28

Andrew had spent most of the night making sure that Krystal was okay. He couldn't imagine what she must have been feeling and it hurt him to see her that way.

   He woke quiet early the next morning even though he had slept late. He realized that Krystal was still asleep and so He went for his morning run hoping when he got back, she was going to be up.

Andrew got back from his run several minutes later. He sat on the dinning table as they prepared a smoothie for him. He went through his phone and checked the message he received from the police.

He had called on them about the incident the night before and hoped they had started to work on it.

Krystal was up and figured that Andrew had gone for a run. She got ready for work, had her bath and went down to the dinning.

Andrew was focused on his phone and had not seen Krystal walk down to the living room.

"Good morning," krystal said and Andrew immediately turned in her direction.

He stood from where he was sitting and closer to where she was standing.

He touched her on her arms.

"How are you doing today? Are you good?" He asked. He was still so worried about her.

"I am fine. It's nothing," Krystal said with a smile and sat on the chair.

"Coffee?" The chef asked krystal and she nodded.

Andrew sat on the sit next to her.

"Just got off from the phone with the police now concerning yesterday's incident," Andrew said.

"What did they say?" She asked.

"They already started this morning at the office, asking questions and all but they didn't get anything. Also the security footage was wiped out too," he explained.

"So, what is the next step they will take?" She asked.

"They said they will do everything to make sure the culprit is found."

"Alright."

The chef brought Andrew's smoothie and a coffee for krystal.

She also requested for a toast to be made for her which was brought just some minutes after.

"You're dressed, going somewhere?" Andrew asked Krystal. He acted oblivious to the fact that he knew she was probably dressed for work.

"Work," she answered, eating her toast.

"You can't be serious. After what happened yesterday!!"

Krystal smiled.

"I can't stay away from work forever. I will have to go someday. Why don't I just get it over with then and moreover I am fine," she explained.

Andrew wasn't convinced. He feared that the person who had the audacity to stop her the other day could still be lurking around somewhere and he feared that.

Krystal smiled at how worried he was of her. No one had been that worried for her except of course her parents and maybe sometimes her best friend.

Krystal knew the matter was going to escalate out of proportion if either of her parents heard about it and she really wasn't ready for that.

Krystal was wrong because what she was trying to avoid from her dad, was what was happening with Andrew.

"I will be fine," Krystal said again trying to sound even more convincing.

"Just chill at home. I can also stay home if you want me to."

"I need to get something's at the grocery later in the day though. I am also going to be meeting up with Trisha later for lunch."

"I can't let you go out alone though."

"What do you mean by that?" Krystal said smiling.

"I got you a bodyguard. He would be with you," he said. Krystal had initially thought he was joking but he was not smiling at all and had kept a serious face.

"You're serious," she said and laughed.

"Yes, I am."

"I don't want someone following me everywhere I go."

"Just for the main time really. Just to be safe," he said.

Krystal knew there was no convincing him otherwise. She had realized overtime that he was just as stubborn and didn't like to take no for an answer.

"If you say so," she said.

She smiled and wondered how he cared so much about her and was always so sweet to her.

She didn’t want to think about it too much. She knew she was going to start overthinking it and she didn’t want to.

Krystal went back up to change after she was done with dinner.

She changed into something more comfortable. Something she could wear to the mall.

She needed to just get out of the house. Although, Andrew had tried convincing her that he could also stay home to keep her company but she had refused and told him she would be fine.

Krystal got to the mall sometime in the afternoon. The driver had gone to pick her car at the office and had drove her. She picked up some makeup products and some accessories.

After she was done, she decided to wait for Trisha by the food court. She had texted about 30 minutes ago that she was going to be there soon.

Krystal was about to call Trisha when a message from Trisha popped on her phone.

Trisha had to cancel because they urgently had a case to defend in court and she wasn’t sure she was going to be back on time.

Krystal decided to go back home and as she stood from where she was sitting, her eyes caught those of Lucy’s.

Krystal had a thing for recognizing people, even if she saw them just once.

She immediately walked up to her.

“Hey,” she said.

Lucy turned in Krystal’s direction.

“You again,” Lucy said, pulling her one year old ahead, she walked away but Krystal went after her.

“I just want to talk really. It would’nt even take so much time,” she said.

Lucy stopped and faced Krystal.

“I just need a few minute. You can decide what you want to do after that,” she explained.

