he smoked. Now it turned out to be bullshit! When a man wanted to coax a woman, he could make any promises easily After thinking about it, Crystal slowly fell asleep. When she woke up, Eric hadnt left yet, and he had fallen asleep on the sofa, covered with a small nket. Crystal frowned. Did he stay here specifically because he was concerned that she might have a nightmare again? Crystal pulled the quilt gently and got out of bed, but when she raised her head again, the person on the sofa had woken up! Her movement had been very gentle. Are you awake? Eric sat up, Do you want to go to the bathroom? Crystal wondered why he asked such meaningless questions. Wait a minute. He immediately got up, picked up an empty ss, and handed it to her. Crystal froze for a moment, then she immediately understood what he meant C he wanted her to pick some urine in the cup so that he could have a urine test. Crystals face was slightly stiff, Give me the pregnancy test strip. Ill test it myself. No. Why? This is our child, I want to be the first one to know it. What a strange reason? Crystals heart sank. She had never seen him care about their child so much before. Why were his eyes glowing now? It turned out that he had stayed here all night just because he wanted to test it for the first time Crystal said in a cold voice, I feel that you dont trust me. You are worried that I will tamper with the test paper. Darling, do you have to misunderstand me? Fine, if you dont mind about it, I have nothing to say. Crystal coldly took the ss. That is also a part of you, of course, I like it. How will I mind it? How much do you like it? Crystal only felt disgusted, Eric, stop saying such disgusting words in the early morning! After Eric saw her close the door, he waited in the room, pacing back and forth, checking the time from time to time. There was a kind of anxiety rising from his heart as if he were a father who was waiting for his child to be born. He rubbed his hair nervously, hearing the continuous sound of water in the bathroom. Crystal usually washed her face, brushed her teeth first, and then took a bath. Honestly Crystal was very scared, for fear that she would really have Erics child after the urine test, so she was deliberately stalling. Every minute and second she stalled would be the longest torture to Eric. Darling? Are you alright? Within half an hour, he had knocked on the door at least three times. While Crystal was still sitting on the toilet. She had secretly tested it by herself, looking at the two bars disyed on the pregnancy strip test. Although she had enough mental preparation, she still felt it like a bolt from the blue.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. She hadnt expected it to happen so smoothly. It was said that the failure rate of this kind of artificial insemination was quite high, but she had been sessfully pregnant only one time. Darling. Eric was knocking on the door again as if begging her. Crystal opened the door with a cold face and put the cup into his hand, Take it, I have tested it. Whats the result? You can know it after you test by yourself. Do you need to ask me? Crystal was still wearing the original pajamas because she had forgotten to bring clean clothes in, then she said discontentedly, You have got what you want, get out of my room now, I want to change clothes! Eric raised his eyebrows and stared at Crystal for a moment, Is this really your urine? Eric! After a pause, Eric said, Its still warm, it should be yours. Crystal pointed to the door, Get out of here! Eric didnt say anything more, turned around, and hurried away. He probably went to find the doctor for an examination. Crystal stroked her stomach gently, there was already Erics child inside. This made her feel very resistant. Crystal had tofort herself in her heart, Crystal, its fine. You can use this child to threaten Eric to release Carlos, then miscarry him after you escape. She just let this malignant tumor stay in her body for a while. While during this time, she could use this child to achieve all her goals. Thinking this way, Crystal gradually got rid of the gloomy mood. Downstairs in the hall. The doctor had already waited there with equipment. After they got the urine, they checked whether it was fresh or not C it was not because Eric didnt trust Crystal, in fact, Crystal was so cunning that it was possible for her to secretly use a pregnant womans urine to do the test. After the examination, they had made sure that the urine was fresh, which showed that she had been pregnant. Young master, congrattions! Your wife is pregnant. Eric stood by the window in a daze. He frowned slightly and asked again, Are you sure? I cant ept any errors! Master Bush, please be assured. We have tested it three times, and the results are all the same. Erics charming face slowly revealed a gentle smile. He walked to the window and looked at the morning courtyard. This was the greatest gift and surprise he had ever received in more than 20 years. At that moment, his handsome face was relieved of cruelty. As long as this child was born, he could let go of everything in the past. PS: This child was a dramatic ident! Chapter 357: I Should Buy More My kiss is so disgusting for you? He stared at her deeply, holding her hand against his face, Dont forget, I am the childs father, the person with whom you will spend your life together in the future. You must get used to me as soon as possible and ept me. Otherwise, you will only suffer alone. Crystal couldnt pull her hands out, so she turned her face away. But he pinched her chin again and forced her to look at his eyes. Crystal stared at him angrily with wide eyes. Eric said in a soft voice, You finally stop crying? Crystal then realized that her anger hadpletely overwhelmed her sadness, and her tears had dried up. It seems that this is really the fastest way to stop your tears He hooked up his red lips and warned, If I see you cry again next time, I will kiss you hard. Crystal bit her lower lip tightly, why did she think that he was intentional? Did he say it just to keep her from crying? Crystal, me, Eric, promise here, I will give you all the happiness. Erics usual frivolousness faded away from his face, It is said that the child will be affected and be more sentimental if the pregnant mom cries too much. Do you really care about this child? Or Just for convenience to threaten herter. I not only care about the child He paused for a moment, I also care about his mom. Crystal had no energy to distinguish if he was telling the truth or not, Can you go out first? I need half an hour to calm down. I will wait for you on thewn, lets bask in the sun together. Eric said stubbornly, Our child must grow up in the healthiest way. Get out. If you donte out in half an hour, I will have no choice but to invite you out. Hearing the door closed, Crystal quickly ran into the bathroom to rinse her mouth. The cold water sshed on her face. She looked at her swollen eyes in the mirror, suddenly remembering Nathans words, [From now on, once you see your face in the mirror, you will think of me. This is my revenge against you!] **** In the afternoon, a jewelry store. A ck private car came across thene, followed by four bodyguard cars. The long luxury sedan stopped in front of the store, and a driver in uniform immediately came down to open the door. Inside the car, it was equipped with luxurious internal facilities, which made the receptionist at the entrance of the store very envious. Crystal put on sunsses and got out of the car. Hello May I help you, Miss? Crystal was tall, wearing a luxurious fox fur coat. She put the watch on the counter, I want to repair this watch. Repair this watch? But we are a jewelry store I know, but this jewelry store belongs to the Brilliant Group, so only you can repair this watch. For repairing this watch, she went to three watch shops. Thest jewelry shop had told her that the logo of her watch was from an international brand, the Brilliant Groups craftsmanship. I identally disassembled the watch, and all the parts inside fell apart. I dont know if any of them are missing Can you find the same parts and fix it? Crystal didnt have much hope, but she wanted to have ast try. This was the only thing that she had about Nathan, which was of greatmemorative significance. Even if they had broken up, she still wanted to keep it well. More importantly, Nathan had spent so much effort on this watch. She didnt want it to be broken. The clerk carefully checked the watchs style, workmanship, and logo, which really looked like the Brilliant Groups craftsmanship. But this watch had no model number, nor had it ever been sold on the market. Soon, the clerk said apologetically, Sorry, Miss. I cant find any information about this watch. Crystal was disappointed. This was designed by Nathan especially for her, of course, there was no model. He had said that it was unique in this world. The salesgirl was confused, Perhaps its a high-imitation good? Nowadays, high imitation goods are so well-made that its hard to distinguish. Actually, weveunched a lot of new styles recently. Theyre genuine articles made by the Brilliant Group. There are styles mounted with diamonds, rubies, and Thanks, but Im not interested in other watches, Crystal interrupted with herst patience, though its not of the same style as the other watch, its from the Brilliant Group, so it must be made with simr parts, I think. Isnt it? But its not genuine goods from ourpany What if I pay ten times the price? Can you fix it? Ten times the price? The salesgirl doubted, The price of our watches are all of the different levels, which price do you mean? Crystal took a nce at the counter, pointed at the middle watch. This one. The watch she pointed at was one million dors, and ten times it was ten million dors!All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Now that she can pay such a high price to fix the watch, why doesnt she just buy another one? The salesgirl wondered. However, for Crystal, whats most valuable is not the watch itself but the significance of it. Moreover, she also believed that the watch must be worth more than that. Nathan never gave her cheap presents. This watch must be significant to you, Miss. It means a lot to me. I got it. Now that you offer such a high price, I can totally have our store manager notify the design team of the Brilliant Group and ask them if theres a solution. The salesgirl then asked Crystal for contact information and told her to wait for the news. The store would keep the watch for the time being, and Crystal needed to make a 30% advance payment now. Crystal took out a bank card, which was a supplementary card given by Eric. Since she became Mrs. Bush, she had never used a penny in it, though. After swiping the card on the machine and inputting the amount, a message would be automatically sent to Erics cell phone. Without suspense, a few minutester, her phone rang in her pocket. Crystal answered the phone. Darling, are you shopping? Crystal was not used to spending Erics money. She hurried to say, I took a fancy to a piece of jewelry Ill return the money to you in the future. Were husband and wife, stop saying that to me, he was a little disappointed but immediately adjusted his mood and asked, why not buy a few more? Im d that youre finally willing to spend my money, Eric added. Are you nuts? Is it something to be d about Im responsible for making money, and youre responsible for spending money, Eric giggled, if you dont spend my money, I have no incentive to make money. If you say so, I should buy more. Sure! Darling, just buy whatever you like. Chapter 358: She Was Chasing Her Car The phone came to themand of a servant. Crystal knew that Eric was supervising the servants to decorate the vi for the celebration party tonight. She hung up the phone. Thinking that now that she had spent Erics money, Eric must be suspicious if she went back home empty-handed. Thus, she returned to the counter and bought a pair of bracelets. One was for herself, and one was for Nancy. She even bought a pair of nes and hairpins with rubies. Then she swiped the card again, without asking the price. She turned around to leave, followed by three bodyguards. The salesgirls watched Crystals back, couldnt help sighing with envy, s, isnt this a princess in real life? She just bought a pair of bracelets worth more than ten million! They are the most valuable goods in our store, but she bought them without even blinking her eyes Thats just a piece of cake for her. Shes even willing to throw ten million dors just to fix a counterfeit watch. Youre right. And did you hear that? The one who called her was her husband, and he asked her to buy whatever she liked. Well, different people have different destinies. **** At a corner of the shop, Joyce, in uniform, looked as pale as a piece of paper. When Crystal entered the shop, Joyce recognized her at once. Its just that there were tall and robust bodyguards following Crystal, so Joyce had dared not show up to deal with her. Not seeing Crystal for some time, Crystal was living a happier and better life, while Joyce lived like a loser. Carlos disappeared; Henry had dered bankruptcy under the crackdown, and beingughed at and despised by everyone because of the uploading of the sex video, Joyce had to start to work forced by life. She had thought that she was good-looking, had been raised in a wealthy family, and was good at instruments and dancing. As long as she worked as a salesgirl in the Brilliant jewelry shop, she would be able toe into contact with rich and powerful men. Once she met the second-generation rich, she was going to seize the opportunity to bring herself about an upswing. But what she hadnt expected was that not long after she started to work there, she had met Crystal, whos living such a good life. She trembled with anger on thinking of the evil days she was going through. She just didnt understand what witchery Crystal used. How could she make the powerful and wealthy men so obsessed with her? After abandoning Nathan Davis, she soon had a century-long romantic wedding with another man of equal state, and the wedding had even been live worldwide. No! I cant let Crystal Smith be happy! On thinking so, Joyce rushed out with fury, trying to catch up with Crystal. The bodyguard opened the door of the car for Crystal, and Crystal got in the car. Crystal Smith, stop! However, the car roared off, and Crystal didnt hear her. Several bodyguards followed behind, leaving Joyce on the road staring nkly. After doing a double-take, she hurried to chase the cars. Crystal Smith, you bitch! You made Carlos like that Crystal leaned on the leather seat, rubbing her forehead. She was exhausted. Joyce was still chasing them crazily, but Crystal and the drivers didnt notice her. Crystal Smith, I have to kill you! I wont spare you! One of Joyces shoes flew out when running, and she simply shook off the other, kept chasing the cars madly.RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only She had waited for so long, for an opportunity to meet Crystal, to tear her to shreds. The day finally came, but she regretted that she hadnt taken action in the jewelry store. Her life was hopeless. She couldnt remember how many times she wanted to kill herself because of that grieving experience. While revenging on Crystal Smith was the only emotional anchor for her to survive. The sound of horns kept tooting, attracting Crystal drivers attention. Seeing Joyce, whos chasing them from the rear-view mirror, the driver asked in confusion, Mrs. Bush, is that person chasing us? However, the car happened to turn a corner, and when Crystal looked back, Joyce had disappeared around the corner. Joyces socks broke, rubbing off the skin on her feet. And suddenly, she even lost her bnce and fell on the rough asphalt ground. Her knees were severely injured, and she could no longer stand up. The cars behind her had to stop and thus almost rear-ended suddenly. Shey on the ground, watching Crystal and the bodyguards cars run away. Tears ran down her cheeks. Damn it! As she was cursing, she hit hard on the ground with fists. However, she understood that even if she caught up with Crystal, she could not deal with the bodyguards around Crystal. She could not even touch the hair of Crystal. Why does Crystal Smith live such a happy life! She kept hitting the ground. Blood oozed from her fists and stained the floor. She was afraid that she couldnt get revenge for that insult in her life. If so, she was instead dying rather than living in disgrace. Toot toot The horns red furiously to urge her to get out of the way, cars kept passing by her and drove off, but Joyceid still as if not hearing them. She stood up, rushed to the middle of the road, nning to ept fate and kill herself. She closed her eyes; hot tears trickled down her cheek. All of a sudden, she heard the brakes squealing. A ck car stopped in front of her. The doors opened, and two bodyguards got out of the car. They had just witnessed the whole process of Joyces chasing the car and thus caught her and pushed her into the car. What are you doing? Who are you?! Joyce asked while struggling in horror. I see, youre sent by that bitch, Crystal Smith, arent you? Im going to kill her! Im going to kill all of you! Crystal Smith, Ill kill you! Joyce kept yelling with a twisted face, but the two cold-blooded bodyguards didnt answer her at all. The road soon recovered from being unobstructed. No one cared or remembered the small episode. Crystal did not send the two bodyguards to catch her, but of course, Joyce didnt know. And she soon fell asleep in the car because of fatigue. The family party held in Erics vi was ready in the evening. Inside and outside, the house was finely decorated, as dreamy as a fairy tale world. The party was to wee the baby in Crystal belly, so it was very childlike, no matter the decoration or the theme. The servants and bodyguards dressed up as cartoon characters, Mickey Mouse, Doraemon, robots, pink pigs, etc. All of the characters suited Childrens taste. Also, from inside to outside, from top to bottom, there were balloons and lights of all kinds of patterns and colors, and cartoon drawings decorated the vi. Chapter 359: All Food Is For Pregnant Women The guests who attended were also requested to wear cartoon costumes to cater to the theme of the party, making everyone present feel like returning to childhood or being in the fairy-tale world. Nancy was particrly fond of SpongeBob, but its costume was not beautiful at all. So, she finally chose a blue top and a long white dress, and the crystal shoes Marcos had customized for her. Together with the silver crown on her wavy hair, its self-evident that she was ying Snow White. Herplexion was initially delicate and pink-and-fair; with the fairy-tale-like hairstyle and the costume, she looked as adorable as a cartoon character. To match Nancys look, Marcos specially wore a blue prince suit, decorated with a red badge and tassels on his shoulders, as handsome and noble as a prince. He got off from the right side, then went around to the other side to open the door to reach to help the beautiful Snow White out. Paul felt on the terrace, pretending to be seeing the night view. His eyes did not move from the gate for a second. As soon as Marcos car stopped at the door, he grabbed a telescope from a servants hand. That stupid woman, Snow White? Seriously? Does she think of herself as Snow White? He sniffed. When Nancy got out of the car, she missed one step and fell over on Marcos. Marcos hurried to react and hugged her on his arms tightly, turned one turn, and finallynded steadily. The eyesore provoked a new bout of unreasoning anger in Paul, making his blood pressure instantly increase. Nancy often came to find Crystal this week, and every time Paul would show up in due course to ruin her mood and give her sharp put-downs. Nancy stamped with rage because of Pauls ridicule, but she counterattacked Paul and won every time differently from the past. She had initially expected to live with Crystal, but since Paul was there, she had to dodge him as much as she could. She couldnt bear that Paul always talked in a voice dripping with sarcasm. What she wished was to end the current state quickly, kick Paul back to Kuerto, and pick up rk as soon as possible. A servant in Minnies outfit walked forward and informed Eric, Master Bush, the dinner is ready. Eric waved his hand in high spirits, Party begins. Marcos looked around the cartoon decorations of the room, teased, Eric, since when do you be so childlike? Since now, Eric smiled with triumph, do you have any problem with that? Nope. Congrattions, said Marcos. Crystal was standing next to Eric. The word congrattion sounded particrly harsh to her because she could not feel a hint of happiness at all.RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only As if walking in a fun museum, Nancy looked left and right at the decoration and the servants in costume with great curiosity. She walked to Crystal, reaching out to her belly. How magical it is, theres a baby inside. I wonder what it looks like Crystal raised her chin to motion Nancy to look at the row of photos on the TV cab. Wow! The babies are so adorable! Is it because Master Bush wants you to give birth to a pretty baby like them. eximed Nancy. No. Ericposes his photos together with mine into these baby photos, Crystal interrupted. Crystal hadnt expected Eric to be so childish nor believed that he was sincerely looking forward to the arrival of the baby. In shock, Nancy opened her mouth widely, He really cares about you and the baby. s, Im so envious. Master Bush is not only romantic but also caring, unlike someone Dont think I dont know youre speaking ill of me. Nancy Carter, youd better watch out! Pauls gloomy voice sounded. In Crystals eyes, hes like a ghost; wherever Nancy was, he would quietly be floating around her. However, Nancy treated him as air. She pulled Crystal closer to the photos without taking a nce at him. You and Master Bush have such good genes. Your baby must be super smart and pretty. As soon as Crystal heard about the baby, her head was aching. She didnt answer but pulled Nancy to the dining room. Soon, everyone gathered in the dining room. They found that the table was full of nutritious meals for pregnant women. The vegetables were organic, the meat was the freshest, and there were even only two drinks on offer, fresh cows milk and sheeps milk. There was even a cow and a sheep bolted next to the restaurant for convenience and freshness. The milk is all fresh. After milking the animals, its boiled within half an hour before serving to our distinguished guests, adding no additives and with the most original vor, the servant smiled. Marcos pulled out the chair for Nancy and then took a seat after Nancy sat down. Paul was always chatty, he sat next to Nancy, ignoring her fierce nce, and began to roast, Eric, are you asking us to eat these as pregnant women do? Who says that only pregnant women can eat these? Everyone needs nutrition. As Eric spoke, he cautiously held Crystal to sit down, as if holding a woman whos in her third trimester. But in fact, Crystals belly was still very t. Paul raised his eyebrows, took a cup of milk, and smelled it, then pushed it away with disgust. The servants immediately exined, The fresh milk is a little fishy but very nutritious. Usually, the milk people drink is processed, so the fishy smell is covered by various additives or removed by processing technology. Still, some of the nutrition is also lost at the same time. When Nancy was pregnant, she had also drunk a lot of milk, but she never drank fresh milk like this. She took a sniff of it and silently moved it away. Darling, this cow was sent here from Hond. The parenting books say fresh drinking milk is good for the fetus. As he spoke, he took a cup of milk to feed Crystal. I dont want to drink it. Chapter 360: Very Significant Crystal couldnt stand the smell, either. For the health of our baby, you have to drink at least three sses a day. Just stick to it, Eric instructed. Finding that the soup was also made from milk, Crystal lost her appetite instantly. Although the food was not satisfactory, the atmosphere of the whole dinner was warm and peaceful. Thest time to have a lively and rxed dinner like this seemed to be a century ago. Seeing Eric feed her food, Nancy being taken care of by Marcos, and Paul mocking Nancy from time to time, Crystal falls into a trance. What is Nathan eating? How does he spend his Valentines day? Is he alone? At this time, Nathan was like a walking dead. Without Crystal, any festival lost its significance and became nothing but a pain in the neck. He managed to keep himself busy. As usual, those who apanied him tonight were still mountains of documents. He didnt leave the seat these few days but kept working overtime day and night and even directlyy on his stomach on the desk to sleep at night. Vic gently knocked at the office door, bringing dinner to Nathan as he had done these few days. Nathans stomach was aching again, and he had no appetite at all, so he could only eat some chicken soup. Vic put the soup down and handed a document to Nathan, by the way. Master Davis, one of the jewelry stores under Brilliant Group, sent you a document. You must have a look in person. Nathan rubbed his temples. Getting his meaning, Vic started to report, Its about Miss Smith. All of a sudden, Nathan froze. And the next second, he swung his arm and swept the envelope to the ground. Do you forget what I said? He glowered at Vic. Its vital, thats why I Vic took a deep breath, plucked up courage, and went on, its about the watch you customized for Miss Smith. Nathan leaned against the chair with fatigue, Go on. To Vics pleasure, he hurried to pick the envelope up and take out the things in it. There were some photos. Vic couldnt stand to see Nathan being so depressed anymore. If Nathan went on working like that, his nerves would be worn out, and he would get sick. The photos were naturally of Crystal watch. It had a model number but was not for sale and was not publicly avable. Only the design team involved in designing the watch had its information. After Crystal had given the watch to the jewelry store and offered an attractive price to fix it, the store manager gave it to the designers of the Brilliant Group. The designer who had once participated in the development of the watch had recognized it at a nce. Its Master Davis original design, why was it now at misss hand? With doubt in mind, the designer had immediately gotten in touch with Vic. Nathan looked at the photos of the watches on Vics hands. The gears were scattered; he had personally participated, from design to processing to assembling, and every part was very familiar to him. The watch scattered because of theck of the core keyponents of the ring. Now that the ring was gone, the watch became a heap of loose sand. That was precisely the concept of designing the watch at that time. The ring was the heart of the watch, showing Nathans deep love for Crystal. Once the heart, that is, the ring, was taken down, the watch would die and stop moving. Nathan stared at the photos,plications shown in his eyes. She would have never triggered the switch if Crystal had not listened to the tape. She would not have seen the secret inside, the ring would not have separated with the dial, and the watch would not have be scattered. Every step was connected. Thus, she took the ring away? And its she who took it for repair? Vic gave out a low cough, woke Nathan up from a trance. He took out a deposit invoice, Look, Master Davis. Nathan took a nce at it. Theres Crystals signature on it. He would never forget her signature. His dying heart was instantly injected into fresh blood, beating violently. Again and again, Nathan looked at the photos repeatedly. Vic smiled, As soon as I saw the photos, I contacted the salesgirl who received Miss Smith. She said that Miss Smith offered a price of ten million dors to fix the watch. Moreover, Miss Smith also said the watch was significant to her. Very significant? Nathans eyes glistened. He jerked up, grabbed the coat on the back of the chair, and strode towards the door. Master Davis, are we going to find Miss Smith now? Vic asked while following closely after him.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Nathans steps froze again, and borate light sparkled in his deep pupils. **** The atmosphere of the whole dinner was soothing, though everyone had no appetite in the face of the meal for pregnant women. Luckily, there were desserts after dinner. Nancy liked animals. When she had been having dinner, she had kept looking at the cow. As soon as the dinner was over, she immediately requested to milk in person with great interest. However, the servant regretted informing her, Its easy to infect bacteria for the cow if you milk like this. You have to disinfect thoroughly and wear special gloves Looking at the gloves on the servants hand, Nancy picked up a ss of just-milked milk and took a sniff. The fishy smell was even more pungent than those on the table. Miss Carter, you mustnt drink it! Its unboiled, the servant hastened to stop Nancy. Cant it be drunk without boiling? Nancy wondered. The fresh milk can easily be contaminated. Before we drink it, wed better cook it to disinfect it. Besides, when cooking it, its best to keep the temperature at about 80 degrees, but not boiling temperature, which minimizes the nutrient loss in milk. It sounds interesting! Id like to have a try. At this time, Paul made an untimely remark again, Whats the fun of milking the cow? If you like to y a milking game, stay tonight, we can y together. Nancys face changed instantly on hearing Pauls words. I havent touched you for a while; your two little bosoms seem to stop growing. Dont tell me Mr. Garcia is not good at milking, Paul ridiculed Marcos. Chapter 361: This Is For You However, Marcos remained cool and ignored him. On the contrary, Nancy failed to stay calm. Paul But, youre going too far. Do you think everyone in the world is as despicable and dirty as you? Is sleeping with me equal to being despicable and dirty? Thats a part of human nature, Paul stared at Nancy with erotic eyes, if Im not dirty, how could we have rk? His sight was as if a hand stripping Nancy naked and stroking her. Nancy blushed with shame at once. Paul But, you! Nancy, Marcos said without emotion, its just a dog barking, just ignore it. Before they came, Marcos had instructed her that if she quarreled with Paul, she would fall for Pauls trap. He couldnt stop Paul from saying anything, but if Paul dared to touch the hair of his woman. He squinted his eyes. A hint of cruelty flickered over his eyes. If he took off the gloves, he would not be weaker than Paul. Nancy shut her mouth and nodded, I see. Seeing Nancy be so obedient, Paul was irritated. The intimate way Marcos called Nancy also made Paul ufortable. Nancy Carter, Paul continued provoking her. Im inquisitive whether he or I make you happier on the bed. Nancy didnt even take notice of him. For Paul, no response was the curliest torture. He would instead Nancy scold him, beat him, but could not stand her ignoring and coldness. His fists hit the table hard, and the impulse to solve problems by force raised again. Whoever stirs the fight, get out, please, Eric reminded. At this time, the servant brought out the jewelry Crystal had bought today upon Crystal request. Happy Valentines Day! This is for you, just open it, said Crystal. Wow! Youve prepared presents for me? Nancys eyes glowed with excitement, but at once, she pouted, But I forgot to prepare yours Its okay. The jewelry is in pairs. One for you and one for me. Nancy opened the box and saw the beautiful shiny bracelets, nes, and earrings. She picked up a bracelet, wore it on her slender wrist, and eximed, How gorgeous it is and its even of the Brilliant brand! It must be costly, right? On hearing the brand name, Brilliant, Eric froze at once. He stared at Crystal with sharp eyes; great displeasure showed on his face. Eric seldom touched Crystals personal belongings. After Crystal had brought the jewelry home, he had just swept a nce at the bag, did not even take a closer look. It wasnt until now did he know the jewelry was under Brilliant Group. Nancy only knew that the Brilliant was an international luxury brand but had no idea that it belonged to Nathan. Crystal had also not been well-considered enough when buying the jewelry. She should have bought in any store except for those under Brilliant Group. Now she clearly felt the displeasure and fury from Erics face. Take it off, Eric ordered coldly. On finishing speaking, he seized Crystals arms, dragged the bracelet down from her wrist with force, and threw it into the trash can. Darling, do you mean to satirize me on such a romantic holiday? Eric questioned. I didnt mean that I didnt think that much Crystal fiddled her clothes with fingers. Dont tell me you dont know that Nathan Davis owns brilliant. She could have chosen other brands; why had she decided to buy the brand of Nathan Davis? Plus, it was the first time she had spent his money; it meant a lot to Eric. Eric should not be med for getting angry. The air in the dining room suddenly became grave. Marcos couldnt help reminding Eric, Mrs. Bush has just got pregnant, Eric, arent you going to maintain your good-husband image? Eric curled his lips and clenched his fists. From now on, from clothes, bags, shoes, essories to the articles of everyday use, you can only use and wear those of the exclusive brand under the Bush. Ill customize a brand for you, as for the name, you can discuss it with Nancy. Crystal looked closer at him. Youre not angry now, are you? Taking advantage of the opportunity, Nancy thawed the atmosphere, Thats wonderful! Crystal, youll have your exclusive brand! Great! Marcos stared at Nancy, Do you envy her? Of course! Nancy answered without hesitation. I can build a brand for you, too. As soon as Marcos finished talking, he pulled out his chair, stood up, and brought out a box from his pocket. He turned Nancys chair to face him and was about to kneel on one knee. But suddenly, Paul kicked hard on Marcos knee, forcing him to stand up. Marcos ignored him, wanted to kneel on the other knee, but Paul kicked over again. Even a gentleman like Marcos riled. He caught the opportunity to kick Paul back.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. The romantic proposal ceremony was turned into a battlefield. Eric, arent you going to stop him? Marcos couldnt help but ask. No matter what Paul did to him, he tried to avoid but not counterattack since he did not want to ruin the party and his proposal night. However, Paul didnt seem to intend to give up, even using fists and legs to harass him. Eric frowned. Because of the unpleasant episode of the bracelet, he was now in a bad mood. What Paul was doing was equal to asking to be a punching bag for Eric. One to two, Paul was undoubtedly no opponent for them. Soon, under the attacks of two sides, Paul was overpowered and pressed on the table. Paul But, if you ruin the party tonight, I cant guarantee you can stay here anymore, Eric warned with serious eyes. Nancy had her eyes wide open and did not understand why the three men fought without any reason. All of a sudden, Marcos knelt on one knee, held her hand, and said, Valentines Day present. Nancy was dumbfounded again. Marcos opened the box; it turned out that there were five rings inside. Nancy had seen four of themst time; the fifth one should have been madeter. Do you like them? Asked Marcos. Nancy sat still and did not know how to react. Seeing the scene, Paul angrily pushed Eric away, who was stopping him, and tried to rush over to stop them. However, its toote. Marcos held Nancys hand and proposed, Marry me. Nancy Carter, how dare you! Paul roared in a loud voice. As if not seeing him, Nancys eyes kept fixing on Marcos. It was the first real proposal in her life. The proposal Paul had made was too perfunctory; that time by Noah was fake. How about this time? Is it true? Marcos was like a prince who walked out from the fairy tales, no matter his appearance, personality, or figure, all fulfilled her fantasies about the man of her dreams. She had to admit that she was almost drowning in his tenderness. However, she was no longer an 18-year old girl. Chapter 362: Even His Son Didn鈥檛 Want Him Nancys eyes dimmed, she shook her head, No, I cant marry you. Her words took a load off Pauls mind. Right! Youre not qualified to marry anyone, Paul hummed. I have been tarnished by Paul But. Im not a good match for Mr. Garcia. What is this damn woman talking in her mind!? Paul was satisfied with her refusal but could not ept the reason. And, Mr. Garcia, you know that I was divorced and even had a 4-year-old child. Nancy smiled bitterly. Marcos gazed at her with affection, What if I say I dont mind all of your past? Why? To love someone is to like not only her merits but also her demerits, when he spoke, he was still on his knees, Nancy, I like and ept everything about you. Hypocrisy! Paul snorted. Nancy, marry me. Theres only Nancy in Marcos eyes. But Nancy fiddled with her fingers. She was not affected, but she was frightened by men and marriage after being hurt by a failed marriage. Its too abrupt for her to enter into another marriage so quickly. She was not prepared. Besides, the happiness was so sudden and unreal, making her feel unsettled. What are you hesitating about? We weve known each other for only a short time. We met a long time ago, Marcos said with determination, its just a pity that I remember you while you already forgot me. Im a straightforward person, I like you now, and Ill like you forever, his eyes were clear and steady, and dont worry, your son will be my son. Nancy, let me ask you again. Will you marry me? Marcos asked seriously and nervously. You stupid woman, think it out before you answer! Paul interrupted. I Nancy stuttered. Youre nothing; no man will like you. Its just a show if you take it seriously, you lose, Pauls ghost-like voice floated over. Mr. Garcia, I If you marry him, youll ruin him. For Gods sake, dont harm others anymore, Paul chipped in again. Nancy finally could not stand Paul; she turned back and shouted at him, Shut up! Shut up! Of one ord, Marcos also scolded with impatience. The two parties and even Crystal also wanted to seal Pauls mouth with tape. Pauls face turned gloomy instantly. He stared hard at Nancy. Nancy, say yes? Marcos pressed about her. Nancy took a deep breath, turned to look at Crystal for help. I cant help you with this. But no matter what decision you make, you have to think about the consequences. And, you should know that Ill support you no matter what, Crystal spoke. Thanks, Crystal. Paul began to be anxious. Youre so dead. Damn woman, what do you mean?! That was a prelude to saying yes. Again, Nancy gasped hard and looked into Marcos eyes. Mr. Garcia, youve been really nice to me these days. No man is as thoughtful as you are to me. Nancy Carter!! Roared Paul. Her words were like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky for Paul. I feel veryfortable around you. Even If Im silly, stupid, you would not detest me. You always help me up when I fall; remind me when I do stupid things Nancy-Carter!!! Paul shouted again. However, Im not alone now. I have a son. I cant just think about myself, I have to think about my son, too. So, I need time to think about it. Nancy Carter!!! Paul cracked his knuckles. Is there a need to think about that? You should reject it at once! Paul roasted in mind. How long do you need? Ill give you enough time, said Marcos. Crystal also agreed with Nancy. After all, Marcos appearance was bizarre. Why did he treat Nancy so well? She believed that there must be some secret or even trick in it. After a while of hesitation, Nancy replied, I want to ask about rks opinion, can I? Paul did not know they had picked rk back; he thought rk was still in Nathans hand. Fine, Marcos nodded, Ill take you to him now.RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only No! We cant see him now. We can talk on the phone. Eric chuckled, It seems that you can not wait anymore. Nancy turned to Crystal again to ask for her advice. Crystal hesitated for a moment and said, Just make the call. But you only can take rks opinion for reference. Most importantly, you have to follow your heart. Nancy, you have to learn to make your own decisions. Nancy nodded and picked up the phone. Didnt you say rk is in Nathans hand? Paul squinted his eyes and doubted. Yes, he is. But that doesnt stop him from receiving calls, Crystal exined cleverly, do you think everyone is as sadistic as you? These days Nancy had often called rk. Nancy Carter, turn on the speakerphone. Id like to hear what thed will say. Paul narrowed his eyes again. Who would expect rk to have the power to decide Nancys marriage? Damn! Paul somehow had a sense of foreboding. As soon as getting through to rk, Nancy turned on the speakerphone. Mommy, where are you? When will you pick rk up? I miss you so much. Receiving the call from his mother, rk appeared to be very happy. Err rk, listen, I miss you too. But Im calling you for a very important question. Is Mommy going to find a new daddy for me? New daddy? Paul flew into a rage. This stupid woman must have mentioned it to rk, or how would he know about the new daddy thing as soon as he picked up the phone! Baby, youre so smart!? Nancy marveled, Why do you know? I havent said anything. Because Mommy has kept praising Marcos, you said he treats you very well The foreboding in Pauls heart became stronger and stronger. Didnt see rk for a while, Paul found that his thinking and speaking became clearer. Nancy took a quick look at Marcos. Everyone in the dining room was listening to their conversation, making Nancy a little embarrassed. rks naive voice sounded again, So, will we drop daddy? Err you can say so Will rk be sad? Yay! To everyones surprise, rk shouted happily, Mommys finally going to change a daddy for me! I hate him the most Paul knitted his brows hard; his heart seemed to be pricked by thousands of needles. All the sights in the dining room focused on him in an instant. Sarcasm and sympathy were shown on everyones face as if saying, What a loser, even his son didnt want him Mommy, change Daddy! rk said excitedly, Change him, change him! Failing to bear any longer, Paul gave out an angry roar, rk! Youre so dead! As quick as a cheetah, he rushed over, aiming to rob Nancys cell phone. Fortunately, Marcos was agile. He stopped Paul in time. Mommy? I seem to hear Daddys voice? rk muttered in a weak and timid voice. Marcos was covering Pauls mouth, and he could not utter exact words. Nancy scratched her head. You heard it wrong, baby. So, you agreed to have a new daddy? Yes! I want a new daddy. Mommy, buy me a new daddy! We cant buy a daddy So, is it okay for you to have Uncle Garcia be your new daddy? As long as I dont have the daddy I have now. That was to say, he didnt care who his new father would be, as long as not Paul. Paul bit hard on Marcoss palm when he struggled, making it bleed. Chapter 363: Give Me An Exact Time Marcos frowned slightly and had to loosen his hand. Nancy hung up the phone timely and finally let out a sigh of relief. Paul got rid of Marcos, flew at Nancy, and snatched the phone in her hand away. He had to teach thed a lesson. Paul But, you know why Why does rk hate you? You always frighten him, threaten him! Youre not qualified to be a father! Nancy panted and said while jumping up to snatch the phone. Paul stopped suddenly. Nancys words stabbed into Pauls heart like a knife.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Nancy rebuked him, Did you just hear your sons mind? He wants anyone to be his father except for you. I heard it! Paul yelled, You dont need to remind me again and again! Then cant you take a good look at what you did wrong? What did I do wrong? He hummed coldly, pointed at Nancys nose, You climb on the mens bed like a rutting bitch. Do you think youre a good mother? Stupid! Slutty! Shameless! Every time he said a word, he took one step forward with his finger still prodding at Nancys nose, forcing Nancy to step back. And, your stupid, son At this moment, Marcos held Nancys waist, squinted his eyes coldly, and said, Mr. But, I respect and tolerate you because youre Nancys ex-husband; and I manage to have peace with you for the sake of Eric. But, if you dare to touch Nancy again, dont me me for being impolite. The two mens eyes gave out sparks as if the collision of thunder and electricity. Paul, I think youre forcing the silly woman to make the decision, Eric said leisurely, what youre doing is equal to pushing her into the hands of Marcos. Erics words were like cold water pouring at Paul, waking him up at once. Paul was not stupid. He knew he was doing wrong. But when hes irritated, he just cant keep his head cool. using Nancy was no different from pushing her to Marcos arms. Paul But, its my business whether to marry Mr. Garcia or not, Nancy was firm in attitude, I dont understand what standpoint youre from to y God in my life? Whether I marry or not, whoever I will marry and whether Im slutty or not, you have no right to meddle in or finger-point me! Pauls heart was aching very much. He could not breathe, seeming to be suffocated in the next moment. His lips trembled, and his hand reached for Nancy, dying to hold her in his arms. However, Marcos quickly stood in front of Nancy to guard her Nancy also avoided him as if he had been a beast. The glow in Pauls eyes wholly disappeared. Nancy Carter, for rks sake, Id like to give you advice. Nancy stared at him stubbornly, Great! Just shoot! And leave after you finish. Though Im not necessarily listening to you. How long have you known him? Do you even know who he is? Do you know where his real home is? Has he shown you to his parents? And do his parents ept you? No? Paul puffed up with triumph, Hes a liar! Yes, Nancy red at him, I should have considered these when I married you, in that case, I could have seen through your true colors earlier. Instantly, Paul was stiff and speechless. Am I wrong? Did you do even one of those you said? Pauls face turned gloomier and gloomier. You didnt even make a decent proposal and youre not as gentle and considerate as Mr. Garcia. Thats the truth. Nancy goggled at him, I even married such rubbish like you, after experiencing those pathetic days, what else should I be afraid of anymore? Nancy Carter! Paul scolded. Paul But! Nancy roared his name more loudly, I always wanted to tell you something, she added. Shoot! Paul answered with anticipation in his eyes. Im not deaf, I can hear you always have to shout Nancys words amused Crystal; she did not mean tough, though. Even Marcos also couldnt help a suppressed giggle. On the contrary, Nancy looked stern, I hate those who speak as noisy as thunder. The others in the dining room nodded to show agreement. At this moment, Pauls face was as pale as a dead mans. He was used to being a superior and powerful king who gave up the noble identity in Kuerto and chased Nancy to Huston. Everyday living in Huston was like self- persecution, despised by Crystal, satirized by Eric, ignored by Marcos, and disdained by Nancy. Why the hell do I have to torture myself? If I want women, its just a piece of cake for me to have the prettiest women in Kuerto; if I want a child, they scramble to climb onto my bed to give birth to one for me he thought. Indeed, if he had a backbone, he could just return to his country. Its not necessary to stay here to suffer wrong However, his feet seemed to be nailed to the ground, unable to move a step because he knew that Nancy would entirely belong to others as long as he left. So? Just admit it! Youre fucking wanting to marry him. Dont make those fucking excuses! Nancy was disappointed. Even at this time, he did not reflect on himself but kept finding the faults of others. If you want to marry him, I wont stop you, but dont pretend to be noble. Youre just a bitch! Hey, you, love rat, youre going too far. How can you scold Nancy as a bitch? Crystal hated this word the most, so she could not help but chip in. Dont think Nancy was still the helpless and weak girl whos at your beck and call. Do you want to bully her? Ask my fists first! Paul sneered and took a dismissive nce at Crystal. Her fists? Paul could crush her hand bones only with a little force. Crystal Smith, I still have an ount to settle with you! Thanks to you, Nancy Carter has be a shrew. Youre unreasonable! Crystal condemned. It gave Crystal a headache every time she saw Paul, she wished to stuff him into a cannon, fired it, andunched him back to Kuerto right now. Its just that Eric did not give him up yet, living in the hope that theres still a possibility for him and Nancy to reconcile with each other. Otherwise, she couldnt have allowed him to stay, walking around and making noise in the vi every day. Mr. Garcia, Im sorry to let you see this, Nancy muttered with sadness, from the first day we met, Ive always been a joke. She felt embarrassed and ashamed of herself in front of Marcos. She had never expected he would be willing to marry her, not to mention entertained an extravagant hope of marrying him. Marcos looked into her eyes, with gentleness and affection, Just right. My world needs jokes and joy, as well as you. Beneath the gentle, theres also faint cruelty at the bottom of his eyes. If not for fear of scaring Nancy, how could he have tolerated Paul to mor and provoke Nancy and him again and again? In an instant, Paul quieted down, fixed his eyes on Nancy without blinking. Something pained him. He didnt know since when his heart ached from time to time, which he had never suffered before. He felt suffocated as if drowning in water but didnt know why. I havent figured it out. Would you give me a little more time? Nancy said softly. How long? Give me an exact time. Three days. Fine, Marcos stroked her hair, Ive waited for you for more than 20 years. Surely I can wait for another three days. Chapter 364: Nathan Must Have Already Forgotten Me More than 20 years? Nancy didnt understand. That is to say, Ive been waiting to meet you since I was born, he gave Nancy a charming smile, Youre in a cold sweat, am I so horrible? Nancy shook her head, No I dont want to be someone youre afraid of, he kissed on the back of Nancys hand, I just want to be a big tree, to provide shade and shelter for you. Nancy lowered her head in a panic, dared not look at him. Thats so unreal, and such dreamlike happiness would catch everyone unprepared, especially someone a boy crazy like Nancy. Marcos was like a noble prince; no woman could resist his charm and tenderness. However, Nancy would not know that Marcoss tenderness was exclusive to her. After hearing the result, the pain in Pauls heart was finally reduced. He sighed in relief, turned around, and walked to the balcony with depression. Nancy took a deep breath and blew, then ran to Crystal and whispered with her head on Crystal shoulder, Crystal, what should I do? Crystal chuckled, Youre excellent; its not surprising that there are men who like you. But I feel so surprised Hes been so nice to you these days. You should have known his heart. I thought it was for you and Master Bushs sake, Nancy buried her head in Crystal neck, didnt you say that youd help me out? And Mr. Garcia is a friend of Master Bush, so Youre stupid sometimes Crystal sighed. Yes, I am stupid, Im the stupidest. So, just help me out, tell me what to do. Nancy swung Crystals arm to beg her. How do you feel about him? Ive never thought about it. Im afraid of starting a new rtionship, Nancy confessed, Ive never thought of getting married again. Then think about it from now on, Crystal smoothed back Nancys hair and went on, I know what youre afraid of a lot of things. Ill help you see his sincerity. Dont worry; Im always with you; no one can bully you again. Crystal, its so nice of you Nancy acted coquettishly, rubbing against Crystals arm with her face. It seemed that Nancy would always be a little girl and could never make decisions herself. In these three days, Nancy would live in Erics vi for the convenience of the two women to exchange ideas anytime. Marriage is a significant event in a womans life; Crystal would not let Nancy meet another scumbag this time. In the evening, when Crystal was going to get ready to rest, the cell phone next to the pillow vibrated. No one knew the number of this cell phone except for Nancy and the jewelry store Crystal picked up the phone. Sorry to bother you sote, Miss Smith. Weve got in touch with the designer of the watch, and he said he could fix it for you. But theres a small problem, and the designer wants to confirm with you face to face. Could youe over, please? The caller said. Confirm what? I know nothing about watches. I dont know, either. The designer told me to inform you of this. Crystal took a look at the clock. Its almost 10 oclock. Eric had said that sleeping earlier was good for the baby, so the party had ended at around 9 oclock. Its a littlete now. Does it have to be tonight? In fact, hes going to go abroad for a business trip tomorrow; he ns to fix it tonight. Hes the only designer weve found in Brilliant Group who can fix your watch. If we miss the chance, Im afraid Tell me the address. Ill set off now. Thats great. Ill send you the address by message. Please hurry and be careful. Although Crystal had doubts about the call but eagerly looked forward to repairing the watch, she had to seize the chance. It was a specially-made watch, and general designers were not able to deal with it. However, Eric would certainly stop her from going out and ask her why or request to go with her. He had been so sensitive when he heard the brand Brilliant; if he knew that she was going out to repair Nathans watch, he would be furious. He would not only not let her go but would also probably destroy the watch. Crystal rolled her eyes and came up with an idea. Nancy lived on the first floor; she could secretly escape from the first floors window! So, she told the servant that she was going to sleep with Nancy tonight. Paul was sitting by the window and spending his night in solitary drinking. His long legs hung on the edge of the window, and his eyes kept staring at the lights of a window. The curtains of that window were suddenly pulled open. Nancy opened the window. Crystal, youre pregnant, its dangerous to go alone. Im going with you! Just stay, Ill be back soon, Crystal refused.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. No! Im going with you. We can take care of each other in case of idents. Finally, Crystal agreed. Paul watched the two women sneak out through the window at midnight, and Nancy even wrapped her head in a scarf as if a thief. Crystal was also amused by her look, What are you doing? Well, Im a celebrity now, of course, I have to hide so as not to get found. Itste at night; no one can recognize you You now look more suspicious. Youre right. At the gate of the vi, Crystal made up an excuse, and the guard opened the door for them without doubting them. Fortunately, Eric never restricted her freedom. She always had free ess to getting in and out. Perhaps because he had Carlos in his hand or because he knew that imprisoning Crystal would only raise her rebellion and resistance. The two women ran out of the neighborhood and caught a taxi smoothly. The destination was a shallowke. The soft light of the European-pce stylemps reflected in the clearke even at night, the soft sand and swimming fish could be seen in the water. Its gorgeous and high-end here. Are you Miss Smith? A man who looked like a steward came over when Crystal was paying for the taxi. I am, Crystal answered. Im the chief steward here. The young master asked me to pick you up. Please follow me in. Forgive my asking, this is? The steward gestured towards Nancy. Im her friend, Nancy replied before Crystal. Im sorry, our young master can only meet one guest. Im afraid that you could go no further. Why? We came together, I Nancy pouted. Young master is entric; he doesnt like to meet strangers. But Crystal is also a stranger, and she is also afraid to see strangers! Crystal hadnt expected Nancy to be so brave. Forget it, Nancy, wait for me in the car, Crystal leaned over to whisper in Nancys ears, If I donte out after half an hour, call me; if I dont answer the phone, call Eric to send people to find me. Nancy thought it over. Crystal is right. I cant help even if I go in with her. Itd be better for me to stay outside to be her backup. Okay. Be careful. Ill call you after a while. After arriving here, Crystal somehow felt uneasy and flustered. The luxury style of the vi was very familiar. Besides, asking her to have a meetingte at night was also suspicious. Todays Valentines Day, will it? The idea shed in her mind, but she got rid herself of it at once. How is it possible Nathan must have already forgotten me. Chapter 365: My Hunch Is Right A man was sitting with his legs crossing on the dark blue leather sofa, silent and noble in the living room. Crystal stood at the door, only by seeing him at a nce did she want to run away. However, her feet were like a tree with deep roots, so steady and heavy that she could not move it a little. Every night, the man she saw in her dream was now sitting in front of her. The man put out the cigarette and said casually, Miss Smith, here you are. The voice was like thunder, which immediately woke Crystal up. She jerked around to leave Miss Smith, dont you want your watch back? Nathans cold voice sounded again. Its him! Sure enough! Its him! My hunch is right! Has he known about the watch? Why does he lure me here? Countless doubts filled her brain in an instant. Crystal stopped. She knew that if Nathan did not let her go, she would be unable to leave here. Whatever she did would only be useless. In this case, its better to give up struggling and see what tricks Nathan was going to y this time. The steward caught up with her, Miss Smith, why are you running? The young master is waiting for you. Crystals brain was nk, and her face was pale. She turned around and talked herself into following the steward. She had no option, after all. Nathan was sitting still on the sofa, calm and rxed, and did not intend to chase her at all. Sit down. His voice was with no emotion; his eyes were full of overbearing. I wonder, why is Mr. Davis here? Crystal put on a boldface. What a coincidence, Im the designer of this watch, Nathan yed with the thing in his hand and said. Only I can fix it, he added. Crystal kept calm, smiled with sarcasm, Oh? Really? Didnt you send your men to stalk me, then find me fixing the watch and misunderstanding something? Nathans eyes dimmed in an instant. Seems that Im right, you misunderstand. The satire on Crystals face became stronger. Im sorry for the misunderstanding between us, Master Davis. Theres an invincible spirit in Nathans eyes. He mocked, Miss Smith, you always like to tter yourself, why do you always imagine that I stalk you? Youre not only suitable for acting but also directing. If you didnt stalk me, why would the watch fall in your hand? Dont tell me its a coincidence again! That time we met on the gambling yacht was an ident, and so is this time? The watch is my exclusive design. You sent it to my store, isnt it a sure thing that it finally fell in my hand? Its not for sale, after all. Did I make myself clear? Miss Smith. Crystal nodded, That makes sense. I just want to state my position. I dont wish the misunderstanding between us to continue. Nathan smiled, exceedingly charming. Does she hurry to disassociate herself? I heard that the watch is significant to you, Nathanunched the attack. I did not say that. The salesgirl must have misunderstood my words, denied Crystal. Really? Nathan queried, then knocked on the armrest of the sofa. Two bodyguards brought the salesgirl into the hall. What the heck is this? Interrogation? Crystal roasted. If they illuminated her with a light and forced her to kneel, thats precisely an interrogation. Crystal walked up to the salesgirl, looked her into her eyes. Think it all out. I remember l only said that the watch meant a lot to me. The salesgirl stole a nce at Nathan, then at Crystal. Finally, she nodded in panic, Yes, thats what you said. Nathan raised the corner of his mouth. Well, Id like to hear what it means to you. I just identally pressed the button and yed your recording. Crystal panicked and made up an unconvincing excuse. So, you identally listened to it 101 times? Nathan obviously didnt buy it. Even Crystal didnt notice that she had heard it 101 times. Crystal didnt count it. All she knew was that she had listened for a long time without thinking. Crystal looked unimpressed. I picked it up by ident when I took it down. By the time I found it, I had put it on many times. Thats a lousy excuse. Can youe up with something better? What do you mean better? Crystal opened her eyes wide. I see. You just want to hear me say that I cant help listening to the tape because I miss you.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Do you miss me then? he asked in his cold voice. Yes, I do. Nathans heart started throbbing. Crystal then said, Once I look in the mirror now, Ill think of you and what you did to me that night. Nathans breath was cold, and he reached out to touch her bangs. Crystal turned her face away. Didnt you know that I hate you? If I hate you, how can I not think of you? Nathans heart broke as he listened to her cold words. Ive been dreaming about when youlle after me again and take me back. I wonder if you regret it again. Crystal smiled wryly. The more I thought about it, the more afraid I became, and now my worst fear has worked. Crystal was terrified, her body twitching slightly. She did have nightmares every day, waking up every night and sweating profusely. She dreamed that Nathan was cruel to her and himself or that something had happened to him. Nathans heart was in sudden pain. Crystal, I want you to tell the truth. His voice was cold as ever. Thats the truth. I know you just want a reason to get me back! And now I havent given you that reason. Do I piss you off? Nathan grabbed her by the wrist. I suppose you had identally touched the mechanism and seen the secret inside. But why do you wear my ring when you are married? Crystal didnt answer him. In memory? Not loud, but powerful enough, he said, In memory of our parting? No, on the contrary. I do it so I can always remember it. Didnt you put the hot scar on my forehead just to remind me of you when I looked in the mirror? Its the same with this ring. It reminds me of what Ive been through with you. Crystal smiled sadly. Looking at it, I think of how happy I am now, and I will cherish my happiness. Crystal said, holding out her right hand. On her ring finger was the wedding ring Eric had given her. My left hand is wearing a sad ring because of you, and my right hand is wearing a happy ring because of Eric. Nathans heart ached more and more. His face, however, was nk and frosty. Crystal felt the same way. You taught me that. She tried to look at him firmly. For me, one is pain, and the other is happiness. When Ipare them, I appreciate what I have more. Her words cut like a sharp knife into Nathans heart, tearing him to pieces. So he was desperate toe to her just to get her to stab him again? Is that exnation satisfactory to you? Crystals cold voice echoed in the hall. If youre satisfied, can you let me go right away? My husband is still waiting for me at home. She said it on purpose to irritate him. Apparently, Nathans bloodshot eyes showed that he was irritated. Chapter 366: I鈥檝e Lost Weight Crystal pulled away from his hand hard and turned to leave. He instantly retrieved her body, and she hit him hard on the chest. Nathan held her tightly, hisst icy line copsed. Dont go. Dont leave me. He said. This man, who had just been proud and arrogant, was momentarily weak again. Crystal was not feeling any better, and her heart was trembling. I miss you so much. Ive been thinking about you, Crystal, every minute of the day. My life was dull and sad. I function every day, but Im dying inside, His voice, with the hot air, blew in her ear. Crystal felt as if her heart was in his mouth, melting away. She tried to assert her voice. Didnt you say you were going to forget me? I cant forget you. Ive tried, but I cant. Didnt you find a date on the gambling boat the other day? When you turned away, I let her go. Didnt you say youd be happier than me? Crystals mind was nk. Crystal, only you can give me happiness! The salesgirl watched the dramatic scene. She did not expect that the two people who had been indifferent to each other one second before had now be passionate lovers. Let me go! Dont make me despise you, Nathan, you coward! Crystal struggled. The harder she struggled, the tighter her sped hands tightened. Nathans deep eyes flickered with a faint smile. Right! He was a coward. He lost again. Whenever he met Crystal, he would lose his strength. You said youd let me go! Crystal cried. Are you really going to kill me? You care about me. He asked bravely. You are ttering yourself! If you didnt care about me, you wouldnt be sad when I stabbed myself; You wont give me thest three happy days. You wont listen to the recording of the watch, and you wont wear the ring I gave you. He took her hand, convincing her, convincing himself. Crystal, you cant hide it from me. I know you care! Crystal stared at him, then shook her head and smiled. Whats the point of all this now? Why didnt you think of it then? He was greedy and didnt think she loved him enough. Nathan, I admit I cared about you before, but after what youve done to me, I hate you so much. You made me hate you. Crystal closed her eyes. I dont just hate you now. Im afraid of you. Please, please let me go. I will pay you back all the pain I gave you. He took her chin. You can torture me all you want as long as you dont leave me. Ill do whatever you say. It was just toote. If he had said so on that day, she might have believed him without hesitation and told her troubles. Now, they couldnt go back. Okay, now let go of me and give me the watch. Nathan moved slightly. Dont you listen to me? Give me the watch! Nathan said to the bodyguard in a cold voice. Get it! The bodyguard quickly brought the watch over on the coffee table. Crystal took it in her hand. It was fixed and running smoothly. They happened to be standing not far from the window, which was open. Crystal waved and threw the watch. It was the watch that caused the misunderstanding, for which I formally apologize to you. Crystal took a big breath and pushed back her ring. I did the wrong thing to give you the illusion you shouldnt have. Im going to end it now! He held her little hand tightly and wrapped her hand in his palm. Nathan hugged her so passionately. Its okay that you threw it. I can do it for you again. Crystal looked at him in slight shock. I know youre mad at me. His deep voice murmured, I did it wrong. I was wrong. For some reason, Crystal thought of Nathans letters in her mailbox as she heard him say he was wrong.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Her heart was as sick as a thousand hands scratching it. Nathan tugged her body to face him. Dont you see? Crystal didnt know what he was talking about. Ive lost weight. What? I lost weight because I missed you. He had never thought of her that way. She had left him before, and he knew that one day she would return to him and that if he did not let her go, he would search her, and she would not escape. But this time, it was different. He was in the same ce as her, but he was helpless. He could only think of her wildly. Crystal looked at him coldly. Nathan, listen to me. After I have said this, you will immediately take back all that you have said. Nathan took her hand. I wont. Crystal took a deep breath and said, Im pregnant. Nathans eyes suddenly changed. Of course, Im not carrying your baby. She felt as if the bones of her hands were about to be crushed. Suffering the pain, she went on. Yes, its Erics. How did you have his baby after you ate Cupids Arrow pill? Nathan sneered, Crystal, can you think clearly before you lie? Its an artificial conception. Crystal heard her fingers rattle, and she frowned in pain. I had artificial insemination about a week ago. I found out this morning that I was pregnant. A week ago, we had sex for a few nights on the manor, too, Nathan growled indignantly. How do you know the baby isnt mine? Because I took birth control pills after I left you. Nathan just stared at her strangely, as if to explore the truth of her words. If you dont believe me, you can call a doctor to test me immediately. Crystal smiled gratuitously. Of course, it doesnt matter if you kill my child in your anger now. I can make a new one with Eric when I go back. Every cruel and heartless word she uttered was a bloody whip to Nathan. By the way, you know that the way to crack Cupids Arrow is to have a baby. After the first child, the medicine goes away. Crystal reached out and lovingly stroked his face. Which means that your n failed. I can have other men besides you. Her words struck him harder and harder like a whip. Nathans tall figure quivered a little, his face gradually returning to cruelty and coldness. Im not going back to you because Im pregnant with Erics baby. I want to live my happy life, and you cant stop me unless you kill me. Nathan, kill me if you can. He slowly put down Crystals little hand. When he took two steps back and was about to turn away, his arm gave a p. Crystal received a heavy p in the face. Her body immediately bumped to the ground, blood flowed from the corners of her mouth, and she felt her teeth tremble. Nathan stood silent, staring at her. I must have been crazy to let you trample me like this. He said. Crystal lowered her eyelids, and she didnt know how brave she was to say that in front of him. The ringing phone cut through the eerie silence. Crystals eyshes quivered, and she knew it was Nancy calling. She fumbled to take out her phone, and before she could answer, Nathan grabbed her arm. What do you do? Crystal struggled. Let me go! Didnt you say you were pregnant? Nathan tugged her relentlessly in the direction of the bathroom. Crystal stumbled, the pain still burning in her cheeks. Chapter 367: Are You Satisfied? Vic came in from the outside and was quite surprised to see this scene. He had expected Nathans return to make up with Crystal. Crystal was thrown into the bathroom, and her body crashed against the cold porcin wall. Nathan hadnt given up yet, even though she had made it so clearly. He picked up a birdbath and jabbed it into her hand. Pee. Crystal held the basin. Do you want to check, and then you give up and let me go? Now! He tugged at her trousers. Crystal went out today wearing suspenders, and Nathan took off her coat and stripped off her pants. His action was rude, and he yed Crystal, watching his face close to hers. Her lips trembled. In fact, she wanted very much to hug and kiss him. As soon as she saw him, she saw how haggard he was and how much he had lost. The thick dark circles under his eyes showed that he had not slept well for days. But Crystal told herself that even dr*g addicts had the hardest time at first. They wouldnt be able to resist from the beginning. But over time, they could gradually forget the feeling of addiction and be less painful. Nathan was in that state of losing himself right now, and he needed time to heal. Crystal had expected him toe back. Nathan frantically pulled down her pants and pushed her down. Nathan opened the cab and grabbed a handful of pregnancy tests. He tried the first one, which showed double lines. Obviously, Nathan had done homework before knowing what double lines meant. His hand froze, tore down the second bag. Then he tried a third and a fourth. More than a dozen pregnancy tests were put into the urine, and the result was that she became pregnant. Crystal was cold, holding her trousers stiffly in one hand, not daring to move. Nathan crouched there, doing the test mechanically and repeatedly. He made Crystal feel a sudden sore nose and almost burst into tears. Finally, thest one was tested. Nathan clenched his fists and hung his head. Crystal couldnt see his face. Crystal didnt have the strength to stand here facing him, leaning against the wall. You see the evidence. Are you satisfied? Nathan rose without a word and turned away. Crystals heart was in pain as she watched his lonely back. Suddenly Nathan stopped at the bathroom counter and looked at himself in the mirror. His face was thinner than ever, slightly dented, his hair unkempt, and he had made a special preparation to see her, wearing her favorite coat and the tie she had given him. As for the gloves, he did not wear them for fear of losing them. He looked at himself in the mirror and suddenly turned to look at Crystal. She was well-nourished, with a plump, reddish face. She seemed to be having a good time these days. Nathan gave a weird smile, then turned on the faucet and vigorously washed the hands that had identally spattered her urine. Now everything in her made him sick. It was as well toe back this time, to turn his mindpletely off. She already had Erics baby in her tummy! That was good. If he did not know this fact, maybe he would continue to miss her and hurt his body for her. Now he waspletely free, and he would not waste half a second of his life worrying about her. Crystal, I am officially breaking up with you. This time it was an official parting. I dumped you. I didnt want you anymore. He wiped his hands with a towel, turned, and strode away. This time, he walked out without looking back. Crystal leaned against the wall and crouched slowly to the ground. She bit her lip tightly, one hand clutching the ring on the other, and tears welled up in her eyes, She and Nathan werent meant to be together. The rtionship waspletely wrong. There was a noise of footsteps outside, and the door mmed shut. Nathan left. Crystal stood up slowly and walked out of the bathroom. There was no one in the empty hall. Even the butler here was taken away. It seemed that Nathan was not even going to live in this house anymore. In other words, Nathan would never appear in front of her again. Crystal wanted to go out at once, and she was afraid of bumping into him. She stood at the window, watching from a distance as his car was ready to leave. Fearing that he would turn around, Crystal shrank back into the window. Suddenly, she found the restaurant opposite the window, decorated with a warm candlelight dinner. Crystal could not help walking to the table. There were red roses everywhere, but there were a bunch of white camellias at the table. The candle was burning and was about toe to an end. The food on the table was thoroughly cold, too, all Crystals favorite food. There was also a gift box in Nathans seat. He came back today to meet her because of the special asion of Valentines Day. Crystal didnt dare touch it all. Her feet backed away. She wanted it to remain as it was and be a dream. Crystal turned sharply away, and Nathans car was already gone. She stood cold on the wooden bridge in the cold wind. Her eyes fell on the shallow water of theke, and she seemed to see something gleaming white in the soft sand. Crystals foot gave a sharp thud. Was that the watch? No! It must be her imagination! It didnt even make sense, Crystal. Dont pick it up! Dont pick it up. Dont! She tried to stop herself, but her body couldnt. By the time Crystal felt cold, she was already in the water. Fortunately, the water was only knee-deep. But when she came down, she had no idea that the soft sand of theke might cave in, that the depths of somekes were like swamps, and that her whole body might be swallowed up. Besides, how could she enter the water on such a cold day when she was pregnant! But Crystal didnt think of any of this. At that moment, her inner reason was ovee by emotion. All she knew was that the watch recorded everything about her and Nathan. The watch had taken so much of his fancy that she could not afford to throw it away. So she did crazy things!RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Crystal trudged through the bright light but found nothing. Perhaps it was only the bright reflection of the light on the water that made her think it was a watch. She smiled sadly. She should have thought she wasnt so strong as to see what had fallen into theke. But Crystal was not willing to go ashore now that she was in the water. She looked in the direction of the window and estimated where her watch would fall. Actually, theke was not very big. The vi was built in the middle of theke, where the bridges were illuminated on all four sides. The light shone clear on theke. Even so, Crystal still couldnt find it. She looked so hard that she did not know that a car had stopped on the road in the dark. A man saw Crystal through the lowered window, mmed open the car door, and ran toward her, followed closely by the bodyguard. Crystal! A surly voice came from above her. Crystal shuddered and looked up at the figure on the bridge, looking back at her. Her whole body was trembling with cold, and her little face was white, with tears all over it. Chapter 368: Don鈥檛 Push Me Crystal seemed to see Nathan staring at her with an angry face in her bewilderment. Her heart was beating wildly across her chest. She broke down and wanted to reach out and let him take her away. Suddenly, she didnt want to take care of anything. She was not as strong as she thought. She just wanted a man who loved her, and she loved. She wanted to be cared for, have a child, and live a simple life. But the next second, the figure turned into Eric. He held down the handrail of the wooden bridge and jumped into theke. Ssh! Ssh! Several bodyguards also jumped down one after another. Eric quickly walked over to her, took off his suit jacket, and put it over her. He immediately picked her up and handed her to his bodyguard. Send her up! Crystal shivered. Her body was cold. What are you looking for, Crystal? Whats so important that youe here in the middle of the night to get it? Can you tell me? Crystal trembled and said nothing. Just tell me, what do you want that I wont give you? Crystal remained silent. If you tell me, wont I help you find it? Erics eyes were as dark as night. Crystals teeth were shaking, and she could not speak. What are you still doing? Send her up at once! Eric rubbed her cold hands, his eyes bloodthirsty as if he wanted to spew out man-eating monsters from his eyes. Crystal had rarely seen Eric so angry. She was angry with herself, too. Finally, she finished the show with Nathan, but she couldnt hold on immediately after he left. She was a real loser. She was just used to pretending to be strong and unimpeachable in the face of anyone. And once she was alone, she was weak as a little girl waiting for a helping hand. Nancy watched Crystal follow the butler up the wooden bridge and into the vi. She watched for a while, feeling cold on the night wind, and was about to wait in the taxi. Suddenly, an arrogant silver sports car came in the dark. Squeak- The car braked only half a meter away from her. Nancy almost thought it was going to hit her, and she freaked out.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Paul got out of the car coldly, with an air of aggressiveness. Nancy was dumbfounded and didnt expect to see him here. What do you want! Cut the crap! Paul grabbed her by the cor. You dead woman! How arrogant you have been to me these days; now that you are in my hands, I will get it all back. Where are you taking me? Stop it! Im going to find Crystal. Nancy couldnt resist at all. She was bundled into the car immediately. The sports car roared away and pulled up a hill. A very beautiful sycamore tree was nted on the hill. Standing here, one could see the whole city at night. Paul braked hard again and nearly hit the sycamore tree. Nancy screamed over her ears, her little face pale with fear. Where on earth are you taking me! Nancy screamed. Dont you yell again! Pauls face turned dark. Nancy screamed as she struggled, revealing a shiny white waist and delicate white skin. Pauls lower abdomen felt hot and hardened. He had been thinking about her for days, and his lust had been simmering for days. He slept all night dreaming about this stupid woman shaking her ass to seduce him. Go away! Dont touch me! Nancy realized what Paul was going to do, and she rebelled violently. Paul put his hand on Nancy and asked her fiercely, Are you going to marry Marcos? He was going to take her tonight and not let her marry that hypocritical man. But he wanted to know what was going through her mind. Nancy hated the way he pushed her around. She hated the instant nder of his mouth. She hated the way he threatened her. Let me go! If you make another move, Ill scream! Go ahead and scream! Paul stared at her angrily. Theres nobody here, and nobody can hear your scream. If you touch me again, Ill kill you! Kill me? Paulughed. You dont have the strength to tie up a chicken. Are you sure you can kill me? Paul pulled a dagger out of his boot. By the way, even if I gave you a knife, you would not dare to do it to me. Not only did he carry a gun at all times, but he also took a knife at all times. The hilt of the knife was thrust into her hand. He stroked her cheek and said with a cold smile, Theres no one here. You killed me, and nobody noticed. Nancy was a little shocked. Kill me so you can have fun with other men. Dont push me. I can do it. She had told herself never to have anything to do with the man who cheated on her. Even if she died, she didnt want to be involved with him again! But now, he had caught her again. Nancy pulled out the de, and her grip began shaking with the cold light. Paul pinched her chin and said defiantly and yfully, Dont you dare? Or are you reluctant to kill me? Nancy was trembling. Youll never see Marcos again, Nancy. Ill take you back. Bringing her back had be a nightmare in Nancys mind. He pulled down her pants and squeezed his c*ck between her legs. Her eyes widened as it burned her. You still have a chance. On the count of three seconds, you give up Nancy pressed a knife to her chest. She knew she could not beat him. Pauls face changed. The red blood had quickly prated her white skin. Pauls heart began to panic, watching the red blood slide down, her hands shaking and straining. Are you mad? He quickly grabbed her by the wrist. I dont want you, even if I die, Nancy said with firm determination in her eyes. Pauls heart seemed to be pierced with a knife at that moment. Let go! Paul held her wrist tightly, afraid that she would do something stupid. The knife had gone in part and could not be knocked out at any time, and he was afraid that she would bleed if he pulled it out. No. I wont. Nancy clung to the knife. Tears streamed from the corners of her eyes. What the hell do you want me to do, Paul? Pauls eyes were nk, the veins on the back of his hand twitching furiously, afraid that if he strangled her too hard, the bones of her hand would break. But if it were too light, she wouldnt let go of the knife. I wont touch you. Stop it! Paul slipped back into his pants and pulled on the chain. He lost all interest in being stirred by her like this. Nancy shouted in silence. Put on my pants, too. He had no idea that she had be so strong. Paul carefully moved her body, put her trousers on, but rubbed her blood down. Frankly speaking, his heart ached badly, preferring Nancys knife to stab him. She was so weak. He didnt know she could survive. Nancy!? Paul discovered her sight began to wander and tried to pat her cheek. Nancy said in a daze, I I feel faint with blood Youre getting dizzy now? She was only now beginning to be afraid. All this bleeding was her blood. The thought of it made Nancypletely faint. Chapter 369: Nathan, I鈥檓 Sorry Inside the vi, doctors came in and out. Luckily, Eric sent Crystal into his car, and he gave her warm measures in time and kept her cold feet warm. Miss Smith and the baby are fine. But Miss Smith was cold and somewhat weak. As for her feet, its taboo to touch cold water in this weather, replied the doctor. Youd better help her now, help her to activate her blood lest she might fall off rheumatism when she is older. Eric had Crystals feet rubbed by himself with the best essential oil. Crystal fell asleep in a daze. Her tears never stopped, as though she had dreamt of something sad. Her dry lips moved, calling someones name. Eric got close enough to hear her. Nathan Im sorry. Nathan Im sorry, Im sorry. Every word she said was ss into Erics heart. Eric froze his face and did not stop rubbing. The bedroom was fully heated, and Crystal poached and slept under a thick woolen nket. She was like a newborn baby with the white fur against her white skin. Eric sat stiffly on his back, rubbing Crystals feet all the time. The two servants waited on Crystals other foot and were surprised to see how Eric looked. In the middle of the night, the bodyguard knocks on the door. Sir, we found something in theke. Not knowing what was to be fished for, they fished out the bottles, the pretty stones, and the shoes that had fallen into theke. Finally, they saw the watch. It should be this one. The bodyguard presented it to him carefully. Eric paused stiffly to get up and washed his hands before taking the watch. The quality and style of the watch looked familiar. Eric took a closer look, and sure enough, he saw the Brilliant Group logo on the dial. His figure stiffened in anger. If he knew what she was looking for had something to do with Nathan, why did he order his men to find it in the middle of the night? Crystal didnt bat an eye when he threw away the bracelet she had boughtst night. And this watch almost cost her life. A hunch told Eric there was something wrong with the watch. He found the switch button. Then he heard the vow of love of Nathan and Crystal. Erics eyes grew dark, and he stared hard at Crystal. His arm rose, and he was about to smash the watch! But in an instant, his hand dropped feebly again. He went to the bedside and ced the watch on the bedside table. Crystal, I havent had time to be a part of your past, he said, leaning down and holding her face. But, you must have me in your future! And she could only have him in her future. He might allow Nathan to be a part of Crystals memory. Most of the time, it was not that he didnt care. He just knew that his caring would only push her further. So he pretended not to care. He noticed that Crystals cheek was beginning to swell as he approached. This was her reaction to being pped. Eric saw that there was blood on the corner of her mouth that split open. He knew at once what she had been through. At the vi, she met Nathan again. Erics eyes darkened. But he could probably imagine that they had had another fight, or Crystal wouldnt have cried. Eric understood the personalities of these two people. He knew why they were fighting and the fact that they had no future. But he could no longer tolerate Nathan getting between him and Crystal. Eric smiled darkly and immediately ordered the servant to bring the medicine. He wanted to put some swelling on Crystals cheek. Crystal shrunk unconsciously because the medicine hurt. Erics unquenchable anger rose again. No one can ever hurt his woman again, not even Nathan. Give her a good foot massage and dont stop, Eric told some of the maids and marched out of the room. He went to the study, picked up his cell phone, and called the Davis House. The tall figure stood beside a curtain that drifted in the wind. Youd better control your son. Eric slightly tilted his head, eyes gloomy and faced evil. If he everys hands on my wife again, Ill get even with him. You dont want to lose him and me, do you? Hes the only son you have, and you want your family to be childless? Eric sighed and said, It doesnt matter to me. I can have your style in those days if I have to. You were ruthless when you were young. I never thought youd be in such a funk now. Erics handsome face was covered with a vicious smile. I have nothing to do with you. And please dont talk about the past, not to mention my mother. Because you dont deserve it. Eric turned away, his face blurred in the darkness. He lit his cigarette, slowly breathed out as if he thought of something, and smiled viciously and sadly. **** Crystal looked out of the window and shivered. She could feel a chilling from nowhere. Her mind was very flustered, and she always had a terrible foreboding. She didnt know she was like this because Nancy disappeared or Nathan. Or she still couldnt heal her wounds that night? She suddenly had a coat on her shoulder. Miss Smith, Reminded the servant. You had better rest in bed, for you are weak. Crystal turned, feeling the pain in her heart. She missed Nathan whenever she was awake, and her guilt was overwhelming. She went into the bathroom and flipped through a drawer. The de she had been keeping in it was gone. Crystal opened the door and asked the servant, Did you put the de away that I put in the drawer? What de? Forget it. Please dont touch my things anymore! Crystal closed the bathroom door and frowned. The sudden pain was more than she could bear. She paced up and down the room, grabbing hold of her hair. She thought she might be experiencing symptoms of mania because she was depressed at a certain time of day. She found an electric razor. Crystal opened the slot and took the de out. It turned out that even pain was addictive. Since she first cut a blood bank in her arm to relieve the pressure, it had been her most normal way. Crystal seemed to see her name on Nathans arm again. She pulled up her sleeves and shed at her white arm. She scratched her arm with a razor de and then glued it carefully with a band-aid. She drew a slow breath. The pain made her close her eyes and made her feel less guilty about Nathan. The door of the bathroom was suddenly pushed open and hit the wall with a bang. Before Crystal could respond, her hand, which was holding the de, was clenched hard!RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Crystal looked slightly startled as Eric stared angrily into her eyes! What are you doing? Crystal was slightly surprised. Tell me, Crystal, what are you doing? What am I doing? What does it matter to you? Crystal took a heavy breath. Youre my wife. Everything you do is my business. Am I your wife? Crystal sneered. Im just your revenge and fertility tool! Chapter 370: So Mesmerized? Eric looked at Crystal in shock. You can rest assured that these small cuts will not affect the childs physical health. And it wont affect your revenge on Nathan! Crystal said happily, her jaw suddenly strangled. Eric clutched her jaw tightly. I thought you were a strong woman, but youre just so vulnerable. Thats right. Im vulnerable. Didnt you know that? That was why Eric asked the servant to put the des away. Just now, it was also the servant who heard that Crystal was looking for the de, so she rushed to find Eric immediately. Looking at the sweat on his forehead, the way he was out of breath, still breathing heavily, Crystal smiled. What did he care about? Give me the de. Eric grabbed her by the wrist. Crystal squeezed it tightly and refused. Crystal! He growled. Shouldnt you feel good to see me so ill? Getting even with Nathan and not making me feel good. Erics eyes darkened, and he grabbed the de from her hand. It was sharp as it had been; it was only a slight stroke, and blood was dripping from the palm of his hand. Crystal shivered and let go of her hand. The de fell to the ground. Eric bent down to pick it up the first time, threw it into the trash can, and immediately let the servante in to clean it up. Crystal smiled at his nervous look. Its only a skin wound. How can you be so nervous? Her hand had been involuntarily pulled onto the sink. Eric turned on the tap to rinse the blood off. Eric ripped the bandage off her arm. He didnt suspect at first, but he didnt understand why she kept the band-aid on her arm. Later he remembered that the band-aid had been on her ever since she had been rescued from the manor. Later, he became wary, so he sent a servant to keep Crystal close to him 24 hours a day and put away all the sharp des. Two nights earlier, she had left the house with Nancy. The guard reported him at once. Eric caught up with him for the first time, but he got off the road. When he got there, it was already toote. Erics eyes were dim. He said suddenly, Do you want to see Carlos? Crystal gave a shock at him. Would you like to see him now? Crystal was stiff. What have you done to him? Why do you think I am like that? He just cries when he hears your name. No way. There are ways to make him cry, arent there? Erics handsome face lifted an evil smile.