Crystal's One Night of Love

Chapter 361 I Am Willing 

Soon after David left, Sylvester’s mother, Chelsea, staggered over, accompanied by a few family members.

One of them was Riya.

She was Robert’s sister.

“How’s Sylvester?” Chelsea grasped Henry’s arm, her emotions running high.

Even though Henry was distressed, he patiently comforted her, “He’s not in a life-threatening condition, but he may need a long time to recover. Mrs. Sloan, I’ll hire the best plastic surgeon.”

Plastic surgeon… Chelsea’s legs went weak.

Just then, a doctor happened to approach and informed her of Sylvester’s condition. Fortunately, he was conscious, so the Sloans immediately went to see him.

Even across the corridor, Henry could still hear Chelsea’s heartbreaking cries.

She probably can’t accept the fact that her son has been disfigured. Henry felt awful.

Julia gently patted her son’s shoulder, uttering softly, “Henry, you should get your wounds treated. I’ll stay here with Crystal. She’ll be terrified if she wakes up and sees you in this state.”

Henry leaned against the wall, running his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Mom, I’m not in the mood!”

Although Julia’s heart ached for her son, she didn’t speak further and stayed with him outside the emergency room.

The long wait was unbearable.

An hour passed, then two.

Four hours later, the doors to the emergency room opened, and the doctor came out, removing his face. mask.

“How’s my wife?” Henry hurriedly asked.

The doctor contemplated for a few seconds before uttering softly, “Mr. Miller, based on our examination, Mrs. Miller didn’t sustain serious external injuries. However, her brain was hit by fragments, which caused a moderate concussion. She should’ve woken up by now, but strangely, there are no signs of her regaining consciousness. Her body is currently in a dormant state. An analogy for her condition is like the power- saving mode of a phone.”

Henry was slightly taken aback.

The doctor sighed. “Mrs. Miller is pregnant. If she remains like this for more than a week, it can be detrimental to the baby.”

“Isn’t there any way to wake her up?”

“We’ll check on her again tomorrow morning.”

Subsequently, the doctor re-entered the emergency room.

Henry leaned against the wall as if he was drained of all strength in an instant. Julia supported him and spoke in a teary voice. “Henry, you must stay strong! Crystal will wake up.”

Henry looked up and uttered in an undertone, “Mom, I should’ve treated her better.” Crystal must be tired, I suppose? If I had been nicer to her, would she be unwilling to continue staying asleep and wake up at once?

Afterward, Crystal was sent to a VIP ward.

Wearing a blue and white hospital gown, she lay still on the bed. Beneath a thin blanket, her slightly protruding belly was visible.

Her face was pale, with a few scrapes on one side.

Henry, having refused a blood transfusion, had his wounds treated and changed into fresh clothes. He stayed by Crystal’s bedside, holding her cold hand and boring his dark eyes into her face.

Julia couldn’t help but wipe the tears trickling down the corner of her eyes at the sight of his devastated mien.

Henry said softly, “Mom, go check on the Sloans and see if they need any help.”

Julia nodded.

As their family owed the Sloans a huge debt of gratitude, they couldn’t neglect the latter at that moment.

Only Henry and Crystal were left alone inside the ward following Julia’s departure. An eerie silence filled the air. A drop of tear fell on Crystal’s hand.

It was Henry who shed the tear.

“Crystal, I regret it so much. I shouldn’t have let you attend the premiere. Even if I know I shouldn’t confine you, given another chance, I would rather have kept you home at all times.”

His hot tears rolled down his checks and dropped on the back of Crystal’s hand.

Still, she remained senseless.

Just like the doctor said, she had gone into hibernation. She couldn’t hear his pleas or his confessions. Even if the love she ever wanted in her life was close to her reach, Crystal couldn’t embrace it.

The night deepened.

Henry looked at the pitch-black night sky outside the window and said tenderly, “It’s snowing heavily, and everything is covered in a white layer of snow. The kids at home must be delighted. If you wake up, I’ll take you home. You can sip on hot milk and watch the children while they play and build snowmen. outside the house.”

He gently caressed Crystal’s face as he spoke.

The icy sensation at the tip of his fingers caused his nose to sting and tears to well up in his eyes.

Overwhelmed, Henry couldn’t stop himself from burying his face in her neck and croaking, “Crystal, the doctor said you might wake up tomorrow morning, but I can’t even wait a second longer!”

Fearing anything unexpected might happen, he dared not close his eyes for even a second, afraid he might miss the moment she woke up.

However, from dusk till dawn, even until the ground outside was blanketed in snow, Crystal didn’t regain consciousness.

Moreover, it seemed her body had grown colder.

Early in the morning, David, after working all night, rushed back to the hospital.

His body was layered with frost, so when he entered, he carefully took off his coat and placed it outside before lightly stepping into the room. “She hasn’t woken up yet?”

