Chapter 22

Crystal got up mad went to get her dress that was newly bought for the occasion. Reaching her table, she looked at the outfit and all she had in her mind was anger but there was not much she could do to help herself out as she was stuck in her own house.
Georgia getting worried as she had been making an effort to connect with her former but her phone has been switched off for some time. Scratching her strand and wondering what could be wrong with Crystal, she decided to call her house number hoping that Gina will pick up the call and explain to her what was going on with her friend.
Blaze too on his side has been calling her phone countless times again but she was not picking up her phone. He got angry thinking that Crystal had intentionally stood him up as he had been waiting for almost an hour, but he decided to give her an extra 30 minutes just to be sure that she was coming.
Taking a look at his phone that was ringing thinking that it was Crystal, Blaze felt disappointed after catching a glimpse of the caller. He hung up the call and sat there looking at the door hoping that Crystal was going to walk into the door.
Knocking on the door, the lookout came into Crystal's room to ask whether they were not done yet and Gina told him to give her some time to complete her makeup. The phone had been ringing downstairs and Gina not being around to answer it, Max left his office excusing himself to the guy he chartered to get married to his niece.
Walking to the living room so as to get the ringing phone, he picked up the call and answering it he spoke out,
" Hello, and who am I speaking with?".
Georgia found it strange that Max was the one to pick up the phone as Gina was the person to always take the calls, so clearing her throat, she let out,
"Hi Sir, it's Georgia your niece's friend, and".
Max changed his voice as he asked how she was doing and her mom too, and Georgia said that they were all doing okay. Without wasting time, she raised an issue saying that she has been calling her friend since morning and her line was not connecting.
Max who had been listening to her carefully, freed his throat and held his stomach, he informed Georgia that, Crystal had an emergency so she had to leave town for some days. Georgia finding that information strange asked Max what the matter was as she had spoken with Crystal that morning and she did not say anything like that to her.
Max not knowing what to say anymore, asked Georgia to keep on trying her line till she finally picks up and wished her goodnight, he hung up the phone.
" Hello, Mr. Max...", Georgia spoke alone noticing that the line had been cut. Dropping down her phone, she supported her cheek with her left hand, and thinking of the mystery that was turning around, she could sense something fishy, and Crystal will never leave town without telling her.
Going down from her bed, Georgia could feel a twist and she could tell that something was wrong but what could it be as that was what she was going to find out.
"Just keep your composure and trust me everything will be fine in no time", Gina whispered in Crystal's ear as she went downstairs to inform Max that she was done with Crystal.
Sitting in front of her mirror, she could not figure out what had happened in the space of just some hours as her uncle had decided to turn her life into a living hell. Looking at her cheek though covered with makeup, she could still make out the traits of redness under it, and holding up her tears not to ruin everything, she took in a deep breath and exhale saying to herself that all these will end soon.
Holding her faith that her uncle was going to see reasons with her soon enough, she could only hope for all the things that the guard had said about him getting a suitor for her was just a lie to get back at her for what she had done to him.
Knocks on the door and wait for a signal to come inside before she does,
" Sir, I am done with Ms. Crystal, can I set the table now?", Gina inquired as she asked Max's permission and made a sign with his fingers, Gina understood that the table had to be set up.
The blaze was tired of waiting so with a disappointing face and so much anger, he sighed as he looked at the door for the last time. Riding on his feet he picked up his keys and dropping the flowers on the table beside the glass, he walked out of the restaurant.
"He booked a whole restaurant for nothing", a waitress said watching at moving out and another added,
" Some ladies are just so stupid to treat such a man in this manner".
Blaze stood outside breathing some fresh air and keeping his anger on the low as he walked to the parking lodge to steam his car for his house. Crystal not being aware of Blaze waiting for her, had a sad face as she went downstairs to meet with her uncle.
"Everything is going to be fine Crystal, it is not what you are thinking your uncle is not as bad as everyone is painting him", she spoke to herself walking in front with the guard behind. Taking a turn to the stairs leading to the living room, she saw Gina down transferring dishes to the dining room and laying on the dinner table.