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Crystal narrowed her eyes and finally realized that he was only threatening her. Why do you have to do this? Eric took her hand and looked lovingly at her wound. I dont want anything from you. I only want you to take good care of yourself. I will naturally love you all. Crystal didnt say anything. Your family, your friends, and your old lovers. Crystals eyes shed, and she stared at him. If I love you, I will love all of you, and they are part of you. He smiled. Crystal turned away coldly and said nothing. He said he loved her. Of course, she didnt take his words seriously. And she was disgusted that he had said it in a threatening, frivolous way. His voice rang over her head. Do you hear me? Yes. I will take care of myself. Good girl. He held out his tail fingers with satisfaction and hooked hers. Dont forget, this is our mutual love agreement. In the depths of Crystals eyes burned the fiercest mes, and the hatred grew unbridled. Had it not been for Carloss uncured illness, she would have loved to let the devil man die and drag him into the darkest hell of pain. Crystals chest was stuffy, as if there was an explosion in her ear! The mes all over the sky engulfed her and Eric,pletely igniting the mes of hatred in her eyes. So she couldnt see the tenderness that filled Erics eyes as he stared down at her. After that, Crystal became calmer and calmer. She had a bad appetite these days. She would almost throw up if she ate anything, especially greasy food. Eric asked his servant to make porridge for her, along with boiled vegetables. Crystal sat alone in the huge dining room, eating porridge quietly. Nancy wasnt there. She was kind of alone with Eric in the room. She would often stare at the porridge until the bowl of porridge slowly cools, only to find that she did not eat a bite. Sometimes she would stare at her phone, but the screen was always ck. The servants didnt know what she was looking at. When Nancy had not been taken away by Paul, she woulde to see her from time to time and ask endless questions, which helped to divert her attention. But now the days are lonely. It seemed to her that the seconds passed so slowly. So in a trance, her head could be nk for a whole day. She couldnt hear anyone speaking. Sometimes she looked in the mirror and brushed her hair for a whole day. Crystal lifted her fringe to reveal the burn on her forehead. She stared at it, and before she knew it, tears came to her eyes. She no longer dared to face the mirror but went out into the yard and sat on the swing in the sun. Eric wasing down the stairs when he saw her staring at her own shadow. She didnt even know when he came up to her. The servant could only whisper to her, Miss Smith, Master arrived. Crystal couldnt hear, watching her shadow gently dangling along with the swing. Eric suddenly stood in front of her and stepped on her shadow. She looked up. What are you thinking about? So mesmerized? Her eyes had lost their usual look, and she was more like a doll without a soul. Eric was not used to her being so sluggish. She used to drive him crazy with her quick tongue. Now he wanted her to hit him or scold him. But after that night, she was horribly quiet, like a walking corpse. If youre not happy, tell me. Eric froze her: Dont be bored by yourself. I want to see Nancy. Youll see her soon. Dont you have a lot of power? Why do you put it off again and again? Is it because you cant? Eric raised his eyebrows. Of course, he could get Nancy back right away, but the time hadnte yet. He half crouched down and looked her in the eyes. I promise Ill get Nancy back to you safe and sound. Trust me, my dear. Crystal looked at him coldly, cold to assimte the sunshine. You depend on her? Eric lifted his lips. Nancy was vaguely opinionated and liked to clingy to Crystal all day. But he could see that Crystal, who looked powerful, was really more dependent on Nancy than anyone else. As if her mind was being read, Crystal snapped her hand away and looked away. In your heart, do you trust Nancy more? Eric felt that he couldnt match her friends no matter how much he did. Because I trusted that Nancy would never leave me, never betray me, never threaten me. Crystal, I didnt realize you were such a coward not to fight for your affections! Crystal moved her lips and said nothing. She wanted to fight for it, but it was not Erics feelings she wanted to fight for. And, besides, she did not believe him to have any real feelings for her. Where was this fight to begin? In her opinion, she needed Nancy more now and needed her to keep talking to distract her. On the other hand, Eric would only suffocate her, make her live in the memory of the past, and remind her of Nathan all the time. Nathan was the guy she tried to forget but couldnt get him out of her soul. Chapter 371: The Number Is Invalid At night, Crystal woke up sweating from her nightmare. The servant somehow slipped down on the carpet and fell asleep by the door. Crystal opened her eyes in tears. It was dark and still. She looked down at the ovepping lights, her heart aching as if she had been sliced open by razor des. She tiptoed out of bed and picked up the phone from the bedside table. She walked barefoot into the bathroom, sat on the toilet, and stared at the ck screen for a while. A week before, she had lost control of herself and seemed to have unconsciously dialed the number she had branded at her fingertips. But there came a female voice without feeling: The number you have dialed is not in service. Please check the number and dial again. Well, the number was invalid. At that moment, her heart suddenly fell into the ice, and her blood was frozen. Nathan used to tie her down and hound her, and he wouldnt let go no matter how hard she fought and struggled with him. She thought that if she turned around, he would still be there, ready to seize her. Crystal smiled wryly andforted herself. Fortunately, the number was not in service. Otherwise, when she got through, what should she say? What else could she say? She was so hard on Nathan. She had broken his heart. At this moment, would she say that she regretted it and made everything she had done be a failure? Fortunately, the empty number gave Crystal another vent hole. She was afraid of talking and disturbing the servants, so she sent a lot of messages. Almost every massage, she said she was sorry to him. I dream about you again, Nathan. I dream about the day you lived in Vi Beverly and how bad you were to me. I miss you very much. I miss you every day. She would also talk about what happened when he wasnt around. She talked about Carlos. I was really scared. I was afraid because of me, a good persons whole life would be ruined. I feel very useless. I tried to protect all of you, but I didnt protect any of you. Nathan, I deserve all this pain, right?RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only But Nathan, Im so tired, I dont think Im going to make it. What should I do? Fortunately, your mobile number is not in use anymore. Or Im afraid Ill go mad if I dont say it. Crystal was typing on her cell phone and suddenly remembered something. She called until she heard the voice of the cold robot girl. She breathed a sigh of relief, and her heart sank. She looked out of the window. It seemed to be dawn. Was he awake? Was he still dreaming? Was he still alone? Would anyone wake up in his arms and say good morning to him? Good morning, Nathan. Its so nice to wake up every day with you and the sun. Crystal said into her cell phone. With a rustling sound outside, Crystal quickly put away her phone. It was the servant who had been sleeping by the door that woke up. Miss Smith, are you in there? The servant patted the door. Crystal woke up in the middle of the night and stayed in the bathroom for a while. This time, she was talking to herself in the bathroom, which made the servant feel eerie. I want to take a bath. Crystal stood up. You dont have toe in. Ive got the water ready myself. If she went out in this state, the servant would see something and tell Eric again. So, she washed for a while. The servant came in and gave her a towel to wipe her body. Eric told the servant to do so, and Crystal guessed it. Suddenly there was a crash of something hitting the ground outside. Crystal gasped for a moment, then a series of bangs sounded on the floor. Crystal grabbed her bathrobe and put it on, and hurried out. Paintings and vases were smashed all over the corridor, scattering everywhere, and even the floormps were smashed to pieces. Crystal looked down the road at the broken pieces and heard the servant shouting from below, Mrs. Bush, are you all right? Mrs. Bush? Was that Erics mother? Mrs. Bush was running so fast that she missed thest few steps and rolled straight down. She had a picture in her hand, and the canvas rolled down with her. She crawled to get it. As soon as the servant came near, she cried violently, Donte here, get out of here, all of you! Amos, dont do this to me, please. Crystal met Mrs. Bush for the first time, but her disheveled hair made her back sweat. Crystal was shocked. My child! Mrs. Bush muttered to herself, her eyes wandering. Thats right, our child, where is our child? Its you! You killed our child Crystal could not slow down on the banister. Mrs. Bush? she called tentatively. She looked carefully at the broken ss at her feet, and suddenly arge hand seized her wrist. Eric, who heard the voice rushing out of the study, pulled her behind him. Thats my mother. Shes ill. Dont go near her. Crystal guessed, from her state of mind, what the illness might be. In a vague way, she had heard some remarks from the servants that she had been shaken and that her spirits were up and down. Sometimes she got emotional, like now, and she would hurt people without realizing it. At that moment, Mrs. Bush had pushed over arge antique vase near the stairs. The debris immediately scattered on the ground, some sshing and cutting Mrs. Bushs hand. Mrs. Bush became rmed. She picked up a fragment of the vase from the ground and waved it at her bodyguard, who was about to approach her. Any of you daree here! Ill kill anyone whoes and hurts my child. Mrs. Bush stroked her belly and became loving again. My dear baby, she whispered, Mommy will protect you. When all the people saw this, they dared not move forward. They were not afraid that she would hurt them but that she would hurt herself in the heat of the moment. Eric told Crystal not to go down, and he hurried downstairs, trying to get close to Mrs. Bush. How did Mrs. Bush let Erice near her? Just as he reached out to grab her hand, which was holding the piece, she shook it, and the piece struck hard at Eric. Of course, Eric did not dare to hurt his mother, so he ran up to her and held her by the wrist. So, it crossed the palm of his hand, and he quickly grabbed Mrs. Bush. He grabbed his mother in her arms and went upstairs. Mrs. Bush was held up and still kept trying to reach out. She shouted, Let me go, Amos Davis! Let me go! You cant do this to me! Mrs. Bushs eyes were wandering, and she was holding on to Eric. Call the doctor. Eric had several scratches on his face. The servant hurried back, and several bodyguards helped open the guest room door. Then they found towels and quickly tied Mrs. Bush up. Who brought her here? One of the bodyguards dropped his head and said, She asked the driver to bring her by herself. She arrived in a good state of mind. But The doctor came and sedated her. Chapter 372: Mrs. Bush Emotional Break Out Crystal looked at Mrs. Bush in a trance. Amos Davis is Eric stood up and pressed the wound with a swab of alcohol. Is Amos Davis Nathans father? Crystal asked again. Yes. Eric looked down at her. Are you surprised? So you and Nathan You have a good imagination. We are not rted. What about the child? Isnt it obvious? The childs death was the main cause of her nervous breakdown. Eric held out his injured hand and said, Honey, arent you just a little too curious? My hand hurts, shouldnt you be concerned about me? So, that was why Erics always trying to get even with Nathan? Eric, still in a daze, raised his hand and said, Please dress my wound. I will tell you when you finish dressing it. Crystal stared at him quizzically. I always mean what I say. Crystal pressed her lower lip in silence and pointed to a nearby chair. You can sit there. She had done a lot of dressings now, each time for Nathan. But every time he got hurt, it was because of her.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Crystal shook her head. Why did she still think about Nathan at this point? It was as if her world could not be separated from that man. She thought of him in everything she did now. Crystal took the medicine, alcohol, and gauze from the doctor and examined Erics wound with an alcohol-soaked cotton ball. The wound was a little deep. Sew up this cut? She asked, looking up as if it were a matter of little consequence to her. Eric chuckled. No. Its just a small cut. Youd better sew it and make it quick to heal. Can you sew? No. Never mind. What? I only want you to sew. Crystal gave him a dirty look. The man was still joking at this point, but her expression soon returned to indifference. What does it matter to her about his wound? Since you dont want to sew up the wound, Ill dress it for you. But remember not to let the wound touch the water. Do you care about me? Ive been waiting for a day for a long time. What do you mean? You dress it for me. Psycho. Why would anyone want to get hurt? Crystal bandaged it carefully for him. Then she handed the tray to the servant and took it down. Can you tell me now? My mother had an affair with Amos Davis, ended up having an abortion, and married my father. Because of the miscarriage, she had nightmares that got worse and worse until she had to be medically treated. So his father hurt your mother, so youre going to take it out on him and me? Why do you always think of me that way? Because I know you too well. Eric stroked her face andughed innocently. Honey, you know me, he said. Youre really mean. Honey,e on, dont get mad. Eric stroked her tight face. Im helpless, too. Crystal pped his hand away and chuckled. What good does it do you to have me? Are you happy, having separated others by your own hand? Im happy now. Its enough that I care about you being around me. Eric, youre reallyplicated. Erics eyes darkened. All myplexity is only for one simple purpose. Why do you always not believe me? Well, your object is nothing but revenge. You know what? Eric said, Implicated because I love you. You are wrong. Eric looked at Crystal with hurt eyes, Because C I love you. Crystals body suddenly shook. He had said that he loved her many times but never once was so serious and solemn as this time. She stared at him deeply, his eyes were so unfathomable that she couldnt see through what he was thinking. I cant see any love in your eyes. One day, you will. Crystal turned her face away, she didnt want that day toe. In the evening, after eating, Crystal saw a servant in and out of the guest room and asked, Mrs. Bush is awake? The personal servant of Crystal ran upstairs and said, Yeah, she is. How is she? Did she get better? She looks normal, but. The servant frowned, But she seems to be a bit weird, we cant tell whats wrong exactly. Weird? Her mannerism, her eyes, and Call the doctor. Young mistress, are you going to see Mrs. Bush? The young master ordered, you cant go Crystal didnt listen to her, opened the half-covered door straight, and saw Mrs. Bush stood by the bed, stroking her abdomen, looking out the window. Hearing the door opening, she whispered, Amos, are you here? Crystal did not reply and softly approached her. Amos, I have good news for you. You are going to be a father, we have a baby As she turned around and saw Crystal, her face changed drastically, Who are you? Crystal thought that Mrs. Bushs expression looked a little strange and was about to ask, only heard that Mrs. Bush said coldly, Did Amos let youe? I You must know where Amos is. Did he ask you to pick me up? Wait a minute, I will change my clothes first, then Ill leave with you. Mrs. Bush, it is not Mr. Davis who asked me toe. Why dont you let me see Amos? You are his mistress! No, I am not. I am Erics wife You are lying! You are obviously the mistress who took Amos away! Mrs. Bush, calm down. Crystal stepped back but saw Mrs. Bush suddenly knelt down for her, Please, please let me see Amos. I have a lot of words to say to him personally. I have no other requirements, I just want to see him Please get up first. Crystal tried hard to help her stand up. However, Mrs. Bush cried heartbreakingly and said, I beg you, can you take me there? I wont ask for too much. I just want to see him and tell him that we have a baby Mrs. Bush started to kowtow to her after speaking, Please, let me see him- She kept kowtowing frantically on the ground, making heavy noises one by one. How could Crystal watch the elder kowtow to herself? She hurriedly shouted at the servant outside, What are you doing? Help Mrs. Bush get up. Please, let me see Amos, please. At this time, the doctor came. Donte here. If you dont let me see Amos, I will jump from here. The more people were here, the more agitated Mrs. Bush was. Seeing that she had climbed onto the window sill, the servant eximed, Madam, dont go up, its dangerous. Let the security guards pull something below to catch her. Crystal secretly ordered the servant. Take me to see Amos, otherwise, I will jump down with my child! Mrs. Bush, go down first. I promise that Ill take you to see Amos. Really? Mrs. Bush fixed her eyes on Crystal, tears still hanging in her eyes. Chapter 373: Why Not Stop Her? Crystal nodded, He sent me to pick you up,e down first. Mr. Davis is very busy now, so when his time is arranged, I will take you to see him. Mrs. Bush was suspicious, hesitating for a while. Crystal immediately winked at the servant, and the servant hurriedly went up to let Mrs. Bush get down. You are pregnant now, so you need to rest first, okay? When will you take me to see Amos? After he finishes his work, okay? Just these two days. You are lying! No, I am not lying. You can trust me. It seemed that with this guarantee, Mrs. Bushs mood had stabilized slightly. You were so excited just now, let the doctor see your child, okay? Mrs. Bush nodded slowly. The doctor immediately stepped forward and pretended to check for Mrs. Bush, You are fine, and your child has no problem too. Then Mrs. Bush was relieved andy back on the bed obediently. The doctor said to Crystal, Madam has just calmed down. It is not suitable to have too many people here. I will stay here. Crystal nodded and went out. Eric came back in the evening, sat on the sofa, and pulled off the ufortable cor. The doctor stood in the front and said, Now Mrs. Bush is deranged, and her memory goes back to before she was stimted. So? So we cant reveal her no matter what she says, and she can no longer be stimted. What are the consequences if she were exposed? She is living in her own imagination, and there is still hope for her life. It would undoubtedly break her hope once it was revealed, and she was forced to ept reality. Once there is no hope of living, she will bepletely crushed. Crushed? Crystal asked in a low voice, Cant we use dr*g treatment? The doctor shook his head, The reason Mrs. Bush would be like this is that she has received too much stimtion before. She used to avoid it subconsciously. Now she is reluctant to face it. The medicine can only calm her down, but if she wants to recover, she still needs some positive solutions. For example? Eric swept away coldly. As long as she is willing to open her heart and ept the facts slowly, she will naturally get better. How to open her heart? There is an old saying that whoever started the trouble should end it. Crystal calmed down, I have promised Mrs. Bush to see Mr. Davis. Crystal, you are too naive. Do you think you can see Amos if you want to? Why do you think that Amos will be willing to help my mother? How do you know if you dont try? You are so smart. You can definitely find a way. Eric turned his face away. Those old events, let alone Amos, didnt want to touch, even himself didnt want to think about. She is your mother, dont you want her to be good? Of course I want her to be good, I would think of a way. He pressed his temple hard, Its not difficult to see him. Im afraid that its not so easy to ask him for help. When his words fell, a servant rushed downstairs in a hurry, Young master, Mrs. Bush starts moring to see Mr. Davis, and she said that if she couldnt see him, she would jump downstairs. The doctor got up immediately, I will calm the patient. After the doctor left, Eric thought for a while and said, Three dayster, it will be Amos birthday party. He sent me the invitation letter a few days ago. Amos would send someone to send an invitation letter every time of the year, but he had never attended. This year he had originally wanted to refuse as usual but was afraid that he would attend this time. Do you want toe together? You want me to go? Wasnt he afraid that she would meet Nathan? **** Amos birthday party was held abroad. This was a romantic country, embracing couples, flowers all over the ground, champagne and wine, cafes. The mansion of Amos was located in the vineyard, which also belonged to the Davis. Because it was rtively remote from the city, the environment was elegant with pleasant scenery. Just thinking that Nathan was also here, Crystals heart was beating inexplicably wildly, looking at the same sky. The ck luxury sedan drove into a tree-lined path, the wind blew, and the leaves rustled. This peaceful experience made people feel particrlyfortable. Crystal was a little nervous. One hand suddenly held the back of her hand, and Ericughed softly, Are you nervous? I am not nervous. I am just worried whether Mrs. Bush will lose control when she sees Mr. Davis. Thats also nervous, since Amos promised to see her, he will be prepared. Crystal bit her lip, Why do you want me toe? You are not afraid You already have my child, what am I afraid of? Crystal stared at him suspiciously. Eric held her hand and kissed, My mother is also your mother. Besides, I want to cure her too. Crystal didnt understand what Eric was thinking, but his exnation had relieved her tension a lot. To be honest, because she knew if she came here, she might meet Nathan, she hadnt slept well all night. The car stopped in front of the manor, and the gate slowly opened. In front of them, there was a widewn, divided by a road, and several servants were watering and mowing thewn on both sides. The road in the middle led to the manor castle. As Erics car drove forward, Crystal saw several horses eating grass and several servants brushing the horses backs.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. This manor rarely had guests, so the servants looked at them curiously when they saw the car. Suddenly a few hounds smelled of strangers and barked. Others broke off the chains and rushed towards them, but the breeder tied their chains halfway through. Crystal looked at the hounds grinning and barking at them. She pulled the curtain down. The car finally stopped in front of the castle. The butler and servants came out to greet them, Young master Bush, Mr. Davis invites you to wait in the living room for a while. He went to the mountain in the morning, and it is almost time to get down. Since they had arrived here, Eric was not in a hurry, he went in with the butler. After waiting for almost an hour, Amos hadnte yet. Crystal was sitting on the outdoorwn, looking at her watch from time to time. The servant sent a message apologetically, The signal is not good in the mountain. Some people have gone to pick them up. I am sorry that you may have to wait for more time. Take your time. Eric took coffee slowly. However, Mrs. Bush couldnt sit still anymore. She got up and said that she wanted to see the horse. Crystal squinted, full of thoughts. She didnt want to be seen through, so she looked down at her mobile phone. Suddenly they heard the servants exmation. Crystal looked up and found that Mrs. Bush was riding a sturdy maroon horse, galloping outside of the manor. What happened? She wanted to ride a horse, so the servant let her ride, but we didnt expect her to ride out while we were not paying attention. Why not stop her? She is our guest, we should naturally give her enough respect. Eric had selected a ck horse and jumped on it neatly, Ill chase her. You stay here. I aming too. Chapter 374: Was That Her Hallucination? Eric held the reins and reached out to pull her up. I can ride. The servant happened to bring a maroon horse over at this moment. Crystal leaped on horseback handsomely. The butler also followed them, in case their guests would have any trouble, he had sent a dozen bodyguards to follow them. The mountain road was very narrow, which was inconvenient to drive, so they all rode horses. Soon they arrived at a bifurcated road with horseshoe prints on the ground. It was impossible to tell where Mrs. Bush was going. Eric had no choice but to divide the people into two groups and let the butler take one group to the other side. Im going with the other group. Crystal wanted to go with the butler. Its very dangerous in the mountains, there are all kinds of beasts. With so many people together, what are you afraid of? You just want to be separated from me? Its nice that you know it. After leaving these words coldly, Crystal had already raised her whip and rode into another way. Eric saw that her riding skill wasnt inferior to his at all, so he just let her go. In addition, she was not in a good mood for a long time, so it was a good opportunity to let her rx. She might feel better after appreciating the beautiful scenery of the mountain. The mountain was veryrge, it was too inefficient to search together. So the butler suggested finding different ways. If anyone found Mrs. Bush, they woulde back here and fire shots to notify other people. Crystal also agreed, so they separated. It was said that there were venomous snakes and beasts here. Crystal had to be vignt. Once she found out something was wrong, she would immediately run back. At this moment, the leaves were rustling by the wind, which had an indescribable gloomy feeling in the empty mountain. Crystal looked ahead and suddenly felt a pair of murderous eyes staring at her in a certain direction. She suddenly looked in the suspicious direction and vaguely saw a tall figure riding a horse between the cracks of the bushes. Crystals heart skipped a beat suddenly. That figure seemed like Nathan, was that her hallucination? Or was it Amos? Who is there? Crystal pulled the reins tightly. Her heart was beating wildly. She was ready to run at any time, but just like her heartbeat, her heart was out of control. She tightened the reins, walked slowly towards that direction, around the bushes, and walked to the ce just now, where it was empty and no one at all. Sure enough, it must be her illusion. As she was about to turn around to leave, she noticed the footprints of a horse on the ground, the original vigorous grasses were stepped into the dirt. She dismounted and saw a purple wildflower stuck in the dirt. Then she bent down to pick it up. The wildflower was fresh, that was to say, it had just been stepped on. Was it Amos or?Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. At this time, a strong breath approached her. She turned her head abruptly and saw a tall steed appear in front of her. Crystal still saw him after almost a month. She had thought that she would have never seen him again. Nathan wore a white riding outfit with a sharp face and an indifferent expression. Against the light, his eyes were so gloomy, as if he were going to absorb her soul. Crystal felt her heart suffocate fiercely, staring at him like that as if his eyes were maic. She fiercely clutched the purple wildflower in her hand as if she had forgotten to breathe. Nathan hooked up his lips andughed mockingly, Its my dizziness, am I right? How do you know that I am here? He asked indifferently, You regret it, so youe to find me? Crystals face was as pale as a sheet. It was the first time that they had been separated for so long, even after they had announced their breakup. Only at this moment did Crystal find that seeing him was so precious, and talking to him was like dreaming. You are really a bitch. She cursed herself, and now she couldnt even say anything to deny. Miss Smith, wont you tell me that you are traveling here? I Nate- At this moment, a female voice came from a distance. Crystal frowned and saw a woman riding a white horse passing by the trail she had juste. They were a little far away, but Crystal could still see that the woman was wearing a riding uniform of the same style as Nathan, with several bodyguards behind her. Crystal didnt know why, from the womans dress, temperament, and the way she called Nathan, an inexplicable hostility surged in her heart. Women always have a natural sixth sense. That woman called him Nate instead of Nathan or Master Davis. It was obvious that their rtionship was unusual. Someone is looking for you. Crystal was finally able to say aplete sentence. Is this relevant to your appearance here? Nathan stared at her with a sullen look. Its not relevant at all, but she is calling you. You should go back as soon as possible. Nathan mocked, Miss Smith, I dont like going around in circles. If you have anything, lets be straight. What do you mean? Why are you here? Nate? The woman seemed to hear their voices and was walking towards them. Crystal fixedly looked in that direction. These days, she had thought about countless scenarios when they met again, perhaps in front of a certain shop window, or a corner of the street, or But she had never thought it would be here She alsoughed mockingly,ughing at herself. She had never known that she would have looked forward so much to meeting him again. Crystal crushed the flower in her hand and jumped on the horse to move forward. The cold figure sat on the horse and said, Who allows you to go? It was still an arrogant tone. You havent answered my question yet. His whip was suddenly thrown over, wrapping around Crystal waist, If you dont answer me, you will fall off the horse. Im here to see your father. Nathans hand suddenly stiffened, Why are you seeing him? My husband and I need his help for something. Her husband? Was Eric here too? Nathans eyes narrowed dangerously. This damned woman would always suddenly appear in front of him when his life returned to calm. Nate. The woman had already ridden behind Nathan, This youngdy is? Crystal then saw the womans appearance clearly. The ck hair was pulled sideways at will, with a centipede braid. She had ck agate-like eyes, fair and clean skin. Crystal saw her hairstyle, which was actually the one Nathan helped her tie in the cabin At the time, he had said that she looked very good with that hairstyle, so he had especially tied it up for her. This hairstyle was also very suitable for the woman in front of her. Although they looked very different, the quiet and charming temperament they exuded was somewhat simr, and they belonged to the same type. Crystal did have a very special temperament, and women like her type were rtively few. Unexpectedly, for Nathan, there were too many options. Crystal suddenly felt her heart ufortable. Chapter 375: Why Do You Have To Follow Me? Hi, I am Nathans fiance. The woman said again. Crystal had already guessed it and nodded stiffly. My name is Mabel Garcia, how about you? Mabel Garcia? Crystal raised her eyebrows slightly, only to realize that the woman looked a little familiar. Whats your rtionship with Marcos? Do you know my brother? Mabel looked happy. We are twins. He is 3 minutes older than me. Crystal only thought that it must be a big joke of God. However, after thinking about it for a while, she was quickly relieved. The Garcia family was prominent, and Marcos was Nathans friend, so they were normal to have an alliance. Besides, Mabels face, appearance, and temperament were all the demeanor of the celebrities, which was understandable for Nathan and even the Davis to choose her. Are you my brothers friend? Mabel looked at Crystal, You are so beautiful. Are you his girlfriend? You misunderstood, I am not very familiar with him Crystal said distractedly, But he is very famous, so Ive heard of him. Oh, I see Mabel smiled smartly. Anyway, its nice that we can meet here. Are you here to hunt? I am a guest here. Crystal gave Nathan a nce. Are you the guest invited by Uncle Davis? Crystal didnt want to chat with her anymore, but Nathan didnt mean to interrupt them. She just remembered that she had been with Nathan for so long, but she had never heard of his fiance. He took only a month to find a fiance. Crystal felt that she couldnt breathe, her legs mped the horse, and she said, Master Davis, Miss Garcia, I have to leave now, see youter. See you. Mabel smiled politely with pity. Nathan was silent, watching Crystal waving the whip and leaving. Crystal actually wanted to hurry up and stay away from Nathans sight. However, she could only ride slowly when she thought of her pregnancy. Unfortunately, the people behind her just followed her, without the intention of catching up with her, who also slowed down and followed behind.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Crystal tightened the reins to let the horse walk on the left path. Nathan actually went that way with Mabel. Was it a coincidence, or did he do it deliberately? Crystal frowned but couldnt say anything, after all, she didnt make the road. It was just annoying that there were so many roads to go back, she had deliberately not walked back straight, why did they still follow her? She could vaguely hear Mabel talking to Nathan. Nathan even didnt stop her noisy voice. Crystal suddenly raised her whip, and she just wanted to stay away from them quickly, so she couldnt care so much. Whip after whip, she hit the horse hard. She didnt know how much force she had used, but because her whole body was too nervous that her mind went nk. The wind was roaring along with Crystal ears. She was so panicked that she ran close to a stream. The strong horse raised its two front hooves high, almost stepping into the water. Fortunately, the water was very shallow, so Crystal could control the horse to return to the safe area. She was pale and finally relieved. She stroked her abdomen, which was still fine. It seemed that Eric had given her very good medicine. But she really couldnt mess up anymore. Carlos hadnt been cured yet, so at this time, she couldnt make any mistake Crystal got off the horse and suddenly heard the sound of horse hoovesing from behind. Crystal turned back, sure enough, she saw Nathan, who came with Mabel. Why are you following me? Crystal said loudly, I have told you that Ie here as a guest! Nathan raised his eyebrows coldly, Do you own this hunting ground? The forest is so big that you can hunt everywhere. Why do you have to follow me? Miss Smith, dont tter yourself! Crystal choked, Fine, you are hunting, so what are you doing here? Nathan dismounted from his horse coldly, the riding clothes made him look gorgeous, and he took the horse to the river. The horse lowered its head and began to drink. Nathan said coldly, It seems that I am not the only one who thinks too much. Crystal seemed to get hit by a heavy hammer on her chest. Only at this moment did she understand how much Nathan had suffered when she said that. Yeah, since they had no future, she shouldnt give him hope! Thinking of the scene on Valentines Day, Crystal regretted and felt guilty, but she could never make up for it. Suddenly Nathan walked towards Crystal. Crystals body stiffened, she stared at him with wide eyes. Nathan coldly raised his hand Crystal only felt a gust of wind around her. He leaned over and picked a leaf from her head when he was very close to her. Crystal then found a tree behind her! What did you think I would do? Nathan looked at her very closely, Do you think I will kiss you? At that moment, Crystal did think so. Miss Smith, I hope you can understand that some ambiguous actions will cause misunderstandings. If you dont want me to misunderstand, its best to stay away from my world. Crystals breath was very close to him because, at this moment, they were very close to each other, almost nose to nose. If they were getting closer, their lips would press together He had always kissed her without warning and caught her off guard in the past. Now, the difference was that his face was carved exquisitely, withplete strangeness and alienation. His appearance had not changed at all. He was not thinner nor more haggard. The only thing that had changed was that when he looked at her, the affection and favor in his eyes hadpletely disappeared. However, how did a woman like her deserve his favor, his affection, and his love? Just at this moment, Mabels voice sounded, Look, there is a person in the water. Crystal turned her head to look at the opposite bank. It was Mrs. Bush who was riding across the river. After Crystal had been looking for so long, it turned out that Mrs. Bush was here! But what was she doing? She tightened the reins, and the horse seemed to be irritated by her, and its front legs rose high into the air, which made Mrs. Bush almost thrown into the water several times. Crystals face changed drastically, Mrs. Bush, dont move. Mrs. Bush? Nathan then recognized that she was Mrs. Bush, so Mrs. Bush was here too? Mrs. Bush probably heard someone call her suddenly, she was frightened. When she wanted to turn back, the horse neighed unwillingly. What is she doing? Is she crazy? This is very dangerous! Mabel eximed, The water is so deep and urgent, what if she falls Crystal wanted to shout loudly to stop Mrs. Bush, but she was afraid that she would scare her. Crystal could only see her enter the deepwater area while the water had already gotten over the back of the horse. Nathan asked coldly, Why did you bring Mrs. Bush here? Crystal just realized that she was still stuck under the tree by him and quickly pushed him away, Do you know that she is sick? Dont you save her? How can I save her? Crystal pushed him away and ran to the river bank quickly, Dont be afraid, Mrs. Bush. Mr. Davis is here, he asks me to pick you up. Mr. Davis? Nathan had already walked to her side, Amos? Dont ask more! Think of a way to save her! At this moment, Mrs. Bush heard their voices and looked at them. She suddenly shouted, Amos, are you here to pick me up? Wait for me, I aming. Soon Crystal understood that Mrs. Bush was talking to Nathan, who was somewhat simr to his father; it turned out that Mrs. Bush mistook Nathan for Amos. Ask her toe over, she will definitely listen to you. Will she listen to me? Hurry up, there is no time. The horse couldnt stand the cold anymore, let alone Mrs. Bushs whipping. It suddenly stood up, threw Mrs. Bush off, and ran ashore alone. Mrs. Bush fell into the river and was almost immediately submerged by the river. Save her. Nathan lets the bodyguards go into the water to save Mrs. Bush. Chapter 376: He Did Come At this time, the current was a little urgent, it was still difficult to save people. Crystal anxiously stood on the shore. Nathan fiercely turned her shoulders, You havent answered me yet, why are you taking her here? Mr. Davis birthday. Nathan frowned, Do you have to say that rhetoric? Crystal looked at him, Can we talkter? No! He said cruelly, What else are you hiding from me? Make it clear all at once. Do you know that Mrs. Bush and Mr. Davis had a rtionship before? Nathan frowned, he looked stunned, with a hint of astonishment shing in his eyes. It seemed that he didnt know before. At this time, the bodyguard had rescued Mrs. Bush. Crystal hadnt had much time to talk with Nathan, she pushed him away and ran over. It was very cold now, Mrs. Bush had been in aa because she had inhaled some water. Crystal immediately went over to give her artificial respiration. Cough- After coughed out a sip of water, Mrs. Bush nced around in a daze and finally fell her eyes on Nathans face. She stretched out her hand hard, Amos. Nathan stood still and looked at her coldly, he was still lost in shock at the news just now, with the terrifying expression. Amos we, we have a child Mrs. Bush put one hand on her abdomen, and the other hand tried to attract Nathans attention. But the cruel man just looked at her condescendingly. She sadly wept, Amos, please dont abandon our child and me Crystal took off her coat, pushed Mrs. Bushs hand back, and put it on her. Take us back, she is sick. She cant be stimted anymore. Nathan ordered the bodyguard to take Mrs. Bush hurriedly back to the manor. Crystal was about to get on her horse to follow up, but a tall figure stopped her, You havent made it clear yet. Mrs. Bush is Erics mother, you care about her so much? I have told you everything I know, what else do you want me to say? Suddenly a gust of wind blew Crystal, who had already taken off her coat, shivering heavily. She only wore a woolen id dress, pantyhose, and boots. It was too little for such a cold day. Nathan mounted his horse, stretched out a hand to pull Crystal. But Crystal shook her head and said, I can ride a horse by myself. Where is your horse? Crystal looked back and saw that her horse had been taken away by the bodyguard with Mrs. Bush. She hesitated for a moment and finally gave him her hand helplessly. Nathan lifted her hard and got her on horseback. She had stood in the cold wind, which almost had frozen her bones just now, while now she was sitting in front of Nathan, leaning against him. The breath of his body immediately surrounded her, making her feel very warm. While Nathan could smell the fragrance of her hair as long as he lowered his head, he unbuttoned the belt with one hand, then unbuttoned the riding uniform jacket and wrapped her in his clothes. Before Crystal reacted, he had started to button his coat. Crystal was very thin and small, so it was not too crowded even if Nathan had buttoned her into his clothes. Hey! Crystal was startled and subconsciously looked at Mabel.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. She was riding a white horse, waiting for them under the tree, her expression was quiet, and her ck and white eyes were secretly looking at Crystal. She was not stupid, since she first saw Crystal, she had seen through that Nathans eyes on Crystal were very special. It was so special that no one could ignore it. Crystal twisted her body, What are you doing? Your fiance is over there. She wanted to break free, but she was afraid that they would both fall. Nathan said coldly, Dont worry, she is very considerate. She knows what she is supposed to say and what would not. Unlike you, she doesnt talk duplicity, and she wont say something that she is not supposed to say, not like someone who will only increase my aversion. His hot breath blew on her head. Crystals heart sank like being stabbed by a needle. No wonder she thought that she was different from Mabel. Nathan rode a horse in front, Mabel followed him silently. Crystal wanted to tell him to hurry up because she was embarrassed to be like this. But she knew that he did so to take care of her body. This made Crystal cant help but feel sad again, at this time, he was still considering it for her. The blue sky was still studded with white clouds as if they could be picked up as long as people reached out. On thewn, two horses moved slowly, one after the other. Except for the sound of hoofbeat, there was seemingly a bird sound. The emptiness was a bit terrifying, especially with the strange silent atmosphere. Crystal smelled the unique mint fragrance of his body. They were physically close to each other, but their hearts were as far apart as they were thousands of miles apart. The throbbing pain in her heart had never stopped since she met him. Crystal wondered in her heart, Why was it so painful? Nathan, what should I do to stop the pain in my heart? She only hoped that this journey could be a bit longer. If it never ended, how good would it be? But how could it be possible? The manor was just in front. They rode until the gate, Nathan hadnt dismounted yet. Because he didnt get off, Mabel also sat on horseback obediently, and the servants came over to tie the rope. Crystal bit her lower lip. How did she want to get off? But if someone came, what would they think about them when they looked at this? Let me down. She moved. She wouldnt be able to get out if he didnt unbutton his coat. Nathans body was slightly stiff, and his arm slowly raised. He seemed to exhaust all energy to untie one button. Crystal finally left his embrace, and the cold wind poured in at once, but how could it bepared with her heart? He jumped off the horse abruptly and naturally reached out to her. She hesitated for a moment but still let him hug her. There was a loud sound of hoofbeat at this moment outside the manor. It was probably the owner of the manor, Amos. Sure enough, all the people at the gate stood up straight and even bowed to salute. Crystal looked over nervously, dozens of bodyguards apanying him, walking off toward them majestically. Amos was riding in the middle, dressed in a dark riding uniform, majestic and noble. Crystal vividly saw his appearance as he walked in, which was somewhat simr to Nathan. While Nathans eyes fell on Eric, he thought in his heart, He dide! Crystal only felt a pain on her shoulder, and a cold air spread from Nathan. He took off his coat suddenly and rudely threw it aside. The servant nearest to him quickly caught it. Nathans sullen gaze swept away, and he said, Why did you pick it up? Throw such dirty things away. The servant responded and was about to throw it into the trash can. Wait! The servant stood still, Burn it! Burn it? The servant widened her eyes in confusion. Nathan seemed to have some terrible virus stuck on his whole body, turned around, and walked in quickly. Mabel also hurriedly got off her horse, following Nathan, but she had given Crystal a meaningful look before leaving. Crystal, Chapter 377: What Exactly Did He Bring? Mabel slowly turned her gaze back to Nathan. It could be seen that she had good etiquette, received a very good tutor, and even the way she walked and behaved was so generous and decent. This should be the woman loved by the nobles. Crystal watched the two disappear at the gate of the manor one after another, she felt her body frozen in an instant. Eric saw Crystal from a distance, speeding up and stopping in front of her. Darling, how is my mother? He jumped off his horse naturally, as if nothing had happened before. But Crystal knew that he must have seen everything. And he seemed to have known everything in advance. So he let here together because he had known that Nathan had a fianc, so he wanted her to see it with her own eyes? She certainly knew that he was not a kind person. Just now, he had clearly seen her being hugged by Nathan but still pretending to be blind. So she also pretended and asked him, How do you know that we have found her? The bodyguard hase to inform me. Oh, she mistook Master Davis for Mr. Davis, Crystal replied skillfully. Where is she? Lets go and see her. How about Mr. Davis? He doesnt want to help, and he is very unhappy that I have brought you here. Why? The matter between you and Master Davis seems to be an unpleasant thing for him. Crystal sneered, Neglect the dying people? He is really ruthless. Darling, thank you. For what? For treating my mother as your own mother. It has nothing to do with you, I will also help if it were someone else. Lets go and see my mother first. Eric pulled her inside. Mrs. Bush was taken care of by a servant in the guest room. She had changed into clean clothes, but she was still in aa, and she also had a low fever because she was drenched in cold water earlier. The doctor had given her an infusion and suggested that she rest more and be taken care of. Crystal leaned against the window and looked out. Thinking of what Eric had said just now, she felt somewhat guilty. She would also help if it were other people, but it must be a lie that she regarded Erics mother as her own. At least she couldnt deny her selfish motive to see Nathan. But even if she had met him, so what? Amos Crystal turned back abruptly. She thought that Mrs. Bush must be awake, but the servant whispered to her that Mrs. Bush was only talking in sleep. How much would a person love the other, even calling his name in her dream? Crystal could understand now because she had called Nathans name every day in her nightmare a few days ago. Inparison, how much better was she? She might rather like Mrs. Bush who live in a dream. In the evening, the servant came to inform her that the dinner was ready. In the European-style dining room, the end of the long dining table couldnt be seen at a nce. Crystal first saw that the hosts seat was so far away from the guests. There were several serious bodyguards with guns standing in the middle. Eric approached her and whispered, Mr. Davis has been kidnapped recently, so he is very vignt. No wonder when they entered the dining room, the servant took out the instrument to check whether they were taking sharp weapons. Crystal thought it was just run after a shadow. Eric took out a gun from his waist and handed it to the servant. After Crystal and Eric had just finished the security check, there were footsteps behind them. It was Nathan and Mabel. Seeing them walking together, Crystal felt ufortable again. They had already changed into formal suits, and the colors and styles looked like a couple of costumes Crystal felt so painful as if a stick beat her heart, she just turned her head back silently. As Crystal and Eric walked a few steps forward, they heard the sharp sound of the rm behind them. The servant stopped Nathan, Young Master, your gun. Nathan said with a cold face, I didnt bring it today. Amos was getting more and more cowardly. He had been kidnapped some time ago and almost killed. After returning, he had been suspected of persecutory delusion, and he had always felt that someone wanted to hurt him. But the rm is ringing, young master the servant said embarrassingly, Can you take off your coat? Nathan took off the coat of the white suit impatiently. Inside was a white vest and light blue shirt, just like a noble prince. The servant used the instrument to scan him again, then the rm still sounded. Crystal turned around in doubt. What exactly did he bring? Nathan sneered coldly, Could I hide anything in my shirt? I am sorry, young master, I just act under orders. Nathan nced at Crystal suddenly, took off his vest and shirt, revealing his strong upper body. Several servants shyly turned their heads away. Erics cold voice reminded Crystal, Have you seen enough? Crystal then realized her gaffe, so she immediately turned her head away. But the instrument was still ringing Young Master, it might be your pants Suddenly the servants neckline was lifted up. At this moment, the bodyguards standing everywhere in the dining room took out their guns and pointed at Nathan. Crystal was shocked by such a situation, was this really a private residence? It was more like a heavily guarded prison. Young master, please cooperate with us. The servant said innocently, Otherwise, you cannot go in. Nathans eyes darkened. He didnt care to eat with Amos. Then he nced at Crystal, who had turned away and didnt look at him now. Nathan took off his belt fiercely, pulled down his pants chain, and took off his pants.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. The servants dared not look even more, and all bowed their heads. Nathan mmed his pants to the ground fiercely, Is it enough? But the instrument was still ringing Nathan smiled cruelly, Can I hide something in my body? Can you tell me how to hide it? Huh? Would you like to dissect me? The vicious voice scared the servant to quickly remove the detector, Young master, dont be angry, we just act ording to the rules. Mabel asked tentatively, Is there something wrong with the instrument? But it worked well when we checked Mr. Bush and Mrs. Bush. Then check me. Mabel took the initiative to stand forward. The servant seemed to have an amnesty, he swept Mabel a few times, it rang no matter where he scanned. In order to confirm whether the instrument was broken, he scanned himself a few times, it certainly kept making noises. The servant looked embarrassed, Young master, I am so sorry that the instrument is broken. The instrument is broken? Nathan repeated coldly, Are you sure that it wasnt your brain broken? Nate, dont get mad, okay? They cant control this kind of thing. Nathan coldly threw his hand and walked towards the dining table, sitting in the opposite position to Crystal. Crystal heard the sound of the chair moving. She raised her eyes and saw Nathan sitting half-naked even opposite her. Mabel hugged the clothes and came over, Nate, can you put on your clothes? You will catch a cold Nathan hooked up one corner of his mouth and kept silent coldly. But he was exuding a powerful and terrifying aura, which already made people understand how unhappy he was. Chapter 378: I Will Definitely Win Mabel was a smart woman, she immediately knew that if she rushed over at this time, she would be hated. Crystal really couldnt bear that the man sitting opposite was basically naked except for a pair of underwear. Moreover, this man was Nathan. Eric was still sitting next to her. The atmosphere of this dining room was depressing enough, and Nathan still wanted to make it worse. Master Davis, please put on your clothes, Crystal said coldly. Please dont affect everyones mood for dinner. Nathan pursed his thin lips coldly and said nothing. Crystal stood up indifferently and pulled away from the chair As she walked out of her position, Nathan said in a cold voice, Pants. Mabel was taken aback for a moment and immediately handed him his pants. Crystal just wanted to change her position, she didnt want to eat face to face with him, but Nathan thought she was leaving. Crystal turned her back to him, leaned on the chair, and heard the rubbing sound of clothes behind her. Soon Nathan had put his clothes on and buttoned them up. At this time, the servant began to serve dishes. The gold tableware was filled with delicious food. However, Amos had not shown up yet at this moment. When Crystal looked back, Nathan had already put on his clothes, and she quietly returned to her ce. A coquettish smile appeared on Erics face, and his eyes shed slyly, what he was nning was unknown to everyone. Based on Crystals understanding of him, his n would definitely not be friendly. The dishes were gradually served, but the seriousness and depression in the dining room never disappeared. Was it because of the bodyguards standing around? At this moment, some footsteps came again. Crystal thought it was Amos, but his personal bodyguard and his servants were there. He was just a subordinate, but there were several servants behind him. He walked to the dining table and bowed, Mr. Bush and Mrs. Bush, wee. I am Mr. Davis butler. Mr. Davis is not feeling well today, so he lets me inform everyone that he is noting for dinner. I wish you all a pleasant meal. After finishing speaking, he ordered the servants to serve dinner. Crystal noticed that this persons voice was simr to that of the person who called herst time. There was a servant standing by everyone to serve them. The servant wanted to serve Crystal some soup, Eric said faintly, My wife is pregnant, please give her a ss of milk. Yes. Crystal was used to drinking something while eating. In Erics vi, the milk produced by the cow he raised was too smelly. In order to let her eat well, Eric often lets people make some pure juice. Sometimes she even wanted to drink wine, Eric would also find a way to get the champagne that pregnant women could drink. Nancy had always said that he was very considerate. Crystal picked up the silver spoon and was about to drink some soup, but she found that Mabel, who was sitting opposite, nodded to them and prayed with her hands together. After praying, she picked up the spoon, moved gracefully, and ate with a standard posture. The servant standing aside, began to introduce various soups, including their ingredients and nutrients. Mabel smiled softly, like a celebrity, even the way she took the soup was very elegant. Crystal looked at herself again. Although her sitting posture was very decent, it looked pale inparison to Mabels innate elegance.RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only They were born noble, if Crystal wanted to say that they didnt match up, it would be against her conscience. The order of tasting each dish was different, and the servant would put the specific dish in front of each guest. Crystal thought that this form was too rigid, as if everything had rules. She couldnt eat what she wanted at first, and she couldnt eat more of what she thought was delicious, she had to follow the special order. In this way, even the most delicious dishes would be tasteless. Crystal had a meal absent-mindedly, and Amos didnte to dine with them, probably because of Mrs. Bush. Unexpectedly, he only allowed Mrs. Bush to see him from a distance, and he didnt even want to say anything to her. It seemed impossible for him to untie Mrs. Bushs heart knot. Eating in an extremely serious atmosphere, no one dared to make a sound. It was simply depressing to the extreme. After thest dish, the dinner was finally over. Crystal took the napkin handed over by the maid, wiped her mouth, and instantly felt relieved. Crystal hadnt eaten anything since this morning, this meal really made her relieved. She started to sympathize with Nathan, who had grown up in such an atmosphere. Then they all went out of the dining room, Eric and Crystal walked ahead. When they walked through the corridor, there were richly painted oil paintings on both sides. At the thought of it, Crystal was in no mood to appreciate them. Then she heard the sound of footstepsing from behind. After dinner, Crystal had to leave the manor with Eric. However, Mrs. Bush did nothing except look at Amos from a distance. During dinner, it suddenly rained. After a dull thunderstorm, the rain was getting heavier now When they arrived at the hall, the servant ran over, Mr. Bush, the weather forecast says there is torrential rain and a typhoon. Mr. Davis suggests that youd better stay overnight. Eric pursed his lips and nced at Crystal, Darling, what do you think? The thunder and lightning will unavoidably stimte Mrs. Bush, and its toote In fact, she was thinking about how to persuade Amos to help Mrs. Bush. Darling, so you want to stay? There was a dim and unknown light in Erics eyes. Crystal bit her lower lip, Do whatever you want, if you have already decided in your heart, why do you still ask me? Of course, I will listen to your opinion. Eric said profoundly, If you want to stay, we will stay, if you want to leave, we will leave. The servant knew what Eric meant, so he stretched out his hand and said, Mr. Bush and Mrs. Bush, please rest for a while in the hall. I will prepare the guest room for you immediately. Eric took Crystals hand, walked naturally, and sat down on the jacquard sofa in the hall. Suddenly he raised his head and looked at Nathan, Master Davis, it seems we havent yed cards together for a long time. Nathan paused. Crystal was also startled. Thest time when they yed cards was at Merah Club, she had sprayed Erics face with wine. Eric picked up a deck of cards on the coffee table and raised it towards Nathan, You want to y? Nathan walked towards them with one hand in the pocket and with an evil ironic smile. Mabel certainly followed Nathan with an elegant posture. Crystal frowned, probably guessing what Eric was going to do. He had just asked her whether to stay or not, in fact, he had made a secret decision. If she wanted to stay, he would retaliate against Nathan with a card game. If she decided to leave, he would let Nathan go. He did this because he knew that this was Amos territory, he couldnt y hardball. Crystal warned him, What do you want to do? Darling, after a nice meal, men always like to gamble a few rounds to kill the time. Nathan sat on the sofa coldly and seemed to be ready to take the game. Eric nced at Nathan meaningfully, Just ying cards is boring, how about ying more exciting games? Eric! Crystal shouted coldly, and she knew clearly what he wanted to do. Dont worry, darling! I think I am very lucky today, I will definitely win. Crystal red at him. How would she care whether he won or not? She just didnt want him to make trouble. Eric naturally put his arm around Crystals shoulder, leaned his lips against her ear, and said frivolously, Seeing my wife and her ex-husband flirting makes me feel very ufortable. If you dont let me vent, Im afraid that I will be bored to death. Chapter 379: Stop Playing It Crystals hands on her knees tightened. Eric had already begun to exin the rules of the game, Whoever loses will get hit by a stick. Eric looked at a model in armor in the corner of the hall, holding an iron rod in his hand, which was really made of iron. It could be imagined how painful it would be to be hit by that. They yed ckjack and had two chances to add cards. They could choose to add or not. Points would be deducted if they exceeded 21 points. (For example, if it were 23 points, only 2 points would remain, and so on.) The servant quickly returned with the iron rod. The whole rod was thick, with ckcquer and exquisite workmanship. Eric took the rod and weighed it in his hand, Master Davis must have been beaten a lot when you were a child? I dont mind helping you recall the taste of childhood. Nathan stared at Eric fiercely like a wolf, It depends on whether you have good enough luck or not. My gambling luck has always been good, I am always Gods favorite. Eric smiled and began to deal cards. Sure enough, after only two cards, Eric had taken a Q of Spades and a 9 of Hearts, which added up to 21 points. He didnt need to add more cards, and he had already won. Darling, look at my cards, do you think its good or not? Eric put his arm around Crystal waist and let her look at his cards. Crystals heart immediately became cold It would be a draw unless Nathan also got 21 points; otherwise, he would be beaten. Nathan had got 4 and 7, which was 11 points in total. Eric directly put the ckjack out, You still have one chance to get a card. Nathan then took another card, which was J. It added up to 22 points. Eric shook his head andughed, You are only one point away to draw with me. Its a pity that you have one point more. Nathans eyes were dark and terrifying. There was thunder appearing in time outside the window!! Master Davis, its time to get punished. Eric picked up the rob and waved it in his hand. When Nathan stood up, the servant immediately took a super thick cushion and put it at his feet. He knelt down on one leg and supported the ground with his hand, which was the same posture when Davis got punished. Crystal turned her face away. Then she only heard a heavy voice, Eric had used great strength to hit his hips. Crystal pinched her fingers tightly. If she shouted to stop at this time, it would definitely give Nathan unnecessary expectations. She had already given him too much expectation, and every time after she had given him hope, she would have pushed him into hell again. Eric put down the rod and felt it was not enough, Next round. Nathan stood up coldly and returned to his seat. Obviously, this hit wasnt a big deal for him, he could still sit there without changing his face. Mabel looked at him with a nervous and worried look, Nate, are you thirsty? Ill get you a ss of water. In the second round, Eric took 3 of Hearts, 9 of Spades, and 9 of Clubs. He did actually get full points so easily again. Eric couldnt help but say with a big smile, Darling, I am so lucky today, right? The second hit. Eric hit towards the position where Nathan had just been beaten, it was another fierce hit! Crystal still didnt have the courage to look, her lower lip had been bitten pale by her. If she had to sit here like this, watching Nathan lose and listening to him being beaten, she couldnt make it. She couldnt help at all! Her heartache was so painful as if a knife were stabbing, because of which she could hardly breathe. Eric was about to deal in the third round Crystal said coldly, Wait, Ill deal the cards. Eric stared at Crystal with a smirk, Oh, darling? Are you also interested in gambling? Crystal coldly took over the cards in his hand. How could he have so much good luck? She strongly suspected that he had cheated. She had clearly kept an eye on his every move when he dealt the cards, but she couldnt find any w. Or was it because Eric had cheated when shuffling the cards? Ill deal the cards, its fairer! Crystal said stubbornly.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Eric smiled like a wolf and said cunningly, If you kiss me, I will let you join. Crystal wanted to p Eric in the face, but after a while, she endured it. She gave Eric a quick kiss on the right cheek. Eric looked at Nathan defiantly and asked Crystal, Honey, you kissed me so fast. Are you shy? Eric, keep your cool. Crystal reminded him. Eric took her hand and kissed her on the back of her hand. This card is very sharp, you should be careful not to cut your hand when shuffling. This deck of cards was really hard, not thick at all, with thin edges. It was very easy to cut the hand. Crystal shuffled the cards over and over again, still shuffling the cards after more than a dozen times. Eric looked at Crystal with glowing eyes. How could he not know what was on her mind? Nathan was hit twice just now, and Crystal was distressed. Crystal was too heavy-hearted to look at Nathans eyes. She dealt a card to each of them. One more! One more! Nathan and Eric said at the same time. Crystal gave them each. Nathan got a 4 and a 7. Mabel was almost immediately disheartened, staring anxiously at Nathan and wanting to take his ce. Nathan threw his cards on the table. It was a total of 11. Crystal froze. Nathan got up, ready to be tortured. Eric slowly put down his cards, two A and a 2. That was a total of 4. Honey, Eric said, staring at Crystal curiously, I wonder how you do it? She was able to get him to hold the smallest card in history. Mabelughed almost immediately but was quick to remain polite. Mr. Bushs cards are very funny. Crystal breathed a little relief that Eric finally capsized. Nathan raised the corners of his mouth coldly and took the stick from the servant. Eric walked leisurely to the big mat and knelt down on one leg. Nathan took a hard-swinging with a strong stick, and Eric shivered. He quickly got up and calmly returned to Crystal, and sat down. Crystal frowned. She just looked at the stick, and it hurt. She could imagine how much Eric was in pain. Of course, those two sticks Eric gave Nathan werent nice either. It was just that Crystal didnt dare watch the scene. Honey, you look happy, huh? Eric suddenly put his lip closer and bit her ear. Are you so d to see me getting hit? Crystal elbowed him away, her figure distant. But Erics hand was around her waist, and he wouldnt let her go. Keep shuffling. Eric didnt seem to mind that Crystals shuffle had taken away his luck. Crystal shuffled and dealt again. Mabel saw Nathan take first a Spade Q, then Diamond 9. It was ckjack, which meant it was a sure thing that Nathan wouldnt lose. Crystal nced out of the corner of her eye at Erics card. It was over ckjack, and after deducting, Eric had three points left. It seemed that the tables were turned. Now it was Nathans lucky time. Eric took off his coat and got punished. He got a strong blow. Next, Eric was hit with 8 more sticks, a total of 10. Nathan had seven sticks. Both men were ruthless, as if they were going to beat each other to death. Erics initial ease was gone, his forehead was sweaty, and he was no longer sitting on the sofa. It seemed that his buttocks were severely hurt. Mabel asked for so many soft pillows for Nathan so that he could sit. Two men were crazily angry. Crystal was holding a ying card and felt that Eric was in luck because Nathan had already lost three games in a row, that was, he had been hit three times in a row. Do you still want to y? Its gettingte. Lets go and have a rest. Eric said calmly, Of course. Nathan, what do you say? Nathan answered in his cold voice, Anytime. The two men were now at loggerheads. They wouldnt stop until they beat one of them down. How childish you are! Crystal shouted, stop ying it. Chapter 380: I鈥檓 More Afraid Of You Honey, if you are sleepy, you can go back to your room and go to bed first. Eric seems to have taken it hard. Nathans lips were cold withbativeness. Eric was about to pull the cards from Crystals hand. Crystal knew she couldnt stop them, so she shuffled the cards vigorously. Suddenly the sharp edge of the card cut Crystals finger, and a drop of blood trickled down. Eric immediately took her wrist and put her finger in his mouth. Crystal didnt even notice. Eric had sucked her finger and spit out the blood. I told you to be careful. The cards are sharp. Crystal did it on purpose. Go and rest, wont you? Any morepetition, and you will lose both. Honey, you really care about me. I know you dont want me to be beaten. Eric gave me a wry smile. But I have a personal bone to pick with him. Anyone who looks into my things will pay! Crystals eyes shone. She was a thing to them, not a person. She had always been the object of the struggle between the two men. But it was Eric who took her from Nathan, using mean tricks. Either way, they never respected her feelings. Crystal took the cards quickly and shuffled them, shing and cutting her hand again. Eric saw that she did it on purpose. He snatched the card and threw it into the trash can. How could he have dared to gamble on a card stained with her blood? He took Crystals hand and wiped the blood with a tissue. Bring a band-aid now! Crystal dropped her eyes, and Nathan sat perfectly still, unmoved by her wounds. She hurt herself because she was afraid of Nathan getting hit, but Nathan might think she was afraid of Eric getting hit. All right, she could do anything as long as they wouldnt gamble anymore. The servant brought a band-aid, and Eric helped her wrap her fingers. Bring the dice, he said coldly.RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only The dice? Crystal stood up coldly and asked, Eric, are you going to keep ying? Eric looked at Nathan with bloodthirsty eyes. As long as Nathan continues, I will apany him to the end. He knew that Crystal hurt her finger to save Nathan. Instead, it hit him like a hammer on the chest, arousing his fighting spirit. Crystal looked at Nathan. He yed with the ring on his finger coldly. I am in. The servant brought the dice quickly. And they continued their game. Nathan got a 4, a 5, and a 6, while Eric got a 1, a 2and a 6. Obviously, the former was big. Eric shrugged and said, Well, I lost. Wait a minute! Crystal shouted suddenly, Ill take the stick for him. With these words, all eyes fell upon her. Crystal stood up, her shoulder pinned back by Eric. Dont be ridiculous! Youre pregnant, and you want to have a miscarriage with a stick? Nathan looked at Crystal with cold eyes. Crystal said pertinently, If you were clubbed to death and the baby was born without a father, what would I keep it for? Eric chuckled. You think Ill be dead? If you go on ying, let me take the stick, or else, Crystal stood up forcefully. Suddenly, Nathan whipped out his hand, and the dice flew out. One of them bounced in Crystals face. Nathan stood up and took two steps. He turned around again, picked up the bottle on the table, and threw it hard on the floor! The bottle splintered and sshed. Nathan strode out of the hall, his gait stiff from the wound, his back ghostly cold. Crystal pressed her fingers tightly. She was relieved to see Nathan go. Eric watched her expression change coldly. He knew why Crystal had done it the moment she said she would take the stick for him. Of course, she did not grudge him being beaten. Honey, youre so good at using people to get what you want. Came Erics sarcastic voice. At first, she cut her finger to get him to stop gambling; Then, knowing that the stick would never fall on her, she tried to make Nathan mad. And so she made it. Crystal stood up coldly and looked down at him. Eric, dont forget what youre doing here. You forced my body and mind to give in to you, and I did it, so you cant let Nathan go? Nathan lost her. He had nothing left. She could not understand why he should be punished. Do you pity him? Eric said angrily, Then whos going to pity me? You deserve it! You know well what youve done to get me, Crystal said in a cold tone. Crystal was about to walk when Eric snapped at her wrist. Did I deserve it? Youre the one who showed up in my world. Youre the one who made me crazy. Crystal looked at him in disbelief. I believe that no one can ever get into my heart as easily as you. You know what? Id tear my heart out and show it to you if I could. Then you will know who I have in my heart and what it thinks! Crystals figure quivered slightly. What was good about her? Why did he fall in love with her? Just because they were in the same world? Because they had simr souls? It was raining cats and dogs outside, and the castle stood alone in the suburbs. Amos had only one room arranged for them to stay. Crystal couldnt help wondering if Nathan and Mabel shared the same room. Go out. You ask the servant to arrange another room for you! Were husband and wife. What do you think people would think if we slept in separate rooms? I dont care what they think. Get out! Get out. Ericy down on the bed and said brazenly, Honey, wipe the medicine for me. Why would Crystal care about him? She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. Get out! Get out! Erics buttocks, back, and arms were all hurt with sticks. Even if he was hit by a pillow, he still bared his teeth in pain. Hiss! Honey, you are so cruel! If you dont go out, Ill be more ruthless. Do you believe it? Crystal threatened him. Eric snorted, Dont think you can hit me right now because Im covered in bruises. I can beat you in a minute. We made a deal that we would be in different houses before the baby was born. What are you afraid of? Youre pregnant now. I know how far to go and when to stop. Im a light sleeper. I cant sleep with someone by my side. You better go. You probably dont know Amos. No matter how many rooms there are, there wont be one left for me unless he arranges it. Then you sleep in the hall. You want me to sleep in the hall when Im so hurt? What do people think? I dont care what other people think. Are you leaving? If you dont go, Ill go! Crystal walked to the door and opened it. And Eric immediately got up and said, Okay, Ill go down the hall. Or I can go to your mothers. Arent you afraid of her? Im more afraid of you. Eric just propped up half of the body andy back softly. There was a dull pain in the wound on his hip. He hit Nathan, but he was beaten, too. It was a fair bet. But he forgot that he had lost at the starting line from the very beginning. No matter how fair, Crystal kept only Nathan in her heart. Chapter 381: I鈥檓 Sorry For Everything Crystal walked quickly to the old Mrs. Bushs room. Suddenly, a door opened, and the servant stood in the doorway with a tray. The tray was filled with medical supplies, gauze, and alcohol. It was Mabel who opened the door. She took the tray from the servant and said, Leave it to me. You may go. She saw Crystal walking towards her. Mabel nodded slightly. Good night, Mrs. Bush. The address puncturing Crystals eardrum made her extremely ufortable, especiallying from Mabels mouth. Crystal looked stiff and nodded. As she passed the door, her wandering eyes peeped through the crack. She didnt see Nathan, but she knew he must be in the room, or he wouldnt need the medicine. Crystals heart ached, and she stopped at the front door. She didnt realize that Nathans room was next to the Old Mrs. Bushs. The old Mrs. Bush was still in aa, and some servants were taking care of her. Crystal looked at her, and all she could think about was Nathan and Mabel in the same room. Didnt he eat Cupids Arrow? If he had sex with another woman, that woman would die. They wouldnt have children at all. Did Mabel, as his fiance, know this fact? Do the Davis know it? Nathan probably knew it best. So, did he deliberately choose Mabel to stimte her, or did Davis force this fiance on him? Or was he just lonely andcking a partner? Crystal knew that Nathan looked so macho, but he was really clingy.