As Crystal Foster's fingers scrolled through the news, they trembled involuntarily. Even though the images were blurred, she could still make out how gruesome her death had been!
The next news item featured Hyland Riley. He was dressed in black, wearing a mourning band, and holding daisies as he paid his respects at her grave...
The police investigation concluded that after Mr. Lin's passing, Crystal couldn't handle the shock and jumped to her death. Hyland had tried to save her and even cut his hand on the glass.
Just a superficial wound, yet he managed to clear himself of any guilt!
Who would have thought that the person she shared her life with was a wolf in sheep's clothing?
Crystal felt dizzy, needing to steady herself against the counter. On the stove, the fruit tea was bubbling away. She took a moment to gather herself, turned off the heat, and poured the tea into a cup.
Her little one's room was on the second floor, facing east. When she opened the door, she saw the room filled with toy cars and planes, and Otto's bed was shaped like a Transformer Bumblebee.
"Mommy, cough, cough..."
The little one was leaning against the headboard, flipping through a picture book, and noticed Crystal as soon as she entered.
"How did you catch a cold?" Crystal asked as she walked to the bedside, placing the cup down and leaning over to feel his forehead. Thankfully, his temperature was normal, and he didn't have a fever.
"Mommy." Little Otto placed his tiny hand over Crystal Foster's, clinging to the rare warmth and care.
"Good boy, have some fruit tea. It'll help with your condition." Crystal gently pulled her hand away, holding the cup to her lips to cool it down, then used a small spoon to feed the sweet drink to Otto's rosy lips.
Since she had taken over Sylvia Byrne's body, Otto was now her child.
The butler, who had returned unexpectedly, froze at the scene in the room. His eyes widened in alarm. The master had strictly instructed that the lady must not get close to the young master!
Just as he was about to step forward, a man's long arm stopped him.
Turning, the butler saw the man beside him, who raised a finger to his lips, signaling for silence.
"Sir, this is..." The butler's scalp tingled with anxiety. Making such a mistake right under his nose could cost him his job.
Martin Riley gestured for him to leave, quietly watching the scene in the room. As the evening light poured in, the air seemed to glow with warmth.The woman was tenderly caring for the young boy, a harmony that had never been seen before...
Sylvia Byrne seemed different, no longer hysterical.
"Gulp, gulp."
Otto drank eagerly, the sweet taste spreading across his tongue and warming his heart. Before long, he had finished the entire cup of fruit tea.
"Good boy." Crystal Foster's affection for the child grew as she gently patted his bowl-cut hair, preparing to take the cup and leave.
"Mama!"
The little guy's eyes were filled with urgency as he tugged at her sleeve, his voice soft and pleading, "Mama, can you read a storybook to Otto?"
Crystal felt a pang of emotion and nodded firmly.
On the bedside table were a few children's storybooks. Crystal picked up one titled "Who's There?" and lay down beside the little one, opening the book to start reading: "The moon is out, it's time to say goodnight. Bang, thud, crash..."
Otto carefully snuggled closer to her. Her clothes had a pleasant scent, and her arms were soft, like resting on a cloud...
"I hear noises outside the door, clank, clank, click, click, creak... Who's there?"
Crystal read the story with focus, her voice rising and falling creating a mysterious atmosphere that captivated Otto. He realized how exciting a storybook could be when Mama read it!
As Hazel Morgan came upstairs, she was surprised to see a tall man leaning against the doorframe, as if he were watching a heartwarming movie. The usual sternness on his face had somehow melted away.
Hazel Morgan slowed her pace, trying to keep her high heels from clicking too loudly, and quietly stood behind him. Tilting her head, her curly chestnut hair falling over her shoulder, she followed his gaze.
Her heart skipped a beat. Martin Riley was looking at Sylvia Byrne? Weren't they in the middle of a divorce?
A strange scent wafted to her nose, snapping Martin back to reality. Suddenly, he found himself locking eyes with Hazel, only then realizing how long he had been standing outside the door.
"What are you doing here?" he asked instinctively, closing the door and turning to walk toward his study.
This subtle action didn't escape Hazel's notice. Her fingers curled, nails digging into her palm.
She followed him without a word, and a few seconds later, casually handed him a folder. "The acquisition proposal for tomorrow. Mr. Riley is a busy man, so I had to bring it myself."
As a business partner, Hazel was decisive and efficient, handling every detail. After years of working together, they knew each other well, and Martin didn't mind her teasing. He took the folder and said, "Since you're here, stay for dinner."
"Sure," she smiled, her eyes crinkling. "I can spend some time with Otto too."
Night quietly settled in.
Without realizing it, the little one beside her had already fallen asleep, breathing evenly, with a rosy, peach-like smile on his lips as he drifted into dreamland.
Crystal Foster hadn't heard Otto cough for a while, which gave her some relief. She tiptoed out of the room, gently setting down the storybook.
Back in her own bedroom, the divorce papers still lay silently on the coffee table. In two weeks, how could she possibly convince Martin Riley to reconsider the divorce?
As she sat there, troubled, a sudden cry came from the east side of the second floor, "Otto! Otto, what's wrong?"