*
Crystal gritted her teeth at the blatant stare from the onlookers. She had only quietly wanted to leave, why did Elena stop her?
Her gaze reverted to Elena, the woman had an apologetic innocent expression.
She couldn't tell if she was being sincere or not."I know, you must be worried about the cost of your damaged dress right? I can pay for it " Elena spoke aloud for everyone who was around to hear and laughed with a dismissive wave of her hand.
"That settles it then, does it appeal to you, Miss Crystal? Your dress doesn't look that expensive, I'll send an even more beautiful one tomorrow"
Although the other woman had a sweet smile plastered on her face, Crystal couldn't help but feel a spike of irritation. She looked around to see they had gained even more attention, she wondered if that had been the woman's intention, but what enmity did she have with her?
**Crystal waited as he signaled the driver to bring the car around. A short while later, they were both prepared to leave.Just as the driver opened the door of the car, a familiar face hurried towards them.Crystal's gaze narrowed slightly when Elena made her way over to them, or rather to Rafael because the woman just blatantly ignored her presence.A slight pout played across as she clutched Rafael's arm..... For the second time since this evening."You didn't tell me you are about to leave, who knows when I'll have the opportunity of seeing you again " She spoke in a soft tone, gazing up at Rafael with wide innocent eyes.Crystal almost snorted at the woman's gentle and docile behavior."When are you returning to your Vacation? I'm sure you'll have the time to make it to our wedding, it's only a few weeks away " Rafael replied smoothly as though he was ta
Crystal woke up to the sound of her phone ringing, she stretched her hand lazily towards the stand to snatch her cellphone, not bothering to look at the caller ID."Hello" she murmured croakily, then she cleared her voice."Hello, who? "she replied more soundly this time." Young lady, don't tell me you're still in bed by this time!" The feminine voice from the other end yelled, threatening to burst her ears open. Crystal jerked the phone from her ears, she checked the called ID, it was of course Starlia's mom on the other end. she groaned and rolled over, shoving aside the sheets." Mom, so good to hear from you" she mumbled." Since you refused to call me, well I decided to do the calling to get a more feasible explanation from you, young lady! " Mrs. Esther yelled again and Crystal couldn't help but wince." I don't understand m..om" she stuttered, her heart thudding in guilt, had her mom found out about her charad
By 6:30, Crystal is all dressed in a simple pale pink dinner gown and light make up, she heard the blare of the horn outside and then a knock on her door, she frowned, they still have about 30minutes more, she opened her door, Rafael was standing at the entrace, dressed in a tuxedo, he look breathtaking and she sucked in her breath, his hair has been ruffled by the evening breeze and she fought the urge to run her fingers through it." are you going to stand there staring or are you going to let me in" he demanded, sounding amused and Crystal flushed got"Come in, I'll soon be ready" she mumbled paving way for him to enter into her tiny apartment.His presence filled the whole apartment and the space suddenly shrink, he dominate anywhere he is, he stood gazing round her compartment, this is actually use first time he has entered into her compartment, other time he has been here, he had giving her a got kiss that made the headlines and left."Please, have a
Rafael sprinted into the house and Crystal flew into his arms, someone had broken into her apartment, everything was in a mess, her chairs were slashed and her glasses were broken, a broken doll smeared with blood was left at the center of the room."Stay here and don't move" different emotions were churning inside of him of which the predominant anger and worry.She glanced up at him and he softens his tone,"I'll be right back" He went into her room, checking for any sign of the intruder, her room was in disarray just like the rest of the house, writing on her dresser mirror caught his eyes, the intruder has used her lipstick to write."Your days are numbered: call-off your wedding" Rafael wished to get his hands on the sonofabitch who dares threaten his marriage A whimper at his back have him whirling ."What is that?" Crystal came into the room staring at the writing on the mirror"I told you to stay put" Rafael fumed, He h
The drive through the driveway was brief and Rafael finally parked in front of a big mansion, Crystal got out from the car and looked at her surroundings, it was beyond what she had imagined, the compound was decorated with beautiful flowers, she never thought that the gloomy, icy CEO will have flowers around, Crystal stared at the building and her mouth fell open,"it's so big, you live here alone?" Rafael raised a brow at her question"Let's go inside" was the reply she got to her question.Crystal allowed him to lead her inside."Welcome back Sir" a plumpy woman in her mid-fifties greeted as soon as they entered."This is Emilia, my housekeeper"Emilia immediately turned to Crystal and gave her an affectionate smile," you're welcome to Valarie's mansion""Thank you ma'am" Crystal look around the big house, she suddenly felt like Alice in Wonderland, everywhere was lit and was again she was shocked at the contrast in Rafael's life, the hous
Crystal walked out of the Valarie mansion, she stood outside and gaze at the building, it was indeed beautiful, it was decorated with rose flowers and the scent teased her nose, for some reason, it reminded her of her late mother, coincidentally, her mother's maiden name had been Valarie."Mum, you have my word, I must bring your murderer to book" she wiped her eyes that's already welling with tears as she set out to visit the said murderer.Crystal flagged down a taxi, she had arrived in Rafael's car yesterday and hers is still packed at her house, she got to the miller's corporation just when he was coming out of the building and she quickly walked up to him brazenly"Do you think playing that dirty tricks on me will scare me?" she fumed" I don't think I know what you mean" his calm reply made her clench her fist, he turned to the two security guards standing close"Excuse us for a moment""Yes boss" they answered in unison as they left them alon