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Thinking wildly, she wanted to p herself in the face. No matter what happened to Nathan, it had nothing to do with her. She had just done that to him in the hall and hurt him, although, in the final analysis, it was for him, how could he know that she had good intentions? Crystal smiled bitterly. Although Nathan won that game, she couldnt see Nathan suffer any more in the next game. The air around her was extremely depressed by her thoughts, and she was leaning on the huge sofa without any drowsiness. Crystal pulled open the French window and went outside. The night sky was cloudy with rain, and there was a sound of thunder from time to time. Vaguely, she thought she heard a quarrel in the next room. She must have misheard. At that moment, the door of the next terrace swung open, and a cold figure came out, bottle in hand. Crystal stared at him in surprise. Nathan saw her at the same moment. On a rainy night, his deep eyes were bloodshot. Between them, there was always an inextricable link. Wherever they went, they would meet. Or that two hearts were so close together that they produced what was called telepathy. Mabels voice rang out in the room. Nate, you are hurt, you need medicine Her voice became more and more distinct. Its raining outside. Will youe in quickly? Then a sh of lightning shed across the dark and threatening sky. Nate, you cant drink anymore. Mabels footsteps wereing toward them. Go away! Nathans neat words brought Mabel to a halt. She knew not to bother Nathan at this point. But she was really worried about him after all the blows he had taken today and how badly he had been hurt. Normally, she would have taken the hint and shut up, but she was over it today. Mabel bit her lip in silence. Then shall I go out and have the servant wipe the medicine for you, or do you do it yourself? Nathan leaned against the railing and took a sip of wine. Just as he was about to leave for his room, Crystal snapped at him. Wait a minute! Master Davis, I have a favor to ask of you. Crystal clenched her fist. Crystal knew she could leave it alone. But Amos wouldnt help, so Eric couldnt have begged Nathan. She was the only one who would. Nathan was the old Mrs. Bushs only hope. Nathans tall frame flitted slightly. He said in a most sarcastic tone, Favor? Did I hear you correctly? Crystal bit her lip. Yes. Well, its rare that Mrs. Bush asks me for help. Crystals eyes narrowed. I am sorry, but youre the only one who can help. Nathan leaned against the door, his face chilled, his eyes filled with disgust. Crystal knew that she would probably make a mess of things again. She could have gone to Amos, but why did she choose Nathan instead? She probably feared that rushing to Amos would make matters worse. The old Mrs. Bush listened to you, and she took you as the Amos of his youth. Nathan knew exactly what she was going to do the minute he heard her speak, but he didnt bother to listen and turned to go in. Master Davis, I beg you, please, Crystal added. Nathan paused in his steps, leaving only half his figure outside. Mrs. Bush, your begging is now worthless to me. I know, its just that its so easy for you Well, it seems you have a great rtionship with your mother-inw. Mrs. Bush, I never thought you were a woman of great affection and loyalty. He meant that she was very affectionate to others but cruel to him. I confess I have wronged you in much, but that is the past. Past? Nathan muttered the word with a sneer. His fingers whitened as he clutched the bottle. Youve had an easy time getting over it, but with me, itll never get it past. So, what do you want to help me with the favor Ive asked? Crystal chuckled. If you feel better, even if you hit me, I can take the blows you got tonight. Nathan didnt speak. Or what do you want me to do? Nathan came back slowly, his face cold in the darkness. Hit you? Itll only get my hands dirty. Crystal felt angina. She had never begged anyone so humbly. And now she begged him, not knowing how. She withdrew her gaze and said, Well, Im sorry to interrupt you. As she turned to leave, Nathan raised an eyebrow and asked, Can you do whatever I want you to? Crystal lifted her eyes and heard him say, Then just serve me for the rest of your life. Can you do that? Crystals eyes had just brightened, then darkened again. You cant do that? Crystal didnt answer. Then what qualifications do you have to talk to me? He continued with a sneer, When I was useful, you thought of me first. Im no use now, so you kick me off like a ball. I didnt You know nothing, Crystal clenched her hands and held back the tears that were about to slip. Mrs. Bush, youd better see what kind of man youre ying with. He was Nathan. A man who could even manipte the world was reduced to a toy in her hand. Crystals eyes were dim, and she felt ashamed of herself. She had already hurt Nathan like that, but she was still there, bothering him and using him. Yes, you are right, and indeed I ought to leave you alone. Crystal said quietly, You really dont have any more reason to help me. I am sorry. She wanted to say that to him every night and every day. Crystals mood changed slightly, but she managed to hold it in. Nathan, Im sorry for everything, Nathans eyes were as dark as night. His tall figure was cold, and his eyes seemed to be searching for the truth in her words. Even so, you are still the best. I believe, and I hope you will be happy in the future. Crystals thin voice drowned in the thunder. Standing on the balcony for a long time, the rain came in and sshed her hair and shoulders. It was cold. Exhausted, she turned to go into the room. Chapter 382: I鈥檇 Love To See His Reaction So you give up so easily? Said a demonic overbearing voice from Nathan. You just pretended to sacrifice yourself for the old Mrs. Bush, which made me think that you could really be willing to die to save someone. But in the final analysis, youre selfish. Nathan scoffed. That was right. In the eyes of others, and in his eyes, Crystal was just selfish. But if she was really selfish, why should she care about those people?RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only She could live the life she wanted happily and unrestrained. But how could she do it? Come to my room. With that ambiguous remark, Nathan went in first. Crystal was slightly surprised. Did he change his mind as she gave up? Crystal went back to her room without thinking. The old Mrs. Bushy in bed, still unconscious. She withdrew her gaze, ming herself for not being ashamed. She knew that Nathans feelings for her had not gone away, so did she take advantage of his feelings? And now, in order to achieve her goal, she was doing so. Why did her heart wrinkle? Crystals eyes were red. Through it all, she suffered no less than Nathan. She took a hard breath, but she decided to go to his room anyway. Crystal knocked hesitantly and found the door ajar. The moment she knocked, it opened. Close the door. Nathans cold voice came out. Nathan sat down on the couch and took a big swig. Dont drink it. Crystal reached for the wine and snatched it away. You didnt mean to let me watch you drink when you asked me to your room. Nathan put down the bottle, went to the big bed, naturally took off his robe, andy down on the bed. Apply the medicine for me. Crystal saw the jars on the floor that Nathan had knocked over as Mabel tried to apply for the medicine. Fortunately, there was a thick carpet on the floor, and the medicine jar was not broken. Crystal picked up the medicine bottle and went to apply it. Nathans entire back was covered with red streaks and bruises, and it was swollen up. Crystal thought he would hurt just looking at it. Crystals shoulders trembled, and her heart ached as if being whipped. She could imagine how hard Eric beat him. Of course, Eric also suffered a lot. She rubbed the medicine in her palm until it was hot, and she gently rubbed it over his bruised area. Harder. Crystal paused. How can the medicine get in if you cant do it harder? Crystal tried harder, and his body began to tighten with pain. Crystal gathered her strength. I told you to do it harder! Was he torturing her or himself? Crystal took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. But she could not get her hand down. Whats wrong with you? Said Nathan evilly. Do you want to heal the old Mrs. Bush or not? Nathan, why are you torturing me like that? Crystal said in her heart. Rub it for me, he said as if it were not his own. Use whatever strength you have. Crystal still couldnt do it. If you cant do it, get the hell out of here. Crystal could not get down. All she wanted to ask was if he was hurt. Of course, he did, but the pain stung him, paralyzed him, and made him forget the pain in his heart for a while. Crystal, I want you to rub it harder! Crystal ignored him at all and only applied for the medicine ording to her own frequency and strength. Even if he refused to help her in the end, she helped him finish the medicine and left. Crystals fingers touched every part of his wound, and her eyes were already fogged up. Tears seemed to fall at any moment. She quickly stood up and pushed back her tears. Nathan sniffled. Done? You may forget a crucial part. Crystal didnt know what he was talking about. What, Mrs. Bush? Do you like to do things by halves? Crystal bit her lip. She knew that if she didnt do it for him, he wouldnt let anyone do it for him. His back and waist were so badly hurt, so must his hips. Crystal hesitated, taking off his only boxers. Sure enough, the injury was serious but not as serious as the waist. Crystal poured out the medicine and wiped it on him. Suddenly, a big tear fell down uncontrobly. Her tears fell on the bruise on his waist. Nathans body stiffened visibly, and he felt the hot tear. Crystal bit her lip and stood up to leave. The next second, her wrist was gripped hard. Nathan ground his feet, clutching her. Crystal struggled hard. Let me go! Her body was banged hard against his chest. Nathans long fingers lifted her chin. Crystals red eyes fell into his. Eyes met. Two tears fell from Crystals eyes. Nathan looked at her strangely for a long time. He fingered the tear in the corner of her eye. What is this? Crystal tried to hold back her tears. But she failed. Look what stupid thing she did! She made a mess of everything. Nathan growled. I am asking you, Crystal, what is this? Why are you crying? Crystal couldnt say anything now. You want to win my sympathy, loosen my vignce, and then cast me off so cruelly? Tell me. Nathan tugged at her thin lips, his smile growing eerier. What are you going to do with me this time? He had seen enough of her hypocrisy! She was gentle with him, and the next moment she was cold and hard. Her performance wasparable to that of a first-rate actress, able to make her emotional tearse at once. Nathan would never trust her again. You liar. Suddenly, Crystals lips were cruelly stuffed. Nathans lips pried open hers with the smell of wine. Her eyes were zed, like a puppet in hisp, letting him y with her lips and teeth. Crystals fist was tied between his chest, and she forgot to struggle. Tears streamed from the corners of her eyes. She had never been so miserable. She longed for his kiss. She missed him so much. His hot touch keeps her wanting more. Salty tears flowed into her lips, mixing with his taste, so bitter. Crystals brain suddenly cleared, and she began to struggle. Along with his soberness, Nathan jerked her off andughed eerily. Guess how Eric would feel if he knew youde into my room in the middle of the night and make out with me? Crystal found him almost naked. A pair of faded briefs hung from hisp. And the symbol of his male rigidity squeezed between her legs, he lifted her body and held it close to each other. Crystal stared at him, her eyes misty. Will he see clearly who you really are? Nathans smile became crueler. You are still misbehaving when you are married. You are still with me in my room. He rubbed it maliciously. Id love to see his reaction. Nathan picked her up and rubbed her back and forth with greater force. The smell of her still fascinated him. Why did her smell so easily excite his desire? Chapter 383: You Spy On Me? Crystal was cradled on the bed, and she pushed him violently. Nathans lower back was hurt, and he tightened his eyebrows painfully when he moved. He gripped her body hard. Dont move. Nathan, how could you do this to me? You brought it yourself. Over and over again, you came to me. He pinched her jaw. I put up with you because I had feelings for you. And now, what do you think you are? Crystal had a pale lip. Who do you think you are that you cane to me at will? I He pressed her lips viciously again, and his big hand was wantonly removed from her body, tugging at her clothes. Crystal dodged her body. His lips scratched back and forth on her face with a demonic smell of alcohol. Nathan, Im pregnant. Im pregnant. So what? You know whats going to happen to me if you forced me to have sex with you. Oh, yes? He grabbed her by the hair. Do you think I care? Didnt he care? Yes, he must not care about the child. He hated the child. But such an abortion would cause heavy bleeding and even endanger her life. Her life may be cheap and insignificant, but she didnt want to be killed by him. Im gonna die, Nathan, Im gonna die. Crystal looked at him holily. Do you want me to die? Nathans hand stiffened a bit, and the next second, his even greater force exploded, tearing her fabric apart. It was anger, it was hatred, and it was rage! Nathan tore wildly at her clothes. In my mind, the old Crystal is dead. Crystals eyes went red. And you are Mrs. Bush now. He put his hand on her chest and kissed her white neck, leaving hickeys that belonged to him. Nathans kisses were imprinted on Crystals fair skin after another. He was breathing thin heat, moving around his waist, rubbing her hard across his clothes. In spite of this, he did not really encroach on her. Crystal, heartbroken, grabbed him by the hair. Sweat dripped from the end of his nose. This is myst warning to you. Dont me me for taking you back if you dare meddle with me again, he stroked her pretty cheek. But dont think youll get what you used to when youe back to me. A warning voice sounded in her ear, as if from hell. You will taste the most terrible torture. I have had enough of your lies! Crystals eyes were nk, passing through him. For some reason, she saw the portrait on the wall facing the big bed. There was a man in the picture. The ck eyes were not so deep and seemed to reflect the light. Crystal suddenly understood. You spy on me? He was just gasping. You hid the camera in the picture? Nathan said nothing, pulled her face, and kissed her again. He didnt hide the camera, but there was a picture in every room with the camera hidden. He just opened it. His close kisses muffled her words, and no more sound came from her. The smell of Crystal lingered before his breath. He was so in love with her. Nathan gave her a wild kiss because he knew it would probably be thest time he kissed her. She was a woman who never deserved the slightest bit of nostalgia from him. If she ever appeared in front of him again and disturbed his peace, he would strike her mercilessly, making her wish for death and making her see clearly the consequences of provoking him again. He would y with her and throw her away. He would give her a taste of what it felt like to be trampled, give her back ten or even a hundred times what he had suffered. The long friction did not subside his desire but made it more painful and swollen. Nathan was hungry for more. Nathan lifted her skirt and tore off her pantyhose. Crystal suddenly stopped struggling and closed her eyes. The rain was falling harder and harder outside, and the thunder was thundering in her ears. She felt only a burning heat trickle down her inner thigh. Nathan didnt enter her eventually but let her handle his desires with her hands. An extremely ambiguous special smell diffused in the room. Nathan grabbed her by the hair. Dont expect me to help you anymore, he said. And you better hope you dont fall into my hands again. Crystal opened her eyes. Do you want me to help the old Mrs. Bush? Keep dreaming. She deserved all this, Nathan sniffed. And you, if you dont want to be more miserable than she is, youd better get the hell out of here. There seemed to be nothing but burning hatred under his eyes. Crystal, I feel sick just looking at you now. His face seemed to say that falling in love with her was the worst thing that had ever happened to him. Crystalughed. It wasnt her choice to meet him. She wished she had never met him. If time could be turned back, she would go back to the womb and strangle herself. If she hadnt been born, she wouldnt have involved so many people in trouble. Carlos, her parents, Nathan and Eric. Get out of here at once! Now! Crystal didnt react yet. She was grabbed by him and thrown away. She fell out of bed with a thud, disheveled, tears still visible on her cheeks. Nathan sat on the bed and yelled at her, Get out! Crystal sat up numbly, opened the door, and went out. She walked along the corridor like a zombie. The servants looked at her with wonder. Outside the window, the thunder was still unrelenting. She really wanted to run into the rain and disappear from the world. But as soon as she had taken a step out, she thought again of those whom she had implicated. In an instant, she drew back her feet and walked back. When the servant heard the knock, she opened the door and saw Crystal with zed eyes. She walked into the room and nced over at the old Mrs. Bush, who was lying unconscious on the bed. Help me get a change of clothes, Crystal said hoarsely and went into the bathroom. She seemed to feel very cold. She made the water very hot and washed it again and again. Her skin was red and hot, but she didnt feel it. Suddenly, Crystals hand felt across her chest. She was not qualified to keep the ring on her finger, but fearing that it would fall off again, she ran up on a chain and hung it around her neck. Now the chain and the ring are gone. She guessed it was Nathan tearing her dress when the chain came off. Crystal smiled with empty eyes. It didnt belong to her in the first ce, so no matter how well she kept it, it was going to go away. Besides, what was the use of her keeping it? Was it buried with her in her coffin when she died? She probably would not have a coffin or a cemetery. Crystal looked at the hickeys. They could be hidden from Eric, but what if Nathan showed the video to Eric?Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. No man would allow his wife to behave like this, let alone Eric. She ignored Erics injuries and told him to go out. Then she ran off to Nathans room to apply the medicine for him and made out with him. Crystal held onto her hair. Her skin was burning red, and she didnt even know what she had done. She just wanted all the people she loved to be safe and happy. But why was this little wish so difficult to achieve? She didnt ask for more from God and even forgot herself. Why is it so hard for her to have such a small wish granted? Chapter 384: Christine Vicious Plan Amoss birthday party was in the bustling center, sitting in a resplendent pce. The pce was also a symbol of the Davis wealth and power, magnificent and luxurious. It had white Phnom Penh walls in the Gothic architectural style. After the ident of The Old Davis, he transferred all the power in his hands to him. It was conceivable that this position had offended too many people. Amos was wary of being poisoned when he drank even a ss of water, not to mention being kidnapped. Eric exined to Crystal with a smile, After Amos got to the top, not only could no one see him, but no one could get close to him for half a meter. Not even Nathan? Sure. Eric picked up theb from the table. Isnt it sad that he has no one to trust, including his wife?Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Crystal looked at herself in the makeup mirror. Yes, thats too pathetic. Nathan wont make a rash act about it. Why? Amos had one thing better than the Old Davis: he was on good terms with the other families. When Nathan makes a move, he unites his family to take Nathan down. Crystals back stiffened. Amos was so defensive that he was ready to go. No wonder, then, that Nathan was kept down by Amos. Honey, you look so different today. Crystal was stuck. Did he see it? She tried to cover up the hickeys, and she tried to act as usual. You are quieter than usual. Eric smiled andbed her hair. In the past, she would never let him into her dressing room. She would be eager to get him out of the room with him, not to mention allow him tob her hair and touch her. Crystals eyes sank, her eyes full of guilt. She thought shed wake up in a mess, but Eric looked the same as usual. Nathan didnt show him the video? Or was Eric faking it too well? No man wasfortable with the idea of his wife cheating on him. If he had known the truth, his spirits would have been burned by anger, and he could not have pretended to be calm. If Eric was faking it, it just proved that he was too strong inside. There were warm yellow lights around the floor makeup mirror. Crystal was wearing an orangece dress in the mirror, with Eric in a white suit behind her. Two people reflected in the mirror as if a cover painting. Ericbed her long hair. Crystal seemed to see his figure ovep with Nathans in a trance. Her heart ached, and her eyes darkened. To be honest, Eric was not bad, and he was like Nathan in some ways. It was just that she met Nathan first, so there was no room for anyone else. Eric pinned her bowler hat on her head, nced at his wristwatch, and said, Honey, its almost time. Lets go. Crystal was led to her feet by him. Today, she purposely made the makeup artist put on a lot of makeup, barely covering her dark circles. As they approached the banquet hall, Crystal looked around for Amos, for her. She didnt know anyone else, and she wasnt interested in them. Eric took her by the hand and exined patiently as he walked. This is a dinner party with famous families and coteral rtives. Crystal had no idea that there would be so many people at this family dinner, and the banquet hall was overflowing with people. Christine Laurent leaned against the white European-carved railings on the second floor and looked down to see Crystal. Christine squinted slightly. She was surprised to hear that Eric and his new wife hade yesterday to Amoss birthday party. Amoss birthday party used to be small, and he only invited his family. Actually, Eric was not qualified to attend at all, but it was said that Amos invites Eric every year, and he didnte once. This year, he came unexpectedly. Did he want to show off with Mrs. Bush? Christine smiled and stared at Crystal downstairs. Does Eric really mean to send the prey to her? A bodyguard came and leaned over her ear and whispered, Miss, I had arranged ording to your instructions before the banquet began. Christine gave a flickering smile as if to say that tonight was Crystals death. Instead of Amos, Crystal saw Christine on the second floor. Her face suddenly changed. Christine greeted Crystal by raising her goblet across the air and slowly lifting it to her mouth to drink, looking rxed andfortable. Crystal had a foreboding when she saw her cheerful appearance. She guessed that Christine wouldnt do anything outrageous at Amoss party. Eric looked up at Christine, too, and whispered in Crystals ear. Whats wrong? Mad at her? Nothing. Next time, Ill catch her and give her a piece of my mind. Crystal looked at him in surprise. Eric smiled yfully and said, Ill teach anyone a lesson you hate. But I shall leave her to her wretched breath. Lets not make a scene. Ericughed and said, I guess your kind personality wont allow me to hit her hard. Crystal squeezed her juice ss. You know me well? she asked. Better than you know yourself Maybe a little less. Self-righteous. Do you want to hit her? Sure. Crystal said maliciously. If anything happened, you would take it. Good. Eric squinted slightly. Your mess, of course, is your husbands. For some reason, Crystal decided at that moment that he didnt seem to bore her so much! At least Nathan knew she hated Christine but never took her side. She fled to Kuerto partly because of Christine, of course. Crystals mood was darker and lonelier. But luckily, she didnt see Nathan and Mabel. Why are you unhappy again? Eric took care of her emotions. Are you hungry? Crystal recovered her senses. You got up so early in the morning and havent eaten. You look listless. Eric snapped his fingers and asked the waiter to take the food. He made a special note not to take the food for pregnant women. Crystal may have screwed upst night. The nicer he was to her, the more guilty she became. Soon the servant came with food. Eric took it over and fed her himself. Crystal turned her face. She was hungry but not in the mood to eat. Honey, I know youre hungry. But I have no appetite. You cant starve our baby. Eric smiled, but his voice was soft, and he looked like a nice guy. Crystal sighed softly and asked, How is your wound? Eric froze slightly. Did he hear correctly? Was she worried about him? Did you ask a servant to wipe your medicinest night? Crystal asked in guilt. Eric became quite happy because Crystal took the initiative to care for him. Chapter 385: Honey, Are You Okay? Crystal had rarely seen him smile so happily. What are you smiling at? Crystal was not at ease. She wanted to stay away from him, but there were strangers everywhere. Ericughed and said, Youve changed your attitude toward me. Is it? Crystal said coldly. I just dont hate you that much. So, as long as I continue to be nice to you, you will see my kindness one day, right? You dont hate me now, so this is a good start. It will slowly develop into favor, then to liking, and finally to love. Crystal just took him as being whimsical. We still have a long way to go. It doesnt matter. Ill wait for you slowly. I have a lifetime to wait. Eric assured her. Crystal was stiff, and a chill came up her back. No way. She wouldnt fall in love with anyone but Nathan. If she fell in love with any man she met with, how skittish was she? Carlos wasnt really someone she had ever loved. She only had a vague appreciation for him when she was young. They were more like rtives. But Nathan was the first and only person she fell in love with. Everyone would have a lot of people to like and appreciate their life. But there was only one they loved and engraved in the heart. If Nathan hadnt shown up, Crystal might have thought that she loved Carlos for the rest of her life. Honey, what are you thinking about? Come on, have something to eat. Eric insisted on feeding her. She turned her face away and grabbed the te. Ill eat by myself. As she finished, uniformed servants were simultaneously saluting at the gate on the ground floor. They were well trained. Nathan and Mabel appeared, their eyes fixed on Crystals face. Crystal had her back to Nathan. But even if she stood in a crowd of thousands, he could see her at a nce. She and Eric were so close to eating something. Were they supposed to feed each other? Nathan darkened his eyes and gave a sneer. Crystal felt Nathans gaze. His presence was so strong that even when her back was turned to him, she could feel the heat in his eyes as if he were going to burn her to ashes. All around, it was a lot quieter because of Nathan. Everyone looked at him consciously or unconsciously. No one dared look at him directly. But his aura still caught everyones eye, especially the unmarried women present. The young master of the Davis was known to all unmarried women. This is because Nathan was so beloved, noble, and handsome. These people did not usually have the opportunity to see him, and this was the only opportunity to see him every year. Of course, single women want him to take a look at them, preferably love them at first sight. Unfortunately, Nathan had his fiance, Mabel, by his side, which broke their hearts. But as long as they were not married, it didnt stop them from loving Nathan. Crystal felt Nathans aura and did not look back. She just pushed the food that Eric gave her. Ill get it myself. Okay. Eric was in a good mood when Crystal showed him so much concern just now. Actually, Eric was no less handsome than Nathan. It was just that he had her by his side, and everyone knew that Eric was showing up with Mrs. Bush, so those youngdies didnt show much interest in him. Crystal felt how aristocraticdies looked at Nathan, so naked that she could tell where Nathan was even when she didnt look at him. Her mind was absent, and she kept away from Nathan and away from the crowds.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Crystal looked around. Amos was not there yet. It was so hard to meet him. No wonder even Eric couldnt help it. Crystal ate something and felt people looking her way. She frowned slightly. Was Nathan walking toward her? Crystal started off somewhere else, and Eric, of course, followed her wherever she went. He could see, too, that Crystal was not herself today. She seemed to be hiding something. Crystal kept her distance as far as she could, for Nathan had warned herst night of the consequences if she appeared in front of him again and provoked him. On the second floor, Christine had been watching Crystal. Crystal walked up and down without walking into Christines trap. Now, Crystals head was muffled, and she saw that she was heading for the trap. Christine narrowed her beautiful eyes as she waited for her prey. Mrs. Bush. A voice suddenly called to Crystal. It was Mabel. Crystal looked up and saw a pair of figures appear in front of her. Mabel wore a ck tuxedo, and Nathan was in a ck suit. The two pairs are wearing matching outfits again today. A voice came over Christines headset. The target is in position, Miss, but so is Mr. Davis. Above Crystals head, a huge Swarovski crystalmp had been tampered with. As soon as she passed this position, the crystalmp would fall down immediately. But then, of all things, Nathan and Mabel appeared. Miss, what do we do next? Even Nathan wouldnt have been spared such a hugemp. Cruelty was creeping up in Christines eyes. Having missed the opportunity, she would hardly have found the time to start again. Helen wouldnt have gone crazy over abortion if it hadnt been for Crystal, and the President wouldnt have grounded the Old Davis. Follow the n. A bloodthirsty voice sprang from her lips. She believed Nathans skill should save his life. If he got hit, it was his bad luck. She thought that in Nathans mind, she and the Old Davis were no match for Crystal, who had just appeared on the way. And he imprisoned her for Crystal. But for Amos, she would have remained imprisoned and isted. How could Christine forgive so much? The light in the hall flickered slightly, and a crystal fell right into Nathans ss. He frowned and looked up. He found the whole chandelier shaking and could fall down at any moment. Mrs. Bush, its a pleasure to meet you here. Mabel reached out to hold Crystal. As soon as Mabel finished, her arm was tugged. Nathan grabbed her arm and lifted it hard. Mabel and Nathan fell out together and fell heavily to the ground. At that moment, all the distinguished guests looked at them. The heamp flickered off suddenly, and even sparks popped out, and all of a sudden, it fell. Eric shielded Crystal, and they both fell and rolled several times. The headlights came crashing down with a loud noise, and countless crystals began to ssh. Nathan was too strong, and the two were too far apart. Nathan had the experience of using a suit jacket to ward off the splinters and escape unscathed. Erics situation was different. Crystal was pregnant, so he didnt feel up to pulling her out of danger by brute force. Eric had to hold her and roll around a few times. He covered her with his back, and a lot of broken ss sshed on his back. Honey, are you okay? Crystals face was pale and frightened. She looked at the face staring at her. The shadows of her eyes crossed unclearly. Honey, tell me, did you get hurt anywhere? He began to sweat. Are you scared? No, I dont think Im hurt. She wasnt sure. She just didnt feel any pain. Any stomach trouble? No. I am fine. Chapter 386: He Grabbed A Wrong Hand Eric picked Crystal up and looked up and down to see if she was hurt. She was fine, except for a small cut in the bare leg, which was not deep. But as he squatted down to examine Crystals leg, Crystal saw that there was blooding out of his back. Eric, your back Crystal put her fingers to her lips in disbelief. Whats wrong? Your back is hurt! At this time, Christine trembled with anger on the second floor when she saw this. She didnt expect that Crystal would be so lucky and didnt get hurt at all. Eric was in a trance as if he was just beginning to know the pain. He hurt his back yesterday. It hurt at the touch, not to mention the ss. Suddenly Crystal looked at Nathan. Nathan wasnt her savior at this critical moment, but Eric was the one whom she always hated. How ironic was this? In the most critical juncture, a person would subconsciously reflex to save their favorite one. That was apletely mindless action because time was running out. So, she was not Nathans beloved one anymore. Nathans bleak eyes shone through the ruined hall, and he faced her. Nate. Mabel stood up. Thank you for saving my life. Nathan lowered his eyes. Damn it, Mabel reached out to shake Crystals hand at the critical moment, so she covered Crystals arm. He grabbed the wrong hand and saved Mable instead of Crystal that he meant to save. Time did not allow him to hesitate, and he could not tell whether he had saved the wrong person. Soon the servants gathered around, and the guests looked quite shaken. The servants tried to help Eric to the restroom, but he held out his hand to Crystal. Honey, help me. Crystal hesitated for a moment and took his hand. For an instant, her heart felt pain as if it had sunk to the bottom of the valley. Every step she took to help him forward seemed unreal. She had only the impulse to cry. Nathan wouldnt have liked Mabel. In that case, however, he preferred to save Mabel and ignored her. Crystal thought again about what he had done in his room the night before and what he had said to her. Nathan could easily have helped the Old Mrs. Bush, but he chose to embarrass her instead. Yeah, how could she deserve him to do anything for her? In his mind, Crystal was dead, and she also felt that her innocent and beautiful self had died. Why did the light suddenly fall? Nathan growled coldly. Check! Yes, sir! This episode soon passed, and the party resumed, but Amos still did not appear. Crystal helped Eric out of the hall and went to the restroom. With a lot of ss sticking into Erics back, Crystal took out a pair of scissors and cut open his coat carefully. Even so, his body strained and gasped in pain as she touched the wound. Crystal was afraid to move when she saw him sweating all the time. Eric chuckled softly. Honey, your hand is shaking. What are you afraid of? Are you dizzy with blood? Just let the doctor take care of it. I thought you would insist that I deal with it for you. He wouldnt let anyone get close to him if Nathan were hurt except her. You can deal with small wounds, but not big wounds. Im afraid you will be scared. Eric smiled. Soon the doctor ran quickly carrying the medicine box, followed by several nurses. Crystal was afraid that she could not handle it well, so she stepped aside. However, Eric refused the treatment and said, My wifes foot is injured, please help treat her wound first, in case she gets tetanus. I am fine, check him first. Check her first! By the way, see if the baby is fine or not. Ill check both of you at the same time The doctor seemed to be unable to bear their humility, letting the nurse help him too. The baby was safe, so the nurse disinfected her wound with alcohol and put on a hemostatic bandage. In fact, this was just a small wound, and Crystal could even treat it by herself. But Eric was much different. A bruised and swollen back was exposed when his clothes were cut out. A dozen pieces of ss shards of various sizes were inserted on his back, with deep and shallow wounds, blood flowing, which was extremely shocking. Crystal just nced at it, then looked away quickly because she couldnt watch it anymore. Darling, dont worry, it doesnt hurt. At this time, he still cared about her mood Crystal clenched her fists and walked close to the window to breathe. She was so depressed that she almost suffocated. Mr. Bush, now we are going to pull out the ss. It will be more painful when we pull it out. If you really cant bear it, we can use an anesthetic Dont bother, just pull it out. Crystal heard the sound of each piece of ss thrown into the tray. She closed her eyes forcefully, no matter how hateful things Eric had done to her, he had saved her life today. Master Davis. The servant at the door called Nathan respectfully, then the door was pushed open. Nathan came here, holding Mabel together. Why was he here? To add insult to their injury? Did hee tough at them? Crystals back stiffened, she stared out of the window without looking back. Nathans sharp eyes scanned Crystals body, like a scanner, to check Crystals body from top to bottom She was standing while Eric was lying down. Eric was surrounded by medical staff, which meant that Crystal was fine. His eyes suddenly became fierce, then he hooked up the corner of his mouth coldly. Eric turned his head slightly, saw Nathan, and sneered, Its rare that Master Davis wille back to see me. Nathan replied coldly, Ie to see if you are dead or not. It seems that you will be disappointed. I will live for a long time. Ericy down leisurely. With one hand in his pocket, Nathan looked at him coldly. He didnt speak, nor did he mean to leave. Eric suddenly called Crystal, Darling, Im thirsty, can you pour me a ss of water? Crystal was startled for a while, turned around and poured water, and brought it to Eric. The nurse stopped the treatment. Can you drink it by yourself? Crystal bent over and asked him. If you could feed me, I would be very happy. Crystal forced herself to hold the water ss and feed Eric in front of Nathan. Eric took a sip slowly, The water that my darling poured is so sweet. As Eric called my darling, let alone Nathan, even Crystal couldnt stand it. Mabel obviously felt that the atmosphere was wrong, and the man beside her was stiff. After Crystal fed Eric the water, Eric seemed to be thinking about something, Darling, why the water you poured me so sweet? Nathan naturally knew to whom Eric showed off his love and said mockingly, I admire your sacrifice today. Its my duty. But isnt it unworthy to almost die for this kind of woman? Eric narrowed his eyes, Whether its worth it or not, itspletely up to me. Nathan took out a small hard drive from his pocket, If you see this, I am afraid that you will immediately regret and know how stupid you were today. Crystals body stiffened, Nathan- Of course, she knew what was in the hard drive, how he could actually do this! In the hall, the moment the chandelier fell, Crystal didnt care that he had just stood by and watched. But she had just escaped from death, why did he want to push her into hell again? He just couldnt see her live well, right?Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Chapter 387: Throw It Away The hard drive was brought to Eric, but he squinted his eyes leisurely, Im not interested. You are not interested in this time, but arent you afraid that there will be another one next time? If Im afraid, I wont marry her. Eric held Crystals stiff hands, Darling, why are your hands so cold? Then he turned around and ordered the servant to get her clothes.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Nathan, However, at this time, Crystal felt her hands cold, but her whole heart seemed to be frozen. Nathan coldly handed the hard drive to the bodyguard, It is very wonderful, I suggest Master Bush not miss it. The bodyguard respectfully took it in front of Eric. Eric looked at the hard drive coldly, without reaching out to pick it up. The bodyguard handed it in the air, not knowing whether to take it back or continue to hand it. The nurse had taken thest piece of ss out, and Erics back was bloody and stained with alcohol for disinfection. Crystals body was stiff, and her face was pale as a sheet. Compared to the fear that Eric might see the video in the hard drive, the hurt feeling given by Nathan made her even sadder. That he stabbed her once would hurt dozens of times more than others shed. The bodyguard gave Nathan an embarrassed look and finally put the hard drive on the coffee table next to Eric. Crystal wanted to snatch it, break it, and throw it to Nathans face. But what was the point? Nathan must have a backup. There would be thousands of ways if he wanted Eric to see it. Today, he just used the ugliest and most direct method. Master Davis, if you made a special trip to send the hard drive, I think your goal has been achieved. Crystal tried hard to calm herself, Then, can you leave now? Nathan squinted coldly, This is the Davis ce. It was not her turn to ask him to leave. Crystal nodded, Fine, I will leave, dont worry, I will go far away soon. But can you please go out now? She stressed the word please hard. Nathan smiled coldly, I was going to leave, but now, I dont want to go anymore. Crystal looked at him angrily. He took the cigarette straight away and sat with his long legs crossed on the sofa. Mabel walked over and took the lighter to light for him. Because of his existence inside the room, the atmosphere had be particrly depressed. The bodyguard took the coat and put it on Crystal. But she still felt herself falling into the ice cave and couldnt help but shiver lightly, What the hell should I do, then you can leave? Erics injury obviously made them unable to leave this room immediately. And here were all the servants and bodyguards of the Davis family, so no one dared to ask Nathan out. He smoked hard, his sharp face looked very profound, After watching the show. Crystals eyes fell on the hard drive He just wanted to see Eric punishing her in a rage. Was this his so-called revenge? Okay, where is theputer? Since she couldnt dodge it, it was better to face it directly. The bodyguard handed the box to her, This box can y it directly. Nathan was really thoughtful. Eric suddenly said, Throw it away. Throw it away? Since you dont like me seeing it, it should be thrown away. Dont you want to know whats in it? Crystalughed dumbly and honestly said, There is something inside that makes you angry at me when you see it, which is also Master Davis purpose. In that case, why should I make myself unhappy to ruin our rtionship? Crystal was slightly surprised. Then she saw that Eric stretched out to make a stop gesture, the nurse paused to apply for the medicine, and he took the hard drive from her hand and broke it forcefully! The hard drive was made of iron, but it was broken like this by him. Snap- His movement was neat and swift, then he threw it out directly. Master Davis, since you cant hold the sand in your hands, its better to let it go. Eric said indifferently, No matter how tightly you hold it, it will finally fly with the wind. Nathan took a hard breath of cigarette. Maybe he had done it too much that he choked and coughed slightly.. Nathans pupils squinted like a beast, which was a sign of anger. Master Bush, deceiving yourself cant solve the problem. He quickly smiled, I will send another copy to your mailbox. If you regret it, you can watch it again. He stood up coldly, flicked off the soot from his pants, and strode out. Young master Bush, Young Mistress Bush, see you next time Mabel said goodbye politely and followed Nathan closely. After Nathan left, that suffocating atmosphere finally disappeared, and Crystal finally rxed But as long as she thought that he would send an email to Eric and all his actions that he did today, she raised her mouth in despair. Instead, Erics reaction today surprised her. She thought that she had known Eric very well, but sometimes she couldnt understand him. Darling, give me your hand. Ericszy voice came again. Crystal gave him her hand. He held her hand and hooked up the corner of his mouth slightly, Your hands are getting warm now, do you feel better? Crystal had mixed feelings in her heart, Eric, in fact, in that hard disk Hush, I dont want to know. But I want to confess. Since he would know it sooner orter, Its rare for me to be in such a good mood, so do you have to ruin my good mood? I will be upset if I dont say it out loud. Then, that will be the best punishment for you. Eric looked sharply, Guilt is the best prerequisite for maintaining a marriage. Crystal looked at him in astonishment. If you feel sorry for me, you will treat me well He said lightly, For example, I am very satisfied with your performance today. She was not looking coldly at him anymore. Rather than look at him with hatred.. You start to feel guilty for me. This is my biggest gain. He seemed to be in a very happy mood. This trip is not in vain. At least our rtionship has improved. Crystal frowned and dered, Eric, I wont love you! Love or not is somethingter, dont say so absolutely. But I really wont love you. She didnt want to pour cold water on him, but she didnt want to give him unnecessary hope. If this is the case, I will treat you better and make you guiltier then you will be so guilty that in the end, you will be reluctant to hurt me. He calctedly said, I will wait patiently, so happiness cane slower, as long as it is true. Crystal frowned tightly. She waspletely speechless. She just felt upset, like a mess in her head. She hated Eric, but sometimes she pitied him. She loved Nathan, but sometimes she hated him. Why were her feelings soplicated! The injury on Erics back was so serious that he had to stay in the manor to recuperate for a few days before returning home. Amos appeared at his birthday party, and he personally visited Eric in the evening. The problem was just that arge number of bodyguards always guarded him Before he entered the room, everyone was cleared out, including Crystal. He was really like an emperor, except for his cronies, no one was not allowed to approach. Crystal had no chance to approach him at all. As for Mrs. Bush, she had been in aa and high fever after that day, while she was asionally delirious when she woke up. They could only rely on tranquilizers to calm her down However, too many tranquilizers were not good for her body, which would also corrode the brain and damage the nerve center. The old man doesnt agree. Ericszy voice came. Then, we just watch your mothers condition worsen? Chapter 388: Can We Leave At Any Time? After returning back, I will find a better doctor for her, Eric said after a pause, We can find someone who is simr to Amos. Do you think that you can find such a simr person casually without any blood rtionship? I would create one anyway. What do you mean? Cosmetic surgery. Crystal frowned, Can you make an identical Amos? There are no two leaves that are the same in the world, and of course, they cant be exactly the same, said Eric seriously, It is enough to have sixty percent simrity, plus my mothers consciousness is not good. It will be fine. Since you know this way, why didnt you say it before? I have racked my brains thesest two days before I have this idea. It is also an inspiration that she mistook Nathan for Amos. Crystal bit her lower lip and looked out the window. Well, in this way, she didnt need to turn to Nathan. Their only relevance would be eliminated. Dont worry, it will be soon. I have asked someone to look for the candidate as soon as possible.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. At this moment, the bodyguard knocked on the door, Young master, the car is ready, we can leave at any time. This time, Eric kept everything simple, with only one bodyguard. Also, they were naturally escorted and protected by Amos here. Nathan would not be so stupid to hurt Eric at this time However, there was no need for them to hurt each other again, right? Crystal suddenly smiled, We have to leave now? You havent recovered yet. When can Ipletely recover? But Whats wrong? Do you still want to stay here? Crystal knew that Nathan lived in the same castle with them. But the castle was very big, so in order to not meet him, Crystal didnt go out at all. No matter what the reason Nathan stayed here, Crystal didnt want to see him again. She must leave as soon as possible, in case they met each other again, which was good for both of them. Darling,e and help me. Eric stretched out his hand. Crystal walked over to help him while he seized the opportunity to kiss her on the cheek, If my mother is cured, we will never see him again. Crystal suddenly looked at the painting on the opposite side of the bed, Fine, never see him again. Eric also squinted slightly and looked at the painting, Whats wrong? Do you like this painting? Nothing, lets go. Nathan leaned on the ck swivel chair and looked at the screen on the wall, which showed the actions of Crystal and Eric. He was like a voyeur. These days, as long as he had time, he would open it and see what this woman was doing! He held the remote control tightly, watching every intimate moment of them. How they dared sleep in the same room! Fortunately, Crystal slept on the sofa all the time Every time Eric called her Darling, it seemed to be a thorn that prated into his body. On the screen, Eric kissed Crystal on the cheek. [If my mother is cured, we will never see him again. [Fine, never see him again.] Crystal suddenly looked back at the screen. The two of them stared at each other through the ss screen. Nathan grabbed the remote control at hand and mmed it on the ground Then, water cups, books, tea sets. Anything that could be thrown had been used to vent by him. [I would create one anyway.] [What do you mean?] [Cosmetic surgery.] Nathan stood up coldly. He had been confident that Crystal would definitelye back to beg him in the past few days because he knew that she had always been a selfish person, racking her brains for her own benefit. However, what he had waited for was her taking good care of Eric by his bed. What he had waited for was that C she finally left with Eric mercilessly. All his hatred stemmed from his deep love. Suchplicated emotions made him unable to let go. He wanted to let her go, and he ordered himself to forget her! The room was dark. Nathan walked to the window and pulled the curtains hard. The sunshine suddenly came in. He was in the dark for a long time and couldnt adapt to the light, so his eyes narrowed Then, he saw Crystal and Eric walking out of the castle. Erics arm was on her shoulder, followed by a group of bodyguards. Naturally, Amos sent them to escort them to the airport. In the other window, Christine folded her arms and squinted viciously. How could she let Crystal leave safely? She had sent someone to follow them, looking for the best time to act. Amos thoroughly investigated this crystalmp incident However, Christine had made all-out preparations long ago, so even Amos investigated it, he could only find that the crystalmp incident was detected as a fall in disrepair, and it was impossible for him to find out the truth. Crystal seemed to sense Nathans gaze, but she straightened her back and told herself not to look back. The bodyguard pulled the car door. Crystals body paused for a moment before getting into the car, but soon she got in the car without hesitation. Every time she left, she was always like this, never looking back. After Crystal got in the car, her neck straightened, and her body didnt rx slightly until the car drove far away. How is your injury? The car was padded with super thick velvet, which sat very softly. In the huge space of the car, Eric upied a long position alone, lying on his side, like an emperor over the world. It seemed that Amos was very thoughtful to arrange such a good car for them. Darling, you are caring about me more and more. Eric seemed to be very happy. Crystal had cared about his injuries from time to time these past days. Dont think too much. You are injured because of saving me C I should care about you. Its toote, I have already thought a lot about it. Eric coquettishly stared at her, Darling, isnt it normal for a wife to care about her husband? You dont need to be shy. Crystal seriously changed the subject, What is the rtionship between you and Amos? What do you mean? He has taken more care of you than Nathan! Crystal was serious. Probably out of guilt. So why doesnt he help us if he really feels guilty? Amos is very vignt, plus he thinks that this is the best result for them. Crystal coldly snorted, Its just an excuse for irresponsibility. Darling, Im tired. Eric closed his eyes sleepily, seemingly reluctant to discuss this issue in detail. Eric didnt know all about the past, while he didnt want to discuss it more either. Crystal leaned on the window and looked at the vehicle behind them. Mrs. Bush was given a tranquilizer, but she couldnt always live on the tranquilizer until the stic Amos was made. In Huston. Erics people picked them up at the airport, and they returned to the vi smoothly. Christines people followed them all the way to the vi, but they failed to find a good opportunity to act, so the action failed. In Amoss manor, Amos people closely guarded them, and when they returned to Huston, they were all people from Eric. Christine smiled coldly, Send someone to watch near the vi, looking for opportunities. As long as she knew Erics foothold, the action would be sooner orter. She was not in a hurry. The door was ajar. When Crystal was about to knock, she heard people talking inside. The operation failed? It was Erics voice. The potion prepared for the operation has been changed Crystal pushed the door quietly. Eric sat on a French sofa chair with a French tablemp beside him in the luxuriously decorated bedroom. The warm light illuminated his extremely cold face, and the smile at the corner of his mouth waspletely gone. Have you investigated, who did it? Chapter 389: You Didn鈥檛 Sleep Well Last Night? The bodyguard knelt on one leg and pressed his hand on the ground to report, It should be Master Davis. Its him again. Eric was not surprised, as if Nathan had been making trouble in many ways recently. The soup in Crystals hands was almost unstable, and the open door was moved by the wind, making a creaking sound. When the bodyguard came in, he forgot to close the door. Eric looked up and met Crystals eyes. Crystal saw that she couldnt hide anymore, she opened the door with her shoulder and walked in with the tray, I made some soup for you. Eric nodded and waved his hand. The bodyguard, who was kneeling on the ground, got up and retreated. Erics serious face changed into a rxed smile, Darling, I cant believe that you will make me the soup by yourself, Im really ttered. He got up personally, took the tray, and ced it on the table. Darling, dont do this kind of dirty work yourself. What if you fall? He turned around and held her hand.RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Crystal unnaturally took her hand back, What were you talking about just now? The operation failed? Did the cosmetic surgery fail? Eric frowned slightly. Its Nathan? Crystal shook her head, I dont believe it. After we came back, he opposed me in many ways. How do you know that its him against you? Not someone else? Dont forget that I can check it, not to mention that he didnt want to hide it. Eric picked up a small empty bowl and filled half of the soup, He did openly. Why did he do that? Jealous. He is jealous? Eric smiled maically, Because I am happier than him. Crystal pinched her fingers, He doesnt need to be jealous at all. He can be happier. But he is jealous of me C he is jealous that I have you. Eric dered a cruel fact. With Nathans extreme character, he could really do it. Take this first. Eric gave her the bowl and picked up another small bowl for himself. Such arge bowl of soup was definitely enough for them. How could Crystal be in the mood to drink soup now, Its really him? Why should I lie to you? Apart from Nathan, do I have other mortal enemies? No one dares to provoke me. Sure, only Nathan and Eric dared to pluck each others heads. How would anyone else dare to provoke them? They were toote to dodge them. However, Crystal could understand why Nathan was against Eric, but she couldnt understand why Nathan had to hinder the operation. Mrs. Bush was innocent. He knew that she had begged him for this matter. Did he deal with her indirectly? Honey, the soup will be cold if you dont drink it. Crystals face looked very bad. Are you okay? Eric, dont you understand the consequence of his hindering the operation? Crystal finally couldnt help asking. He could refuse to help, but how could he even add fuel to the mes? How could Nathan do so? You could not believe it, Eric said with a cold expression, But he has always been cruel. Believe it or not, it is your freedom. You can think whatever you feel morefortable I didnt n to tell you this. Its because youve eavesdropped on what you shouldnt that you feel very ufortable. Crystals mind was in a mess. Well, dont think about it. I will find a way to deal with my mothers affairs. After a pause, Eric said, I have good news for you. Crystal waspletely absent-minded. Carlos treatment is very sessful, and he will be sent home tomorrow. Crystal finally looked a little better. But his situation is not very stable yet, I believe that he will get better soon. Eric arranged her hair, Are you happy? Crystal couldnt believe it and asked, The treatment is very sessful, and he will be sent back tomorrow? I set him in the country to recuperate. You can visit him now. This was the only good news in recent days. Crystal let out a sigh of relief, and Carlos finally got out of control. Eric did not break his promise to her. He had really given everything she wanted How could she still be unsatisfied? What else was she still asking for? In that case, should you drink the soup and rest earlier? Crystal nodded numbly, finished the soup in one breath, and turned away numbly. Just as she was about to walk out of the door, Eric stopped her, After Carlos affairs are finished, we can go abroad to settle. What do you think? Going abroad? If you want to stay, I have no opinion. Well, its good to go abroad then lets go abroad. Crystals shoulders shivered slightly, As long as its not here, it will be fine. Eric smiled softly, Have a good rest. As long as she was not in Nathans sight, she could go anywhere. She wanted to leave, stay away from him. In this way, they would no longer have any chance to meet again. Nathan leaned in the bathtub. The mist was rising. There was a beautiful face faintly in the mist He held a ring tightly in his palm. This was given by the servant when he left. It was in the room where Crystal had slept in the vineyard. Also, a torn silver chain was given to him. [The day after you left, I found it after I cleaned the room.] Nathan clutched the ring fiercely. Just by looking at it, he knew whom the ring belonged to. Nathan hooked up the corner of his mouth and sneered. The sentence pain in the left hand and happiness in the right made him angry like a fire. She kept wearing the ring, always reminding herself how terrible it was to meet him? The crazy fury burned in his body as if it were about to explode. That was his love that had been umted for Crystal, all turned into a fire of hatred. He suffered in the hell of resentment while she and Eric were bathed in the heaven of love. Why should he leave the pain to himself and let them live better? After returning to Huston, he would definitelyunch a series of revenge since he knew that Eric would let people have the cosmetic surgery in order to treat Mrs. Bush, how could he make it smooth? How would he let them live happily? At this moment, his mobile phone rang by the luxurious bath. He picked up the phonezily and pressed the loudspeaker key. Vics voice came, Young master, Master Bushs cosmetic surgery failed. Nathans pupils dimmed and shrank for a while, soon a kind offort after revenge spread all over his body. He paused for a moment and ordered Vic to go to the manor on the Isted Ind to find the watch he had thrown away. If he found it, he could know the location of Crystal. There was a positioning system in her bracelet! The cruel color condensed in his pupils, Nathan shook the liquid in the goblet as if tasting blood. In the Manor on the Isted Ind. The waves crashed against the rocks. There was a tightly wrapped sketchbook lying in the crack of the reefs. Although it had been soaked in seawater for a long time, blown by the wind and beaten by the rain, it was still intact. Everything was like fate, just waiting to find its owner **** Crystal looked haggard in the mirror. She had criedst night and suffered from insomnia all night. Her eyes were very swollen. If Carlos saw her like this, he would definitely be worried about her. She didnt want him to worry about her. She wanted to show that she was very happy and let him recover in peace. Young mistress, what kind of makeup do you want today? The servantbed her hair, and the makeup artist adjusted the makeup palette. Crystals eyes dimmed, A little thicker, I want to look more energetic. Yes. You didnt sleep wellst night? Erics voice suddenly appeared above her head. Chapter 390: Sketchbook Was Found The servant saluted respectfully and dispersed. Eric put his hands on the backrest, As long as I leave a few passionate hickeys on your neck, I believe that you will be full of energy immediately. Crystal rarely didnt refute him, Fine. Eric was suddenly stunned, then he smiled, Darling, you are getting more and more obedient. Dont you like it? Didnt they all try to tame her? As long as it is you, I like it. As long as Eric spoke, it must be sweet talk. Crystal had be ustomed to it now. When she went out, she was suddenly pressed at the entrance. Darling, didnt you say you want me to leave a few hickeys on your neck? Crystal looked at the servants who were walking around the room and then at the bodyguards following him. Not here, just wait where no one is there. In the car? There is also a driver in the car! When have you be so conservative? Eric squinted, like a big tail wolf, When we are alone, arent you afraid that I will lose control of myself? If you dare to touch me, your child will be over. Darling, you are so cruel. Eric thought for a while, I will be the driver. Can you drive with your injury? Ive recovered, if you dont believe it, you can touch me. He took her hand, put it on his back, and let her touch him. The swelling on his back had already disappeared, and the wound was gradually healing Crystal whispered, Lets not bring bodyguards this time. Why? I dont like the feeling of being in jail, I really feel enough of it. Besides, the farm is full of your people. What are you afraid of? I am afraid of nothing C I will do as you want. If it were in the past, when Crystal asked him not to bring bodyguards for the sake of her safety, Eric would have definitely disagreed. But since he would go out with her today, he would be a strong bodyguard for her Moreover, those hickeys became an extreme temptation for him. But Crystal would never know that this time she asked to go out alone would just give the people who had been secretly monitoring them a chance. Christine picked up the phone and put down the delicate teacup. Miss Laurent, Master Bush, and Mrs. Bush went out alone without any entourage this time. Will Eric be so careless? Look again and be careful of ambushes. We have checked it clearly. They really didnt bring It was so great, she had waited for so long, and finally, this day came. A murderous intent shed across Christines eyes, but it was very quick. She was afraid that she would fail like the previous chandelier incident this time. If Eric survived, he would thoroughly investigate it Christine suddenly thought of a good candidate who could be the scapegoat. Even if she failed, she would be able to get away with the matter. Keep an eye on their whereabouts and report it to me in real-time. **** In the manor on the Isted Ind, after a night of searching and salvaging, the bodyguards still had not found the watch but had found the sketchbook from the crack between the reefs. Nathan stood with his hands on his back, looking at the distant view of the sky and the sea. As if yesterday had reappeared. He had seen Crystal for the first time here, and he had spent the first Christmas with her here. All the past memories were still fresh. He had never done anything for a woman, but he had done everything that he could to her, except for taking his heart out to her. Young master, Vic said softly, We didnt find the watch, but we found a sketchbook. Nathan looked back. The package in Vics hands was open, revealing a sketchbook. Unexpectedly, what he had dug for so long would suddenly appear. Nathan stared at him coldly, Who opened it? The bodyguard found it without knowing what it was, so he opened it to check Nathan looked at the beach coldly, Burn it. Now that he had decided to rece love with hatred, he didnt want to see anything rted to the past. Vic hesitated and said, But inside are the portraits of the young master I have told you to burn it! Nathan growled in a low voice, and the scarlet pupils were frightening. Vic turned and left. Nathans heart suddenly started to hurt inexplicably He clenched his fists tightly and shouted sharply, Get back here. Vic had just reached the door but came back miserably. Before getting close, Nathan shouted again, Get out, and burn it. Vic, When Vic walked to the door, Nathans loud voice sounded again like thunder, Get back! Vic returned back again, and he had been prepared to deal with his master C after working with Nathan for so long, he had always been a resolute man and had never been so entangled with anything. It was conceivable that the contradictions in Nathans heart were fighting fiercely at this time. Finally, Nathan still took the sketchbook from Vic. He seemed to open it very casually. He immediately saw that the first page was wet with tears. The tears had dried up and turned into raindrop shapes, and the sketch on that page was also blurred. It was a profile face of Nathan with his eyes closed. A handsome face, with long eyshes, just like a perfect masterpiece of God. However, there was a sentence below the painting, [Thanks for letting me meet you, whether we have a future or not.] Nathans heart suddenly seemed to be injected with a stimnt, and the blood in his body immediately became mad. He pressed his lips tightly and opened the next page It was a front view of Nathan when he was sleeping. The corners of the thin lips were slightly raised as if he had dreamed of something pleasant. His smile was very light but full of radiance. [I just hope you will always smile when you think of me.] Nathans body was tight as if the strings of his brain were stretched into a line. He turned to the next picture, having no mood to look at the painting, he just looked at the words under the sketch. [Perhaps I am really useless, unable to protect everyone I dont want to lose.] ****RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only [If one day, you find that I have done something sorry for you, will you hate me?] **** [I chose to give you up because I only want to owe you and just remember you until thest breath I may have.] **** Every piece of painting paper had a trace of being soaked with tears Thest one was almost wrinkled, and its words were also blurred. [You always say that I have no heart. Actually, I have, and every ce of it is filled with you.] Nathans breath suddenly became heavy with a nasal sound, his tears dripped down, falling on the drawing paper, on the ces that Crystals tears had flowed Nathans face was tense. He was holding the sketchbook tightly. Crystal, why? If he hadnte back here to look for the watch, and they hadnt found this sketchbook by mistake, then it would have be a secret forever. No matter what he had done to her, she would have never exined or refuted. She had just kept silent all the time! Why? As if God had heard the cry in his heart, the waves suddenly became fierce, crashing on the reefs, breaking into thousands of spoondrift. The sky that had been sunny just now was suddenly obscured by the dark clouds, indicating that a rainstorm wasing soon At this moment, a bodyguard stood on the rock and waved to this side, Young master, the watch is found. **** Crystal didnt sleep the whole night, so she quickly fell asleep after she got in the car. Crystal was leaning her head against the window. Because of the vibration of the car on the bumpy road, her head would keep bumping on the ss. Darling? Is it so boring to be with me? Eric tried his best to drive the car as slowly as possible, but it did not stop the car from shaking. Crystal tried hard to cheer up, Go faster, it seems to be quite far from the farm? I dont mind lending you my shoulder. Focus on driving. How can you drive if I lean on your shoulder? Suddenly Crystals face changed, and she pointed to the front, Be careful! Chapter 391: It鈥檚 Her A little boy rode a bicycle straight across the road. Eric hurriedly turned the steering wheel, the car nearly brushed past the boy, which would almost cause a car ident. Crystal didnt dare to sleep anymore, Cant you just concentrate? I have always been thinking about the hickeys you owe me, I cant concentrate. You are so horny? I am only horny to you. Now I have no interest in anyone else except you. Crystal frowned and looked away. She knew very well whether he had any sex life since they were together. He did not look for other women elsewhere. The car drove out of the city and moved on the road leading to the suburbs. The field of vision had gradually broadened, and it was spring now, everything was recovering, and the fields were full of rapeseed flowers. Crystal lowered the car window and breathed the fresh air. Only at this time, her heart would be slightly calm. Suddenly a ck sports car rushed out of the branch road ahead. Eric frowned and braked sharplyC Squeak! The wheels were rubbing on the ground with a harsh sound. Crystal leaned forward heavily because of inertia. Whats the matter with you today? Are you absentminded again? Crystal cursed coldly, Eric, do you have to have a car ident? Its not my fault this time. Someone suddenly rushed out from the branch road ahead. Eric checked Crystals seat belt for the first time, We met a desperate lunatic! The ck sports car turned its direction, letting the front face them, and the driver stepped on the elerator hard. It mmed into this side aggressively! Erics instinct felt something wrong, and he immediately reversed. Crystal unexpectedly saw that the owner of the ck sports car was Joyce. Her face changed greatly, Its her! Darling, do you know her? What kind of enemy is so fierce? Eric only felt familiar. He had always had a bad memory of women except for Crystal. He backed up fast, but Joyce quickly chased him frantically. Suddenly Eric made a beautiful rear drift and turned quickly, in the same direction as the ck sports car. Joyce was not Erics opponent at all in terms of car skills. Suddenly, a pistol protruded from the car window. Bang, bang, bang Joyce shot at Erics car randomly. Be careful. Eric pressed down Crystals head for the first time while the bullet passed through the car ss and shot directly above Crystals head. Crystals mind went nk. How did Joyce know they were here? Where did she get a gun?! Just at this moment, Joyce quickly seized the opportunity to turn around and make her car face Erics car again. Joyces eyes were filled with bitter hatred, and she advanced the throttle.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Suddenly those humiliating memories appeared in Joyces mind that the intercourse she had with the man for several rounds was made into a video, the scene when she was reviled by Carlos and finally abandoned by him, the moments when her friends ridiculed her, and she couldnt raise her head anymore Everything was caused by this woman, Crystal! Gun Eric, did you bring a gun? No, darling. Boom! There was a heavy crash with a deafening sound. Joyces head mmed against the windshield when the two cars collided because of inertia. The blood flowed down from her forehead, which was extremely shocking She was dizzy for a moment and quickly shook her head and backed the car. Why could Crystal always have everything? Since she was a child, she was always the best in everything, grades, appearance, piano She had got what all the girls wanted without much effort, including the love of Carlos. Joyce cursed in her mind. That man was liked by her first! Why could she never beparable to that bitch in Carloss eyes Eric started the sports car again, which stalled because of the collision, and he immediately protected Crystal, letting her bend and raise her knees to cover her abdomen and chest. Crystal put your hands on your head, keep your head down, remember, dont raise your head no matter what happens. Dont worry, darling, dont be afraid, I am here. There was another loud sound, and she could vaguely hear Erics words. The front passengers seat was the most dangerous seat because the drivers instinctive reaction would usually protect themselves first, then the danger would be transferred to the front passenger. The emergency technique for a crash was to hug ones head and lie on the seat. The passengers should curl up as much as possible to protect their organs. If Eric wore a seat belt, he wouldnt have time to protect his body at all. So Crystal looked down, and she saw his fastened seat belt At the most critical moment, Eric had given up himself to protect her It was another deafening crash! Eric covered her with an umbre posture. The car ss was shattered, and a lot of shards had fallen and thrust into him Crystal waspletely panicked Suddenly she remembered that he had protected her by the same posture in Amos manor. If there were anything slightly wrong at the time, Eric would have died. Blood flowed down from Erics body. He was put into aa. Eric, Eric Crystal yelled, Joyce, you maniac, you are crazy! Yeah, Im crazy, I have been driven crazy by you hahaha The startling blood dripped from Joyces ferocious smiling face, Go to hell, Crystal I wish you to go to hell Both cars had been dented on their entire front due to the collision. Joyce backed the car again, trying to take thest chance to smash Crystals life. Crystal, I will apany you to hell. Go to die- Crack- The sports car wasing fiercely, with a crazy hatred. The harsh sound rang for the third time. When two cars were about to collide, the dizzy Eric slowly became sober. He held the steering wheel with his bloody hands and stepped on the elerator. The stalled car kept making sizzling noises. Joyces car wasing violently. Squeak, squeak He turned sharply. The speed was so fast, and if they were one secondte, Joyce would have hit them. The ck sports car rushed over because of the excessive force, and the front of Erics car was dented heavily, bursting out sparks. Joyces eyes widened, she watched the sports car crash through the barrier and rush out. Outside the fence was a steep terrace. Joyce screamed, her whole body stained red with blood and rolled down with the broken sports car. She fell onto one terrace, rolled to the next. Joyces eyes were widely open, with the decidedly angry hatred and unwillingness because of Crystal. The sports car was face down. Tick, tock It was the sound of oil spilling. Joyce waspletely suppressed under the car, and the pain was like a tide, which hit every part of her body from all directions. She tried hard to struggle because Crystal hadnt been dead yet, she couldnt die now, she must pull Crystal to die together. But her body waspletely suppressed, and the sound of the oil leaking became louder and louder. **** Tick, tock What Crystal heard was the sound of Erics blood dripping. Crystal was shocked but soon recovered, looking at Erics dark and hollow eyes, which were staring at her deeply. The purple lips were dyed red with blood, which was coquettish red, and some fresh blood was still slowly flowing out. Crystals brain was nk, Eric- Are you okay? When he opened his mouth, a mouthful of blood sprayed out. At this time, did he worry about her first? The big palm stroked her abdomen, he rubbed it gently The corners of his lips were hooked up, and he smiled slowly. Crystal held his shoulder tightly and asked in her heart, Why? Chapter 392: Who Can Help Me? If it were not to save her from the shot of Joyce, Eric could havepletely gotten rid of Joyces entanglement. If it were not to protect her, he could have taken protective measures in time, and the person lying dying now would have been her If it werent for her, nothing would have happened today The clouds suddenly overwhelmed the clear sky while the thunder rolled over All sunlight was blocked. Eric, mobile phone, mobile phone Crystal recovered soon after a while, I will call an ambnce now. Crystal groped in his pants. But all she could touch was sticky blood. Coat pocket She took the mobile phone out of his coat pocket and found that it couldnt be used at all because of being soaked in blood. Blood? Why is there so much blood? Crystal eximed, only to find a bloody piece on his chest. Darling, you still owe me a few hickeys You got shot? Where is it? No one is here now Eric, have you got shot? Yeah. Eric stroked her hair, You look freaked out Tears suddenly overflowed from Crystals eyes, You were shot, why didnt you tell me earlier!? Eric smiled weakly, So what if I tell you He had been shot long ago, but he was still protecting her. Even if he had fainted, he could have suddenly be sober and avoided the final blow given by Joyce. But she didnt realize that he had been shot until now! I, I will call an ambnce, Eric, I will call an ambnce Crystals tears rolled down, and she panicked, What should I do? I dont have a mobile phone, what should I do Dont worry there is a public telephone booth along the roadside As Eric was speaking, the blood kept flowing out, You can make an emergency call there. Stop talking, stop talking! Crystal covered his lips. She was afraid that he would have no more blood if he were bleeding more. Then Eric took the opportunity to kiss her palm His narrow eyes were raised, smiling handsomely, When you worry about me you look so beautiful Crystals tears rolled down again, Im going now She moved his body gently. What she touched were all blood and wounds. She opened the car door, and a st of cold wind came in Several raindrops hit the ground. Boom! It was the sound of Joyces sports car exploding. Crystal looked over, the mes lit up the sky, and smoke rose in the rain. Gritting her teeth, she told herself to be strong at this time. As she was just about to get out of the car, her arm was grabbed tightly by Eric, Darling can you apany me more? You have no time, Ill go ande back quickly, wait for me Just five minutes? Crystals feet seemed to be tied to lead, which were too heavy to move. Eric stretched out his hand, Come on, give me your hand Crystals mind was nk, then she gave him a hand. He held her hand and smiled slowly, Promise me, you will keep our child anyway. Our child Crystal choked. Huh? Eric grasped her hand tighter, You promise? Crystal nodded hard. He smiled again and reached out to wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes, Dont cry. The blood on his hand rubbed her face, mixing with tears. The rains kept falling. Erics gaze became more and more hollow and gradually unfocused. Crystal pulled her hand out hard, Eric, I will find someone to call an ambnce now. You must wait for me, wait for me! I know well about my body, dont worry, you are still alive, how dare I die? He tried hard to raise his lips and smiled, I wont scare you It takes time to wait for the ambnce toe, we cant wait! I have to call them right away Dont run, be careful about the child Dont worry about me Okay. Slow down, dont fall Okay. Just go Crystal nodded and slowly released his hand, I wille back soon, I will definitely be back, Eric, wait for me! Crystal stepped back a few steps, suddenly turned, and ran forward cruelly. When she ran to the end of the road, she couldnt help but look back and saw bloody Eric lying on the passenger seat. But his eyes were looking at the yellow rapeseed flowers in the field with divine detachment. The rain was getting heavier. Crystal ran forward along the road, tears continuously falling down from his eyes, mixed with rain. She had run for ten minutes, but where was the phone booth along the way? Her brain exploded suddenly, and her whole body froze. It was as if a sleepwalker suddenly woke up. Along the way they hade, she had looked at the ridges of the field outside the window. Never did she see a phone booth? He had been lying to her. He had lied to her! He knew his physical condition, and he couldnt wait for the ambnce, so he pushed her away on purpose. Crystal suddenly turned around, wanting to run back, but what should she do after going back? Would she watch Eric die in front of her? Crystal did not expect that when Eric was about to die, she was still worried that his death would leave a shadow on her [Darling can you apany me more] [Be with me, only five minutes?] [I know my body well Dont worry, you are alive, how dare I die? I wont scare you] Crystal suddenly looked like a lost child, staring at the road with confusion. There were onlyrge fields, without anyone else Help! Somebody there? Is there anybody? Who can help me? Crystal was like a puppet without a soul. The heavy rain hit her pale face, her loud voice was quickly drowned out by the rain. Crystal slowly squatted down, she felt weak, and her mind was nk. In heavy rain, she recalled everything about Eric. [Crystal, marry me.] [Crystal, as long as you want, as long as I have, I can give you the whole world, but you can only be mine.] As if an evil man came towards her. He hooked up his lips and smiled at her [Thats also a good start from not hating me, not having any feeling, to feel good, to like then to love.] [We still have a long way to go, its okay, I can wait for you slowly. I can wait for you for a lifetime.] She had always hated him so much, wishing him to die! But why did everything happen in this way? If he died because of saving her, she would not be peaceful in her life. She should have been the person to die! It should be her! In the distance, there was the sound of a caring in. Crystal was agitated, watching a small car approaching through the rain and fog. Crystal got up immediately and stood in the center of the road, Stop-help! The fog light hit her. She was covered in blood, and her hair was messy. As she walked, the blood on her body was dripping on the ground. The driver paused and braked sharply. Crystal wiped her tears and said, Please help me, we have a car ident, please However, before she approached him, the car reversed abruptly, as if he had seen a ghost. Crystal stiffened. It seemed that no one was willing to help her. In such a remote ce, vehicles would only pass by asionallyRAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only If she had waited for the next car toe, Eric would have been dead! She couldnt just let Eric die Chapter 393: Same Him, I鈥檓 Begging You Crystal stumbled back. It was still the scene of the incident, with the shocking blood If it were normal women, they wouldnt have had the courage toe back. In the ridge was Joyce, who exploded and burst into mes, and on the road was the bloody Eric. This terrifying picture would inevitably be a memory that Crystal couldnt get rid of in her lifetime. However, she bravely returned to Eric. Eric She called him softly. His head was hanging down, with one hand dropping outside the car. The rain washed the blood far away Crystal squatted down and probed his breath with her hands. He still had the breath, although it was very weak. Crystal remembered that Eric had said that his bodyguard would keep in touch with him at any time. Then he must have something tomunicate with them. In addition to the wedding ring, he would also carry a gem ring. Just now, her mind had gone nk, so she hadnt thought so much. She took out Erics bloody hand and found the ring. Her hand was shaking while opening the gem cover Sure enough, she found themunication button. Help we need help,e and save us now Crystal shouted tremblingly. Young master, we are already on the way. It seemed that Eric had already called for help when Crystal had just left. He was not so stupid He let her away just because he was afraid that he would die at any time. Eric, didnt you say that you will wait for me? Im back The blood flowed down along Erics arm and kept gathering on the ground. Open your eyes, you cant sleep, wake up quickly, can you hear me? The main fatal injury of Eric was the gunshot wound, and all the injuries on his back were surface injuries. Crystal analyzed that the most important thing now was to stop his bleeding. She tried hard to pull Erics body, which was obviously too heavy for her to move. Her hands pressed hard against Erics heart, Please wake up,e onProperty ? of N?velDrama.Org. In the rain, a convoy seemed to be approaching. Crystal looked at the front of the road, the fog lights shot through the rain and fog. Crystal was very surprised, Eric, have you seen them? They areing, and people are here they can save you soon She stumbled out of the car and stood in the middle of the road again, directly stretching her hands. More than a dozen cars came through the rain aggressively. The leading car stopped abruptly, Crystal clenched her fists tight, fearing that they would also turn around and run away. Are you from the Bush? Come to save him A driver opened the ck umbre and got out of the car. However, the man who sat on the passenger seat did not wait for the umbre, directly got out of the car and strode towards her with an evil and arrogant breath. That resolute and sharp face At a nce, he had seen the blood on Crystals body and the crashing sports car. Nathans heart was gripped as if he had just saved her from death. Nathan quickly took off his coat as he walked, hugging Crystal, who was covered in blood, into his arms. He finally found her again and held her tightly, hugging her, covering his coat on her shivering body, Are you crazy? Why are you standing in the rain?! Do you know you are pregnant!? Nathan? Crystal thought that she saw wrongly. Get in the car. Save him Crystal grabbed his sleeve, Youvee just in time, save Eric. Nathan stared at her deeply. His eyes were blood-red, full of pity for her, Get in the car first Lets talk about itter. Save Eric, save him, save him! Crystal struggled violently and shouted, He is dying, help him stop his bleeding, he is almost dying Nathan thought that she didnt care at all why he came? Were her eyes full of Eric? Save him, I beg you. Crystals eyes were hollow, holding his sleeves as if it were the only life-saving straw, suddenly her body softened, then she knelt on the ground. Nathan froze all over with shock. I know hes your enemy; I know you wish him to die I know, I know you dont want to save him You are probably here to mock us after knowing about the ident I deserve it. But please please save him for our old days sake. Stand up! Nathan shouted at Crystal. Exposed in the heavy rain, Crystals body was as cold as ice. Its spring, but theres still a chill in the air, not to mention getting wet in heavy rain. Her every movement and expression touched a very raw nerve of Nathan, making his heart ache. Without saying more, he picked Crystal up and was about to stuff her into the car. Crystal was not obedient, however. She hit Nathan on his chest, his face, and yelled like crazy. Dont touch me! Save Eric save him! If you dont save him, I dont want to live either I didnt say I wouldnt save him! Nathans roar overshadowed the thunder. At this time, a group of bodyguards got off from the cars behind Nathans car, lined up in the rain in orderly rows. Nathan issued an order, Save him! Now! If he dies, Ill make all of you go down with him! The bodyguards ran up to the spot in uniform steps, and those with medical skills instructed the others to assist them in helping save Eric. See? Im saving him. Can you rest assured and get in the car now? Nathan hugged her in the arms hard. Instead of answering, Crystal stared nkly in the direction of Eric. The driver was holding a big ck umbre over their heads to keep off the rain. Crystal, I promise you. Ill save him, I wont let him die, Nathan abruptly softened his voice, can we get in the car? Theres no stretcher, no first aid equipment Crystal murmured, will he survive? He will, Nathan said with determination. Youre lying He will survive! Crystal Smith, and youll be fine! Crystal responded with a sneer. You should be satisfied with the result, shouldnt you? As you wish, Ill be in pain forever. This must be your revenge on me Justugh, why dont youugh? It would be best if you wereughing at me heartily. Every word was the sharpest knife, stabbing Nathans heart deeply. He parted his thin lips, unable to exin or defend himself. Ignoring Crystals will, he stuffed Crystal into the car. The tragic ident spot also astonished Vic. Its obviously not an ordinary car ident. Look into the ident! Right away! Nathan coldlymanded, And get me towels and nkets! Crystal still looked out of the window with dull and empty eyes. The pictures of Eric protecting her, the images of him bleeding kept shing in front of her eyes. Why? Why did it turn into this Fearing that she would get cold, Nathan quickly took off Crystals coat. Luckily, Crystal was wearing a down coat with a waterproofyer. Thus the clothes inside didnt get drenched, though her hair and cor werepletely wet. Nathan gently wiped Crystals hair with a towel, took off her soaked shoes and socks, and wrapped tightly around her shivering body with nkets. Also, Nathan took off his coat to cover her, ced her on his thighs, and held her tight. Crystal, its me he whispered in her ear, Im Nathan. Im here. Crystal, look at me. Nathan pinched her chin, forcing her to look at him. However, her eyes were as hollow as a doll, no matter what Nathan said. She was looking at him, but her attention seemed to be focusing somewhere far away. Nathan felt his heart empty. Crystal, Crystal Smith! She was always brave, never showed her weakness and fragility in front of others, even Nathan had never seen her be frightened like that. She looked as if she had lost her soul. When Nathan rubbed Crystals hands to warm them up, Vic knocked at the window and reported, Weve rescued Master Bush and are going to send him to the nearest hospital. But, Master Bushs condition is not optimistic Vic went on after hesitation, Im afraid hes not gonna make it. Chapter 394: Did I Do It Wrong? Nathan lowered his eyes and ordered, Return to the downtown. The cars started to head back, only leaving some bodyguards at the scene to investigate the ident. Eric was now on the verge of death; Joyce was dead, and Crystal was still suffering from shock. There was no other witness at the scene, so Nathan had no way to know about the ident process. He had beente. Crystal, Im here I wont let you suffer again. Nathan cuddled her and kissed her on the forehead. Still, Crystal did not react at all. Her nonresponse made Nathans heart sink to the depths. Crystal Smith, look at me! Nathan held her chin again, trying to wake her up; Her mental state was worrying. All of a sudden, Crystal seemed toe to herself. She googled her eyes and stared at Nathan. Nathan Davis? Yes, its me. Where am I? She looked around, finding herself in the car; the car was moving, and it was raining heavily outside. Nathan grabbed her hands and replied, Youre in my car. Where are we heading to? Hospital. Why do we go to the hospital? As she spoke, she supported her head with one hand, rubbing on it, and seemed to have a headache. Nathan took her hand anxiously, Does it hurt? Did you hurt your head? Crystals reaction scared him; she forgot what had happened in the twinkling of an eye! Speed up! He yelled at the driver. The car they were in and those following them advanced at full speed in the drenching rain. Nathan quickly checked her head. Theres no wound. Then he examined her body and found no cuts at all, though there were a lot of bloodstains. By contrast, Eric was severely injured in the car ident. Why was Crystal safe and sound while an alert and cautious man like Eric almost died? Nathan could not figure it out. What on earth happened? Did you forget everything? Nathan probed again. Blood, the picture of the car crash, and Joyces ferocious and angry face were filled with Crystals mind, making her tremble with fear. The scene where Eric had been protecting her in his arms and his blood flowing out was still vivid before her eyes. If only she could forget those Erics blood seemed to be dripping drop by drop on her; she stretched her hands and muttered, Blood all is Erics blood Nathan picked up the towel and wiped her hands. However, Crystal saw more and more blood. Erics blood all over my hands Crystal Smith, dont scare me! Nathan gazed at her. He wished he could have suffered all these for her. Forget it; its best to forget it. I want to forget it, but I cant Crystal seized Nathans shirt and questioned, tell me, Im in a nightmare, right?! I see you in my nightmares every night. Youre here, so it must be a nightmare. Everything is all a fake right? See me in the nightmares every night? Nathan knitted his brows. From the moment of seeing Crystal with blood all over her, his heart ached without a moments pause. He patted her on the back gently, consoling, Yes, youre in a nightmare. Sleep, my dear. When you wake up, everything will be fine. I promise. Crystal seemed to be exhausted. She leaned against Nathans chest, slowly closed her eyes. The storm outside did not stop. **** At the hospital When Eric was pushed into the emergency room, Crystal was also sent into a ward. In the VIP ward, the doctor was examining Crystal. She turned over Crystals eyelids, then closed the medical record. ording to your description, I believe that the ident was so horrible that the patient could not ept the fact, thus resulting in nerve stimtion, the doctor diagnosed. Nerve stimtion? Nathan repeated. His expression was as cold as frost. A hint of cruelty flickered over his eyes. He was extremely sensitive to the two words because as long as he heard the words, he would associate them with the old Mrs. Bush. Er I mean, this is temporary, shell be fine after waking up. No more problems? Nathan asked. Theres no big problem. Her condition is good. When the doctor answered, he stole a peek at the bodyguards behind Nathan. Nathans momentum was terrifying enough, not to mention with the expressionless bodyguards standing behind him. The whole hospital was shrouded in gloom and caution. The doctor hastily added, Shes caught in the rain and is in weak health. Ill put her on a drip with glucose. She will recover soon. Are you sure all her organs and viscera are fine? Nathan pressed. As for internal injuries, we need to make further examinations the doctor answered timidly. Do it now! Its better to wait until the patient wakes up! I said, do it now! And her brain, examine it in detail! His strong voice startled the doctor. Okay, okay, Ill do it! A few hourster, the doctor showed Nathan the X-rays and CT images and made a detailed exnation to him. Only when hearing all Crystals organs and viscera were as good as new did Nathan finally rx his taut nerves. He drove the bodyguards and doctors who were crowded in the ward out. The room eventually regained quiet. Crystals breath sounded in the ward, even but heavy. She must be tired out. Nathan sat by the bed, holding her hands, and fixed his affectionate gaze at her for a long time Later, Vic brought the sketchbook over.