Henry nodded.

David handed over some breakfast and said, “I sent your mom to care for the children. They still don’t know about this.”

Henry’s gaze was still fixed on Crystal.

David patted his son’s shoulder. “You’ve lost a lot of blood and have been up all night. Eat something so you have the strength to care for your wife. Listen to me and do as I say.”

Henry bobbed his head in agreement and wolfed down the food.

After having his breakfast, he returned to sit by Crystal’s bedside to keep her company.

Henry talked to her, telling her about their children, hoping to stir her awake.

Taking in his son’s distraught state, David knew he couldn’t reason with him. If the roles were reversed, he’d be just as distressed.

When the doctor arrived for a check-up, he shook his head helplessly.

Henry got to his feet and asked calmly. “What will happen if she doesn’t wake up?”

When dealing with such devoted family members, the doctor couldn’t bring himself to upset them further. “The most immediate concern is the baby. However, if she remains like this for too long, it could also severely harm her.”

Everything was too uncertain at that point. Any improvement in her condition would have to depend on Crystal’s willpower.

The doctor left afterward, and pin-drop silence once again permeated the air inside the ward, only by the sound of falling snow outside.

David stood by the window. punctuated

He was similarly dismayed as Crystal was someone he cherished deeply, much like his own daughter, Melora. The thought of what might happen brought tears to his eyes.

At that moment, Henry’s voice rang out behind him. “Mr. Minsky once said that I have a strong temper and bring bad luck to the people around me. Dad, is it because of me that Crystal keeps getting hurt?”

Eyes reddened, David responded hoarsely, “Nonsense! Both of you are fine. Henry, you shouldn’t think like that!”

Henry gulped, feeling a lump in his throat.

He stared at Crystal’s sleeping face, brushing away her stray hair. We’ve just fallen in love. How can she bear to ignore me now? Crystal, when will you wake up?

He had never felt time pass so agonizingly slow.

Each moment felt like punishment to him.

Henry was constantly overwrought and on the verge of a breakdown. At that moment, no one could help him, not his parents, Melora, or even Alfred.

After all, he was Crystal’s husband and their children’s father.

In a mere three days, Henry lost ten pounds.

His cheeks were so profoundly sunken that the sight of him was painful to behold.

Ultimately, they couldn’t keep the children in the dark any longer.

Melora brought them to see their mother.

Upon pushing the door open and seeing her mother lying still on the bed, Skyler immediately welled up and shed tears. However, she didn’t cry out loud. Instead, she rushed to her mother’s bedside, gently resting her head on Crystal’s belly to get close to her mother and the unborn baby.

Christopher touched Crystal’s hand, his eyes also brimming with tears.

Remi was too young to understand what was happening and simply called out to his mother.

Henry picked his youngest child up and pressed his face against the latter’s. At that instant, his sorrow was overwhelming. Crystal, the kids are here. They’re all here to visit you. They miss you dearly. If you can feel even the slightest, please wake up, all right? Quit tormenting me…

Henry was genuinely scared. He was afraid of losing their unborn child.

He feared to imagine how broken-hearted Crystal would be when she woke up one day and realized their unborn child was gone.

He hired the best experts in the country and abroad.

Crystal’s relatives took turns staying with her, repeatedly calling her name, but she continued to lie there. not showing even the slightest sign of regaining consciousness.

Six days passed in the blink of an eye.

At ten at night, after the group of specialists examined Crystal’s condition, the doctor spoke privately with Henry.

The temperature inside the corridor was freezing, but Henry wore only a white shirt and trousers.

The doctor did his best to control his emotions and uttered solemnly. “It’s been six days. Our examinations show the fetus’ heart rate is decreasing. If she doesn’t wake up in another two days, not

only will the child be in danger, but it’ll also pose a serious threat to Mrs. Miller’s health. Our suggestion is to proceed with human intervention.” ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Human intervention? Henry narrowed his eyes, forcefully grabbing the doctor by the collar. “What did you say?”

The doctor didn’t speak further and merely stared at him in silence.

After a long while, Henry released his grip. “I’m sorry.”

The doctor said, “We’re sorry, Mr. Miller. Please think our suggestion over.”

Henry didn’t answer.

He stood in the pitch-black night, letting the breeze caress against his face as he stared at the snowy scene outside. It seems as if ever since Crystal fell into a coma, the snow hasn’t stopped falling. Perhaps even the heavens are mourning our impending separation, or perhaps for the parting of ways between us and our unborn child. I know how much Crystal loves this child she’s carrying, and I love the baby very much as well. Still, she’s not waking up even after six days. What if she never wakes up in the future? What should I do? Crystal, what should I do?

Henry lowered his head and lit a cigarette, finding solace only when the smoke filled his lungs. After pulling on one cigarette, he returned to the ward.

His mother was wiping Crystal’s body.

