CRYSTAL.

ONE MONTH LATER.

The nights were colder in the servants' quarters.

Maybe it was the wind slipping through the cracked window, or maybe it was just me feeling empty, feverish, and forgotten.

I was shivering so hard my teeth clattered. I'd been sick for almost a week now, and no one cared about me. No one even came to check on me, except Merilyn, one of the maids. Sweet, kind Merilyn - the only person in that entire house who still looked at me like I existed.

She told me she'll try to talk to Tessa about my condition, hoping she'd tell my parents, but I begged her not to. I didn't want their pity. I didn't want their disgust walking back through that door.

I'd called them for days - Dad, Mum, even Derek - no one picked up. It was like I'd died, and the world simply carried on without me.

The last time I glanced at the mirror, I couldn't recognize myself anymore. My eyes were dull, my lips cracked, skin pale and hollow. I'd lost weight, color, even the little bit of pride I used to hold in my spine.

I looked like someone who'd been erased.

But I kept telling myself that it was worth it. I kept checking the calendar every single day, and according to what Jaden told me before he left, he should be back any moment.

I was so certain he'd be happy about having our baby, too.

"Here, Crystal."

Merilyn's whisper dragged me back. She placed a small plate on the floor beside my bed - cold rice, some bread crust, maybe soup scraped from someone else's bowl.

"This is all I could get from the leftovers," she said softly.

I coughed.

Merilyn looked frightened.

"You should see a doctor," she murmured, wringing her hands.

I shook my head. "They won't let me." My fingers drifted to my stomach. "I just need to get better... for him."

I hesitated, then asked, almost afraid of the answer: "Is Derek home?"

If anyone could help me now, it was my brother. Even if he hated me, maybe he'd still care enough to save my child.

"No, dear. He went to see Jaden." Merilyn said, and my breath screeched to a stop.

Everything inside me froze.

For a moment, I thought I hadn't heard right.

My hand went still on my stomach.

"W... what did you say?" I croaked, my voice trembling.

She blinked, confused by my reaction. "He went to see Jaden. He came back about three days ago. Didn't you know?"

The air left my lungs.

Jaden was back?

He'd been back for three whole days.

And he hadn't come to look for me?

My heartbeat crashed against my ribs. The room spun. For a second, I thought I might faint, but instead I stumbled to my feet, clutching the side of the bed.

"Jaden's back..." I whispered.

I swear, I felt the urge to get upset and confront him about not reaching out to me since he returned. But the joy of even knowing he was back surpassed that anger.

Because, for the first time in weeks, I felt my heart beat for something other than pain.

I didn't even feel my feet hit the ground as I bolted out the door.

I could already imagine the moment we'd lock eyes, the shock on his face when he saw what I'd endured, the way his arms would wrap around me again, whispering, "I'm here, Crystal. I'm sorry."

He'd tell me he'd missed me. That everything was going to be fine now.

He'd tell me we'd raise our baby together, just like he promised.

I pressed a trembling hand over my stomach as I ran.

"Hold on, little one," I whispered. "Daddy's back."

When I finally reached the entrance of the Astor estate, my vision swam from exhaustion.

I slowed near the garden fence, catching my breath, and then I saw three people.

Derek.

Jaden.

And a woman I'd never seen before.

She was standing too close to him. Her hair gleamed like something out of a magazine, her dress hugging every perfect curve. She was radiant... She was everything I wasn't anymore.

And then Jaden laughed.

He actually laughed.

His arm slid easily around her waist, pulling her closer.

The woman tilted her face toward him, smiling, and he kissed her cheek.

Right there.

In front of Derek.

In front of God.

In front of nature.

My heart stopped.

The sound of my own pulse roared in my ears. My knees buckled.

I stumbled, gripping the fence so hard the splinters cut into my palms.

It couldn't be real.

No.

This wasn't my Jaden. This wasn't the man who swore he'd love me.

He was supposed to be mine.

He promised.

My vision blurred until the world melted into colors I couldn't name.

I shook my head slowly, as if that would fix what I'd just seen. "No," I whispered. "No, no, no..."

He looked happy. Genuinely happy.

"Hey!?"

I heard someone yell harshly from behind me. I turned sharply with a gasp and came face to face with one of the Astor maids.

She was staring at me like I was something filthy she'd found on her shoes.

She crossed her arms. "What are you doing here? Did anyone invite you?"

I swallowed hard, forcing out words through the lump in my throat. "That woman... who is she?"

The maid smirked, her tone dripping venom. "That's Miss Valerie. Mr. Jaden's fiancée. They're getting married next week. Everyone knows that." She scoffed, "Everyone except outcasts who live in the mountains."

The words sliced clean through me.

Fiancée.

Married.

Next week.

I froze. The ground beneath me tilted.

For a moment, I didn't even realize I was crying - until I tasted salt on my lips.

