Crystal glanced at the clock, it was midnight, Rafael hadn't returned, he must still be angry with her for him not to come back home, she stood up to go to her room when she heard the sound again, like someone groaning, who could be inside? Did Rafael come back without her knowledge? She tiptoed towards where she heard the sound and tried to open the door but it was locked, everywhere was silence once more, she listened if she could hear anything but no sound came, who was it that was locked inside the room? She was sure of what she had heard, someone was inside that room, that means someone other than she, Rafael and Emilia were living in that house, she Realised how little she knew about the man she had married, she went back to her room, not happy about the fact that she knew little to none about Rafael and more unhappy that he hadn't come back home. She fell asleep, her mind filled with worries and aches.
Crystal went downstairs the next day to see that Emilia had already
Rafael caught up with Crystal just as she entered her car, he immediately opened the passenger's door and got in, he found it difficult to fit in her small car, " why the hell are you still using this car when there are others?"." This is my car and I'll use it whenever I want"." Just drive," He gritted." Not with you in the car, I'm driving nowhere till you get down"Rafael clenched his teeth, " I said, drive" he barked.Crystal hissed as she inserted the key into the ignition and zoomed off. " Where am I driving to?""Just follow my direction" was his clinched reply.He directed her to the outskirt of the town, she was made to stop at the bottom of a hill, they came down from the car and Crystal looked around, the air was fresh and the sound of water could be heard not far away, the scenery was mind soothing, " what's this place?""Somewhere I come when I need time alone"" If you need time alone then why have you brought me here?"
Crystal ran into the bathroom and banged the door behind her, she breathed in and watched her reflection in the mirror, she looked flushed, her hair tousled and her lips swollen, she touched her lips with a shaky hand, why had she stopped him? She asked herself, they were legally married even if it would just be for a year, she wanted more than that, she thought, giving herself the answer to why she had stopped him, she does not want random sex with him, she wanted it to mean something to him, she wanted more than just a contract marriage and if she had given in to him now, it would mean nothing to him, it would be just another ride to him, she quickly dressed up and came out from the bathroom." All set?" He asked her and she nodded, she couldn't guess what he was thinking, his Expression was blank and he suddenly seemed distant from her.They came out of the cabin and he locked the door behind them, they went down the hill to their car in deafening silence, Rafael didn
That evening, Rafael was waiting downstairs for her, he hated being kept waiting, he was about to call out to her when she appeared, he simply forgot what he was about to say at the sight of her, he knew he was drooling but he couldn't help it, "damn" was all he could mutter. Crystal was dressed in a floor length mid- night blue dress that showed off her cleavage, she looked like a princess borne out of Disney, she reached the end of the stairs and stood, her expression was that of uncertainty, "well?" She queried. Rafael blinked several times before muttering "beautiful"She smiled at his compliment and he was sucker punched, he felt like a besotted fool, and the thought of how disgusting he was making himself look made him angry with himself" We are going to be late" His suddenly chilled voice wiped the smile from her face and Rafael almost regretted his tone." Remember, we are besotted couple, we are so in love that we can't stay away from each other"
A cry wrenched from his mouth as he screamed." Crystal, watch out", he broke into a short run and covered the short distance between them, he got there on time to push her out of harm's way and fell hard with her on the side of the hard ground, he shielded her body with his as the vase fell just beside them, pieces of it pricked his arm and it oozes out blood.Rafael glanced up the balcony but no one was there, there was rancor and guess from inside came out to see what the commotion was about." Oh my God, are you okay?" Serene screamed in alarm when she came out to see the scene before her.Rafael glanced at Crystal, " are you alright?" She nodded, still in shock, she couldn't believe someone has just tried to terminate her life, who would want her dead? She shivered and Rafael removed his coat and covered her with it, he helped her stand but her legs were so weak, she held on to him for support." Oh my world you're bleeding" Serene cried and t
Crystal watched Rafael and Vince come out of the study, she could guess that something was up but she had no idea what it was, Starlia was busy demonstrating how she would deal with Elena if she was the person behind the incident, she was so engrossed in her story that she didn't notice Vince coming out of the study before Crystal could open her mouth to warn her, she had already bumped into him, he caught her as she was falling, " Hey, watch it"" Hey, you watch it" Crystal heard Starlia retorted, she knew that Starlia had a thing for Vince and she wondered why she was picking on him now that she had seen him.Vince brow furrowed, " you bumped into me, why should I watch it"" You should watch were you are going to avoid me bumping into you"Vince glanced at Crystal who was trying to hide a smile, tongue in cheek, " don't bother about her Vince"" Did you just tell him not to bother about me?" Starlia whirled on Crystal" I wouldn't dare"Vince sh
Rafael was sitting on the table sipping his usual tea when Crystal came downstairs, fully dressed like she was going somewhere, Rafael raised his brow, " going somewhere?"" Yes, I'm going to look for a job"That was the least answer Rafael expected and his brow furrowed, " I will not let my wife work"Crystal flared up at his words, she remembered when she had used the word 'wife' on him yesterday, he threw the word back at her, well it was going to be tit for tat she thought as she looked at him straight In the eyes, " I am just your wife on papers, I still have my life to live"" You are still my wife anyway, I can't believe we are arguing about this" he retorted" Well then, let's not argue, I am going to work" she had sulked the whole night and she was still feeling a little of it this morning and here he goes again trying to control her life because of a damn contract"Why do you have to work? What do you lack? I give you everything you need"
Crystal woke up, something had woken her up, the fire had almost gone out and the generator had went off, she guessed the fuel inside might have been exhausted, she glanced at the window, the storm was over but it was still raining. Rafael made a groaning sound, that was the sound that had woken her, she moved close and placed her palm on his forehead, oh God, he was burning up, he was uttering inaudible words, she guessed he was delirious. She put a towel in the water and cleaned his body once again, placing the damp towel on his forehead, she checked his injured arms, thank God the bleeding has subsided, she listened to hear what he was saying but couldn't comprehend his words, she kept the towel on his forehead and kept changing the water until his body was calm, she was exhausted, the fire is almost out and there's no more wood to put in it, time to lay him on the bed, she carefully placed his hands around her neck and tried lifting him, he was dead weight, she heaved and
Rafael was just about to turn on the shower when he heard Crystal screamed, he quickly tied the towel around his waist and dashed outside, he bumped into her and caught her in time not to fall, he looked behind her and saw a snake, he wrapped the snake and flung it far away."It's okay, that wasn't a poisonous snake" he soothesGosh, she never imagined there were snakes here, she hated snakes, she glanced at Rafael and blushed, quickly looking away from his nude body, he had only a towel around his waist, he must have run out immediately when he heard her screamed." Don't walk too far off" he told her going back in to continue his shower. That evening, they had the granola and pasteurized milk for dinner, the wind outside had increased, it looked like the hurricane will hit in the morning, Rafael sat in the kitchen listening to the broadcast over the radio while Crystal idled away, she was feeling tense at the impending danger, what if the hurricane blew the cabin