Chapter 6 A Killer
“Grandpa came home.”
Krystal stopped in her tracks.
Lorenzo’s hands gripped the edge of his car’s hood, knuckles white. His breathing slowed, his body steadying, as her head slowly turned back toward him.
He walked toward her, voice lower now, more serious.
“He doesn’t know about the divorce,” he said. “He’s throwing a retirement party. He wants you there—with me.”
Krystal’s brows pinched together. She stared at him like he’d lost his mind.
“We’re already divorced. It’s not right to keep showing up at parties as your wife.”
His body stiffened. Her words sliced straight through him.
“Why haven’t you told Mr. Moretti about the divorce?” she asked, staring at him.
The color drained from his face. Shock hit him so hard, she instinctively took a step back.
“You’re calling Grandpa Mr. Moretti now?” he growled, stalking toward her. His jaw clenched tight. “You’ve moved on that fucking fast?”
She stayed quiet.
He exhaled sharply through his nose, trying to steady himself. “Grandpa doesn’t know about the divorce yet. And this party—it’s everything to him. He’s been building this company for decades. I’m not ruining that moment for him with a divorce announcement.”
He took another step, looking her square in the eyes.
“I need you to come with me and pretend like we’re fine. Just for him. That’s all I’m asking.”
Krystal’s patience was unraveling. Her voice grew sharper.
“Why do I have to keep doing what you say? Just because I had feelings for you, you think you can use me whenever you want?”
“Krystal!” he snapped.
His tone hit hard, laced with anger. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths before speaking again with grim certainty.
“We’re not divorced. Not officially. You signed the papers, but they haven’t been filed in court. Until then, you're still my wife. You still have responsibilities.”
Her fists clenched at her sides. Her thoughts swirled in disbelief.
‘How can this man be so damn infuriating?’ Her mind reeled. ‘So I’m supposed to keep being his wife until some court finally hands me a damn piece of paper?
Lorenzo reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek black card, extending it to her.
“No limit,” he said. “Use it for whatever you need.”
He pressed the card into her palm and gripped her hand tightly before she could pull away.
“Unblock my number,” he ordered. “I’ll pick you up in two days. And if I call, you better answer.”
Before she could argue, he turned and walked off, sliding into his car and driving away without a backward glance.
Krystal stood frozen, her breath uneven. She looked down at the card in her hand and clenched her fist around it, her chest heaving with bottled rage.
“If it weren’t for Grandpa’s retirement, I’d shove a poisonous Cactus straight up your entitled billionaire ass, Lorenzo Moretti!” she finally spat out, eyes blazing as she watched the taillights fade into the night.
***
Lorenzo stepped into the hospital room as the orange light of sunset poured through the window.
Esther, lying under the covers, sat up the moment she saw him. A warm smile touched her lips.
“Lorenzo.”
Lorenzo stepped forward, steady and calm, helping Esther adjust the pillow behind her back so she could sit more comfortably.
“I’ve made an appointment with Doctor Astra. She’ll come check on you tomorrow at my house.”
Esther stiffened immediately. Fear spread across her face as she trembled and grabbed his hand tightly.
“Lorenzo, I’m so scared,” she whispered, voice barely audible. “Can we... not bring her? Maybe I’ll get better on my own. Please.”
“Don’t be afraid,” Lorenzo said, gently pulling his hand away. He smoothed her pillow and took a step back. “You don’t have to worry. I made sure she’s good—she’ll take care of you. This won’t make things worse. The doctor will help you get better, faster.”
His eyes held hers steadily, full of quiet reassurance. “You’re already so weak, Esther. It’s not good to delay your treatment any longer.”
“But—” Esther reached out again, desperate to grab him again, but he took another step back, keeping just enough distance to calm the moment.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be here. You won’t be alone.”
Then he turned and walked out of the room.
As his footsteps faded, another man slipped in. Esther glanced up, frustration tightening her features.
“What now?” the man asked, his voice low. “It won’t be easy to fool a big-shot physician. If he says she’s one of the best...”
“Shut up, Jim,” Esther muttered, folding her arms. “Did you really think I can’t handle it?”
She took a slow breath, leaning back against the pillows. Pulling out a makeup remover, she wiped away the powder from her face that made her look more sick, trying to lighten the weight on her face.
Looking up at Jim, now lively, fresh-faced and alert, she smirked with cold confidence.
“I’ve been faking this sickness with my pills for years, building up clots every time.