The maid's voice cut in again, cruel and casual. "You should really leave. You're not wanted here. Outcasts don't belong in this house."

I stared past her - at Jaden, still laughing, still holding her.

My chest tightened until I could barely breathe.

I wanted to scream.

I swear I wanted to rush to him, to slap him, and beg him to tell me it wasn't true.

But my legs wouldn't even move. My heart wouldn't stop breaking long enough to form words.

I shook my head, whispering to no one. "He promised me..."

The maid sighed impatiently. "You should go."

Something inside me cracked.

I turned and ran faster than I thought I could.

By the time I reached the door, I could barely breathe.

It hurt - God, it hurt so much I thought my chest might split open.

"I'm sorry," I whispered to the small life inside me. "I'm so sorry I brought you into this."

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and stood, swaying a little as dizziness washed over me. My mind was already made up. There was nothing left for me here - no love, no family, no forgiveness.

I pulled my small bag from under the bed - the same one I'd used when they threw me out of the main house. There wasn't much to pack. A few clothes, a comb, and my toothbrush.

Merilyn had left a wool scarf on the chair one time; I took it, wrapping it tightly around my shoulders.

I crossed the room, glancing back one last time before stepping out into the night.

This had been my prison, my punishment, my grave.

And now, I was leaving it behind.

Love wasn't supposed to destroy you like this.

And if it did, then it wasn't love anymore.

CRYSTAL.

"You must be a fool to think I'll give you another loan when you're still owing the management far more than you can pay in a lifetime!"

Kristy's voice was unapologetically condescending. She snatched the crumpled letter from her desk and threw it at me. The paper hit my cheek before falling to the floor.

I bent quickly to pick it up, with shaking hands.

"Please, ma'am," I whispered, my knees hitting the cold marble floor. "Please. My child... he needs surgery. He's very sick. He's only four, and the doctor said if I don't pay by Friday..."

"Friday?" she interrupted with a mocking laugh. "Then you better start praying for a miracle."

"Please," I begged. My throat was already raw, tears spilling before I could stop them. "You can deduct it from my salary again. I'll work overtime. I'll do anything. Please, just help me this once."

Kristy leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, and smiled, "Look, Crystal," she said, flicking invisible dust off her blazer, "I don't know what you did for the last HR to have loaned you so much, but it ends here. You've been with this hotel for what, three years? And you've done nothing but owe and beg. It's pathetic."

Her words hit me hard.

"I've been trying," I said weakly, wiping my face with trembling hands. "Please, I just need time."

"Time?" she scoffed. "No. You've had enough time. In fact..." she tapped her manicured nails against the desk "...we'll start by taking seventy percent of your salary this month. That should make a dent."

I gasped. "Seventy percent? But ma'am, I... I can't survive on that. My rent, my child's medicine..."

Kristy stood abruptly. "Then figure it out! Maybe stop having children you can't afford to keep alive!"

Kristy tilted her head and sighed dramatically, as if she pitied me. "You're such a mess, Crystal. Look at you. Crying again. Every month, it's the same story - your sick son, your bills, your debt. If you can't handle your life, that's not this establishment's problem."

I stared at the floor, ashamed to even meet her eyes.

"I'm begging you," I whispered again, my voice almost gone. "Kay's all I have. He hasn't even eaten properly in two days."

Kristy rolled her eyes. "Then maybe it's time you faced reality. Go find a charity. Or better yet, give the boy up for adoption. You should've done that from the start."

The room went silent.

Her cruel words kept replaying in my head.

I felt something inside me break all over again.

She didn't know that I had done it before. That I had already given one away at birth.

The midwife had advised me to give up one of my twins. She was like a mother to me. She said a very wealthy woman was willing to pay a lot of money for a child.

I was homeless. I couldn't even afford food for the newborns. I imagined what life would have been like for both of them with a mother who couldn't even get a decent job.

So, I listened to Ms. Nica. I had to save at least one child from starving.

It was so hard seeing him go. But since she said it was a wealthy woman looking to adopt him, I felt it was the right decision and that he would be in great hands.

That decision still haunted me every night.

But I knew that somewhere on the planet, he would be celebrating his birthday in a grand style tomorrow.

As for Kay, I believed that someday, I'll be able to get him the kind of birthday he deserved.

***

JADEN.

"You're so absentminded, honey. Try to be physically available, just for this once," Valerie whispered with a tight smile.

I didn't answer her. I just nodded, my eyes already drifting to the small figure running toward me through the crowd of children.

"Daddy!" Jeremy yelled, beaming like sunlight. I forced a smile like I'd been doing for the past five years, scooping him into my arms, "All my friends are here!" He squealed, wrapping his little arms around my neck.

"Really?" I said, setting him back slightly to meet his eyes. "And I bet you're excited to cut your cake?"

