Chapter 278 She Can't Possibly Be Married!
If there was anyone delighted by this fiasco, it had to be Ashley Young. Ashton had indeed tied the knot with that man, and regardless of whether Ashley's prior worries were unfounded, Ashton's marriage meant Ashley could dial down her own alert. She was at the clinic that day for a family health check-up.
"The medical center here is excellent; I come here annually for my check-up," Crystal said to her in-laws at the front desk.
Maria and Justin were distracted, but Crystal didn't mind. She was simply putting on a show for Chris, to prove her care and regard for his family. As she was speaking, the receptionist returned her card with an apologetic expression. "Miss Ayre, I'm so sorry, but our facility cannot provide you or your family with health services."
"Why not?" Crystal asked, stunned. "I just came in for a check-up last month."
"I'm sorry, but according to the feedback from our system, you and your four family members are on a blacklist in the Solomons, Rhoads, and AP medical databases. As a result, we are unable to serve you," the receptionist explained.
"I've paid my membership dues!" Crystal exclaimed, almost laughing in disbelief.
"The system indicates your membership fee was refunded to your payment account a week ago, triple the amount you initially paid, as per the agreement."
Crystal immediately checked her account and, sure enough, there was the refund.
"I need a reason!" Crystal demanded, barely containing her anger. She was used to being welcomed and courted for her business wherever she went. Being blacklisted was a first for her, and she hadn't done anything to warrant it!
The receptionist only offered a sorrowful look and a firm denial of service, still polite but unyielding.
Then, Chris called.
She quickly relayed the situation to him in distress.
Chris was silent for a moment before saying, "Just take Mom and Dad home for now."
"No way, I have to get to the bottom of this; I'm not taking this lying down!" Crystal exclaimed loudly, drawing disapproving glances from the surrounding people.
"Did she just mention Solomons, the Rhoads family, and the AP Healthcare System?" Chris asked, his tone cooling.
"Yes!" Crystal glared at the reception desk, replying indignantly.
"The hospital you're at is part of the Solomons network, and the Rhoads family... last time in the hospital, the girl with Ashton, that was Chelsea Rhoads, the heir of the Rhoads family. They must be friends now," at least that's what the recent reports suggest.
Chris felt a sense of familiarity, but couldn't quite place it, "The hospital is probably also part of the Solomons and Rhoads family network. You see now why you've been blacklisted?"
Crystal stood rigidly, "Was it Ashton?"
"No."
Chris could vouch for Ashton’s kindness; she wouldn't do such a thing...
"It was Chelsea."
"They're so unreasonable!" Crystal was on the verge of tears.
After a moment of silence, Chris's voice softened, "Sweetheart, take your parents home first; I'll arrange for another check-up. It won't be any worse than that place."
Crystal was fuming.
Wishing she could just smash up this hospital.
"If I had known this, when I ran into Ashton and her husband, I should have confronted them right there!" Crystal seethed.
Chris was about to hang up.
But stopped at Crystal's last remark, "Ashton and her husband?"
"The one who scuffled with you! They even flaunted their wedding rings in front of my aunt and uncle, all lovey-dovey. I noticed her belly seemed upraised; she must be here for a pregnancy check-up, right?" Crystal said spitefully.
"Better head back now," Chris said without continuing the topic.
His tone remained unchanged.
"Okay," Crystal replied, feeling once again that she was probably overthinking things.
"Got it."
The call ended.
Crystal shared the ordeal with her parents and in-laws.
Justin's expression was particularly grim, while Maria was visibly upset and embarrassed.
Crystal's father, however, was expressionless.
Her mother was the dramatic one, "What a lousy place, so much for 'doctors have hearts of gold.' Since when do hospitals blacklist patients?"
As she walked towards the exit, she raised her voice, "Don't get your check-ups or treatment here! Haven't you heard? This hospital has a track record of fatalities—if you're aiming for an early grave, by all means, stay here!"
The security staff did not approach.
They simply smiled amicably and glanced in the direction of the surveillance monitors.
Oh boy, you didn't see that kind of fool around much these days!
Time passed, and a month later, the Ayres were in high spirits when Solomon served Crystal's mother with a lawsuit; a summons for slander that caused grievous harm landed at the Ayre household.
But that was a story for another time.
At Chris's end, he had been unusually busy over the past few days.
He was swamped with work, barely having time to return home. He was living out of the office and hadn't had a meal with Crystal either. His excuse was quite persuasive, though. He was tying up loose ends at work so that, after the wedding, they could have ample time for a honeymoon around the world.
Crystal was really buying into it.
After hanging up the phone, Chris took a bitter sip of black coffee so strong it seemed to resonate in his core. He briefly perused a couple more pages of documents when his mind suddenly crashed. Marriage... Ashton getting married? How could she, when she loved him so much, marry someone else? It had to be a hoax.
With that thought, Chris downed the rest of the coffee in one gulp. The bitterness cut through him, seeming to penetrate every fiber of his being, leaving even his breath tasting of the bitterness. He tried to force himself to focus.
This wasn't the first time Ashton had been upset since they got together. He could smooth things over; after all, she loved him...
But as Chris's hand, flipping through the documents, froze, the next second his coffee cup flew across the room, shattering against the wall.
He pulled out his cell phone and started calling Ashton. But she had blocked him. Desperate, he kept calling, despite hearing the same voicemail message over and over.
Then he remembered the last time he had called her and the words spoken by the man who answered.
No way she was getting married! That was just to rile him up! Ashton loved him, and she would only marry him. She was waiting for him. She had promised!
Getting no answer on his cellphone, Chris tossed it aside, picked up the office landline, and called Ashton. The call went through.
Ashton had been tied up with a lot lately, so calls from landline numbers weren't uncommon.
Not recognizing the number, Ashton answered without suspicion.
"Hello, may I ask who's calling?" Ashton's voice came from the receiver.
Just as Chris was about to speak, a familiar and contemptible voice rang out from the other end, "Buddy, I really appreciate all the effort you're putting in with my wife's requests..."
"Man, your wife is generous! The design fee she offered – I couldn't take it easy even if I wanted to!"
"Hello?" Ashton raised her voice, not hearing any response.
Chris's throat felt as if it were being choked. His mouth was agape, no sound would come out.
That annoying voice became clearer now, meaning he must be closer to Ashton. In his infinitely gentle manner, he asked, "What's wrong?"
"Just a prank call; they stayed silent after I answer."
Ashton's tone carried the playful pout Chris knew so well.
She then disconnected the call.
Chris stood silently for a moment, and then, like the opening of a massive floodgate, a huge wave of fear crashed down on him, overwhelming and relentless.
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