The night was going to be one of a kind as she could catch a glimpse of her uncle, leaving his office with a young man as tall as Blaze with reading lips and grey eyes. Swallowing the lump that had formed in her through making swallowing difficult, Crystal turned her gaze to Gina as she kept on walking to the dining area and breathing in slowly.
The sadness on Gina's face could not be understood by anyone but there was nothing she could do because her own life will be at stake if she did anything funny or audacious and she had to stay free in order to help Crystal.
The table was set and Crystal and her uncle together with the stranger were seated on the table. Raising her gaze and meeting her uncles, Crystal sat quietly while the man sitting by them was licking his lips while letting out a smile.
Pim pim***
Blaze horn his car as he drove with a speed that could crush anyone that was standing on the road, his anger was too much a no woman had ever done something like the to him and Crystal had done that, what disrespect he thought while accelerating.
His heartfelt resentment for Crystal and he swore never to want to see her again.
" Damn you bitch for making someone like me wait for your kind", he spoke out as he took his phone with his right hand while maintaining his wheel with the left. Calling on a girl to come to be with him as he could not contain his anger by staying alone, the first lady who came to his mind was the one he called.
Clearing his throat and making gestures on the table, Uncle Max taking up his glass, said that he wished for one thing as he makes a toast to long life and a happy union between his niece and Nathan the young man sitting by her.
Flickering her eyes open, Crystal took up her head and turned to the man who was sitting close to her, she twist her face in discontent, she rose to her feet and yelled at her uncle she said she raised a question on what he was going on about.
Standing on his feet, Nathan extended his right hand to Crystal introducing himself but Crystal slapped off his hand letting out on him to his face that she will never be his wife.
"Hey young lady be very careful with what you say or do", Max yelled at her from his end of the table and asked her to sit down immediately, he also told Nathan to have a sit as well. Crystal probing stubborn did not want to seat but Max ok a furious mood demanded her to sit down.
Throwing a spiteful gaze on her uncle, Crystal turned to leave the table but the guard that was present held her hand and brought her back to the table. Nathan who had been watching at every single thing happening on the table began to gain grounds over how Crystal was been treated.
Murmuring to himself as he also had his plans, he was delighted to know that such a beautiful and rich lady will be his wife without him making any efforts. To him, good things still happen as that could be the only explanation for what he was living at that moment.
Imagine seeing a job poster and when you go for it you are been given such a beautiful opportunity to have a goddess as a wife and a ticket to your dream life.
Forcefully been put on the chair, Crystal could not hold back her tears any longer as gee asked her uncle with a sorrowful voice what he wants to from her. Max sipped from his wine glass, dropped it, and rose to his feet while walking to Crystal repeating what she had asked him.
With his two hands on her neck, he caught Crystal by surprise as he choke her raising a question as to why she was so bent on having a position In the company and Crystal struggling under his claws, spoke out that it is her birthright and inheritance.
Pushing her uncle away, she stood up and tore the dress on her to be able to walk, she picked up the knife on the table asking that no one should come closer to her if not she will stab them. and stab herself.
Nathan got up from the table out of fear and walked to one side of the room, but Crystal told him that she knows the likes of him and that before she could count to three, she wanted him out of that house forthwith.
The guard made an effort to walk to her to seize the knife but she let out that if he pushed her to the limit then he is going to regret ever working in that house. Hina who was watching everything was scored for Crystal's life and knew that there was going to be no escape for her if whatever stupidity she was doing does not work out in her favor.
" Can you keep that knife away Crystal, remember that I am your only surviving relative", Max pushed to the limit and on listening to this, Crystal lost her temper yelling,
"What relative are you talking about?, one that will sell his only niece because of Material wealth?", she spoke out holding the knife firmly in her arms. Max had been taken up by the guard and the other guards who had seen Nathan running out like someone was pushing him coupled with the fact that they had been listening to the noise from inside, rushed to check what was happening and found the whole show.