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Master Davis, Master Bush is still in surgery, reported Vic. How is he? Hes alive when being pushed into the emergency room, but whether he could go through it or not depends on himself Nathans eyes turned cold. He certainly did not care about Erics life and death. Its just that what Crystal had reacted before thea indeed frightened him. She had freaked out to be mentally disordered As Nathan closed his eyes, the scenes of Crystal kneeling to beg him to save Eric leaped before his eyes. By reminding himself that his jealousy was the prime culprit that pushed Crystal away from him, he managed to suppress the wild envy inside his heart. He opened the sketchbook, looked over the confession on each page repeatedly; they were the proof of Crystals love for him. In their rtionship, Nathan was undoubtedly in an inferior position. He never trusted Crystals love, so he continuously verified it by all means. He sneered weirdly. Even he could not believe that a proud and arrogant man like him turned out to feel inferior in terms of love. He was like a child afraid of being robbed of his beloved toy, thus wished to hide it and let no one covet it. Did I do it wrong? Vic did not answer. Im asking you! Nathan was getting impatient. Vic confirmed cautiously, Young Master, are you talking to me? Who else is in the room in addition to you and me? I thought you were talking with Miss Smith Vic murmured with his head lowering. Then he raised his head and looked at Nathan, added, Young Master, youre always right. Even if you did wrong, youre right. That was the creed and consciousness for a loyal servant to his master. Nathan ridiculed himself, Youre satire me, arent you? How dare I do that What does Eric have that makes him better than me? Nathan grasped the sketchbook and put the question to Vic again. This question put Vic in an awkward situation. In terms of appearance, family background, and talent, Young Master, youre neck and neck with Master Bush. Its difficult to say whos better and whos inferior. You have your personality charm, and he has him, its not appropriate to make aparison. Vic thought his answer was to the point and safe. However, Nathan seemed not to think so. Neck and neck? Difficult to say whos better? Nathan gave a brittleugh, Thats to say, I have no advantage, right? Vic dared not speak again. At this moment, no matter what he said was wrong. The only advantage he had was that Crystal loved him, yet, he had ruined it in person. Furthermore, he wasnt confident whether Crystal still loved him after being cruelly treated by him. Chapter 395: I鈥檓 Going To See Him Gently, he fingered her hair away from her forehead, caressing the scar on it. Nathan jerked back his hand as if the scar had still been hot. He was afraid that she would open her eyes suddenly, fearful of facing the resentment and usation at the bottom of her eyes, and even scared that she would call Erics name The sneer on his face became bigger and weirder. Am I not only inferior but also a coward?! He groped for the ring from his pocket, held Crystals hand, and wore it on her left ring finger. What he wanted to give her most was the happiness that everyone in the world envied, but in the end, he had given her irreparable pain However, even so, he was unwilling to and would not let go! You can leave. Tell me immediately if theres any news about Erics condition. Yes, Master Davis. Vic left the room. All night, Nathan sat still by the bed, guarding Crystal in a stiff posture. The light of the operating room was also on for the whole night. In the early morning Nathan gradually woke up. He got up slowly, walked to the terrace, and lit a cigarette. After raining all night, the air was cold and wet, making the atmosphere in the hospital more cheerless. When Nathan took out his cell phone, he heard some noise from the ward. He jerked around and went back, finding Crystal getting off the bed. Where are you going? Asked Nathan. Crystal froze for a moment and went on walking without taking a look at him. Crystal Smith, dont ever think about leaving me! Nathan shouted at her in anxiety. Instead of leaving the ward, she was just heading to the bathroom. Hurriedly, Nathan followed up; but he was shut out of the door with a loud m. Crystal! Nathan knocked on the door. Lets talk. You really scared mest night He knocked again and said patiently, We should have a good talk. Stop making me worry, okay? However, theres no response. Nathan clenched his fists, the just-lit cigarette was scrunched and dropped to the ground. Nathan saw Crystal leaning against the door through the translucent door, then slid down and squatted on the floor. Dont torture me like this Nathan knocked again, Crystal Smith, how are you going to torture me? The force knocking on the door was getting stronger and stronger. The sound was as loud as thunder. Open the door! Crystal had to cover her ears with force to lower the noise. Finally, Nathan stopped knocking and said, Ill give you three minutes to calm down. As soon as he finished talking, the door opened to his surprise. Crystal looked very haggard and worn in front of him without any expression. Without thinking, Nathan pulled her arm and brought her in his embrace. He hugged her so hard that it seemed as if she would disappear in the next second. Do you know who I am? Do you remember me?! Is he dead? Crystal asked peacefully, seeming to ept the fact eventually. No, hes alive. I know hes dead. Eric is dead she murmured in a hollow voice, everything that happenedst night was not a nightmare, its true Nathan hugged her more tightly and repeated, Listen, hes not dead. Get out. Im tired. Nathan Davis, for Gods sake, can you spare me? Crystals voice sounded exhausted. What should I do to let you spare me? Nathans Adams apple rolled hard. He forced a bitter smile, What do you think Im here for? Do you think Im still getting back at you? Or else? Crystal responded with unusual calmness. I saw your drawings, exined Nathan. Crystals heart skipped a beat. The sketchbook you buried in the manor beach, Nathan said word for word. No way, Crystal refuted in an affirmative tone. The sketchbook should have been washed away by waves. He did not find it even after digging for hours that day Instead of arguing, Nathan picked her up, put her on the bed, took out the sketchbook on the bedside table, and opened it. Still, Crystals eyes were as calm and emotionless as usual. It sounds impossible, right? But I found it. Isnt it destiny? Nathan gazed at her with deep eyes. You cant escape from me, forever. Crystal Smith, you are my destiny. Fated? Crystal gave out a sneer. She felt heaviness rather than happiness to hear this word. Nathan opened the first page of the sketchbook, touching the paper stained with her tears and full of her love. He looked into her eyes and responded to the words under the sketch, I dont need the so-called future because youre my future. He turned to page two and said, If I smile or evenugh, it must be because youre with me. Page three. Crystal, Ive been there with you. Ive never left. When he turned to Page four, Crystal reached for the sketchbook and tore it with force. In a twinkle of eyes, she tore off a few pages. Nathans ck pupils shrunk in shock in an instant, he jerked up to grab Crystals wrists. She clenched the sketchbook in her hands, and as long as Nathan tried to snatch it, the rest of the drawings would also be doomed to be destroyed. Let go! Nathan ordered. Theyre my drawings. I have the right to destroy them! As she spoke, she tore another page apart. Crystal was not so much tearing the drawings as tearing open Nathans heart. Without hesitation, Nathan snatched the sketchbook back. Even if they turned into pieces, he would stick them together.RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Crystal pounced at him madly, trying to retake the sketchbook. However, she was no match for Nathan. Just as the fight between a tiger and a deer, Nathan pressed Crystals shoulder on the bed with no effort and threw the sketchbook away. Crystal wriggled to get rid of him, but in a moment, she regained peace. Looking down at Crystal withplicated eyes, Nathan whispered, Crystal, lets start over. To Nathans surprise, Crystal bent her legs and hit his abdomen with the knee with great force. Yet, Nathan did not dodge. Crystal did not stop; she hit him again and again. Moreover, she raised her hand, gave a p on his face, crisp and loud. The depressed grievances in Crystals heart were finally released. If she suppressed all emotions longer, she might get depressed. Are you out of strength? Be forceful, Nathan lowered his eyes, I owe you that! Just p me hard. After venting your anger and grievances, lets write off all our old scores, okay? With a p, Crystals hand fell on his left face. I know you wont hit me hard, Nathan provoked. Crystal lifted her hand again, another louder p sounded. Very good. Go on, Nathan smiled weirdly, keep hitting me. After giving vent to what youve suffered, lets make peace. On hearing Nathans words, Crystals hand froze in the air. Make peace? Why do you stop? Are you reluctant to hurt me? Nathan held her hand, wondering. Receiving no response from Crystal, Nathan grabbed her hand to hit himself in the face. Ive done wrong. I deserve it. Hit me, hit me hard You can punish me whatever you want. Master Davis, I remember that you changed the potion yesterday and made the stic surgery fail. Youre ruthless, heartless, and you harmed innocent people just to achieve your goal Crystal condemned. I just wanted you to beg me, defended Nathan. I begged you, but what did you do to me? Instead of meeting my request, you left me only humiliation and shame. And you even recorded the process of and showed it to Eric! I was so angry to see you and him be so close Right, you can humiliate me just because youre angry, and you can even kill people just because youre jealous Crystal watched him indifferently. Eric had saved her at the risk of life twice; on the contrary, Nathan always put her in distress. She did not demand Nathan to treat her as well as before after breaking up, but at least he should not have humiliated and hurt her like that. Tell me, how can we start over? Crystal gave him a bitter smile, Eric died! Hes dead! How could we make peace!? Her voice rose with emotion. I told you, hes not dead, Nathan repeated. Hes now in the emergency room. Emergency room? Crystals eyes brightened instantly, Hows the operation? Still underway, we can only trust in luck. Im going to see him. Let me see him Youre weak now. If you dont want your baby, go ahead! Nathan threatened. Chapter 396: I鈥檒l Pick It Up For You Baby? Crystal went nk and then touched her upper abdomen. She always forgot the baby. On the contrary, it was the only hope for Eric. She had used to be so determined to have an abortion and had even thought of various means to kill Eric. Once Carlos recovered, she had nned to remove the airbags of Erics car and then deceived him into traveling alone with her. Eric, her, and the child who was not supposed toe to the world would have died together. Had Eric not saved her at the banquet held by Amos Davis, she would have probably already implemented the n. Ironically, she didnt put the ploy into practice. The car ident had still happened, though the result was different from her imagination. Nevertheless, if she had carried out the n at the emergent moment, Eric would absolutely also be desperate to save her. How despicable and vicious I am Crystal was stiff all over with regret and guilt. It wouldnt have happened if she hadnt insisted on going out without bodyguards If Eric hadnt protected her to the final second, she would have been the one whos dead. Do you care about this child? Nathan took her hand and led her to the bed, If so, lie down to rest. This time, Crystal did not struggle. Nathan supported her to lie down on the bed and tucked her in the quilt. Seeing Crystal being so obedient because of Eric and her child, Nathans eyes dimmed. Is the child alive? Crystal asked, Is it fine? She had been exposed to the heavy rain for a very long timest night, after all. How about I call the doctor to have a check-up for you? Nathan rang the service bell when asking. Crystal remained silent but nodded. Eric was still in danger; the only thing she could do for him was to keep his child safe and healthy. Id like to get a cigarette. Nathan stood up, left the words, and went out of the room. Crystal looked away, ignoring him. At the door of the ward, Nathan was waiting for the doctor. The doctor who rushed over did not feel ttered, but by contrast, he was frightened. In particr, Nathan was fiddling with a gun, with no expression on his face. Following instruction, two bodyguards pressed the doctors face against the wall. After whispering something in the doctors ear, Nathan confirmed, Are you clear what to do? Yes the doctor replied in a trembling voice. Great. Nathan waved his hand, motioning the bodyguards to let go of the doctor. Then he opened the door and went in with the doctor. Crystal was staring at the ceiling with empty eyes; her mind wandered. The doctor walked up to her and casually checked her belly with a stethoscope, pretending to conduct examinations. Hows the child? Crystal looked at him and questioned with an impassive countenance. The baby is very healthy, but Miss Smith, youre too weak. You can no longer afford any stimtion, the doctor stole a peek at Nathan, then looked back at Crystal, if you get too excited or sad like you were yesterday, you will probably lose your baby. Crystal knitted her brows, Am I so fragile? Yes. You were drenched in the rain for so long yesterday, which is very bad for pregnant women. And you even suffered from violent mood swings so, youd better rest in bed for a few days. As soon as the doctor finished speaking, Nathans sharp gaze swept over him. The doctor hastened to add, And you should have meals on time and sleep on time. Besides, try not to get off the bed and walk; you must adjust your mood as well You mean I have to lie on the bed until I deliver the baby?Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Thats not the case. After your recovery, everything can, of course, get back to normal. How long does it take? Er The doctor turned to Nathan again because Nathan did not tell him the answer to this question. Hey, youre the doctor. Why do you always have to look at him when answering my questions? Crystal med him impatiently. At this moment, Nathan simply wanted to throw the stupid doctor out of the ward. The doctor felt a murderous momentum. He hurriedly said, Er about half a month to a month, it depends on your physical quality. Get out! Nathan roared in a low voice. Yes Master Davis. The doctor saluted in a hurry and trotted out of the ward. The door of the ward closed. Crystal interrogated Nathan, Did you force him to say those? I didnt. He kept looking at you and seemed to be following your instructions. Everyone is afraid of me. Its normal that he looked at me, Nathan said softly, only you are not afraid of me and I dont want you to be afraid of me, either. Crystal looked away, changed the subject. When can I see Eric? After the surgery is over and he gets out of the emergency room. You cant help anything if you insist on seeing him now. Crystal took a gentle breath. It had been more than twenty hours since Eric was pushed into the emergency room. Not only she but also Nathan hadnt expected the surgery to take so long. If Eric died, she intended to pay for Erics life with her life. Nathan bent down, collected the pieces of the sketches on the floor, and put them on the coffee table together with the sketchbook. Later, a bodyguard brought breakfast in for Crystal and glue, cardboard, and other tools for Nathan. Crystal had little appetite to eat, but she forced herself to drink some milk for the sake of the baby. The ward fell into silence again. Nathan cut the cardboard to the same size as the sketchbook, pieced the torn drawings together out of the approximate shape, then applied glue on the cardboard and attached the pieces onto it. When drinking milk, Crystal could not help looking back at him. With his face lowered, Nathan looked earnest and attentive. Seeing him like that, Crystals heart started to ache again. She didnt know why she would be heartbroken no matter what the man did. Hes ruthless, bloodthirsty, and cruel; however, when in love, hes at the same time serious, soulful, and as childish as a child. Are you thinking about my good or bad? Nathan suddenly looked up to meet her eyes. You can glue the drawings, but you cant repair the cracks. Do you think everything in the world can be repaired? Its better than doing nothing. Nathan Davis, are you a pig? Crystal, dont you know all men lose their wits when falling in love with you? Dont find an excuse for your stupidity. Yes, Im stupid. But youre the one who made me a fool, Nathan gave her a fond smile, Better a fool man in love than a wit in business. In a split second, Crystals eyes misted. She lost her tongue. She wondered what was wrong, who was wrong; they should have a different ending. Whatever you do is in vain. I would not be moved or cheated by you again. Ive seen too many tricks you yed! Nathan could spoil her and make her feel like a princess, but at the same time could trample her, torture her at will Crystal had lost all her energy and patience; she could not afford to suffer from the pain once more. Being absent-minded, Nathan cut his finger with the scissors. Its no big deal for him, of course. He raised the corner of his lips without looking up. I know as long as I let go, youll leave me without hesitation. So, I wont let go, he added. Noticing the watch on Nathans wrist, Crystal could not help but think of that night. Didnt Vic say that he had thrown the watch? She was confused. Being conscious of Crystals confused sights, Nathan exined, It was just when I looked for the watch that I found the sketchbook. Now that you threw it away, why pick it up again? I was reluctant to throw it from the beginning. Do you think that the rtionship youve thrown away can be picked up as long as you want? Crystal took a quick nce at him, went on, I threw my watch away, too. And I wont turn my head to pick it up! The two watches were in pairs. When they had worn it, they had sworn to spend every minute, every second, for the rest of their life together. Ironically, they had both thrown the watches away one after another. Ive let people salvage it. Crystals face suddenly turned a little green. Ill pick it up for you. Whatever. But Ill throw it away again, Crystal replied ruthlessly. Chapter 397: You Didn鈥檛 Save Me She dared not tell him that after he had turned away, she had jumped off theke to search it. Andter, Eric had salvaged it. Now, the watch was in Erics room. Nathan did not speak but continued to keep his head down to stick the drawings. Did you hear me? I dont want it. Ill throw it away again, even if you find it! In the face of Nathans ignoring her words, Crystals mood slightly swung. Eat something first. Still, Nathan did not respond to her. Do you forget what the doctor just said? Nathan got up and picked up a ss of milk to feed her. Hurriedly, Crystal took it over and went on drinking it herself. At this moment, Nathans cell phone rang. He answered the phone, talked about something on the phone when he took a look at Crystal, then hung it up. Is it about me? Crystal stared at him. Theres no monitor equipment on the road to the countryside, Nathan put down the phone, adding, Im investigating the cause of the ident. Crystal had originally no appetite. Hearing that, the milk in her mouth became more tasteless. ording to our investigation, its a nasty ident. The car that rushed down to the field burnt down in the firepletely, leaving an unidentified female corpse on the scene. Crystal got more nauseous on hearing the words burning and corpse. Nathan hastened to strode to hand the bin to her. As soon as reaching for the bin, Crystal began to vomit. The thought of the bloody ident scene made her sick. Nathan gently patted her on the back and apologized, My fault, I should not bring it up. Do you know who the woman is? Ive asked them to confirm her identities by investigating her belongings, but they havente up with the result yet. Its Joyce Henry. Nathan was suddenly stunned. Is it her? Do you remember her? Crystal mocked, I thought youd forget her. Nathan did not answer directly; he did not want to stir up an argument with Crystal. Why is she clear about your route? Asked Nathan. It puzzles me too. And she had a gun. Ill look into it thoroughly. Now that he knew that the murderer was Joyce Henry, he was going to start to put his hand to inquire into what she had been doingtely. Im going home. Not just him, Crystal also wanted to make things clear. No way! Nathan tly disagreed. Why? The doctor told you to rest in bed for the time being. As for the ident, Ill give you a satisfied reply. When he talked, his hand did not stop stroking her back. Better now? Crystal fell into silence. She hadnt gone home for a long time. Joyces death must be a massive blow to Henry, especially her father. She thought she should go back to Henry and inform her father of the whole thing no matter what. All of a sudden, a knock on the door sounded. Vic opened the door in a hurry, Young Master, the surgery is finally over, and Master Bush has left the emergency room. Crystal stiffened immediately. How is he? She asked. Hes survived but is still in danger. The doctor has transferred him to the ICU; further close observation is still needed. Crystal put her legs down and got up. Im going to see him. Let me take you there. Nathan picked her up. Again, Crystal is lost in a trance. She was now in the familiar embrace, which she missed day and night. If only all the mess hadnt happened, if only they could go back to the past. She wished time could have turned back Outside the ICU. Crystal saw Ericying on the bed on an oxygen mask through the thick ss. His body was covered with a quilt, so Crystal could not see the wounds on him. And his head was wrapped with thick bandages. Even so, Crystal recognized him at a nce. She was mortally afraid that Nathan had lied to her. She was fearful that Eric had died. Thus, seeing Eric lying inside, though hes still in danger, Crystals tense nerves finally rxed a little. Nathan kept holding her in his arms while Crystal stuck her face on the ss and kept staring at Eric withplicated eyes for a long time. Enough? Nathan gave out a hollow cough to disturb her. He wont get better right away even if you look at him for the whole night! His tone was obviously jealous. Crystal Smith, if the one whos lying inside were me, would you be so worried? What the heck are you talking about? Cut the craps. I dont answer hypothetical questions, Crystal scolded. If it had been me who saved you, would you also have knelt and begged him to save me? Nathan pressed her on the question. The force of his embrace became stronger. Unfortunately, theres no if in the real world, Crystal gazed at him, in your fathers manor, you didnt save me either, did you? I grabbed the wrong arm at that time. Oh? Crystal looked at him with doubt, Youre Master Davis, known to be rigorous. Would you make such a big mistake? You dont believe me? I do In fact, it didnt matter whether she believed it or not. The reluctance in Crystals tone was so apparent that it was impossible that Nathan could not hear it. Its true. I really saved the wrong person. Fine. Lets suppose that you intended to save me, but didnt you know that you couldnt pull a pregnant woman like that? Crystal snorted sarcastically, If I had been saved by you that day like Miss Garcia, after rolling around, I would have miscarried.RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only This ismon sense, and you should know about it, after taking a breath, Crystal added. Its in critical condition. How could I consider that? Of course, Crystals safety was always in the first ce for him. What about Eric? Why could he protect me, as well as the baby? In the same critical situation, knowing Crystal could not be treated roughly, Eric had rather risked his life to protect her and the baby. Crystal, thats not fair to me. The baby is his, Nathan confessed his real thought. Crystal zipped her lips. Nathan is right If the baby were his, he would have protected it at the risk of his life as well, probably. Yet, when Nathan gave this reason so bluntly, the sorrow in her heart was nothing less. Does the child deserve death just because its not his child? Even if its not your baby She raised her face, emotionless, its mine, after all. I admit that Im narrow-minded and selfish, and I dont deny that I wish to have you had an abortion right away he recognized his mind frankly. Then why didnt you kill it by taking the opportunity of mya? You could just lie to me that the baby already miscarried. Nathan fixed his eyes upon her, a flicker of disappointment in his cold eyes. In your eyes, am I so bad and vicious? Indeed, when youre bad, youre like a devil. Nathan frowned. And when Im nice? Crystal heaved a sigh, When youre nice, youre really sweet. Youre finally willing to say something true, Nathan suddenly cheered up. He kissed her on the cheek, I thought Im totally a bad egg in your heart. Crystal pushed away his face, speechless. The nurses who passed by in the corridor could not help looking at the hunk. He was whispering with Crystal, looking at her with affectionate eyes, as if he could see nothing and no one else except for her. The bodyguards hurried to walk over to drive the passers-by away. Crystal, before meeting you, Im aplete viin. But you make me better; dont give up on me. Once you give up on me, Ill be a bloodthirsty devil. Its not his will to be a devil, but that theres vicious and evil blood flowing inside him. Crystals love was the only medicine to purify his blood, move and inspire him. Vic stood behind Nathan, feeling the aura around Nathan be incredibly soft and tender after having Crystal back. After a while, they went back to Crystals ward. Nathan put Crystal down on the bed gently and carefully, as if he were putting down a valuable antique. Surrounded by Nathans embrace for so long, the smell of Nathan left over her clothes and skin, enveloping her. In a trance, everything seemed to go back to the past. Those sad, horrible things seemed to have not happened at all. Chapter 398: Give It To Me Crystal came to her mind and found Nathans lips turned pale. Whats wrong? Are you feeling sick? Does your stomach hurt again? She asked. Because of worry, she was not aware of exposing her real emotion. At once, her anxious tone attracted Nathans surprise and excited states; a glow shone in his eyes. Are you a child? Cant you have meals on time? Or do you need someone to keep an eye on you for 24 hours? Nathan indeed had a faint pain in his stomach, but he tried hard to conceal it and not to be found by Crystal. Why do you know? Nathan wondered. When you held me, your hands gradually lost strength. As Crystal spoke, she avoided his eyes. You pay attention to me? For Nathan, this was undoubtedly an ecstatic discovery. He jerked up to pounce at Crystal and kiss her. Dont touch me. Crystal turned her face away to dodge his attack. Go eat something! Crystal reproached him grumpily. Instead of being grieved, Nathan chuckled, Even if youre nasty to me, I know thats just because you care about me. Crystal frowned, turned her back to him, and gave him the cold shoulder, Youre overthinking; its none of my business. Ill eat now. There was a leftover breakfast of Crystal on the coffee table, so Nathan directly grabbed it and began to eat. Crystal sighed. She could never be cruel to Nathan. She did not know why, seeing Eric survive, her hanging heart suddenly calmed down. No matter what, Nathan had saved Eric. Had he not arrived at the scene in time, Eric would have died. At this time, Vic knocked and came in again, with the news of the watch. Master Davis, weve been salvaging in theke for almost six hours but found nothing. Nathan was sticking the drawings on the sofa while Crystal was leaning on the bed, casually ying on her cell phone. Receiving no response, Vic went on, But, when we checked the surveince videos, we found Vic paused and stole a nce at Crystal. Crystals back stiffened; the cell phone in her hands slipped out of her grasp and dropped on the quilt. Vic took out a small hard disk from his pocket and handed it over to Nathan. Whats this? Nathan took it over. I thought that since we couldnt find it, it should have probably been picked up by someone. So, we checked the surveince video, Vic took a look at Crystal again before going on, as a result, I found it an incredible video. So, I captured a clip and copied it to you. Nathans eye lit up in an instant; hurriedly, she plugged the hard disk onto theptop on the coffee table. Dont watch it! Crystal suddenly sprang up from the bed to stop him. In haste, she rushed towards Nathan, without even wearing shoes, and identally hit the corner of the coffee table. Fortunately, Nathan reacted quickly and caught her at once. Crystal lifted her calf and rubbed it to reduce the pain. Hugging Crystal, Nathan waved Vic with the other hand, motioning him to get out. Why are you in such a hurry? Youre pregnant now, dont be so reckless. Where did you hurt? Nathan put her on his thighs, looked down at the ce she was rubbing. The fair skin was now bruised. Taking advantage of the opportunity to lower his head, Crystal reached out to pull out the hard disk. However, Nathan was one step ahead of her. He pushed theputer away to where she could not reach. He rubbed on the bruise with tenderness and asked, Is it hurt? How about letting the nurse in to apply for medicine on it. Nathans gentleness almost melted Crystals heart. She clenched her teeth in order not to fall in the tender trap andmanded, Give me the video back! Sure, I can give you. But I can also get another copy if I want. I can give you as many copies as you want. Crystal cast a stern nce at him and could not utter a word. Im interested in whats inside? What makes you so reckless that you even forgot that you have a baby in your belly. Its about Eric and me. Do you want to see it? When Crystal lied, she peeked at Nathan to see his reaction. After you left that day, Eric came. Trust me, you dont want to see what happened to us. Give it to me, added Crystal. The smile on Nathans face disappeared. If you watch it, youll regret it, youll be furious. Do you still insist on watching it? Crystal deliberately misled him and irritated him, trying to lead him to give up. Thats because, once he saw her desperate to jump into theke to look for the watch, everything was self-evident; she could not deny her love to him anymore. In this case, this scarred rtionship would be dug out, and they would have to continue to hurt each other due to all sorts of difficulties between them. Nathan squinted at her, smiled triumphantly. If youre telling the truth, why would Vic give it to me? Vic has followed me for more than ten years. He knows well about my temperament. If it were something I shouldnt watch, he would not hand it to me, Nathan analyzed reasonably. Thats out of Crystals expectation; she had thought that he would have been blinded by anger and jealousy. Nathan pulled theputer over. Since you lied to me, I will punish you for watching it with me. Taking the chance, Crystal hurried to reach the hard disk, though she knew she was only putting up her deathbed struggle. Nathans arm was a lot longer and more robust than hers. He lifted theptop, stretched his arm so that Crystal could not reach it. Fixed by Nathan, no matter how hard she tried, theptop was still beyond her reach. Nathan then ced theptop on the edge of the coffee table and clicked open the video. The scene of that night immediately emerged. The moonlight sprinkled on the sparkling water; Crystal was staggering out from the vi with tears rolling down her cheeks, staring in the direction where Nathan disappeared. It was originally a long-range shot, but Vic had asked professional personnel to switch it to a close shot. Crystals face was now slowly magnified, bing clearer and clearer. The erged video pixels were a little fuzzy, but Crystals face tears were still legible. Nathans expression suddenly altered. Crystal freed herself from his hands, rushed to the bed, and directly climbed into the quilt out of shame and embarrassment. Seeing her climb onto the bed instead of leaving the ward, Nathan finally rested his heart. He wished to hug her, to embrace her tightly at once, but at the same time, he wanted to finish watching the video first to see what he had missed. Crystal covered her head in the quilt, escaping from the cruel reality. She had thought it would be a secret for the rest of her life; however, unexpectedly, Nathan knew about it so quickly, and whats worse, he even watched the video. She had no idea how to face him, nor how to face herself. She buried her head into the quilt as if an ostrich burying its head into the sand. She didnt know what to do next; she didnt want to give Nathan hope and then a heavy blow again.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Eric was still in the ICU; Carlos had just recovered, and Erics mother could only rely on her care; everything was in a mess. Perhaps Nathan could help cure her, though. Nathan knew all the difficulties Crystal was facing, and he could probably solve them quickly. Its just that Crystal felt that something somehow seemed to already change between them. The ward fell into silence while Crystals thoughts were in a whirl. Although Crystal hid in the quilt, she knew that Nathan was still watching the video. She had no idea what expression he had, nor did she want to know. After a long while, just when she thought Nathan had left the ward, footsteps sounded behind her and got closer and closer to the bed. Crystal closed her eyes hard nervously. Suddenly, two hands held her from behind together with the quilt. Crystals heart gave a great thud against her chest. Without saying a word, Nathan cuddled her harder and harder, as if she would disappear in the next second. Theres a kind of oppressive andplicated air flowing in the ward. Chapter 399: Will You Forgive Me? Suddenly, Nathan forced open the quilt while Crystal exerted all her strength to seize it to stop him. She had no idea how to deal with him. Crystal, look at me. Look at me. Nathan whispered in a hoarse and broken voice. As long as she heard Nathans hoarse and affectionate voice, her tears simply somehow could not stop falling. Nathan dragged the quilt away violently and shouted, Im asking you to look at me! There was a significant disparity in strength between the two, and Crystals head was finally exposed. She kept her head lower, dare not look at him. Why dont you tell me? Nathan pinched her chin and lifted it, forcing her to meet his eyes. There was deep love and regret glittered in his eyes. Without you, Im nothing. Look at me, look at my eyes! You could only look at me. There only can be me in your eyes As he talked, he wiped away the dripping tears on Crystals face. Nathans eyshes were sparkling under the light with tears in his eyes. Without warning, he leaned over Crystal and pressed hard on Crystals lips. Two tears trickled down Crystals cheeks from the corner of her eyes. She didnt know when she cried so easily and didnt even understand what she cried for sometimes. Nathan kissed her like mad, salty tears mixed in their mouths. However, Crystals eyes were as if a tap that turned on, tears kept streaming down. She tried so hard to refrain from crying, but her tears were simply out of control. Theres a kind of inexplicable sadness in her heart, devouring her like a tsunami, choking her heart from time to time. Crystal, I love you, Nathan kissed her on the forehead and said.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Sorry. Im sorry Im a jerk. Does it still hurt? His voice grew deeper. Even he did not know what the it referred to. In the whole world, hes most reluctant to hurt her, but in the end, hes exactly the one who let her hurt. Im so damn! While cursing himself, Nathan pped himself in the face. Crystal clutched his hand and shouted in astonishment, Hey! What are you doing? I hurt you so hard, so many times, shouldnt I deserve ps? I should have beaten myself to death As he spoke, he raised the other hand and gave a p on the other face. Hes grave, the ps sounded in the room as loud as thunder. Crystal hurried to grab his other wrist. Youre crazy! Crystal railed at him. Yes, I am crazy! Im crazy for you! You! Hmm Before Crystal could finish her words, Nathan pressed over and sucked her lips again. The kiss came violent and urgent, mixed with a variety of emotions. Guilt, miss, and the fanatical love poured out at the same time, upying Crystals whole mind. He forced her lips apart with tongue overbearingly and aggressively. His tongue tossed and turned in her mouth, plundered her breath, and snatched her reason away. Nevertheless, right before she lost thest hint of her wit, those that had happened these days shed through her mind. How could she forget those dark days? How could she forget the sorrow and the shame she had suffered? And how could she forget the wound on her forehead and in her heart? With all her strength, Crystal pushed him away. Get away! No way. Youre hurting me. Go away! Crystal puffed. She almostcks oxygen because of the kiss. In fear of hurting her baby, Nathan propped himself up with elbows. Crystal, you can punish me severely, whatever ways you want; and I can let the past go, I wont ask you about anything that happened between you and other men. Just stay with me, okay? Getting no response from Crystal, Nathan added, Lets start over. I can give up everything, as long as I have you. We can not turn back. Again, Crystal burst his bubbles. Loving a person was exhausting, especially loving a person in such inexplicable chaos. Nathan shook his head and refuted with confidence, You love me. And so what? Crystal sighed, From that moment, everything has be irreversible. That moment? Nathan was confused. Crystal grabbed his hand and pressed it on her forehead. The brand on her forehead still ached, not physically but mentally. We broke up at that time, Nathan. The least I want is to live alone peacefully, It was true that two people could break up and could be together again. But what happened during Nathans breakup with her made her timid. Crystal was now timid to never have the courage again to experience a profound and unforgettable love. Every on-again, off-again rtionship with Nathan was like going from heaven to hell for her, and hell was feeding her soul and her heart. Nathan, your love is too much for me. Crystal lifted his face. Weve been through our breakup before, she said. Why should we go back again? Were they going to get back together and then go through a more painful breakup than the one before? Nathan was stiff and pale. I see, He said. You really do? I will make it up to you for all the pain I have caused you. Crystal knew he wouldnt understand it. Nathan pressed her down again, carefully avoiding her belly. Im sorry. Ill make it up to you. He looked at her earnestly. Crystal had never thought of the way such an arrogant man had said he was sorry for so many times before her. Absentminded, Crystal felt a pair of thin lips pressed on her. Another deep, suffocating kiss seemed to deprive her of thest breath of oxygen. Nathan wiped the tears from her eyes, picked up the phone, went outside, and ordered something. Crystal leaned nkly against the bed, guessing he understood her meaning. Nathan put the phone away and went to the bathroom, where he took a wet towel and wiped Crystals face. It was evident that he had washed his face inside, too, and that his fringe of hair had been wet with water, and several drops of water had rolled off it. He wiped her face carefully with a towel, soft and light, in a way that she was not used to. He even tried to wipe her nose. Ill do it myself, Crystal said, turning her face away. She grabbed the towel and hesitated for a moment. Dont you understand what I just said? I said Id make it up to you. What are you going to do? I dont want it back. Please just get out of here. Nathans eyes grew deeper and deeper. Such a conceited man who had been expelled repeatedly after expulsion orders did not refute and did not go. Shortly after, Vic knocked at the door with a bodyguard carrying a small iron bucket in his hand. Crystals eyes went nk as she saw the object. She glimpsed a light in the iron tunnel. The little stove was brought up to the bedside. Thus the memory of the manor burst into her mind. It was a painful memory that she would never forget until the day she died. Nathan, are you crazy? What do you want? He said he would give her back all the pain he had given her, so what was he trying to do? Nathan looked at her and said nothing, which made her even more anxious. If youre crazy, go see a doctor. Are you really normal? I am normal. After his bodyguard withdrew, Nathan took off his suit coat and unlocked the buttons of his shirt. Crystal soon knew what he was going to do. She gasped and said savagely, Nathan, Ill never forgive you for your missteps. So, will you forgive me? Nathan had starlight in his eyes, but his hands didnt stop moving. Dont do this. Get the stuff out of here! I cant take back the pain I gave you, but I can, and I want to make it up to you. The stove was burning red carbon, and red reflections shone on his face. This will make me feel better, he said with a big smile. Nathan had already taken off his shirt. Chapter 400: I Like The Way You Smell Nathan had a knife wound in his chest that went into his heart when he forced her to confess her love for him. The wound had already stuttered and was now a raised cut. Here it is. He said, Its the closest to my heart. Its where you say you love me. Please stop that now, Nathan. You are out of your mind. Crystal shook her shoulders, her hand somehow caught in his. She shuddered. Nathan took her hand to the cut. He said it was the nearest to his heart. Im not kidding. I really want to make it up to you. He never took his eyes off her, smiling. I dont know if I can wash away some of your bad memories in this way or if I just want to feel the pain for you. You dont have to feel it, and you dont have to dilute it. I dont want you to make it up to me. Theres nothing wrong with that, I beg you. Take the things out of here. I must do it. Why are you always so vain and obstinate? Why dont you listen to me once? Nathan, you dont know what you are doing. Nathan saw that it was almost done. The charcoal crackled in the stove, and he picked up his tongs and pulled out the rose ring. Crystal jumped at him and tried to stop him, but he pushed her shoulder with only one hand, separating her. Crystal, do you think anyone can stop me from doing what I want to do? I wanted you to brand it on me. It was perfect. He gave a malicious smile from his lips. If you wont, Ill do it myself. Crystal shook her head. She knew she could not stop him. She had never stopped him from making any decisions. For example, she had no say as he loved her and hated her. It seemed that his fiery love and his hysterical hatred were all his own thing. No one could stop or intervene. The red-hot ring and the rose-shaped pendant pressed against his scar. He did not hesitate to print directly on it in a plume of smoke.RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Crystal turned away, clutching the sheets with both hands. For a long time, she struggled to speak and asked hoarsely, Nathan, why do you always do that? Please wake up. I dont want to wake up when I am with you. His voice was so seductive. Crystal quickly smelled something burning. Seeing the new wound in his chest, Crystal pressed the service bell. You must take medicine at once. Will you forgive me now? Nathan pinched her chin and tentatively kissed her lips. Crystal turned her face hard. Yes, I forgive you. Nathans eyes glowed as he drew her into his arms. I forgive you, but that doesnt mean I want to be with you. Nathan, we dont really fit. In what way? We dont fit in every way. Then you still wont forgive me. No, thats not what I meant. In the world, there are no twopletely suitable people. There are only two people whoplement and amodate each other. Nathan squeezed her hand and said. You dont have to change anything, and I can amodate you. Crystal could not speak, and she did not know what to say. Nothing seemed to convince him. Believe me. Take a chance on me, and Ill change. But Crystal knew that he was still Nathan, no matter how he changed. Moreover, she did not want him to change his character. That way, he wasnt Nathan, the person she loved. Love? She could not helpughing bitterly. Was she strong enough to love him again? Dont dismiss me out of hand because of these things. Will you at least give me probation? While she was distracted, he buried his head in her neck and gave her a strong kiss. Crystal smiled sadly. This man was really like a child emotionally. He was always incredibly single-minded. There was a knock on the door, and the nurse came in and caught sight of Nathan bending down to kiss Crystal. She didnte in, and she didnt go out, staying where she was awkward. Crystal pushed his head away. Hes burned, she said. Please get some burn medicine. Okay. The nurse saw Nathans face, blushed, and retreated shyly. The door closed, and Crystal was pinned to the bed by Nathan, fingers crossed. Crystals eyes naturally fell on his chest. Nathan knew that she looked back at the wound he had burned and smiled. Were all branded the same, Crystal, and youll never be anyone elses for the rest of your life. Crystal moved her lips and finally said nothing. I want you to remember, every time you see the brand, not that you hate me, but that I love you. Crystal sighed and gently fingered the tiny bangs that had fallen on his forehead. Anyway, Nathan made the painful memories of the brand less painful and let go of the obsession. She used to look in the mirror and think of his cruelty to her, but now, looking in the mirror, she would probably think that they all bore the same mark. There was something indescribable in her. Crystals finger was caught by his hand. He took her hand and rowed across his lips. Suddenly he opened his mouth and put her delicate fingers in his mouth. She jerked back, and he caught her again. The nurse knocked on the door, pushed it open, and was again shocked by what she saw. She began to wonder if she had gone to the wrong ce. This wasnt a hospital. But a love hotel? Crystal pushed Nathan away, embarrassed. Have you got the medicine? Yes, I did. The nurse walked up to them, handed the medicine over, and watched the man bury his head in the womans neck. The nurses face flushed. She quickly put the medicine on the bedroom cupboard, turned, and rushed out. Nathan, stop that now! The man treated the nurse as air. Nathan teased her earlobes and didnt want to let go. Ill give you some medicine. Crystal gave him a push. Kiss me, and Ill get up. If you dont want me to give you medicine, forget it. You can do it yourselfter! Crystal wanted to kick him with her legs, but she could not move. Then, let me kiss you again. Crystal raised her hand and tried to p him. Her hand went up in the air and finally fell. After all, she could not bear to beat him. Cant you be serious? I like the way you smell. Get up! Nathan kissed her for a while before getting up and asking her to apply for the medicine. She applied the cold white paste to his wound. She knew it hurt, but he didnt frown and stared at her fingers, sliding on his chest. Lets leave the hospital this afternoon. Why? Crystal wondered. Didnt the doctor say that I should rest for half a month? You can rest just as well when you go home. What about Eric? What? You want to stay here with him? Chapter 401: You鈥檙e Doing This For Me? He saved my life. If he didnt make it through the crisis, I wouldnt be able to leave for a day. Crystal went back to the intensive care unit to see Eric in the afternoon. He was still in aa, and the doctor had juste out of the room. Doctor, hows Eric? The doctor turned over his medical history and said, Hes still in aa. We have tried our best. Whether he wakes up or not will depend on his own sense of survival. What if he doesnt wake up? The doctor looked at her and said nothing more. Crystal found out what the doctor meant. Nathan stood by Crystals side and said, Crystal, youre so worried. He might not wake up there. How could I not be anxious? Shall I get him another doctor? Crystal thought about it and said, All right. She knew Nathans doctor must be a good one. At that moment, her phone rang, the caller ID was the Bushs Mansion number. The servant on the other end of the phone said in a hurry for a long time and also could not say exactly what happened. Crystal learned, with difficulty, from her snippets, that something had happened to the old Mrs. Bush. Young Mistress, the old Mrs. Bush jumped from the balcony, but the bouncer caught her underneath. She broke her hand. Crystal finished the call and told Nathan, I need to go back to the Bushs Mansion. The old Mrs. Bush is very unstable. She broke her hand when she jumped off the balcony. After a pause, she added, Why dont youe with me to see the old Mrs. Bush? Of course, I wont oblige you if you dont want to. Why wouldnt l? I dont want you to think Im taking advantage of you. Nathan grinned. Im still valuable to you. Its my pleasure. Youre wee to take advantage of me. Crystal looked at him in slight surprise. She thought he would be unhappy. After all, that was Erics mother, and legally, that woman was her mother-inw. Your manners are quite different. Do I? You wouldnt help me when I begged you to. Isnt it? Things were different then. As long as you love me, you are not using me. Whats that? Love. Dont make me sick. Nathan talked about love all the time. When did this happen to him? She was not used to his sweet talk.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. They soon arrived at The Bushs Mansion. The doorman saw Crystals face as the window rolled down and opened the door immediately. Young Mistress, wee back. Nathan narrowed his eyes slightly. The name was particrly harsh to him. As he entered, a servant approached, Wee home, Young Mistress. Again? Feeling the cruel and cold eyes, the servant peered behind Crystal. The man had a handsome cold face and was not his master. The servant hesitated. Are we having guests? Well, yes, Crystal replied casually. The servant took out two pairs of slippers, a red one for thedy and a ck one for the gentleman. Nathan caught a glimpse of a pair of blue ones in the shoe closet. Both pattern and design matched the matching pair of red shoes. Instead of the ck slippers which the servant had prepared for him, he took the liberty of bringing out the blue pair. Thats Erics. Crystal reminded him. The servant stared at the guest curiously. Nathan ignored her words and wore the shoes directly on his feet. In contrast to the servants surprise, Crystal was indifferent. Since Nathan didnt mind wearing Erics shoes, why should she care? After all, it was just a pair of shoes. After entering the door, Crystal went straight upstairs to the bedroom. She found Nathan following. Just wait outside. Why? Usually, no one can go into his room. All of Erics doors had a password. Even the servants were not allowed to go in and clean. Crystal had never gone in either, but she knew the password. Eric said she was free to go in, and he gave her the password. Are there any ssified documents in there? If so, do you suspect me of stealing? Nathan sniffed. No. What do you want to do? He didnt like outsidersing in and out of his room. The word outsider made Nathan mad. He red at her. Youre getting used to it pretty quickly. You make yourself his wife. I am, and legally. Crystal, are you trying to mess with me? I was just stating the truth. Nathans body blocked the code. Crystal pushed him. Please, Im going to press the code. This door was specially made for burry and bulletproof. The password for the door lock is a fingerprint added with numbers. She remembered him saying that the password was her birthday. Crystal motioned to Nathan to move out of the way, and Nathan became furious. He stepped aside, exhaling the most exasperating air. This woman thought he wanted toe to Erics house? Had it not been for her, he would not havee in any case. Crystal pressed the password quickly, and sure enough, it was her birthday. The door opened quickly. She hesitated, one hand pushing the door open, and Nathan walked in as if nothing had happened. Crystal went in ahead of him, pressing down on the door and closing thest gap. Nathan opened the door. Dont you dare push me over! Crystal said. If he pushed against the door, Crystal would fall. Between Nathanspses, Crystal mmed the door! Nathan knew that. She just bullied him because she knew that he wouldnt hurt her. This damned woman had got him! Suddenly, as she was closing the door, an arm slipped through the crack. Crystal was shocked. Try again, break my arm, and you will be responsible for my life! Nathan, what the hell do you want to do? Id like to see your wedding room. He raised his lips sarcastically. Theres nothing to see here. Weve never slept together since he and I got married! Nathan raised his eyebrows, and his eyes filled with surprise. Really? Crystal found herself letting the cat out of the bag, giving him another needless expectation. Youre doing this for me? You think too much! I do it for the childs safety. Im happy. Nathan gasps, Hey, my hand. After all, Crystal couldnt break his hand, so she opened the door. Nathan straightened his cor and entered the room. The door closed behind him. I warn you, dont touch anything in the room. Crystal didnt understand why he had toe in! Chapter 402: You Looked So Happy Crystal also went into Erics room for the first time. It turned out to be a duplex,pletely connected to the second floor, with an absolutely luxurious style. Next to the door was a wall that curved all the way to the top, stacked on top of each other. The windows of the room opened to the ceiling, and high curtains hung down. Some light came in, facing the desk. Besides theputer and books, there were many picture frames, hoursses, and globes on the desk. On the wall, there were pictures of Crystal and Erics wedding. Crystal had no idea that his room was hung with so many of their wedding photos. On the background wall of the bed was a single picture of Crystal. The picture was apparently taken in Vi Beverly with a red triangle plum in the background as she looked back at the camera. It was a snapshot, without her knowing it. The whole picture was made into a huge background, with a few small lights on the ceiling pointing at that background. Under the light, the picture would be very clear. Crystal looked away from the background wall with mixed feelings, went to the wardrobe, and pulled open the door. Inside was a hidden cloakroom with mens clothes, hats, watches, sunsses, and ties. Eric was a finicky man, so everything was well organized. Crystal took Erics cell phone and wallet out of her pocket. In fact, she came into his room to give these things back to him. Then she wanted to pick out some clean,fortable clothes and take them to the hospital for Eric, as well as towels and socks. For some reason, she always had a feeling that Eric must have survived this time and would surely wake up. How could a man like him fall down so easily? Thinking of this, she brought him another shirt he wore when he was discharged from the hospital, as well as a suit. She sighed slightly and found that there was so little she could do for Eric. During his critical period, she should take care of him from any standpoint. Besides, he saved her, each time risking his life to save her. When she came out of the locker room, she saw Nathan going through Erics bookcase. Hey, didnt I tell you not to go through his stuff? But Nathan didnt stop. Instead, he pulled open another closet as if in search of something important. The wardrobe was turned upside down by him Crystal put down the clothes and walked a few steps to cover his hands. Stop! Dont turn over. Nathan bent down and noticed a small drawer on the right with abination lock on it. Nathan, I told you to stop! What on earth are you looking for? Nathan raised his eyes and stared hard at her. Crystal tugged at his clothes and tried to pull him to his feet. Come on, lets go now and get out of here. Nathan took Crystals wrist with a backhand. You dont want to treat the old Mrs. Bush anymore? I can have her taken out and meet you somewhere else, as long as its not here. Lets go. Crystal didnt know what he was looking for, and she couldnt pull him. Nathans whole heart sank.RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Do you care about him? Do you care about him so much? Its not at all a matter of whether I care about him or not. This is Erics house. You cant touch his things without his permission. I wont leave until I find what I want. What are you looking for? What do you think I care about? He lifted her chin. I want his household registration and your marriage license. Is this what you want? Nathan persisted in pulling the drawer, but he couldnt pull it even if he pulled it hard. Crystal couldntugh or cry when he looked so hairy. Even if youre looking for this, you cant rummage through his stuff. Nathan stared at her and suddenly asked, do you have the password for the drawer? How do I know that? I only know the password of the door. Tell me the password for the door? I cant tell you. If she told him, wouldnt he know the password of the door? Come on, try it on the drawer. Crystal thought carefully. To be honest, she used to dream of divorcing Eric. But Eric is still in the hospital. To save her, he was now in limbo. If now she stole the marriage license and divorced him without his knowledge, it was too despicable. She couldnt do such a despicable thing. Crystal shook her head. Even if you steal them, what will you do? He had to sign the divorce. He was in aa, and fingerprints were easy. Nathan smiled grimly. No. Hes not out of danger yet. It would be best if you didnt think so. I beg to differ. What if he wakes up? Are you going to be called Mrs. Bush for the rest of your life? Do you want to be his wife all your life? Do you want that? I dont think that much, Nathan. He is the man who has saved me many times from death. How should I repay him for saving my life? What choice do I have, even if I need to be his wife all my life? What shall I do? Have you ever thought about me? You want me to get a divorce. Do you want to marry me? You bet. If you say yes, I will marry you. Crystal kept her face down, not daring to look him in the eye. She imagined a future without him and Eric. Only in this way would they be able to end theplicated rtionship. Have you found out whats going on? The Old Davis did everything he could to break us up. Have you forgotten? If you would marry me now, your father would probably not agree. A divorced woman with a child is a woman with a stain in his family. Nathan darkened his eyes. See, you cant marry me after all, Crystal grabbed him by the sleeve. Lets go. I said I wouldnt leave unless I could find what I wanted. Crystal was well aware of his personality. She stared at him and said, Then lets try it. If it doesnt open, well go. He acquiesced, and Crystal typed in a password at random, prompting a mistake, of course. Nathan wasnt stupid, of course, his sharp eyes fixed on Crystal. You pressed eight numbers, and it should be six. There were electronic clicks on thebination locks, and Crystal didnt expect him to notice even that. Youre so sorry to part from him. So youd rather be his wife all your life? What do you want me to do? Nathan, put yourself in my shoes. I dont understand. You know it, you know it better than anyone. And I just want to be fair to Eric. What about me? Who is fair to me? You were once mine. He took you away from me! I shouldnt be the one who decides whether you get fair or not. Dont push me here. Why did she always try to avoid being caught between these two men but always leave herself in a dilemma? If she was fair to one, she is unfair to the other. No matter who she was on the side of, she was wrong. What could she do? Theres Eric between us. Are we never going to get through? Dont make me answer questions like that. Dont push me, Nathan. Crystal shook her head. Nathans eyes darkened. He casually pressed down the picture frame on the desk. That was the wedding photo of Crystal and Eric. Subsequently, there were seven or eight picture frames on the table, all of which were knocked down by him one by one. Every time he put one on, the angrier he became. Nathan suddenly picked up a picture frame and said, You looked so happy, Yes. Chapter 403: My Love For You Is Fading How can you smile so happily at another man when you love me so much? I said, dont push me. Nathan, every time I hurt you, you forced me to do it. Nathan sneered. Youve got to tell me what I forced you to do. Or, tell me how many other hurtful things you could have done to me. Will you leave here if I tell you? Go ahead. I did love you, Crystal said, staring at him. But no matter how strong a feeling it is, it cant hold up against time. My love for you is fading. Nathan was obviously hurt. Under his eyes was an expression of sadness. Crystal stopped talking and turned her back on him. Thats what you want to hear, and I said. You made me do that. Nathan didnt speak.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. If youe near me, youll only get hurt by me, so stay away from me. Nathan hugged her fiercely behind her back. Youre lying to me. Crystal lowered her eyes and could not speak. I have been deceived by you many times, and I no longer believe your lies. But you did get hurt by me, didnt you? Crystal said calmly, Lets go out. Nathan was silent for a moment, then took her by the hand and got ready to go out. If he stayed any longer, he didnt know how much they would hurt each other. Wait, theres something left. At this point, Crystal hadnt even forgotten to pick up Erics things. Nathan watched with pain as she carefully put the suit into the bag. Crystal went to the background wall and pressed the switch. The light hit the ceiling and reflected countless little stars. Nathan smacked hard against the background wall. The ss frame cracked. Are you crazy? Before Nathan tried to mess up the cepletely, she hurriedly pushed him out. Before leaving, she went to see the old Mrs. Bush. In the room, the old Mrs. Bush was attended by several servants, and the doctor was also present. The old Mrs. Bush looked much better as shey in bed. The voice of Amos was recorded by Eric and then edited to sound like he was speaking to Old Mrs. Bush. The doctor said her mood had stabilized a lot. She must have had a nightmare. She jumped out of the window this morning as soon as she got up. Fortunately, the second floor was not high. Otherwise, her injury was more than just a broken hand. But that was not a long-term solution either. With each irritation, her condition worsened. And every time she had a seizure, she went crazy. Several of the servants had been hurt by her. Crystal saw that the servants had scratches on their faces. I gave the old Mrs. Bush a small dose of tranquilizer today, and she was about to wake up. You mean shes going to wake up? Well, its just that she was too excited in the morning. Try not to irritate her again. Crystal nodded and got up immediately. Then Ill leave before the old Mrs. Bush wakes up. She had wanted to bring Nathan over to talk to the Old Mrs. Bush, but the doctor told her not to, so she had to leave. As she turned around, she bumped into a firm embrace. Why did you get in? Nathan took hold of her body. Didnt you tell me to see her? Not today. Wait till next time. Crystal had just finished when the nurses voice came out, surprised. The old Mrs. Bush is awake! Nathans voice, a bit like that of the young Amos, came with inherent strength. So the old Mrs. Bush woke up from her lethargy when she heard Nathans voice. A tall man stood on the edge of the bed in the gloom, with a stern profile. Amos? Youe to see me? Crystals back stiffened. Before she could pull Nathan away, the old Mrs. Bush was struggling to get up. Amos, is it really you? Nathans eyes were sharp and unemotional. His indifference, and the sense of alienation in his eyes, are the same as in Amoss youth. Shes awake. Shall we go? Nathan held Crystal back. Are you leaving? The old Mrs. Bushs voice trembled and cried, Amos, please, dont go, dont leave me. The old Mrs. Bush pulled up the quilt and was about to get out of bed. Amos, Im not dreaming, am I? Is it really you? Are you really willing toe to see me? Crystal bit her lower lip. Now that the old Mrs. Bush was awake, she would let it go. Crystal whispered to Nathan. You promised me when you were in the hospital. Remember? Nathan raised his eyebrow and said, Dont you think its hical for me to pretend to be your mother-inws lover and call me father-inw? Crystal red at him, but she was a little embarrassed. Im just asking you to calm her down. I dont want you to be serious. Really? Or what? Crystal sighed. You dont have to try too hard, just like you usually do with Helen. Being too deliberate makes her suspicious. Like with Helen? You dont mind? No. Do you remember the old Mrs. Bushs name? Camellia Bush. Amos. The old Mrs. Bush was already out of bed anding up to Nathan. Crystal winked at Nathan and withdrew with the doctor. In fact, she was a little uneasy about leaving the old Mrs. Bush to Nathan. Nathan didnt have to try to please the Old Mrs. Bush, but he was so egotistical. But Crystal had no other choice now. Standing on the balcony for a while, she suddenly remembered the mess in Erics room, especially the closet and the background wall. She asked her servant to have the ss in the background reced. She went into Erics room again, sorted out the drawers, and tried to put things back in the same ce. She held up the fallen picture frames one by one. But when she saw the wedding photo inside, she also frowned. No wonder Nathan was unhappy to see this. Nathan couldnt stand her smiling in Erics arms. She suddenly thought it was a mistake to bring Nathan here. Crystal smiled bitterly. In fact, no matter what she did, everything was wrong. Erics drawers contained some of his collection of watches and coins etc. Crystal was packing one of the drawers when she saw that there was a lot of cash in it, which Eric should have prepared in case he needed money badly. Crystal remembered that Eric had given her a bank card, and she could use the money and take it wherever she wanted. Her ID card was held by Eric all the time. When she got married, Eric got her a new ID card. Once Eric was out of danger, she would leave here. Crystal took some cash, and she saw Erics unregistered registration card under cash. With it, she could leave without identity authentication. People like Eric used it to get in and out of ces in order to hide their whereabouts. Crystals eyes lit up. She held the card in her hand. She had a hunch she would use it. She wondered where Nancy was at this moment. Chapter 404: I Won鈥檛 Be Angry With You As she was going to be in the hospital for several days, she went back to her room to pack her things. Back in her room, she packed a few changes of clothes, and then the servant came in. Young Mistress, the old Mrs. Bush, is downstairs in the kitchen. She wants to cook for herself and doesnt want to be disturbed. Wheres Mr. Davis? Hes with the old Mrs. Bush. The old Mrs. Bush said she was going to make him dinner. So Nathan was staying for dinner? He actually said yes? The old Mrs. Bush doesnt let anyone in the kitchen? Yes. Then ask Mr. Davis toe and see me after dinner. You had the old Mrs. Bush taken care of. The servant nodded and went downstairs, the repairmen called in by the servant hade. Crystal opened Erics door, told them not to touch any personal belongings, and called two bodyguards to watch them. Eric carefully designed this background wall. So Crystal wished she could get it back to its old look. Fortunately, the ss just cracked, and once reced, it should not have any impact. Crystal went back to her room. Since the ident, she had only changed her clothes, and the smell of blood had been lingering on her body. Nathan was still eating downstairs and wouldnt be up for a while. Crystal locked the door and went into the bathroom. Crystals mind shed back and forth to the scene of the ident. She had the impression that, despite her fierce arrogance, Joyce was a person who had a great fear of death. A cut on Joyces hand from a fruit knife would have made her nervous. How could Joyce have had the courage to die with her? Crystal thought it wasnt that easy. She was lost in thought when she heard a noise outside the bathroom. She gave it a quick rinse. She had been thinking that Nathan was eating downstairs, and she had locked the door, so she hadnt brought any clothes. Nathan, is that you out there? She dared not go out but leaned against the bathroom door and asked tentatively. Yes. How did you get in? Crystal changed her face. Ive locked the door behind me. How can youe in? The servant had the key, and she opened the door for me. Crystal took a deep breath. Are you fumbling again? I said I hated it when you went through things without permission. Sure enough, there was a crack outside the door. It was the sound of a drawer being closed. Where did you put your watch? Watch? How could she tell him that she kept it under her pillow and that she would take it out and listen to it every night when she could not sleep? She bit her lower lip. I dont know, she said. Its already been lost. Please get out of my room. You let me in, and you think Im the one whoes and goes when you tell me to? You! Nathan looked down on the bed, stiffened, and lifted the pillow. The watch that was his match was lying quietly under the pillow. Crystal was leaning against the door. Suddenly she heard the door open and close. Are you still there? she asked tentatively. There was no response. Wrapped in a towel, she listened to the room for a while, but it was still quiet. She guessed that he must have left. Then she opened the door and went out. As a result, she was so startled that she almost jumped. Nathan stood at the bathroom door, silent, staring at her. Crystal looked into his hand and knew what he was going to do. She could even guess what he was going to say. She hurried back to close the bathroom door, but her arm was seized firmly. The band-aid on Crystals arm had juste off in the shower. The cut in her arm showed. Nathan darkened his eyes. He had the same cut on his arm, so he knew exactly where the wound hade from. Crystal yanked back her hand, covering it and trying to hold it off.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Please remember whose house this is and stop messing about with my things. Nathan took her hand again and growled, What is this? The wound in her arm healed quickly because she didnt scratch hard at first. She had given up this self-destructive behavior for a while. But since she broke up with him, she has had nightmares every day. Every time she woke up from a nightmare, she couldnt stop thinking about him, and she almost became depressed. She carved Nathans initials on her arm, trying to dilute the pain in her heart with her arms pain. Then Eric found out. He asked servants to look at her for 24 hours and gave her the best medicine to apply every day, and the scars became much lighter. Nathans hand touched her scar gently and asked, Did Eric do all this to you? No. He threatened you? Nathan held her shoulder. Does he make you do it? No. When we were in Manor for the New Year, you left because Eric threatened you. Isnt it? He had wanted to ask, but he was afraid. Crystal would not like to answer. Crystal pushed his hand away. I said no. Now that I have him under control, what are you afraid of? Nathan shouted, Ill make him disappear any time you ask. Nathan, please dont ask me. You think Im stupid, right? Do you think I am easy to fool? Crystal bit her lip and said nothing. Crystal, you keep everything to yourself. How can I help you if you dont tell me? Nathan growled, exasperated. You know, When I see you in the rain, and youre covered in blood, my heart stops beating. I cant let anything happen to you again. Crystals heart gave a jerk. We would have been together without Eric. Nathan, without Eric, Id be dead. Crystal looked up. Hes in the hospital because he wasnt able to protect you. He deserved it! If you were by my side, I would do everything I could to protect you. You cant protect me! He didnt protect her on the manor, nor did he protect her in Amoss party when the chandelier fell. At least if Im by your side, nothing will happen to you. Nathan tugged at her and asked, Do you have a cut anywhere but here? The next second, Crystals bath towel was taken off. Im going to give you a thorough examination. Just then, the door of the room was opened, and a servant entered. She happened to see Crystal naked face to face with Nathan. The servant stared at them, evidently aghast. Nathan growled coldly. Who let you in? Said the servant, shivering and hastening back. I just came to remind you that the old Mrs. Bush was looking for you everywhere. She was Crystals personal servant, so she not only had the key to Crystals house but also had free ess to it. Get out of here. The servant shut the door hastily. Erics servant is so unruly? Did she go in and out of the masters room without knocking? Youre the one with no rules. Get out of here. There were so many people talking about it that soon, the story got around. Eric was absent, and the old Mrs. Bush was not in a stable state. She, as Erics wife now, always had concerns. Nathan hugged her up, gently put her to bed, and checked her body up and down. Crystal kicked him away. No. Beam your ass out of here, she said. Unexpectedly, he just smiled in a low voice and said, Its ok. You can kick me more. I wont be angry with you. Chapter 405: What Does She Draw? On the contrary, I would be honored, Nathan, are you crazy? Im only crazy about you. Crystal pulled at the quilt quickly, blocking the key point uneasily. Have you had enough? Get out of here. Dont worry. Ill go out after I check you all over. His eyes grew more and more dangerous. Crystal had noticed that his breath was unsteady. The two had been apart for so long. It was difficult for a normal man, in the face of their beloved woman, and in such a body without a piece of the case, not to be emotional. Youre asking for it, Crystal said sarcastically. She was pregnant now, so of course, he couldnt touch her. Now he had to examine her like this. What was it that he did not seek to suffer if he failed to dissipate the lust he had stirred up himself? Nathans Adams apple rolled over and pressed his desire. I just wanted to make sure you were fine. He examined her body carefully, including her fingers and toes. He assured himself that there was no other wound in her body. He kissed her shoulder vigorously. He tensed himself, and his breath was boiling hot. Crystal, you are beautiful. He said as he kissed her hard. How can I allow someone to possess you? Im afraid to even think about it. I wont touch you. Dont worry. He swallowed hard, letting go of her and tucking her in. I just checked on you, I wont do anything else. Nathan knew she was pregnant three months, unable to do strenuous exercise, so he let her go. He walked into the bathroom and washed his face with cold water. But that wasnt enough. He tried to cool off with cold water. Before he left the room, he suddenly remembered something and said, Im staying for dinner tonight. Crystal remembered that, too. Why did you promise the old Mrs. Bush to stay for dinner? Do you think I want to? The old Mrs. Bush said that every time Amos came to see her, he would eat dinner and then go away. I almost got kissed by her. Crystal was shocked. Nathan seemed to be extremely upset with anger throughout his body. If it werent for you, another woman wouldnt havee closer to me. Crystal knew that he had tried very hard with the Old Mrs. Bush. All she wanted now was that the old Mrs. Bush could get better soon. That was all she could do for Eric. And she let you go right after dinner? I dont know. If she wouldnt let me go, please help me. Nathan said coldly, Get dressed ande down. But she doesnt let outsiders disturb you, isnt she? I dont mind if you appear as a servant. Is that okay? You know, when I do things I dont like, I get very angry. I can keep my temper under control if you stay with me. She had to go down and stay with him. I see, Crystal said irritably. Ill have the servants clothes brought to you. He knew she would be ufortable with the old Mrs. Bush, so she was shrewd enough to block her retreat. If you donte back in half an hour, you know what will happen. I see. Crystal interrupted. Ill go down as soon as I get dressed. Then Nathan opened the door and went out. Every minute he spent with Crystal was precious to him. Also, because of Crystal, he agreed to help the old Mrs. Bush. Otherwise, why should he help Erics mother? In the vi, the servants were soon assembled in two neat rows in the living room. Nathan sat on the sofa, asked in a cold voice, Did your master have violent tendencies? All the servants shook their heads. Did he ever hit Crystal? Nathan squinted. Of course, he wanted to find out if Eric had threatened Crystal with violence. Besides, he wanted to investigate himself. All the servants shook their heads again. Do you know the consequences of lying to me? Nathan nced at them like a wolf. Just a nce was enough to make all the people in awe. A bolder servant hastened to say, Our master loved our Young Mistress very much. He treated so meticulously in every possible way, and how could he beat her? Nathan was furious when he called Crystal Young Mistress. But he fought back his anger. How did she get that wound in her arm? Who knows? I. The servant gave a feeble reply, I was a servant of Young Mistress, and Young Mistress herself cut it. Nathans eyes fluttered in disbelief! You say that again? The servant shivered. I saw the Young Mistress cut her arm with a de. You saw it with your own eyes? Well, the Young Mistress cut her arm not once or twice, so the Young Master had me put away the des and the sharp props. The servant paused, looking at Nathans creepy expression, and bowed her head. That day, Young Mistress woke up in the middle of the night and went into the bathroom again. I heard her rummaging, so I went for our master, who knocked at the door. I saw Young Mistresss arm shed, bleeding. She went on. Nathans heart seemed to be knifed by that de. Why did she do that? He muttered to himself. But the servant thought he was asking her. Young Mistress was in a bad mood for a while, had nightmares all night, and secretly dabbed her tears. The servant recalled, Probably because she was in so much pain that she could only rely on pain to divert her attention. The young master also found a psychologist, and the doctor said so. Nathan clenched his fists. He always thought Crystal was happy with Eric, so he tormented her wantonly. He had no idea that she was better off than he was. Thats right. A servant began to say, Young Mistress often draws some paintings. What does she draw? Nathan asked breathlessly. The servant kept looking at Nathan. She had known him from the first moment she saw him. In retrospect, it urred to her that this was the man who had been painted every time by the Young Mistress. You were in the painting of the Young Mistress. Me? Well. The servant nodded with great certainty. Nathan hurriedly asked with a tense chest, Where is the painting? The paintings were burned.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Burned? When the Old Mrs. Bush came here and saw your portrait, she was stimted. It is said that the person in the painting was simr to the first lover of the Old Mrs. Bush. In order to prevent her from being stimted again, our master burned it. The old Mrs. Bushs first love was like him, and Nathan knew that. The servants words made Nathans body burst with a wild surprise. It was as if, in a dark and hopeless night, millions of fireworks burst forth in the perfect color. Nathans dark world was lit up in an instant. He raised his thin lips and gave a handsome smile. It made the servants stare at him. They thought that this cruel, fickle man wouldnt smile. His smile was so handsome and charming that his awe-breathing breath vanished instantly. Nathan almost immediately thought of going to find Crystal. Chapter 406: Benefits Are Not Given For Nothing Crystal loved him. Not only did she not forget him after their separation, but she painted his picture every day. And what did he do? When she wanted to repair the watch, he misunderstood her and pped her face. She did not bear him any grudge. Instead, she jumped into the water to retrieve her watch in the freezing cold. Damn it! Nathansugh froze, and he mmed his fist into the arm of the sofa. He had never trusted her, he had never asked her if she had apelling reason! Crystal was always duplicity. If he confronted her now, she would just deny it. What caused her to leave him and have kids with Eric? He must investigate this matter clearly. What else do you know about her? I want to know everything about her. Nathan looked at that servant. I dont know of the others, nor did I hear anything from Master or Young Mistress, but our master was really nice to Young Mistress. He didnt abuse her. Vic brought two bodyguards into the room and said, This is what you asked me to buy, sir. Nathan raised his chin and pointed to the coffee table. Vic put things on the coffee table: two oversized gift bags. There was a gift box in the gift bag. Inside were beautiful diamond bracelets and various earrings. The servants knew at a nce that it was valuable. One for each. All the servants stared at each other, startled by Nathans generosity. They didnt believe it until the bodyguard gave each servant a gift. In the past, Nathans best way to shut up the servants was to sweep them out. But they were Erics servants. Crystal would be very unhappy if he fired them without permission. In fact, he had changed a lot for Crystal. It was just that Crystal had never seen him really violent and cruel. Nathan grew up in that harsh environment. Crystal had never seen the nine-year-old child forced to fight to the death with the wild boar. She had never seen how he dealt with the Old Davis from the age of nine and hid his courage and uprightness. The servants saw the bracelet and the Brilliant group logo and knew that the value of the jewelry was definitely not cheap. But how could anyone send such a valuable thing to servants? So they all doubted the authenticity of the jewelry. Vic coughed and exined, There is no doubt that this is the authentic quality of Brilliant Group. If you dont believe it, you can go to the exclusive store and have a check. The servants were shocked. Vic added, Benefits are not given for nothing. The servants began to fear. He gave them so much money because he wanted them to go to crime? Our master wants you to keep your mouth shut about what happened today. Anything and everything. Some of the servants understood. Nathan had been to the vi, and he and Crystal had met naked in the room. Oh, dear. That was a lot of hush money! You took our young masters things, and if you ever let on about it Vic squinted his eyes. What he meant was, of course, self-evident. The servants nodded and promised, We dont know anything Young Mistress just came back alone and took some clothes.