The last person that Crystal wished to see right now was Elena and her pretending attitude, what was she doing here anyway? She thought"Hello there," Elena called out to her grinning broadly as she sat down in the vacant seat beside Crystal, "I see you are here for a hairdo""Why are you here?" Crystal blurted"Same reason as you" Crystal kept quiet and observed the hairstylist work on her hair"Heard that you had a case of break-in yesterday and you spent the night at Rafael's house" Elena mumbled by way of conversation but loud enough for the hairstylists to hear Crystal met her eyes through the mirror, "Are you stalking me? How do you know about that ." Elena smiled sweetly but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes, she just couldn't stomach the fact that Rafael was getting married to this woman and that he cares about her. "Why do I need to stalk you when Rafael tells me everything that goes on i
They drove in silence for a while, "I don't want you to have anything to do with Mark ever again" Rafael calmly told her"I don't have anything to do with him" she replied" Let me be more specific, you will not go looking for him ever again, you're going to be Mrs. Rafael Manuel pretty soon, no scandal must erupt as long as we're married"" I won't take his threats sitting down" she turned to face him squarely, " I only wanted to talk to him"A muscle twitched in his jaw, " you won't go and see him ever again and that's final" he barked" Are you always this angry or is it just me?" She fired back" You always anger me that's why I'm always angry with you, you're so damn stubborn"" Well then, if you can't deal with me, it's not too late to call off the wedding"He suddenly jammed the breaks and the screeching of the wheels made her wide-eyed, the sudden break pushed her forward and she almost hit her head on the front screen, she turne
**Rafael has been discharged from the hospital months back and he has gradually recovered. Their contract expired last month but Rafael hadn't said anything about it, Crystal was free to leave and she knew it was time for her to leave, he has recovered and his father has also improved a lot after listening to the message from her father, she had given her mother's ashes to him and told him to let her go and rest in peace, tears misted in his eyes as he carefully collected the jar from her, " thank you so much" he had choked out."No Sir, I should say thank you, thank you for loving my mother the way you did, I'm happy that she at least experienced true love from you, you deserve to be with her, she will be happy where ever she is right now"So they had bid her mother farewell as they poured her ashes into the river and watched it flow out. Now it's time for her to leave, she would have to discuss with Rafael concerning Evans, they will have to somehow come to an agreem
Crystal was dazed, she couldn't believe this was happening right in front of her, Rafael had taken the bullet meant for her, she was numb and time stood still as she watched him fall, right in front of her, crimsonFlowed out of him and dropped on her face as she fell on her, deadweight. A cry wrenched from her mouth, "no" she got out from under him, "Rafael, no, don't do this" but she got no response. The sound of ambulance could be heard and soon it stopped as it reached, " excuse me, ma'am, we'll have to take care of him" the paramedics came out and oxygen was fixed immediately as he was put on a stretcher and taken into the ambulance, Crystal signaled Emilia to take care of Evans as she quickly jumped into the ambulance, holding Rafael's hand with tears streaming down her eyes, " Rafael, please don't leave me, I'm sorry for all the words I said to you, I didn't mean it" she cried. Soon they got to the hospital and he was rushed into the emergency unit, the doctor told
Raphael sat in his study brooding, a bottle of wine in his hand, he was pained that Crystal is still insisting on staying with Starlia, didn't she consider the pain he was in? Didn't she miss him at all? Why was she being stubborn, he would have to bring her back at all cost, he was no longer going to take no for an answer, he would use whatever method to bring her back, he had compelled her using their contract and he hoped that work or he would be compelled to use a more forceful method, she would stay with him and this time for good, he was never going to let her go again.Crystal walked into the prison and was shown where her father was, they stared at each other through the glass, her gaze furious, his mocking, he picked up the phone at his corner and stared at her waiting for her to do same, he mouthed something and she finally picked up the phone."Well, well, well, look who we have here," he said as soon as she put the phone on her ears"Surprised to see me
Rafael was furious when he saw Mark trying to leave with Crystal, so this was the husband she was talking about, " what are you doing with my wife?" His voice thundered.Crystal withdrew her hand from Mark's clutches, "wife?" This was the man she wanted to get answers from but he had come here looking for her still calling her his wife, "what do you mean by that?" She whispered."Nothing", Mark quickly asserted but she paid no heed to him.Rafael had suspected something was wrong when he had seen Crystal the other day but now he had confirmed it, she had lost her memory and Mark had taken full advantage of it, he held Mark by the neck and rammed him to the wall, " how dare you take advantage of her like this after what you did? You put her in this condition and still have the nerve to hold her hostage as your wife?"Crystal turned to Mark, " what is he talking about?" She chipped in, confused, she turned to Rafael, " what do you mean by put me in this condition?"
