" 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