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Very good, Vic said with satisfaction. Although Eric was wealthy, he was not so generous to the servantspared with Nathan. He always kept strict rules for rewards and punishment, so this was the first time that his servants had encountered such a situation. Normally, people like money. As for the servants, it was even easier to bribe them with money. Nathan crossed his long legs and looked at the personal servant, You. The personal servant stared at Nathan nkly, not sure if he was calling her. Until Vic reminded her, Our young master is calling you. The servant then immediately replied, Yeah, yeah, what can I do for you, young master? Nathan took out a pair of earrings, Come here. Nathan said with a wicked smile, The information you provided me today is very good. This is a reward for you. The personal maid was too excited to speak a word. If you think of any new information, just feel free to tell me at any time. Nathan pinched her chin, I will have a better reward than this. The servant nodded heavily, Yes if I can think of anything, I will tell you for the first time. You, too. Nathan swept over with his handsome face, As long as there is any news about Crystal, I want to know all. After hearing this, all the servants felt thrilled to gain Nathans love and fortunes. Now, you can go back to work. The servants soon left. The smile on Nathans mouth disappeared in an instant, he coldly looked at his hand, which had just touched the maids chin He stretched out his hand in disgust, and Vic immediately wet his hand towel and handed it to him. Nathan wiped his hands carefully. He just got more and more impatient with other women now. As long as he got closer to them, he would smell the strong perfume on them, which could never bepared with the body scent of Crystal. Since there was no one disturbing her, Crystal had dawdled in her room for a long time. Nathan gave her half an hour. She would like to use up thest minute before going out. After she dried her hair, she had been staring at herself in the mirror for a long time Crystal thought that the only way to end this abnormal messy rtionship was to leave here. Thinking of the ck card, she wondered if she could manage to escape from their palms this time. And she didnt know what would happen to Nathan if she really escaped. Also, Eric just hoped that they could never find her again. Knock One servant was knocking on the door. Come in. The servant opened the door and came in, holding a set of servant uniform, and tteringly put it on the bed, Mr. Davis, let me bring this to you. He said that you need to go downstairs after you change your clothes. He is waiting for you in the living room. Crystal found that the servant was smiling very happily. And when she came in just now, she had even knocked on the door. If there is nothing else, shall I go down and do other things first? Sure. The servant stroked the jewelry on her lower earlobe and went out merrily. Crystal sighed. Nathan did know her well that he had asked the servant to send her clothes at this time. He had guessed that she would definitely waste time at thest minute. In this aspect, he could understand her thoroughly, why didnt it work in other aspects? Crystal changed into a servants uniform, which was a little too big for her. But this was better, in this way, people couldnt tell that it was her. When Crystal got downstairs, the butler rang the bell and asked all the servants to gather in the dining room. Crystal silently hid in the team, standing at the table. Just at this moment, Nathan came in. With a sharp nce, Nathan could easily tell where Crystal was standing. Unexpectedly, even if she had dressed up like this, he could still recognize her at first sight. Chapter 407: You Always Avoid Me Mrs. Bush came out of the kitchen, followed by a servant, carrying a bowl of soup. Amos, dinner is ready, its all your favorite food. Mrs. Bush came over and looked at Nathan happily, like a young girl who was just in love. Nathan walked by her coldly, and Mrs. Bush hurriedly followed him, Amos, this is your seat. Nathan did not sit on the chair that Mrs. Bush pulled away from him but went straight to the position closest to Crystal. The dining table was very long, so the food was mainly ced in front of the prominent seat, but Nathan had sat far away from it. Dont you usually like to sit in this position? Mrs. Bush directed the servants, Move all the dishes there. Mrs. Bush had obviously dressed up. She took off her apron and was about to sit next to Nathan, who just coldly resisted, Stay away from me. Crystal frowned. Nathans attitude was so bad! On the contrary, Mrs. Bush seemed to be ustomed to it. It turned out that Amos used to treat Mrs. Bush in this way. Mrs. Bush began to feel upset, We already have a baby, why do you still not allow me to sit next to you? Nathan was a little impatient and pointed to Crystal coldly, You, sit here. Crystals back stiffened, and all the servants suddenly looked at her, including Mrs. Bush. Crystal had put on heavy makeup, so Mrs. Bush did not recognize her. She gave Nathan a severe warning. Sure enough, Mrs. Bush seemed to be very unhappy, Do you like this servant? I know you have a lot of women outside Mrs. Bush stroked her belly gently and said, Besides, Im pregnant now, so I cant apany you. Crystals eyes dimmed. She felt very sympathetic to Mrs. Bush. But now you are home, you rarelye back to see me, cant you apany me more? Nathan said coldly, I just asked her to try the dishes, what do you think? Mrs. Bushs eyes lit up, You just want to ask her to try the dishes? Crystal stared at him silently, The frustration on Mrs. Bushs face waspletely swept away by Nathans words, I can try the dishes. Are you a maid? No Then shut up. Mrs. Bush was really afraid of making Amos angry, so she had to reply indifferently, Well, fine. Nathan looked at Crystal, his eyes seemed to say that Amos personality was like this. Sit here. Crystal frowned. If Amos personality were like this, Nathan would have been really the same as his father. Under the eyes of everyone, Crystal had to sit beside Nathan to try the dishes. As for Nathan, he indeed wasnt reluctant to let Crystal stay hungry, What are you still waiting for? Would you want me to pick the food for you personally? Nathans cold voice sounded beside Crystal, Are you new here? Do I need to teach you the rules? When Crystal brought herself back to reality, Nathan had already put a piece of braised beef into her bowl, Have a try. Crystal had no choice but to pick it up and eat it. To be honest, this situation was too weird. Eric was absent here. She and her beloved man ate with her legal mother-inw. Their rtionship couldnt be messier. Mrs. Bush asked, How does it taste? Yeah, it tastes pretty good. Amos, you can eat now. Mrs. Bush took a piece of braised beef to Nathan, but he didnt tend to take it. Her hand stiffened in the air, then it retracted back. She had to take a bite alone, pretending to be satisfied Crystal felt a little bit sorry for Mrs. Bush, who was too humble in love. No wonder the real Amos didnt like her Then Nathan kept picking meat for Crystal and forced her to eat them with a fierce attitude. Crystal stamped his foot under the table fiercely. This meal was so frightening that Crystal kept worrying if Mrs. Bush would see something wrong. However, all of her attention was on Nathan. After eating, Nathan was about to leave. But he was stopped by Mrs. Bush when he almost reached the door in a few strides. Mrs. Bush trotted over, stood on tiptoe, and tied the scarf around his neck. I knitted this for you. Mrs. Bush pulled his overcoat, I didnt know how to do it at first. But I learned everything from you. I didnt know how to cook before. But for you, I have also started to cook You said that you hate my cold face without a smile. Mrs. Bush tried hard to raise her lips, I willugh more in the future. Nathans handsome face impatiently puckered. He just wanted to leave. Mrs. Bush tugged his overcoat tight, I can change everything you dislike about me. Why do you still be more and more alienated from me? When Crystal heard these words, her whole body froze. She wondered if she would also be so obedient like Mrs. Bush during her love rtionship? No matter how indifferent Nathan was, would she change herself to cater to him? Crystalughed in a low voice. She really couldnt guarantee what would happen in the future, and she didnt know whether she would still have her selfhood after she waspletely in love. Crystal suddenly got a mixed feeling. In the end, Mrs. Bush couldnt keep Nathan, so she could only shout to his back, Amos, remember toe to see our child and me. Her eyes became blurred. Then she said sadly, I dont expect you to marry me, and I dont want any status. I dont care about these things, but please, dont abandon our child and me. Nathan finally replied with hmm. Amos. Upon hearing his response, Mrs. Bush rushed towards him excitedly and suddenly wanted to kiss him. Luckily, Nathan took precautions and threw her away in time. Mrs. Bushs lips brushed his chin while her body almost fell to the ground.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Amos, when will youe to see me again? Nathan raised his hand, unbearably, Send her into her room. Then two bodyguards put Mrs. Bushs arm on one side and carried her into the room. Nathan was covered with a chilling breath, rubbing his kissed chin with obvious impatience. Vic went over and pulled the car door, looking at Crystal and saying, Miss Smith The servants had helped her put things in the boot, which was full, and some things had to be put in the back seat of the car. Between Nathan and Crystal, they were full of big bags. As the car drove forward, Crystal looked out the window in a daze. Nathan asked in a soft voice, What did you bring? Why are there so many? Daily necessities. Crystal had originally wanted to take a few clothes with her, butter she thought Nathan came here with an exclusive car, so she took all her own things, including quilts, toiletries, and books. However, she didnt expect that there would be so many things in total, which felt a bit like moving. Nathan opened one bag and saw the toiletries. Dont bother, its all daily necessities. Crystal had never noticed before that Nathan liked to rummage through other peoples things so casually. Nathan raised his eyebrows, Do you think I like to touch other peoples things? Dont you? I am interested in everything rted to you. He had never been interested in anyones personal belongings. I want to know you more, he squeezed his chin, You always avoid me. If I dont take the initiative, how can I walk into your heart and get close to you? Chapter 408: You Are Too Eager Stared at his deep eyes, remembering the scene when Mrs. Bush was reluctant to let him go just now, and also the scene when he was so indifferent and impatient with Mrs. Bush. Now, he was fully affectionate. But she couldnt imagine what he would be like when he became indifferent to her in the future. She just turned away and looked out the window. You can buy all these thingster. Dont you know that you can make a list for me? Ill let people buy them. He loves this brand. Since Im back, Ill take them, by the way. You really care about him! He saved me. If I saved you and it was me who is lying in the hospital, would you care about me so much? Nathan leaned over. Crystal pushed him away irritably, Dont talk nonsense, its annoying. Maybe next time, I will also lie in the hospital because of saving you, Nathan hooked up his lips. Everything is possible. Crystal, Nathan moved everything away and sat down next to Crystal. He put his hands around her from the side and hugged her tightly, with his lips close to her ears, Crystal. The deep voice could easily pull her heartstrings every time. Do you want to wait until I am also in danger, then youlle to regret that you did not treat me well before? Crystal frowned, Can you close your crow mouth? If it were me, I would have done the same thing as Eric. He looked serious. Dont think I cant do it just because I havent done it. I never think that way! She was really afraid that he would do something stupid to prove it. Then cant you be nice to me? You have to give me your cold face? He used his arms to force her to sit on hisp. We have less time together.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Crystal sighed. He was right. If Nathan were lying in the hospital now, what would she do? Maybe she would havepletely copsed!! Although she felt guilty about Eric, she did have strong feelings for Nathan He gathered up his arms and said, Are you satisfied with my performance tonight? I was even kissed forcedly by her before leaving. Crystal turned her face back and finally looked at him. How will youpensate me? Thank you for helping me a lot. I dont need your thanks. Then what do you want? Crystal asked him powerlessly. Did he want her to take the initiative to kiss him? At this time, she had no intention to do any intimate action with him at all. Nathan put his fingers in her hair. ck hair entangled his fingers, I only want you to remember everything I have done for you. He took off the scarf that Mrs. Bush had wrapped around him, Knit one for me. I cant. Then learn it for me. Crystal suddenly remembered what Mrs. Bush had said. She didnt know how to knit a scarf before, but she learned it for Amos. And she didnt know how to cook, for Amos, she also made it. Crystal discovered that she had actually changed a lot for Nathan. What kind of scarf do you want? Cant you buy it? I want you to knit it personally. Crystal wanted to refuse because she refused to be Mrs. Bush, who had lost herself in the end, but she still wasnt able to do so After all, she really didnt do anything for Nathan, and his request was not excessive. I can only knit a scarf. The implication was that he couldnt demand more than a scarf. Okay. Nathan raised his lips and smiled like a child about to receive a gift. After a pause, he asked, Where can we buy wool? You want me to knit now? After putting things away, Crystal and Nathan arrived at the hospital first and immediately went to the city center. It was already dark outside, but the bustling streets were full of bright lights. Normally, high-end shopping malls didnt sell wool, so Crystal had to take him to this street. There were street vendors everywhere, and they could only buy wool in this kind of ce. Crystal hadnt visited these ces for a long time. She remembered that she and Serenity used to hang out here a lot. One stall was filled with various small essories, dolls, and wool. It was the peak hour now, so the stall owner was busy doing business. Crystal looked at the yarns of different sizes. She was a little confused. So she asked the owner, Excuse me, which kind of yarn is suitable for knitting a scarf? Anyone is okay. It depends on which style you are referring to. After that, he turned to talk to other customers. This is my first time, so I dont know the difference. If I want to knit a scarf for a man, how thick should it be better? Here is a book for knitting wool. You can read it yourself. The owner casually pointed at it, busy taking care of other customers. Crystal picked up the book and flipped through it. Unexpectedly, there were so many patterns of scarves, and she was dazzled She found one of her favorite styles, pointed to the picture, and asked, Sir, I want this, what kind of wool should I choose? Miss, dont you see that I am very busy now? If I exin to you all the time, can I still do business with other people? Just look at the book and pick it by yourself! As soon as his voice fell, a terrifying murderous aura shot at him. Nathan was behind Crystal, followed by Vic and two bodyguards. Several customers who were selected in front of the stall felt that the atmosphere was not right and left silently. Nathan, which color do you like? Crystal picked up a few balls of wool randomly and asked. Nathan took off his coat and put it on her shoulders, I like everything you choose. Crystal also nned to knit one for Eric, but with different meanings. One was for the lover, the other was for the lifesaver. Suddenly Crystals body was hit A few more customers squeezed over to pick something, Nathan narrowed his eyes, soon, several bodyguards quickly drove them away. The stall owner red at him like an ox, daring not to speak. Later, as long as Crystal was choosing, other customers at this stall would be driven away. But Crystal was too concentrated on choosing the yarn that she didnt know at all. Well, the rtionship between people is like knitting a scarf. Each stitch and string will be carefully knitted and cost a long time when it starts. When it should be removed, you only need to pull it slightly! The owner suddenly sighed, Many couples who have sent scarves before always break up in the end. Crystals hands suddenly stiffened, and the owners words just meant their rtionship. Nathans face was extremely cold, and he suddenly grabbed the owners cor, You can just tell me if you dont want to do business anymore. The owners body fell over instantly, and all the things on the stall were messed up. The other owners and customers all looked over. Nathan, dont make trouble! How can I do business if you drive away from my customers like this? Moreover, if Crystal stayed here for more than half an hour, it was the peak period now, so the owner could only make some money by this time. The owner was obviously not a person who knew how to observe the unhappiness of customers. Vic secretly prayed for the owner. He was simply digging his own grave. Would there be a tragedy in this market? But when he looked at Nathan again, he surprisingly found that Nathans anger was slowly controlled. It was really a miracle. Can you start tonight? You are too eager! Chapter 409: Which Do You Like? If it were before, the owner would at least suffer dozens of sticks and be taken to the hospital after Nathans ass-kicking. Crystal stood up and began to scold Nathan, You chased away his customers first! Nathan exined with a dark face, You are pregnant. I am taking care of your safety. It was so crowded, what if someone bumped into her? But its not right that you chased away other customers. How can you righteously beat him first? Crystal grabbed his arm, Let him go now, everyone is watching us. Nathans personality was so bossy that it could cause trouble everywhere. Did you hear me? Let him go! Nathan let the owner go fiercely. The owner stared at Nathan with lingering fears, Young man, you really have a bad temper. You look so handsome. But if you are always so ferocious, your girlfriend will be scared away. Besides, I just sighed casually Nathans eyes were thrown over like des, which let the owner close his mouth hurriedly. The owner makes sense, do you still want to buy wool or not? Crystal asked. Sure. Nathan coldly held Crystals waist, We will not only buy it now but also next year, the year after next year every year from now on, you will knit a scarf for me. Crystal, We will not break up. Why do you care about what a vendor says? We will not break up! Nathan, I have told you that you dont need to care so much about a word someone said unintentionally. Crystal, answer me- we wont break up! Nathan clutched her shoulder. With a guilty conscience, Crystal turned her face away, Nathan pinched her chin, and suddenly kissed her fiercely. A fanatical kiss grabbed her lips heavily. There were already many people in the market, not to mention that Nathans tall figure was very eye-catching Crystal punched his chest hard, and he kissed her hard for a long time before he was willing to let her go. Say it, will we break up? The warning eyes seemed to say, If you dare to say something more, I will kiss you again. Crystal sighed, Okay, we wont break up. Nathan was satisfied then, pursing his thin lips, I want all this wool. All? Crystal frowned, How can I have so many hands to knit for you?! We will buy it all, and you can pick it slowly! When the vendor heard this, his ears moved, and he immediately smiled, Actually, its good to send a scarf as a gift. It means that you will keep your lover always around you! Really? Nathan red at the vendor with a gloomy look. You are an extraordinary and talented man with a beautiful woman. You two are born to be a couple. You are simply a perfect couple. The vendor finally saw the situation clearly. If you break up, all the lovers in the world will be separated. Nathan raised his eyebrows and stretched out his hand, Wallet. He basically never carried cash when he hung out. Vic immediately gave his wallet to him, and Nathan took out the cash in it and threw it on the stall. The vendor stares in surprise, This doesnt cost so much money. The rest is your reward. Nathan held Crystals waist and turned to leave elegantly. Crystal was held in his arms and looked at him involuntarily C he no longer lost his temper casually, which was indeed a big improvement. But thisvish problem didnt seem very good. Anyway, he was rich. As long as he spent, it would be peoples living expenses for months without worry. **** Back at the hospital, Crystal discovered that the ward had been changed drastically. The doors and windows were even changed, and anti-thefts were iid. Vic exined that the doors and window sses were all bulletproof, which would block out all bullets. The small bed was reced with arge bed. Obviously, it was because Nathan wanted to live with her. The bodyguards brought everything in the car up, then Crystal pointed to the sofa, Throw them there first, I will clean up the restter. Crystal pulled the closet and found that several sets of male suits and pajamas were already in it. She frowned and secretly thought that Nathans movement was really fast. What do you want? I didnt promise you to share a ward with me! I want to protect you. The doctor came over to check Crystal and ordered her to rest earlier in the evening. Crystal threw one of the pillows on the sofa, picked up another quilt, and threw it over. Nathan raised his eyebrows, How can I sleep on this sofa? I dont care how you sleep, if you cant sleep here, then go back to your home to sleep. Crystal suddenly felt guilty. He didnt need to suffer like this. He had just stayed by the bedst night without having a good rest at all.RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only A gleam of light shed across Nathans eyes, and he clearly knew that she was soft-hearted. Crystal turned her back and went to find a book on weaving scarves, intending to avoid seeing him. Suddenly the bed was sunk. It felt like Nathan had already climbed onto the bed shamelessly and hugged her from behind. Crystals heart suddenly hardened, Dont you say that you will do sitting sleep? Crystal, you are so cruel to me. I just want to sleep with you, isnt that okay? Nathan came closer and surrounded her with heat, making her feel extremely safe. She didnt have much time to stay with Nathan. She really wished to indulge himself and stay longer around him. Crystal stiffened her back and did not speak. She continued to flip through the book. With all kinds of scarves in the book, she tried hard to think about which one would look good for Nathan. Nathan put his arms over, Arent you tired? Do you want to sleep? Huh? They were already in a very intimate posture after he leaned over like this. There was no gap between them at all. His breath was gushing on her shoulder, and she bit her lips, Nathan, dont go too far. Im afraid that you felt cold, so I hold you, did I go too far? I didnt feel cold, you can let me go. What kind of scarf are you going to knit for me? Which one do you like? Nathan turned a few pages earnestly, This one. I cant! Crystal had already felt it hard only by seeing the color, let alone it must weave withplex techniques I like the one that you can knit. His hand intertwined with her fingers and kissed her on the shoulder emotionally. The night gradually darkened. There was a warm light in the ward, spreading across it, giving extremely harmonious light in the quiet night. Crystal began to lean against the bed and knit wool the next morning. It was very warm outside. Crystal could smell the flowers outside the window. Nathan had already gone out, but nobody knew where he had gone. He had arranged two servants to serve her breakfast. Nathans people were everywhere in the ward, heavily guarded the entire surroundings. Crystal originally thought that knitting was a very easy thing. But when she really did it, she found that she needed to be very careful not to make a mistake, and if she once made a mistake, she had to start from the beginning. Especially for a beginner like her, it was really too difficult to learn from the book. Every stitch and every thread wereplicated, even if she had a few brains, it would not be enough. After knitting for a while, Crystal couldnt help feeling irritable, so she got up, went to see Eric in ICU, and asked the doctor about his condition. She found that the servant had brought a woman over when she walked back. Miss Smith, this was the teacher invited by the young master to teach you how to knit a scarf. In her thirties, the woman nodded to Crystal, Hello, Miss Smith. Crystal frowned. How did Nathan know that she was not good at knitting? Maybe the servant had told him. The woman sat down, picked up the needle and thread, and taught her patiently. Every stitch was very slow and detailed. Chapter 410: Aren鈥檛 You Still In My Arms? Crystal watched the womans hands turning up and down skillfully. Can you show me a little slower? Okay, lets do it again. After learning for more than an hour, Crystal discovered that she was really not suitable for this, just like cooking, she did not have such a talent. During school days, everything was very simple for Crystal. She read the textbook only twice and the sample questions only once, then she could solve all the problems Crystal was very frustrated when she encountered difficulties in a trivial matter, just like knitting sweaters. How long does it take to knit a scarf? This depends on the pattern, your speed, and proficiency. As for me, if the pattern isplicated, it will take three days. If its simple, then one day is okay. Crystal finally chose the simplest t needle, which was the easiest one, but it wasnt pleasant. And Crystal often identally missed some stitches so there would be some small holes. Comparing her own scarf with the teachers result, she couldnt see it at all, and she got even more frustrated. She was afraid that it would be inappropriate for two tall and handsome men to wear even if she finished two such scarves. I think you can knit them for me. The simplest pattern, three days, you knit two scarves for me. Uh? Im so exhausted. Take your time, Ill rest for a while and take a cup of tea. Crystal got up to move her body. She asked, so definitely not because she waszy. It was because she knew that her skills were not good, and the results would be very ugly. With this time, it was better for her to make something that she was good at and send it to Nathan But she had promised him to knit a scarf as a gift. She didnt want him to pester her again because of it. As soon as Crystal sat down at the coffee table, some servants opened the door and came in, Miss Smith, are you tired? Let us massage your shoulders. Miss Smith, the young master, just called and said that it doesnt matter if you knit the scarf slowly, he has time to wait. Ahem! Crystal almost choked with tea. The young master also said that it doesnt matter if its ugly, he doesnt mind it Crystal was like a kid who had done something wrong and was caught. With a slight embarrassment on her face, she wondered how Nathan could know what she was thinking?! But the young master wants what Miss Smith knits personally, so dont secretly let others do it for you. The servant rubbed her back, reminding carefully. Crystal put down the teacup and asked, You monitor me? She just didnt like being monitored, so she let the servants out. We didnt Then, did he set up a monitor in this room? Crystal suddenly had a gloomy face. This damn man was really addicted to peeking on her. Crystal crawled up and down in the room, looking for cameras She especially searched the hanging paintings, which she had taken off to check. Miss Smith, you are pregnant, be careful of your child Crystal frowned, finally having to give up. On the other side, in the ck sedan, Nathan had aputer on hisp, watching Crystal sitting back on the bed angrily, picking up the needles, and starting to learn again. Nathan touched the screen with his fingers, zooming on her face to the entire screen, which he would never get tired of. Suddenly, his eyes fell on the bag, which contained two different yarns and a pair of needles. Nathan opened the door of the ward and walked in, thinking of two different woolen yarns in his head along the way, his face darkening. Crystal was leaning against the bed and knitting. Nathan looked at her coldly, You want to knit two scarves? He remembered that she had asked the teacher to teach her to knit scarves with two different colors in the afternoon. Crystal lowered her eyes and gave him an Mm. Nathan felt suffocated, The other one is for whom? I am asking you who else is the scarf for!? Nathan grabbed her shoulder tightly and shook it heavily. Crystal felt her shoulder a little bit painful, Nathan, why are you always like this? You cant always control your emotions! You knit both for me? he asked sarcastically, not believing that she would be so kind. As you guess, the other one is for Eric. Nathans gaze became even more ironic as if he wanted to devour her alive. He is my husband, and he saved me. Whats wrong if I want to knit a scarf for him? Nathan pressed her lips violently and bit her lips hard, He is your husband, arent you still in my arms? Crystal pushed his head hard, Dont be so naive, okay? There is no more naive emotion than jealousy! Nathan gnawed her neck fiercely. Only people whock self-confidence will have Do you think Im naive to have jealousy? Nathan, I just said that only people whock self-confidence will have jealousy, do you? Crystal pushed him, Dont you realize you are inferior to Eric? Nathan lifted her onto the bed abruptly, as if her words had hit his sore spot. Crystal had never seen Nathans such expression before as if he had been seriously injured She froze for a moment and couldnt help touching his face. Nathan knocked her down like a wounded beast and said fiercely, Tell me where I am inferior to him?! Crystal secretly answered in her heart, You are much better than him everywhere, in my eyes, you are always the best. But what was the point of saying these things? After all, it was impossible for her to be with him. Crystal, Nathan looked at her crazily, I care about you so much, do you care about me? Why cant you care more about me?! Crystals heart ached. My eyes are full of you, but your love is divided. He smiled coldly, which made him look very bleak. He said directly, What I want is very simple. You are the only one for me, I want to be your only one too. Crystal, what I want is absolutely pure love, and you cant share your love with others! Nathan, if you have children in the future, will you also be jealous of your children? Dont tell me you will be jealous of your children in the future! Crystal red at him and began to imagine such a scene Jealousy is also the way I love you. He always loved in such a different way. Only Nathan could say such a facy. Crystal felt pain, and Nathan bit her neck harder, The problem is that you hate every way I love you! Crystal couldnt speak. She didnt hate him at all. Maybe she also had low self-esteem. His way of love was so narrow and extreme, but she still fell in love with him But she ran away because she couldnt think of a better way to end this messy rtionship. Her clothes were torn apart by him. Crystal struggled hard, Eric is in ICU not far away. Nathans back stiffened, and he furiously said, Why do you always mention his name?! Even if you dont want me to mention it, I have to, Crystal told the truth. If he dies, he will always be between us. As long as I am with you, I will think of him. Then let him be alive! He grabbed her hand, Didnt I save him? What else do you want me to do!? If he is alive, he will live between us forever, he will not let me go. He wants topete with me, that depends on whether he has this ability. If he doesnt have the ability, how did I be his wife? Crystal hit the nail on the head.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 411: Erick Has Just Woke Up Nathan angrily picked up the bag of woolen yarns, Which color is made for him? This one? He picked up a gray ball of yarn. Such a gray color does suit him. In the next second, he split the wool ball into two halves by arge shear. The two needles used to knit scarves were also broken He had better never wake up. If he is awake, Nathans eyes are burning with fire, I will let him taste the so-called living death. Crystal shouted, Nathan! At this moment, there was a rapid knock on the door. The nurse announced outside, Mr. Bush is awake. Mrs. Bush, you can go to see him. Such a word burst into the two peoples ears like thunder. First of all, it was Nathan who looked as dangerous as a beast C he knew that Eric could not die. Crystal was very happy. Although she knew that Eric would not die so easily, she still felt quite relieved when she heard that he had woken up. She had enough debts, which were so heavy that she almost couldnt breathe. How is his condition now? Does waking up mean that he has passed the dangerous period? The doctor is checking on him in the ICU now. He said that as long as he wakes up, he has passed the most dangerous period. But considering that he had a lot of fatal injuries, he still needs to recuperate in the hospital. If he is not careful enough his life will still be in danger. I see. Crystal hurriedly followed the nurse. Nathan coldly looked at her anxiously jogging appearance, more pain with anger rose in his heart. Faintly, he felt that Crystal was about to leave him again Nathan stepped forward and held her waist, You are still pregnant. Dont be in a hurry, he wont run away! Crystal said, He just woke up, please dont do anything to make him angry. Nathans heart seemed to have been shot again. She had always only cared about Eric! He will definitely be unhappy when he sees you, so you mustnt go in. Crystal stopped her steps, Do you hear me? You should stay here! You are not allowed to go there. Nathans temper was so fierce that Crystal was really afraid that he would rush to beat Eric and directly kill him. Nathans eyes dimmed, Do you care so much if he is happy or not? I dont have time to argue with you right now. Go back to the room! Nathan said indifferently, I will not be going to the ICU, Across the ss, Crystal saw the doctor checking Eric, writing something in the medical record file from time to time. Crystal wanted to rush in to see Eric, but she knew that she couldnt enter inside at will. Suddenly, Eric seemed to feel her gaze His head moved slowly. Several doctors were suddenly panicking and talking nervously. Crystal couldnt hear them, but she probably knew that the doctors asked him not to move. Eric was like a rusty robot, turning his head very slowly, looking at Crystal. His gaze was unfocused, but his hand touched her hand at once. He held it tightly and soon fell asleep again. Crystal checked the time. Half an hour had already passed. The nurse came to let her leave and give the patient more time to take a good rest. Crystal couldnt take her hand away. He had obviously been injured so badly, just saved his life from death, but he still had such strength Her eyes couldnt help but fall on his ring finger, the ce where he was wearing the wedding ring was thin. Eric, take a good rest, I will see you againter. Crystal whispered, I wont leave until your condition stabilizes. Erics breath was very light. But he seemed to understand what Crystal said, his hands slowly rxed. Crystal felt her heart warm suddenly. He was wearing an oxygen mask, and his body moved because the angled oxygen mask blocked his gaze. The doctor shouted more nervously. Crystal panicked and asked the nurse next to him hurriedly, He is moving, he cant move, right? What does he want to do? I I dont know. Does he want to see me? Can I go in? Wait. The nurse went to the door and pressed the inte. The doctor looked at Crystal. He also noticed that Eric was looking at her, so he nodded and said, Disinfect her and let her in. The nurse hung up and said to Crystal, Mrs. Bush, please go there with me for disinfection and put on sterile gowns. Crystal took two steps forward, fearing that Eric was worried, so she gestured to him, Wait a minute, Ill be here soon. She pronounced every word very slowly, hoping that he could understand the shape of her lips. Eric was so smart, as long as he looked at her when she spoke, he could definitely understand it. Nathan was standing by, coldly watching Crystals interaction with Eric Hepletely became an invisible person. These days, even if Eric hadnt been awake, she still treated him as air and avoided as much as possible. She never looked at him, didnt take the initiative to talk to him. Even if he stuck to her, she would resist him and hate him. Nathan smiled coldly. So why did she have his paintings ording to her personal servants words? Why did she jump into the water to pick up his watch? She did miss him. Otherwise, why were there scars on her arm? Nathan frowned deeply and followed behind her. She loved him but didnt have him in her eyes. Could it be that indifference and alienation were the way she loved him? Was he not worthy of her warmth and love? Even inferior to Eric? Crystal had arrived in the disinfection room. The nurse said apologetically, Sir, you cant go in. Only Mrs. Bush can go inside the ICU.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. The door was about to close. Nathan stretched out his hand abruptly to press the door. He looked terribly merciless. Sir The nurse became scared. Crystal turned around and said, Didnt you just promise me that you wont go in? Nathan stared at her fiercely. Go out. Crystal held the door in ce of the nurse and tried to close it hard. Nathan ced his hand on the door coldly, and he could easily open the door by pushing it gently. But at this moment, he waspletely powerless. Nathan, can you stop making trouble at this critical moment? Whatever he did was trouble in her eyes, which made her upset. Nathans eyes got cold, he let the door go indifferently. Crystal closed the door hard. The door closed in front of him with a m, just like the way she had always treated him, which was extremely cold. Nathan smiled as ifughing at himself, leaning against the cold wall. He took out a cigarette and lit it up. Soon after the disinfection, Crystal came out wearing sterile clothes, walking past him without even looking at Nathan, she went straight to the ICU room Nathan followed her and watched her enter coldly. It was not Crystals fault. In such a situation, she really couldnt care about Nathans mood. Doctor, how is his condition now? The doctor looked at her, The patient wants to see you very much. Get close to him and talk to him. Talk? What should I say? You can say anything let him listen to your voice. The patient was awake just now. The more you talk, the clearer his mind will be. Try to keep him from falling asleep too quickly. It will be good for his brain to recover. Crystal walked to the head of Erics bed, bent over, and approached him. There was a big wound at the corner of his eye, stitched all the way to the sideburns, which indicated how deep the wound was His whole head was covered in bandages. His dark eyes closed slightly, then opened again, staring at her in a daze, shining. Faintly, there seemed to be a smile afloat in his eyes. Chapter 412: He Is Not Answering Her Call Crystal frowned. What was heughing at this time? He seemed to want to talk. The breath made the oxygen mask white. Crystal whispered, Dont talk, you need oxygen, your breath is very weak now. Erics hand without the infusion raised a little Dont move, didnt the doctor tell you not to move? Crystal stopped his hand from lifting up. Although this hand was not injured, it might involve other wounds. Eric suddenly reversed his hand and held her hand tightly in his palm. Youre awake, Crystalughed in a low voice, Dont worry, you will be fine. Eric just stared at her deeply. Crystal bit her lower lip hard, You have a very lucky star, and I guess you are not that easy to die. Outside the ss, Nathans back stiffened with hatred lingering. He was standing there, watching Crystal leaning over, staring at Eric so close. Her eyes were gentle, and the way she spoke to him was also extremely gentle Such kind of Crystal temperament was someone whom he had never seen before. She was so cautious that Eric seemed to be the ss that she was afraid to break. Nathan watched coldly for ten minutes, then turned and left lonely. The bell in the ICU suddenly rang, and the doctor picked it up. The nurses voice came, The gentleman just now ordered before leaving that Mrs. Bush is pregnant, she couldnt stand for too long. Let her sit and talk to the patient. The doctor immediately moved a chair for Crystal. You can talk with the patient for half an hour and then let him rest. Okay, thank you. Crystal sat down and asked uncertainty, He should have passed the dangerous period, right? Yes. Nice. The big stone in Crystals heart finally fell to the ground again. She unconsciously nced outside the ICU. The man who had been in front of the ss was gone Crystal didnt think much about it, turned back, and tried to find some topics to tell Eric, hoping that he would get better soon. Crystal took out her hand, feeling iprehensible in her heart, turned around, and asked, When will he fully recover? He is very weak now, but he wont get unconscious again. He should recover naturally after sleeping for a while. I will let you know immediately once it happens. Okay, thank you. Crystal put off the sterile clothes and returned to the ward without seeing Nathan. It was alreadyte now. Where did he go? Seeing the messy wool cut in half on the bed and broken needles, Crystal sighed and prepared to throw it into the trash can. But she suddenly saw several bloody paper balls in it. There were also dark bloodstains on the edge of the trash can. Crystal frowned, squatted to the bin, and looked at it. There were still a few drops of blood on the ground. Crystal felt heart-wrenching for a while. Later she was suddenly a little angry! Why couldnt he let her have a little peace for a while? She could easily tell that the blood was coughed out by Nathan. He was not good to himself at all. He hadnt taken care of his stomach problems, nor did he take medicine and his meals on time. Crystal pulled the door and looked at the bodyguard standing at the door, Who can contact your young master? The bodyguard shook his head, Only Vic has the young masters contact But we can contact Vic. Crystal took the phone that was connected. It sounded very noisy there Vics respectful voice came, Whats wrong, Miss Smith? Give Nathan the phone. Young master has ordered, no one can disturb him without his instruction. Also including me? Yes, its the Young Masters order. Vic coughed. The young master is in a bad mood now. Youd better leave him alone. Was he in a bad mood? Would love always make peoples minds so small as pinholes? Nathan had been losing his temper for no reason recently. Crystal rubbed her forehead, Why are you so noisy over there? Arent you in a bar? No. Fine. How could Nathan drink more in such a condition? We are in a high-level club. How would the young master go to a low-level ce like a bar? Crystal was speechless, In her concept, the club was no different from the bar. Miss Smith, do you have anything else? He has a serious stomach problem, how can you let him drink more? Young master is in a very bad mood now, Vic said helplessly, Im just a subordinate, I cant persuade him, and he doesnt listen to me, so I can do nothing. Crystals heart sank, Give him the phone, and I will talk to him. Miss Smith, the Young Master, has locked the door, no one can get in. I knocked on the door, but he refused to open it When Nathan became stubborn, he would be too difficult to deal with. Knock on the door again, tell him I am calling. Crystal bit her lower lip, only hoping he would answer the phone when he heard it was her. Wait a moment. Then there was a knocking sound with some noise, caught in the background of Vic at the other end. Young Master, Miss Smith is calling. Young Master? Vic couldnt hear any response from inside, so he had to continue to shout, Young Master, Miss Smith said that she has something urgent to tell you. Miss Smith, I have knocked on the door several times, but there was no response. Its probably because the Young Master is really in a bad mood, so he doesnt want to You mean he doesnt want to open the door? Crystal took a strong breath. She rarely called Nathan, but he would usually answer it as long as she called. No matter what he was doing, he would pick it up immediately. I think Young Master will go back when he calms down. Miss Smith, you dont need to worry too much. Was it because Eric had been awake that his mood changed so dramatically? Fine, take good care of him. Dont let him drink too much. Its not good for his health. After going back to the hospital, let him go for a checkup. It was not the first time Nathan had drunk so much, so it wouldnt matter if he had to spend more time. It would probably be nice to let him have a way to vent. Crystal felt so overwhelmed between these two men that she almost couldnt breathe. In the middle of the night, she tossed around on the bed, suddenly awakened from a nightmare. Her face was full of tears, and the pillow was totally wet. She wiped the tears on her face with the back of her hand as her heart kept aching. She couldnt remember what kind of dream it was. During breaking up with Nathan, she had woken up from nightmares almost every day, which seemed to have be her habit. But this time was different. The pain was desperate, and her heart was being strangled, which made her quite scared. An extremely bad and strong hunch struck. Crystal couldnt say what it was in detail. Still, her heart suddenly became flustered and nervous, always feeling that something bad was about to happen. She immediately pressed the service bell because Nathan had arranged special nurses to take care of her 24 hours a day in turns. The special nurse and the servant came over quickly, Miss Smith, whats the matter? Is Master Bush all right? He is fine. There are nurses in the ICU to watch him the whole night. Everything will be fine, dont worry, Miss Smith. Ill check it out. Crystal was still worried. That kind of terrible heartache just now was too weird. The nurse ran out and returned soon, Miss Smith, Master Bush is fine. The nurse said that he is in a stable condition, and she will call you the first time if he has any problems. Crystal leaned on the head of the bed, probably she had been too nervous. Looking out the window, she suddenly realized that Nathan hadnt returned yet? She asked the bodyguard for Vics phone number and called him again.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. The ringtone of the phone was over, but no one answered it. As the waiting time went by, Crystals heart became more and more depressed, as if she almost had suffocation. When it finally came for the third time, the phone was finally connected. Crystal rxed slightly, Its me. Miss Smith? Why didnt you answer the phone for so long? Didnt I tell you to watch him and not let him drink so much? Its almost three oclock now, why havent youe back? As his personal subordinate, you just let him do whatever he wants? Chapter 413: Who Let You Do That? Crystal was unable to suppress the anger and anxiety, throwing a series of questions to bombard Vic. Sorry, I didnt hear you just now. Miss Smith, I think that you have toe and persuade the young master to go back, I am afraid he will only listen to you. Vics voice sounded a bit strange. Crystals breathing was suddenly stagnant, Where are you now? At the entrance of the club, we have alreadye out. Then I have to pick you up? Could you give the address, I wille to pick you up! Uh well, I see. We are fine, you can rest now, its alreadyte. Vics voice suddenly became flustered. Are youing back now? Well young master still has something to deal with, so we wont go back to the hospital tonight. Miss Smith, good night. Is Nathan listening? Why doesnt he answer the phone? Beep Vic closed the phone and looked at the pistol on his forehead, Young master, you can put the gun down, I have already hung up. The grim man held his pistol tightly, his palm was slightly wet. He frowned tightly as if forcibly suppressing some of his emotions. The roadmp shone a weak light. Nathan didnt cover his horribly pale face with blood-stained at the corner of his mouth, which looked extremely miserable. I have warned you just now. You have already forgotten it in a blink of an eye? He said coldly, with eye-catching blood between his white teeth. **** After hanging up the phone, Crystal was very restless in the middle of the night. She always felt a pair of eyes looking at her in the dark as if she was bewitched. She kept waking up at night as if she had fallen into a dead cycle. Crystal was woken up by the nurse as the morning came, and her whole body was sticky with sweat. Mrs. Bush, a group of people, came and broke in forcibly. They said that they want to see Mr. Bush. Who are they? I dont know. A man took a lot of bodyguards to outnk the hospital. The nurse said anxiously. Crystal wiped the sweat on her forehead and asked while getting up, Is he awake? Not yet. We have also stopped that man. But he insisted on going in to see him. Crystal frowned. The man? Then she hurriedly followed the nurse. And she found that the bodyguards standing at the door were all gone, even those in the corridor. At the entrance of the corridor, Crystal saw a group of strange faces. Where are those people? Crystal asked strangely. It is said that they were gone, and as soon as they left, this group of people just came. There were really a lot of bodyguards gathering in front of the ICU. Before Crystal approached, they had reached out to stop her. Obviously, they were not Nathans people because Nathans people would never dare to stop her. Who are you? At this time, a man who seemed to be the leader heard the noise. When he saw Crystal, he immediately walked over in a hurry, Havent you got eyes? How dare you stop Young Mistress? Are you Erics people? Yes, Young Mistress, sorry to make you frightened. The bodyguard bowed slightly. The other bodyguards also saluted. After making sure that they were Erics people, Crystal felt very strange. Yesterday, she still thought about how to notify Erics people toe over. After all, it was dangerous to put Eric under Nathans people. Who knew if there were something gone wrong with Nathans mind one day, then he would hurt Eric? Young Mistress, this way. The bodyguard asked people to leave a path, We arete, I am so sorry. Crystal looked at Eric on the hospital bed through the ss and asked, Did you fight with other people when you arrived here? Fight? Crystal bluntly asked, Have you guys fought with Master Davis people? The bodyguard was puzzled. He hurriedly answered, No. Its Master Davis who informed us toe. He paused before adding, When we arrived, Master Davis people had already withdrawn. Were very grateful to Master Davis for saving our young master. We owe him a favor. Crystal stood there in a daze. She didnt believe her ears. ording to Nathans temper, he would not let Eric go so easily but threatened her with Eric. At least he would force Eric to hand over the marriage certificate and sign the divorce agreement. On remembering that theres a cell phone beside the pillow, which she had borrowed from a bodyguard, Crystal hastened back to the ward. She took the cell phone, found Vics phone number from the call log, and dialed it again. Vic quickly answered the phone. Did hee back? Um. Afraid to wake you up, the Young Master got another room to rest. Has he had the doctor checked? Vic said hesitantly, Yes, the doctor said nothing was wrong. Why did the bodyguards withdraw suddenly? Vic hesitated for a moment and responded, Young Master thought you would be happy. Crystal zipped her lips. Since when does he understand me so well? She wonders. However, at this moment, Crystal finally could heave a sigh of relief as if she had dropped down a heavy burden. Wheres he now? Im going to see him. The fifth on the right, answered Vic. Why does he stay so far from her room? Crystal frowned. Nathan always wished to stick to her like glue, if he could, he would not alienate her for a second On the way to Nathans room, Crystal ran into a nurse. She asked the nurse to call a doctor to Nathans room to have a body checkup for him. ording to Nathans character, he would never take the initiative to do the checkup. Crystal had seen those tissues with blood in the trash can, which proved that his stomach problem was getting serious. Miss Smith, here you are. Vic opened the door for her. His voice was as peaceful as usual, but she felt that the expression on Vics face was strange. She entered the room first; the doctor wouldeter.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Nathan was sitting on the bed, apparently having just woken up. His hair was unruly and looked like a messpletely. Instead of looking up at Crystal immediately, he picked up a cigarette and lighter from the coffee table. He lit a cigarette, spoke with it dangling from the corner of his mouth, What a miracle, youe for me. I heard that you went drinkingst night. So, as long as I drink, you wille and see me, right? His eyes were bloodshot. Not only because of that but also because Crystal had seen the balls of tissues in the trash can, worrying his health. Crystal did not answer his question but said, I called a doctor for you. On hearing that, Nathan suddenly stiffened all over. A hint of sharpness and resistance gave out from him. Who let you do that? I saw the balls of bloody tissues in the trash can, and theres even blood on the floor. As she spoke, she strode over, about to snatch the cigarette from his fingers. Are you going to kill yourself? If you keep drinking and smoking like this, your stomach will get worse. Nathan lowered his hand to dodge Crystal. He flicked ash at the floor and asked, So if it got worse, what would you do? What will I do? Thats funny. Its your stomach, not mine. What can I do about it? Crystal felt a little annoyed and angry. Nathan sneered, I mean, what will you do if my stomach trouble turns into stomach cancer? You know that I dont like these kinds of meaningless hypothetical questions. You dont like whatever I do, do you? Nathans voice was deep but clear, So, It doesnt make any difference if I asked this question or not. Youre wrong. Im d that you arranged Erics men to guard him. Id better disappearpletely from your world. I think youll be happier, Crystal! He strangely uttered. Nathan Davis, enough! Chapter 414: I Care About You Look, Nathan smiled bitterly, I made you angry again. Eric never does that, doesnt he? Inexplicable! Why do you have to bring him up today? You brought him up first. Crystal managed to suppress her anger. Why do we always have to quarrel when were together? Thats tiring. Ive been pandering to you. Youre the one who looks for a quarrel. So, I told you we dont fit each other, when Crystal spoke, she stretched her arm, trying to take his cigarette away, its bad for your health. Stop it. Again, Nathan dodged her. He put the cigarette into his mouth and greedily took a drag on it. Crystal, smoking is like loving you. I know its harmful, but I just could not give it up. The more I miss you, the more I cant let you go. The more I avoided you, the more it hurt me, His words pained Crystals heart. Im telling you to stop smoking! Crystal snatched the cigarette from his hand while scolding. identally, the me burnt her hand, and she shrunk subconsciously. Nathan finally put out the cigarette, caught her hand, and checked it. Does it burn your hand? No Next time, if you see danger, dont rush up like a fool. He rubbed her palm with his thumb, added, You havent answered my question, if I disappeared from your world, what would you do? What answer on earth do you want to hear? Crystal didnt understand why he kept asking this unlucky question today. I fear you will lose sleep again; or cut your arms He rolled up her sleeves, stroking the scars on her arms. Who said I hurt myself for you? Crystal was taken back and quickly retracted her hand. Erics servants. Do you even believe what they say? Nathan squinted, They also said that you draw portraits of me. Portraits? What portraits? Where are they? Im afraid that the servants lied to please you. Crystal kept denying it because she did not want Nathan to worry. These scars are evidence. Nathan grabbed her arm again. Dont get it wrong, they have nothing to do with you. Really? Sure. Fine. To Crystals surprise, Nathan did not force her to admit it. Instead, he held her hand tightly and put it on his chest, saying, If its because of me, Ill be very sad. Nathan, in fact, no one would die just because of leaving another. Crystal rolled down her sleeve and went on, were all independent individuals. Crystals eyes began to moist with tears. Todays topic was somehow too sad. She turned her head quickly and looked at the door, avoiding Nathans eyes. Thats weird. Why hasnt the doctore yet? Crystal changed the topic. Nathan pinched her chin and forced her to look back at him. Nathan parted his lips. I always dont understand Crystal held back the tears, asked, dont understand what? You love me, but why keep pushing me away? Love does not mean possession. As long as the person I love lives a happy life, I would be happy for him at the bottom of my heart. We dont necessarily need to be together. Only my pure love I can offer you, Crystal, hoping to make you happy. Letting you go, I cant assure you that I could give it to you. But have you ever thought that you cant give me the happiness I want? Nathan nodded as if he was seriously thinking about this question. A wisp of bangs fell and shadowed his face. Finally, he said in a deep voice, So, loving someone isnt equal to being with her. Um Crystals voice became hoarse, too. She gave a hollow cough with embarrassment and asked, Why do you suddenly ask these questions? Thats so not you. They had never talked about love as calmly as they did today. Even when there had been a fierce dispute, Nathan had still insisted on his own theory and would even get angry if Crystals answer couldnt make him satisfied. However, hes marvelously peaceful today, making her very uneasy. She had a faint feeling that Nathan was covering something up. Nathan chuckled, Dont you like discussing love with me? No. I just think that youre especially nice today, Crystal shook her head. Nathan was more like a big boy who always wanted to gain Crystals affirmation when in love. Today, hemunicated with her calmly, which made her feel less tired to get along with. However, that, on the contrary, brought Crystal heartache. When he looked at her, when he spoke, Crystal felt pain. She didnt understand why. Am I such a tough nut to crack? Nathan mocked himself. Ever since I escaped from the manor, youve be very stubborn. Nathan gave her a charming smile and lowered his head. His bangs moved, revealing a small piece of a bruise under it. Crystal reached to put his bangs aside and saw arge bruise on his forehead. How did you get this? Crystal frowned. I got drunkst night and fell to the ground, he understated. Drunk? Crystal goggled at him in disbelief, Youre good at drinking. How could it be possible? Nathan did not answer but pushed her hand away and let the bangs fall back on his forehead. How much did you drink? Every time youre in a bad mood, you drink heavily. Can you get rid of that bad habit? Fine. I will. Again, Nathan acted obediently. Thats out of Crystals expectations. She didnt know how to treat such an obedient Nathan. Usually, he would snap, Dont you know why I drink, why I smash things; and why Im so angry? Crystal Smith, all are because of you! You made me sad! The ward fell into a dead silence for a moment. Crystal bit her lips, thinking that there must be other more serious injuries since his forehead was badly bruised. Thinking so, Crystal lifted the quilt on him and asked, Are there any other injuries? Just some small cuts. Let me see! Nathan pressed her hand, leaned over her evilly, and said, You show me such a nervous expression only when I get hurt. Crystal, you always deceive yourself. You even lie to yourself. Nathans beautiful features looked cold and hardened. At this moment, knocks came from the door. The doctor finally came. The depressed air inside the ward almost suffocated Crystal. She exhaled a breath of relief and said, Herees the doctor. Vic had originally been in the ward, but strangely he had left sometime and wasing in with the doctor now. Young Master did a gastroscopest night. He neednt do it again, said Vic. Hows the result then? Show me.RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Crystal didnt believe it. Ill bring youter. But please let the doctor have a routine checkup for you first. For me? Crystal knitted her brows. As far as I know, Miss Smith, youve been on the move and suffered from mood swings these few days. For the health of the baby, its best to have a checkup. Vic took a look at Nathan and went on, This is the Young Masters order. You should do the checkup every day until the baby is born healthily. The female doctor in a mask came to Crystal. Miss Smith, please lie down on the bed and cooperate with the inspection, the doctor spoke. I can be better, thanks, Crystal rejected politely. But in the next second, Nathan seized her arm and pulled her onto the bed. He moved a little aside, made room for her, and stuffed a big pillow under her head. I asked the doctor to examine you, not me. Crystal looked at him with a speechless expression. Concentrate. Nathan sped her shoulders so that she could not move casually. A familiar smell that Crystal hankered haunted around her; its the exclusive smell on Nathan. Greedily inhaling his smell, Crystal fell into a moment of trance. Dont you hate this baby? Asked Crystal. From Crystals angle, she could see the perfect arc of his chin. I do, Nathan answered bluntly. Then why do you care so much about it? I dont care about it. I care about you. Nathan was always outspoken. To be frank, have you ever thought of making me miscarry it? Crystal bit her lips. I was going to do that after Eric Bush gets better. Then well make another baby of us, he told Crystal about his n honestly. His words slightly irritated Crystal, How are you going to do that? I have plenty of ways to make the baby unhealthy so that you will have to have an abortion. Hes speaking sinister words, but his eyes were extremely clean and pure, as casual as talking about todays weather. A ray of sunlight thrust through the window, the shadow of the pane sprinkled on the floor. Chapter 415: Is Seeing Me So Unhappy? Why did you tell me your wicked n? Crystal was confused. Because Ive changed my mind. Nathan turned his face to the window and gave a meaningful smile. In Crystals eyes, his smile was full of sadness. Crystal stared at him. So you dont intend to kill it now, right? Hmm. That means youre getting mature. Crystal was gratified at Nathans change. She smiled, Youre getting a little bit broad-minded. Youre wrong, Nathan raised the corner of his lips weirdly, Ill always be the jealous and selfish man youve known. I can never tolerate my beloved woman carrying another mans baby. Do you think Im a nuisance? With another mans baby in her belly, its unfair to expect Nathan to be generous or even ept the baby. Thats too selfish. Nope. I can understand, Crystal caressed her belly, but, no matter how much I owe you, its a life. You cant just kill it without discussing it with me. What do you think the oue of the discussion will be? Crystal said nothing in response. There wont be an oue, will it? Getting no answer from Crystal, Nathan pressed her. Then why are you willing to ept it now? Instead of answering, Nathan twirled a strand of her hair with fingers, greedily sensing her smell. The doctor put down the device and said to them, ording to my observation, the mother and the fetus are in good health. After five weeks of pregnancy, you can do the B ultrasound. Good. Thanks, doctor, Crystal said. After the doctor left, Nathan suddenly sat up and clung his ear to Crystals belly. Being a little stunned, Crystal inquired, What are you doing? Its only been over a month. You can hear nothing. I know. Hope it looks like you. Crystal had never thought of raising this baby. She nned to hand it over to Eric after giving birth to it as a reward for his life-risking kindness. And then, everything between them would be settled. She had even been thinking of having it aborted before the car ident. But now, once the idea came out, the scene where Ericy in the pool of blood, looking at her with dulled eyes, appeared in her mind. She would never forget the words he had said when he had been in danger: promise me carry the baby Crystal had sworn to him that she could not go back on her promise. Vic, whos guarding at the door, kept looking in the direction of the window with a weird expression. The air in the ward was grave. All of a sudden, a cell phone rang. Vic took out the cell phone, looked at Nathan while talking on the phone. After hanging up the phone, he steps closer to the bed. Young Master, your father, called and informed you that he already picked the old Mrs. Bush up, Vic reported. Crystal immediately knitted her brows, What did you say? Isnt Mrs. Bushs illness a mental worry? But, didnt your father refuse to help? Crystal stared at Nathan curiously, Did you let him change his mind? Nathan raised the corner of his lips, Otherwise? Or you can think its thanks to your husband. The words your husband sounded especially harsh whening from Nathans mouth. Ignoring his sarcasm, Crystal questioned closely, How did you get your father to agree? Crystal remembered that Amos Davis was a more stubborn man than Nathan. Aplication flickered over Nathans eyes. Ive got a lot of ways. If there are ways, why dont you help her earlier? Miss Smith, its not that easy, so Master Davis just managed to deal with it after making a lot of effort, Vic couldnt help helping Nathan out. How? You dont have to worry about this. Hope Amos Davis is really good medicine for your mother-inws illness. Nathan lowered his head, gave out a hollowugh, Shouldnt you be happy? A big problem has been solved finally. Mother-inw? Crystal repeated with her brows knitted. She could not tell whether what he had spoken today was sincere or just sarcasm. Anyway, thank you. Nathan indeed helped her solve a big worry. Thats how you always do to me, regarding me as an outsider, keeping a safe distance with me. Nathan leaned back on the big pillow and squinted at her. Nathan Davis, dont talk to me in this weird tone, please. Weird tone? Youre not you today. Crystal clenched her fists and could not help crushing her nails into her palms to suppress her emotions. It hurt. What the hell happened?! Dont you like mature men? Nathan pinched her jaw, Dont you always hate my irritability, my narrow-mindedness, my jealousy, and unreasonableness? I just want to leave you a good impression. He added. What good impression? His words were like a bolt from the blue for Crystal. Nathan frowned, arranged his mood, and said, If I can not grasp the sand, its better to let it go. Crystal Smith, if one day Eric dares bully you, just run away, Nathan looked out of the window, said without emotion. What does that mean? Is he pushing me to Eric? Crystal brain was totally nk. He always acted like that, suddenly appeared in her life, and suddenly left for no reason. Youre clever. You will surely be able to escape, Nathan said bitterly, as if talking to Crystal, but at the same time as if talking to himself. In a moment, her eyes grew moist, and her nce drooped to the ground. She had thought that she would have to escape from him again but had not expected Nathan to be the one to say goodbye first. Its probably a good ending for us; in this way, he wont have to be hurt one more time No! Thats strange. Nathan Davis would not let go of anything he wanted, and there must be something wrong! What happened? Why so abrupt? Crystal looked into his eyes. People seldom make an abrupt decision. Every decision has its reason. Theres a smile on Nathans face but coldness in his eyes. A persons heart can change gradually, Nathan added. Crystal heart seemed to miss a beat. She shook, Is that because of your stomach trouble? Im good. Dont curse me! Im not cursing you Im just worrying you. Crystal did not say thetter half. Did you hear clearly what I said? Leave yourself a retreat, Nathan warned her again. Crystal forced a smile, How do you know Eric would bully me? What if hed been nice to me all his life? I hope so. Thats the best. Heplimented after a pause, However, I still believe that in this world, except me, no one can give you a lifetime love. Nathan looked at her withplicated eyes. They were looking face to face at each other in the bed, but there seemed to be a long-distance between them. Crystal Smith, youve dumped me many times. Nathan was telling the truth. Crystal parted her lips but did not utter a word. Now, I allow you to dump me for thest time. Crystal goggled at him, her eyes at this moment were as big and round as grapes.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Unbelievable Since the day she had been with Nathan, no matter what had happened, he had never let go. If he had been so free and easy, he and Crystal would not havee this far. Still, how Nathan acted today was as if doing one thing C saying thest words. Young Master, Vic took a look at the watch and reminded him with embarrassment, Times up. As though waking up from a dream, Nathan sighed with emotion, Time really flies. With astonishment, Crystal looked at him with confusion. Where are you going? Instead of giving a direct answer, Nathan pinched her cheeks. Why are you putting up such a long face? Is seeing me so unhappy? Nathan The doubts weighed heavily on Crystals mind, she wanted to figure things out, but she suddenly lost her tongue. Chapter 416: I鈥檓 Giving Your Freedom Crystal I have to go. Nathan made an effort to say the four words and slowly loosened his hands. Subconsciously, Crystal extended her arm, trying to seize Nathans hand. But when she raised her hand, Nathan had already gotten up. Nathan took the coat from the bedside, hung it on his arm, and walked towards the door. Vic reacted quickly. He opened the door quickly and stood at the door respectfully to wait for Nathan. Nathan Davis, stop! Make things clear before you leave! In anxiety, Crystal shouted at the door. On hearing Crystals yelling, Nathan paused for a few seconds, looked at her, and smiled bitterly, Crystal Smith, I love you! He turned and immediately kept going ahead without looking back. Stop! Did you hear me!? Crystal jerked up and got off the bed, rushing to stop him before he left the ward. Tell me, are you ying hard to get? I know youre taking advantage of my love for you. Fine, what do you want to force me to do this time? Im giving your freedom Crystal, Tears streamed fast from Crystals eyes. She wiped it off with the back of her hands and said, You win, you win this time! However, no matter what she said and how hard she cried, Nathan stayed motionlessly. Its just that his sights grew deeper and deeper. You win, and I lose. Are you happy with that? You win again! Crystal continued yelling at him. As long as Nathan yed hard to get or sympathy-getting ploy, Crystal knew she would definitely lose, and so did Nathan. Thus, Crystal believed that this must be his trick. Crystal would rather believe its a well-designed scam; she would rather believe that hes lying to her. Gazing at Crystal without even blinking his eyes, Nathan was now as stiff as a poker. Say something! Crystal looked at him with hopelessness in her eyes, Please, say something! Dont look at me like that. Do you hear me? I will stay with you. Ill listen to you, Ill only be with you from now on, okay? Please, dont treat me like this Nathan eventually opened his mouth. I dont understand what youre talking about, his voice was as cold as ice. To Nathans surprise, Crystal suddenly pounced upon him, tightly holding him with her arms. Say that youre lying to me, say it! Or do you have any difficulties? Difficulties? You have too much imagination, Nathan held her shoulders and pushed her away, what kind of difficulties do you think I have? Is it your illness? Is it getting serious? Do you think were making a film? You lied to me! Why do you still lie to me at this point? Why dont you tell me the truth?! What truth? Your stomach Nathans expression suddenly altered, but luckily Crystal did not see it. Yes, I lied to you. But Im sorry to let you down, it has nothing to do with my health. Im better than ever. Crystal looked up at him with eyes misty with tears, failing to say a word for a moment. Yes, its all a ploy. Im still furious that you abandoned me again and again, I have to let you try this knife-stabbing pain that Ive suffered many times. You can lie to me, so can I lie to you. Tears began to spill out of Crystals eyes again. It feels bad, huh? Nathan smiled cruelly and evilly, Remember, this is the exact way you hurt me. Do you think I, Nathan Davis, is someone who can be trampled time after time by the same woman? And do you think I woulde back to you like a poodle you abandoned, licking your shoes as if nothing happened? Nathan pinched her chin, In your eyes, am I so stupid? So, are saving Eric and being nice to me all a part of your revenge ploy? Nathan Davis, do you even believe your own words? Yes, thats the truth. I hope you can taste the bitterness of falling from heaven to hell, just as I did. Crystal didnt reply, but her eyes did not move away from Nathan for a second. The smile on Nathans face was so fake, so hollow. Looking at Crystal tearful cheeks, Nathan frowned tightly, You look really ugly when you cry. Dont cry in front of other men. However, Crystal cried harder and uglier. She had never cried before in this uncontrolled, hopeless way. No need for Nathans reminds, she could think of how ugly she looked now. Tears and nasal mucus were pasted all over her face, and hair was also stuck on her cheeks. She wasnt willing to leave Nathan, she could tolerate living without him for the rest of her life. But she was afraid that Nathan was hiding something from her and more fearful that the hidden truth was about his stomach trouble. Let go of me. I have to leave. Nathan pushed her away, brushed away the tears that Crystal left on his chest, with a disgusted expression on his face. As he made a step to leave, Crystal blocked in his way once more. You you lied lied to me Crystal shook with long, racking sobs. Believe it or not.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Nathan, I beg you. Please do not do this to me. Tell me the truth, okay? I know youre not that kind of person. Dont think you know me well? Do you think youre the only choice for me? You dont deserve my love, Nathan tried to free his arm from Crystals grasps, you dont deserve it! Crystal tightened her grasp at him. She knew that Nathan could easily throw her away if he exerted some strength, but he didnt. Hes afraid of hurting her and the baby. Im not going to pester you. I just want to know the truth. Tell me, and Ill let you go. Ive told you already, its just that you dont believe me. Do you want to hear something more hateful from me? Nathans evil and scaring smile reflected in Crystals eyes. Your look makes me feel fulfilled. It seems that my revenge on you achieves great sess. Nathan Davis, what you are doing is just making me sadder. As Crystal spoke, tears began to spill out of her eyes again and fell down on Nathans palm drop by drop. I know youre trying to make me less guilty and sad, but it would just have the opposite effect. Nathan squinted fiercely, jerked up to push her away, but not fiercely. Yet, Crystal stretched out her arms to encircle his waist. Nathan, I didnt intend to let this child live at the beginning. But Eric has saved my life over and over again, and when hey in the pool of blood, he said his only wish was me keeping the child. Ive promised him, so I have to give birth to it healthily, but after that, Ill hand it over to the Bush family and leave him. At this moment, Nathans figure froze again. I know that youre lying, otherwise, why did you help Mrs. Bush before you left? Why did you save Eric? Why did you tell me to find a route of retreat and ask me those inexplicable questions? Crystal stared at him with a sneer, Do you think Im such a fool? Nathan, however, looked at her motionlessly, without saying a word. Suddenly, Crystal grabbed his cor, tiptoed to lift herself, and kissed Nathan on his lips. She forgot herself, kissed Nathan wildly with her heart cramping. Her trembling lips and tongue managed to part Nathans lips, tears slid into their mouths. However, the next second, she was being pushed hard away cruelly. She staggered a few steps back and almost fell on the floor. With loathing on his face, Nathan wiped his mouth, smoothed his crooked cor, and warned, Mrs. Bush, if you keep pestering me, youll regret it. I have the right to know your health condition, Crystal said. Why? Are you my wife? My love? Or my lover? Youre afraid of being found out, so you dont dare to show me your report. All right. I wont stop you if you have to see. Youll cheat, Crystal interrupted him. Do you know how cheap you are? Nathan suddenly gave Crystal a sly and weird smile. When I came back to you, you wanted to run away; when I wanted to leave you, you cling on to me. Do you always like to y hard-to-get with men? Chapter 417: Take Me To Him His words made Crystal shiver. Nathan straightened up, strode forward again. This time, before Crystal tried to stop him, Nathanmanded, Stop her. Vic could only follow the order, stepped in front of Crystal, Miss Smith, please stay. Vic, tell me. Does he have something hiding from me? He has never been like this. Vics eyes were as deep as the sea. Miss Smith, just leave Master Davis alone. He has given your freedom, Crystal remembered that Vic had said the same thingst night. You asked me to pick him upst night, and I should have done that, right? As if catching a life-saving straw, Crystal was reluctant to let go of Vic. She pressed, Did something happen at that time? Miss Smith Vic wanted to say something, but atst just left two words, Im sorry. On finishing speaking, Vic went out of the ward to catch up with Nathan. Vic, stop! I have the right to know, Crystal did not give up. Vic took a nce at Nathan, who had already walked far away, said in a low voice, Miss Smith has my phone number, dont you? Hmm If anything happens, Ill contact you, Vic spoke a little awkwardly, lets call it a day. Young Master has made up his mind, if you keep obsessed with the truth, Im afraid itll be bad for your health. Crystal bit her lips and nodded. Eventually, Vic left with Nathan. The ward fell into a horrible stillness. Deep sorrow surrounded Crystal. She fixed her eyes at Nathans figure until it disappeared before her eyes. Crystal felt her brain was running out of oxygen. Predicting that she was going to fall down immediately, she squatted down slowly with her hand holding the door. As expected, her body softened and copsed on the floor in the next second. Soon after, a passing nurse found her. Hey, Miss. Are you all right? The nurse got no answer and hurriedly shouted, Anyone around? Help! Someones fainted. Crystal was blurred of consciousness but could still vaguely hear the noise. Gradually, she heard the sound of waves, one after another. She seemed to return to the Vi Beverly, returning to the days when she had just met Nathan. She seemed to smell the camellias, and a sea of camellias appeared in front of her. Crystal slightly opened her eyes, a burst of sunlight thrust in, bringing dreamy light into the room. Lying on the bed on the manor, she stretched her fingers to block the sunshine. Theres a figure leaning against the railing on the balcony, with his back to her. Is this a dream? Or my fantasy? Nathan, is that you? Crystal asked. Her heart was hanging, beating violently. Hurriedly, she stood up and got off the bed, wanting to walk closer to him, but the distance between them instantly became further The closer Crystal walked towards him, the farther the distance between them became. Nathan, dont go. Dont leave me Crystal elerated, her paces became faster and faster. The road was full of gravel and broken ss, stinging her feet. Nathan, I was wrong Its all my fault Crystal kept talking to the disappearing figure. Being exhausted, she finally fell to the ground. The gravel and broken ss punctured her skin, blood streamed from the wounds. Still, she climbed up and went on staggering, dare not stop for a second. Nathan Nathan Davis! She exerted all her strength to yell at him, but the man seemed not to hear her. Nathan! With a loud shouting, Crystal woke up from her dream. The servant sitting by the bed immediately stood up. Miss Smith, are you all right? She asked with concern. It had been a month since Nathan had disappeared. Whenever Crystal called Vic, she could only hear the voice notification of his phone shutting down. Its impossible that Vic would turn off his cell phone. He had always kept his phone on for 24 hours a day and stood by at any time. Crystal wiped the sweat on her forehead, picked up her phone, and dialed Vics number again. Sure enough, Vics phone was still off. The dream made Crystal break out in a sweat. She got off the bed, walked slowly to the window to take a breath of the fresh air. A cool breeze blew over, Crystals hair fluttering with the wind. She looked at the distant sky, murmuring, Nathan, where on earth are you now? Miss Smith. Its cool outside, dont open the window, or its easy to catch a cold. And your hairs are even wet with sweat. It would be easy to get a headache after you grow older, the servant reminded her kindly. As the servant spoke, she went up to Crystal. Crystal took a strange look at her, scaring the servant to step back at her pace. She looked along Crystals arm, astonishingly finding a knife in Crystals hand. **** Half an hourter, a dozen luxury cars roared in the street, with aggressive and frightening momentum, straight ahead to the hospital.RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only At this time, Crystal was sitting in front of the dresser and putting on makeup peacefully. The cars rushed into the hospital, stirring up horrible air. Looking at herself in the mirror, Crystal smiled with satisfaction and finally applied her lipstick. Covering the paleness and woebegone with cosmetics, she now looked as energetic as she had used to be. As soon as the cars stopped in front of the hospital building, the bodyguards got off the cars and lined in a row neatly, then galloped upstairs in uniform steps. The nurses and patients along the way were frightened. The scene looked exactly like a gangster film. With a loud bang, two bodyguards stormed through the door of Crystals room. In less than a minute, the whole ward was upied by bodyguards. Crystal put down theb calmly, cheered herself up, smiled, and said, You finallye. Surrounded by bodyguards, Vic walked into the ward. Seeing Crystal sitting in front of the dresser safe and sound, Vic couldnt help knitting his brows. Yes. I threatened the servant and forced her to make that call to cheat you here, Crystal spoke first. Wheres he? Crystal looked behind Vic and asked. Young Master didnte with me, Vic answered. Dont try to lie to me. Miss Smith, you carry it too far this time Vic couldnt help ming her. A bodyguard pulled out the servant, who was tightly bound with a rope from the bathroom. Hmm hmm the servants mouth was blocked with a towel and was shaking her head in horror. Half an hour ago, Crystal had threatened the servant with a knife and a bottle of sulfuric acid, which was actually water, and tied her up. Crystal knew that the servant always kept closely in touch with Vic and reported to Vic after Crystal fell asleep every night. Only to ensure the safety of Crystal would Nathan rest assured. And tonight, the maid had suddenly called Vic, saying that Crystal had slipped down when in the bath and had been severely bleeding. The fetus had miscarried, and even Crystal had been in danger Moreover, she had even said that Crystal had refused to receive the treatment and had been likely to die. Crystal stood up and walked up to Vic, inquired with great momentum, If hes taking revenge on me, why does he assign servants to protect me? The lines of Vics face hardened. And why do youe for me as soon as you know about me in danger? Why does he care about my life? Crystal went on questioning. Miss Smith! Vic, Im not a fool. What happened to Nathan? Tell me. As a servant, I have to listen to order. I dare not talk about or interfere in the Young Masters personal affairs. Now that Ms. Smith is alright, I have to leave. Please take care. Stop! Shouted Crystal. A knife somehow appeared on Crystals hand. Take me to him, Crystal threatened Vic. Vic shouted in a low voice, obviously suppressing his emotion, Miss Smith, what on earth are you going to do? Crystal put the knife on his neck, sneered, Call him now, and tell him toe over right now. Take the knife away, as soon as Vic gave an order, several bodyguards pounced at Crystal to snatch the knife on her hand. Crystal stepped back a few steps, put the knife closely against her neck Blood flowed from her fair neck. Vic was shocked, he hadnt expected Crystal to really cut herself. Chapter 418: You Really Hurt Me If one of youes any closer to me, the knife will be inside my neck, Crystal gave the bodyguard sharp eyes. The bodyguards dared not move and could only look at Vic in a dilemma. Vic heaved a sigh, Just back off. Miss Crystal, please put down the knife. Ill take you to Young Master. In fact, Crystals hand that was holding the knifes handle was sweating. She took a light sigh, being happy for the victory. She knew she would seed because she knew well about Nathan. He always cared about her safety. Vic, Crystal slowly put down her hand, you should know my temper. Youre creating difficulties for me, Miss Smith. Vic looked grave. You should know what I mean to your young master. Whatever happened to him, it will only do him good, not bad for you to tell me. Vic nodded. Fine, I should tell you. He asked the bodyguard to let go of the servant and asked the servant to stem the bleeding and disinfect Crystals wound, and directed all the bodyguards out. Miss Smith, you should know how much the Young Master cares about you. No matter what happens in the future, dont do this silly thing again. exhorted Vic. Its thest way I could think of So, can you tell me now? Fixing his eyes at the mirror, Vic started to exin with hesitation, Young masters stomach trouble kept deteriorating and was already very serious. The doctor warned him many times that if he did not receive recuperation in the hospital, theres a great possibility that it would lead to cancer. Vic sighed before going on, Its a pity that the young master is stubborn and did not listen to anyones advice. Crystals mind went nk in an instant. She hadnt found that Nathans illness was that serious Although what Vic said was not surprising to her, hearing the cruel result in person, her heart was in pain, and every bone ached. That night, when he heavily drank at the club, he coughed blood and finally fainted on the sofa. I found something wrong only in the middle of the night and broke into the room Im the reason why he drank Its my fault Crystal clutched the clothes tightly in front of her chest. Nathan had gotten a stomach problem because of her, and the problem deteriorated again and again because of her. At that time, I guessed that the young masters illness hadpletely deteriorated. Afraid that he did not listen to me, I called you and wanted you toe over. But before I finished my words, the young master woke up. Crystal now understood, no wonder Vics tone had been so weird that time. Crystals face grew paler and paler, she clenched her fists and dug her nails into her flesh. Young master does not let me tell you about it, Vic paused, its terminal cancer, hes afraid that you cant stand it. Crystal took a deep breath. Even now, he wasnt afraid to die but afraid that she could not bear the truth. What does the doctor say? Crystal asked.