Chapter 3 Silence
Darren sat behind the wheel, glancing sideways at Krystal. “Isn’t Mr. Cage a doctor himself? Why’s he calling you for help? I mean, isn’t his family one of the richest in the country or something?”
Krystal leaned back with her eyes closed. “He is a doctor. But most people don’t know that, and he likes it that way. He rarely performs surgeries—especially not high-profile ones.”
Her voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.
“With someone this important, they'd want to know exactly who's operating. Dig into their profile and background. Damion wants to avoid that mess.”
Darren nodded, muttering under his breath, “Must be someone real important if he’s trying that hard to keep it quiet…”
Suddenly, a black SUV swerved in front of them, cutting them off.
Krystal’s eyes flew open. “Watch out!”
Darren gasped and yanked the wheel hard, jerking the car to the side and slamming the brakes. The car jolted to a stop, tires screeching.
“What the hell?” he barked, ripping off his seatbelt. “Is this guy out of his mind?! He nearly killed us!”
In front of them, the SUV blocked the road, clearly intentional.
Krystal’s heart pounded. She stared at the car blocking their way—a matte black Maserati Quattroporte with tinted windows.
“These lunatics think they’re in a Fast & Furious movie?” she snapped, unbuckling her seatbelt and reaching for the door. “Let’s teach them how to drive before they kill someone.”
But the moment she opened the door and looked up—
Her blood ran cold.
A tall, familiar, broad-shouldered figure climbed out of the other car.
Her body stiffened. Her heart dropped. Her eyes widened.
Lorenzo.
She ducked back inside and slammed the door shut.
“Oh, hell no! What the hell is that human Cactus doing here?!” she hissed, her voice a panicked whisper.
Her heart pounded. Panic surged in her chest.
Lorenzo stood there, intimidating as ever. Xander stepped beside him, walking up to their car.
“Hello,” Xander said politely. “Let me introduce someone. This is Mr. Lorenzo Moretti. And if we’re not mistaken—you’re Dr. Astra?”
Krystal froze.
The windows were tinted dark. There was no way they could see her. But hearing that name come out of his mouth made her blood run cold.
Xander continued, polite but firm. “We’d like to request your expertise. A treatment, for someone important.”
Lorenzo slid his hands into his pockets, cool and composed, yet carrying that natural authority he was known for.
“Name your price. We’ll double it. If you have other demands, we’ll meet them. Whatever it takes.” He said.
Inside the car, Krystal let go of the door handle slowly, taking a deep breath. Relief washed over her.
“He doesn’t know I’m Astra,” she whispered to Darren in disbelief. “He just thinks I’m some surgeon. Not his ex-wife.”
Darren let out a low laugh. “So what now? We definitely don’t want to get entangled with him. This could blow up your cover.”
Krystal bit her lip, eyes narrowing as thoughts swirled. But then… a slow smirk appeared on her lips.
“Wait,” she said.
She slowly rolled down the car window just enough to let her voice out, but not enough for them to see her face.
Xander rushed toward Lorenzo, excitement shining in his eyes.
“Mr. Moretti! Dr. Astra’s extremely reserved. She doesn't acknowledge anyone she doesn’t want to treat—but look!” he pointed toward the car. “She rolled down her window for you. That means she wants to talk.”
Lorenzo shot him a side glance, unimpressed. Without a word, he turned toward the car. After a beat, he walked over, leaned down, and moved closer to the open window.
The moment his face neared it, she lifted her middle finger, and slammed the window shut right in his face.
Lorenzo jerked back slightly, his jaw tightening.
A split second later, Darren hit the gas and the car peeled off down the street.
Inside the car, both Krystal and Darren were laughing like maniacs at the stunned look on Lorenzo’s face.
Lorenzo straightened slowly, face like thunder, fury simmering in his dark eyes. He had never been humiliated like this before. The way she toyed with him made his blood boil.
Xander stood frozen, pale with fear.
“Was that... real?” he muttered under his breath, eyes wide in horror. “This is the first time Mr. Moretti’s ever been treated like that by anyone. Let alone a woman.”
Lorenzo’s burning gaze stayed locked on the road where the car had disappeared. His chest rose with a slow, furious breath.
“So that’s how you want to play it?” he muttered darkly.
He spun around, eyes blazing, making even the grown man in front of him take a step back.
“Dig her out. I don’t care if you have to pull her out of the goddamn underground,” he growled. “Find that fucking woman.”
“Y-Yes, sir!” Xander stammered, already pulling out his phone to start dialing.
Just then, Lorenzo’s own phone rang. Exhaling a sharp breath, he picked it up.