Lucy was skeptical but she felt “what’s the worst that could happen” so she agreed with a nod.

Krystal took her to where she was sitting and Lucy sat opposite to her.

Lucy placed her one year old on the chair next to her and turned to Krystal.

“Who are you?” She asked. Wondering why Krystal was so particular to talking to her.

“I am Krystal and I just want to know about you and Collins,” she answered. That was the best defense coming to her head.

“Did he send you? I don’t want to be here even,” Lucy said.

“No, no, he didn’t,” Krystal immediately said.

Lucy looked to the table by their side and the person who was standing extremely close.

Krystal figured what she was looking at. It was the body guard Andrew had insisted must go with her.

Krystal smiled.

“It’s my husband, he insisted he came with me. Just please act like he isn’t here. You can speak freely,” she assured.

“I will go first, if it helps,” Krystal said.

“So, I met Collins some years ago at my dad’s company. He was interning there. We were also supposed to get married earlier this year but I called it off.”


“It was you! I knew I had seen you somewhere,” Lucy suddenly said, like she had just come into realization.

“How?” Krystal asked

“It was all over the news,” she replied.

“So, I called it off and got married to someone else mainly because I realized that he wasn’t who I thought he was. He was only marrying me because he wanted my dad’s money and the company for himself. Also, I realized he has been stealing from the company. I have no proof yet but there are some documents I know he keeps locked in his room and I think I might find my evidence there.”

Lucy was listening attentively at all she was saying and was thinking how she could be of help.

She still didn’t understand why she needed her in all of this. But she was still going to tell her story regardless.

“I met Collins at a bar some 2 years ago when I worked at the bar. I was working there because I needed to save up money for college. Had always been my dream. My whole family looked up to me. My immigrant parents believed I was going to be the first doctor in the lineage. I was excited until I met Collins.”

“At first, he was just another customer who was handsome and left a big tip. I could say I had a crush on him. He was always so fine in his corporate clothes and sharp,” she said with a smile that soon faded as she began the next part of the story.

“Days turned into months as he would come, drink and we would talk. We became close and soametimes he would wait for me to close and drove me home. He was the sweetest, I was starting to fall deeply for him. I could talk to him about any and everything.”


“I would tell him about my dream of med school and he was one of those who made me believe that I could. We were in love, well at least I was. I had never felt that way about anybody in my life. He felt like a dream come true and I was ready to give him anything.”

“It all came crashing the night I took the test and found out I was pregnant. I was confused. A baby wasn’t part of the plan. I still had med school and so I was scared but I knew Collins loved me so I didn’t think of it too much but little did I know.”

“I met up with Collins and the first thing he said was “you have to get an abortion. I can’t have this in my life right now.”. My whole world felt like it was crashing down. I said I couldn’t and he promised to not have anything to do with my baby.”


“Is this her?” Krystal asked, turning to look at the littler girl sitting next to Lucy.

“Yes,” Lucy answered, smiling as she looked at her baby.

“I had to leave my parents after cause I realized it would be a burden on them to feed both I and Uriel. I also lost my job at the club. It’s been hard finding one because nannies are expensive and I don’t have anyone to watch Uriel.”

“You don’t talk to your parents at all?” Krystal asked.

“They have reached out but I am too embarrassed to go back home. They trusted me.”

“You were at his place the other day though?”

“Yes, I was.”

“Anytime I need money badly and there is no one to help. I find myself there. Sometimes he gives and sometimes he doesn’t.”

“So, he never pays child support?”

“He has never.”

“What if I tell you there is a way to get back at him for all he has done to you and I.”


“And how can we do that? People like Collins never get punished and people like me never get justice.”

“I can help. I have the connections too. I promise I can. I just need an alibi.”

“I am sorry but I can’t. I don’t want any harm to come to my child,” Lucy said, standing from where she was sitting.

Krystal also stood with her.

“I know you’re hurt and I also am but i don’t know if this is my fight.”

“It is your fight Lucy!! What about med school? Are you giving up already?”

“I am sorry Krystal, not everyone is as privileged as you are.”

Lucy carried Uriel from where she was sitting and picked her bag.

“Please take this,” Krystal said, handing over her card to Lucy.

“Please call me if you change your mind about this. Also, call me if you need any help. I will do what I can,” Krystal added.

Lucy took the card from her and walked away.