Chapter 18 A Walking Time Bomb #2
Lorenzo’s brow creased. He glanced down at his phone, then at Xander, suspicion flaring in his eyes. “Did she finally come to her senses? What did she text you? Did she say she needs help?”
“No, sir. It’s… the social sites,” Xander said, voice still tense.
Lorenzo immediately swiped through his phone and opened the trending feed.
‘Stabbing girl turns out to be a renowned medical doctor.’
‘Accused woman, blamed for performing an ego-driven surgery on her attacker, revealed to have international medical degrees and awards.’
‘The woman who was mocked for stitching up her attacker turns out to be Astra—the anonymous world renowned doctor known for treating impossible cases.’
Lorenzo’s phone trembled in his hand. His chest tightened. He nearly dropped the device.
“Krystal… is Astra?” His voice came out low, deadly quiet. His gaze lifted, piercing Xander. “Krystal is Astra ? The woman who’s been treating Esther?”
“It... it seems so, Mr. Moretti,” Xander stammered. “I’m not a hundred percent certain yet, but everything points to it.”
Lorenzo exploded. “Then what the hell are you waiting for?! Go confirm it!”
Xander spun around, typing furiously on his phone to verify the online reports.
Lorenzo paced like a caged beast, chest rising and falling in tight, angry breaths. His eyes burned with betrayal.
“Krystal Moretti!” he roared, slamming his fist on the hood of the car. “Just how many things are you hiding from me?”
He turned sharply toward Xander, eyes blazing. “‘Wait till it gets worse?’ That’s what you said, right?”
Xander flinched, avoiding his gaze.
Lorenzo’s fist lifted again, and Xander reflexively backed away with a nervous, awkward laugh. “M-Mr. Moretti, my intentions were good! Please understand…”
***
“Why would you reveal it?!” Krystal cried as she threw herself face-first into the couch pillow. Then she grabbed it and flung it straight at Darren. “Why?! I told you I didn’t want to reveal anything!”
Darren ducked, dodging the pillow just in time.
“Have you even seen the socials?” he shot back.
“You wouldn’t have made it out of the house without someone throwing stones at you.
People were pissed. I couldn’t stay quiet any longer—they were spitting so much crap about you!
You were getting dragged through the mud. It had to come out.”
Krystal groaned, pushing off the couch and pacing restlessly. “If I wanted to tell the world, I would’ve done it myself. But you went ahead and exposed everything! Now the whole damn world knows.”
Kara slammed her coffee cup on the counter and marched toward her. “Why are you even hiding in the first place? Things have already blown up. And you’re still worried about keeping secrets?”
Krystal gave her a cold, pointed look. “What would you do if you found out your husband had been lying to you for the past two years, and your entire marriage was built on a lie?”
“I’d skin him alive,” Kara said without missing a beat, a dry chuckle in her tone.
But when she saw Krystal’s expression, the humor vanished.
Kara’s eyes widened. “Wait—oh my God. You haven’t told him yet?! That you married him just to treat his illness? He still thinks you're some full-time housewife who never even finished school?”
Krystal didn’t answer.
Kara stared. “Girl, you’re a walking time bomb. When he finds out, he’ll come for your throat.”
“I need to disappear before he finds me,” Krystal muttered, spinning to face Darren. “Book flights. We’re disappearing tonight!”
***
Across town, sharp, heavy knocks pounded on the door of a modest apartment in a quiet middle-class building. The echo bounced down the hallway until the door swung open.
Lorenzo stood outside a nondescript flat, fists tight, jaw ticking.
The door opened.
“Krysta—”
Lorenzo was already halfway through stepping inside when he froze.
A large, burly man stood in the doorway, eyes narrowed, face tight with annoyance. “What?!”
“Hi. Good day, sir,” Xander said politely, stepping forward. “May I ask who you are? We’re looking for the woman who lives here.”
“I’ve been living here for over three years. What woman?” the man snapped, then slammed the door shut in their faces.
Lorenzo turned to Xander, his face like thunder.
Xander looked shaken but explained quickly. “This is the only address listed under her name, Mr. Moretti.”
Lorenzo’s jaw clenched so hard it ached. He turned away from the door, letting out a sharp growl.
“This damn woman’s going to make me kill someone,” he muttered under his breath.
Straightening, he rolled his shoulders back and looked around the hallway, tension crackling off him.
“You lied so much, Krystal,” he muttered to himself. “And still, you managed to hide so damn well?”
***
“Are you ready to leave?” Darren asked, dragging his suitcase into the living room.
“Yeah. Grab the passports from the table,” Krystal called out, rolling her packed suitcase behind her.
“Let’s go,” Darren muttered, grabbing his phone and the passports, and heading out the door.
Krystal followed silently.
The door of the flat slammed shut behind them.
Just then, her phone started ringing in her hand. She glanced down at the screen.
“Why is Damion calling me at this hour?” she mumbled in confusion. Curious, she answered it right away.
“Hello?”
“So you do pick up the damn phone. You only blocked me, huh?”
The growl on the other end was deep and furious—seething like fire barely contained.
Krystal flinched, almost dropping the phone. She quickly glanced at Xander, worry flashing in her eyes, then stiffened in frustration. "Why is it you? Where’s Damion?"
"I’ve called you over and over, and you don’t answer. But he calls, and you pick up in seconds?" Lorenzo snarled, his voice like a seething bark.
Her grip tightened around the suitcase. She took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “Lorenzo, what are you doing? How did you get Damion’s phone?”
“You need to stop talking about him in the next five fucking seconds,” he growled. “Or I’ll make sure you forget his damn name for as long as I fucking live on this damn earth.”
So many curses in one breath.
He was enraged .