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. The doctor suggests cutting most of the stomach off and then receiving the chemotherapy. Hows the possibility of curing it? Very little. Trying hard to suppress her trembling voice, Crystal asked in a low voice, Which hospital is he in now? Young master refuses to undergo surgery. Thats the key to the problem. Why?! If he doesnt have the operation, hell probably live for one year or two, but if the operation fails, hell only have two months left. So?! Vic sighed again and continued, And if he receives the operation and treatment, he will have to be inserted with a stomach tube, take infusion, and eat liquid food every day. However, if he doesnt, he can spend this one or two years in the way he wants, such as going wherever he wants and eating whatever he likes. Can you understand that? Miss Smith. But only if he has the surgery will he have a chance to live, Crystal murmured. Theres only a slim chance, Vic shook his head, no one wants to lie in bed waiting to die. Especially a haughty king like Nathan. Crystals heart seemed to be torn by something and was about to be torn into pieces. Her eyes were as empty as a doll, and a feeling of suffocation welled up to her. Is there no other way? We can contact the best doctor abroad or do stomach transnts. The general treatment is to cut off a part of the stomach, then the rest will grow out itself; if the patient has to remove all the stomach, the gut can also serve as the stomach to absorb food. But if cancer metastasis has happened, things will worsen rapidly. Crystal clenched her fists so hard that her palms oozed blood. What should we do? She murmured, Is there any other way? At present, only surgery and chemotherapy can help. But ording to statistics, only 2% of people in the world can be so lucky. 2% Crystal repeated. The terrifying number left Crystal in fear and despair. Wheres he now? Im going to see him. Quick, take me to see him. I can take you to the young master. But, can Miss Smith grant me a request? Vic said in a low voice, Please. What is it? Can you not bring up his disease in front of him? Are you asking me to watch him die and do nothing?! Crystal choked with a sob. No one can change his mind. You know him well, dont you? He has made up his mind this time. The truth exined why Nathan had done so much for her, helped her solve all the difficulties, and helped her think about her future Hes ready to leave her forever. Tears welled up in Crystals eyes again. The cars with bodyguards left the hospital, the servant who carried the first aid kit followed too. An hourter, they drove into the Vi Beverly. Crystal had never expected that Nathan would move back there. The vi was lit with warm lights, everything in it was the same as before when Crystal had still lived here. Crystals heart tightened. Its cold outside, so there was a fire burning in the firece, making the whole room glow with warmth. Young master is on the second floor, Vic reminded her in a low voice. Crystal went upstairs, gently opened the door with the key. Everything was unchanged, nor the door lock changed. As soon as she pushed open the door, an extremely pungent smell of wine blew on her face. Crystal took a look at the maid behind her and said, Just wait at the door, no need toe in. The maid looked at Vic for instruction. Vic nodded but warned Crystal, Young Master drank a lot. Hes irrational now. If anything happens, shout or ring the bell. The maid will guard at the door. I see. On finishing answering Vic, Crystal quickly closed the door. Tears started from her eyes again. She lifted her hand and wiped it away. She hissed, you idiot! Why do you still drink, youre severely sick There were a few whiskey bottles on the bed. Nathan was lying beside them with his clothes and shoes on and a bottle of unfinished whiskey in his hand. After a month, he seemed to be wanner and sallower. Ive made him so haggard, its all my fault. I must have been his mortal enemy in a previous life she thought. While ming herself, Crystal picked up the bottles and threw them into a trash can, and then tried to take the bottle in Nathans hand. Yet, Nathan grasped the bottle so hard that Crystal could not pull it out. Theres a ring on his pale finger, the same as that of Crystal. Seeing that, Crystal could hardly breathe. She sniffed back a tear, pulled the bottle with force, and shouted in a low voice, Nathan Davis, let go! Wake up Nathan Do you forget your stomach problem? Why do you drink again Why do you have to torture me like this? This is the most ruthless revenge. You really hurt me! Crystal muttered to herself in a choked voice. Chapter 419: Who Told You To Come In When they had been together, they had always quarreled. She had thought that separation was the best relief for each other, but after parting, both of them fell into unlimited pain. Atst, Crystal managed to force the bottle out of his hand. She poured all the whiskey into the toilet but somehow lost all her strength and squatted down and sobbed, holding the toilet. What shall I do?. Nathan was very stubborn, he would not be willing to spend the rest life on treatment. Besides, even if Crystal seeded in persuading him to receive the surgery, the surgery might not be sessful. Nevertheless, Crystal quickly wiped her tears and stood up. She could not be defeated; it was the most critical time for Nathan. She went out of the bathroom and walked back to the bed but found a pair of deep pupils staring at her. Her heart skipped a beat. The two affectionate pairs of eyes met, even the air became thinner. Crystal remained motionless for a while before parting her lips as if she was losing her soul. Youre awake. Nathans brows were tightly knitted. He supported himself up slowly and wanted to get off the bed. Crystal hurried to walk to the bed, pressed his shoulders with force to stop him. Youre heavily drunk. Get some sleep. I want to talk with you after you wake up. But the next second, Nathan dragged her to the bedside, looking at her with deep eyes, unbelieving her appearance. Crystal held his face with his hands, whispering, Nathan, I miss you. Only being watched by him made her obsessed and suffocated. His stubble pricked her palm. His disheveled hair was covered with sweat. The feeling was so real. Suddenly, Nathan leaned over her and kissed her on the lips. The strong smell of alcohol rushed straight to Crystals mouth. Its the smell she was familiar with. Only when hugged by Nathan, she feelplete at this moment. Nathan kissed her frantically, like an irrational beast. Failing to push him away, Crystal could only be at his mercy. She could not speak either because of being blocked by Nathans lips.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. He kissed her madly as if recounting the missing and love to Crystal. Suddenly, Nathan identally touched the wound on her neck, and Crystal could not help eximing in pain. Crystals softly screaming made Nathan stiff in an instant. He supported himself up with elbows on the bed, staring at the wound on the neck with bleary red eyes. He seemed to regain a little consciousness. Its me, Crystal said gently with love. Nathan She sniffed her nose, said in a strangled voice, its my bad. My love is selfish. I should not just want to protect myself. Dont drive me away this time, okay? I wont leave you anymore. Are you listening to me? Instead of answering her, Nathan suddenly lost his strength and pressed down again. His body was burning. Tears rolled in Crystals eyes and finally streamed down. Sure enough, he was drunk and unconscious. Luckily only the upper body was pressed. She tried to move and sneak out from Nathans arms, but a big palm suddenly seized her wrist again. Crystal closed her eyes, smoothed Nathans sweaty hair with the other hand. The pungent smell of the alcohol did not make her ufortable but calmed her instead. Perhaps she had cried too long, her eyes were swollen and could not open. Smelling the familiar smell of Nathan, Crystal gradually fell asleep. In the morning, Warm sunshine streamed into the room from the window, glowing half the room. Last night, Crystal had been awakened several times by his vomiting and had been busy patting his back, passing water to him, and wiping his face with a towel. Finally, she had fallen into bed, face to face with Nathan, exhausted with toil. Exhausted, Crystal and Nathan both fell into bed, facing each other. So when she woke up the next day, she opened her eyes and saw Nathans quiet sleeping face. She could not help reaching out her hand and touching his face with her fingers. Her eyes grew soft and deep. She desperately suppressed her feelings for him in the past, afraid of losing herself because of love. She was always trying to get away from him. However, she did not intend to leave herself any way out. Her hand brushed his forehead, and his eyebrows, his eyes, slid down his nose to his delicate thin lips. She rubbed her fingers against the parched lips, and suddenly a hand seized her fingers. Nathans eyes, deep as the ocean, opened. Crystals eyes were dry. She tried to pull herself together and smiled. Youre awake? You drank a lotst night. Do you feel ill? She had cried so muchst night that her eyes were still swollen, and her smile was dry. Nathans arms stiffened, and his face was pale. She leaned over and kissed the bridge of his high nose. Nathan felt like being electrocuted and threw her hand away. The expression on his face was still vacant. You can sleep awhile. You drank so much winest night. Ill go downstairs and get a bowl of sober soup. Crystal got up and got out of bed. Crystal. A deep, rich voice rang out. Whats the matter? Crystal looked back. Who told you toe in? It was as if a murderous air had spread through him. Have you forgotten? You drank a lot of alcohol yesterday and sent bodyguards to fetch me from the hospital. Crystal stared at him, wide-eyed. You said you missed me, and you wanted to see me immediately. You said you wanted me to stay with you. You said you wanted to be with me forever. Crystal made up a white lie, and if she didnt, Nathan would probably kick her out immediately. She could not go when he needed her most now. Even if he wanted to drive her away, she couldnt. And you said What did I say? Crystal was stared at by Nathans stern gaze, trembling somewhat. She took a heavy breath and said, you told me your stomach trouble worsened. Gastric cancer. But she couldnt dare say the word. The air froze as she uttered these words. Nathan had a splitting headache and a ferocious expression of desperate grief. His eyes were like rays, shooting her heart into a thousand holes. You told me everything, so I know it. She tried to take a breath, her voice shaking. Nathan hung his head and said nothing. When you told mest night, you promised me youd have good treatment. Crystal calmly walked back to the bed and took his hand. Dont be afraid, she said. Ill always be there for you. Nathan stared at Crystal in surprise. What else did I say? Crystal paused. You said a lot. Ill make you a hangover soup downstairs and tell you all about it. Crystal soothed him and took a deep breath. Suddenly, a burst of pain in her shoulder and a pair ofrge palms were pressed against hers. Crystal, how dare you lie to me? Nathan leaned his nose close to her. Chapter 420: Don鈥檛 Touch Me Im not lying to you. Crystal was quick to deny. Thats all you said. The room is monitored. Ill find out what I saidst night. Crystals heart sank. When did he get into the monitoring habit? He stood up, his head aching from the hangover, and walked toward the bed with his forehead pressed down. He knew that he wouldnt get Crystal toe even if he were drunk. He wouldnt let here, even if he was crazy about her, because he didnt want her to be upset or sympathetic. Never! Even if he had a bleeding stomach for half a month, he never lost his mind and sent someone to find Crystal. As for telling Crystal about his illness, that was even less likely. Thest one in the world he wanted to tell was her. With a dark ache in his heart, Nathan kicked off the chair at his feet. All the books on the chair were overturned on the floor. Crystal followed him, watching him stagnate as he seemed to fall, and hurried to hold his arm. Crystal touched him, but he shook her off. Dont touch me. He seemed to have shaken off the thing that most disgusted him. Nathan threw his big hand, and themp rattled on the table onto the carpet. Crystal silently picked up themp and set it aside. Her tears slid down without warning. She did not know what courage it had taken to stand here. Crystal looked at him, bewildered in front of him for the first time. She was a woman of discretion. If Nathan really didnt like her or want her, she wouldnt be annoying enough to stay here. But she knew she was Nathans hope for treatment. She couldnt let go of him. Nathan, what do you suspect? Whether you told me or not, I know. How much longer are you going to pretend? Nathan! Crystals hands and feet were cold. She had never felt so sad. Nathan ignored her, kicked the study door open. He swept the stuff on the desk down, turned on theputer, and got the monitor out ofst night. Stop it! Crystal grabbed his mouse. You must receive treatment now, do you know? Im the cause of your illness. I made you this way. Crystal seemed to use all her strength when she said these words. If anything happens to you, Ill never feel better. Nathan threw her hand away and continued to fast-forward with his mouse, looking forst nights footage. The light of theputer hit him in the face. She felt that he had never been so far away from her. Nathan! Shut up! He pressed his head against the pain. Crystal trembled in her heart and turned to the window. She opened the window and looked out at the cloudy sky. She gasped. The repression in her heart could not be expressed, but she could only shed tears and could not say a word. She didnt know what to do or where tomorrow would be. She was so afraid of tomorrow for the first time, for she did not know which one woulde first, misfortune or tomorrow. She took a deep breath and finally stopped crying. You didnt say anything yesterday. Ill go down and make you some sobering soup now. Crystal said in a hoarse voice, but Nathan didnt even look at her, just nervously controlling theputer. Crystal smiled wryly. Did he have a secret he was afraid to tell her? He was so nervous about what he saidst night. She knew he was badly ill. Was there anything else about him that she was not supposed to know? Crystal walked out of the study in silence and identally kicked afoot. The servant squatted in the doorway, asleep with a first-aid kit under her. Crystal, not wanting to wake her, ducked and went downstairs. She went into the kitchen, cooked a bowl of noodle soup, and fried a heart-shaped poached egg floating on it. She lowered her wet eyshes. What she had done for him and what she could do for him was too limited. Crystal carried the tray and saw that the corridor on the second floor of the stairs was full of servants and bodyguards kneeling. Suddenly she felt bad. What happened? she asked. The young master had a fit of rage, and now he is going to punish Vic. Did he finish watching the surveince tape? Did he know that Vic brought her in? Suddenly a shot rang out. Crystal handed the tray to the servant and opened the door. Nathan had already put on his clothes, revealing a sexy chest in a dark V-neck sweater and lounging in bed. He was holding a pistol.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. A tie masked his firm and cold face. What a pity it missed again. His lips curled coldly. Vic was shot in the right arm, and the clothes were stained red with blood. Nathan, stop it. What are you doing? Crystal said angrily. How could you do this to him? When he has done wrong, he should be punished. Thats my principle. Nathan aimed the gun at Vic. Vic covered his arm with one hand and did not move. Crystal strode over to Vic. Dont you know to hide? Hes mad, and youre mad too? Miss Smith, please get out of the way. No. I wont. Crystal turned to Nathan coldly. Didnt you say that anyone who does something wrong should be punished? I forced Vic to bring me here. Go ahead! Shoot me! Nathan, you coward, you dont even have the courage to live. What right do you have to punish others? Nathan coldly took off his tie and pointed the gun at Crystals crock. You think I cant hit him because youre in my way? If you dont go, Ill make holes in him. Nathan said savagely, Hands, legs, chest, belly, head Crystal stared nkly at Nathan in disbelief. He didnt even let Vic go? Ill fire one on the count of three. He raised the corners of his lips leisurely. Crystal bit her lip hard and said, Ok, Ill go. Dont embarrass Vic again. As soon as you do one thing, Ill go. Crystal walked over to the coffee table, picked up a cup, and poured a cup of water. And then, she picked up an empty cup and walked over to Nathan. They were close together. Crystal handed him the water ss. Nathan frowned and took the cup. Crystal took out a Swiss Army knife, which she kept on for her own protection. She pulled up her sleeve and put the de on her wrist. What are you going to do? Ill give you two choices. If you drink water, Ill stay and apany you for treatment. No matter how it turns out in the end, I will stay with you until thest minute. Crystal tried to smile. Theres another cup, which will be filled with my blood. If you choose this one, Ill go. And, of course, Ill never see you again. She smiled bleakly and took hold of the knife with such force that as she was about to pull it down, Nathan kicked it out of her hand with an urate kick. Chapter 421: There鈥檚 No Reason Why Crystal! Nathans eyes were horribly red. You know my condition, but you dont know. His voice broke. I dont know what? Finish your sentences! Why did he try so hard to push her away? Nathan turned away coolly. If you stay with me like this, you will die. Is it because of your father, Mr. Amos Davis? Nathan looked at her with surprise at how quickly she could guess. Crystal held his face in her hands and asked, Did he not allow us to see each other? He wants you to marry Mabel? Miss Smith, Vic began atst, youe to see the young master. If Mr. Amos Davis finds out, he will not let you go. Sure enough, he turned her down because he was worried about her. No matter how hard you drive me away, I wont leave you. Crystal tried to take a breath, her voice trembling. I want to give you back everything I owe you. I want to cook for you, knit a scarf, read books for you, understand your emotions and make you happy when you are unhappy Nathan had a dark, painful light in his eyes. I am not afraid of Amos. I am afraid of being away when you are in pain. Crystal knew she would keep asking, and Nathan wouldnt answer. She might as well ask Vic when she gets a chance. He would tell her for Nathans sake. Nathan, do you hear me? I am not at all afraid of death. I am afraid that I have done nothing of what I promised you. Nathan finally raised his longshes and stared at her. But Im scared. You dont want me to die, to be hurt, to be sad, to be heartbroken. But did it ever ur to you that I feel the same way about you? Crystal said, taking him by the hand to her te. Will you eat it yourself, or shall I feed you? Nathan frowned. He seemed to have made some arbitrary decisions, and his expression was indifferent. Crystal sat next to him, rolled up a little spaghetti with her fork, and fed it. Will you have some? Theres not much chance Ill cook for you. Nathan hesitated for a moment, then went into the bathroom and washed his face. Crystal remembered the hangover soup. She went to the door and brought it in. When he finished, she handed it to him. Drink the hangover soup first. Dont drink anymore. Its bad for your stomach. Nathan took it coldly and gulped it down. He finally ate her spaghetti, but he didnt let Crystal feed him. He ate without looking at Crystal during the whole process. Crystal helped him clean up his room and picked up his dirty suit shirt on the floor. After breakfast, Ill wash it for you. His clothes were picked up by her, with a strong smell of alcohol. Theres a big smell of alcohol. You have it on you, too. Havent you taken a bath for several days? Nathan didnt say anything. After you get out of the shower and put on clean clothes, shall I take you somewhere? Im not going to the hospital. Please perish the thought. Nathan finally spoke. Crystal paused and then asked, Why? There is no reason why. Nathan, treatment is your only chance of survival. Crystal. Nathan looked coldly at her. Who do you think you are? You werent there when I needed you. Why do youe back when I dont need you? These words pierced Crystals heart like a sharp knife. You are wrong. You need me now when you need me most. Dont even try to provoke me to leave. Nathan sneered. Why the hell are you doing that for? You used to say that my love was overbearing, and it was a burden for you. But you are a burden to me now. Crystal felt a pain in her heart and finally realized how hurtful it was to say that to him.RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only No matter how much you criticize me or scold me, I will not leave. Let out all your dissatisfaction and hatred if you think it will make you feel better. Nathan stared coldly down at the watch on his wrist. I dont need you to dictate to me. But this time, you must listen to me. Nathans voice grew colder. Im sick and dying, and youe back to me? Do you pity me? What makes you think so? You havent taken the initiative to stay with me every time. If I hadnt pushed you, again and again, you would probably have run away. It was true. This time, Crystal was speechless. So you wouldnt havee back if you hadnt thought I was going to die? No, I I dont want your sympathy and pity. His eyes fell cold upon her. It wasnt sympathy, and it wasnt pitying. Crystal knew that such denial would only seem so feeble. Crystal, Nathan suddenly went pale and put his hand on his stomach. The next second, he spat out more than half of the noodles he had just eaten, still holding blood. Crystal hurried up behind him and pped him on the back, handing him tissues. Are you better? Nathan coldly knocked her handoff. He didnt need anyones pity, least of all Crystals. He felt that he had never lived so pathetically and that the woman he loved had to worry about him. Crystal wiped the blood from his mouth with a paper towel and then rang the bell for the servants to clean up the dirty floor. Ill give you a bath, and then Ill take you to the doctor. Crystal pulled him by the arm. Come on, get up! Nathan sat motionlessly. Youll be alright. If you get active treatment, its not toote. As long as you dont give up, youll be fine. Get up! Nathan remained unimpressed. Crystal picked up a mirror. Look at yourself now. Nathan was sullen. Hasnt your hair been washed for days? And you smell of alcohol and sweat. Crystal stared at him. Havent you always been a neat freak? Can you stand the heavy smell? Even if you drive me away, you want me to see the best of you. Thats what you said. Crystal said, heartbroken. Do you want me to think of you like this? Nathans back was noticeably stiff. Crystal knew that he was very image-conscious with her, Everyone wanted to make themselves beautiful for their lovers. Lets go! Crystal tugged at his arm. This time Nathan finally got up. But at the moment into the bathroom, he stopped her with his big hand outside. He mmed the bathroom door shut and locked it. This action was harsh for Crystal. Before, he would have tried to get her to wait on him, wanting to spend every second with her. And now, he was trying to distance himself from her. Crystal wondered if Nathan left her this time, how would she find him again. She turned to look at Nathans soiled clothes. She rummaged through the clothes and found his cell phone. Crystal listened to the sound of watering from the bathroom and quickly tapped a program that monitored the location of the phone. Whenever Nathan had his phone with him, she knew where he was. He used to use a bracelet to keep track of where she was. Now their roles were suddenly reversed. Now wherever he ran, she would follow him. Chapter 422: Let Me Do It With You After the software was installed, Crystal cleared all traces of surfing the Inte. Then she turned to make Nathans bed and took the sheets off. When she changed the pillowcase, she found two bumps inside the pillow. When she pulled it out, she found two cloth dolls. There were ck and white stripes on the mans neck and a small ck bow tie, and the other one was striped in various colors and wore a corkscrew crown on her head. The bathroom door opened. A dense mist diffused from the inside. Nathan came out in a white bathrobe, his beard shaved and his face washed. He was not as decadent and untidy as before, and he was clean. Only his eyes were still bloodshot because of alcohol. Crystal straightened up, holding both cloth dolls, and exined. They fell out when I was changing your pillowcase. Nathans face suddenly changed, and his brow tightened. Crystal asked tentatively. Why are you so nervous? You didnt make this yourself, did you? Nathans face grew colder. Put it down! he snapped. I didnt think you could do all this sewing. Besides, you did a good job. I told you to put you down! Why are you so angry? Why was his reaction so strong? Intuition told her that there must be a secret inside the two dolls that he didnt want to tell. I tell you to put it down. Dont you understand? The more he did this, the more skeptical Crystal became. Besides, he was only a paper tiger now in her eyes. Crystal pressed the dolls body down. Nathans voicees out dramatically. There is always someone in a mans life who has broken his principles, changed his liking, and be his irreceable presence. Crystal, I know its unwise to love someone with all your heart, but thats the only way I know how. I know the stitch is clumsy. But do you like it? Was this for her? Crystal pressed her lips. Did you make this for me? I love it. The next second, a big hand pulled the doll out of her hand. Crystal saw that Nathans face was dark. Dont touch my stuff. Without a trace of emotion, he continued, Didnt Miss Smith say that we should respect other peoples privacy? But its for me. I didnt say that. You said it on the tape. You asked me if I liked it. Well, I do, very much, she said brazenly. Nathan twitched his jaw. I just asked you if you liked it, he said. I didnt say it was for you. Nathan, you definitely want to give it to me. Nathan, irritated, tossed the dolls into the trash bin. Crystals heart, too, seemed to have been thrown in. Pale as a sheet, she tried to pick it up, but a tremendous tug pulled the back of her hand. Nathan snarled, ring at her. Dont pick it up! How long are you going to keep this up? Crystal put her arms around him, her eyes wet with tears. Do you know how much my heart aches when you treat me like this? Nathan sneered. How much does it hurt? The big tree in the heart has been uprooted. You tell me how much it hurts. Nathan froze. The water drops of his wet hair fell on her face. She raised her face and stroked his profile. The stitches are clumsy, but theyre for me. I really like them. With that, she rose on tiptoe, trembling, trying to kiss him. His face slid away. Her lips brushed his face, and he finally kissed the cold air. Crystal smiled wryly and said, I ignored your pain before, but now I want to taste it all. Nathan gave Adams apple a hard roll. Crystal broke out of his arms, went to the trash can, and picked up the dolls. Fortunately, the servant just cleaned the house. A new bag reced the trash can. It was very clean. Crystal dusted the dust off the dolls. Nathans lips moved, and eventually, he didnt say anything. He turned his face looking out of his window, his fists sped tightly and his veins protruding faintly. He should send her directly out or leave immediately from here, preferably never seeing her. The longer she stayed, the less he could bear to separate her. But his feet couldnt move. Nathan felt like there was a huge mountain on his chest and couldnt say a word. Crystal went over and took him by the hand. Be sure to dry your hair after washing, or youll get a headache when you get old, she said. Nathan ignored her. Shall I blow-dry your hair? She took his hand and motioned him to sit at the dresser, Nathans sharp eyes fixed on her. Crystal had red eyes. From the moment he saw her, he knew how badly she was crying. The knife wound in her neck made him want to kiss her fondly. His eyes were getting redder. Come on, let me blow your hair. I just want to do something for you. His gaze fluttered Crystal. And will you then get out of here at once? Crystal took a breath and finally avoided his question. No. Come on, sit over. The room suddenly became very quiet. Crystal looked at Nathan in the mirror, looked at him carefully, and asked, You seem to like this hairstyle best, dont you? I just realized I dont know anything about you. Crystal added, Your favorite color, your height, your weight. I dont think Ive ever asked you that. Nathan stared coldly at Crystal in the mirror. She fingered his hair with one hand, shook the air blower with the other, and though she smiled, there was a heavy sadness on her face. I dont know.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. And what if I want to know? Crystal! He growled in disgust, Whats the point of knowing all this now? What was the point? Crystals fingers were white, and her eyes were shining with tears as if she could not help crying at any moment. I just want to know everything about the man I love the most. I want to know everything about him, Crystals nose began to jam. I know its toote to say that now. The hairdryer blew hot air into the air. Her heart was also burning. No one can ignore the past and start a new beginning, but anyone can start from this moment and make a different way and make a different ending. Nathan, shall we start again? No, he said coldly, Ive given you a thousand chances, and you wont get another. It doesnt matter. Chances are always there for the person who goes for it. Crystal said doggedly. Ill show you my sincerity. Nathan darkened his eyes and unconsciously turned the ring on his hand. It was as if his heart had been chipped. He had never been so helpless with a woman. Crystal basted his hair and pulled open the dresser to help him pick out the clothes and tie for the door. Nathans eyes deepened as he watched the little woman move around for him. He knew she wanted him to go to the hospital. Crystal buttoned his shirt for him. Nathan, whats your wish? she asked. It was definitely the most talkative day in history, and he was the opposite silent. Let me do it with you? She tried hard to motivate him to live. Chapter 423: I Told You To Get Out By the way, do you like boys or girls? Crystal looked up at him. She knew he had always wanted a child. Nathans face changed, and he grabbed her jaw cruelly, Mrs. Bush, dont tell me you want to give me a baby? Why not, if we want to. He stared at her coldly. I dont want to. Im not interested in women that other men have touched. Crystal stared back at him, her eyes stubborn and cold. I have never had sex with Eric. Isnt there an indirect rtionship by putting other mens sperm into your body to create life? Crystal bit her lower lip, her eyes nk.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. When you get well, you will have a chance to make another choice. Then you can abandon me! Crystal helped him get dressed, skillfully tying his tie and smoothing it. How am I doing? she asked. Nathan nced at it. Crystal smiled. I couldnt do it before, but Ive tried to learn to do it for you. Arent you touched? Nathan, still stiff, rose abruptly and walked out. Crystal followed him. Where are you going? Dont you want me to go to the hospital? Crystal gasped, ecstatic. Promise? Nathan made noment and strode forward. Crystal immediately put the dolls in her bag and followed him. Her pace was so great that she could not catch up, and their distance grew. She watched Nathan enter the garage. Crystal walked straight out of the house and stood in front of the garage door. The garage door was open, and Crystal was standing in the center, making it impossible for him to pull directly out. Nathan sneered at her gesture and opened the front passenger door. Get in. Why did he suddenly be so chipper? Crystal got into the car. Will we go without Vic? What am I to do with a traitor? Adjusting his rearview mirror, he called coldly, Seat belt. Crystal was moved. He really cared for her despite his bad attitude. As Crystal stared at him, he leaned forward and pulled the safety button to take her to the fasteners. Crystal kissed him on the forehead. Nathan, thank you for letting me meet you. Nathan stiffened suddenly and quickly fastened her seat belt. Then he took out a piece of paper, rubbed it vigorously where she had kissed it, and threw it out. Crystal nibbled her lower lip. She could bear how he gave her the cold shoulder and hurt her. The car was silent all the way. In fact, Crystal tried several times to start the conversation, but Nathan didnt appreciate it at all. She noticed that he had passed the hospital but had not stopped. Instead, he had increased his speed and was driving like a lightning bolt. Farther and farther away from the city, the car headed for the suburbs. Where are you going? Didnt we agree to go to the hospital? Nathan, where are you going? Shut up. Nathan stared straight ahead. Crystal said no more. Maybe he wanted to take her somewhere? Was there anything special he wanted to tell her? Crystal clenched her hands and waited. Half an hourter, he drove to a field in the country. Nathan opened the copilot door and said, Get out of the car. What are we doing in a ce like this? Crystal looked outside. There were farmhouses among the ridges. Thest time she went to see Carloss at Erick ranch, and the direction was west. And this time, it was south. Although the ces were different, Crystal had a shadow on both the suburb and the ridge. I told you to get out. He got out first and walked over to open her seat belt. Crystal followed him out of the car. He mmed the door shut and stepped into the drivers seat. Crystal wrinkled her brow and realizedter. Then she tried to pull the door open and get in. Nathan took the electronic lock before she did. Crystal couldnt pull on the car door and banged on the window. Nathan, youre leaving me here? It was so out of the way here that no car ever passed. Nathans window pulled down a slit and said coldly, Just wait here, and Ill send someone to pick you upter. Crystal quickly came forward and quickly stood in front of the car. If you want to leave me here, go past me. Nathan gave her a cold look, quickly backed out of the car, and retreated a long way. As the dust swirled and Crystal choked and coughed, she saw Nathan swerve, sessfully dodging her and heading back. Crystal chased forward several steps. Nathan, you bastard! she shouted. He had left her in the middle of nowhere. He probably didnt know how much the ce had cast a shadow on her mind since herst car ident. Crystal took her cellphone out of her bag and asked for her contact person to pick her up. But she found that there was no signal. Nathan was obviously on purpose. He knew the signal was bad, so he left her there. She looked around again and saw nothing but endless rice fields and a shabby farm not far away. It took more than an hour downtown here. If Nathan went back and sent someone to pick her up, it would take at least two hours. Nathan could do a lot of things in two hours. For example, he could fly away from here and go to any ce she couldnt find. She gave a wry smile. He really cheated her into this ce to get rid of her. He was determined not to see her again. There was a sudden dull thunder in the sky. Crystal looked up at the otherwise cloudless sky. She did not know when the clouds had gathered. The wind blew, ridges and leaves were blown up by the wind. Suddenly something burst out of the paddy field and barked. The next second, he aimed at Crystal. It was a dog. Crystal clenched her heart and stepped back. Then she stepped on a stone with her heel and fell to the ground. She just grabbed the phone without pulling the chain. All the contents of the bag were pulled out and scattered all over the ground. There before her was a wild dog, about two meters away, barking at her. Go away, go away. Her hands groped behind her, wondering if she could reach the stone. Boom! It was another thunderbolt. Raindrops began to fall down and hit the windshield. Nathan raised wipers and frowned, staring into the sky outside. His fickle lips pressed tightly; he looked at the dark day, and his fist hit on the steering wheel! st it! He turned the wheel sharply back. Chapter 424: Have You Got Any Brains When Nathan reached the spot where he had dropped Crystal off, he lowered the window, but he didnt see Crystal. And the contents of her bag spilled all over the ground. Nathan pressed hard on the brake, and the car sounded an rm. Nathan didnt have time to check what was wrong and yanked the door open. The rain began to fall more and more heavily. He took out the umbre from the trunk, but did not open it, followed the faint footsteps on the ground to chase. It was dirt, so there were footprints where Crystal had walked. Nathan could still make out the dogs footprints. But the footprints were so simr to a wolfs that he could not tell them apart for a moment. Crystal was now sheltered under a big tree, with the big dog that had just chased her crouched within five meters. She motioned to the wild dog with a stick in her hand. The dog did not dare to rush at her weapon. It was just spinning around in ce, barking. Nathan stopped in the shadow of the trees and turned toward the barking dog. The rain beat down on his long body, and his eyes were dark and bloodthirsty. Under the big tree, Crystals thin figure was shivering. A middle-aged man gave her a hand, and Crystal almost fell. And the man held her shoulder again. A hurricane passed by. Nathan quickly rushed up, grabbed the mans arm, and twisted his hand. He threw him down on the ground. His feet were heavily trampled upon the middle-aged mans back. When Crystal came back to her senses, the mans hair had been grabbed, and his face had been punched in many punches. Nathan, stop it! But Nathan didnt stop. Nathan, I told you to stop! Crystal had rushed to Nathan and put her arms around him. Nathan stopped cold, afraid of hitting Crystal. Are you out of your mind? Why did you hit him? Hes trying to bully you. He deserves it! Nathan gave him another good kick. The mans bones cracked, and the kick almost killed him. When did he bully me? Crystal asked him, her eyes wide with wonder. I saw what he did to you just now. He couldnt imagine what would happen if he came a momentter. You misunderstand him. Crystal sighed. He was just trying to help me up. I was dizzy, so he came and helped me up. And youll beat him half to death because of that? Take your feet away! Nathan, still furious, moved his feet unwillingly, took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders, then picked up the umbre and handed it to her. That dog barked. After looking at Nathans malicious eyes, the dog immediately stopped. Was it just trying to bite you? Yeah. Where did you hurt? Well, it didnt bite me. I held a stick in my hand, and it dared note over. Crystal stared at him. Why did you leave me here? I almost had something wrong! Nathan didnt answer her. Nathans eyes dimmed. Why did youe back? It was raining harder and harder, and even the leafy trees couldnt stop the rain. Nathan frowned at the rain. Lets go. What about him? Crystal looked at the man with his wrinkled face. Youre not going to leave him like that. His dog wants to bully you. He deserved it. What do you expect of me? With that said, Nathan coolly pulled her into his arms. How do you know hes the owner of the dog? Crystal stopped and refused to go. Nathan turned cold and met Crystals reproachful look. He finally bent down and lifted the man onto his shoulder. Crystal was relieved. That he could turn back meant that he had not the heart to abandon her. Deep and shallow footprints were washed away by the rain. Atst, they reached the main road. Nathan shoved the man he knocked out into the back of the car. Then he started the engine, and there was an rm. Crystal fastened her seat belt and prepared a tissue to wipe the moisture off Nathans face. He had just given her the umbre, and he would not let her hold it for them so that his head and his clothes were wet and his long eyshes and his hair were dripping with rain. The car broke down. What do we do? Can you still drive? Nathan took out his phone. Theres no signal here. I have just tried it. Crystal reminded him, arent you trying to throw me into this isted ce and then let me fail to catch you? Nathan frowned and said nothing. Wipe your face first. Crystal pulled off some more tissues and wiped his face. He felt her cold fingers in his palm, and his eyes deepened. At this point, in the eerie atmosphere, Crystals stomach grumbled violently. Crystal got up in the morning and made Sodding soup and noodles for Nathan, but she didnt eat anything herself. Nathan looked at her, but he had no food for her. Crystal looked down in embarrassment. When are we going back? The man looks badly hurt. Lets go to the hospital as soon as possible. We cant go for a while. He looked out of the window again at the rain, which was getting heavier and heavier with no intention of stopping, and the car broke down at this particr hour. Crystal nced at the man in the back of the car and said, The fact that hes so far off means he must have the means of transportation downtown. Maybe a car wille by, and we can certainly go back. She paused. The most important thing is to treat him first. Nathan fretfully took out his cigarette and lighter and was about to light it when Crystal grabbed it, Youre sick, and you cant smoke.RAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Nathan kicked the car irritably again and identally turned off the rm. Crystal looked around and saw the humble farm not far away. She pointed in the direction and said, Shall we get some shelter over there? It looks like this mans house. Crystals stomach grumbled awkwardly again. Nathan followed Crystals directions and finallynded on the wild dog squatting beside the car in the rain. He looked at it with a bloodthirsty eye, and the dog ran away. He pushed the door open and got out of the car. He picked up Crystals scattered belongings and stuffed them into her bag at random. He went to the passenger seat, pulled open the door, handed Crystal the umbre, and said, Take the umbre. Then he took her out of the car. Crystal held the umbre in one hand and put her arm around his neck. I can walk on my own. You carry him. Keep still! Its raining, and the ground is slippery. But what about him? Ill take you there first, and then Ille back. At this time, you should look after yourself first. You cant take care of yourself now, so save your sympathy and stop caring about others. Nathan snapped at her, Its a thunderstorm, you run under a tree for shelter? Have you got any brains? This is the only tree nearby to shelter from the rain. So? He said unpleasantly, If you were struck by lightning, you Am I not fine now? Crystal thought about this, then said, Arent you afraid I cant take care of myself? Could you not go away without me next time? Not long after you left, the dog came out and tried to bite me. I saw there were branches under the tree, so I had to go that way. If you hade anyter, I really would have had an ident. Wont you be toote then? Chapter 425: Take A Guess Nathans whole back was frozen. Everything she said made him shudder. Crystal stroked his cheek. You came back to me because you couldnt let me go. Hold your umbre and shut up. Nathans eyes were dark, and his face was bad. Taking Crystal under the eaves of the farmhouse for shelter from the rain, he turned back to pick up the middle-aged man. Crystal sat at the door and watched the rainfall. The door opened, and a woman came out. Crystal exined her purpose, and the woman let her into the room for shelter. Before long, the woman saw her husband was carried back with scars all over his body, was so surprised that she hesitated for a long time and could not say a word. Crystal hesitated to exin as Nathan took out his wallet, pulled out a wad of cash, and tossed it on the table. Nathan gave Crystal a cold look, and it was clear what he meant. Crystal exined some of it shyly. The woman heard it was a misunderstanding. And with a stack of money on the table equal to their harvest for a year or two, she said no more. The woman finally told them kindly, Its about ten kilometers from here, you can see the main road, and there is a bus passing here at 4 PM every day. The woman looked at Crystal and Nathan, then at the money on the table, wanting but not daring to take it. Nathan looked at his watch. It was almost four o clock, and it was raining hard outside. There was no time, and Crystal was already starving. Auntie, keep the money. It was my boyfriends fault that he identally wounded your husband. The woman asked, Is he your boyfriend? How did you get here? We had a fight, and hes going to leave me. Nathan said, Towels, please! The woman quickly brought a towel. Nathan gave it a look of disgust. Disinfect it. Are you kidding me? Disinfect it? Do you think this is a hotel? Sit down and Let me wipe it for you. Said Crystal impatiently. Nathan frowned and finally grabbed the towel and wiped her hair. In the room, a stove was lit, a shelf was built, and the clothes were hung to dry. Crystal nced at Nathan with his chest unbuttoned. This arrogant and stubborn man refused to change his clothes. She took the coarse cloth which the woman had taken out and said, Put on your clothes for a while. When they are dry, you may change them. Come on. Change. Your clothes are wet. You will catch a cold. Crystal looked at his wet pants. Take them off. Take care of yourself. Leave me alone. My clothes arent wet. Shall I take your trousers off? And she moved, ready to take his belt. Nathan pressed her hand hard. Crystal, youre asking for death, he said. Im just afraid youll catch a cold. Then you must at least take off your shoes and socks? Crystal forced him to take off his shoes, lifting his legs first. Lift your feet, theyre heavy. Nathan straightened her out. Ive never seen you do that, he said. Take off your shoes! He remained unmoved. If you dont take them off. What are you going to do? Ill kiss you! Nathan stared at her miraculously, thinking he had misheard her. I learned it from you. This is called treating a person in his own way! Nathan took off his shoes with a ck face. Crystal picked up the shoes and unexpectedly poured out the water. You dont want to take them off? Do you feelfortable wearing these shoes like that? Your shoes are so big, Crystals eyes darkened. I havent given you shoes yet. Nathans eyes darkened, too. Take off your socks, too. Theyre drenched. Crystal pulled off his socks and wrung them out with her hands. Nathan stared at her thoughtfully, the firelight on his pupils. Even sitting in such a humble ce, his dignity was not affected. Crystal could not find a ce to dry his socks, so she held them in her hand, thinking it would be quicker to dry. Nathan frowned, suddenly snatching up the socks and throwing them away. Crystal went to pick them up again. What are you doing? Crystal, drop the socks! Its so cold, you might catch a cold without socks! Crystal frowned. Why dont you wear their clothes and socks? I know youre a neat freak, and you can skip their clothes, but dont get in the way of me drying your socks. Dont you think they stink? No. Crystal smiled gently. And they dont stink, either. Your feet never smell. How do you know? As long as its all about you, I wont hate it. You must know very well. Then Crystal felt a heat in her cheeks. She didnt know if it was the fire or if she was still not used to talking to her. Nathan stared at her, his eyes zing. Crystals cheek was hotter. Why are you looking at me? When did you get so thick-skinned? He could not help pinching her chin. Crystals face was red and hot. I learned this from you, she said. Dont you like it? Crystal asked him. Nathans eyes were dim. He stared at her and didnt answer her. You made me this way. Nathan, youre ountable to me! Nathan looked down at her. For the first time, he found Crystal really thick-skinned. You have two choices. Are you going to sit on myp, or should I sit on yours? Nathan raised his eyebrow. Was this woman pushing her luck? The mes grew hotter and hotter, and the light shone on them in a ze of red. She looked him straight in the eye and forced him to make a choice. Driven to desperation by her, he took her arm and pulled her into hisp. Are you cold? Crystal adjusted herself to her mostfortable position and wrapped the nket around both of them, her hands tumbling over him. Charcoal asionally crackled in the stove, and rain fell outside, sshing on the ground and smelling of earth. Crystal held him, her face resting on his chest. His body stiffened, and slowly he reached out and held her tightly in his arms. Then a delicious smell came from the kitchen. Just now, the woman took the money and checked her husbands wounds. Her husband just suffered a bruise, and nothing serious happened, so he didnt say anything. Then she happily cooked for them. Crystal sniffed the aroma. It smells good, she said. Nathan looked down at her in his arms. Are you starving? Arent you hungry? You threw up all you had this morning. Crystal sniffed the food. Whats so delicious? she said. Take a guess? As if you knew. Crystal suddenly realized. Oh, dear. Its not dog meat, is it? She suddenly thought of the dog.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Chapter 426: Is He In Such A Rush To Leave Here? Nathan put her hand between her hair and squinted slightly. Anyone who bullies you deserves to die, not to mention that it is an animal. What about you? Crystals fingers circled his chest: No one can bully me but you. So I deserve to die, too. Crystals heart suddenly had a sharp pain. She shut her eyes and tried to change the subject. The rain seems to be slowing down. The thunder also stopped, and the day slowly lit up. Crystal fished out a pair of socks and discreetly put them on for Nathan. She put on a T-shirt for him and found a pair of slippers. Nathan had such a good figure that he was so cute in any outfit. How handsome! The woman brought out the food and saw Nathan, stunned for a moment. Is this the one I took out? I didnt expect you to look so good in my husbands clothes. Crystal took out her cell phone and filmed the once-in-a-century spectacle. Looking at the photo, she couldnt help but sigh that Nathan had probably never been in such a rough situation in his life. Crystal, Nathan red at her. Dont you dare! he said. Crystal put the phone away quietly. She wanted to keep this photo as a souvenir. The lunch was light but rich. In addition to dog meat, there were vegetables, raised fish, farm dishes, simple and very delicious. The woman brought thest fish soup to the table and let them eat first while she took care of her husband. Crystal washed her hands, picked up her chopsticks, and gave Nathan a pair. Nathan tugged at his clothes ufortably. Dont pull it. You look really smart in that! Why dont I take a full-length photo of you and see for yourself? How dare you! Its just the two of us here anyway. Whos watching but me? Who else do you want to show? Nathan red at her. Anyone could look at him like this. He just couldnt show her! He just wanted to impress her in a good way. Crystal smiled again. Ive seen everything about you. In my eyes, no matter what you are, you are the apple of my eye!! Well, sit down and eat. The food is getting cold. Crystal pulled down his arm. If youre not. eating, Im really going to take a picture of you and post it on the Inte. Nathans face was darker. How dare you threaten me? I learned it from you. Dont get too carried away! Crystal smiled happily. Hurry up or I wont eat if you dont! She looked at him provocatively. Nathan held his breath. Shall I feed you? Huh? Crystal squeezed his chin. Didnt you like to feed me with your mouth before? Nathan looked at her as a monster. He had never seen Crystal so active. Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think I dare not? Crystal blew on the soup and took a sip. She grabbed Nathan by the chin and handed him her lips. Her soft lips pressed against him, slowly pouring the warm soup into his mouth. Nathans heart was pounding so hard. Damn it, he was burning like wildfire! The feelings that had been oppressed by him broke out at this moment. He grabbed her by the chin and kissed her back. The two became more and more affectionate. They had suppressed their feelings for too long. The woman seemed to hear the noise, came out to see what was going on, and saw the selfless kiss of the two men. She retreated awkwardly. City dwellers were so open-minded. Reluctant to show weakness, Crystal kissed him violently. However, her vital capacity was obviously inferior to Nathan, and she had to say uncle first. She gulped with her mouth like a dying fish. Nathan raised one of his eyebrows and sneered, This is the consequence that you provoke me. While gasping, Crystal stared at him, curling her lips. Eat, quick. Or Ill take a photo of you, recording what you look like now. Im serious! As she spoke, Crystal took out her cell phone and took another picture of him before he could react. Nathan reached out to grab the phone while Crystal turned around to dodge him. My hand shook a little bit. Ill take another handsome one for you. Crystal Smith, delete the photos! Immediately! Nathan roared. If you perform well, Ill delete them. Just eat! Crystal gave him a cunning smile, If you do not, Ill post it on Instagram. I can look at the photos every day. Or I can look back on the old days when I grow old,ughing that Master Davis, though as arrogant as a king, also has such an aspect Or, I can show the photos to my grandchildren, tell them the man their grandma loves most when young is so handsome. Nathan, dont you suddenly feel that these photos have be very meaningful? At this moment, Nathans face could not be longer. He jerked up to hug her waist, reaching to snatch the cell phone. Crystal put the mobile in front of her stomach and warned, Nathan, stop. I dont feel well in my belly. Despite a little disbelief, Nathan loosened his hands. Crystal Smith, knock it off! Im just trying to let you feel how I felt when you threatened me. Isnt it bad? Being sure that he wouldnt move again, Crystal went on saying, Those tricks you used on me, Ill use all on you from now on. Delete them! Nathanmanded, with his gaze set on the fires of hell. No! Dont make me say that again. Delete the photos! No matter how fierce you get, Im not afraid of you, Crystal pinched his cheek, you cant do anything with me. So, are you going to eat or continue to be my model? Crystal asked. Nathans handsome face was distorted by rage. He took a breath and finally picked up the spoon. Eat! Shouted he. How could he have imagined that one day he would be threatened by a woman with the means he had used to use. The scene roused many feelings and thoughts in his mind. Crystal was sitting by his side. Have a bowl of chicken soup? I separate the meat from the bones for you. Nathan hummed. He looked sideways at her concentrated look. Theres happiness spread between them, which seemed to be sweet but at the same time sour. I can do it myself. Just eat, Nathan took over the bowl and said. Its a simple meal, but it was particrly delicious. I can taste home, when speaking, Crystal took a sip of the chicken soup, added, letse and have meals again after your recovery. Whats your take? Nathan had had no appetite initially, but as Crystal said, the soup tastes like home. Do you like it here? Asked Nathan. Sure. I like wherever you are, Crystal answered without hesitation. What? She found Nathan looking at her in disdain. Ive never seen a cheeky woman like you, Nathan roasted. As long as Im with you, even if I have to live here for the rest of my life, I would love to. Instead of saying something to respond to Crystals sweet words, Nathan put down the spoon, got up coldly, and walked out. Crystal hurried to put down the spoon and followed up. Where are you going? Fix the car. Its still drizzling outside. Crystal frowned. Is he in such a rush to leave here?Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Nathan pushed open the door. The rain was getting smaller. There were puddles of rainwater on the ground. When rain dripped in the pools, ripples quivered across the surfaces. Chapter 427: You Don鈥檛 Understand Me, Do You? Dont follow me. Nathan closed the door, went out of the yard, and bolted the bamboo door from the outside. Nathan Davis! Open the door! Crystal shook the door but failed to open it. Finding that theres a road in the garden next by, Crystal carefully stepped on the small mud road and stopped Nathan at the intersection. Nathan stopped, warning her severely, I warned you, do not follow me! However, Crystal didnt shrink back. Im stubborn. I wont easily give up the decision I made and the person I love. Especially you, Nathan Davis, youre mine. Dont imagine you can get rid of me. Nathans facial expression stiffened. He nced over the high straw at her with deep eyes. A gust of wind blew, straw and wildflowers fluttered with the rain. After looking at Crystal for a while, Nathan went on walking forward. Crystal hurriedly kept in step with him. He walked up to the main road, with Crystal following him. Then he walked to the trunk and took out the tools. Wherever Nathan went, Crystal followed him closely. After he opened the trunk to take a tool, he turned around and identally bumped into Crystal. He pushed her away gently but coldly and then walked to the front of the car. Whats wrong? Crystal started the conversation again. However, Nathan was not willing to talk with her. He answered perfunctorily, The engine. After fiddling with the engine with the tools, Nathan sat in the drivers seat to see if he could start it. Crystal hastened to sit in the front passenger seat, afraid of being left behind. She acted fast and nimbly as if she hadnt been pregnant. Crystal Smith, do you know youre really annoying? Nathan rubbed his hair impatiently. You finally know how I felt. I used to think you were annoying, but I wont from now on. Ive decided to follow you no matter what happens. Even if its a dead-end, a wrong path, Ill walk it down even if I would be badly hurt. with you without regret. Get the f**k off the car! I dont want to see you again! Nathan roared in anger. Its raining outside, and the wind is strong. I know you wont do that to me. Get out of here! I dont want to see you for a minute! Liar, you wished to see me every minute before! As you said, thats the past tense, Nathan stared at her in disgust, look at you, youre no different from an ordinary woman. Why do you think I like you? Crystal bit her lips hard; her lips were getting pale because of losing blood. Shes at wits end and was now feeling as humble as the soil on the ground. She gave a bitter smile and said, After your recovery, you can dump me. If you think Im not worthy of your love, Ill leave and will not bother you again. Nathan punched on the steering wheel to vent his emotion, and a sharp horn sounded in the empty road. Trade your freedom with your health, what a deal! Slowly, Nathan put down his hand. He pulled back the seat and started to repair the pedal. Crystal turned to look out of the window. Theres a stinging feeling in her heart. Perhaps because of the restless mind, the repair was not going smoothly. He fiddled with the pedal and violently kicked it a few times, making the car rm sound. Stop it! Your foot will get hurt! Get off! Nathan, what on earth are you fearful of and worried about? Im asking you to get off! I know youve never been a chicken, but why? Tell me, why arent you willing to do the operation and ept treatments? Nathans eyes turned scarlet, he glowered at Crystal and yelled, snarling a threat, I told you to get off, immediately! Have you made any deal with your father? Crystal seemed not afraid of his rage. She gazed at him as if she could see the answer from his eyes. Does he know youre sick? He doesnt know, does he? You didnt tell him, right? There should be no father in the world who watches his son fall ill and does nothing. You dont understand me, do you? Nathan shouted in a broken voice, Get the fuck off the car! Fine, I can get off, and then? Crystal fixed her eyes on him, When on earth can you stop deceiving yourself? Crystal felt the air in the car so depressed that she could hardly breathe. She lowered her eyes and said, If you dont tell me the reason, I can only find the answer myself. And if you dont mind, Ill tell your father about your illness. After she finished speaking, she opened the car door. However, Nathan grabbed her hand and asked, Where are you going to look for him? Isnt he at the manor? I know the way. Humph! Do you think you can see him as long as you want? Youre right. But I dont think I dont have a chance. You wont know the result if you dont try, right? Crystal Smith! Nathan gave a low roar. Crystal could feel his patience was taxed to the limit from his roaring. What extent do you want to force me to? Ive never forced you; its just that you keep running away. Escaping will never solve problems, why dont we face it together? Nathan gave her a ck look without saying anything. A momentter, he forced his eyes closed and his anger down. He stepped on the clutch, trying to start the engine, but nothing happened. It seemed that they had no way to leave here temporarily. Finally, Nathan had to give up. He turned on the roof of the car. The rain had stopped. Nathan looked up at the clear sky, feeling the cool breeze. All the troubles seemed to have been temporarily brought away by the wind. Theres also something sparkling in Crystals eyes. She rested on the back of the chair, looking at the blue sky as Nathan did. Now that we cant leave today, why do we have to push each other away? Isnt it better to enjoy the precious time being together? There are only us here, no one knows where we are, and thus I wont have any life danger. Why do you insist on driving me away? Theres a long silence in the car. Since Nathan did not speak, Crystal had no idea how to proceed with the conversation. The air in the car grew more and more oppressive. Crystal finally couldnt stand it. She pushed open the door, saying, Im going for a walk. Nathan failed to fix his car and could not leave, making Crystal feel relieved. She walked towards the field full of wildflowers. Nathan was lost in thought, watching Crystal lean back in the rear-view mirror. He had vowed to protect her; he had promised to give her a lifetime of happiness, but it turned out that he was the one who had to leave her first. His bloodshot eyes seemed to be oozing blood in the next second. Since we cant leave today, why do we have to push each other away? Isnt it better to enjoy the precious time being together? Crystals words lingered in his ears.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Yes, even if theres only one day, one hour, one minute, or even just one second left, only enjoying thest happy time with Crystal would not leave a regret. Thinking so, Nathan jerked up and got out of the car, following along with the footprints of Crystal. In the distance, Crystal was walking on a wet stone path. She suddenly crouched on the side of the track, absorbed in watching something. A burst of wind blew through the field, Crystal slightly swung with the wind. She looked so thin and weak. Nathans heart sank suddenly. He strode towards her, pulled her up, and took her into his arms overbearingly. Crystals eyes brightened with surprise, then she closed her eyes with a smile, enjoying being surrounded by Nathans burning breath. What were you doing here? Nathan asked. Theres a little purple unknown wildflower in Crystals hand. Youve given me a lot of flowers, but Ive never given you one, Crystal said softly. Chapter 428: Can We Bathe Together? Crystal lifted the purple flower to the front of Nathans eyes; the flower danced in the air happily. This is for you. Nathan didnt catch it, however. Crystal looked up at him, Dont you like it? Yes, of course, I do. As Nathan answered, he took over the flower. Crystal encircled her arms around his waist and whispered his name, Nathan. Huh? Nathan replied with the purple flower tightly clenching in his hand. I used to neglect you, Im sorry. You never need to say sorry to me, Nathan spoke in a hoarse voice.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Crystal raised her head, giggling at him. But, your temper is always so unpredictable. You can make sweet talk in thest second but get furious in the next second. Nathan stared at her with affectionate eyes, Do I? Sure! Like just now, you told me to get off, but after I got off, you followed me up, Crystal chuckled, What on earth do you want me to do? Nathan gave her a sincere smile. As you said, cherish the time of being together. His words slightly startled Crystal. Before we leave here, heplimented. Crystal took a look at her watch. That means we have less than a day. Hmm. Crystal hugged him tightly. It didnt matter. After leaving, Crystal could find Amos Davis and tell him about Nathans illness. She could promise him any request, as long as he could persuade Nathan into epting treatment and help Nathan with his condition. She was willing not to see Nathan forever; even if the terms of the exchange were her life, she would say yes. She owed Nathan too much, and this was probably what she could do for him. Promise me, before we leave here, dont lose your temper with me for no reason, okay? Crystal bargained. I promise you, Nathan answered. Are you cold? There are clothes in the trunk. Ill get them for you. Crystal let go of him, intending to walk back to the car, but he was again dragged back into Nathans arms. Ive put them on. Im warm now, said Nathan. He changed the topic, Fine, what shall we do now? She looked around and sighed, One day is short, but what I want to do with you is too much. What do you want to do with me? Cook together, have meals together, walk together, do the grocery shopping together, watch movies together On thinking of the scenes that they did these things together, Crystals voice became slowly hoarse. Nathans eyes dimmed. He raised her chin, kissed her deeply. What he wanted to do most was to possess Crystal if she hadnt been pregnant All of a sudden, theres a noise near them. Nathan looked over with sharp eyes. Its the peasant woman. The peasant woman was picking herbs for her husband, and when she passed here, she saw the young couple necking each other with gusto. She hurriedly opened her mouth with embarrassment, I I was just passing by. I saw nothing, really just go on. Then she turned around to leave. Stop! Nathan called out to her. Cook some food good for pregnant women, ordered Nathan. Your girlfriend is pregnant? The peasant woman hurried to nod and said, Ill cook the chicken soup with herbs for her tonight, the chicken could provide the mother and the embryo with nutrition. Make some food good for the stomach, Crystal added. Stomach? The peasant woman trembled on hearing the word. Do you have gastritis? She asked carefully. Nathans face turned grim instantly. Its gastric cancer, and its my boyfriend answered Crystal. The peasant woman seemed to want to say something but was terrified beyond the capacity for words by Nathans horrible face. Why are you still here? Go away! Nathan roared. Quick trotting footsteps sounded immediately, and the peasant woman left. Crystal took Nathans hands and med him, I just asked you to control your temper. How can you break your promise so fast? Ive only promised not to lose my temper in front of you! Arrogance wrote on Nathans face. Are you tired? Would you like to find a ce to sit? Nathan asked with concern. Crystal shook, I want to stay with you for another while. Nathan stared at her, pretending to be angry. We can stay together everywhere. Lets go back to the house. After the rain, the ground was wet, and even the wind was strong and moist. The two walked back to the farmhouse slowly. The chickens ran here and there in the yard, pecking on the soft and wet soil. Seeing Nathan and Crystaling over, they jumped away to dodge at once. The peasant woman had built a stove in the yard and was boiling the herbs for her husband. The herbal smell filled the whole yard. Nathan frowned, thinking that the smell was really choking. However, Crystal wasnt that disgusted with the smell. She sniffed and said, What a strong herbal smell. Afraid that Crystal would get ufortable if she inhaled too much smell, Nathan led her to speed up entering the house. Crystal noticed a basket on the floor filled with herbs, and some other herbs were put on a stand and dried in the sun. She seems to know well about herbs. See? She picked up the herbs and then dried them in the sun, Crystal said to Nathan. Nathan knocked her head gently. This ce is in the middle of nowhere, far from the hospital. Isnt it normal to know some simple medical knowledge? Crystal nodded with a thoughtful expression on her face. Nathan was right. If they knew nothing about medical treatment, they had to go far to see a doctor, even if it was just for some minor illness or small injury. That would be very troublesome. Just get in, Nathan urged and pushed Crystal into the house. He was never interested in minding other businesses. After entering the house, Nathan immediately wrapped her in a nket. The stove was still zing, making the whole space warm. Nathan held her on the thighs, and the two sat around the stove. Leaning on Nathans chest, Crystal felt warm andfortable and a little sleepy. But she dared not sleep for fear that once she fell asleep and woke up, the precious one day passed, and Nathan already left. She clenched his hands tightly, struggling with the sleepiness. Nathan seemed to see through her mind. He coaxed her, Just sleep, I wont leave. Failing to defeat the sleepiness, Crystal shrunk in his arms and sounded him out, Then I take a nap? Um. Finally, Crystal fell asleep; it wasnt a good sleep. Fearful that Nathan would disappear after her waking up, she kept half awake. It turns out that this is the anxious feeling about gains and losses The faint incense of food wafted from the kitchen, Crystal gradually woke up. The dinner was very nutritious and of good taste. At the dinner, Crystal chatted with the peasant woman. The peasant woman told her that she had put some herbs into the soup, which were suitable for pregnant women and patients. After dinner, Nathan and Crystal sat in the yard, sitting on small benches and looking at stars. After the rain, the sky was studded with twinkling stars. Tomorrow must be a sunny day, said Crystal. The weather forecast said that? Nathan asked. Nope, Crystal shook, but if there are stars in the sky, its usually a sunny day the next day. Isnt it a good thing to be sunny? Nathan heard the destion in her tone. No, I dont think so. I hope it rains tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and forever. Crystal rested her head on Nathans shoulder, added, In this way, we will be trapped here and can never leave. Nathans hand around Crystals shoulder began to stiffen. Crystal chuckled, In fact, its not bad to stay here. Your father wont be able to find us here, right? Nathan did not utter a word but turned his face away. Thete-night came. Nathan carried Crystal back to the room the peasant woman prepared for them. The door was ajar. The peasant woman knocked on the door and came in with a bucket of hot water holding in her hands. Are you ready to go to bed? Ive got you hot water for bathing, said the peasant woman. Nathan nodded condescendingly, as lofty as a king. Crystal found that there was arge round barrel on the other side of the room. There are some herbs and medicinal flowers in the water. Its good for you, added the peasant woman. Can we bathe together? Nathan asked. He was asking if the herbs were suitable for both pregnant women and patients with gastric cancer at the same time. Chapter 429: Your Jealous Is Always Unreasonable The peasant woman nodded awkwardly, Sure. Its good for both of you, and there are no side effects. The air was a little embarrassing in the room. Crystal hurriedly struggled to free from Nathans arms. Being in peoples homes, but treated the host as air and acted so intimately like glue all the time with her boyfriend, and even necked with him from time to time. Isnt it inappropriate and cheeky? Thinking so, Crystal blushed with shame. Theres already hot water in the bucket, but its getting a little cold.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. The peasant woman poured another bucket of hot water in and put her hand into therge bucket to test the water temperature. How dare you wash your hands in our bath bucket?! Nathans terrible voice sounded. Im just testing the water temperature the peasant woman hurried to exin. Get out, Nathanmanded. Nathan Crystal pulled his sleeve to remind him of being a little friendly. The peasant woman did not speak, hastily put down the bucket, and left. Nathan walked to the door, immediately closed the door with force as if the peasant woman were some kind of virus. Crystal knitted her brows, stared at him with anger, How could you act like that! Shes always trying to be nice and even prepares a herbal bath for you. How could you be so rude! Thats so offensive. After all, they had to stay here for a night. They should have behaved politely and nicely. Do you think Im afraid of offending them? As usual, Nathan maintained his consistent egotism. When getting along with others, you should feel for others, be friendly and nice, in case you need others help one day. Nathan coldly hummed, Do you think I need their help? On the other hand, people always beg me on their knees for my help. One more friend is way better than one more enemy, Crystal refuted. Instead of arguing with her, Nathan drew the curtains and started to take off Crystals clothes. Serious? Are we really going to bathe together? Crystal looked up at him with a little surprise. Nathan didnt answer but took off her coat, sweater, underwear one by one silently. Crystals fair and smooth skin glowed under the light. Nathans gaze was as zing as burning fire. Then he squatted down to take off her pants, his breath rasping in his heaving chest. Crystal stared at his head, worrying, Nathan is this really good? Can you keep yourself under control? I can handle it. Nathans hoarse and low voice sounded. But.. its hard to say, you may lose your reason If Nathan failed to control himself, she would probably miscarry. Even if I lose my mind, I wont do anything to hurt you! Nathan gave out a low roar. A warm feeling stirred in Crystal. Soon, she waspletely naked. Nathan lifted her and slowly put her into therge bucket. As soon as her feet touched the water, she sped Nathans muscr shoulder and murmured, The water is hot Its good for your health, Nathanforted. But its too hot Ah! Hot Crystal felt that she was like a pig waiting to be cooked. Hold on. Youll feel better soon. Before Nathan got into the big bucket, he was already as hot as the burning iron. He quickly took off his clothes and got into the bucket in haste. You Crystal goggled at his erected monster with her mouth wide open. Thats a normal reaction, Nathan defended calmly. I found youve always been turned on when you hugged me, Crystal made fun of him. Nathan nced at her, Oh? So you know it? Crystal hadnt mentioned that before and always pretended not to know. Why do men have all these in mind all the time? Crystal roasted. If I dont have a reaction, what you should worry about will not be my health, but that I will lose interest in you! As Nathan spoke, he took her into his arms and gently bit her in the ear. The bucket happened to fit two people, but Nathan was so tall and strong that after he sat in, the space became narrow immediately. Crystal sat in front of him with the back at him and dared not move. You seem to have lost a lot of weight. Vic said that you couldnt eat well these days and vomited whatever you ate. He talks too muchtely. Hes just showing concern about you. Working for you for so many years, hes always been loyal and helpful. How can you be so mean to him? Thinking of the shot in Vics arm, which had a lot to do with her, Crystal still felt upset and guilty. Nathan didnt answer but tied up Crystals hair with a rubber band in case of being wet with water. Its not easy to have someone by your side for more than ten years. You should be nicer to him, you know? I dont know. No one but you is worthy of my concern. Nathan stared at her back with affection. Crystal sighed speechlessly. Indeed, if Nathan could be so easily persuaded, they would not have been here now. Now that persuasion is useless, Crystal could only change the topic, Do you really vomit whatever you eat? Then how can you absorb enough nutrition? Nathan roasted casually, Since when do you believe him so much? Im not a pregnant woman. Have you seen me throwing up today? Thats true Not only Nathan, but also she had not puked, but even had had a particrly good appetite. The peasant woman seems to put some herbs into the food, so its particrly appetizing, Crystal muttered. Nathan didnt go on with the conversation. Instead, he pressed her moving hands, gazed at her, with lust glimmering in his eyes. Speaking of appetizing, I have an appetizer in front of my eyes. Na.. than Before Crystal finished her words, Nathan sucked her lips and couldnt wait to taste her. His body was getting hotter and hotter She could only sit between his thighs in the small space, feeling the erecting hard and energetic part pointing at her hips. Nathan was fiddling with Crystals plump and breasts with hands, which made her feel hotter and restless. The pregnant woman was very sensitive to body touch. Being flirted with by Nathan, Crystal was also turned on and trembled all over. Youre ying with fire Crystal murmured in a shivering voice. I havent touched you for a long time, Nathans voice cracked severely. Stop it Crystal moaned. Let me see them. When he spoke, his hands did not stop caressing her breasts at all. With hands? Theyve grown bigger. As stroking Crystals breasts, desire welled up in his eyes. Its said that pregnancy promotes secondary development, Crystal said with embarrassment. Nathan suddenly squinted his eyes with a hint of danger. So, will thisd share them with me? Speaking, he suddenly buried his head in Crystals breast sucked her nipple with lips and licked it with the tongue. Hey! Nathan! Crystal couldnt help grabbing his hair with force. However, Nathan seemed not to hear her and went on sucking. Erotic and steamy air spread in the room, Crystals eyes also blurred. Suddenly, Nathan bit her on the nipples. It hurt, making Crystal scream in a soft voice, What are you doing? I will never allow it to touch you, feed it on powdered milk, he said inexplicably, or hire a wet nurse! Crystal went nk and then giggled, Nathan Davis, you must be kidding me. Are you jealous of a baby? Whats worse was that the baby was Erics! As long as on the thought of that theres a baby of Eric and Crystals in Crystals belly. He just could not bear it. Do you know if its a boy or a girl? He asked with annoyance. Not yet. But no matter boy or girl, it cant touch you! He pinched her chin and lifted her face, Youre mine. You can only be mine! Hardly had his voice faded away, he kissed her hard on the lips again, autocratically and domineeringly. The fierce kiss made Crystal tired. She leaned on him, gasping, Your jealousy is always for no reason and unreasonable. Reason? Nathan raised the corner of his mouth, Does being jealous need a reason? Of course. Youre abandoning me and also intending to give up treatment. Do you want me to live in widowhood for the rest of my life? Nathan made no answer. Listen to me; go to the hospital. After your recovery, Ill apany you every day. Chapter 430: Aren鈥檛 You Tired? When a pregnant woman takes a bath, she should talk less and do more! Right after Nathan finished speaking, he kissed her again. An hourter, the water gradually cooled. Crystal really admired Nathan. How could he concentrate on kissing her for such a long time? Nathan seemed never to kiss enough, and if he could, he really wanted to kiss Crystal for his whole life. Crystal touched his pounding chest. The heartbeats were violent and passionate. Do you like kissing so much? Nathan gave her a ck look. Usually, men kiss for the next step. Then whats your next step? Crystal watched him with watery eyes. Nathans eyes dimmed. Theres no next step sometimes, so I can only kiss. Crystal didnt know how to reply. Get out first! Nathans voice was shivering. Do you need my help? Crystal looked at him with pity. Crystal Smith, youre ying with fire! Nathan gave out a low roar. Theres not just one way to help you, Crystal raised her hands, I can use them! Dry your body and get on the bed! Without waiting for her answer, Nathan lifted her and carried her out of the basket. He took a towel to cover her body, but the towel was a little small and either could only cover her front or the back. Looking at Crystals luring hips and waist, Nathan couldnt help yelling, Get on the bed! In that kind of situation, Nathan finally managed to suppress his desire. Tuck yourself in the quilt! Nathanmanded. Nathan, just hang on. Pregnant women can do mild exercise after three-month of pregnancy. Crystaly on the bed with a pillow under her, earnestly looking at him. Are you seducing me? Theres a subtle facial expression change on Nathans face. Im looking for a goal for you to be alive. Nathan skimmed his lips, So, the only goal for me to stay alive is to have sex with you? We can also raise our children, such as a boy that is simr to you? Not interested. Why?! After you have a child, you will absolutely take him in the first ce! Then why did you want me to have a baby with you? It was different at that time. I used to feel like having a baby could allow me to have you by my side forever. Only now did Crystal understand that the reason that Nathan had wanted a child was to make a cage to trap her. What about now? Nathan closed his eyes. Now? Nathan repeated in his mind. He did not know whether he had tomorrow, how could he be in the mood to think about now and even tomorrow? Oh, right. Do you like boys or girls? Crystal persisted. We wont be able to have a child, so stop talking about this. Nathan poured cold water on her. Even talking about the child thing failed to persuade Nathan into undergoing treatment, Crystal ran out of ideas this time. After a while, the waterpletely cooled down, and the fire of lust in Nathans body was also gradually extinguished. He opened his eyes, finding Crystal still looking at him. Close your eyes! Nathan scolded. Its not like that Ive never seen you naked, Crystal kept her eyes wide open, what can you do to me if I keep my eyes on? Before Crystal could react, Nathan stood up and stepped out of the bucket. Water dripped down along his husky figure, sexy and alluring. Crystal was stunned. Nathan acted so fast that she waspletely caught off guard. Dont me me for not reminding you, he smiled evilly. Because of embarrassment, Crystal looked away from his body. When ites to cheeky, you always win. Nathan took the towel on the chair, wiped his body at will, and got into the quilt without putting on clothes.