I’ll just take another pill before Astra arrives—make sure there are clots to fool her,” she smirked.
“As long as I take those pills, I look as sick as a dying woman. So many top doctors didn’t figure it out. How would this one?”
Jim walked over, hands in his pockets, brows furrowed. He sat down beside her and pulled her head close, pressing his lips to hers.
“Why are you risking so much?” he murmured against her mouth. “Your body’s been weak lately. Every time we’re together, you get tired, and faint.”
She gave him an annoyed look, but Jim didn’t stop. His mouth moved down to her neck, kissing, licking, sucking.
“When that dude gave you those pills, didn’t he warn you? Too much could damage your organs. Why risk it?”
She grabbed the back of his collar, pulling him away, eyes sharp.
“Now’s not the time to think about risks.” Her voice dropped, tense and bitter. “If Lorenzo hadn’t mistaken me for that girl who slept with him two years ago, if I hadn’t gotten into that accident, he wouldn’t spare me a second glance.”
She folded her arms tighter, staring Jim down.
“I need these pills as my excuse to stay close to him. It’s only because of this damn illness that he feels responsible for me.”
A small, cruel smile touched her lips. “The more guilty he feels, the faster he’ll pity me, marry me, and then maybe fall in love.
It won’t be hard once I’m his wife. I just have to marry him first..
. then seduce him. Right now, he won’t even let me touch his damn hand.
” She gritted her teeth, breathing through her frustration.
“As for that wife of his... once I’m married, I’ll make sure she disappears completely. To get to him, she has to be out of the way.”
***
Outside the Moretti house, Xander’s nerves were visible as he watched Lorenzo pace back and forth, impatience and anger written all over his face. His jaw was tight, eyes burning with frustration as he tried to keep his cool.
Checking his watch again, Lorenzo’s jaw tightened.
“It’s been over an hour. She’s late. Did you give her the right time?”
Xander nodded, uneasy. “Yes, Mr. Moretti. I gave Doctor Astra the exact time. Maybe something came up, or—she’s just a little late.” He forced a laugh. “Couldn’t be that she’s just arrogant, right?”
Lorenzo shot him a sharp glare. They both knew from their last run-in—when she slammed the car window in his face—that she was exactly that arrogant.
That memory stoked another flame of anger in Lorenzo’s chest.
He exhaled sharply, voice low and warning.
“If she’s not here in the next five fucking minutes—”
A car pulled up suddenly, stopping just a few feet from them.
Lorenzo’s eyes narrowed as he glared at the familiar vehicle. Xander let out a relieved breath.
The window slid down just enough to reveal two people inside. Through the slight opening, he could see Astra sitting in the passenger seat, a man beside her. Both wore medical masks, hiding their faces except for their eyes. Astra also wore a cap.
Darren leaned close to Krystal, whispering quietly. “Even with our faces covered, do you think he’ll recognize you?”
“Shut it,” she hissed, straightening up. “Stop talking about it. As long as I make sure he doesn’t find out, then he won’t know a thing.” Her eyes flicked to Darren, voice low and determined. “This is finally my chance to take back those two years I wasted slaving after this Cactus.”
Darren’s eyes narrowed into a sly grin. She shifted her gaze back to Lorenzo.
The woman met his eyes, then toward the car door, pointing silently with her eyes.
Xander leaned closer to Lorenzo and whispered in a hushed, quick voice, “Mr. Moretti, I think she wants you to open the car door for her.”
Lorenzo shot Xander a hard glare. Xander immediately moved aside and muttered under his breath, “I didn’t ask you to open it. I’m just the messenger, sir.”
Lorenzo turned that same glare to the woman in the car. She just tilted her head, unfazed.
He gritted his teeth. ‘If it weren’t for Esther having no other option in this entire damn world, who would tolerate a woman like this?’
His fury boiled beneath the surface as he strode over and yanked the door open.
The woman behind the mask smirked, stepping out with casual confidence. Straight-leg jeans, a fitted blouse—simple but effortlessly feminine. She held a doctor’s bag, and Lorenzo reached to help, but she jerked it back sharply.
“We doctors don’t like it when people touch our things,” she said coldly. “So, Mr. Moretti, avoid touching me and my equipment.”
Lorenzo’s expression darkened further, the kind of lethal glare that could scorch anyone else if he weren’t forced to keep it in to save Esther.
Unbothered by his fury, the woman adjusted her shoulders, hiding a wide smile behind the mask, and strode past him with arrogant grace.
As she passed, her scent hit him like a memory crashing through the present.