"Yes!" He giggled with bright eyes. "Grandpa and Grandma are also here. Can I get a new toy for a birthday present? I gave all my old ones to the poor children on the street, like Mummy asked me to." He said, and I smiled.

Valerie chuckled beside me, pleased with herself.

I kissed Jeremy's fluffy cheek. "You did? That's a good thing to do, son."

"Then can I get the new race car?" he asked eagerly.

"We'll see," I said, smiling again. But it didn't reach my eyes. It never did anymore.

Valerie was a good woman. She was patient, polite, and composed. She was the kind everyone said I was lucky to have. But not for me. I'd never loved her. I couldn't even.

This was all meant to be a means to an end for me, to make the Astors look perfect.

But I never believed it would end up being such a mess.

I'd combed around the entire state and beyond, looking for the one woman who truly mattered to me, but she'd been nowhere to be found. There was not even a trace. It was like she'd disappeared off the face of the earth.

And I hated her for that.

Why the fuck did she have to leave without a word?

Rumor had it that she slept around and ended up pregnant before she ran away because she couldn't handle the shame. But I was desperate to hear from her. I wanted her to look me in the face and tell me why the hell she couldn't wait for me.

I was only gone for three months, and she couldn't even wait?

Fuck. It hurt.

I was tempted to believe the rumors. Because, after years of searching with nothing to show for it, what was I supposed to think?

She could've reached me. She knew where to find me. But she didn't.

And that burned more than anything else.

"Daddy? You're not saying anything," Jeremy's hand tugged at my sleeve.

I blinked, pulling myself back to the moment. "Yes, honey," I said quietly. "We'll get more toys. Maybe go shopping tomorrow. How about that?"

He grinned. "Really?"

"Really," I said, smiling because that's what fathers do.

Jeremy was a great kid. The star and the center of attraction. Even though I didn't love his mother, I also wanted to he around to welcome him into this world, but Valerie had insisted I shouldn't.

In fact, she had to go to her aunt's place, just to have our baby. I didn't really care, though. If it were a woman I cared about, I wouldn't have taken no for an answer.

Rick, my head of security, was standing near the gate, watching me with that look that said 'we need to talk'. I nodded to Valerie. "Excuse me."

She forced a smile and turned back to the guests. I could already hear her laughing with someone else as I walked away.

"Sir," Rick greeted quietly when I reached him. He sounded tense.

"Tell me you've got something," I said to him when we were finally alone.

Rick hesitated for half a second before handing me a brown envelope. "Yes, sir. We finally found her."

The moment he said those words, I swear to fuck, the earth stopped spinning.

After five years, suddenly, she existed again.

CRYSTAL.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..."

Our voices filled the tiny apartment. It was off-key and uneven, but full of effort.

Jason's little hands clapped with excitement as he stared at the cake on the table like it was a miracle.

It was barely a cake.

A small, lopsided one, bought cheap from the corner bakery. The frosting was cracked, the candle bent. But to him, it was magic.

And to me... it was enough.

He grinned up at me, his teeth flashing through the crooked smile he got from me. "Mommy, look! My name's on it!"

I swallowed hard, forcing the lump in my throat down. "Of course it is, sweetheart. You're the birthday boy."

"Come on, buddy, make a wish!" Noah said, leaning closer to Jason with a grin big enough for both of them.

He had the kind of excitement a father would.

He wasn't Jason's father, but sometimes I forgot that.

He'd been there for every fever, every hospital run, every time Jason collapsed mid-play.

Noah had been my lifeline for the past three years now. He was more than even a brother to me.

If there was ever a man God sent to stand in for the broken ones, it was Noah.

He'd given me more help than I ever deserved, taken Jason as his own son, picked him up from school sometimes when I was too busy to, bought him clothes from the thrift store, carried him when he couldn't walk for too long, and lost his breath... God. What more could I ask for?

Jason squeezed his eyes shut, made a wish, and blew out the candle.

We clapped, cheered, and pretended for a second that we weren't drowning.

Noah lifted Jason off the chair, spinning him gently in the air. "Four years old already? You're getting big, champ."

We didn't really believe in the crowd. Jason, Noah, and Karla, Jason's friend who lives down the street, always made the perfect crowd.

Jason giggled, breathless and happy. "Uncle Noah, I'm almost as tall as you!"

I smiled, but my hands were shaking as I wiped the frosting off the knife. That small cake cost half of what I made in a week. The rent was already due. The hospital bill was piling up. And now, Kristy had threatened to take seventy percent of my next salary.

But Jason didn't know any of that.

He just saw balloons taped to the wall and a candle with his name on it.

He didn't know that I'd skipped lunch all week to buy that candle.

"Thank you, Noah," I hugged him, as I fought the tears that threatened to fall.

