Chapter 35 Forced Into a Dead End Seeing Crystal frozen in place , Anna , with her face drained of blood , urgently repeated , " Your father tried to end his life inside ! He has been saved , but he is not doing well ! I'm begging you , Crystal . You have to find a way to let me see him ! He has always had poor health . This is too big a blow for him ! " Anna swiftly covered her face and cried her heart out . Crystal's heart was in turmoil . She didn't want to believe that her father , who was as strong as a mountain, would try to end his life . He was fine when I saw him the other day ! She immediately called Jake , begging him to arrange for them to meet John . Jake had also received news about John's attempt . In fact , he was just about to discuss it with Crystal after he invited her over to the law firm . Crystal kept comforting Anna . Soon , the two of them went to the law firm without even having breakfast . Jake had a solemn expression when he made a few calls in front of Crystal and Anna . He eventually put down his phone while he shook his head and told them , " He is fine now , but he can't be released on bail . He has to be treated in jail ." Because of Seth , Jake tactfully added , " Crystal , your father's case involves the Sloan Group . How about you … talk to Mr. Sloan and see if there's anything else he can do ? " Mr. Sloan … Robert Sloan ! Crystal closed her eyes painfully . I should have guessed that it was his doing ! He has done so many outrageous things just to force me to go back to him . But how can I do that ? I'll be giving Dad a heart attack if he knows that I became someone's mistress by the time he gets out of jail ! However , she refused to not do anything about it . What will happen to Dad and Aunt Anna ? Will our family really be ruined ? She numbly sat there as thoughts filled her head . Jake's heart broke when he saw her state . He took a glass of warm water for her and suggested in a soft voice , " How about you talk to Henry about this ? I heard from Seth that you and Henry have gotten very close ." Crystal felt like a needle was poking at her heart upon hearing those words . It was a pain that spread everywhere . Jake had been there before . He continued to speak in a reassuring voice , " Henry is not as unfriendly as you may think he is . He was even here a few days ago to take- " He suddenly stopped when he remembered what Henry told him . She would be disappointed if Henry changed his mind . Crystal nodded after hearing his advice . With her phone in her hand , she walked out and began to hesitate whether she should call Henry . But I rejected him just last night . Will he listen to me if I call him now ? She had no confidence things would work out . But for her father's sake , she still summoned up the courage to call him … only for the call to not go 1/2 Chapter 35 Forced Into a Dead End through . Henry had turned off his phone . +5 Bonus Crystal couldn't help feeling somewhat hopeless . I can't face Aunt Anna . Wait … Where did Aunt Anna go ? Crystal thought Anna had gone to the bathroom , but she couldn't find the older woman even after she looked around . Starting to feel uneasy , she called Anna's phone . " Pick up the phone … Please pick up the phone … " she muttered . The call did go through , but no one picked up the phone . Suddenly remembering something , Crystal dashed into the elevator and repeatedly pressed a button in the elevator . She was shaking all over as she stood in that enclosed space . Aunt Anna … Please don't do something you will regret . Please don't … Still , she was one step too late . The president's office of the Sloan Group was already a mess by the time she arrived . Robert was leaning against the mahogany desk with his hands covering his abdomen as blood steadily seeped through his fingers . It was a frightening sight indeed . Anna , on the other hand , tightly held onto a fruit knife . She seemed to be in a trance as she muttered non- stop in a way no one could make out what she was saying . Crystal's voice trembled as she called out , " Aunt Anna ! " Anna was staring ahead as she mumbled , " If I kill Robert , he won't hurt John and you anymore … Crystal , I told you way back then that he is not suitable for you ." Crystal's face was covered in tears . She gently hugged Anna and choked out , " Don't be scared , Aunt Anna … I'm here ! " The wound Robert was pressing down on was still bleeding profusely . The secretary wanted to give his wound some basic treatment , but Robert pushed the secretary away and turned to Crystal . " Can't you see me bleeding ? " he enunciated slowly . " Crystal Winters , you don't care if I live or die , do you ? " 2/2