Crystal blushed furiously and pushed Henry away, sputtering, âNo!â
It was impossible for her to fall back asleep now. She headed to the walk-in closet to change.
Henry followed her inside.
They had been married, and he had seen her changing multiple times.
Crystal was unbothered by his presence. After she slipped on a sweater, she felt him hugging her from behind. He mumbled, âSecretly, youâre still blaming me, arenât you, Crystal?â
She did not refute him.
Some things simply took more time to forget than others.
She replied softly, âWe both need time to deal with this, Henry.â
He hummed gently in agreement, glad that they were getting along much better now. When they were alone, he refrained from doing any inappropriate gestures. Crystal was too important to him. Not only was she the woman he wanted, but she was also the mother of his child, Skyler.
Everything else could wait for its appropriate time and place.
Just then, Henryâs phone rang.
It was a call from David. Henry kept an arm around Crystalâs slender waist while answering his phone. âDad?â
David sounded rather displeased as he barked, âBring Crystal here, Henry!â
Before Henry could ask any questions, David had him pass the phone to Crystal.
He said some things to Crystal, who nodded and replied, âAll right. Weâll be there in a while.â
David hung up.
âWhat did he tell you?â asked Henry.
Crystal explained, âThe Quinns are causing a fuss over there. They insist I do a bone marrow match test with Joshua.â
The news infuriated Henry.
She canât possibly be a match, and even if she is, are they going to force her to donate her bone marrow to Joshua?
Crystal noticed his expression and shot him a small smile. âWhatâs wrong? You seem to have formed some opinions about Joshua?â
Henry promptly took off his bathrobe and put on a clean suit.
While he changed, he said, âYouâll know once you go back! Itâs some unpleasant business. My dad and Joshua arenât on the best of terms!â
His words tipped Crystal off that there was more to the situation than he had let on Henry and Crystal returned to the Miller residence with Skyler in tow.
As they stepped through the front door, they were greeted by the sight of Georgina throwing a tantrum. Rhea and Audrey were also present.
Georgina wept and wailed, âJoshua wouldnât be infertile now if he didnât risk himself saving Melora. Heâs ill now, and all weâre asking is for Crystal to go for a test. How can you be so cold-hearted and turn us away?â
Henry handed Skyler over to Crystal before asking her coldly, âWhy donât you beg the Lodge family for help, then?â
The Lodge family?
Georginaâs expression soured once she thought of Alfred.
In the meantime, Henry helped Crystal to settle into a couch and added sneeringly, âYour fear of begging the Lodge family for help is nothing more than an admission of guilt toward Crystal. Why not repent over your past actions instead of causing a ruckus at the Miller residence?â
Undeterred, Georgina insisted through gritted teeth, âBut Joshua once saved Meloraâs life!â
Juliaâs patience snapped. She retorted, âYes, Joshua had indeed saved Melora then! But do you know why Melora fell into the water in the first place?â
The Quinns were stunned by her outburst.
Anxiously, Audrey clenched her fists. Didnât the fever affect Meloraâs memories? Did she somehow remember what happened?
our Julia spat disgustedly, âYour daughter Audrey pushed Melora into the water! Back then, David and I had doubts about what happened, and two years ago, we hired a hypnotist to see Melora. Melora successfully recalled her memories of what happened, proving that Audrey was the culprit!â
Naturally, Audrey would never admit to her crime.
She looked toward Henry and protested, âI didnât do it!â
Everyone ignored her claims.
The revelation put Georgina at a horrible disadvantage. She had been counting on using Joshuaâs deed to pressure Crystal into donating her bone marrow.
Henry frowned and declared. âCrystal canât be a suitable match!â
What?
Georgina was unconvinced.
She looked at Crystal suspiciously and asked her in anguish, âAre you like your mom? Do you still hold a grudge against Joshua? Is that why you refuse to save him?â
Scoffing, Crystal announced, âIâve registered as a bone marrow donor since I was twenty! You wouldâve known by now if I was a match for Joshua.â
A devastated Georgina slumped to the ground..
She looked at Crystal blankly. The young woman suddenly seemed like a stranger to her.
What will I do if she canât save Joshua?
Georginaâs gaze slowly traveled to Skyler.
Hope sparkled in her eyes as she muttered, âSkyler is blood-related to Joshua too. Maybe she-â
Before Crystal could say a word, Henry interjected angrily, âWhat are you suggesting? How dare you get Skyler involved in this!â
At the same time, he kicked Georgina, sending the oblivious woman rolling across the floor.
The whole fiasco made Davidâs head hurt.
He used to think of Joshua as a decent man, but it seemed the Quinn patriarch could not even keep his family affairs in check.
David took matters into his own hands. He stepped in between Crystal and Georgina, and declared, âWe wouldnât stop Crystal from helping you if she was indeed a suitable and willing bone marrow donor. But she will never agree to a bone marrow match test as Joshuaâs daughter. And Skyler... sheâs simply too young. How could you even suggest using a child as a donor?â
Still, Georgina refused to give up.
Meanwhile, Rhea pleaded, âPlease, David. We have been friends for years.â
David merely returned coldly, âYou probably mean how you leeched off our family! I bet you and Joshua knew about Audrey pushing Melora into the water but kept it a secret from us to manipulate us into repaying your âkindnessâ all these years!â
Their actions nearly broke Henryâs family apart.
How much have we suffered because of them? Yet now that the Quinns are in trouble, theyâre shamelessly coming here. to demand our help as though theyâve done nothing wrong!
David promptly summoned the butler and instructed. âNever open the door for any of the Quinn family members again.â