Chapter 24

Glass shattered as people ran away, desperately searching for an escape. Someone had managed to call the cops while a guard tried turning the power back on.

Andrew called out for Christiana but couldn't hear her respond. The lights flickered back on and behold, Christiana had fallen to her knees with a scratch on her wrist. The bullet had grazed past her and, if she hadn't moved her head away before, it'd have hit her. She lost her mind as she crumbled to the floor after that. She was sure it wasn't random; it was an attempt on her life. She started to panic and began trembling, terrified over what just happened.

"Christiana! Baby, talk to me." Andy had squatted down, trying to shake her from her fright, but she was too dazed to hear anything.

"It's fine now. It's alright." He wrapped his arms around her and saw the scratch on her wrist. With fear, he searched her entire body looking for more wounds, but saw none.

"Were you almost hit?" he asked. She didn't reply. "It's alright," he consoled.

The police arrived a few minutes later, asking questions and examining the place. From the one gunshot the angle from where the sniper had shot from, it was obvious that the main goal was to kill Christiana. For investigative purposes, she was asked to go to the station, but she was still too shaken up to provide any use. Andrew told the officer to give her some space and that they'd go to the station after she was taken to the hospital and rested a bit. At the hospital, the doctor confirmed that Christiana was alright. Though she was still in shock, she'd get over it with time.

Christiana rested on the king-sized bed in their room as she began to sob. She had known this would happen, but she wasn't sure if they were empty threats or real. Fear that she might have been shot if she hadn't been pushed. She didn't want to think this had to do with Emerald, but she couldn't help it.

She heard a knock on the door, and it opened to reveal John. He walked in with a sympathetic expression, upset to see his best friend this way. He wondered who she had offended.

"Christy," he called in a whisper, gently sitting down on the bed close to her. "It's alright, no one's gonna hurt you." He pecked her on her forehead, and she cried harder.

"Who do you think wants to hurt you?" he asked. Christiana couldn't reply as she sobbed violently. John knew the gunshot the other day had a huge impact on Christiana. She wouldn't say anything and seemed distant.

"Tell me, Christy. I'm here for you. I hate seeing you this way," he begged. It hurt seeing her speechless. Christiana was hardly ever quiet.

John had left Christiana's room after chatting and getting her to laugh and smile. Christiana felt the urge to distract herself, so she jumped out of bed. The door suddenly opened. She turned, thinking it was John again only to be met with Emerald's smug grin.

"Well, well, well," she drawled, moving dangerously close to Christiana. The victim was shocked as she slowly froze in her spot. She started to tremble. She knew who wanted to kill her, it was obvious now that they had almost shot her.

"You survived ..." Emerald trailed off. "But not for long, my dear. The ultimatum still stands ... do you want that or your death?"

Christiana began breathing heavy, slowly moving back as Emerald advanced forward.

"When I said my son would never marry you, I meant it. He belongs to a woman the same status as himself, not a peasant like you. Stay away," she warned.

"There won't just be a scratch next time. Quietly leave America or the next call you get from Switzerland will be for the death of your father."

Christiana snapped back to reality, tears streaming down her face. She knew she had to make a drastic decision or else she's doomed. She thought of Andrew, she was smitten with him. The thought of him getting married to another or how he'd cope without her ...

It took her an hour to make her final decision. But before she left, she needed to do something.

Andrew came back and was overjoyed to see that Christiana was back to her normal self.

"Let's take a stroll," she tells him, giggling. She was dressed in black leather pants and a red crop top.

"It's been long we hung out together, just me and you casually walking on the street happily," Christiana said and Andrew smiled.

They were walking on the street in New York hand in hand. "It feels so nice. I missed this," Andrew sighed.

"How are you, Christiana? I know the incident that happened two days ago still mortifies you but it's fine. You have your Andy with you," Andrew said to her, pulling her closer to him.

"I'm fine. I will be fine for sure,” she said as she halted.

"What's wrong? Why did you stop?" Andrew asked her and she shrugged.

"I love you."

Andrew smiled as his heart fluttered. It wasn't the first time she’d said it, but it felt like magic all over again. "I love you, my baby." He replied to her.

That night they talked, played, and made new memories. Christiana kissed Andrew with so much passion, as if she could not get enough of him as soon as they entered the room.

Andrew smiled in-between the kiss, "You are always on fire every day, wild cat you caught me off guard," he said as she kissed him.

"I want you," she said huskily.

"Then have me," he said to her, letting her take the lead as she kissed him while standing on her tippy toes.

She was the one dominating this time around which shook Andy. He was loving how fierce she was starting to become when they were making out and he let her. She unbuttoned his shirt in am haste as Andy watched in amusement.

The smile never left his face as he watched her unbuckled his belt in a haste. "Someone is horny I see," he said to her but she only chuckled.

She cupped his face in her hands and she whispered to him, "Make Love to me." That was all Andrew needed to hear to make him loose like a raging lion. Unbeknownst to Andy of what was in store for the future, they made love that night. He was truly happy for the first time since he came to America. He smiled holding onto her tightly.

Andrew woke up in the middle of the night. He felt the side of the bed where Christiana slept, it was cold as if she had been up for a long time. Baffled, he looked out through the balcony, but couldn't find her. He thought maybe she had gone out and would be back soon, so he waited patiently for her.

When he came out of the bathroom with a towel on his head which he uses to dry his hair, he saw a white piece of paper and curiosity got the best of him.

He walked towards the paper and then he saw Christiana's handwriting.

Then he saw that the letter was addressed to him.

Dear Andrew My love, my heart, my baby.

I'm sorry I made this decision without letting you know, but I need you to know I am safe and happy.

Please don't try to find me. Forget me.

Christiana.

His heart was torn. She had left him. She left him with no reason and that broke him.