Mark felt the bottom dropped out from under him at her question, has she regained her memory? No, she had taken her pills, then why would she ask of Rafael, he felt desperation crept into his heart and he fought it, he was not going to lose her, no way, he can't let that happen, his expression guarded, he sat at the foot of her bed, " did you drink your medication?"Crystal frowned at his question, she was asking about Rafael and he was here talking about pills, what has that got to do with anything? Was there something in the pills?"You gave me the pills yourself, why asking?He shrugged, "no reason""I asked you a question, instead you are talking about pills, is there something you're hiding from me?"No", he asked quickly, too quickly and her suspicion grew, there was something he wasn't telling her."You are lying to me, I don't believe you, there's something you're not telling me" she stood up from the bed and walked downstairs angril
Crystal looked back and was glad his car wasn't following her anymore, she reached home still shaken about what just happened and was glad Mark wasn't home yet, she thought of what had happened earlier, why was he referring to her as his wife, the man must have lost it, she can't tell Mark about this, he would so hit the roof, she regretted going out, she hadn't understood the compulsion on her to go out and now she regrets it, she wasn't his wife, her husband was Mark, her mind traveled to the dream she had the night before, of the faceless man and for some reason, this stranger fits into it, tears burned in her eyes, she felt so lost, her headaches terribly, she had to call her doctor and explained about her dream to him, was her memory returning, if so, she wants to know who that man was, she realized that she had this dream on the day she failed to take her medication. The doctor told her it was nothing and that she must continue taking her pills, his voice sounded tensed to
Crystal got home and was relieved that Mark wasn't back from wherever he had gone, she was just dropping the juice and beverages on the table when he walked in, he hugged her and she stiffened but didn't pull back, she has to try and act like a wife to him no matter what, he pulled back and looked at her, did you go somewhere?" He asked staring at her intently.She nodded, "I got us some fruits and beverages". Be stared at what she had bought on the table, she had gone out? But how was that possible, if she had taken her pills, she has been sleeping by now, his heart skyrocketed, she had seen Rafael on the news yesterday, although she had not recognized him, he was still perplexed with the fact that she was interested in watching him, he was a businessman and might even have business here in Demero, he would not allow her to go out, not until he was sure that Rafael was not in any way close to Demero, he narrowed his eyes on her, " did you meet anyone?".She frowned at his
Crystal walked into the house Mark took her to, it felt strange, she had absolutely no memory of the house neither did she even feel like she had been here before or lived here. She went into the unfamiliar house, looking around and hoping something would trigger her memory. "Are you alright?" She heard Mark asked as he placed his hand on her back, for some reason, she felt uncomfortable with his touch as she moved away from him, nodding that she was okay and needed to rest.Mark noticed how she had moved away from his touch, his eyes narrowed but he let it go."Why are there no pictures of us in our house?" She suddenly gazed at him, even in this state, without memory, she was still smart. He was at a loss for how to answer."Huh?""I mean no family portrait of us, not even our wedding pictures?""Oh, yeah we have but you see, our previous house caught fire, I only just managed to get you out of there, so this is a new house, we lost our family pictures and
Crystal felt the wave washed her away and she welcomed it, she had no strength left in her, suddenly she felt a hand pulled her out of the water but she was too weak to open her eyes or fight it, she gave in and welcomed the blackness that enveloped her. Rafael opened his eyes in the hospital, he must have passed out, memories rushed in, Crystal, he can't believe that she was gone, why did he wake up, he wanted to join her, his heartfelt like bursting, "you're awake" Vince walked into the room, "how are you feeling?"Rafael shook his head, "like my heart is about to wrench open in pain". Rafael stood up from the bed, "you have your car with you?"Vince nodded, and Rafael walked towards the door, "get me out of here".Vince followed closely, " the doctor hasn't said you should leave".Rafael kept walking, "I am leaving, the doctor has no solution for my ailment, only Crystal does".In the car, Rafael placed a call, his eyes cold and unfeeling, "