Henry gripped the steering wheel with one hand and held his phone to his ear with the other.
Crystal asked, âHenry, did you go to my momâs place?â
âYeah,â he replied, his tone surprisingly gentle, a far cry from his aggressive demeanor the previous night.
Crystal hesitated for a moment but decided to be straightforward with him. âWeâre divorced, Henry. Leave my mom alone.â
Henry let out a light chuckle. âWhatâs wrong? Canât I visit my ex-mother-in-law? I think she was happy to see me.â
He adopted this nonchalant attitude, leaving Crystal at a loss for words.
After a brief pause, she finally spoke, her voice filled with resignation. âFine, if it makes you happy.â
As she was about to hang up, Henry hurriedly said, âIâm sorry about last night.â
Crystal remained silent.
Henryâs voice grew softer as he continued, âI just got carried away when I saw that Morning Dew piano. Remember how we made love on it back then?â
Crystal tensed up. Back then...
Henry listened to the rapid breathing on the other end of the line and couldnât help but chuckle. âHave you forgotten already? It was Christmas night!â
Crystal gripped her phone, her knuckles turning white.
Without warning, she hung up.
Moments later, her phone rang again. She thought it was Henry, so she didnât want to answer.
Yet, it kept ringing.
Reluctantly, she checked the caller ID. It was Madison.
Crystal felt apologetic and quickly answered the phone. âMadison, Iâm sorry.â
Madison feigned annoyance. âWhat were you up to? I called you so many times. Wanna go for a drink?â
Crystal was thinking of giving her the semi-annual dividend, so she agreed readily.
Thirty minutes later, Crystal found herself in a well-known pub.
Madison had reserved a private room with a stunning view of half of Barnwoodâs skyline.
Crystal handed Madison the check.
Madison looked at the amount and was surprised to find that it was much more than. expected. âPeteâs really stepping up!â
Crystal took a sip of her cocktail and smiled faintly. âSophia is in charge now, Pete occasionally provides some guidance.â
Madison recalled the Young Pup and couldnât help but sigh in regret.
She then asked about the celebrity, Stefan Bowers. âHe seems like a great guy! I did some digging and found that his personal life is clean, and so is his family background. You really arenât interested?â
Crystal played with her glass and gently shook her head.
She looked out the floor-to-ceiling window at the bustling city below where neon lights illuminated the night. Her eyes glistened with tears.
Madison could guess who she was thinking about and sighed heavily in her heart.
The one Crystal truly loved had always been Henry.
To lighten the mood, Madison pretended to complain, âEver since you took over Seeas Corporation, Iâve invited you out ten times, and youâve only come once!â
Crystal smiled. âI need to look after Skyler and Remi.â
âThen what about tomorrow? Youâre going on a business trip down south. What about the kids?â Madison asked.
âIâm sending them to the Miller residence for a week,â Crystal replied.
Early the next morning, she dropped her two children off at the Miller residence.
It was Saturday, and Skyler was thrilled to return to the Miller residence. She even wore her prettiest dress for the occasion.
She missed her father.
Crystal couldnât help but feel the excitement as well at the sight of her daughter.
She patted Skylerâs small head. âWhen youâre there, remember to play with Berthold, okay?â
Skyler had already hopped into the back seat.
Several minivans headed toward the Miller residence, and it was not even nine in the morning when they arrived.
The Millers were already waiting.
Skyler ran to her grandfather. She cuddled him for a while, then rushed over to Henry and hugged him tightly, wanting to be picked up.
Henry kissed her and glanced at Crystal.
Crystal was dressed casually for her business trip. She was wearing light-colored casual pants. and a turtleneck sweater with a thin wool coat over herself.
Henry asked casually, âWhat time is your flight?â
âEleven oâclock.â
Henry looked at her thoughtfully.
After a moment, he said, âIâll take you to the airport later.â
Crystal understood his intentions and said, âItâs fine. The company is sending a car to pick me up.â
Henry felt somewhat disappointed.
Crystal didnât want to get too entangled with him. She chatted casually with Julia. Despite her divorce from Henry, her relationship with the Millers remained strong.
As she chatted with Julia, Henry accompanied Skyler.
However, his gaze was fixed on Crystal the entire time.
Crystal stayed for only half an hour. Soon, the company car from Seeas Corporation arrived. to pick her up. Ryan, dressed in a suit, stepped out of the car and greeted David respectfully.
Henry, with furrowed brows, lowered his voice and asked Crystal, âRyan is going too?â
Crystal found his question strange.
