Crystal woke The first thing she saw was Henry seated by her side. He was patting her hair. Feeling awkward that he was being a bit too close, she sat up. âHow long have I been asleep?â
Henry pulled his hand back. He stared at her for a moment, then a smile curled his lips. âAbout an hour or so.â
Crystal got up and changed into her shoes: âDid it hold you up?â
Henry held her hand.
Crystal looked at him. âWhat is it?â
Henry pinched her nose. âItâs all right. No work is more important than you, Mrs. Miller.â
Crystal put on a small smile.
She felt soft to the touch, perhaps because she had just woken up. It had been a while since he had kissed her. Even though this was not the best place to kiss, Henry still went in for one.
âHenry...â Crystal leaned on his shoulder.
Henry couldnât hold back anymore. He pried her mouth open gently and slid his tongue in.
A long, long while went by before Henry was satisfied. Crystal leaned on his shoulder weakly, her face red from the kiss.
Henry wrapped his arms around her waist. He wished to go deeper, but he wouldnât go at it that easily, lest she hate him. Feeling his desire, Crystal said, âLetâs do it tonight.â
He shouldnât be holding his urges in all the time. She wasnât going to get a divorce either. It wasnât as if she had no feelings for him.
Henry languidly patted her. They went downstairs and got into the car. Wishing to stay with Crystal longer, he gently said, âWhy donât we go to work together? You can take a nap at my office. Weâll get off work early and pick Skyler up.â
Crystal mused over it. âSomeone needs to take care of Remi.â
Henry was disappointed, but he took her home anyway. Slowly, he drove away from the clinic.
A Mercedes-Benz came to a stop at the parking lot and out came a woman. She almost looked like a golden statue. Everything on her was gleaming.
It was Clementine. A slight sneer curled her lips. She had seen Crystal at the clinic earlier, and she had thought she was seeing things, but she was not.
Everyone thinks sheâs living the big life. Canât believe she has to see a therapist. The class reunionâs coming real soon. If everyone knows of her condition, no oneâs going to envy her life anymore.
This clinic was an upscale one, however. It was almost impossible to gain any files of their patient. Clementine had to spend a huge sum of money to bribe a nurse who handled the record room to get the files Post-partum depression, shaky marriage, and sex only once a month....
Clementine was grinning like a mad woman.
The nurse was a little scared, and Clementine sent her away. Once the nurse was gone, Clementine went into her car and made a call. âHey, is this the daily news? I have something you might be interested in.â
Clementine hung up and smirked. The marriage is scarred. It has no reason to exist. Henry will never stay with a woman whoâs mentally ill. He can have any woman he wants. Women who are vastly better. Heâs at his prime. Any woman would love to have his child.
Just the thought of plunging that woman into hell filled Clementine with delight. She couldnât wait to see Crystal humiliated and Madison in pain. She wouldnât be happy until both of them suffered.
The daily news released news about Crystalâs condition that afternoon. They uploaded pictures that prove Crystalâs condition, and there was even Crystalâs voice recording.
The photos were of a patientâs record. It wrote of post-partum depression, shaky marriage, and the coupleâs nightly activities.
The news began trending, and with the voice recording backing the stories up, Henry and Crystalâs private life was laid bare for the public to see..
A storm was brewing in Barnwood. Everyone was waiting for Henry to make a statement. Whatever he said would make an impact on the share prices of Seeas Corporation and Miller Corporation.
Jamie entered Henryâs office. Henry was on a call, and Crystal was on the other end of the phone.
Of course, they knew of the news. They were the ones in it. Henry did not bring it up right away, however. He gently said to her, âIâll pick Skyler up. You stay at home. Is Remiâs food running out? Iâll get some on my way back. Anything else you need?â
Crystal was sitting before the Morning Dew piano. She saw what was trending, and she knew why Henry called her.
A moment of silence ensued.
A long while later, Henry said softly, âIâll call a press conference later in the afternoon. Donât worry about. anything. Just leave it to me. You do whatever you want.â
Crystal played the piano with one hand, and then she paused. A moment later, she said, âI want to know whoâs behind this.â
Henry nodded and hung up. He stared at the phone, musing over something.
Jamie said nervously, âMr. Miller, some daily news leaked the news first, but we found no evidence of them being bought out.â
Henry leaned against his chair and spun around. He looked at Jamie. âFind the main editor and tell the guards to.... have a chat with them. Find out whoâs the one who leaked the files. If he wonât tell, then heâll have to... stay with us for a bit longer.â
Jamie knew Henry too well. The man was furious, and once he found out who was behind this, he would make them pay.
Henry added, âPrepare for a press conference.â
Jamie immediately went to work.
Henry was about to call Melora and ask her to meet up with Crystal, but his father got to him first.
David was livid. He lambasted his son and called him useless for failing to protect his wife.
Moments later, he said, âYour motherâs on her way.â
Henry was touched.
David then discussed measures with him. In the end, he with annoyance, said, âTell me the truth, Henry. Did the injection make you impotent?â
Once a month? Any woman would find better prospects.
Henry was amused and annoyed. âI am more virile than ever, Dad, but this isnât a one-man show, is it?â
Consent was the name of the game. He couldnât just satisfy himself while leaving Crystal hanging. He couldnât.
David was just trying to get confirmation. He was relieved to find out that his son was fine. As long as he was healthy enough, there was always a way out of this rut.
âPay more attention to her. Take on more of the chores, so she can have more time for herself. If youâre still too busy, your mother and I can take care of Remi while you run Miller Corporation.â
Henry hung up. He wanted to call Crystal, but he knew his mother could handle things well.
Half an hour later, Jamie came back in. âMr. Miller, the press conference will begin soon. All of Barnwoodâs main news outlets are here. Donât worry. Iâve given them some stern warnings. They wonât write anything stupid.â
Henry got up and straightened his clothes.
A hundred or so reporters were gathered in Seeas Corporationâs conference room number one. Their cameras were aimed at the stage, and everyone was whispering among themselves.
The news was a bombshell. They were wondering if Henry would announce a divorce or show up with his wife and disprove the allegations.
Slowly, the conference room door was opened. In came Henry, looking regal and composed. He didnât look like he was going to announce a divorce.
Before the reporters could say anything, he spoke into the microphone.
âFirst, let me say that I reserve the right to sue the one who leaked my wifeâs private files to the daily news. Second, I am not getting a divorce. And third...â
Henry smiled at the cameras, his eyes twinkling with love. âCrystal, Iâm going to do my best as your husband or your lover. We have a long life ahead of us. Iâm sure someday youâll fall for me, every part of me, inside and out.â
The crowd went wild. Is this a confession from Henry? If that was true, then he was utterly shameless. Heâd better hupe there were no kids watching this.
Henry was sull smiling. âOur marriage is rocky, but not dl roads are made to be smooth. I will never fall for any other woman Youâre the only woman I want Youâre the mother of my children. Iâll give you all my money, my love And if you have to, you can just do it once a year with me I will never betray you, I promise.â
Seeas Corporationâs lawyer came over and calculated Henryâs assets. Then, they gave it all to his wife right away.
The reporters were dumbfounded. When they went back that day and started writing the articles, they realized the story could be boiled down to one sentence: Our marriage is none of your business.