Henry asked in a husky voice. “Have the children gone back?”

Julia, tears in her eyes, nodded. “Melora took them home.”

Henry took the warm towel from his mother and attentively wiped Crystal’s body, speaking softly as he did so. “Mom, I haven’t been a good husband. I can’t do anything to help her and can only watch while she remains in a coma.”

Julia struggled to hold back her tears.

Henry tenderly wiped Crystal’s face. “I’ve indeed forgotten about our past, but I know I love her. Mom, I want to visit Mr. Minsky in the mountains.”

Julia hesitated. “The mountain paths won’t be passable with the snow outside!”

Henry caressed Crystal’s cheeks, replying almost indistinctly, “I didn’t believe in the heavens before, but now I’m truly desperate. Since Mr. Minsky could see one’s past and predict one’s future, he must be capable of waking Crystal up.”

He would gladly pay the price even if it meant sacrificing his entire fortune or life.

Julia, being a devout believer, was well aware of the price to pay.

She sobbed, “Henry! Wait for your dad to come-

Henry squeezed his mother’s hand. “Mom, you still have Melora, but she’s my four children’s only mother. I must undertake this journey no matter what.”

He owed Crystal too much.

Considering their entanglements, he could never make it up to her.

Therefore, no matter if there was a way out or not, he had to go.

In the end, Julia wiped her tears and consented. She didn’t cry, for crying was deemed unlucky.

Wearing a faint smile, she saw her son off as if he was going on another one of his regular business trips and would return in a few days.

Henry slowly put on his coat.

Before leaving, he leaned over and kissed Crystal, whispering beside her ear, “Wait for me! I’ll definitely come back!”

With that, he decisively took his leave.

Late at night, amidst the blizzard, a black car gradually drove away from the hospital. Julia stood by the window, silently watching her son. Covering her lips, she murmured, “Henry, you must come back safely.”

Traveling at night in the mountains was perilous, especially in the snow.

Henry drove his car to the foot of the mountain, then opened the car door, and started walking uphill. The snow quickly soaked his pants and the inside of his shoes. His feet were practically submerged in the icy water, but he was unfazed by the pain.

Upon reaching the mountain’s summit, everything was blanketed in white snow, giving him the false perception that he was in heaven.

The monastery was brightly lit.

With the chilling wind biting his face, which had turned pale from the cold, he announced, “I wish to meet Mr. Minsky.”

A young priest stood inside the house, his hands clasped together. “My master says destiny is hard to change, so please leave, Mr. Miller.”

However, Henry was adamant.

He pleaded repeatedly, so the young priest had no choice but to consult George again. Nevertheless, Henry still received the same answer.

Henry had steeled his resolution when making that trip to the mountain.

Disregarding his status, he knelt before the monastery and raised his voice. “Please save my wife and baby. Mr. Minsky! 1. Henry Miller, am willing to pay any price.”

George was reluctant to meet Henry.

The latter remained kneeling, continuously repeating his pleas.

Meanwhile, the snowfall grew heavier, blurring everything in the surroundings.

The only thing visible was Henry’s kneeling figure as he persistently begged George.

Inside the monastery, the young priest muttered, “He’s still there!”

George, seated in meditation, sighed. “What an ill-fated relationship! Go and bring him in!”

The young priest hastily ran outside to fetch Henry.

Five minutes later, Henry, face as pale as a ghost, wobbled inward.

As soon as he stepped into the monastery, George said, “It’s not that there’s no solution, but are you willing to endure the suffering on behalf of your wife? However, if you fall into the endless abyss and make a misstep, not only might you fail to save her, but you may also never recover and never return to this world.”

He thought Henry would need to take time to consider!

After all, that matter concerned his survival.

Unexpectedly, without thinking twice, Henry answered readily. “I’m willing to endure it for my wife!”

George shut his eyes and murmured, “You two weren’t fated to be together, yet neither of you is willing to let go despite your unfortunate entanglements. Since you’re determined to hold on rest of your lives, so be it!” to each other for the

George got to his feet and walked up to Henry.

He placed his thin yet warm hands on Henry’s head, muttering an incantation, “You shall endure the sufferings on your wife’s behalf!”

A bright light flashed before Henry’s eyes.

Past memories played out before him.

He witnessed his first encounter with Crystal, their shared moments in the condominium together as their love for each other grew, when he gifted her the piano, and the times she begged him to stop in bed…

He watched as all the scenes flitted across his eyes.

Henry soon regained all his memories but was plunged into a dreamlike state.

When his vision cleared up, he saw himself standing under the shade of a tree, with the chirping sound of birds reverberating around him.

He stood on the sycamore avenue of Barnwood Royal Academy of Music. The golden sunlight shone. brightly, speckling his body.

Ahead, a slender figure approached him.

That person was the twenty-year-old Crystal.