Ryan is the deputy CEO, so isnât it natural for him to go too?
Henry gritted his teeth and escorted Crystal to the car. He held the door and said to Ryan, âPlease take good care of Crystal, Mr.
Hearnshaw. Sheâs not in the best of health.â
Ryan understood the implication behind Henryâs words.
He smiled politely. âMr. Miller, you can rest assured. Itâs my duty to look after her.â
Henry wasnât satisfied. He gave Crystal one last look.
Ryan got into the car.
Once they were a fair distance away, Ryan couldnât contain his curiosity and asked, âAre you planning to get back together with him?â
Crystal considered denying it.
However, she knew his feelings for her, and she didnât want to hold him back, so she vague response. âMaybe.â
Ryan smiled faintly.
He was a mild-mannered and very tolerant man.
At the Miller residence, baby Remi pretty much slept through the day in the nursery the nannyâs care.
Henry spent time playing Lego with Skyler.
After a while, David couldnât hold back and piped up. âYou must feel pretty uncomfortable seeing Crystal out with someone else, huh?â
Henry, his head still down, replied nonchalantly, âItâs just a business trip, nothing more.â
David thought, I bet heâs jealous!
It was nap time for Skyler.
She went into Henryâs bedroom and snuggled up to him.
With her fluffy hair and cherubic features, she was downright adorable.
Henry gently patted her tiny head and lulled her to sleep.
Around two in the afternoon, he decided to head downstairs.
David was leisurely sipping his coffee when he noticed his son standing there holding his car keys. He snorted and asked, âWhere on earth are you off to at this hour?â
Henry replied, âThe hospital!â He straightened the collar of his shirt and proudly added, âIâve been seeing a specialist lately, and after some treatment, I seemed to recall a few things.â
Davidâs eyes widened. Did Henry regain his memory?
However, a quick read of Henryâs demeanor told David everything he needed to know. He snorted again and replied, âSeems like youâre running out of ideas if youâre resorting to such a bad one!â
That day, Crystal arrived in the south.
Perhaps she wasnât used to the local climate as that evening she came down with a fever. She was a little woozy when Skyler video-called her.
Skyler was sharp for her age. She hurriedly ran off and fetched a stethoscope, wanting to be a doctor and treat her mother.
As Crystal looked at Skyler, her heart melted. She missed her daughter so much, and she couldnât help but regret going on that business trip.
Henry took the phone and saw Crystal lying on the hotelâs enormous white bed with her face. flushed. It was obvious that she was ill.
In a low tone, he said, âYouâre a woman. Why push yourself so hard?â
Since Skyler wasnât around, Crystal didnât have to pretend to be well.
She closed her eyes slightly, her long eyelashes trembling. âHenry, youâre discriminating. against women, huh?â
His voice was low and hoarse as he replied, âCrystal, I just care about you. I left Seeas. Corporation to you not to turn you into a workaholic, but only to ensure you have a safety. net!â
Crystal was taken aback.
This was the second time he had spoken with such ambiguity.
It made her feel as if he had returned for real.
She closed her eyes. Her breathing quickened, and her face was redder than before.
Just then, there was a knock on her door, and she could faintly hear Ryanâs voice. âMiss Winters, Iâve brought you some medicine.â
Crystal woke up with a start and whispered, âIâm hanging up.â
The phone screen went dark.
Henryâs face turned even darker. How could Ryan enter her hotel room and be alone with her? Where are her secretary and assistant? Does Ryan, a man, really have to personally take care of Crystal? No, I must head over. Crystal appeared seriously ill.
Henry patted Skylerâs small head and spoke softly. âIâm going to see your mommy. Be a good girl and listen to your grandpa.â
Skyler handed him the stethoscope.
She said graciously, âTake this so that you can treat Mommy!â
She was incredibly cute. Henry cradled the little one in his arms, then kissed her softly. âI will not only cure her illness but also bring her back.â
Skyler hugged his neck and let out a soft grunt.
Henry carried her to Davidâs bedroom and had his parents look after her. Then, he contacted. Jamie to arrange for a private plane. While David entertained his granddaughter, he teased son, âYouâre going all out to win your wife back, huh?â
Henry said in a low voice, âCrystal is unwell. She has a fever.â
âYou should go, then. Your mother and I can take care of Skyler and Remi here.â
At three in the morning, Crystal was half-asleep due to the medication.
When she heard the knock on the door, she had barely any strength to answer it. However, the incessant knocking continued.
She had no choice but to get out of bed and move toward it slowly.
