Chapter 5

"Have you lost your mind, Stephen?" The moment Crystal felt the chill between her legs, her hair stood on end. Stephen fumbled with his belt before binding her wrists. "Stephen, please, I'm begging you… not here!" Tears streamed down her face as she realized he was serious. She shook her head, pleading, but Stephen didn't show any sign of stopping. He slammed into her, and a sharp pain shot through her lower body. An overwhelming sense of humiliation washed over her, threatening to consume her entirely. Even though everyone in the room looked away out of tact, the tension was suffocating. Was he really so desperate that he would publicly shame her like this? Seeing her resist, Stephen leaned in and whispered crude insults in her ear. "Why are you resisting? You were fine letting loose in front of other men, weren't you? "Stop pretending to be innocent! Behave yourself. You wanted money, right? I can give it to you. If you do as I say, I'll make sure Mrs. Hoffman gets transferred for treatment." Tears welled up in Crystal's eyes instantly. The man she had once loved—the one she had dreamed of spending her life with—had become something vile long ago, without her ever realizing it. For a moment, Crystal didn't know whether to cry for the man she had once loved or to smile at finally seeing his true face. Just as Stephen grew more forceful, the private room door swung open. "Stephen, what are you…" Amy's words trailed off as she took in the obscene scene. Her eyes reddened instantly, and she ran out in tears. "Amy!" Stephen froze, hastily pulled up his pants, and leveled a steely glare at everyone around him. "What the hell were you all doing? Didn't I say she was absolutely not allowed in here? You're all going to pay for this!" With that, he stormed out in a panic, as if something invaluable had been taken from him. Instantly, muffled groans of men receiving a beating echoed through the room. These were people who had bled for him, risked their lives for him, and protected him as he grew up. Stephen had once said they were closer to him than family, yet he threw all that loyalty and friendship away for Amy. Crystal gave a bitter laugh. She wasn't any different from them. She was just an option to Stephen, someone he could discard at any time. The next day, Stephen kept his word and transferred Marlene to the best hospital in the city. After several days of attentive treatment, Marlene finally woke up. Crystal was crying tears of joy when, suddenly, Stephen—whom she hadn't seen in days—barged in. "Crystal, come with me! Amy's been so upset that she hasn't eaten for days after seeing what happened between us! Go apologize and make it up to her!" Despite her struggles, Stephen yanked her out of the ward without listening to a word she said. "Let go, Stephen! Who does she think she is? Why should I apologize to her?" Crystal yelled, pointing a finger at Amy, who was standing not far away. Amy was practically glowing. That hardly looked like someone who had been upset. And besides, what right did she even have to be upset? "You can refuse to apologize, but what about your mother? You've seen what I'm capable of. I can have her admitted to the hospital—or thrown out just as easily!" Stephen's vicious words were like whispers from a demon. This was the third time he had used Marlene's life to threaten Crystal on Amy's behalf. Crystal had lost her father when she was young, so Marlene had raised her alone. Stephen had always known how much her mother meant to her. Sure enough, only those closest to a person knew exactly where to strike for it to hurt the most. "Okay… I'll apologize… I'm sorry…" Crystal took a deep breath and lowered her head. Even as she apologized profusely, Amy deliberately complained that her voice was too quiet. In the end, Amy forced Crystal to get on all fours. Each time Crystal tried to speak, Amy stepped on her fingers with her seven-inch heels. "I thought you couldn't speak any louder. Maybe this will help you speak up!" Pain shot through Crystal's entire body as Amy crushed her fingers with the full weight of her body. Crystal cried out in agony, but when she remembered that Marlene was still inside, she forced herself to stifle her cries, her sorrow, and her tears. In the end, however, the noise still drew Marlene's attention. "Crystal!" Marlene struggled along the wall and saw Crystal's fingers bruised and bleeding from Amy's assault, while Stephen—who was supposed to be Crystal's future husband—watched coldly from the side. It was clear he was letting an outsider torment her daughter. "Let Crystal go!" Marlene stepped forward, trying to pull Amy away, but Amy shoved her back with all her strength, shouting furiously. "You old hag! It's your daughter's own fault for being so trashy! She clearly got it from you! If you won't teach her manners, I will!" Amy was about to continue her assault on Crystal when Marlene stumbled back from the shove, lost her balance, and fell onto some unused metal pipes in the hallway, which pierced her chest. Blood spurted, and Crystal's eyes stung with shock and horror at the sight.