Feeling Threatened

Crystal's POV

I was discharged from the hospital two days after I woke up. Eric didn't call, nor did he show up at the hospital. I was partly glad that he didn't come or call while another part of me was sad that he didn't show up.

I knew he didn't care if I died or lived, but he should have at least pretended to care and show up at the hospital, even if it was just once.

Everyone knew I was married to the powerful and rich Eric Conner but they didn't know how much I went through just because I have the name Conner added to my name

'Are you alright?' Karen asked placing a hand on my leg.

We were in the car taking us home. Eric had assigned a car to Karen before he left. I knew he didn't do that out of love or care for me. He must have done it so that I wouldn't have to get a taxi when I got discharged from the hospital and risk being seen by the paparazzi.

Anything Eric did was always for himself. He had never done anything selflessly since we got married.

'I am fine Karen. I am just wondering why Eric didn't bother to call me or even come to the hospital even though he was the one who put me there,' I said sadly.

'Sir Eric doesn't care about you. I thought that would have sunk by now,' Karen said sneering.

'It should have but it hasn't. I can't just believe that one person can be that mean to another. I did him no wrong. I am not asking him to love me. But he can be at least respectful and kind. I didn't bargain for a loveless marriage either,' I said brokenly.

'One thing I am sure of is that someday soon, all this suffering will be over. Hang in there Crystal,' Karen said looking sad

'Thank you, Karen. You have been wonderful,' I said smiling at her sadly.

'You are welcome, Crystal. You are a good person, and you have a kind heart. You deserve the best, and I am sure you are willing to get it,' Karen said with her voice saddened with emotions.

We fell into silence for the rest of the journey home. I was busy with my thoughts, and Karen, too, was looking out of the window. I knew her mind must also be on something because of the way she sighed now and then.

The car soon got into the estate and parked in front of the house. Karen helped me out of the car while she carried the overnight bag she had packed for me in the other hand.

We opened the door to hear Eric and his father arguing about something. They were upstairs but I could clearly hear them talking.

'You knew about how Crystal landed in the hospital Eric. I would not believe otherwise,' his father said to him.

'And I am telling you that it was no fault of mine. She got angry with me over nothing. The next thing I knew, she ran out of the house and sat in the cold. No matter how much I tried to convince her to come in, she refused to bulge. What was I supposed to do?' Eric said lying through his teeth.

I shook my head at the blatant lies Eric was weaving. I couldn't help but wonder if he sounded reason to his ears.

'I do not believe you one bit, Eric. How can your wife go outside in this horrible cold and you say you didn't know what to do?' His father asked sounding very disappointed

'Dad, it was her choice, so I allowed her to do what she wanted. She is an adult. I can't possibly strap her to my belt' Adrian said.

There was a lengthy silence before his father spoke again, ' Mark my words, Eric. You are going to look back on your actions towards that girl one day and regret every mistreatment you have done to her'

'I have never mistreated her Dad. And even if I have mistreated her, she deserves it,' Eric said, raising his voice at the end of the statement.

'What do you mean Eric? No one deserves to be mistreated '

'She lied to Claire and made her leave just because she had some stupid fantasies about me. I would have been married to Claire if she had not stepped in and ruined everything' Eric said with anger evident in his voice

I looked at Karen in confusion. What Eric was saying wasn't making any sense to me. How did I make Claire leave him at the Altar? I didn't do that and I hadn't even seen Claire in over two years before the incident

'So you believe that rubbish the Matins are saying? Sometimes I wonder if you are truly my son. You are so good with the business but it seems you are so foolish when it comes to every other thing'

'Dont say that to me Dad' Eric said as I heard their footsteps coming towards the stairs

'Look at that innocent girl Eric. She can't even hurt a fly. You are just going to allow a good girl slip out of your hands' His dad said and their footsteps stopped

'She will not dare leave me until I say I am tired of her and this marriage. She knows what is a stake if she takes that type of a stupid step' Eric said and I felt the threat all the way to my stomach

'What if another man comes her way Eric, one that will treat her right and show her what love is, what if he can give her a good life and stable home. What will you do then?'

'I am Eric Conner Dad. One of the richest and most powerful CEO in the country. No man will dare make a play for my wife. I will trash the person. besides, which rich person will want ugly-looking trash like Crystal?' I heard Eric say. I had to let go of Karen's hands, sit down, and put my face on my palms. I have never felt so put down.

'You think Crystal is ugly, right? When you lose her, Eric, don't come to me,' I heard his dad say, and then the footsteps started coming down the stairs.

I didn't look up at them as they descended the stairs. Eric was the meanest person I know and I am not surprised he is that way. One needed to meet the woman who raised him to know better.

'My darling girl, you are back already,' Eric's dad said in the form of a greeting, and I was forced to raise my head from my palm and look at him.

'Yes, Dad,' I said, then got up to hug him.

Eric's father was everything his son wasn't. Homely, calm, nice, sweet, and welcoming. I often wondered how he ended up with Eric's mother in the first place. The woman was a typical example of a monster in law.

'How are you feeling now?' Eric's father asked looking me all over as if he could see what was wrong with me physically

'I am fine now Dad. I am just tired and I have a little chest pain. The doctor said it was due to the excess cold, but he assured me that it would soon clear off and I would be as fit as a fiddle.

'That is good. Make sure you rest very well. I want you to be able to attend dinner at the mansion by the end of the week. Karen, please look after her for me,' Eric's father said,d, and Karen nodded happily.

'Thank you so much, Dad,' I said, smiling for the first time in days. Eric's Dad had insisted that I call him Dad after the wedding, so I happily agreed.

Eric's Dad said his goodbyes to Karen and I before he left. Eric escorted his father out of the door but not before casting a disdainful look my way.

I told Karen to help me to my room. I didn't want Eric to meet me in the sitting room. I wanted to avoid him at all costs. He was nothing but a liar, a cheat, and a mean, heartless human.

I sighed as my back touched the headboard. I closed my eyes a little and didn't open them even when Karen excused herself to get me something to eat.

I opened my eyes and looked around the room. I wished I could be somewhere else, but I was there at that moment. The door handle turned and I thought it was Karen coming back in. I wanted to compliment her on how fast she got back, but I couldn't say anything the moment I saw Eric step into the room.

My heart jumped in fear. I couldn't help but wonder if he had come to strangle me. That was how low and wicked I viewed him.

'I am not here to say much,' Eric started saying while looking at me like I was a slimy thing.' If you wake up one morning and decide to leave me hoping to bring disgrace to me by cleaving to another man, have this at the back of your mind. I will kill you, then kill the idiot you lured,' Eric said, then left with me staring at him in surprise.

Was he feeling threatened by what his dad had said about me leaving him? Or was Eric just being Eric?