Chapter 173: Chapter 173

Chapter 173 Identity Reveal Henry only returned to the condominium in the early morning.

As he drove home, he noticed a white BMW parked by the road.

Several people were loitering around and taking pictures, which he did not find strange. However, Henry’s heart skipped a beat when he saw the car plate number.

That’s Crystal’s car....

He stopped his car and quickly made his way across the road.

The bonnet of the white BMW was opened, exposing the car’s engine to the rain for the entire night.

The driver’s seat door stood wide open, allowing the rain to splatter inside the car. Resting on the seat was a woman’s purse, drenched in rainwater.

The onlookers engaged in a noisy discussion.

“Whose car is it? Why was it abandoned by the road?”

“I wonder too. Do you think the car owner might have committed suicide?”

“Both the car and the owner are gone. What a pity!”

Henry stood frozen in place, his breath momentarily suspended as he attempted to comprehend the unfolding situation.

Stiffly, he reached for his phone and realized it was switched off.

As he took out Crystal’s purse and closed the car door, someone in the crowd shouted, “Hey, why are you taking someone else’s stuff?”

Henry’s voice was tense. “This is my girlfriend’s car!”

The crowd looked at him as if he was a heartless jerk who hurt his girlfriend.

Henry hurriedly returned to his car and charged his phone. He immediately called Crystal once his phone was switched on.

The phone rang for about twenty seconds before Crystal answered it.

Crystal sounded exhausted. “Henry, let’s talk about our affairs some other day.”

With that, she hung up the phone.

Henry frowned, guessing she must still be mad at him.

He was willing to condone her behavior and decided to head back for a shower before going to her condominium to make amends with a perfect Valentine’s Day celebration.

Crystal was a gem, so he was not willing to give up on this relationship just yet.

Henry made another call to Jamie, instructing her to tow Crystal’s car away. He then drove back to his condominium.

Crystal was, as expected, not around. The room was slightly messy with a small suitcase left open on the bed, as if someone was packing halfway but, for some reason, left without finishing.

Henry looked at it quietly for a while before heading to the bathroom.

After he finished showering, he was about to take a rest on the bed when Melora called.

Exhausted, Henry asked impatiently. “What’s the matter. Melora?”

Melora was sobbing on the other end of the phone. “Henry, did you know Crystal’s father passed away?”

Henry’s eyes snapped open when he heard that. His mind went blank for a split second, and he finally understood why Crystal had left the suitcase behind, why her car broke down by the road, and why she was so exhausted that she couldn’t be bothered to confront him about what happened the night before.

It was because her father passed away.

Just how much pain did she go through last night?

Henry’s face was slowly drained of all color. He had a feeling that his relationship with Crystal was reaching a point of no return.

Henry rushed to the hospital.

The Winterses were still there, along with a few relatives and friends.

They were in the process of settling John’s funeral and burial matters. Crystal, decked in black with a small- white flower pinned on her chest, sat in a wheelchair.

She seemed to have lost a lot of weight. Her face, already small, looked thinner and sharper.

As Henry approached Crystal, she only glanced at him silently. She did not display any emotions.

Seth was the first to lose control. He grabbed Henry’s shirt collar tightly and shouted at him, “The audacity of you to appear here!

Where were you when Crystal was helpless and needed you? Drop the act and stop pretending that you care!”

He lowered his voice and gritted his teeth as he continued. “I told you long ago; if you won’t cherish her, I’ll do it for you!”

Henry pushed Seth away without responding to him.

Seth refused to let him go just like that and attempted to give him a beating.

The thought of Crystal’s pitiful state the night before caused tears to well in his eyes. A wonderful girl like Crystal should be cherished and loved. Henry’s such a jerk!

Seth was about to punch Henry in the face when Crystal stopped him.

Henry looked at Crystal’s pale face and felt the urge to hug her.

He was about to reach out to her when she rejected him with a hand gesture.

She said to Henry politely, “It is thanks to you, Mr. Miller, that my father had his name cleared before he passed away. Thank you very much for dropping by to pay respects to my father.”

Henry was taken aback by her words.

He believed their relationship had reached a point where marriage was being discussed. Not long ago, she even affectionately called him “Henry” when he hugged her.

However, now she addressed him as “Mr. Miller,” treating him like a complete stranger.

The way she addressed him struck his nerve.

He was frustrated but chose to keep his emotions in check out of respect for John.

Henry remained there instead of leaving.

Crystal did not chase him away, but she refused to let him help either and merely treated him as a guest. Meanwhile, Seth and the Winters family’s distant relatives were busy handling the funeral matters.

All this while, Crystal remained in the wheelchair, unable to do much.

Early in the morning the next day, John was to be buried at a cemetery up in the mountain. Crystal held her father’s portrait in her arms.

Anna broke down and started wailing loudly.

Crystal embraced her. It’s just you and me now, Madam Anna.

A solemn atmosphere filled the cemetery.

News of John’s passing spread quickly, and many came to pay their respects, regardless of whether they were connected to him.

Jake came with Sophia. Robert came as well.

Even David and Julia came, along with Melora. The Millers’ intention was clear; they still wanted Crystal to be their daughter-in-

law.

Despite her grief, Anna did not forget to ask what Crystal thought about the Millers’ appearance.

Crystal calmly responded, “Since they’re here, let them offer some flowers as a blessing for Dad.”

Anna did not know what happened between Crystal and Henry, but she understood it was no longer possible for them to be together. Thus, she treated the Millers the same way as she would any other normal guest.

The sky was dark and gloomy during John’s burial.

His ashes were buried beside Krystal’s graveyard. Another empty spot beside them was reserved for Anna, As Anna watched the grave being covered with stone tiles, tears streamed down her face, and she couldn’t help but sob.

“Krystal, you’re finally reunited with John. Do take good care of each other.”

Don’t worry about Crystal. I’ll take good care of her.

Crystal hugged the older woman tightly, consoling her.

At that moment, a slender figure strode toward them from far away.

That person was dressed elegantly, exuding an extraordinary aura.

He was none other than Joshua.

+5 Bonus After finding out about Audrey’s doings and Crystal’s breakup with Henry, he came to pay his respects to John and seek forgiveness for the Quinn family’s sins.

Crystal did not stop him and instead said, “We welcome you here.”

Joshua was about to place a white rose before the tombstone when his eyes suddenly widened in shock.

He noticed a familiar face on the tombstone beside John’s. The woman in the picture wore a wide smile. She was none other than his first love and the woman he had been pining for-Krystal.

Below the picture were some words: In loving memory of my dear wife, Krystal Lodge. – John Winters Joshua froze, unable to react.

He could not believe what he saw and kept repeating Krystal’s name.

“Krystal... Why are you here?” Joshua muttered to himself.

He practically threw himself at Krystal’s tombstone in front of everyone present, running his trembling fingers across Krystal’s photo as he examined it closely Yes, this is my Krystal! There’s no doubt about it!

She became someone else’s wife. I can’t believe she actually married John!

A sudden realization hit Joshua, and he turned to look at Crystal.

After calculating Crystal’s age and entertaining the possibility that she could really be his long-lost daughter, he saw his younger self in her eyes.

Crystal might be the daughter I had with Krystal! And I’m the monster who pushed her into hell! I’ve even hoped Audrey could get back together with Henry again after her divorce.

Unable to accept the shocking revelation, Joshua coughed up a mouthful of blood.