Chapter 3 Three

Crystal clutched her luggage tightly, her trembling hands resting briefly on her belly. "I'll fight for us," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Your father doesn't deserve you. I promise, I'll protect you no matter what." She paused, as though seeking comfort from her own words, her thumb brushing against her stomach.

The darkening sky mirrored her sinking heart as she stood outside the Blake mansion, her belongings scattered around her. She had no idea where to go. With no friends in the city and no family to rely on, she had cut ties with them when they opposed her marriage to Christian, she felt utterly alone.

"I should have listened," she murmured, her voice trembling with regret. "I should have seen through the lies. But now... now, this is my reality."

She exhaled shakily and flagged down a taxi. The car pulled up, and she struggled to load her luggage into the trunk, her hands trembling with exhaustion and emotion.

"Where to, ma'am?" the driver asked.

Crystal hesitated for a moment before replying, "Take me to the nearest hotel, please."

The drive was silent except for the hum of the engine. She stared out of the window, her arms wrapped protectively around her belly, as tears slipped quietly down her cheeks.

When the taxi arrived at the hotel, she stepped out, her resolve hardening as she pulled her luggage inside. The lobby was warm and inviting, but the whispers from the staff were anything but.

"Isn't that Mrs. Blake?"

"Not anymore," one of the workers muttered audibly. "Thrown out just like that. What a shame."

Their words felt like daggers, but she kept her head high, forcing herself to walk to the receptionist.

"Good evening," the receptionist greeted with a polite smile that barely hid her curiosity. "How may I help you?"

"I'd like to book a room for the night," Crystal said, her voice steady despite the turmoil within.

"Of course. Please insert your card here," the receptionist said, sliding the terminal toward her.

Crystal pulled out her card and swiped it. Declined. She tried again, her chest tightening as the same message flashed.

"Ma'am, the card has been declined," the receptionist said, her tone now colder.

Crystal's pulse quickened as she tried again, and again. By the fifth attempt, her hands were trembling.

"Ma'am, if you can't make payment, I'll have to ask you to step aside. There are other customers waiting," the receptionist said impatiently.

Crystal stepped back, tears threatening to spill as embarrassment and helplessness enveloped her. Her mind raced for a solution. Who could she call? She had no one left. Desperately, she pulled out her phone and dialed Christian.

He answered after a few rings, his mocking laughter filling her ears.

"I knew you'd call," he sneered.

"What did you do to my card?" she demanded, her voice trembling with anger and fear.

Christian chuckled, the sound chilling. "Your card? My money? You have no rights to any of it anymore. I've blocked all access. And let me make one thing clear-don't ever call me again, you poor, wretched thing."

The line went dead.

Crystal stared at her phone, her vision blurring with tears. With no other options, she slowly turned and walked out of the hotel, dragging her luggage behind her. The cold air bit at her skin as she stood by the curb, trying to figure out what to do next.

"Ma'am Crystal?" a familiar voice called out.

Crystal turned, startled, and her heart skipped a beat. There he was-Dr. Peterson, her obstetrician, dressed casually in a crisp shirt and tailored trousers. His concern was evident as he stepped closer.

"Dr. Peterson?" she said, her voice cracking.

"Yes, it's me," he replied, his tone warm but worried. "What are you doing out here? Is everything okay?"

She hesitated, the weight of her situation pressing down on her. "I... I couldn't book a room," she admitted quietly.

"Why not?" he asked, his brows furrowing.

"My card was declined," she said, shame creeping into her voice.

Dr. Peterson's expression darkened briefly before softening. "You should have called me," he said gently. "You don't need to go through this alone."

"I didn't want to trouble anyone," she replied, looking away.

"Nonsense," he said firmly. "Let me help. What are you doing at this hotel anyway?"

She blinked, confused. "I just needed a place to stay for the night."

He smiled slightly. "Well, it's a good thing you came here. I happen to be one of the directors of this hotel."

Crystal's jaw dropped. "You're a director here?"

"Yes," he said with a reassuring nod. "And as one of the directors, I'm making sure you have a room. Don't worry about anything."

"But-"

"No buts," he interrupted, his tone kind but resolute. "You've been through enough already. Let me take care of this, at least for tonight."

Crystal hesitated, tears of relief welling in her eyes. "Thank you, Dr. Peterson."

"Call me Alex," he said with a warm smile. "Now, let's get you settled inside."

He carried her luggage back into the hotel, his presence a beacon of hope amidst her despair. Crystal followed, feeling for the first time in days that maybe, just maybe, things would be okay.

**********

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, waking Crystal from a restless sleep. She rubbed her eyes and took a deep breath, steeling herself for the day ahead. She had made up her mind-there were people she needed to see, people she hadn't visited in years.

A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts.

"Come in," she said, her voice hoarse.

A waitress entered, carrying a tray laden with a steaming breakfast. Crystal blinked in surprise. "I didn't order this."

The waitress smiled. "It's from Dr. Peterson. He insisted you have something warm before starting your day."

Her chest tightened with a mix of gratitude and embarrassment. "Oh... thank you."

The waitress set the tray down and gave a polite nod before leaving. Crystal stared at the plate, her emotions swirling. She hadn't eaten properly in days, and the gesture felt like a lifeline.

As she ate, her resolve grew stronger. After finishing her meal and freshening up, she packed her small bag and left the hotel. A long journey lay ahead, but she needed answers-and closure.

The ride to her parents' home in the neighboring city felt like a lifetime. She stared out the window, her heart heavy with apprehension. The last time she had seen them, she was full of hope and dreams-dreams that now felt like ashes in her hands.

When she arrived, the modest house stood unchanged, a bittersweet reminder of the past. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door.

It creaked open to reveal her mother, whose eyes widened in surprise. "Crystal..."

"Hi, Mom," she said softly, forcing a small smile.

Her mother hesitated but stepped aside without a word, allowing her in. Her father was seated in the living room, the television humming softly in the background. He looked up, his face a mixture of surprise and disapproval.

"Look who decided to show up," her mother said, her tone cutting.

"Crystal," her father said, his voice colder than she remembered. "What are you doing here?"

Crystal shifted uncomfortably. "I... I needed to see you. I had nowhere else to go."

Her mother crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "We saw the news."

Crystal's stomach twisted. She didn't need to ask what they meant.

"The new wife," her father said flatly, shaking his head. "Christian moved on faster than I thought."

Crystal swallowed hard. "It's not what it seems. He-"

"It doesn't matter!" her mother snapped, cutting her off. "We warned you about him, Crystal. We told you he'd destroy you, but you were too blind to see it. And now you expect us to welcome you back with open arms?"

"I didn't know who else to turn to," Crystal said, her voice trembling. "I thought maybe..."

Her mother's laugh was harsh. "Maybe what? That we'd take you back after you cut us out of your life for him? That we'd forget the way you turned your back on us?"

Her father sighed heavily. "You made your choice, Crystal. And now you have to live with it."

Tears pricked her eyes, but she forced herself to hold their gaze. "I know I made mistakes. I know I hurt you, but I'm trying to fix things."

Her mother's face hardened, and her next words were like a dagger to Crystal's heart. "Fix things? There's no fixing this. You don't belong here, Crystal. You should leave."

Her father looked away, his silence louder than words.

"Please," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I just need time to figure things out."

Her mother stepped closer, her expression unyielding. "Leave now, Crystal. Right this moment. Or I'll call security to escort you off the property."

The weight of those words crushed whatever hope Crystal had left. Her breath hitched, and for a moment, she thought she might collapse under the pain. Her world seemed to tilt as her mother's words hit her like a physical blow