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Warmth and aroma filled the quilt. Nathan hugged her into his arms. The unique natural aroma of Crystal, mixed with the fragrance of the herbs and flowers, created a sense of well-being for Nathan. Crystal stretched her finger and outlined Nathans face. Thinking of the topic they had just discussed. She began to imagine what their child would look like. Suddenly, she burst into a bitter smile. She still had Erics baby in her stomach but kept thinking about the future of Nathan and her and their children. She felt shameless; she felt sorry for Eric. Yet, Nathan had cancer; she wished she could save him even at the price of her life. How could she be able to care how others thought? She had always cared about other peoples lives, Carlos, her fathers, and so on. There had always been a heavy burden on her back, making her exhausted. She would like to put down everything and live a selfish life this time. Moonlight prated through the window and picked out Nathans faces dim outline. With her hand caressing Nathans face, Crystal whispered, Nathan, lets have our baby. You have such good genes; our baby must be as good-looking as you. Nathan raised her eyebrows. Of course, he knew he had good genes, but he was not tired of hearingpliments from Crystals mouth. Didnt you say Im bad-tempered? Arent you afraid to have a baby as bad-tempered as I am? As for temper, it can be like me, answered Crystal. Nathan snorted. Just have one, what do you think? Crystal pulled his arm and acted like a spoiled child. Ill leave my sperm for you before I leave. Youve tried insemination once, if you really want my genes one day, you can do it one more time. Crystal was silent, while Nathan went on this topic, he seemed to be seriously considering the matter. The sperm will be deposited in my private sperm bank, valid for ten years. Nathan Davis! Crystal shouted all of a sudden. What? Nathan embraced her. This joke isnt funny at all Crystals eyes turned red. Are you satirizing me? Do you think I feel good about carrying Erics baby? Crystalined while sobbing. Instead of saying something tofort her, Nathan kissed the tears on her forehead and the corners of her eyes. Then kissed along her nose, her chin, her neck Crystal, Nathan kissed her earlobe and whispered her name. His voice was deep and repressed. Neither of the two would have thought that theres no need for a sperm bank because theres a baby of Nathan and Crystal growing up fast every day inside Crystal. The temperature in the room went up again, and the air became ambiguous. The sexual passion in Nathans body that had just been extinguished was lit up again. His eyes sank. You sleep here, Ill sleep on the floor, he said hoarsely. Its so cold, how can you sleep on the floor? Nathan could no longer control the restless monster inside him. He suddenly sat up. Where are you going? Crystal armed his waist to stop him. Sleep in another room. No way! You must sleep with me tonight! They didnt have much time to get along. Crystal cherished every second with him, even when in sleep. Nathan stared at her with bloodshot eyes. Each breath of his was long and deep. Woman, do you know what serious consequences will have if you go on seducing me? I dont know, and I dont care. Crystal Smith, youre testing my limit! He roared in a broken low voice. Crystal chuckled, reaching her hand to his lower body. Nathans face turned green instantly. Isnt it a good way? In this way, youll be able to put out the fire and have a good sleep. Crystal rubbed his chest with her head, tempting, Let me help you. I want to help Crystal Smith, you alluring woman! Nathans voice became more and more suppressing. Kiss me, invited Crystal. Nathan remained motionless, however. If you dont kiss me, Ill kiss you. As she threatened, her hand kept moving. Nathan grabbed her hand, worried, Arent you tired? Kiss me, quick! Crystal urged. This time, Nathan did not refuse. He kissed her while taking her by the hand and teaching her how to please him. In the morning Sure enough, its a sunny day. The sun shone through the shabby ss, warmed and lit the whole room. The young couple that had snuggled up all night gradually woke up. Fearful that Nathan would leave alone, Crystal hadnt dared to be sunk in sleep for all the night. She opened her eyes; the first thing she saw was still Nathans gorgeous face. She couldnt help but sigh with relief. Then she stretched her arm, took out her mobile phone from her pants on the ground. Chapter 431: Delete It She turned on the video mode, started to record a video of him. Her movements woke Nathan up soon. What are you doing? He red at her with blurred eyes. Who allows you to film me!? Look at this stunning face, what a waste not to record it! Since Crystal had known Nathans health condition, she seized every chance to praise him, which made him really not used to it. What did you film? Let me see! Crystal showed him the video she had just filmed. As soon as Nathan took a few looks, his face turned green. Where did you get this crack mobile? It makes me get out of shape! Indeed, the pixel is a little bit Crystal couldnt help roasting her mobile. Delete it, he issued an order in a cold voice, and the photos taken yesterday. I wont do that. Crystal put the mobile in front of her chest to protect it. Nathan, how about I take a photo of you every day? So that I can record a different you every day! Nathan pinched her nose gently in displeasure. You can discuss it with me after getting better photography skills! When Crystal wasnt looking, Nathan snatched the mobile from her hand, turned around Crystal, and deleted the video. Crystal climbed up to him, hugged him from behind, and bit him gently on the shoulder. Then she even blew at his ear and bit it. Nathan slightly trembled. He jerked up and turned around, pressed her under, and stared at her aggressively. Dont you know that morning is the most difficult time for a man to control his sexual passion? Isnt it difficult for you all the time? Crystal looked at him with innocently big eyes. Crystal Smith, dont challenge my endurance! As punishment, he blocked her lips with his, kissed, and sucked them with force. After they finished tidying themselves up, they found that it was already lunchtime. The peasant woman served them warm and thick soup, saying that it had herbs inside and was good for their health. Crystal caught the faintest drift of the herbs fragrance but did not feel nausea. Although the ce was simple, the scenery here had great charm. Even the water was particrly sweet, and the air was incredibly fresh. It tastes good. Nathan, eat more. If you like her, I can hire her to serve you. Do you think you can buy everything with money? If she dares to say no, Ill blow this ce off, Nathan hummed coldly. Crystal ttered out a smile, then looked straight at him seriously, Do you really want to ruin the ce where we have good memories. I just want you to be happy. But I will be depressed if you do that. Fine, I wont do that, he squinted his eyes, Ill give them a sum of money. Whenever you want toe here, you cane and stay for a few days. Have some soup, Crystal said in a deep voice, your soup is getting cold. After a few seconds silence, Nathan answered, Its specially made for you, not suitable for me. How did you know that? Crystal looked at the peasant woman for confirmation. The peasant woman happened to be walking out of the kitchen with a bowl of noodles in her hands. Yes, the soup is for you. I made noodles for him, which have mushrooms, glossy Ganoderma, and some other food that can prevent the side effects of chemotherapy. The soup was delicious. Without overthinking, Crystal ate severalrge bowls of it in one breath. Soon, she felt her eyelids a bit heavy and a little sleepy. She propped her head up onto her hand, watching Nathan eat up the noodles. But shes getting more and more sleepy and even began to doze off. Gradually, she fell into a panic. Nathan, what have you done to me? Crystal asked with anxiety. Nathans hand holding the spoon stiffened. You Crystal looked at the peasant woman. What did you put in the soup? The peasant woman sighed, Theyre some herbs that help soothe your nerves, so youre particrly sleepy. But dont worry, theyre all-natural herbs, it wont harm your health. Why do you do this to me!? Crystals voice trembled with emotion.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. In the next second, she swung her arm, swept the empty soup bowl to the ground. The bowl immediately broke into several pieces, scaring the peasant woman to step back. Your boyfriend made me do that, I have no choice the peasant woman exined. Nathan stroked her hair, Crystal, you know, pregnant women should have a good rest. Just take a good sleep. Crystal jerked up and reached for him. You want to leave me here and escape alone? What Nathan was doing now was what she had done to him before. Being abandoned by someone you love turns out to feel like that Crystal sneered at herself. Her heart was as ache as if being torn apart. She sped Nathans wrist, exerted all her strength, and yelled, I told you, we could undertake everything together! Why do you have to push me away from you?! Itste. Crystal, you cant undertake it with me, Nathan frowned tightly, with pain, reluctance and resolution in his eyes, give birth to the baby, be Mrs. Bush and live a peaceful and happy life. Crystal still clutched his sleeve. Are you nning to leave me here alone? Arent you afraid that I will be in danger? Ill send some people to pick you up, they will protect you, he already made up his mind, and Ill send you back to Eric Bush. He fell into aa again after waking up once that day But he will wake up someday. Nathan Davis, arent you afraid that I will hurt myself after you leave? Crystal threatened, If you dare to leave, just wait to attend my funeral! Nathan stared at her, stroked her cheek, and smiled, You wont. His firm voice sounded over her head, You have always said that you can also live well without me. I Crystal lost her tongue. Youre tough. Without me, you can also have a wonderful life. Crystals heart ached. No, its not like that I, I cant lose you Crystal defended. Nathan thumbed her lips gently to stop her from talking. If you didnt know about my illness, would you havee back to me? His forceful arguments silenced Crystal. Youre just feeling sorry for me. Im not! Crystal denied with absolute certainty. She chose to be with Nathan because she loved him. You dont need to feel sorry. I had a good day, really. Nathan grinned. He wanted to leave her the most stunning impression for thest moment. Its not even a day yet. Crystal bit her lower lip to stop her sleepiness. Nathan Davis! You big liar! She scolded. Nathan leaned over her, kissed her on the lips, poked his tongue into her mouth, and stirred wantonly. His smell filled her mouth; it was fascinating but bitter. Crystal grasped his clothes, but her fingers became weaker and weaker. Dont bite your lips again, he whispered, it makes my heart ache. Gradually, Crystals hands slipped down powerlessly. Nathan slowly loosened her and turned around. Seeing him leaving, Crystal grabbed the iron spoon, stabbed it on her arm with all her strength. The edge of the spoon was dull, but she stabbed with great force to make herself ache. The peasant woman was astonished. She hurriedly shouted, Put down the spoon! Nathan grabbed her by the wrist and scolded, Are you crazy!? She wished there was a knife around her or a fork so that she could have stabbed herself with them and would not be so sleepy. Though her sight became fuzzy, she caught a glimpse of the broken bowl she had just thrown on the ground. She leaned over the ground, trying to grab the porcin. Nathan hastened to stop her and, at the same time, kicked the porcin away with a leg. Crystal Smith, wake up! Why Crystal could not hold back her emotion and melted into tears. Her tears were as if the burningva burned a hole in Nathans chest. It took me great effort to walk to you but you pushed me away Crystal began to slur. Her words suffocated Nathan, making him tremble all over. Tears kept streaming down Crystals cheek. No I dont want to lose you in this way Even even if youre dying, I want to be by your side I hope Im the one who who apanies you till thest moment Nathan, I dont want you to be lonely even at thest moment in this world And I dont want you to be my life regret Do you understand? Chapter 432: You鈥檝e Done Enough For Me Crystal watched him without even blinking, but her eyes grew more and more empty. Youve done enough for me, Nathan said while breathing heavily. Not enough, thats not enoughpared to what youve done for me Crystal murmured. Crystal thought that she owed Nathan so much since the day she had met him. She would not be able to repay his love even if she died for him. Nathan chuckled in a low voice, Meeting you is lucky enough. He turned to the peasant woman, ordered fiercely, Hurry to clean the floor! The peasant woman then turned to get the broom. Nathan carried Crystal up carefully, and after confirming that there was nothing sharp or fragile nearby, he gently put her down on the bed. Crystal sped his cor with herst trace of strength. The tears in the corner of her eyes floated like water running out from a tap. Nathans heart tingled very much. He chose to leave because he didnt want to say his farewell in this way; he didnt want Crystal to experience the sorrow of separation like this. He kissed her tears off, freed his arm from Crystals hands, and got up. Keep an eye on her, he instructed the peasant woman.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Finally, Nathan turned and left without hesitation while Crystal lost all her strength, closed her eyes, and fell into darkness. Not every couple is suitable to spend life with each other. We meet many people in our lives; some people help us grow, some are worth being missed for a lifetime; only a few of them can apany us to walk in the way of life. Not only couples but also friends do. Crystal had thought that when she opened her eyes, time would return to before. Everything that happened recently was just a little test from God. However, she found herself in a strange luxury bedroom after she woke up. Seeing her wake up, the maid by her side eximed happily, Oh! Miss Smith, you finally wake up. I must tell Miss Carter! Miss Carter? Crystal rubbed her head with confusion and sat up. She didnt remember why she was here. She only felt massive grief in her heart. Each cell inside her body seemed to be moring for pain. Thest memory about the farmhouse was Nathans resolute back and eyes when he had left. Crystal! You finally wake up! The door of the room was jerked open, and Nancy rushed in a while, screaming. Crystal looked nkly at her. Didnt see Nancy for a while, Crystal found her looking marvelous. Whats wrong? Nancy held Crystals hands and worried. Did he send me here? Crystal asked. Hmm. When Marcos said that Master Davis sent you over, I was so surprised. I stayed with you by the bedside for a few days, but you did not wake up. Nancy looked at her anxiously, Thats what I know. What on earth happened? Instead of saying something, Crystal smiled bitterly. Eric didnt wake up yet, so Nathan threw her here. It seemed that Nathan entrusted her to Marcos to take care of for the time being. Besides, Crystal would be less likely tomit violent actions with Nancy around her. What a thoughtful idea! Whats wrong? Tell me, dont stay silent, okay? Nancy worried, Ive never seen you like this. You scare me Hes gone, Crystal suddenly opened her mouth. Who? Nancy was confused. Hed rather die than be with me. Crystals eyes were empty. Who are you talking about? Master Davis? Nancy pressed about it. Crystal didnt answer, eyes brimming with tears. She had always used to be an independent woman; she could live without Nathan, of course, but only under the premise that Nathan lived well. But if he died, thats a totally different situation. Crystal did not know if she had the courage to live alone. Before Nathan had made the decision, he had actually flown a kite. Unfortunately, Crystal had given the wrong answer, letting him believe that she could live a happy life without him. Crystal, youre really freaking me out! Nancy hurriedly cried out to the maid, Call the doctor! No, Im fine, Crystal brought herself down to earth and said, My mobile I asked the maid to put it away. As Nancy spoke, she waved hands to the maid and instructed, Bring the mobile over. Crystal picked up the mobile, ready to dial the numbers one by one in the address list, which she had copied from Nathans mobile. To her surprise, when she opened it, all the phone numbers had been deleted. Her mind went nk. When did he delete it? Crystal wondered. She then turned on software, from which she could see the red dot was in Seattle. The red dot showed the location of Nathan. She had installed the tracking app on Nathans mobile and hidden the icon from the desktop. It seemed that he hadnt found it yet. Seattle its so far away. Crystal held the mobile tightly, wondering where he would finallynd. He might just fly via Seattle. And what could she do if she caught up with him? Nathan would absolutely keep running away. What on earth could she do to change his decision? She was pregnant; she couldnt take the ne and follow him here and there. For an hour, Crystal stared at the phone with hollow eyes. Nancy had never seen her like this. Crystal Smith, who had always told her to be tough, independent, confident, and not attached to men, was now lost. Even if Nancyforted Crystal with all possible words Crystal had ever said, Crystal remained silent and dull. Nancy scratched her head worryingly. Crystal, Im clumsy with speech. I have no idea how to make you feel better. Tell me what I should do. Suddenly, Crystals eyes brightened. Computer, she said. Yes, theres one in the study, Nancy answered. Crystal threw back the covers and scrambled out of bed. The maid led the way, and Nancy followed behind them. In the study, Crystal sat at theputer desk, searching for all information about gastric cancer. There was countless information about gastric cancer on the Inte, and Crystal began devouring them. There are almost no sessful cases of advanced gastric cancer. Why did Vic say theres a 2% chance? Crystal didnt understand. And its said that patients who had advanced gastric cancer could do nothing except wait to die. She clenched her fingers tightly. The more information Crystal browsed, the more desperate she became. Suddenly, she found that gastric cancer was not divided into three stages but four. Theres one stage called the moderately advanced stage. The moderate advanced gastric cancer was difficult to cure but not absolutely incurable. Nancy opened and shut her mouth, unspeaking. Butter, she couldnt help asking, Crystal, does he have stomach cancer? Crystal nodded, with her hand stiffly clenching the mouse. Cant it be cured? I dont know. I want to see his medical records. Can you ask Marcos if he can help me find Nathan? Okay. Ill call him now. Dont worry. If he cant find Nathan, then help me find Vic Though the chance to find them was slim, she must have a try. Crystal rubbed her temples. She couldnt break down at this critical time. She must be stronger at this time. Knowing that the information online was not authoritative, Crystal decided to go to the hospital to ask the doctor in person. Actually, I think Marcos can contact an authoritative gastric cancer expert for you, Nancy proposed. No, bother. I also want to do a pregnancy check-up. Crystal had run around these few days, so shes afraid that the baby would be affected. Ill go with you! Nancy offered. Thanks, but I can handle it. Being cold-shouldered, Nancys smiling face immediately froze. Am I despised? She muttered. Marcos assigned a car for Crystal, apanied by a few cars filled with bodyguards. They were alert all the way. As long as any car approached a little closer, they would intercept it or tow it away. Crystal guessed that Marcos would probably know Nathans whereabouts, but he would never tell her the truth. She took a look at the mobile, finding that Nathan had flown from Seattle to another city. If he kept traveling, he would cross the border of the country. And once he went abroad, the app would not be able to track him anymore. Chapter 433: You Stalked Me? In the hospital Eric was still in aa and lying on the bed. The special assistant was kneading his limbs to prevent his muscle stiffness. After looking at Eric at the door, Crystal turned around and was about to leave. Do you always take a look at him like this? The assistant suddenly said to Crystal, though, with her back at the door. Since youvee, why note in? The assistant said coldly. You are? Crystal asked. At this time, a nurse who happened toe by to take the thermometer on Eric chipped in, Mrs. Bush, this is the special assistant sent by the Bush family. She has been taking care of Master Bush these days. The woman looked familiar. After a quick-thinking, Crystal remembered that when she had met Eric at the Merah Club for the first time, Eric had pushed a girl to Nathan. Her name seemed to be L. Crystal hesitantly pushed open the door. Her paces were a little heavy. Hows he going these days? Close the door! Instead of answering, Lmanded her fiercely. Crystal did as told. I dont expect you to look after him every day, but you didnt evene to visit him, cold light shed through Ls eyes, dont forget that why Master Bush is lying here! Crystal didnt defend herself. She did owe Eric a lot. Why is the one lying here not you?! L turned around and stared at Crystal. A woman like you shouldnt have survived! She cursed. Crystal frowned. Abruptly, L took out a gun, pointing at Crystal with the muzzle. What are you going to do? Crystal stepped back. If you didnt have Master Bushs baby in your belly, do you think you could live to today? I should havee to meet you earlier. L went on furiously, Master Bush is still in aa, but you even took your old sweetheart home!? Crystal bit her lower lip. Does she know everything? Andter, you even dated as if nothing had happened! As L spoke, she picked up a stack of photos ced on the bedside table and threw them at the feet of Crystal. Some of the photos had been taken when she and Nathan were at Erics house. Some had been taken when they went to the night market to buy wool. You stalked me? Crystal clenched her fists. Now, I begin to wonder if the baby in your stomach is Master Bushs! L approached Crystal step by step. I just dont understand why he is so obsessed with you, you slutty woman! The baby is his, I swear!Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Ill know after the appraisal, L walked to Crystal, grabbed her hair, and threatened fiercely, youd better pray that its Master Bushs baby. If not, Ill kill you! Thats impossible! I did artificial insemination, Crystal refused decisively. Eric cant talk now; no one knows if youre lying or not! Maybe hes also kept in the dark! L pulled Crystals hair and dragged her to the bedside to finish speaking. Crystal gave up struggling. The bodyguards sent by Marcos were guarding outside, as long as she cried, they would rush in at no time. She admitted that she did wrong and was guilty, but she was also sure that L would not kill her in front of Eric. L kicked her twice in the joint between her thigh and her shin. Kneel! She snapped at Crystal. Crystal felt her knee weak instantly and knelt on the ground. Say sorry to Master Bush. When L instructed, she kept the muzzle at Crystals head. Eric, Im sorry Crystal muttered. Thats the real voice from the bottom of her heart. She felt really sorry for him, for everything he had done for her. She wished she had died that day; Eric would not be like that now if she had died. Also, Nathan would not have been stimted because of her and thus would not have sought sce in drink, and his illness would not have worsened. Too low! He cant hear you! L shouted. Sorry! Eric, Im sorry! Crystal repeated. However, Eric was motionless, without the slightest sign of waking up. Only light breathing sounded in the room. Ls hand slid down slowly. Why dont you wake up?! She yelled in disappointment. Crystals hands and feet became cold because of kneeling on the ground. Eric Bush. If you dont wake up, Ill kill her and then kill myself! She threatened, shooting into the air. The doctor had said that although Eric was unconscious, he might hear the sound around him. It might be helpful to radiate messages that stimte him continually. And when it came to stimtion, the only clue that came to Ls mind was Crystal. Only by talking about Crystal could Eric be able to listen. Three shots hit the floor at Crystals feet with another three loud noises. The bullet shells rolled around for a few seconds and finally stopped. Eric Bush, dont you believe that I dare to kill her?! L gave out a bitter smile, and pulled Crystal up from the floor, and went on, Get up! Lets do the paternity test right away! Marcos bodyguards found that L had hijacked Crystal, immediately rushed in, and pulled out their guns. L hadnt expected that Crystal woulde with so many bodyguards. She sneered, You think I cant take you away? Dont forget whose territory youre in. All the men in the hospital are men under the Bush family. Crystal smiled calmly, Then you should know who youre hijacking. They are all under Eric, do you think they would listen to you or listen to Mrs. Bush? Sure enough, the bodyguards stood still. Without Erics order, they could not have done anything to Mrs. Bush. Mrs. Bush? Do you deserve this title? I told you that the baby is Erics. I know I owe Eric a lot, as forpensation, I will give birth to the baby and hand it over to the Bush family. I know you care about Eric and hate me, but have you ever thought that the testing would hurt the baby? The paternity test has to be punctured into the centa at less than three months old. It is risky for the baby. I dont want to do anything that hurts it. No bargain. You dont have the final say. I can spare you today, but youd better pray that you wont be caught by me next time. If you fall on my hand next time, you cant escape then. And if the result shows that the baby is not Erics L paused with a terrifying smile on her face. She leaned over Crystal and whispered, Ill send you and your baby to hell personally. However, Crystal said calmly, poker-faced, Take good care of Eric. With you here, I feel relieved. Dont be hypocritical! If you really worry about him, you should have been the one who takes care of him. Sorry. I still have something to handle. Crystal sighed. She wanted to do something for Eric, but ording to her current situation, even if she was here, her thoughts were elsewhere. So, L was the best person to stay here. At least L put her heart and soul into Erics shoes. Crystal finally walked out of the ward, safe and sound. She did the B-ultrasound first, and the result showed that the baby was very healthy and grew a little bigger. While she was looking at the B-ultrasound image, she walked to the department of gastroenterology. She consulted the doctor about gastric cancer and made notes carefully. The doctor suggested that the patient ept treatment as soon as possible, or else the possible cure would not be 2%, but zero. She was eager to persuade Nathan to undergo surgery quickly, but where was he now? She had no idea. After returning from the hospital, Crystal began to read books or surf the Inte for gastric cancer day and night. She became swamped learning to weave scarves, engaged in learning about knowledge of gastric cancer, and busy looking for Nathan. Time flew by. Half a month passed, and she failed to hear any news about Nathan from Marcos. Crystal could not wait any longer; she let the servant pack luggage for her. Crystal, where are you going? Seeing the servant packing for Crystal, Nancy became anxious. Chapter 434: Take It Easy But, youre pregnant. You cant fly during this period, Nancy worried. Ive got some pills from the doctor. Itll be fine. Crystal went back to her bedroom, took a picture of the done scarf, and posted it to Instagram. These days, she keeps recording her daily life on Instagram. Scarf Weaving, cooking, the information of gastric cancer that she concluded She somehow had the feeling that Nathan would see the posts. After posting the photo, she stared at theputer screen for a while before starting the final packing. In Garcias Manor. Marcos picked his ear with a finger while listening to the gunshots that sounded in the shooting range. Master Davis, youre not yourselftely. What a low hit ratio! Marcos ridiculed. Nathan, who had always hit the bulls eye, made frequent mistakestely. Marcos put away his cell phone, asked Nathan mysteriously, Arent you curious who just called me? Not at all! Its about Miss Smith. Nathan dropped the empty gun and picked up another one. Seeing Nathan have no response, Marcos said, Shes going to your fathers manor today. Nathans hands suddenly stiffened, coldness filled the bottom of his eyes. She even eggs my fiance on not to marry me just because I cant find you, Marcos picked up a bullet shell on the ground and continued, you really created great difficulty for me this time. Yes, Nathan didnt leave at all. As soon as he had found the software, he had left the mobile to a bodyguard and created the illusion that he had left Houston. He had thought that Crystal would have given up knowing he had gone. But the fact was the opposite. Crystal had inquired about his whereabouts every day and done a lot for him, and Nathan had known everything via Marcos. You cant even handle the simplest emotional problems, how can I rest assured to entrust my sister to you? Marcos squinted fiercely, added, It seems I need to reconsider the wedding of you two. Nathan sneered, Do you have the qualification to consider it? If your father knows you have cancer, do you think he would sit back? Marcos fiddled with the bullet shell in his hand. He will definitely be suspicious and then see through our n. At that time, you cannot live up to your promise, but also the Garcia family will be involved. The risk is great. Do you want to go back on your words at this time? Marcos didnt answer the question; instead, he said, I have an idea. Shoot! Nathan said impatiently. Kill her or lock her up until everything is over. Nathan tightly held the gun, pulled the trigger again. This time, the bullet directly hit the bulls eye. The first proposal is just a joke, take it easy, Marcos said casually, I know you must not be reluctant to do that. How about locking her up? Crystal was currently in high spirits. Locking her up could only force her to make fiercer movements. Besides, in that case, she would know Nathan was still nearby. Crystal was carrying luggage downstairs, not yet out of the door, but was stopped by the servant. Miss Smith, I just got the order from the young master. From today on, you must not leave the manor. Why? Crystal frowned. Its for your safety, and pregnant women should not run around, the servant exined without emotion. Crystal chilled all over. She had just told Marcos about her leaving, and she was grounded in the twinkling of an eye. If it were not for Nathans request, how would Marcos mind her business? In anger, Crystal dropped the suitcase on the ground with force, Nathan Davis, where are you? Come on out! I know you can see me! Miss Smith, your call, at this time, a servant came over with a wireless telephone receiver. Crystal took it over with doubt. The moment she answered the phone, Nathans voice sounded immediately, Give me two months, Ill exin everything to you. Nathan? Why? Why two months? I have something to deal with yet, said Nathan. But, you know, you cant dy the treatment any longer, or itll be an advanced period I told you to give me another two months. Cant you just listen to me once? What is more important than your life? If the operation fails, I will lose my only chance. It wont fail, as long as Come on, Crystal. Who do you think you are? You cant dominate everything, and you cant ensure any operation. Nathan replied grimly, For me, it is all death whether I can live one day more or less. I can only lie down and wait for death in the hospital! Why should I waste my time?! Nathan believed that he would die. Crystal persuaded, I have read many relevant books these days. Modern medicine is so advanced, arent you very powerful? Cant you find the best doctor? Nathan, as long as we try hard You are enough. Its a matter of possibility, not relevant to how hard we try.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Tell me what I should do You never cared about my life before, so from now on, you dont need to intervene either. He replied ruthlessly. You really have to treat me like this? Yes. Crystal, I dont need you now, just leave me alone. Crystal breathed hard. She could only hear the beeping along with her ears. If it were in the past, how could she stand this? She must have left before he refused. Crystal smiled miserably. She was not confident enough to believe that Nathan would always love her, nor was she sure if he did not want to treat the illness, so he deliberately alienated her She only knew that she could leave at will if he were not sick. But now, she couldnt leave him alone. Crystal found out Nathans phone number and stored it on her own cell phone. She started calling him, but he didnt answer, so she called again and again. Half an hour passed, she kept repeating an action, but the only response to her was the same ringtone. Miss Smith, dont stand here, why not take a rest on the sofa? Crystal then came back to reality. Yeah, she had been standing for so long that her legs were numb. Crystal felt that her body was weightless when she was walking She curled up on the sofa, hugging herself, and wondered what she was sticking to. Nathan didnt even care about his own life. Why on earth did she bother him so stubbornly? Tears wet her eyshes. She picked up a book randomly and flipped through it. After turning a few pages, she couldnt go in at all. Then she stood up and walked into the kitchen. After a long time, several servants gathered around the kitchen entrance. Crystal had been busy in the kitchen for seven or eight hours, during which she had broken some tes, cut her fingers, and continuously made scary noises But there was no response at all, no matter who had called her. Not until the following day, Crystal dished up thest dish and put it in the lunch box. Looking at the ten-story lunch box, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Give this to your young master when hees back today. The servants looked at each other. No one knew what she meant. Just give it to him. He will know. Crystal thought for a while, pushed them aside, went upstairs, picked up the scarf she knitted personally, and went downstairs again. I also knit this scarf for him. Please ask your young master to give it to him. After doing all this, Crystal finally felt relieved, while her body also began to feel exhausted. Sheter realized that she felt hungry and asked the servant to heat the food for her. Then she sat alone at the vast table to eat. In the evening, shey in bed and couldnt help picking up the book about knitting again. This time, she wanted to knit a sweater for him. As she was knitting, she thought of their past. Sometimes she couldnt help but raise the corner of her mouth and smile gently. Sometimes before the smile on the corner of her mouth stiffened, the tears fell down first She missed him badly; however, she couldnt do anything but shed tears. Chapter 435: What A Coincidence Marcos hadnte that day, so the servant directly called him. After hearing only a few words, he immediately understood Crystals intention Leaning on the misty natural hot spring, he nced at Nathan with a wicked smile. Since Miss Smith has taken so much effort to do it, send it over. Nathan squinted. When he heard the words: Miss Smith, his eyshes fluttered slightly. Nathan, it seems that you have been entangled by a bimbo this time. It wont be easy for you to get rid of her. Im so curious. What method did you use to subdue Mrs. Bush so thoroughly? Is the baby in her belly yours? Nathans ck eyes opened suddenly, murderously. A fist punched over. Marcos avoided it in time. Why are you so mad? Am I right? Dont mess with me. In the middle of the night, a vi was built on the top of the mountain, with steep cliffs behind it, like a fairnd in the clouds. Warm lights lit up around the whole house. And there was the sound of water and the waterfalls flowing. Garcias private ne flew here at midnight just to bring a box of dinner. Perfect time. Im so hungry now. I can have a big meal. Marcos got up unceremoniously. He took the towel held by the servant, wrapped it around him, and sat casually on the stone chair. The ten-story luxurious lunch box was opened one after another. The heat preservation was excellent. A burst of heat came, with the delicious fragrance, which could be smelled far away. It smells so good. If you dont want to die, just put it down. Nathans gloomy voice came as if a storm were passing by. Marcos nced at him, No wonder you are Master Davis. You dare to be so arrogant in my ce! Put it down! There is so much, are you sure you can finish them? Its none of your business. What is this? Marcos suddenly swept an unopened stic bag and took out a scarf from it. Tsk, tsk. How old are you? Is hand knitting still popr these days? Nathans tall figure suddenly approached, and his fist also came over to greet Marcos. Marcos dodged easily and put the scarf on his neck Nathan suddenly tied his neck with a scarf, about to strangle him. My neck is worthless, but your scarf Marcos smiled ghastly, If it breaks, what a pity! Nathan took the scarf back fiercely. Some water on Marcos body was stained on it. He looked disgusted and stretched out his fist abruptly. Marcos grabbed his fist, Ive given you the scarf, you still want to hit me? At this time, the servant came over with Marcos cell phone, Young Master, your phone. Marcos got up and took it to the other side to pick it up. Looking at the food on the stone table, Nathan could see that Crystal had made much effort on everything. He silently picked up the food and took a bite As if there were some emotions in his throat, he swallowed it slowly. A gust of wind blew. His body, which was condensed with water drops, began to feel cold. He tasted each dish very carefully, swallowing every bite extremely hard. In the afternoon, Crystal dressed up and went out. She hadnt been shopping for a long time, so she decided to go out. She came to a high-end shopping mall. Suddenly, Crystal stopped in front of a shop window. She saw a pair of male shoes with golden NC decorations. Nathan (N), Crystal (C), these shoes contained their two initials. Mrs. Bush, what a coincidence! Im so d to meet you here. Crystals back stiffened. This soft and elegant voice was Mabel, wearing oversized sunsses and a brown woolen coat, followed by a few bodyguards, walking to Crystal. The bodyguards standing behind Crystal even recognized Mabel. Good afternoon, Miss Garcia. The magnificent sound immediately made everyone nearby look towards this side. It was so shy to go shopping with so many bodyguards Crystals body still stiffened. She saw Mabel friendly stretch out her hand to shake with her, with a diamond ring on her ring finger. Miss Garcia, your ring is unique. Crystal shook hands with her politely, Where did you buy it? Mabel withdrew her hand in embarrassment. You mean this? This is a specially customized ring. Is it a wedding ring? It should be an engagement ring She smiled and said, The wedding ring should be worn on the wedding day. Sure. Crystal asked with a smile, Can I see it? This style is exactly to my taste. Mabel smiled, Of course, I will show you. Crystal took over her hand and stared at the ring carefully. The Brilliant Group must make it because its workmanship and style indicated Nathans exclusively domineering personality. Is it from the Brilliant Group? Mrs. Bush, good eye. You said its specially customized, there must be only one pair in the world, right? Crystal squinted her eyes. Mabel took off the ring and handed it to Crystal. Crystal took it in her hand and looked at it carefully. She certainly saw the logo of the Brilliant Group. There was also a piece of words engraved on the inner side of the ring [Crown with my name, you are my forever love.] Crystals hands shook as if the ring was burning them. The ring fell to the ground suddenly and rolled out far. Mabels face changed drastically, You, find it back to me. A group of bodyguards bent over and ran after the ring However, the little ring kept rolling through many feet. Crystals face looked terrible, Im so sorry. I didnt hold it steady. I am not on purpose. Mabel tried to maintain a decent smile. Dont worry. They will find it for me. Are you buying shoes? Crystal really didnt mean it. She was afraid that Mabel would overthink. Her heart had already been very chaotic. She remembered that in the picture Mabel sent to Nancy, a hand was incongruous, which was wearing the same type of ring.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Only by seeing one hand could Crystal know that it was Nathan. However, Mabel was originally Nathans fiance. Crystal had already guessed that Mabel might have been part of Nathan and Amoss conditions. But when the truth appeared in front of her eyes, she still felt a little hard to ept it. Mabel had seen Crystal in the manor, after all. She knew that Crystal had used to have a rtionship with Nathan. Mrs. Bush, I just want to buy shoes, too. Lets go in and take a look. Mabel held Crystals arm intimately and walked into the store. But, your ring? There are so many bodyguards. Its easy for them to find such a small ring. Mabel did cherish the things Nathan gave her, especially this ring with unusual meaning. Of course, she was very anxious at this moment, but she didnt want to show this anxiety to Crystal. Honestly, Crystals mood was also very bad now, but she still tried hard to maintain her manners Two women simultaneously picked up the shoes on the window. Crystal took the left foot, while Mabel took the right foot. What a coincidence! We even like the same pair of shoes. Mabel smiled. Crystal silently looked at the shoes. The workmanship was very excellent, mainly because of the NC logo, which she liked a lot. Crystal suddenly raised her head to look at Mabel, fondling the shoe admiringly. Miss Garcia, do you buy this for your fianc? Mabel nodded slightly, How about you? You want to buy it for Mr. Bush? Crystals mood became extremely bad. She was indeed Mrs. Bush. Her legal husband was lying in the hospital. Then what was her rtionship with Nathan? Miss, please give me this pair of 43 shoes. When Crystal heard 43, she felt her heart being hammered by a hammer. Me too, 43. She tried to stay calm. Mabel smiled, Its such a coincidence that even their shoe sizes are the same. Crystal smiled back, Yeah, what a coincidence. Your wedding ring is also very beautiful Mabel looked at the ring on Crystals hand. Crystal didnt know if Mabel meant the ring Eric gave her or the ring on Mabels hand before. Chapter 436: Show Me That The clerk quickly came over with a pair of shoes. Im so sorry. This pair of shoes is a limited edition. Each franchise store only has one pair of the same size. Two womens hands touched the shoebox at the same time. Mabel first let go, Mrs. Bush, since you like it so much, you should take it. Crystal held it in her hands, unceremoniously. Then, thanks for your generosity. Mabel smiled, You are wee. I can go to other stores to buy. When Crystal thought that she and Mabel would give Nathan precisely the same type of shoes, the letters NC instantly became ironic in her eyes. Excuse me, although there is only one pair of these shoes, there is another brown one with the same size. The clerk reminded them. Mabel demanded, Show me that. Soon the clerk took it. The brown looked younger and more fashionable, while the ck looked more formal. Mabel said happily, Brown is also nice. He will definitely love it. Ill take this. Okay, please wrap up these two pairs of shoes. Mabel turned around and smiled at Crystal, I am so happy to shop with you today. May I give you a treat? No, Miss Garcia, thanks for your kindness. Crystal looked pale. Alright since its a gift for your husband, its certainly not appropriate if I pay. Mabel said with a smile, Its so rare that we can meet today. Do you want to have coffee with me? Fine, Crystal took out her mobile phone, Can I have your phone number? If Nathan really nned to marry Mabel, she could definitely find him through Mabel. Crystals fingers were trembling while pressing the phone number How was she feeling? Jealous? It was a kind of pain as if her chest were being pricked by countless needles and the anger that she tried hard to suppress, but it couldnt stop burning Moreover, because she loved him, she had to endure everything and try her best to find all kinds of excuses for him to let herselfpromise. Crystal showed a weird and bitter smile Suddenly she understood why Nathan once kept trying to prove her love. It was because of fear and insecurity. Mrs. Bush? Mabel called her, Are you okay? Ive called you so many times, but you didnt hear it? Crystal brought her mind back and saw the clerk handing the shoes to her. Crystal took it over. The clerk reminded her, You havent paid the bill yet. Crystal felt that her gaffe was so obvious today. Mabel must have noticed it since she was so smart. After Crystal paid the bill, they walked out of the store tacitly. Several bodyguards were standing dejectedly at the door. Whats wrong? Havent you found my ring? Mabel asked. Sorry, Miss Garcia the ring rolled down from the elevator, we are still looking for it. Mabel almost couldnt hold her decent smile, but she still asked gently, Are you sure you cant find it? Well the ring is tiny. If it gets stuck in any gap, it is indeed quite difficult to find it. Blockade the whole mall, look for it. Yes, Miss Garcia. Mabel took out her cell phone and called Marcos, asking him to send people here to help her find the ring. Marcos, I identally lost the ring The engagement ring. I dont want to make a new one. I want this one. I like it very much. You must find it back, Marcos Mabel, who was usually polite and decent, suddenly became a little girl when facing Marcos. I have finished selecting the wedding dresses and sent them to the vi. There are 18 sets in total Ill go back and show youter Okay, fine After closing the phone, Mabel then realized that Crystal was still standing behind her. She smiled awkwardly, Mrs. Bush, you are still here? I lost your ring. How can I leave before you find it? Crystal had just heard the whole conversation. Dont worry, they will find it soon I happened to live in your home recently because of certain reasons. Crystal asked tentatively, But I have never seen you. Dont you live there? Ive been preparing for the wedding recently. You know theyout of the venue is a headache for me, so I live directly in the manor. The manor? Yeah, Garcias manor. Our wedding is going to be held there in two months. Crystals brain sted in two months [Give me two months, I will exin everything to you.] It turned out that the two months Nathan referred to was to marry Mabel? He was not even afraid of death, but he still wanted to marry Mabel before he died! I am sorry. I still have a lot of things to do today. Would you mind having coffee another day? Mabel looked sorry. Okay, see youter. Crystal said goodbye to Mabel. The bodyguards who followed Crystal were all left to look for the ring, and only the close servant sent her out of the mall. Crystal squinted, watching the private car park in front of the square from a distance, and suddenly stopped. I feel very thirsty now. Go to buy me a bottle of juice. But I need to protect you. I cant leave you alone here. I will stay here. You can go ande back soon. Crystal pointed to a milk tea shop and said, After the servant left, Crystal walked quickly to the road and took a taxi. She did not let the driver leave immediately but asked him to wait in a nearby parking area. Mabel left all the bodyguards, so no one would pay attention to her. Once Mabel found the ring, she would return to the manor Crystal smiled coldly, took out her mobile phone, and opened the MMS message sent by Marcos. Nathans hand was photographed in it. After the picture was erged, the ring on that hand was precisely the same as Mabels. Ten minutester, the servant came out carrying a cup of milk tea. She didnt see Crystal, but she didnt dare to say anything, so she went back alone in the private car. Soon Mabel just came out of the mall with her mighty bodyguards. Follow that car. The taxi followed far away. Mabel had a dozen bodyguard cars on the road, so it was easy for the driver to follow them. The cars gradually drove to remote areas, with fewer and fewer vehicles on the road. Soon only the taxi in which Crystal was still followed far away Miss Garcia, there seems to be a car following us. Stop it and see who it is. Two bodyguard cars turned sharply and drove back.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Crystal knew well about this situation. She must have been suspected, so the bodyguard cars would block the taxi. The taxi happened to be at an intersection. Crystal asked the driver to change thene When two bodyguard cars drove halfway, they saw the taxi changenes. Then they were disarmed, thinking that it was just a passing car. Crystal breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the convoy, which was moving further and further away. Sir, where does that road lead to? Thats a one-way road. It has been bought privately. Someone has built a house on the top of the mountain. Crystal lowered the car window and looked at it. From a distance, the mist lingered in the mountains. There was indeed a majestic mountain vi on the top. Crystal knew that it must be the Garcia familys Manor without thinking more about it. Well, can we go up the mountain? I dont know, I havent been there yet But it is said that the road into the mountain is guarded, so it is impossible to enter randomly. Crystal squinted, thinking that Nathan must be there. She wanted to go up but was afraid that she would not be able to get in, but she would only startle the snake. Besides, she had disappeared for so long. The servant who had returned to the Garcias Mansion would inform Marcos, then Nathan would soon know that she was missing. Chapter 437: How Would I Lie To You? Crystal was wearing the chain on her foot. As long as Nathan checked the GPS, he would know that she had been here. Crystal shook her head, Sir, just drive me back. She had remembered this way and knew where he was hiding. Her heart was already very exhausted. She didnt want to go back to Garcias Mansion again. At this moment, she even wanted to retreat. She didnt want to care about Nathan anymore. No matter what he wanted to do, he had always been a nned person Since he didnt want her to interfere, why did she bother him? Did he lie to her? Did he never have gastric cancer? Crystal smiled bitterly. He had never admitted that he had gastric cancer, so how could he lie to her?! His stomach had always been wrong, but it wouldnt suddenly be terminal cancer, right? Maybe she just made a fuss when she saw the blood which he vomited while he just dumped her out of his n? If he actually didnt have any gastric cancer and wanted to marry Mabel, she would sincerely bless him. But what if he did have gastric cancer? Crystals brain was in a mess. She only hoped that someone could solve the puzzle for her. When the Garcia family knew that Crystal had disappeared and was about to find her, she had already dragged her tired body into the hall. Miss Smith, where have you been? This pair of shoes, please help me give this to Master Garcia. Crystal threw the shoebox on the sofa and went upstairs exhaustedly. She felt tired at every step. Her legs seemed to be filled with lead Ever since she thought Nathan was sick, she had been nervous all the time and had never had a good sleep. Crystal took out her cell phone and checked the information box. Nathan still did not send a word. Crystal used up herst strength to send him a message, [This afternoon, I went to the mall and bought you a pair of shoes. I have never sent you shoes. This is the first pair. I hope you will like it. The logo on the shoes is NC, which is the abbreviation of our name. It is very special.] Crystal deliberately exined the meaning of the letter NC Because she could expect that Mabel would also give those same shoes. Crystal wanted Nathan to choose. She fell on the bed, feeling chaotic. With cold sweat on her forehead, Crystal, in her dream, seemed to see herself as Cami, kneeling on the ground, holding Nathans legs, begging him not to abandon her, begging him not to go Suddenly, Crystal shivered and woke up. She looked at the ceiling nkly, feeling that her body and head were so heavyContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. It seemed that her body suddenly fell seriously ill, or the fatigue umted over the past few days finally swept her. Crystal felt wet warmth in her lower body. She wanted to move her body, but she couldnt at all Crystal used her hand to touch her lower body, feeling blood on her fingers, and stared at her fingers nkly. After being absent for dozens of seconds, she finally returned to her mind. Help! She screamed hard with a hoarse voice, but the sound instion of the room was excellent. She looked at the service bell above the bed and wanted to climb over and ring it.. However, as long as she moved, the warm current of the lower body would flow more fiercely. Her legs also seemed to be held down by a strange force, making her unable to move at all. She didnt dare to move anymore. Her bloody fingers took out the phone under the pillow. Her mind was nk, and the first person who she thought of was Nathan. She called him once, twice, three times. When the music kept ringing, she realized that he would never answer her phone Help! Who can save me?! Crystal was frozen and cold, calling for help, but no one responded to her. Outside the window was a dark night The night was silent. It seemed that the whole world was so empty that she was alone. She typed on the phone, [Nathan, save me] [Im bleeding, I might have a miscarriage] Before the second message was sent, she fell into dizziness. Her face was extremely ashen, and finally, she fainted. In the morning Crystal slept peacefully on the big bed, with long eyshes hanging down. Her face was pale without a trace of blood. Suddenly her body twitched, then she woke up When Crystal thought of the experiencest night, her forehead was covered with cold sweat. She plucked up the courage to lift the quilt and look at it. There was no shocking blood, but she had changed into her pajamas and was covered by a quilt. Her heart twitched, her legs moved. And unlike yesternight, she was no longer frozen. Crystal then lifted her upper body, quickly pressed the service bell. Crystal pressed the service bell very hard, over and over again, until the servant rushed in. Miss Smith, Im here, whats wrong? Child my child is he gone? What? The servant was confused. Did I have a miscarriagest night?! And I shed a lot of blood Miss Smith, dont scare me, when did you bleedst night? Then who changed my pajamas? You were probably too tired from shopping the other day. I came to ask you to have dinner, but I cant wake you up. Seeing you lie down with your clothes and shoes, some servants and I just helped you change the pajamas and take off your shoes. The servant continued, Then we didnt dare to bother you at all, so we just let you rest here alone. Crystal frowned. She remembered that she had called for helpst night. Mobile phone Crystal took out her phone under the pillow. There was no blood on it She rubbed her head. Was it really a dream? But she had had so many nightmares, she wouldnt even be confused between dreams and reality. Miss Smith, are you really okay? I need a doctor ask the doctor toe and check my child Okay, dont worry, I will contact the doctor for you right away. Crystalpletely opened the quilt and looked at the sheets and quilt cover. Obviously, they hadnt been changed. She recalled that she caught the head of the bed with her handst night and immediately checked where there was no blood. Ten minutester, the servant brought the Garcia familys doctor over. The doctor checked Crystal and said, Your baby is very healthy. You must have been too tired recently. Although your body is weak, you are also very healthy. You are lying. How would I lie to you? How can you prove that my baby is fine?! Crystal madly grabbed the doctors cor, Its impossible, you are all lying to me! The servants were all shocked. Crystal was too abnormal. Miss Smith, your child is indeed very healthy. How would we lie to you? We dont need to lie to you. But I obviously bled a lotst night Crystal said, shaking her head, That cant be a dream. I have lived for so many years, how can I not distinguish between dreams and reality? The sheets could be changed to exactly the same, the head of the bed could be cleaned, and the servants could lie to her. But the child is really healthy. If you dont believe it, we can give you a B-ultrasound now. B-ultrasound can also be fake. You are powerful. What cant you fake? Crystal felt that her head hurt, pressing her head with one hand and throwing many things at the bedside to the doctor. The servants were all frightened by the state of Crystal. Marcos hardly returned to the Garcias Mansion because hes preparing for the wedding in the manor every day. The servants had to wake up Nancy, who was still sleeping Crystal, are you okay? Nancy hugged her worriedly, I heard you fell asleep without eatingst night. They couldnt wake you up Only you will not lie to me. Tell me, I didnt have a miscarriagest night Chapter 438: When Did You Have A Miscarriage? What? Nancy was also at a loss. When did you have a miscarriage? If something really happened to Crystal, the entire Garcia must have been startled, including Nancy. So, really nothing had happened? Crystal felt inexplicably anxious and abnormal. Her general self-control didnt work at this time. She seemed to be treated with a stimnt, making her extremely irritable. The doctor hesitated to say, I think Miss Smith has a mental problem. Mental problem? Well, contact a psychologist for her. As soon as this sentence was thrown out, the room instantly plunged into a tense atmosphere. Nancy immediately scolded the doctor, What silly things are you talking about? How could Crystal have a mental problem?! Well sometimes when people are stressed, they also need a way to vent. Its okay to talk to a psychologist. The doctor persuaded her. It doesnt mean that you have a mental illness if you see a psychologist. Nancy nodded and turned to the servants, Thats right. You guys cant spread any rumors, okay? Sure, we wont If I know that you are talking nonsense, I will fire you all. Crystal looked nk. Mental illness? Like Mrs. Bush? It was impossible. She must be too exhausted or stressed out. Soon after, the servant brought a psychologist. Nancy drove all the servants out and stayed with Crystal by herself. The doctor first asked some basic questions for Crystal to answer and asked her to describe what happenedst night I could clearly feel the pain at that time, and then a lot of blood flowed out. I knew that I had a miscarriage, and it was so real and scary. Crystal insisted, Its not like a dream. I understand. The doctor closed the notebook and said, Based on the preliminary observation of you, I think you may suffer from hypochondria. Hypochondria? Well, it is also a type of mental illness. Crystal had only heard of people suffering from depression under extreme pressure, but she was different. A hypochondria? Nancy wanted to say something but hesitated. She could only be anxious in the face of this situation, so she had to go out with the doctor first. We are going out. Dont think too much about it, if you need me, just tell me, okay? Fine. Only the three of us could know todays conversation, dont tell anybody else. Crystal said indifferently, I dont want to be judged by others. Dont worry, I wont tell anyone! A few dayster, the sun was shining brightly. It was in an elegant coffee store. Several girls were wearing ck dresses and ying the violins at the corner of the coffee store Crystal was enjoying the coffee and listening to the melody. She seemed to be back to dinner with Nathan. The corner of her mouth unconsciously raised up when she looked at the ss candle cup in front of her. As if there were a handsome mans face reflected on the ss The deep pupils stared at her, calling her name- [Crystal.] The sound of a chair rubbing the ground came, Mrs. Bush? Crystal suddenly came back to her mind and looked up, seeing Mabel sit opposite elegantly. What are you thinking? You are so absorbed. Crystal then discovered that she was in memory again. She had always been like this recently. She couldnt concentrate at all and was always distracted by everything. She would think of her soaking in the bathtub with Nathan when taking a bath. When eating, she would think of Nathans elegant appearance when eating and drinking the wine Even when brushing her teeth, she would suddenly stare at the mirror nkly, as if a man were hugging her from behind Crystal looked up and smiled slightly. Miss Garcia, Im really sorry. You are so busy, but I still let you take the time to meet with me. Crystal smiled lightly, I have something to tell you.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Mabel put down her bag and smiled gently. It doesnt matter, they are busy with the wedding, so I dont need to work too much on it. Crystal had a notebook beside her hands. She pushed it over and said, I have learned something about gastric cancer. I wrote down the main points in this notebook. I think it will be useful for you If Crystal let the servant give it to Nathan, he would never take a look. If she gave it to Mabel, who might love Nathan, she would care about him and urge him on her behalf. Mabel puzzled, Gastric cancer? Well, its all for relieving the condition. I wrote it in a very easy-to-understand way. So it should be easier to understand than professional books. Miss, your coffee. The waiter put down the cappino. Mrs. Bush, I dont understand why you give this to me? Dont you know it? Crystal frowned, Nathans physical condition Uh? Whats wrong with him? He has always had stomach problems, and now it has transformed into gastric cancer. Mabels hands shook suddenly. The coffee cup in her hands also shook terribly, making the coffee inside overflow. She almost failed to hold it firmly. He has been reluctant to receive treatment. In fact, he is only in the middlete stage. He still has a chance of full recovery. Crystal said with pity, If time goes on when it bes terminal, he can only wait to die! He doesnt listen to me at all. You are his fiance, maybe he will listen to you? Mabels face looked terrible. She was a little fidgety. Crystal continued, If even you cant persuade him, just urge him to eat regrly and dont drink anymore. This notebook will tell you how to do it, Miss Garcia, thank you. Crystal was about to get up, Mabel hurriedly pulled her hand, Mrs. Bush, please make it clearer. Dont leave so soon. Crystal could see Mabels anxiety on her face She sat back and asked seriously, Miss Garcia, may I ask you an important question first? Say it. Do you really love him? Sure, I love him. I first saw him at a banquet when I was a child. I liked him at that time. Later, when I grew up, I also encountered him several times at high-ss banquets. Mabel blushed, I love him very much. My dream is to marry him. Crystals fingers stiffened. She felt that her heart was crumpled in pain! Although it was their past, she was still a little jealous of her existence in his past I think God still blesses me. Although I dont know why he wants to marry me one day, Mabel saidfortingly, Actually, I have been working hard for so many years to be able to match him. It turned out that her elegance and etiquette were all for Nathan. Do you know him? No matter who he is, I am ready to ept him. I will try my best to understand him. Hmm Crystal kept silent while looking at the coffee cup. You havent finished the gastric cancer thing, Mabel said anxiously. He can really treat it, right? There is still a chance of recovery. Thats nice But the possibility is very low, and Crystal stared at her and said, Nathan refused to receive treatment. Mabel grabbed her hands tight as if she were struck by lightning. Why? I dont know either. He said that he had something to aplish within two months. When I met you, you said that your wedding would be held in two months. So I guess that he wants to marry you. Chapter 439: Do I Look Sick? Crystal felt hurt, There are still two months. He can prepare the wedding while receiving treatment or postpone the wedding. Why should he rush at this time? Is this wedding more important than his life? Mabel shook her head, I dont know either Suddenly, there was a stiff silence in the air. Only the sound of the violin could be heard. Mabel looked at Crystal with doubts in her eyes, Mrs. Bush, I know you and Nathan had a rtionship before. Its all over. I am someone elses wife now. Crystal stroked the ring in her hand. But at the manor before Mabels eyes shed. Crystal had a husband at the time, but she had still been so intimate with Nathan. Mabel was not a fool. She could see how much Nathan cared about Crystal. When they looked at each other, they couldnt hold others in their eyes. Shepletely became a background You dont believe me? Do you think I will lie to you about such a big thing? I suddenly feel a little ufortable, I need to go to the bathroom. Fine. Can you wait for me here? Mabel said nervously, Please, I have a lot to ask you. Crystal hesitated for a moment and said, Okay, Ill wait for you. Seeing Mabel leaving in a hurry, Crystal took back the notebook and looked at the dense notes she had made. Crystal thought in her heart, Nathan, I can help you here Mabel walked into the cubicle and took out her cell phone to call Marcos. Marcos, I have something significant that Nathan muste over and confirm in person. Please, he probably wont answer if I call him, let alonee over. Well, about the matter I cant tell you until I confirm it. He cares about nothing except for the wedding? Thats why I am calling you to help me, Marcos. **** Mrs. Bush, what are you thinking about? You look so happy. Crystal was startled. She did wonder again. To be honest, I know nothing about Nathan except for loving him Mabel asked curiously, Can you tell me more about him? I dont know much either. Then how did you meet each other? Crystal smiled bitterly. How did he and she meet? Even though she probably didnt know where to start. Then tell me something about Mr. Bush. Mabel looked at the time on the phone and shifted the subjects smartly. The violin was ying lightly, and the two women chatted casually. More than half an hourter, a cold air current suddenly struck. Crystals fingers holding the coffee cup stiffened. The moment she turned her head, her eyes met Nathans gaze. Crystal looked dazed, thinking this was also an illusion she had imagined. She thought she would never be able to see him again in her life Nathan walked in from the door. The waiters on both sides saluted towards him, followed by Vic and bodyguards. He took off his oversized sunsses. He only nced at her and then turned his gaze away. She saw something shing through his eyes very fast. The cold breath forced Mabel greeted him immediately, stood in front of him, and said something. Crystalughed at herself, even though her imagination was so real now? She actually saw Nathan wearing NC brown leather shoes-the pair given by Mabel. I met Mrs. Bush by chance, so I invited her to have a cup of coffee here. Then I unexpectedly heard some news about your body. Nathan, I am sorry to ask my brother to trick you intoing here and verifying, are you mad at me?Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Mabel was very brilliant. She knew that if Crystal were not here, it would be difficult for her tomunicate normally with Nathan. So she hurriedly called Nathan over at this time-then she could tell the truth from the interaction between Nathan and Crystal. Nathan squinted his eyes, What news? She said your body has a problem. Is this true? Nathan narrowed his eyes slightly. Whats the problem? Gastric cancer, she also said that it will be terminal if you dont get treatment. You have to die Nathan naturally stretched out to hold Mabels waist and walked to the coffee table. Vic pulled away from the chair. After Nathan sat down, he naturally ced Mabel on hisp. Mabel was ttered and allowed him to hold her small hand with his big hand, cing it on her waist. She was so happy to be held by him like this. Until this moment, Crystal started to know that all this in front of her was not her own imagination, but the truth. She looked at him openly, from up to down, then from down to up. His hair was a bit longer, but he was in good spirits. His face was clean. He was neatly dressed, and he didnt be thinner. What made her more relieved was that he didnt have a smell of alcohol. Finally, her gaze fell on the wedding ring on his ring finger. Crystal slowly hooked up a cold smile. Mrs. Bush. In a low and thick voice, Nathan suddenly said, If you still spread rumors everywhere, do you know what the consequences will be? Mr. Davis, you have gastric cancer. But you even hide it from your fiance, isnt it inappropriate? Nathan sneered, Since you know that Im going to get married, why dont you go away? You want to scare my bride away and ruin my wedding? Do you really think that I have feelings for you? Nathan said cruelly, You are just a second-hand good. Its barely okay to be my toy. Oh, dont forget to send my regards to Master Bush, is he okay? Does he know that his wife is a wanton? Cant he wake up to take care of you? Each word was filled with cruelty so that other people could understand that he didnt have any feelings for Crystal, only his disgust after ying with her. Crystal understood that he was acting for Mabel, just to keep her from knowing it? No woman would want to be a widow after getting married. However, Mabel said that her dream was to marry Nathan. If she knew, she would definitely persuade him to receive treatment. Mr. Davis, actually, you dont need to worry about that. I dont mean to ruin your wedding. I just did some research on gastric cancer recently and summarized some things that I found useful Crystal closed the notebook. I just want to share these with Miss Garcia, nothing else. If you misunderstand me, I have to say sorry. Well, I think that Mrs. Bush does so out of kindness. Mabel said softly, Nathan, if you are really sick, you must receive the treatment. The wedding can be postponed, and I can wait. The wedding will not be postponed, I am not sick! But Do I look sick? Nathan pinched her chin, Are you ming me for not serving you wellst night? Mabel flushed. Last night? Serving? When had she been with Nathan? Crystals face suddenly turned pale. If you keep thinking nonsense in your little head, Ill let you see tonight if I am sick or not! Nathan Crystal picked up the coffee cup and forced herself to calm down. Mr. Davis, if you think I want to ruin your wedding and be with you, then you are wrong. I havepletely given you up. Give him up The three words, like a knife, cut Nathans heart. He pretended to y with Mabels hair indifferently. Chapter 440: Take Off The Bracelet Normally, Crystal had always given up their rtionship easily. This time, she pestered him so much, which made him quite surprised. As you wish, from now on, I wont bother you again. Crystal looked at him. However, after you die, I will definitely visit you. Dont expect me to cry and die for you. A coward like you doesnt deserve it at all! Crystal guessed that he did want to hear these words! p! p! p! Nathan apuded, You came to mislead my fiance. But you failed, so now you deliberately provoked me? Crystal looked dazed and finally understood how Camis condition had worsened, whose feelings were hurt again and again. Nathans love always stabbed her like this and caught her off guard. Mabel stared suspiciously at Crystal. She seemed to be shaking. Crystal suppressed her anger, Nathan, why do you never face reality? Let me tell you what reality is! Nathan suddenly picked up the notebook on the table. No, dont touch it! Crystal knew what he wanted to do. Before her voice fell, Nathan moved. The notebook was torn apart. Crystal reached out to grab it, but it was toote. It was all scattered She had already guessed that if the notebook fell into Nathans hands, he must destroy it. So she approached Mabel and wanted to persuade him through Mabel. However, the result was the same. Crystal had read books day and night and recorded everything in this notebook word by word, which condensed all her efforts. It was torn apart so easily. She didnt feel pity about her efforts, but the help of these things to Nathan. Otherwise, she would not put down her pride and find Mabel. Nor would she ask her to take care of Nathan. Crystals eyes shrank. She suddenly grabbed the coffee and poured it on Nathans face. I really want to beat you to help you wake up! The coffee sshed Nathans face and dripped onto his clothes, hands, and notebook.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. The bodyguards all took a deep breath, Mabel even widened her eyes in shock. Vic didnt speak from beginning to end. The air froze in an instant. Mrs. Bush, I am sober now. You have always pestered me. It is you who need to wake up! Nathans face became cold. He raised his arms to spread the notebook forcefully, which was scattered, flying around in front of Crystal. Some papers were stained with coffee, the handwriting on which had slowly faded away, and some couldnt be read clearly. Some guests sitting nearby all looked at them. Crystals heart throbbed. She said slowly, I pester you? You keep asking me the purpose of doing this today, my purpose is very simple I just want to find a woman to take care of you before I leave. If my concern is entanglement in your eyes, then whats everything that youve done to me before? You are always like this, Nathan. You always have your own n, but you have never had me in your n. Nathan bowed his head and said harshly, Why do I have to have you in my n!? Crystal nodded. Fine, then your life has nothing to do with me either. It doesnt matter if you die. If you die, there will be no threats for me anymore. Crystal raised her lips, I can go wherever I want, its actually not that bad. Nathans throat tightened, undted as if he had something to say, but he finally swallowed it. Crystal looked at him coldly, stretched out her hand, and ced it on the coffee table. Take off the bracelet! Nathans eyes were gloomy. He looked at Crystals snow-white slender arm and the bracelet hanging on her wrist. Mabel also stared at the bracelet. She didnt see anything unusual. Crystal smiled coldly. Was she afraid of Nathans death? No! She had even contacted the cemetery. She would choose a cemetery this afternoon, her cemetery! The doctor said that she had hypochondria. If she were lucky enough, she would be rescued by someone just like Cami. But she didnt know if one day she would kill herself in the imagination Since she was not even afraid of death now, would she be afraid of Nathans death? It would be better if he died. She would no longer need to worry about him, and he would have no chance to hurt her again. Being alive would only make them torture each other. Nathan stared at the bracelet gloomily. A trace of uneasiness shed quickly in his eyes. Would he still care about Amoss threat if he could untie this bracelet? Nathan, you put this bracelet on me because you can find me wherever I go. Crystal smiled coldly, Since you want to draw a clear line with me now, just take everything that belongs to you away. I dont want any of your things. Take off the bracelet! Put your hand back, Nathan growled low. I want you to take off the bracelet. As long as you take it off, I will never bother you again. If you dont take it off, it proves that you still want to find me. Crystal smiled sarcastically, I dont want you toe to me again when you think of me and regret it. Im tired of ying with you. If its possible, unless you die, otherwise, I dont want to see you again. Nathan stared at her fiercely. Crystal looked pale and also stared at him. I wont find you, Nathan said coldly. I dont believe your nonsense. You said the same thing before. So what? Ive told you that I wont find you, it means that I wont! Since you wonte to me, why dont you take it off? It cant be opened without the key. Heh, are you kidding me? Since there is a lock, there must be a key. Crystal also thought about removing this bracelet. Eric had also given a ne to her before, and finally, they used the gun to unlock it. But this one was different. It was made of unique materials, which couldnt be broken by the bullets! She had tried all avable methods, but they didnt work at all. If you dont take it off, it means that you still want me to be with you, dont you? I dont have the key. I have thrown it away. Nathan said tiredly, You can go freely, I will destroy all the monitoring equipment connected to the bracelet. Who knows if you will rebuild it? Crystal urged again, Come on, Mr. Davis, when do you be so irresolute? Its just a bracelet. Didnt you just say that you hate me to pester you? If you take it off, we are over. What are you waiting for? Im begging you, for onest time, set me free and remove this bracelet. She tried to control her emotion while looking at him. Nathan mmed on the table. I dont have the key! I do not believe you! Vic, who had been silent all the time, finally raised his head to help Nathan defend, Miss Smith, Young Master really doesnt have the key. Then who has? Vic nced at Nathan quickly and whispered, Its lost lost. Crystalughed mockingly. You once told me that Nathans watch was lost. But in the end, didnt he find it back? You tell me this now, what if hees to me again in the future? Chapter 441: Nothing Can Threaten Me Vic, when Nathan was sick, you didnt say a word. Now it has already be serious. Dont you think its toote to say anything? Crystal said contemptuously, I used to think that you were loyal, and I admired you a lot. But I dont think so now. You are just a person who doesnt even distinguish between right and wrong. Do you think that you are doing everything good for him now? There was a cold light in Crystals eyes. Do you know that you are killing him with your own hands?! Vic moved his lips and lowered his head. When you should help, you are not here. But when you shouldnt mess up, you start to get in the way! Miss Smith, there are many things that you dont understand Do I ask you to talk? Get out! Nathan was angry like a lion with exploded hair. Vic looked embarrassed. Then we will wait outside? Get out! Vic immediately evacuated all the bodyguards and stood outside the door. The coffee store was empty, the rest of the guests left one after another. The entrance of the coffee store was hanging a CLOSED sign. Crystal watched Vics quick movement. She still didnt understand why he was like this. She was so tired now that she didnt want to care about anything. She had done everything she could, as for the rest, she could only resign it to fate. I dont care if the key is really lost, or whatever. If you dont take off the bracelet today, I will make you regret it. Crystal retracted her gaze and decided to make a final announcement. Nathan stared at her. Nothing can threaten me. Are you sure? I have made it very clear that the key is gone, I will destroy all the monitoring devices. As for you, if you still want to pester me, it depends on whether you have this ability or not. After speaking, he pulled Mabel up and nned to leave. Wait. Crystal slowly opened the backpack. I have to take Master Davis for a few minutes more. He stood at the table arrogantly, My time is precious. Mrs. Bush, youd better finish it at once. Mrs. Bush, what are you doing? Mabel shouted in horror. Nathan turned his face back. Crystal had already taken out a Swiss army knife from her bag. The sharp de was shining with cold light. Nathan looked calm. Oh? Mrs. Bush is now ying a drama of suicide? You have two choices. Either take off this bracelet or cut off this hand. Cut off your hand? You should bring a bigger knife. Do you think I am threatening you? Nathan stared at her, coldly, Mrs. Bush, I am not scared Before he finished his words, the shimmering knife had fallen down on her arm. Nathans face changed suddenly. He pushed her hand away so that the knife was thrown to the ground. He kicked it far away while the blood also sshed so far. The blood kept dripping down from Crystals arm. She used so much force that her bone could almost be seen Mabel covered her mouth. She didnt expect Crystal to be so desperate. Nathan pressed Crystal wound hard and yelled, Call an ambnce! Quick! Crystal threw his hand away hard, refusing to bandage. Crystal, you dare to move again! Dont bother to bandage it. If you dont remove the bracelet, I will cut it again Nathan, let me go! See, I have been driven crazy by your attitude. Im really going crazy Crystal smiled slowly, while her tears suddenly fell like a flood, I beg you, take it off. I dont care if you are really sick or not, nor do I care if you will really die. I dont want to see you again. Take it off, and set me free. Im begging you, Nathan Davis! Im begging you! Nathan pressed her hand with red eyes. He could feel her body was shaking. His hands were covered with blood. Crystal violently pushed him away. Give me the key, then you get out! Nathan ordered loudly, Hold her! Vic and the bodyguards were all outside. It took a long time for Nathan to realize the situation What are you waiting for?! Mabel was frightened. Her mind was nk. It took a while for her to react, then she hurried out to call Vic. Crystal was still struggling, Nathan, please let me go? Nathans hands were trembling, Crystal, dont move! Crystal even struggled harder. You are crazy! I told you, dont move!Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Yeah! She was indeed crazy, she was really going crazy She found it more and more difficult to control her emotions. She also knew what terrible things she was doing. She felt horrible, but she couldnt stop it Soon the bodyguards rushed in and held the excited Crystal. Nathan could finally bandage for her and stop the bleeding temporarily even though her suppressed hand had been twitching. During this process, blood sttered his whole body. The white shirt, his hands, his cheeks, and the floor A lot of blood flowed out from the wound, which soaked the gauzes immediately. She cut herself too hard. He had always thought that she would never hurt herself because she was pregnant, and she cared about that child! But today, she did such outrageous behavior Crystal, do you know what you are doing? He sped her chin severely, You dont even care about the child? The child Crystal eyes were hollow. Of course, she wanted to give birth to him, but she was afraid that she would not be able to wait for that day You cant live without me? Huh? He held her chin severely, Will you die if I leave you?! You are wrong I just want to leave you She didnt know whether it was due to excessive bleeding or something, her face was extremely ashen, The bracelet I dont want it take it off Nathan was in huge pain. If he could take it off, would he wait till now?! Would he still be afraid that Amos might hurt her anytime and anywhere? Crystal grabbed his shirt and said with a sneer, Nathan, are you scared? Look at your expression. How nervous you are! She clutched his bloody clothes tightly, What are you afraid of? You have even killed people. What are you afraid of?! Nathan stared at her profoundly. Heh, sheughed sarcastically, Do you even know that you will be afraid if I die? Crystal! In other words, if I am sick, refuse to receive treatment, and give up thest chance, how will you feel? Dont move! You are too selfish. You have always cared about yourself. Crystal beat him frantically, I dont want you to care about me, dont care about my business! If I cant take off the bracelet, I dont care if my hand is broken or not! Nathan pressed her bloody arm hard. Otherwise, she would squirm around when she had a chance. Crystal kept beating him. After a while, she felt her fist hurt. Her body was getting weaker, probably because of losing too much blood Nathan couldnt wait any longer. He suddenly held her in his arms and walked outside the caf directly. Mabel stood at the door, watching this scene from a distance. ording to his worried expression, everyone could see how deep Nathans feelings were towards Crystal. There was no one else in his eyes In fact, Mabel was also shocked by Crystal. Who would dare to say a loud word in front of Nathan? But Crystal was downright provocative and sarcastic today. Every sentence was sarcastic. If it were someone else, how could she still have a chance to sit here? Chapter 442: Why Did She Give The Notes To Her? Nathan hugged Crystal in a gust of wind. Mabel walked forward, Nathan, is she okay? Nathan passed her indifferently and hit her shoulder hard, making Mabel fall heavily to the ground. However, Nathans footsteps didnt mean to stop at all. Mabel sat on the ground injured, pressing her twisted foot, Nathan. A bodyguard helped her up. Shemely walked out of the coffee store and saw Vic helping Nathan open the car door. After Nathan got into the car, Vic closed the door and walked towards the coffee store. He opened the door while Mabel was standing there. She thought that Vic was going to send Nathans words to her. But Vic passed straight in front of her.. He just passed without making any stay. Mabel turned her head curiously and saw Vic approaching the coffee table, picking up all the notebooks that Nathan had just torn up. The papers, coffee stains, and bloodstains were everywhere, but Vic picked them all up. Mabel was utterly shocked. She couldnt believe it. Vic was Nathans personal bodyguard. He had been with Nathan for more than ten years. He certainly understood every intention of his owner. Since he did so, it was natural that he knew how important Crystal was in Nathans heart. Vic. Mabel asked, Is Nathan really sick? Vic suddenly paused. Miss Garcia, you overthink. Then why did Miss Smith. Why did she give the notes to her? I dont know much about Miss Smith. Crystal was weak and exhausted. There was severe pain in every part of her body. She didnt struggle anymore, nor did she have the strength. Nathan squeezed her face hard. Crystal! Wake up! You are not allowed to sleep without my permission! Drive faster! He urged the driver. Although the aorta was not cut, Crystals wound was so deep that she would die if she lost too much blood. She had just lost so much blood, and she was still pregnant Nathan looked out the window. Damn, why was the car getting slower and slower?! The driver pressed the horn vigorously and said in a panic, Young Master, there is a traffic jam. Traffic jams This is a downtown area Go forward! Otherwise, I will kill you here! Young Master, I also want to move forward, but there are a lot of cars. I cant move at all. Crystal raised her eyelids slightly and smiled weakly. Isnt it just a cut in the arm why are you so nervous? Are you afraid of my death? Dont worry, I wont die. Crystal smiled palely. Im not afraid of death, what are you afraid of? Crystal, you are such a silly woman! Yeah, Im silly. But Im not as stupid as you Crystal pursed her lips. Why are you already scared like this? What if there is anything more? What will you do? Nathan stared at her incredulously. So, youd better take the bracelet off Crystal was afraid of what she would do next time when she couldnt control herself. Crystal, if you dare to mess around again, I wont let you go! He squeezed her shoulders, shaking vigorously, Do you hear what I am saying? What can you do with me? Your threats dont work on me anymore Nathan mmed hard against the car window, which made the whole car shake. Crystal frowned, Im sleepy.