Chapter 38

Chapter 38 Liam's POV My phone rang again. I looked at the caller. Dammit! The same caller with seven missed calls. "Aren't you going to answer your phone?" Crystal asked, with her eyebrows slightly raised. "It's not important." I gave her an assuring smile. I held back from adding that what we have at that moment was more important. I muted my phone so we would not be disturbed. "Thank you for this wonderful meal, Liam, but I really have to go. You're a very busy guy, and many people are waiting for you. I think you should return that call." She gave me a smile that made my heart stop, then immediately stood up. Before I could stop her and ask if we could spend the day together, her nieces arrived, inviting her to join them at the spa. I had no choice but to let her go. I spent the rest of the morning in the room that I occupied—a small room intended for staff meetings that was turned into a temporary bedroom, while I had Crystal use my area in the house. I have been thinking deeply about Crystal. My ulterior motive was revenge, but everything backfired at me now. I was so heartbroken about Crystal's betrayal, and it took me a long time to move on. I learned to hate her so much and used it as my motivation to study harder, work harder, and strive to be the best that I could be. So odd to know that I became successful because of that hate. I swore that someday I would show her what she had lost. I would be very successful in my field. She would live in regret for doing what she did to me and come begging on her knees for forgiveness. But things did not go as planned. Crystal Petrakis was a very proud woman. She avoided me like I had a contagious disease. She also moved on easily, dating many guys and even got involved in serious relationships. I was so pathetic, keeping a tab on her actions for many years. She was very happy while I still sulked, was miserable, and could not move on. I could not understand myself. There were too many women out there who were fishing for my attention, but Crystal was like a tick in my bloodstream that I could not get rid of. I decided to buy the island and build our vacation house. Maybe that would make me feel at easefor the time being. I could dispose of it anytime when I come to my senses. The biggest blow was when I learned about her engagement early this week. I was on my way to prepare for an open-heart surgery on a six-year-old girl when Crystal's father, Eros Petrakis, dropped by in the hospital. He delivered himself the signed documents of his additional investments for our cancer vaccine project. "Thank you for this. Your investment would go a long way in this project." I said to Mr. Petrakis. "I've always wanted to get involved in major health projects. It's my way of helping the people in the community." I smiled with satisfaction. "The whole world would benefit from the vaccine, Mr. Petrakis. Thank you so much for believing in us." "Just tell me if you need more help. Okay?" He stood up and extended his hand for a handshake. "Sure." I also stood up and shook his hand briefly. Mr. Petrakis turned to leave, but suddenly stopped and faced me again. "By the way, Crystal is engaged to her artist boyfriend. They're getting married very soon, and you're invited." He left while I stood frozen staring at the closed door. She's going to marry Billy? When I learned about them dating, I was so furious. It was a coincidence that the two people I came to hate met and fell in love. I thought that whatever they had would not flourish. Billy was a certified fuck boy, he chased anyone who wore skirts. Crystal would find out right away. And now, knowing that they were engaged came as a total shock. Though I hated Crystal, I did not want her to end up with Billy. Over my dead body. Billy was a bully. He always made Josh's life miserable since grade school. He was a contributing factor to Josh's very low self-esteem. I was so bothered while I performed the surgery. My hands were trembling while I tried to focus on the operation. My heart felt so heavy, like I was carrying a load of steel. After six hours of operation, I sunk on the floor and suddenly felt too tired to move. I called Alessandro and told her about Crystal's engagement. "I have a plan." I said to him. "Tell me about it, and I'll have it executed perfectly. Don't be bothered, just do your thing there." Alessandro assured me. He knew how critical my job was, every operation was a life and death situation. I told him about my plan, and he agreed. ___ The moment I saw Crystal on the island, all my plans drifted away. I was back being a lovestruck teenage boy again. She was stunningly beautiful standing there at the beach shore. She had a beautiful face. Her facial bones were delicately carved, her lips full and rounded over even teeth. She had a pretty Grecian nose, and her lashes swept down across her cheekbones. Her body was to die for. She had a seductive body with firm, high-perched breasts. Her skin was like peach-tinted cream and her long dark brown hair tumbled carelessly down her back. I tried to deny the physical attraction I felt for her. I was very defensive and mocked her in every possible way. I knew I acted so rude and like an idiot. I was so bothered that I needed to see her and apologize. ___ It was my plan to invite the Petrakis to my island, especially Crystal. To make her see that I built our dream vacation house. Everything was intentional to remind her of our past. The flower claypot in the balcony, the beach house painting, the colors of the walls and floor, and the Arabian chocolate gift box. I made up my explanations so she would look pitiful and guilty. Suddenly, I was torn between hating her...and liking her again. At the back of my mind, I was driven to forget the past and start anew. We were young and did stupid things. That was only a kiss for heaven's sake, they did not even have sex. I was confused. I did not know what I wanted anymore. The words echoed from the past, again and again in my head. "Would you like to live there with me someday?" I asked her. "Of course. Wherever you go, I'll go." She answered, her eyes gleamed with excitement. "Then let's make this our dream together." ___ I succeeded with my plan. With the help of Alessandro, Yuri, and Yuri's friend, we threw Billy or Scott out of the island. It did not take long for him to show his true color. According to Yuri, they were still in the yacht on the way to the island when Billy started flirting with the girls. What happened afterwards shocked me most. It never occurred to me that Crystal was the girl I rescued in the woods. I didn't think she was asthmatic. She also looked different at that time. If only we talked about it, things would have been different between us. Knowing that Josh pretended to be me in front of Crystal brought disappointment. What came over him to do that? I told him about the incident and he took advantage of it. He should have informed me that Crystal was the girl that I had been looking for for too long. I let out an exasperated sigh. But I could not hate Josh. I had my own guilt feeling also. I let him down as my best friend. I should have been there to listen to him at his lowest moment. He was not even able to tell me that his parents were filing for divorce. That could be the main reason why he was so upset and drove his car really fast. Crystal's explanation about Alice made sense now. She was right in every angle, and I could not find any fault. For years, I believed Alice's lies and that must have hurt Crystal a lot. All pleasure suddenly left me. I felt so devastated.