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He caught her before she collapsed and helped her into the car, speeding off toward Bristen Hospital.

***

Two hours later, Krystal and Darren walked out of the hospital room.

“I thought you were dying,” Darren muttered, running a shaky hand through his hair. “Holy shit, Honey. I’ve never seen your face that pale.”

She let out a breathless laugh, resting her hand on her stomach. The meds had eased the pain.

“I thought my insides were twisting into something fatal,” she whispered. “Thank God it was just a stomach infection. But the pain... it was terrifying.”

“The pain looked brutal. I was ready to lose it,” he said, relieved. “Thankfully, it wasn’t anything worse.”

As they passed through the hallway, a piece of paper fluttered to the ground. Darren bent and picked it up.

“Hey, look—this has your name on it. Krystal Vale.” He scanned it, then raised his eyebrows.

She leaned over his arm, glancing at it.

“Two months pregnant,” he read out loud, then looked at her up and down, grinning. “So? How does it feel? Any nausea?”

She let out a dry chuckle and snatched the paper from him. “How funny,” she said. “Krystal Vale. Even the surname is the same as mine before marriage.”

“What a weird coincidence,” Darren muttered, reaching for the paper. “Give it here. I’ll toss it.”

“No,” she said quickly, folding it up and tucking it into her hand. “I wanna keep it. Coincidences like this don’t happen every day. Kara’s going to laugh her ass off when I show it to her.”

“You’re so damn childish,” Darren said, shaking his head with a grin.

“Shut it. Don’t mock your boss,” Krystal snapped, shooting Darren a glare.

They started walking again, their footsteps echoing faintly in the hallway.

Darren turned his eyes back to her, frowning. “What are you planning to do next? You didn’t leave because of Lorenzo this time either. So what now? You’re just... stuck here?”

Krystal’s mind drifted to everything that had happened with Lorenzo. He didn’t care about anything—nothing but Esther. Even after everything. Even after she lied to him.

She answered quietly, her voice almost emotionless. “There’s no point staying. I’ve made up my mind. We’re leaving. I won’t stay here any longer. Soon, I’ll be out of this city.”

Darren let out a heavy sigh, tilting his head back to look at the sky like he was praying for patience.

“For the millionth time... I’ll make the arrangements.”

Instead of heading out of the hospital, Krystal turned and made her way toward Damion’s office.

***

“That son of a bitch!” Krystal exploded, slamming her hand on the desk. Her face twisted in frustration. Then, glancing at Damion, her tone softened. “I’m so sorry you had to deal with that because of me.”

Damion waved her off with a calm shrug. “It’s nothing. I only tolerated him for your sake. Otherwise, do you really think that guy would’ve walked out of my hospital in one piece after pulling that stunt?”

“Sorry, sorry!” Krystal clasped her hands in front of him, shaking them with a dramatic pout.

“Forgive her, she’s two months pregnant!” Darren chimed in out of nowhere, slamming a crumpled pregnancy report on the table.

Both Damion and Krystal gasped at the same time.

“Idiot!” Krystal smacked the back of Darren’s head.