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Ill sleep first. Then, when I wake up again, I want you to disappear from my eyes with the bracelet. Also, please donte to me in the future. I beg you Crystal slowly closed her eyes. Her face was terribly pale. When Crystal opened her eyes, she found herself surrounded by a white ceiling and white walls. The harsh light came, and she saw that even the sheets were white. She immediately knew she was in the hospital. A nurse in a white uniform was changing her potion. Miss, you are having an intravenous drip. Please dont move. Crystal was dizzy and sore all over. She tried to get out of bed, only to find that her hand began to ache violently when she moved it. Didnt you hear the nurse? Dont move. A deep voice came from the window. Crystal finally saw a color other than white. Nathans dark shadow edged closer to her, his face expressionless with a strong aura. Crystal frowned. I want to get out of here. Youre still on a drip. I dont like being in a hospital. And where do you like to go? He said coldly, I will send you there. Crystal squinted her eyes. Since when has his attitude been so nice? You cant bear to take the bracelet off, can you? Crystal had said that he should disappear with the bracelet when she woke up. But when she opened her eyes, there he was. You dont have stomach cancer, do you? Crystal asked, Do you want to get me back through your bracelet when your ns work out? Nathan, what do you take me for? Can I be waved away at your behest? Nathan grimaced. Ive never lied to you, he said. Yes, you never said you had stomach cancer. It was all just me talking. Crystal! Im sorry, Im not going to y this game with you. Are you happy to see me being yed around these days? No! Its real, Nathan snarled. I wouldnt joke about it. Crystal stared at him, her eyes nk. The nurse found the two peoples state was not right, then silently left after tidying the ward. Nathan poured a ss of water. Crystal saw the blood on his shirt and the spots of blood on his face at once. His hair had been sshed with coffee, which had congealed into clumps of indescribable mess. Crystal stared at him, trying to say something, but she could not. Her mind was a mess. She could not calm down at the sight of him. Her eyes darted to his feet, the brown shoes particrly ring. Take off your shoes. She turned away and suddenly ordered him coldly. Nathan lowered his eyebrows and took off his shoes. Throw it out the window as far away as possible! Crystal said loudly. Nathan didnt speak, walked barefoot to the window, opened the window, and hurled his shoes. A car was parked in the open parking lot of the hospital. No sooner had Mabel got out of the car then she saw a leather shoeing and dropping in front of her. Before she could take a closer look, another flew in immediately after it. The bodyguard lunged in front of Mabel, shoes flying over his head. Mabel recognized the shoes at first sight. She looked up and saw Nathans back at the fourth-floor window. Satisfied? And the ring on your finger. Nathan paused as he walked toward her. He took off the ring and threw it out. Clean yourself up first. Crystal nced at the clock on the wall. Have you eaten yet? No. Nathan has deep eyes and adds, Im not hungry. Well, Im hungry now. What would you like to eat? Give me a pen and something I can write down on it. Ill list it. Chapter 443: I Can Distinguish It Nathan stared at Crystal and said, Crystal, do you know something thats why you hurt yourself and threatened me? The contrast between what she was now and what she was before was too great. What should I know? Crystal looked at him with a poker face. Nathan didnt know how to respond. Again, Im hungry.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Nathan ordered someone to bring paper and a pen and asked someone to buy a change of clothes. He went down to the toilet to take a bath briefly. He didnt eat regrly, and a faint difort came to his stomach. Perhaps his recent diet had helped. His vomiting was not as bad, and his stomachache had eased a lot. But Nathan knew it was only temporary. He could feel that his physical condition was not as good as before. He felt very tired when he picked Crystal up for such a short walk from the cafe to the car. Nathan clenched his fists, water running out of his palms. This feeling of powerlessness grew day by day. Crystal finished writing the menu and gave it to her bodyguard. Then, she tried to write down some important local prescriptions in her notebook from memory. Nathan came out just in time to see her chewing on her pen and thinking. Crystal had a good memory before, almost photographic memory. If she had transcribed it herself, she would have been more impressed. But she could not remember what was in her notebook as she concentrated on it. She forced herself to think back bit by bit. She wrote a few lines on a piece of paper and then scratched them out. The pen scratched the paper through several pages. She clutched at her hair and began to be afraid. Her memory was bad because she was not concentrating. Take the medicine first. Nathan reminded her. I did. What are you going to do? Crystal stared leisurely at the mess she had made. Nathans hair was dripping. What do you want to do? To cure your illness. Crystals paranoia was also caused by Nathan. As long as he promised to cure her, she would be recovered more easily. They were joined in sickness, and they lived or died together. Crystal looked up. Or let me gopletely. Nathan knew what she meant. As I said, I dont have a key. Thats your business. Youll have to figure it out. I didnt put it on myself. Crystal turned her pen and said with mock ease, Didnt you think this would happen when you brought it up to me? Youre forcing me. Fine, Crystal, he sneered. Youve learned enough from me. He had been forced to take thest step and stabbed himself in the heart to force her to confess her love for him. It did not ur to him that she was now dealing with him in the same way. No matter what method you use, the key is to see whether you can use it or not. If you have the ability, leave me alone. Since you are determined to die, why do you care about me? Whatever you do, you wont change my mind. Im not talking about changing you. Crystal interrupted. Nathan, youre guilty. You think I can change you, so youre afraid? Nathan didnt answer her. What the hell are you afraid of? Crystal held her chin in such a determined way that made Nathans stomach ache with anger. You should take your medicine, too. Crystal said in a cold voice, Take the medicine for your stomach regrly if you want to live long enough to marry Mabel. Its not up to you to teach me how to do it. Nathan said so but let Vice in and bring him pills. Vic came in, took out medicine, then said, Sir, Miss Garcia is here. Ask her to go back. I tried, but she wouldnt go. Nathan growls irritably: Get out of here. Vic. Vic was about to turn around when Crystal stopped him. Miss Smith, what can I do for you? Crystal looked at him. The Notebook. Did you pick it up for me? I am sorry, Miss Smith. I dont know what you are talking about. I know youve got it back. Please make a new copy and staple it. Crystal paused and looked at Nathan. And I wish Mr. Davis would copy it himself. Nathan looked insidious at Crystal. You have a good memory. Copy it, and youll have an impression. Crystal said, Youll always remember what you can and cant do. Crystal, have you forgotten my advice? If you dont, I will punish you and make you hurt. Nathan sneered at her warning. Even if she were to hit him, it would not hurt him. Crystal looked at his indifferent expression and said slowly, I mean, I will make your heart hurt. Vics mouth twitched, and he wanted to smile. He had never seen his young master so helpless before. Nathan wanted to vent his anger, but he had to keep it under control. Nathan squeezed his fists hard. Crystal, I will do it since I owe you. Vic handed the notebook over and said, The notebook is spread out, and the pages cant be distinguished. I can distinguish it. And many of them were stained with blood and coffee, and some of the words were hard to read. It doesnt matter. I can recognize it. Although Crystal could not remember everything, she could guess the general idea by looking at the contents before and after. Vic handed the notebook to Crystal. She patiently arranged them one by one. Nathan sat on the edge of the bed, frozen in her absorption, feeling an inexplicable surge of frustration. He really didnt know what to do with this woman. Crystal stood the paper upright and arranged it neatly. You brought this on yourself. He had asked for it. It was him who tore up herborious notes. Nathan stared at her, not knowing what to do. Crystal smiled dryly. Okay. Here we go. Ill read it, and youll write it. Before the bodyguard knocked on the door, Nathan wrote a few lines and delivered lunch. Have lunch first. Crystal put down her notebook and was about to get out of bed. Youre on a drip. She couldnt move her right hand now. It doesnt matter. I can use my left hand. Im hungry. Ill ask someone to feed you. Nathan, what do you think I am? I dont like other people feeding me. If you want me to feed you, just say so, Nathan said coldly. And I didnt say I wouldnt feed you. I lose my appetite when I look at you so reluctantly. Im not in the mood to eat. Nathan really got mad at her sometimes. He wanted to crush her haughty face to pieces. Besides, you have a murderous look in your eyes. I cant eat with you staring at me like that. Nathan picked up a pair of big sunsses and put them on. Is that okay now? Crystal was speechless. Why dont you eat first? You have a stomach ache. Youd better eat regrly! Cut the crap and open your mouth. How about a bite for you and a bite for me? Nathan was taken aback by the offer. Chapter 444: Are You Threatening Me? Do you think I want to be that gross? You made me do it! Either you eat first, or we eat together! Crystal was stubborn. Nathan stared at her through his dark sses. Crystal red at him, fearless. What are you staring at me for? Nathan reluctantly took the first bite and swallowed it in front of her. How can you digest it when you swallow such a big mouthful? Crystal said. Eat slowly. Take another bite. Crystal! Whats the matter? Nathan endured his anger and took another bite, this time chewing carefully before swallowing it. Was it delicious? Crystal asked. What does it taste like? Nathan popped a mouthful of meat into her mouth. She nodded. Well, it tastes good. Suddenly, there was a brawl outside. Then the door opened with a big kick, and a cold breath came. Marcos was dragging Mabel in. Vic looked embarrassed at Nathan and said, Mr. Garcia insisted oning in. I couldnt stop him. Crystal was still in the position of being fed, Nathans hand still in the air.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Nathan paused and fed the meat into Crystals mouth before putting down the te. Mr. Davis, your life is so easy, Marcos quipped. Theres a fiance outside. You have another old lover hidden in this ward. Mabels eyes were red, and she had clearly cried hard. Suddenly Marcos was about toe forward, and Mabel stopped him. Marcos, dont Marcoss eyes were cold. Nathan, youre ying with fire! If you want to die, dont drag our family with you. Nathans back was stiff. I have my sense of proportion, he said. Do you? You cant even deal with your own business Marcos threw Mabel off, took a few strides, and punched Nathan. Marcos was so fast that no one noticed. But Nathan was quick. In theory, he could have avoided it altogether. But he took the blow stiffly. Marcoss fist scraped his cheekbone. His dry lips split at once and bleed. Vic was the first to react and drew the gun to protect him. Nathan snapped. Out. Vic put away the pistol and stood hesitantly. Sir? What? Do I have to repeat what I said? Vic had to lead the bodyguard out and close the door. Marcos took off his suit jacket and unbuttoned two of his shirts. Nathan, I am so ready for a fight with you. Mabel burst into tears. Dont do that. I have always taken good care of Mabel, and I intend to marry her to someone worthy of my life. I would have disapproved of it if she had not insisted on marrying you. Please, dont, Marcos. Mabel, anxious to hold him back, stamped her foot. Nathan went down from the bed and loosened his wrist buttons. The wedding date remains unchanged. It is not up to you. You need to get past me first. I dont want to fight you, Nathan said in a cold voice. Marcos swung his fist. Nathan fell short when the two fought. Crystal saw that Nathans strength was limited and that he was sick. Now his strength was much lower than before. So far, Nathan was definitely not going to beat Marcos. Marcos, you dont leave a patient alone. So what if you win? Do you feel ashamed? This is a wardroom, not a ce where you fight. If theres going to be a fight, please get out. Marcos, stop. Dont fight again. Nathan took several steps back from Marcoss fist when he was not looking out. Mabel jumped right in front of Nathan. Marcos pulled back in time, but the punch hit Mabel in the face. Marcos was knocked down by Nathan, and his cheeks were instantly red and swollen. Please dont fight anymore. Marcos stared at her deeply, his face dark, his thin lips tight. Mabel hugged Nathan. Nathan, Im sorry. I shouldnt have called my brother. Dont me him. Its all my fault. Dont hate me. I want to marry you. I only want to marry you. Marcoss fists were clucking. Mabel said sadly, Marcos, you have always spoiled me. You always give me anything I want. I know I am capricious, but can you let me be capricious for thest time? Marcos knew what she wanted and said fiercely, You think you can afford to marry him? Dont be silly! Get out of my way! Marcos, this is my business. Leave me alone! Okay! Marcos pointed at Nathan. Ill give you onest chance. If you choose Mabel, break it off with Crystal! She will never be wee in our house again. Crystal was very calm and looked at them quietly all the time. She certainly saw something in the conversation between the two men. It seemed Nathan was making some kind of deal with Marcos, and marrying Mabel was one of those deals. It appeared that this was not a simple wedding. Nathan, make your choice. If you choose Crystal. Marcos said with a cruel curve on the corners of his mouth. Then, there is no wedding. Nathan paused and then snapped, The wedding will take ce as scheduled. When Mabel heard the answer, she was ecstatic. Nathan, is that true? Nathan pulled Mabel away. Lets talk outside. Marcos turned first and strode out. They had a lot of things for Mabel and Crystal to hear. Nathan stood in the long hallway with his back to him. I have my own idea of what to do with Crystal. She has nothing to do with this wedding. Marcos looked at Nathan coldly. Do you think Amos will let you go? Have you thought about the consequences? Nathan, I dont think youre the kind of guy who would ruin a n because of a woman. Nathan smiled slowly. All his things, big and small, came from the woman he loved. I said I would take care of my business. I would keep my own counsel. Nathan used his thumb to wipe the blood from the corners of his lips. Its not up to anyone to teach me how to do it. Except Crystal could do it. She was the only exception and indulgence. Marcosughed bloodthirstily. Is this how we work together? You can always quit if you dont think you can. Nathan paused before adding. But its toote for you to quit. You think you can quit right now? If we make it big now, if we quit, well die. He turned around and tapped Marcos on the shoulder. Instead, just take it easy and move on. Maybe well find something different. What do you say? Marcos shook off his hand. Are you threatening me? Im telling you the truth. Were in the same boat. The boat capsized, and neither of us could get away. Marcos clenched his fist and shook it hard. Nathan didnt duck and took another punch, which left him with a bruised and swollen cheek. He wiped his nose. The nosebleed gushed out immediately. He sneered and asked, Have you had enough? He let Marcos beat him for nothing but Crystals safety. The more he seemed to care about Crystal, the more dangerous Crystal was. After all, you still cant bear to part with this woman. Marcos sneers: Youre a dying man, and you cant let go of a woman. I didnt know you were so crazy about a woman. Chapter 445: Feel It Yourself Nathan, I used to think so much of you. Nathan grinned with bitterness. Please dont think I shall lose my temper just because you let me punch you. Im afraid Miss Smith will have to make a sacrifice for our n, Marcos said with a muffled smile. Nathan frowned. Youd better protect her all the time, or. If you touch her, Ill make your whole family pay. Nathans voice was majestic and hoarse. A terrible aura was hanging between the corridors, and the atmosphere was eerie. Marcos frowned slightly. Im not sure. Working with you was the worst decision Ive ever made in my life. Youll soon change your mind. Nathan took out the phone. What do you want to do? Call thewyer. You know Im not going to live long. And Marcos quickly figured out what he was saying, did he want to give him the assets? Nathan squinted and looked out the window. He had a n. He would give most of his inheritance to Marcos and a small part to Vic. In due course, these assets would be transferred to Crystal, and there would be enough money for Crystals children. How is that? Nathan turns around Marcos: if the n fails, you still have a chance against Amos with my assets. Marcos didnt speak. Marcos, this deal is a break-even deal. As Marcos was convinced, he delivered another powerful message: Once Amos falls, you will have my inheritance. I dont understand why you dont get medical attention at this time. Why are you up against Amos now? Youll have plenty of opportunities to do whatever you want when you get well, Marcos advised. Nathans back was stiff. Before, he had thought he had a chance. There was a smell of food in the wardroom, and Crystal sat alone on the bed. After Nathan and Marcos left, Mabel went to the bathroom. Crystal looked at the pages Nathan had copied and sighed softly. Why was it so hard for them to spend so little time together? The atmosphere had eased up a bit, and now it was like this. Then her phone rang. Miss Smith? Yes, who is it? You contacted us earlier to see the cemetery. Now we want to fix the time with you. Crystal looked at the time. The exact time is not yet certain. Can you give me a rough time? Sorry, Ill call you when Im sure Crystal hung up, and Marcos rushed in from the door to look for Mabel. Crystal nced toward the bathroom. Presumably hearing Marcoss voice, Mabel opened the bathroom door. Her eyes went red, and she looked up at Nathan with a nervous look. Marcos held out his hand to pull her. Come on,e with me. Hold on, Marcos. If you still want to get married, go back and take your medicine. Dont be so silly in the future. Marcos said in a cold voice. Why would you rush over when men fight? When Mabel heard Marcoss words, she was instantly happy. This meant that the wedding would be on schedule. She would marry Nathan as she wished. Marcos looked at Nathan with a nk face and said to Mabel, Lets go. Nathan watched the two people open the door and go out. He could still hear Mabels voice vaguely. What did you just say? As they walked farther and farther away, Nathan nced at Vic, who then closed the door. Crystal sat on the bed, her back tight. Why dont you go? Crystal asked him. Nathan remained silent. Didnt you choose Mabel? Crystal turned her face away and said, It doesnt matter. Im always the one whos not chosen. Im used to it. Nathan returned to his chair and picked up the te. Come on. Crystal was not in the mood for lunch. I have to go somewhere this afternoon. Will you apany me? You may have lunch first. Open your mouth. You have not answered my question. Okay. You dont ask me where Im going? Ill go with you wherever you go. He gave a brisk answer. I want to die. Will you apany me? Yes, I will. Nathans eyes were as deep as the sea. Thats what you say. I will remember it. Crystal sneered to herself. Was he trying to be nice to her because he chose Mabel? He was selfish enough not to want her but not to let her gopletely. He would not take off her bracelet and intended to seize her at any moment. Crystal was not a muddle-headed person. She must press him to put his cards on the table today. A meal was finished in silence. Crystal put down the bowl and stared at him. You owe me a farewell kiss, she said suddenly. Nathan stared at her with a frown. Crystal smiled sarcastically and said, You always said you loved me, but you always gave me up when it mattered. Wouldnt it be easy to give me onest goodbye kiss? Nathans throat twitched. Is it difficult? She added, You make it up to me. After being wounded so many times, she thought she was invulnerable. But when he hurt her again, she still felt the pain! Nathan had a low eyebrow and a hard stare. He sped her chin, leaned forward, looked at her pale face, and hesitated to kiss it. He felt a pang for her. He hadnt seen her in this way for a long time. Crystal put her arm around his neck and suddenly came over to kiss him. Nathan pressed her shoulder. Crystal! Crystals eyes flickered. After all, even a kiss from you had be so mean.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. She never thought that he would refuse her kiss. Nathan calmly smoothed her down. Watch your hand. Dont move! The next second, Crystal was kissed on the lips. He pressed down on her and kissed her hard, the way she was so familiar. There was a burning heat on his lips, and it swept over her. He kissed her deeper and deeper. Crystal closed her eyes and felt it. It was Nathans kiss. It was his breath. It was his temperature. He never gave up a kiss until she was exhausted. That was Nathan. Their lips were inseparable. Nathan let her breathe but still kissed her lightly every now and then. As soon as he saw that she was breathing enough, he stopped her and stirred his flexible tongue in her mouth. Crystal didnt understand why Nathan could take such a long and hard kiss. Crystals hand slipped on his chest, sensing that his heart was racing unnaturally. Nathan, she said, breathing softly, does your heart beat so fast every time you kiss? Feel it yourself. That was a good kiss, she chuckled. Remember how it felt to kiss me, and youll have to kiss other women but for me. She was certain that he would not choose her. Today she just wanted to force him to take off her bracelet. Her heart suddenly hurt as if thousands of scorpions were gnawing it. This kind of pain would disappear with time in the future, right? Other women? Your fiance. Dont you want to marry her? Chapter 446: Aren鈥檛 You Happy? Frankly, as Mrs. Bush, I have no right to ask you or stop you from marrying someone. As she spoke, sheughed at herself, mingled with destion. His manner was as firm as ever in agreeing to marry another woman.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. No matter what the reason, this love between two people had gone bad and could not go back. Crystal pushed him gently away and got up. Where are you going? Nathan asked. Didnt you promise to go somewhere with me? Youre hurt. Dont you run away! I must go today. Crystal thought that Nathan would be gone if she went in the afternoon and opened her eyes tomorrow. Nathan seemed to be pondering the possibility of going into her state. Why dont you hug me? If you cant lift me, I can use a wheelchair. You push me. Crystal thought that was fine. She nodded. We cant stay together anyway. The rest of the time, you take care of me to give me an early taste of old age They couldnt stay together. Nathans face was cold and stung by her casual sting. At two oclock in the afternoon, they arrived at the cemetery. Crystal didnt dare to speak her destination on her way home, telling her driver directions and directing him to drive. The car stopped before the cemetery, where the keeper of the cemetery stood waiting at the door for her. Nathan looked at the cemetery gate coldly, frowning. A cemetery? Yeah. Who do you want to see? Crystal smiled lightly and said, Ive got something to do, and you will know it soon. He carried her off the car while Vic walked behind him, pushing the wheelchair. I want a wheelchair. Why? Why do you want a wheelchair? I havent been on it yet. I want to sit down and try it. When you get old, youll have plenty of opportunities. You wont even get down if you dont want to! Crystal struggled obstinately. But by that time, you wont be pushing my wheelchair. Whats the point of sitting on it? Nathans body stiffened. He knew that she cared about his poor health and that carrying her into the cemetery would consume a great deal of energy. Thats why she insisted on sitting in the wheelchair. Who are you going to see here? Im noting to see anyone. Cant Ie and visit the graveyard once in a while? Was she just visiting here? Hello, are you Miss Smith? Im the cemetery keeper. Its gettingte, lets talk as we walk. Yeah. Nathan, push me. They entered the cemetery. The keeper began to exin the creation, the style, the scale, and the size of the cemetery. Then the man gave Crystal a copy of the brochure with the choices and prices for the empty tomb. Miss Smith, is the gentleman you brought a geomancer? The keeper broke off and looked at Nathan, Vic, and some of the bodyguards behind them. The aura of the group was terrible, each wearing big sunsses. They were not like geomancers at all. They were more like killers. I didnt bring any geomancers. Cant I look at the cemetery myself? Of course. Every cemetery we have here is certified by professional Geomancers. Nathan asked coldly. Crystal, you want to buy a cemetery? Well, yes. For whom? You buy it for me? He asked sarcastically. Surprise? I have a great gift for you. Nathan stiffened. The wheelchair plunged, and Crystal nearly popped out. Im only joking. Why are you so angry? Nathans voice stiffened. Who did you buy it for? I will buy it for myself. What are you talking about? Nathan stared at Crystal with bloodshot eyes. I said I was going to buy it for myself. Crystal looked slightly sideways as she looked around. Ive looked it up on the Inte, and this is the best cemetery in Houston. It has the best environment andndscape. I love it here. Nathan looked extremely pale and turned Crystal sharply to him. What do you want? I dont want anything. Crystal stared at him. I just feel tired and want to find a ce to rest. Nathan looked at her in disbelief. Unless you take the bracelet off Is that your n? He pinched her shoulder angrily. How many tricks have you got? She said it would hurt him, and now she was torturing him!! Crystal shook her head slowly. If you must think of it as a bitter trick, then so be it. The cemetery keeper went on and on with his exnation, and after a long walk, he found that they failed to follow. He stood at a distance, waiting for them. Miss Smith, the field you picked is right ahead. Go back, now! Nathan roared. You go back yourself. Crystal walked to the keeper herself. Her hand was suddenly pulled, and the ce where she was injured was in great pain from the violent pull. Nathan stared at her wrinkled face. Crystal, youre pushing the envelope. No, I was really hoping you could help me pick one out, or we could buy one together. Crystal looked at him with a smile. You havent chosen your grave yet. Why dont wee together? Its both economical and environmentally friendly. Youve been after me as long as Ive been alive. When we die, I will be by your side. Arent you happy? Nathans look was strange as if hed never known her before. I want you to live well. Well, the bracelet Amos has it. Nathan shut his eyes hard. He had been pushed to the bottom line. Crystal was slightly surprised. How did he get it? Youre so smart, cant you imagine? You wouldnt have made a deal with him Crystal took him by the hand. Did you give him the keys? Exin it to her. Nathan jerked away from his hand and said to Vic. Vic was a little confused. Before he knew it, Nathan turned and strode off to the side. Nathan clenched his fist so hard that the veins on the back of his hand were visible. Crystal looked at Nathans back and asked, Whats going on? You neednt lie to me now that itse to this. Vic bowed his head and still didnt know how to say. Crystal tentatively asked, Was it Amos who arranged Nathans marriage to Miss Garcia? Vic looked up, surprised. Yes. The old Davis handed over power to Mr. Amos Davis and decided to marry our master with Miss Garcia. I have guessed this. Crystal nodded and asked, and then? Coincidentally, this time, the Masters condition deteriorated. Did he really have stomach cancer? Crystal felt a chill rising from her heart. She would rather, his illness was a sham, and it did not matter if he had lied to her. Yes, on the one hand, hes worried that he doesnt have enough time to give you the future, and on the other hand, hes not reconciled. Vic sighed. So he wants to take advantage of this wedding Crystal had her fingertips pinched in her palm. Nathan wanted to work with Marcos to get rid of Amos. Amos had the key to her bracelet, and it was so easy for Amos to find her and even ruin her. Chapter 447: You Want To Join Me? Did he have to take advantage of this wedding? He wants to reassure Daviss concerns that he can make ns seed while hes put down his guard. Crystals thoughts finally came together. But there was still something she didnt understand. Why does Nathan give the key to Mr. Davis? Master did it to show his sincerity and his determination that he would not stay with you. In fact, to gain Mr. Daviss trust. Vic replied, It was the young master who cut off his back. That was the reason why Nathan was so cruel to her. Crystal felt a little cold as the wind blew. Vic took off his coat and put it on for her. Miss Smith, the master, did everything for you. If he really wanted to do it for me, he should put down his hatred and go to the hospital! Even if he got better, he would not be with you. He doesnt want to drag you down. Crystal looked up at Nathan at one of the gravestones and stood for a moment coldly. Then he turned and walked down the long steps. Crystal pushed her wheelchair by herself and waited for him at the bottom of the steps. The two looked across the long staircase. He seemed so far away to her, his eyes so deep. She felt that she was not relieved to know the truth of the matter. On the contrary, she felt as heavy as a mountain and did not know what to do. Atst, he stood before her and looked at her coldly. All exined? Vic leaned over and replied, Yes, sir. Is Miss Smith happy with this oue? He was looking at her coldly. His estrangement saddened her. Crystal reached for him. Nathan, dont do that to me. Thanks for all youve done for me Crystal shook her head wryly. But people dont live to live. We must always put ourselves at risk for those we love. Nathan didnt think she understood his intentions. We had such a short, pleasant time together. Every time it gets better and better, some misunderstanding separates us. She looked at him firmly. You dont have much time left. Why cant you keep me by your side, be with you, and fall in love with you once? Nathan looked at her steadily. Crystal smiled. Why dont we all do what we want, regardless of the consequences? His voice was quiet. How do you want to be reckless? I wanted us to be like a normal couple, going to the movies, cooking, shopping. Nathan looked at her so affectionately. I want you to be happy once, smiled Crystal, her eyes sparkling. Does hatred matter so much? You think so, and I wont stop you from getting your revenge But dont give up love for hate. Nathan leaned down slowly and kissed her on the forehead. Crystal, this may be the only time weve thought together. Huh? Thats what I was going to do. When he asked the legal team to make a will, he nned to keep Crystal by his side, and they would love each other and be together from day to day. Otherwise, you think Im going to ask Vic to exin this? He raised his eyebrow. Crystal smiled suddenly and put her arms around his neck. Naturally, Nathan straightened up and lifted her to his body. Nathan, am I heavy? You press down on my heart like a rock every day. What do you think? Nathan carried Crystal and walked out while Vic happily pushed the wheelchair to follow. Crystal hugged him tightly. Really? she asked. Why dont you pick out a graveyard now that youvee? Nathan stared at her insidiously. Have you forgotten what I said? All I do is keep you alive. Crystal arranged his cor and said, I will live until I die of old age. And then Ill bury myself next to you, okay? Nathan clenched his arm and said, do you like jewelry or diamonds? Hey, do you change the subject too fast? Tell me, which one do you like? Diamonds. She answered casually, A diamond ring would be better. Miss Smith, ashes diamonds refer to the conversion of cremated human ashes into bright diamonds. It can be carried with you and can be made into jewelry. Vic said. Crystal tightened up and stared hard at Nathan. Is this your n? Nathan nced gloomily at Vic. Keep your mouth shut! Vic silently slowed down his pace and followed behind. Crystal clutched Nathans clothes. You nned that already? Once you die, will you let Vic make you into a diamond and send it to me? Dont you like it? Dont you think its terrible? Are you afraid of me? He stared at her with red eyes. Crystal couldnt tell. Of course, she wasnt afraid. How can love make people afraid? If youre afraid, forget it. Im not afraid! Crystal hugged him. I just cant ept you like a cold diamond. Everyone dies. But we havent loved enough yet. Nathan grinned. Is that so? What are you going to do about it? Nathan, youre so selfish. You want me to live well, but I can only love a cold diamond for the rest of my life? I can live in your heart for as long as you want. Crystals heart gave a sharp pull, and it twitched with pain. His chin touched the top of her head, and from time to time, he kissed her hair. What had been a cloudy day turned into sunshine. Lets go. Nathan led her away. Crystal paused. I dont want to go back to the hospital. Your hand was hurt. I dont rmend you run around. When youre a little better, Ill apany you wherever you want to go. I just dont want to go back to the hospital. She didnt like the smell of disinfectant in the hospital. Well, were not going back to the hospital. At this time, Nathans cell phone rang. He answered the phone with only a few faint answers. Crystal knew it was either Marcos or Mabel calling because they didnt talk to Nathan over Vic. Crystal felt a pang of disappointment. You have something to do, dont you?Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. No, its all right. Marcos called you? Dont you have a lot of nning to do about the wedding over there? Nathan stared at her thoughtfully. Your business is the most important. Crystal stared at him. Well go back downtown and have dinner first. Then well go to the movies. The two tucked into dinner at the hotel, where Nathan booked her a room. Crystaly on the bed and did not want to move. Nathan, its so tiring going to the theater. Why dont we go another time? Lets go to the home theater today. With a TV that big, we can watch movies in 3D. Actually, she didnt want Nathan to be too tired. Nathan agreed. Then he took off his coat and threw it over the bed. What are you going to do? Taking a bath. You want to join me? His eyes glowed. No. Wait a few more days. Just wait. Crystal didnt want to fire him up. But her suggestive words had easily titited Nathan. Chapter 448: Baby鈥檚 Ultrasound Nathan stared hard at her. No problem. Then youll see what I do with you! Did I put my foot in my mouth? You shouldnt have reminded me of that! She set him thinking ahead. If you cant help it, you can do it in advance. Crystal! There was a bang at the door, and Crystal burst intoughter. Vic asked someone to bring the notebook, which was put in the hospital in advance. Crystal was free and copied the following contents by herself. There was the sound of water from the bathroom, and it had not stopped for a long time. Crystal copied three pages and looked at the time. It was nearly an hour. So she put down her pen and knocked at the door. Nathan, are you there? The sound of the water turned down, and his cold voice came over. Yes? Nothing, Im afraid youve got a stomach bug and fainted inside. How did you take so long? Men were always quick to bathe. Hurry up. Im waiting for you. His voice was even colder. Dont walk around when youre hurt. Go back to bed and wait! Crystal went back to bed, and the bathroom door opened. Nathans face was red, and he looked thirsty. Crystal guessed what he had just done in the bathroom and coughed in embarrassment. Ready, then, shall we see a movie now? What movie do you want to see? Nathan went to the CD stand on the TV stand and randomly picked up a movie disc. Then his tall figure paused. What kind of movies do we have? Romance. What kind of romance? Crystal had crept up behind him and hugged him. Nathans figure was even more rigid. Crystal took the disc from his hand. Damn it. On the cover of the CD, it was a very erotic and luscious picture. Crystal couldnt bear to see it! Plus an action movie, Nathan added slowly. Crystal quietly put the disc back on the shelf. You see if theres anything normal. Nathan turned gloomily around and grabbed her jaw. Ive seen it all. These are all romantic movies. Why dont we watch TV then? Some TV stations have movies. Nathan walked over to the TV, and Crystal hugged him and followed him on his slipper heels. Nathan cratered, and she fell onto his back. Hey! Be careful. Nathan flipped the switch, picked up the remote, and carried her straight back to bed. Crystal was about to get up when he pressed her hands, his eyes red. Miss Smith, I warn you, youd better behave yourself. Crystal smiled with a vague smile. What if I dont? Ill tie you up. Come on, lets watch TV. He rose coldly and left her to sit on the sofa alone. Crystal picked up a throw pillow and threw it at him. You dont have to. Focus on the TV! How can we watch together when youre sitting so far away? Crystal stepped down and dawdled. Sit down a little. This is a sofa for two. Nathan was so big, and he sat in the middle, and then he himself turned the two men sofa to a single sofa. She flirtatiously raised him on the chin. Why are you so guarded? Im not going to eat you. This sofa is narrow. Shall we watch it in bed then? Nathan grabbed her wrist and gritted his teeth. Crystal, are you serious about asking for trouble tonight? When a couple goes to a movie, they must sit together to have a romantic atmosphere. Nathan tugged at her, and she fell into hisp. He hugged her fiercely, his breath burning in her face. Are you so happy to see me embarrassed? I just cant bear for you to suffer so badly. Crystal stroked his hot face. I know youve been putting up with me for a long time. I think it doesnt matter if we do it ahead of several days. Nathan raised his eyebrows. You know I put up with you for a long time? Yeah, you havent touched me since I was pregnant. Youve never touched another woman. Three months. And Nathan was at such a thirsty age. So? Nothing, said Crystal, leaning against his chest and picking up the remote to turn on the movie channel. Lets watch TV. Nathan hugged her, her hair lingering in his nose. Crystal had just rubbed her hands all over him, and he felt his heat increase. But she was clinging to him without knowing it, rubbing her hands on his chest. He didnt know whether she was teasing him intentionally or unintentionally. Nathan darkened his eyes, looking down at the top of her head from beginning to end. Nathan, are you watching the movie? Crystal turned suddenly and nearly bumped into his chin. Nathan looked disinterested at the TV. Yeah, I am. So tell me what the movie is about? Theres nothing to say about such a boring movie, he said briskly, turning off the remote control and putting Crystal to bed, pulling her under the covers. He took the notebook from the cupboard. You go to bed first, and I will make a copy of it. No, you have to sleep with me. Crystal! She sat up and was pushed back into bed, and he covered her up again. He seemed determined not to touch her. Crystal didnt have a particr need in this respect, which women didnt usually have. I gave you your chance. You didnt want it. Well, Ill go to sleep. Go ahead! Pregnant women were lethargic. Crystal had actually been sleepy during the movie, but she kept up her spirits and kept himpany. Soon after closing her eyes, she fell asleep. Nathan opened the window, blew in the cold air, listened to her even breathing, and his heat lingered for a long time. Damn it! So he went into the bathroom and took a few showers of cold water. The next morning, the car stopped in front of the hospital. Vic got down and opened the door. Master, Miss Smith. We are at the hospital. Well. Crystal got off, stopped abruptly, then asked, do you want to go together? Isnt it okay if you dont help at weddings? Someone will set it up. Nathan darkened his eyes.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Marcos would decorate the wedding banquet site. Nathan got out of the car and picked her up. As I said, you matter more. Nathan, you can go with me to my tests. But dont lose your temper for no reason. Okay, I promise. She followed the normal procedure of paying bills, getting a physical test, then taking her blood pressure, weighing herself, and so on. Nathan patiently escorted her through the tedious process. Vic probably sent someone to arrange the delivery first, so there was no queue for any item, which naturally caused many peoples dissatisfaction. But each time, Nathan swiveled over his sunsses with a murderous look. A line of discontented people dared not toin. Thest two items were Electrocardiograph and B-ultrasound. A male doctor met them because the female doctors worked the afternoon shift. Is this your first ultrasound? No. I did it half a month ago, but the baby was too young to tell the sex. Should it be okay this time? The doctor nodded, obviously bought by Vic with a lot of money. Doctors in regr hospitals were not allowed to tell the pregnant women even if they could see the baby was a boy or a girl. Crystal voluntarily rolled up her trouser leg and sleeve for the doctor to examine. Unbutton two buttons. As soon as the doctor said this, he felt the whole room filled with a murderous atmosphere. You want her to take off her clothes? Why didnt you tell me in advance! Nathan asked darkly. If so, he would definitely change the female doctor for Crystal! Crystal knew he wouldnt sit still. Definitely, there would be a heart check Excuse me, doctor, but give me the tools, and Ill do it myself. The doctor understood and said, Well, I can see that your boyfriend loves you. Crystal was about to take the tool when Nathan grabbed it first. Crystal taught him to put it around her heart and suck it on her skin. The doctor looked at the data on theputer and said, Well, youre healthy. Lets do an Ultrasound next. Chapter 449: What A Naughty Baby Crystal began to get nervous. Although it was Erics child, it was part of her, and she wondered if it was a boy or a girl. Crystal was still lying in bed. The doctor put lubricant gel on the probe and tried to lift her dress.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Nathan coolly snatched the probe. Ill do it! Crystaly down andughed. You shouldnt havee at all. Have I lost my temper for no reason? He asked coldly. You didnt But I can see youre trying so hard to hold back. Nathan snatched the doctor away and sat down in his chair. The doctor was told to turn away from the camera and dictate to Nathan how to use the probe. Fortunately, it was easy. He just used the probe on her lower abdomen. It didnt require many skills. Well, have you seen the baby? Theputer was behind Crystals head. Shey down and couldnt see it. Nathan stared sulkily at the screen, silent for a long time. Is there something wrong with the baby? Crystal was worried and sat up to look at it. It was a ck and white picture. Crystal saw it very clearly. This was not the first time Crystal had seen it, but she was still surprised. The child already had the embryonic form with thin arms and legs. Crystal could see the outline roughly. Doctor, please help me to see how my baby is. Hearing Crystal, the doctor carefully averted his eyes onto theputer screen. This is the babys head, you see, said the doctor. This is its hand. The baby was sucking its little finger with one hand in its mouth and its other on its stomach. His belly was round, and his little feet curled up. Its only been half a month. He seems to have grown a lot. Well, from now on, the babys going to get bigger and bigger, and its going to be clearer and clearer when youe back for the ultrasound. The doctor smiled. You lie down and keep taking pictures. Ill y it back for you. Crystaly down and watched for about ten minutes. She couldnt bear it anymore. She wanted to see the baby. The doctor yed back the video and exined: Look, the baby is moving. Crystal saw the babys hand on his stomach and moved it to his crotch, blocking the key part. Even though the baby didnt know the sex yet, he seemed to know where to put it. Crystalughed. Is he being shy, Doctor? The baby is still too small to have such thinking? Hes just moving around. What a naughty baby. Is it a girl? She sees Nathan, so shes shy? Crystals imagination runs wild. Nathans original sullen face had changed. He took off his big sunsses and asked, Girl? Its not our girl. Keep cool. Why are you so excited? As long as the baby looks like you, I can tolerate it! The doctor digested the conversation. Wasnt this gentlemans child? This couple was so weird. Crystal said happily, Doctor, you havent told me if its a boy or a girl? Well, I guess its a boy. The doctor coughed. Crystal gasped. Boy? Nathans face froze again! The atmosphere in the ward grew stiffer and more murderous. Are you sure? Statistically speaking, if the difference between length and width is more than twice, the probability of a male baby is greater, and the probability of a female baby with the same length and width is greater, the doctor said. Look at the shape. Its more likely to be eggnts or long bars for boys and rounders for girls. The doctor analyzed it and said, Now it should be a boy. Should? Crystal looked at Nathans face hesitantly. Could it be a girl? she asked. Basically, nothing will go wrong with it. Its very unlikely its a girl. Crystal understood. The doctor wouldnt tell them for sure, even if he was 100 percent sure, because he was always afraid of the slightest ident. But everyone knew that the chance was like winning the lottery. Nathan, if he were a boy, hed look like me. Have you ever heard a boy take after his mother and a girl take after her father? Nathans face was still cold. He put his sunsses back on and refused to look at the baby again. Crystal sighed. Doctor, can you give me a copy of this video? I want to take it back. Sure Before the doctor finished, Nathan said coldly, No way. Why? Its just a lump of meat. Theres nothing to look at. I think hes cute, and I want to see more of him. After all, the baby must be given back to Eric when its born. She could not apany him. Nathan pressed his lips tightly and said nothing. Crystal suddenly thought, Why dont I buy an ultrasound machine? I have nothing to do, doctor. Does regr ultrasound have any effect on the fetus? Ultrasound doesnt have much effect on the baby, but its noise rtive to the baby, so doing it too often exposes the baby to a lot of noise. More and more, it will make a difference. Well Crystal was disappointed. How many times can I do that? The whole pregnancy process, three times is appropriate. She had done it twice now, and she could only do it once. Crystal asked. Doctor, do it longer this time and record it for me. Well, lie down again. The doctor gave her another 10 minutes, during which he eximed, Should it be an ident? Whats the matter? His little hands went to his ears. Crystal widened her eyes. Does he feel noisy? It is inconceivable that such a young child should be unconscious, said the doctor, shaking his head. It should be a coincidence. Maybe. Or maybe youll have a boy genius. The doctorplimented. I think the boy is very clever. How do you see hes clever, Doctor? He has so many little tricks. I see him as clever and mischievous. The doctor smiled, Of course, there is no scientific basis for this. It is my guess. After receiving so much money, he certainly had to speak well of him. Crystal was amused. She tugged at Nathans sleeve. Did you hear, doc says my babys going to be smart and a genius! Nathan was as still as a stake. Nathan, are you still mad? Crystal didnt understand why he wanted the child to be a girl. Neither the boy nor the girl was rted to Nathan. Besides, Nathan gave up gastric cancer treatment so that the baby wouldnt be in front of him for the rest of his life. Well, put the probe down. Crystal arranged her clothes and took the probe from his hand. He held it tightly in his hand for a long time. Crystal sighed and tugged at his sleeve again. I told you you shouldnt havee. Crystal, I warn you, Nathan finally said. If you have a childlike Eric What do you do? Strangle him? Nathan mmed the probe down on the table. Be careful, Sir. The doctor picked it up piteously to see if it was broken. Chapter 450: You Want To Rebel? Ill get some air. To suppress his anger, Nathan flung open the door and left.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. He seemed really disappointed. Crystal turned to the doctor. Hes not very good-natured. Im sorry Is the machine broken? Its all right, the doctor pulled out a CD. Ive just burned it into the CD. You can take it back and watch it. Thats great, thank you. For some reason, Crystal began to like the unborn child. She always thought he would be adorable and clever. Although it was Erics baby, she thought he was Nathans miniature version when she imagined him. Crystal shook her head. By the way, doctor, the baby is three months old. Can I have intimate activities with my boyfriend? The doctor was a little stunned for a moment and immediately understood, I have checked that you are in good health, and the baby has formed. You can behave properly as a couple. Please dont do it too often. You should also pay attention to your posture and time. You can buy some books to learn about it. Thank you, doctor. Crystal pushed the door open and went out. Several bodyguards stood by the door. Nathan and Vic were not there. Crystal looked out and saw Nathan leaning in the hallway not far away, talking on the phone. He was handsome and elegant in his long and thin brown windbreaker, with his overcoat cor. Vic stood beside him with his head drooping. The light was just right, putting Nathans face in the most profound shape. They stood there as if they were in a movie, provoking passing nurses and female patients to look at him. Crystal looked at him. The scene still made her feel genuinely handsome. This man, just standing there, was so handsome. Near the window, two young women peeped at him. They held their phones up to Nathan, taking pictures. Crystal called out, Nathan! as if to assert her im. Nathan held the phone and looked this way. The two female patients immediately withdrew their hands, holding the cell phones, seeing Crystals presence. Crystal walked quickly over to Nathan and smoothed his cor. She told them with her deeds that he was hers! Nathan finishes the call shortly. Then he said to Crystal, Arent you hurt? Why are you running around? Im fine now. I dont feel any pain, Crystal red at him. Youre just answering the phone. Why are you posing? Who told you to look so handsome leaning against the wall? Youve got a lot of attention. Nathan frowned, clearly not understanding what she was saying. Crystal nced at the two women patients. They were taking pictures of you, and you didnt realize that all the women passing by were spying on you? Nathan frowned and looked sharply out of the window. Two female patients immediately panicked. What should we do? Hes looking at us Then they heard footsteps. Is heing towards us? Immediately, they felt a shadow cast over them. The two girls turned around in panic, but what they saw was Vic. Take it out. Eh? Cell phone. Over here, Crystal was already picked up by Nathan. He stared at her coldly. Now you know Im handsome. Thats toote. Why is itte? Ive always been popr. I dont need you to mention it. Crystal snapped close to him and kissed his neck, copying the way he had left a hickey on her body and sucking hard at his neck until a faint red blur appeared on it. Nathan paused. This woman was too bold! Crystal, when did you be so shameless? Crystal buried herself in his neck again, ignoring him at all. She was not even afraid of death now. How would she care about other peoples eyes? Besides, her face was buried. No one would recognize her. Hadnt he also made kiss marks on her neck to make her ashamed to go out before? From now on, she wanted to imprint ownership on him! She wanted to let him experience how she felt at that time!! Nathans body became harder and hotter. His throat rolled fiercely This damn woman did dare to flirt with him in the hospital? She was really getting naughtier and naughtier. When Crystal lifted her head from Nathans neck, she had already been tenderly stuffed into the car by him. She watched him panting with a smile as he just held her for running. Crystal looked at the masterpiece on his neck with satisfaction, Its not bad. Lets keep working hard tonight. I guess there will be no woman who dares to think of you in the future, right? Nathan squeezed her chin fiercely, You want to rebel? I dont want to, but Ive already. Nathans eyes shed wickedly, and he pulled his cor forcefully, revealing his strong and sexy chest. The hickey on the neck seemed ambiguous, which made people imagine uncontrobly. Crystals face changed, What are you doing? I am satisfying you. He also got into the car and mmed the door. The tall body pressed towards her. Of course, he would pay attention to his weight and not hurt her child. Well He kissed her fiercely, swept her frantically, entangled in her lips wantonly as if to suck up the oxygen in her mouth Crystal closed her eyes and let him aggressively get into her mouth, conquered her, swept over her, entangled with her, and sucked the sweetness in her mouth. The domineering action immediately made her lose the ability to think. She fell softly on his body, no longer having the strength to resist Crystal had already prepared for the invasion. The atmosphere in the car became hot, which seemed to burn at once. But when they kissed each other inextricably, Nathan suddenly let go of Crystal and sat up slowly. Crystal was left alone there and opened her eyes to see him sorting out his wrinkled clothes. Nathan? She shook her leg on his knee, signing him to continue. Dont do it. I just asked the doctor Crystal said ambiguously. He said that its okay after three months if its not violent. Nathans figure moved. Then he continued to organize his clothes and sat down solemnly, showing no signs of being horny. Crystal rubbed his leg again, Dont you understand? The doctor said we can. Which doctor did you ask? The man who just gave me a B-ultrasound, I asked him when you went out How can you ask a strange man about this kind of thing?! What strange man? I asked the doctor You shouldnt ask another man about it! Nathan became annoyed. He felt even more tyrannical when he thought that the baby in her stomach was a boy who might look like Eric. Crystal sat up, slid her fingers in his cor frivolously, and stroked his chest. Except the doctor, who else can I ask? Besides, thats not important now Crystal smirked and breathed into his ears, knowing that this was his sensitive zone, The important thing is that you are liberated. Why are you still unhappy? Nathans body was as hard as iron. She knew that he had feelings for her when he kissed her. Chapter 451: Can You Describe It But Nathan just sat so straight, unmoved, and even pulled out her hand that was walking on his chest. Crystal took off the shoes on her feet and leaned her legs against his chest. Nathan, dont fake it. I know you are enduring. Lets just. Nathan held her legs, picked up the shoes to help her put them on and down her feet. Crystal was stunned and saw Nathan open the door and get out of the car, then he pulled the door next to the driver seat away and got into the car. At this time, Vic returned with other bodyguards. Vic felt very strange seeing the young master sitting in the passenger seat. Usually, Nathan must sit in the back with her if Crystal was here. Nathan, what on earth is the problem? Crystal clenched her fist. It was a shame that a womans courtship was rejected. Nathan stared at the front without squinting, Do we go back to the hotel or go to lunch now? Back to the hotel. Crystal felt angry, and she was no longer in the mood for lunch. She had nned to have seafood at noon today As usual, Nathan did not persuade her but coldly ordered the driver, Go back to the hotel. Vic was asked to sit in the back seat, and he opened the door, Miss Smith, excuse me, Crystal moved her body to make room for Vic. Leaning against the window, she didnt understand what had happened to Nathan? Obviously, he wanted her too, but why did he refuse her in every possible way? Was he going to keep himself pure for Mabel? Crystal couldnt figure it out, and then she just gave it up. After returning to the hotel, she would test him again to see how long he could hold himself! However, the n was soon defeated. Miss Smith, Ill send you back to the hotel room. Crystal saw that Nathan didnt mean to get off and knocked on the window, Where are you going? Seeing Marcos. And then, wont youe back? Crystals heart sank quickly. Ille back when Im done. When will you finish? What if you keep busy all the time? Dont think too much. How could she not think too much in this situation? Crystal felt aggrieved. They had actually been good before going to the hospital. Why did he change his face in an instant She had already tried her best to please him. Did she say anything wrong to make him unhappy? Crystal turned around and left. Before taking a few steps, Nathan gave her a hot embrace, Are you angry? How did I make you upset? Or you dont like me being close to you? Dont you know how happy I am when you get close to me? Ille back tonight. He kissed the back of her head. Then Ill wait for you toe back for dinner? Ill try my best toe back before dinner. Crystal turned her face, the mncholy on which soon disappeared. She raised her face happily and closed her eyes. With Crystals obvious expression of begging for a kiss, Nathan just branded a kiss on her forehead. Crystal started to feel a little lost again. He didnt kiss her lips as eagerly as before Why did she feel that something was wrong? Go up. Its windy here. Crystal nodded in a loss. Did she really overthink? Back at the hotel, she received a phone call from Nancy in the afternoon. Nancy knew that Crystal was in a bad mood recently, so she called her, especially every day. When they were chatting happily, Nancy heard Crystals confusion andforted her, Maybe he is really busy, so he will leave you out he has done so much for you, its enough to prove how much he loves you. Yeah, I think I have overthought. The doctor said that hypochondriacs liked questioning and suspicion, which was difficult for the patient to control. Would you like me to apany you to buy some clothes? Clothes? Why do you suddenly want to buy clothes? Not ordinary clothes, just that kind of clothes. ? Nancy was worried that Crystal would not be able to guess, so she said directly, Sexy underwear. Crystaly on the sofa and turned over, Nancy, when did you be so open? Its nothing about openness. I have even given birth to a child. Isnt it very normal that I know these things? Didnt you just say that you are busy today? If Crystal didnt remind Nancy, she probably had forgotten about it herself that she was going to an illustration ss today. Oh, I really almost forgot it. Sorry, I cant go shopping with you today Dont worry, its fine. Remember, it must be sexy. After finishing the call with Nancy, Crystal sighed that Nancy went to learn illustration, even though she had something to do On the contrary, she really had nothing in her life except Nathan. This child wouldnt be hers either, so what was left for her after Nathan left? Crystal looked at the window with self-deprecation. It was easy to think too much when she was alone. The doctor also said that she should go out for a walk, rx more often, and not be alone. Crystal thought for a while and went out with her bodyguard. She wanted to buy some clothes for Nathan The car drove to the mall, and the mighty bodyguard lineup protected her. But after entering the franchise store, when Crystal really started to choose mens clothing, she didnt know where to start because she didnt know Nathans size. She picked up the phone and called The phone was connected, but Nathan didnt answer it. In the past, as long as the ringtone sounded, he would pick it up immediately. Crystal patiently waited. Once the music ended, she dialed again. After several calls were connected, still no one answered. Crystal began to be restlessContent rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. [I am choosing clothes for you in the mall, what size do you wear?] After the message was sent, Crystal tried to calm down and focus on choosing clothes. However, after a long time without a reply, Crystal sent two more messages. Miss, which one do you like? After seeing her tangled, picking it for a long time, the staff asked her kindly. I dont know his size. It doesnt matter if you dont know the size, as long as you have a rough concept of his figure can you describe it? He is about one point eight meters tall, and he has a figure just follow the most standard size. Crystal nced at the clothing model, Simr to him. As Crystal described it, Nathans figure appeared in front of her eyes. Nathan, do you like this shirt? Crystal saw Nathan standing in front of the fitting mirror, with a tall and slender figure and unique temperament. He was wearing a gray suit. He was talking to Mabel with his head down. His eyes were extremely gentle. Crystal frowned. Didnt he go back to the manor? How could hee out to buy clothes with Mabel? Crystal dialed the phone again. Nathan took out the phone from his pocket and took a look, frowned slightly, and put it back into his pocket. Nathan, who is calling? Dont you answer? The corners of Nathans indifferent mouth raised, Its insignificant people, dont mind it. **** No, Crystal shook her head fiercely. Nathan shouldnt be here. This scene was fake. She wanted to get out A group of bodyguards saw that Crystal was hiding behind the clothes rack, staring strangely at the couple in front of the fitting mirror. Miss, are you okay, miss? The clerk didnt understand why Crystal suddenly hid and looked straight through her as if she couldnt see her at all. Crystal told herself that this was fake. She had to ignore it. Crystal took a sharp breath, got up, and left here, and walked to the shopping store next to this one. Since she couldnt see Nathan and Mabel, her mood was a little calmer. She picked up clothes from the shelf, but when she looked up, she saw Nathan and Mabel in front of the shelf next door again, choosing clothes. Chapter 452: Don鈥檛 Make Extra Moves She rubbed her temples to remind herself of ignoring it. Didnt she know if there was any way to help her hypochondria when it attacked? Should she ask the doctor to prescribe drugs that could help suppress it if it was necessary? Later, wherever Crystal went, she could always see Nathans and Mabels figures. They hugged each other and pressed their faces together in front of her. Nathan even hugged Mabel to get into the elevator. Mabel arranged his cor and wore the tie for him. In short, they did everything intimately. Atst, they even wore a couple of costumes, showing their affection in front of Crystal. Crystal almost rushed forward several times. Once she started a conversation with a fictitious person, she would bepletely addicted. She controlled herself, trying to concentrate on choosing clothes without thinking about anything else. Since the symptoms of the illness started from being suspicious, she should have fewer doubts and fewer thoughts. She must trust Nathan! She didnt know when, but the scene finally returned to normal when she recovered. Without Nathan and Mabel, there were only arge number of bodyguards walking wherever she went in the store. Several bodyguards were carrying big and small shopping bags, which indicated that she had bought a lot.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Crystal breathed a sigh of relief. Today, she had controlled very well and had not been involved in the imaginary, so she had not done anything out of the ordinary. But in the future, how should she hide from Nathan? The elevator came to the first floor. Crystal identally saw an erotic lingerie shop. Her footsteps suddenly stopped. She thought of Nancys words on the phone. **** In the evening, the hotels couples suite was decorated in a warm and romantic atmosphere, with rich dishes on the table and candles on the candlestick in the center. Crystal unplugged the cork and poured two sses of red wine. She turned off the light, and the projector cast pink, romantic blurry, and colorful light spots in the room. It was like dinner in a sea of flowers. Crystal put the CD into the music yer, and she even selected the songs. She also chose a few romantic movies. These romances were created by Nathan before, and she had never created them once! Although she didnt make the dishes by herself, she personally directed the chef to make every dish in the hotels kitchen. She was pregnant, so the bodyguards didnt allow her to cook, saying it was Nathans order. Crystal looked at the phone anxiously. She made several more phone calls and sent a few messages to urge him. If he were busy, he could reply to her that he was busy, but why was there no news? Crystal was afraid that the dishes would get cold. She picked up the silver cover to cover the tes one by one. It was gettingte. She opened the curtain to look out the window from time to time, and she could see any car parked in the hotel. But none of them belonged to Nathan. After nine oclock in the evening, she became hungry. The baby protested to her in her stomach, making hungry sounds from time to time. Crystal frowned. When she opened the dishes, they were all cold. She instantly lost her enthusiasm. She blew off the burning candles, turned on the lights, and ate the cold dishes alone. The mobile phone on the table remained silent. She deliberately ate very slowly, finishing a meal for more than an hour. She didnt have a good appetite, so she didnt eat too much, and the rest of the food was dumped in the trash can. It was like the carefully prepared surprises were all thrown into the trash can. Crystal opened her bathrobe back in the bathroom, wearing a sexy dress. The hour hand was already pointing to 12 oclock in the evening, and she thought he would not be back. Suddenly sheughed at herself and started washing her face. When did she be the pampered wife who guarded home and expected her husband to return home? She was about to go to bed. But she was unwilling to take off her sexy clothes even before going to bed. In the middle of the night, the door was opened softly. The projector in the room was still on, and the big led screen kept ying the babys B-ultrasound videos. Crystal probably felt tired of watching. She was still half sitting on the bed, covered with a quilt. There were some books on parenting knowledge scattered by the bed, which Crystal bought in the afternoon. She didnt want to focus all of her attention on Nathan, as this would only make her vulnerable to illness. Then the only thing she could transfer her attention to was the baby in her belly. She had insomnia before going to bed, but her mood gradually improved after watching the babys video. She didnt know when she fell asleep. Nathans tall figure stood in the room. He coldly watched the ck and white video on the big screen. The babys face was actually very fuzzy. His facial features were faintly visible, but it was still not easy to recognize. But in Nathans eyes, he looked like Eric. Of course, this was an illusion in his subconscious. He seemed to see the child hook his mouth and smile provocatively at him. His face was cold, and he wanted to immediately throw the TV out of the window. After several strides to the TV, he unplugged it directly. Then he walked to the bed again and gently pulled out a B-ultrasound picture from Crystal hands. There were many B-ultrasound pictures scattered beside her. He collected them with the parenting books and put them all on the bedside table. The B-ultrasound was facing up, and the babys appearance made him very unhappy. He really wanted to crush the picture and throw it away. He raised his hand, stopped the video fiercely, and put a parenting book on it, blocking the image. Crystal heard a slight movement, suddenly opened her eyes, and saw Nathans back in profile. Nathan? He turned his face and stared at her, Did I wake you up? No, I was waiting for you, but I fell asleep halfway. You are waiting for me while watching the B-ultrasound video? Nathan said with a touch of sarcasm, who seemed to be very unpleasant. Yeah, Im bored. Crystal tried hard to cheer up, I thought you werenting back tonight, and you didnt even answer my phone call. Nathan said nothing with a dark face. What happened? Nothing. Then why do you seem to be in a bad mood Crystal pulled his sleeves, I originally prepared a surprise for you tonight, but you came back toote. Nathan didnt seem to be interested in surprises at all. His expression was serious and dull. Crystal opened the quilt. All ckce suspender stockings and suspender underwear were sexy and seductive. The child was only three months old, so her lower abdomen was still so in that it couldnt be seen any change at all Now, only this surprise is left. She smiled enchantingly. Nathans eyes suddenly became deep, but he quickly reached out and covered her with the quilt. Why dont you sleep in the middle of the night? Why are you still making trouble? Making trouble? Dont do extra moves. Extra moves? Crystal frowned, Nathan, I did this all for you. He could refuse her, but what was going on with his cold face all the time?! Nathan pulled her quilt up to her neck and said coldly, Good night. You Im not interested. Crystal was blocked by the stubbornness and felt ufortable, If you had something unhappy in the manor, you could tell me. You dont need to get angry at me. Nathan said indifferently, Go to sleep. Crystal was about to move somece for him, but he turned and walked towards the sofa, I will sleep on the sofa. Why? You are pregnant. Crystal felt baffled. She had always been pregnant. Yesterday, they slept well in the same bed. Chapter 453: Do You Think It鈥檚 Funny The sexy underwear on Crystals body instantly became extremely ironic. What kind of stupid things did she do? She thought that he would be happy if she pleased him. Crystal suddenly picked up a pillow and threw it at Nathan. She said in a fit of anger, Fine, you can sleep wherever you want. I dont have any problem even if you sleep on the floor. Why dont you sleep in the bathtub if you dont want to see me so much? Crystal picked up a nket and threw it over, which happened to hang on his head. Nathan pulled it off hard.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Crystal stared at his back fiercely, We just said that we will be good, then you keep things in your heart. You can stay in the manor, and you dont have toe back! I didnt force you toe back! Nathan suddenly paused, then turned around abruptly and strode towards the door. Crystal instantly became anxious and said coldly, Stop. Nathans shoulders stiffened slightly. I bought you some clothes this afternoon. If you want to go back to the manor, you can take them away together. The clothing bags are all on the sofa by the door. Nathan nced at those famous brand bags. Its a waste here. You just take it away. If he dared to leave like this, she would never chase out. She swore she would turn around and left too. Nathan raised his eyebrows coldly, pulled the door, and went out, making a loud bang. Crystals mind was empty for dozens of seconds. Suddenly the door lock opened again, and Nathan came in with a ck face, Where did you get the money to buy it? These were all international brands of great value, but he did not give her money. Crystal turned her face away, Swipe a card. Whose card? Mine. You dont have a job. Where did you get the card? Crystal was startled, I used the card that Eric gave me. You are with me but still using his card!? Nathan finally broke out intolerably, A bed with three people, Crystal, dont you feel embarrassed to flirt with me? Crystal felt inexplicable to be scolded, What do you mean by three people? Dont you know the feelings I have for Eric? I mean the one in your belly! It turns out that you do mind Crystal widened her eyes, This one is always in my belly. Why do you start to mind him from today? Because today he knew that it was a boy. Of course, he minded, very much, uncontrobly. You are about to give birth to another Eric. Are you very happy? Nathan said in a strange tone. What, Eric? Why do you always mention him? Because thats his child. Didnt you ept him before? Youve known the existence of this child for three months. Just because he is a boy? Then you cant tolerate him? Crystal remembered that the change in his attitude started entirely from the hospital. Nathans face was extremely long. Dont tell me you are jealous of a fetus? Oh my god, this child hadnt been born yet, and he was only three months old. Nathan looked away coldly and said nothing. Crystal looked incredible, Nathan, are you? Why did Crystal suddenly feel so angry and funny? She had been angry just now, but now she couldnt helpughing. How could he be so naive? Nathan stared at her fiercely, Do you think its funny? No Are youughing at me!? Crystal coughed, I just think its incredible. I didnt know that you Nathan picked up the bags, opened the door again, and threw them all out. Crystal frowned, What are you doing? Are you crazy? Those are the clothes I chose for you. You havent even seen them You bought these gifts with other mans money. How dare you give them away to me? Crystal was choked by him and couldnt say a word. You should be more sincere if you want to send me something! Crystal had picked them all afternoon. Wasnt she insincere enough? Nathan threw out thest bag angrily, shouting at the bodyguard outside, Burn them immediately! Burn? Such a waste. Crystal moved her lips but didnt say anything. Nathan was obviously very angry now. Nathan closed the door like throwing a bomb again, sat on the shoe-changing bench, and suddenly spotted a bag hanging on the hanger. That bag is not clothes Crystal exined. Nathan took it down and opened it. Inside were some prenatal education CDs. Crystal bought them when she went to buy some books. Nathan just nced twice, and his anger grew even stronger. Are you looking forward to this child? No Why did you buy prenatal education CDs and parenting books you also took the B-ultrasound pictures and watched the B-ultrasound video until you fell asleep Nathan told her crime word by word and said, How can you still say that you dont expect? Ive told you that Im bored, so I looked at these by the way and killed time. She couldnt only focus on him. Crystal opened the quilt and wanted to go down to exin to him. Nathan sat stiffly, Donte over. Crystal stood there abruptly, staring at him helplessly. As long as I see you now, I will think of Erics child. He raised his eyebrows coldly, If you dont want to piss me off, donte over! So did he want to disappear to avoid her? It wasnt true, was it? Crystal looked at him angrily, It has happened. What do you want me to do? If you dont want to see me, do I have to wear a mask every day? Actually, I am not sure I can help with it at all now. Its a problem in your heart. You cant get over that hurdle. Crystal, if I have other womens children and I still show how much I like and look forward to him, what will you do? You are not a woman. How can you have children? Nathan stared at her sharply and coldly. Well, its my fault I didnt consider your feelings. Helen once lied that she had his child, and Crystal felt the same. It was indeed unbearable. If the person could bear it, it must be because they didnt love each other so much. The more people loved, the more they cared about each other. But I cant kill this kid. Although you will be unhappy, Crystal lowered her eyes, I cant be so selfish. If you really mind him, if necessary, we should separate. Crystal looked at him seriously. Her words didnt contain any negative emotions. From her condition, it was also better to get separated from him. Otherwise, anxiety and doubt would make it more and more difficult to control herself. Nathan narrowed his eyes coldly. Crystal originally took him to see the cemetery just to force him to open the chain. As a result, he was forced to tell the truth, but she couldnt bear to leave him alone. Since he didnt have the key to the chain, he did not need to find her again if she left. If I hadnt taken you to buy the cemetery and forced you, you wouldnt have told me everything, and you wouldnt have nned to be with me. Crystal looked away, The key is not in your hand, and you wont find me again. So, I forced you to be together with me, right? I dont want to force you. I really want to make you happy. I want you to live your way. I want to give you the most space. You dont know how hard Ive tried. Crystal shook her head and smiled. For her, self-esteem was more precious than life. She was willing to let it go for him, even if she was rebuffed again and again. But I discovered that I am not born to please people, and I cant please you no matter what I do. Crystal squeezed her fingers, The more I please you, the more you hate me. Nathans face tightened. So Ive been thinking all day, will you live happier without me disturbing you? Chapter 454: Why Did She Leave? These days, I really had a great time, but Im terrified. I suffer from the fear of losing your love every day. I am afraid that such happiness will disappear when I open my eyes. As long as Nathan was indifferent to her, she would be nervous. Did she say anything wrong? Or did she do anything wrong again? She also had a hard time. Nathan stared at her fiercely. Just leave me alone and do what you want to do. Crystal took a deep breath and finally let go. You didnt have me in your n. I kept squeezing in, right?? The room suddenly became very quiet. Crystal turned back to look at him again, Why dont you talk? You feel ufortable looking at me, even ufortable talking to me? Crystal sighed deeply in her heart. She thought that she was considering Nathan, but it turned out that she was making several troubles for him. She tried her best to please him, but it turned out to make him disgusted. She also felt so tired, and she had never guessed through his thoughts. You can leave now. Dont worry. I wont bother you by calling and texting in the future. Nathan just sat there in silence, not moving, speaking, or leaving. Crystal didnt know what he was thinking. Do you want me to leave? Crystal frowned. After she waited for a while, he still didnt move. Crystal got up, picked up her clothes, and went into the bathroom. As she was about to change her sexy clothes, the door lock was suddenly twisted and opened. Crystal closed the zipper and saw Nathans face in the mirror. He walked over in silence and hugged her hard from behind. Whats wrong? Im not even qualified to care? His voice was so dull. Crystals heart tightened, What do you mean? Am I not even qualified to care? Nathans breath was sprayed hot in her ears, You said that you dont expect the child! But you did not hesitate to choose him between him and me! Crystal sighed hard, You are so jealous for no reason. I only know that you will give me up first every time you make a choice. Its me who was abandoned! Crystals hand was ced on his palm, and she continued to say. I thought that letting you live is good for you, so I have been pestering you and want you to undergo surgery. But you want revenge you dont want to live! You think this is the life you want, well, I agree. I just hope that before you leave, I will give you some good memories so that you will not regret it when you are alive, and you can feel more warmth. Nathan pulled her body over and stared at her closely. Am I important to you? Of course, you are the most important We have suffered so much, and you still dont understand how important you are to me? Nathan stared at her in uncertainty, You just said to break up so easily. I have done everything I can The only thing left is to leave you and give you space. Nathan hugged her, I will try my best.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. What? Why did she feel it harder and harder to understand his words? I said I will try to tolerate the existence of a third party. Crystal finally understood who the third party in his mouth was, and she couldnt helpughing. Compared to losing you, I choose to tolerate him! Nathan gritted his teeth. Why bother with a fetus? Crystal, Ipletely mind him! So, what do you want me to do then you wont mind him? There is no way! He could only try to convince himself that he should ovee this obstacle. Crystal stroked his cheek, Why do you like bothering yourself so much? Because I love you Then what if this child belongs to you? Crystal opened her bright eyes. We assume that he is your child, a boy. Would you mind him so much? It depends on your performance. My performance? What if I love him? I will mind. Fine, since he even minded his own child, let alone Erics. Crystal probably understood that, in fact, the point that Nathan minded was no bloodline but gender. Well, I dont know how tofort you. Crystal looked at him helplessly, Then what do you want me to do? No matter what I do know is wrong. Youre not wrong. Nathan picked Crystal up and put it gently on the bed. Crystal found out that his nature was cheap. Every time she took the initiative to please him, he would be arrogant. If she wanted to run, he would catch up again. If she continued to coax him today, he would probably continue to be arrogant, and when he heard she was leaving, she would manage to force him out of his original form. Suddenly, the bed sank. Nathan had already climbed up. Crystal pulled the quilt, Arent you going to sleep on the sofa? Nathan stared at her fiercely, shook her quilt and went in, and hugged her into his arms. Although he still felt ufortable, he terribly minded the child. Crystal also felt his dissatisfaction because his arms around her were stiff. Nathan, did something happen in the manor today? Crystal leaned on him tiredly. No. Liar, you cant hide from me. She knew Nathan well. No matter what, he wouldnt treat her so coldly because of her child. Nathan turned off the bedsidemp and said nothing. What happened? I want to know. Crystal pushed him away, If you dont say anything, just go back to sleep on the sofa. Nathan said in a low voice, Mabel ran away from home. Sure enough, threats were more useful than pleasing. Crystal smiled and then slowly reacted, What did you say? Who ran away from home? Mabel ran away from home. I have sent people to find her. They will inform me as soon as there is news. Why did she leave?! Nathan hugged her, and a hot breath came out, As for why, I think you should be clear about it. Is it because of me? Crystal stiffened her body. She hired a private detective to follow us. Is she jealous? Crystal shook her head and immediately denied this statement, She should have known about our rtionship long ago. She shouldnt be jealous at this time. Shes not qualified to be jealous. Nathan raised his indifferent lips, She left a letter saying she wants to fulfill us and doesnt want to marry me. She really said that? Crystal was a little shocked. It took a lot of courage to let go and fulfill the one she loved. It could be seen that Mabel was a good woman. I cant guess what you women are thinking. A woman is a problem. In fact, Mabel was not stupid. After returning to the manor, the first thing she did was to investigate Nathans eating habits. She found medicines for stomach cancer in his room, and every meal was a food treatment for stomach cancer. It made her sure of Nathans illness. Although she didnt know why Nathan wanted to marry her, she had already seen that Nathan loved Crystal. In this lovepetition, she did not have the slightest chance. So at this time, she chose to quit. Then what should you do? Mabel has run away from home. Can your wedding be held as nned? People have been sent to search for her. Did she leave in the morning? She left in the morning, so Nathan hurried back. She left the day before yesterday, but they only noticed it this morning. It turned out to be so. Crystal was silent for a while. Mabel had left for two days, but they only noticed it this morning. However, Mabel always came and went freely, so Marcos probably didnt care about wherever she went. There was nothing if she had just disappeared for two days. Thinking of Marcos protecting Mabel in the hospital, Crystal asked worriedly, Did you fight with Marcos again? The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!