“Mr. Moretti,” came a composed voice on the other end. “I’m Doctor Lyle. We’ve arranged for Dr. Astra to come to Bristen Hospital to examine Miss Esther. Please come to the hospital immediately.”
His eyes flicked to Xander. Without a word, he turned on his heel and headed for the car.
“Got it,” he muttered, then added with a glare, “Let’s go. That woman’s walking right into my hands.”
***
Krystal stepped into Bristen Hospital, her heels clicking too loudly against the polished floor.
Her eyes darted around as if she expected danger to jump out from behind the vending machine.
Clutching her purse like a lifeline, she checked behind her for the third time—then finally exhaled, pressing a hand to her chest.
“God,” she muttered, jaw tight. “That Cactus nearly glared the soul out of me.” She paused, muttering under her breath. “And now that I’ve pissed him off? I’ll probably wake up gift-wrapped in cement if he finds me.”
Suddenly, a hand clapped down on her shoulder.
She shrieked like she’d seen death itself, jumping back with a gasp and nearly tripping over her own feet.
“Jesus Christ,” a familiar voice said. “What the hell are you so scared of?”
Damion stood there, his hair slicked back in its usual neat style, a tailored charcoal suit hugging his tall frame. His chiseled face was calm, amused, with those striking green eyes that still held that familiar softness—even behind the golden-rimmed rectangular glasses perched on his nose.
His gaze was steady and amused as she tried to calm her racing heart.
Krystal blinked, then groaned in relief.
“Oh my God, it’s you.” Krystal let out a shaky exhale, then laughed under her breath and stepped forward, wrapping him in a hug. “How’ve you been?”
“I’m good. You look fantastic,” he said, voice lower, more genuine now. It made her chuckle softly.
He turned and gestured down the hallway. “The patient and her family are waiting in the room. Let’s go.”
She nodded, then glanced at him warily. “You didn’t mention my real name to them, right?”
“Of course not. They just know Dr. Astra’s coming.”
“Thanks.” She gave a grateful smile, and the two started walking toward the ward.
“Where were you the last two years?” he asked. “No one heard a thing about you.”
“I got married,” she replied quietly, her smile faint—dry.
Damion’s eyebrows lifted with a surprised grin.
“You? Married? Who was crazy enough to say yes?”
“Hey!” she swatted his arm. Then immediately looked around nervously and leaned closer. “He’s got a girl he likes… so we’re getting a divorce.”
Damion’s face fell. His expression turned from amused to grim in an instant.
“He cheated on you?” His voice was low, laced with disbelief. “Is the guy blind?”
She smirked, letting out a quiet snicker at his reaction.
Krystal had always been stunning. Since college, she'd turned down countless proposals, dreaming of one man who’d give her everything. She never imagined she’d end up with someone who’d choose another woman over her.
“Forget him,” Damion said with a grunt. “I know a dozen men who are ten times better than him. I’ll introduce you.”
She giggled at his words.
“We’re here.” He stopped, pointing to the room ahead.
They approached the door together, but the moment she peeked through the glass window, she froze. Then, as if her body had suddenly betrayed her, she stumbled back several steps, nearly tripping over her own feet.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, noticing the horror on her face.
She turned to him, her voice sharp with panic. “That’s my soon-to-be ex-husband… and his girl!”
***
Inside the room, Esther sat on the hospital bed, eyes fixed on Lorenzo with an expression full of quiet worry. She reached out, taking his hand in hers.
"I'm scared, Lorenzo," she whispered. "What if this doctor can't cure me either?"
Lorenzo gently pulled his hand from hers, his voice calm but distant. “You’ll be fine. Just focus on getting better.”
Esther smiled weakly and nodded. Then, after a pause, she bit her lip and asked softly, a hopeful look in her eyes, “If I do get better… the agreement we made two years ago—it still stands, right?”
Lorenzo’s jaw tightened. His brows furrowed into a tense line. After a moment of hesitation, he gave a stiff nod. “I told you I’d be responsible for taking care of you,” he said.
She smiled and immediately reached over, hugging his arm tightly again.
Krystal looked from Lorenzo to Esther, noting the fake smile and puppy eyes that were anything but convincing.
‘Is this man blind?’ she thought, surprised. ‘How bad is his taste? He’s actually choosing that woman over me?’
Even thinking about it felt ridiculous. Esther wasn’t even close to Krystal in looks—and that alone settled her nerves a little.
She turned to face Damion and said in a calm voice, “I’m sorry. I won’t be of any help to you.”
Damion nodded, his face tense as he spoke softly, “Sorry. I didn’t know you two were… together.”
“It’s alright,” Krystal muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.