A soft, familiar scent of roses—warm, haunting.
It wrapped around him before he could brace himself, stealing his breath and freezing him in place.
His eyes darted to her again. The scent, the way she moved—everything screamed familiarity. His body tensed instantly.
He spun around, muscles tightening. “Krystal?” he called out before he could stop himself.
She halted mid-step, spine stiffening.
Then she turned with an annoyed glare that burned through him. Her voice was cold, clipped. “Mr. Moretti, if you’ve lost your mind, get it checked by a shrink. Don’t go crazy in front of me. My name is Astra, not Krystal.”
His jaw tightened. “Sorry about that,” he muttered, eyes not leaving her face. “You just… really look like my wife.”
He stepped closer, like a moth pulled helplessly to the flame. His hand lifted slowly, almost unconsciously, fingers brushing the edge of her mask.
She smacked his hand down and stepped back with a sharp scoff. “Congratulations on having such a good-figured wife, Mr. Moretti. Not everyone gets someone as sexy as me.”
The playful venom in her voice snapped him out of whatever daze he’d slipped into.
Lorenzo’s softened gaze hardened like steel.
Krystal was always gentle, kind, quiet—never loud or arrogant like this woman. No way could this woman be Krystal. Not even close.
He slid his hands into his pockets, face hardening again. “That was a mistake,” he said, voice flat. “You’ll never be my wife.”
Behind the mask, Krystal fought back a snicker. She tilted her head slightly, mocking him without a word.
“Mr. Moretti,” she said, voice curt, professional now, “my time is precious. Stop wasting it and take me to the patient.”
Lorenzo’s glare could have burned the whole world down, but she didn’t even flinch, and that only made his blood boil hotter.
Xander, sensing the tension, quickly stepped in. “This way, Doctor Astra,” he stammered, guiding her toward the Moretti house.
She turned and followed him, and Lorenzo trailed close behind, dark thoughts running through his mind. How could someone be this similar to Krystal—the figure, the scent, everything—except for the personality?
Still, he pushed the thoughts aside and went inside.
“We’ll wait downstairs,” Xander said, opening the guest room door. “You can check on Ms. Esther and let me know if you need anything.”
She nodded without a word as Xander opened the door.
There she was—Esther, fragile and pale, her sickly eyes darkened and weak. As Astra entered, Esther coughed and sat up straighter, trying to seem stronger than she felt.
Astra’s eyes scanned Esther from head to toe. A soft sigh escaped her lips. “This is his type? Seriously?” she muttered under her breath, eyes narrowing. “He has a really poor taste. What did he even see in this drama queen to fall for her?”
But those thoughts stayed in her mind. Since Lorenzo wanted Esther, she’d give him what he deserved.
She set down her bag on the table, pulling out instruments and reports. Checking Esther’s pulse, then the x-rays. Finally, she examined Esther’s mouth, and her face grew grim.
Esther whispered in a fragile voice, “Doctor, do you think there’s any cure? Can I get better?”
“No,” Astra said flatly.
‘I knew it.’ A smug smile crept onto Esther’s face as relief washed over her. ‘What kind of special doctor is she? Just like the rest—useless. Jim was worrying for nothing, just like I thought.’
She coughed weakly and murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s alright. Don’t worry. No other doctor’s been able to help me either. It’s not a big deal.”
“That’s not the case,” Astra muttered as she packed up her things, placing each tool carefully back into her medical kit. Then she turned to Esther, her gaze cold. “Ms. Esther, I can’t treat you because you’re not sick.”
Esther blinked in confusion.
“You’ve been taking a drug that causes artificial clotting. If you stop now, you might still be able to save your life before it’s too late.”
With that, Astra turned on her heel and started toward the door.
Esther, who just seconds ago had been smug and self-assured, froze. Panic clawed at her chest as the realization hit—Astra had figured her out.
“Wait! Doctor Astra, wait!” Esther’s voice cracked as she shoved her blanket aside and scrambled off the bed, rushing after Astra.
She caught her arm, desperation bleeding from her voice.
“Please, don’t tell anyone. I’ll pay you whatever you want.
I don’t want Lorenzo or anyone else to know.
Just… keep this between us. I’ll make it worth your while. ”
Astra yanked her arm free, her expression ice-cold. “I don’t need your money. Please excuse me.”
And with that, she walked out of the room.
But barely a second later, Esther’s high-pitched scream tore through the hallway.
“Help! Someone help! This doctor’s trying to kill me!”