Chapter 6
But then again, the marriage with Cyril was always a sham. Crystal never belonged here.
The maid opened the door and saw her, her face flushing with embarrassment. "M-Mrs. Moore."
"Don't call me Mrs. Moore," Crystal said, shoving past her and heading straight inside.
At the sound of footsteps, the three people in the living room all looked up together.
Their smiles instantly froze.
"Crystal?" Cyril stood up, his expression complicated. "Why are you here? Didn't the doctor tell you to rest?"
Crystal ignored him and fixed her eyes on Judith.
Judith was wearing a cream-colored knit dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders, makeup perfectly done. She looked soft and sweet, like the perfect girl next door.
Judith gave her a worried look. "Crystal, is your forehead okay? It's all because of me. I shouldn't have..."
"Yeah, I owe it all to you," Crystal interrupted, scoffing.
Ingrid's face turned grim. "Crystal, what's with that attitude? You screwed up, and now you have the nerve to act out here? You got caught cheating, and you've completely embarrassed the family."
Crystal gave a mocking laugh, then looked Cyril straight in the eye. "Do you think I cheated?"
Cyril avoided her gaze. "Those photos are pretty clear."
"Yeah, they're crystal clear," Crystal replied.
She nodded, and finally, unable to hold back any longer, gave him a fierce slap across the face.
Cyril's head jerked to the side, the mark of her hand instantly blooming on his cheek.
"Crystal, how could you?" Judith cried out.
Judith moved to intervene, but Crystal slapped her too, just as hard.
"That one's for your stunt in the garage," Crystal said, her chest heaving with anger. "Judith, do you really think your tricks are clever?"
The living room fell into a deathly silence.
Ingrid was the first to snap out of it, screaming as she lunged at Crystal. "You crazy woman. How dare you hit my son!"
Cyril grabbed Crystal's wrist, his expression dark. "Crystal, are you out of your mind?"
Crystal looked up at him, her eyes red with anger and pain.
"Yeah, I'm crazy," she said, spitting out each word. "You all made me this way."
The air seemed to freeze, and as the silence stretched on, Crystal could almost imagine she heard the soft whisper of snow falling.
"Crystal, what's wrong with you?" Cyril asked.
He stepped forward and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Stop acting crazy, okay? Calm down."
Crystal's stomach churned with nausea.
She tried to pull away, but he wouldn't let go. Out of sheer desperation, she bit down hard on his forearm, putting all her strength into it. Within moments, she tasted blood.
Cyril grunted in pain, but he refused to let go.
Judith watched, her eyes red with jealousy. "Crystal, I know you're doing this to get back at Cyril, but there's nothing between us. Besides, you're his rightful wife."
"Wife?" Ingrid scoffed. "She's just a nobody with a filthy reputation. She doesn't deserve to marry Cyril. If she hadn't schemed her way into my son's life, she wouldn't have ever married him."
"Schemed?" Crystal echoed.
She shoved Cyril away with all her strength and turned to Ingrid, her gaze cold as ice. "Are you talking about that kidnapping three years ago? Yeah, that was downright dirty. Your son was willing to gamble with his life to marry me."
Ingrid froze. "What are you talking about?"
Seeing Crystal was about to let something slip, panic flickered in Cyril's eyes. He snapped in a low voice, "Enough! Crystal, you've totally lost your mind lately. If that's the case, you need to get some real help."
Before Crystal could react, Cyril whipped out his phone and started dialing.
"Is this Evergreen Mental Hospital? I've got a patient here with serious violent outbursts and delusions. She needs to be admitted ASAP. Yes, send someone over right now," Cyril said.
Crystal looked at Cyril in disbelief.
He refused to meet her eyes.
In that instant, her heart turned to ashes.
"Cyril!" she yelled, lunging for his phone. "Don't you dare!"
Cyril restrained her effortlessly. "Crystal, you need help."
His voice was gentle, full of coaxing. "Let's talk when you're feeling better, okay?"
"Get better?" Crystal laughed through her tears, her voice trembling with rage. "I'm not the one who's sick. It's you! All of you are maniacs, willing to do anything for your own selfish interests."
She went for him again, but Cyril pushed her back hard.