***

When the laughter faded, Noah turned to me. "Hey," he said softly. "Come outside for a second."

I hesitated, then nodded. We left Jason and his little friend Karla to wrestle over who got the biggest slice.

There wasn't even any music for them to dance to. God, I was pathetic.

"What did Kristy say?" He whispered, his kind, hazel eyes searching mine worriedly.

I looked away. "She threatened to have me arrested." My voice cracked before I could stop it. "She said management can't loan me any more money."

He exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through his blonde hair. "God."

"Yeah," I muttered. "God."

He paced a few steps, hands on his hips. "Crystal, he needs that surgery. We both know it. The doctor said..."

"I know what the doctor said!" I snapped, then instantly regretted it. My voice softened. "I know, Noah. I just... I don't know what else to do."

He turned back to me, and I saw how tight his face was with worry. "What do we do then? The surgery costs more than we'd make in two lifetimes. You're barely eating, and I'm working double shifts, and it's still not enough."

My gaze rested on his worried face, and I felt like pulling him in for a warm hug... The kind I'd never given to any other man except Jaden. But I just couldn't.

Noah's worry over my child pricks my heart each time.

Sometimes I wondered if he saw me as a friend or as a burden he couldn't walk away from.

He'd spent his savings and daily earnings on Jason. And at some point, I feel guilty about it.

He was just a deliveryman. How much does he even make?

"You have to stop. Stop worrying. I'll come up with something," I placed a hand on his shoulder, "You've worried enough about us."

He shook his head, taking a step closer. "You both are my family. It's not about worry. It's about not standing by while..."

He stopped himself and sighed, rubbing his face. "Look, I have some savings. Not much, but we could take him to the doctor tomorrow. Maybe there's another option - medicine, a temporary treatment, anything to buy us a few weeks."

I gave a small, hopeless laugh. "It's CHD we're talking about, sunshine." My voice softened at the nickname I was used to calling him. "Nothing can fix a hole in the heart except surgery."

"I know," he whispered. "But we have to try. You never know what tomorrow might bring."

I looked at him, and something inside me trembled. The way he said it, the quiet desperation behind it, the unspoken 'I can't lose either of you.:

He leaned in too close, and I felt my heart picking up speed.

But before I could push him away, we heard Jason's little voice from behind us.

"Uncle Noah? Can I get the toy car we saw down the road the other day as a birthday present?"

We quickly pulled away.

"Uhm... Yes. Of course, buddy. Let's go get it now." Noah said awkwardly with his hands on his waist.

"No, you shouldn't," I said quickly, clearing my throat. "He already got you a gift. It's not polite to ask for another one."

Jason pouted, looking between us. "Please, Mommy?"

"Noah," I started, shaking my head.

"It's fine," he cut in gently. "I'll buy it for him. Come on, champ."

Jason cheered. "Karla! Let's go!"

Three of them jumped happily as they walked away.

Jason's small hand was tucked in Noah's. Karla skipped ahead, and Noah turned back once to flash me that same smile that said 'don't worry, I've got him.'

I smiled weakly and waved. "Don't jump too much, honey!" I called after them, but they were already gone.

I leaned against the doorframe, pressing a hand to my chest. My heart was pounding too hard.

The fear was always there for every time he ran, or every time he laughed too hard.

Because I never knew which breath would be his last.

***

I checked the time again.

8:42 p.m.

They'd been gone for almost an hour.

My fingers worried the hem of my shirt as I cleaned up the kitchen, stacking the chipped plates one by one. I told myself not to panic - they'd just gone down the street. Jason probably convinced Noah to buy him ice cream, too.

Still, my heart wouldn't settle.

I picked up Jason's toy truck from the couch and placed it gently on the table.

I smiled weakly at it, trying to push down the knot of unease forming in my stomach.

He'd be fine. Noah would never let anything happen to him.

Right?

My thoughts scattered when a soft knock came at the door.

I froze mid-step.

A second knock followed.

I frowned. "Noah?"

No answer.

I tried to shake off the tension crawling up my spine. It was probably them trying to mess with me. Noah had done that once before - pretending to be a stranger until Jason gave them away with giggles.

"Very funny," I muttered, wiping my hands on a towel as I walked toward the door.

Another louder knock came. And this time, it wasn't playful.

My pulse quickened. For a second, I considered peeking through the window - but I stopped myself. It had to be them. Who else would come here? No one else even knew where I lived.

I forced a smile, "You two think you're so smart, don't you?"

My hand reached for the doorknob and twisted it open. The hinges creaked as the door swung open.

And then... just like that, the air left my lungs. And the towel slipped from my hand.

I couldn't breathe.

I couldn't even blink.

Because standing there, tall, immaculate, and larger than life, was the one man I'd spent four years trying to erase from memory.

The one man I'd do anything to keep away from our lives.

Jaden Astor.