Thinking it was Ryan, she said, âRyan, Iâm fine!â
Ryan...
Henry narrowed his eyes and quickly scanned her from head to toe.
She was wearing a loose white bathrobe, allowing one to peek underneath if one wished to.
She met Ryan looking like that in the dead of night?
Henry felt a surge of anger, but the woman before him was so weak that she fell forward at his touch.
He reached out to grab her and pick her up, then carried her to the bed.
Crystal came to her senses and recognized him.
Her body sank into the soft bed, but Henry didnât leave. He draped one arm around her and removed his coat with the other before touching her forehead gently. âYouâre burning!â
âItâs none of your business.â Crystal turned her head. away.
She knew that her illness wasnât just because of the change in environment.
It was also because she had caught a cold when he had had his way with her on the piano the previous night.
The room was dimly lit.
It was rather improper for a divorced couple to be in this situation. Crystal pushed him away and asked in a hoarse voice, âWhat are you doing here?â
Henry moved away slightly.
He dialed a number on his phone and said, âYouâre running a high fever. I canât just leave alone like this.â
He spoke simply and straightforwardly.
Crystal felt extremely unwell, so she closed her eyes.
Henry made the call. âItâs me, Henry! M-My wife isnât feeling well. Iâd appreciate it if you could come over.â
He made a few polite remarks and hung up the phone.
Then, he looked at Crystal, who had opened her eyes and was looking at him as well.
Perhaps because she was unwell, her eyes were watery, with a hint of redness in them.
Henry felt his heart soften.
He sat beside her, playfully tugging at her brown hair as though he was teasing a young girl. âWhatâs with that look?â
Crystal closed her eyes and murmured, âI just feel that even though you lost your memory, the way you interact with people is still the same.â
Henryâs gaze darkened.
He got up to pour her some water and asked, âDo you often think about the past?â
Crystal didnât deny it.
Henry helped her sit up and let her lean against his shoulder as he fed her water.
She struggled a bit, and he patted her buttocks. âDonât be stubborn. Back when you had a concussion after I saved you from those kidnappers, you were much more obedient! Crystal, is it that with age, youâve become less obedient?â
Crystal was left in a daze.
Kidnappers?
That was years ago, back when we had just met.
He remembers?
Crystalâs pale lips trembled. âHenry?â
She wondered if she was hallucinating due to the fever.
She thought he had regained his memory.
Henry caressed her face. âIâm here.â
Crystal closed her eyes.
She cried silently, tears trickling down her cheeks.
If this was a dream, she would that it would last a bit longer.
Henry laid her back under the covers, embraced her, and rested his chin on her forehead. âDonât cry, Crystal. Iâm here.â
Crystal wrapped her slender arms around his neck.
She continued to cry silently like a young girl. Henry found it hard to resist the emotions. welling up inside him. He slid his warm hand under the covers, caressing her soft body.
Crystal was unwell.
She felt something, but it wasnât strong.
After a while, Henry withdrew his hand. However, she held onto it, her voice trembling as she said, âHenry, donât leave.â
He tightened his grip around her waist and leaned in for a kiss.
It was a scorching, passionate kiss.
Even though he knew he was acting shamelessly, he couldnât help it. She was so soft and so unrestrained, and he couldnât get enough of her. She even held his hand and moved it all over her body.
In all his past encounters and affairs, nothing compared to this moment of ecstasy.
They lay entwined in each otherâs arms.
Soon, the doctor arrived and knocked on the door.
Henry propped himself up and looked at the woman lying beneath him. Her closed as if she were asleep.
His Adamâs apple bobbed up and down.
Just a moment ago, he had almost taken Crystal, and she was still ill.
He straightened her clothes and opened the door for the doctor.
The doctor and Henry were somewhat acquainted. He quickly prescribed medication for Crystal and set up an IV drip.
Finally, he glanced at the messy bedsheets and advised in a low voice, âNo sex for three days! Her body is too weak.â
Even someone as thick-skinned as Henry blushed.
The doctor left quickly.
Henry closed the door and turned back.
Crystal had fallen asleep.
She lay there quietly as if the intense interaction theyâd had moments ago was just an illusion.
Henry was physically unsatisfied, but his heart was remarkably calm.
He walked over and gently caressed her smooth cheek, his touch ending at her slightly dry lips as he murmured, âYouâre such a good girl. I really want to give you the entire world if you continue to stay obedient like this.â
He had a hard time defining his feelings for Crystal.
He wanted to let go but he couldnât.