The Price Of Betrayal
" she whispered, her voice breaking. "Your father doesn't deserve you. I promise, I'll protect you no matte
scattered around her. She had no idea where to go. With no friends in the city and no family to rel
e trembling with regret. "I should have seen thro
lled up, and she struggled to load her luggage into the
ma'am?" the
nt before replying, "Take me
e stared out of the window, her arms wrapped protectively
e hardening as she pulled her luggage inside. The lobby was warm
that Mrs
rs muttered audibly. "Thrown out
she kept her head high, forcing he
ted with a polite smile that barely hi
night," Crystal said, her voice
ard here," the receptionist said,
it. Declined. She tried again, her chest
declined," the receptionist
ried again, and again. By the fifth
o ask you to step aside. There are other custom
ssness enveloped her. Her mind raced for a solution. Who could she call? She
w rings, his mocking la
u'd call,"
?" she demanded, her voice t
no rights to any of it anymore. I've blocked all access. And let me ma
ne went
he slowly turned and walked out of the hotel, dragging her luggage behind her. The col
?" a familiar v
s-Dr. Peterson, her obstetrician, dressed casually in a crisp shirt
" she said, her
ne warm but worried. "What are you
tion pressing down on her. "I... I coul
asked, his br
," she said, shame cre
softening. "You should have called me," he said g
ouble anyone," she re
"Let me help. What are you
"I just needed a place
od thing you came here. I happen to b
ropped. "You're
as one of the directors, I'm making sure y
Bu
esolute. "You've been through enough already. L
relief welling in her eyes.
th a warm smile. "Now, let'
on of hope amidst her despair. Crystal followed, feeling for the
***
p. She rubbed her eyes and took a deep breath, steeling herself for the day ahead. She had
oor pulled her fr
he said, her
en with a steaming breakfast. Crystal bl
Peterson. He insisted you have some
mix of gratitude and embar
ing. Crystal stared at the plate, her emotions swirling. She hadn
l and freshening up, she packed her small bag and left the hote
ared out the window, her heart heavy with apprehension. The last time she had seen
hanged, a bittersweet reminder of the past. T
er mother, whose eyes widene
aid softly, forci
r father was seated in the living room, the television humming softly in th
show up," her mother s
s voice colder than she remembe
ly. "I... I needed to see yo
arms, her eyes narrowi
sted. She didn't need
latly, shaking his head. "Christia
hard. "It's not w
u about him, Crystal. We told you he'd destroy you, but you were too bli
n to," Crystal said, her voice
ake you back after you cut us out of your life for him?
u made your choice, Crystal. An
to hold their gaze. "I know I made mistakes. I
a dagger to Crystal's heart. "Fix things? There's no fixin
away, his silence
voice breaking. "I just need
ing. "Leave now, Crystal. Right this moment. Or I'
th hitched, and for a moment, she thought she might collapse under the pain