Crystal watched Rafael and Vince come out of the study, she could guess that something was up but she had no idea what it was, Starlia was busy demonstrating how she would deal with Elena if she was the person behind the incident, she was so engrossed in her story that she didn't notice Vince coming out of the study before Crystal could open her mouth to warn her, she had already bumped into him, he caught her as she was falling, " Hey, watch it"
" Hey, you watch it" Crystal heard Starlia retorted, she knew that Starlia had a thing for Vince and she wondered why she was picking on him now that she had seen him.Vince brow furrowed, " you bumped into me, why should I watch it"" You should watch were you are going to avoid me bumping into you"Vince glanced at Crystal who was trying to hide a smile, tongue in cheek, " don't bother about her Vince"" Did you just tell him not to bother about me?" Starlia whirled on Crystal" I wouldn't dare"Vince shRafael was sitting on the table sipping his usual tea when Crystal came downstairs, fully dressed like she was going somewhere, Rafael raised his brow, " going somewhere?"" Yes, I'm going to look for a job"That was the least answer Rafael expected and his brow furrowed, " I will not let my wife work"Crystal flared up at his words, she remembered when she had used the word 'wife' on him yesterday, he threw the word back at her, well it was going to be tit for tat she thought as she looked at him straight In the eyes, " I am just your wife on papers, I still have my life to live"" You are still my wife anyway, I can't believe we are arguing about this" he retorted" Well then, let's not argue, I am going to work" she had sulked the whole night and she was still feeling a little of it this morning and here he goes again trying to control her life because of a damn contract"Why do you have to work? What do you lack? I give you everything you need"
Crystal woke up, something had woken her up, the fire had almost gone out and the generator had went off, she guessed the fuel inside might have been exhausted, she glanced at the window, the storm was over but it was still raining. Rafael made a groaning sound, that was the sound that had woken her, she moved close and placed her palm on his forehead, oh God, he was burning up, he was uttering inaudible words, she guessed he was delirious. She put a towel in the water and cleaned his body once again, placing the damp towel on his forehead, she checked his injured arms, thank God the bleeding has subsided, she listened to hear what he was saying but couldn't comprehend his words, she kept the towel on his forehead and kept changing the water until his body was calm, she was exhausted, the fire is almost out and there's no more wood to put in it, time to lay him on the bed, she carefully placed his hands around her neck and tried lifting him, he was dead weight, she heaved and
Rafael was just about to turn on the shower when he heard Crystal screamed, he quickly tied the towel around his waist and dashed outside, he bumped into her and caught her in time not to fall, he looked behind her and saw a snake, he wrapped the snake and flung it far away."It's okay, that wasn't a poisonous snake" he soothesGosh, she never imagined there were snakes here, she hated snakes, she glanced at Rafael and blushed, quickly looking away from his nude body, he had only a towel around his waist, he must have run out immediately when he heard her screamed." Don't walk too far off" he told her going back in to continue his shower. That evening, they had the granola and pasteurized milk for dinner, the wind outside had increased, it looked like the hurricane will hit in the morning, Rafael sat in the kitchen listening to the broadcast over the radio while Crystal idled away, she was feeling tense at the impending danger, what if the hurricane blew the cabin
Rafael was dreaming, he was touching something very soft and warm if felt good to hold it in his arms, he ran his palms along its smooth surface and it snuggles close, he tried to move his leg but couldn't because of unusual weight, he felt a soft breath on his face and opened his eyes, his gaze met Crystal's sleeping form, she was lying astride him, he gently unwound her form from him so he could stand up, she murmured some incoherent words in her sleep and rolled back to the position he was trying to remove her from, trapping him again, her lips inches from it, he stared at them and his body responded immediately, at that moment her eyes opened and met his then rounded in shock at how she laid draped over him, she quickly tried to move away but Rafael pulled her back to him, she pushed against him and he let her go. embarrassed, she immediately apologized. He regarded her for a few minutes without saying a word and she fidgeted under his scrutiny." What? Did I drool? S
Crystal hugged Rafael tightly, she inhale his scent. She felt some changes in him and her body responded, she felt pleased that she had such power over him, that only her nearness is enough to get him hard, she turned her face upwards, he looked at her for few seconds, he needed no further go ahead, he kissed her with all the pent up hunger raging inside.Crystal felt starved, how she had missed his kisses and caresses, she savored it, she felt drunk in his kiss, he turned his moved his head and deepened the kiss and Crystal moaned as she because oblivious to everything around her, she didn't mind the fact that Emilia might walk in on them, she just want this man and to hell with the world.Rafael must have sensed her thoughts because he suddenly carried her and started walking upstairs without breaking the kiss, he carried her to his room and carefully laid her on his king-sized bed, still kissing her, this time, there was no holding back and there was no pushing away,
Rafael parked outside the hospital and rushed in, " where's my wife?" He asked the nurse by the desk, there was no need to ask who he was, he was a known face, the nurse immediately stood up, fluttered when she saw him, she quickly opened her chart, " your wife, miss Crystal is in the ICU" she pointed towards the direction and Rafael rushed there.The doctor came out to meet him, " Sir, your wife will need to undergo a major operation, we want your signature on some documents"Rafael couldn't believe how dark his day suddenly is, he collected the documents and signed and Crystal was wheeled to the operation room, he caught a glimpse of her as she was wheeled away, she looked so still and lifeless and he choked at the sight of her, he couldn't bear seeing her like that, he followed her until they got to the operation room, " Sir, you'll have to wait outside" the doctor told him, stopping him from going into the operation room." Doctor, please do all your best to
Chapter 35"Amnesia" the word echoed in Rafael's head, right now she couldn't even remember who he was, he was just a total stranger to her, " how long will it last?" He asked the doctor." Well from my observation, it shouldn't last long but I have no definite time how long it will take, maybe a week, maybe more"." Why am I in the hospital? What happened to me? Crystal's soft voice reached them and Rafael walked to her, " you were involved in an accident"." I don't remember anything"" You will soon, I'll be right with you until you regained every bit of your memory"." I think she should be left alone to rest," the doctor said and Crystal was grateful, she was feeling sleepy already, her husband nodded, his expression was pained as he stared at her for a moment, was it his pain she had felt in her dream? Calling out to her to come back, did she come back because of him? If she did then why did she suddenly forget him? She watched him and the l
Crystal had been having series of headaches during those weeks that Rafael was busy with the police and also flashes of images, she had called the hospital and was told by the doctor that maybe she was on her way to regain her memory and advised her to continue with her medication and she would be fine that afternoon, she had been having her nap, she dreamt of when she first walked into RAE, also the time she spent in the cabin with Rafael and finally, her accident, she had woken up startled only to discover that she remembered everything, so when Rafael came back that day she was already waiting to surprise him with the news."You look exhausted" she observed his tired eyes and a crease in his face, " come, I'll help you relax". She tried to help him undo his bottom but he caught her hands, " now, what are you trying to do Mrs. Rafael, you're not fully recovered from this".She raised her brow at him," you think so? I just might surprise you again you know"."Yeah! Y
**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, "