" You are a heartless and selfish man Uncle Max", she spoke out as she related all the things she had ever done just to make him happy yet he still wants to take the only thing that makes her happy.
Max scared for his life, pleaded with his niece not to go to that extent and to drop the knife so that they could talk properly but Crystal yelled at him asking whether he thinks she is a fool.
"I have given you a lot of chances uncle, I have begged you and cried, and amongst all, I have done all sort of despicable things just to make you happy but what did I get in return, a swollen face and a forced union?", she thundered but Max could not say anything that will get her angry as he was scared of the knife that she was holding.
Weeping bitterly, she asked why he had transformed into a monster and why he was trying to take her inheritance knowing fully well that it is the only thing that her late father left for her.
In her moments of weakness, a guard had passed up behind her and holding her hand firmly, he took the knife out of it and Uncle Max did not hesitate a second to slap off her face with the anger that had accumulated in him.
" You think you are tough huh?", he asked walking to the table and picking up his glass of wine. Crystal was on the floor holding her cheek in pain and Gina rushed to her as she consoled her. Turning his gaze to Crystal, Max asked what was going on in her tiny head when she decided to do something so preposterous but she had no answers he cheek was giving her so much pain and Max told her that her wedding will take place in two days because of her insolence.
Getting some strength and rising to her feet with the support from Gina, Crystal asked her uncle what had made him turn into a monster, and Max looking at his guard while laughing out hard, responded to his niece as he let out,
"I have always been a monster but you did not just notice it because you were naive and thought that I could give you the love of a father that you have always yearned for".
Crystal could not believe all that he was saying as they were too hard for her to digest. Max went on with the opening of his secrets to Crystal while all she could do was to stand there and feel hurt.
" Did you ever ask yourself why I always made you meet men and steal for them?", Max asked grabbing his wine glass and drinking from it while turning to get the bottle of it and spewing it into the glass, he yelled out,
"That is because you mean nothing to me, I only saw you as an opportunity to take my brother's properties".
Crystal could not hold herself anymore and she wanted to fight her uncle but the guards held her up and Max gave Gina strict instructions not to give her anything to eat or drink till she comes back to her senses.
Turning to Crystal, he told her to get ready as her wedding will be an exceptional one,
" Take her away from my sight", he instructed with a loud voice and his guards took her to her room. Crystal fought with all of her strength to get out of their hard but they were more powerful than her and all she could do was to very as she gave up while she yelled at the top of her voice telling her uncle that he will regret his doings.
Laughing out loud he told his niece to get some rest as she needed to be in good shape for her wedding.
Everyone had left Max and he was alone with his right-hand man the guard who was keeping a close watch on Crystal. Appointing another guard to stand at her door, he remained down to have a little chit-chat with his boss.
Keeping his gaze on Max, he asked whether he was not scared of the consequences of his actions if his niece decided to run away from her suitor's house and Max responded with all confidence that he had everything under control and as a matter of fact, he had planned for them to leave the country to another which will be very far from where they live.
On arrival, Nathan is supposed to seize her passport but he will not be permitted to maltreat his niece as only he has the right to touch her. The guard after listening to his boss's idea smiled out and told him he was a genius.
Crystal who had now realized the gravity of what she was into, hated herself for not seeing through her uncle's schemes all those years that she kept on asking him about her position in her father's company.
"How could you have been so stupid Crystal?", she asked herself while scattering everything in her room and yelling at the top of her voice. She wondered how someone she had lived with for years and had treated as a father could do that to her.
" Mommy, Daddy, please come to my rescue", she spoke out falling on the floor beside her bed. Gina who was in her room downstairs was so worried and her heart kept on battering in her chest as she was witnessing injustice and there was nothing she could do to help her.
Thinking of a plan, she was aware of the consequences it will have if ever she was being caught by her boss but she had to try as she could tell from Max's voice that he was not joking around with her when he said that Crystal was going to be married in two days and that was it.
Laying on her floor she cried out as she could not think of anyone who could help her out of that situation and with her strength giving up on her as her eyes were closing up, she could observe two people standing by her as they told her not to be afraid and that help will come to her.