Chapter 16: What’s The Difference?

The Henry household lived in an independent villa with a big courtyard, and when Crystal arrived, the European-style patterned iron door was tightly closed to her. After taking a deep breath, Crystal put her hand on the doorbell, but before she actually pressed it, she found herself hesitating. Το press it or not to press it, that was the question. She would not be here except for the fact that her father had said that her mother had left something important for her.

None of the people living inside the villa had a good relationship with her. Her father hadn’t even picked her up after her mother died. Her Stepmother, Jessica, had been the reason why her father had abandoned her and her Mother. Her half-sister Joyce had stolen her boyfriend, and Evan was Jessica’s son from her first marriage, so they weren’t even related by blood. Out of all of them, she hated Evan the least. That being said, behind his golden frame glasses, she thought she saw the eyes of a venomous snake.

Lucy, the housekeeper, happened to be taking out the trash, and when she saw Crystal, she said, “Oh, look! You’re here!” She finished her task, walked over to the gate, and after giving Crystal a once over with her eyes, she said, “My poor child. You look thinner than ever. You should eat more and take better care of yourself.”

Lucy had worked for the Henry household for almost twenty years, so she knew everything there was to know about their family, and she felt sorry for Crystal, so much so that when Crystal’s Mother had passed away, her heart had nearly broken for the poor girl. “Did you come here to see your Father?” She asked.

“No,” Crystal replied meekly. “I was just passing by…”

Lucy looked at Crystal curiously and said, “Are you sure about that? Master Evan said that you would be stopping by today to collect something that was left here by your Mother... and here you are!”.

Crystal sighed and said, “Never mind. I doubt it’s important...”

Lucy: “You’re here already, you may as well

take it with you - whatever it is. Don’t you think so?”

Jessica came around the corner just then. She said, “Well, lookee here, our wild child has returned. Fancy that!” and Lucy and Crystal turned their heads in her direction.

Jessica was a delicately dressed woman with neatly permed hair. She had a crazy obsession with evening dresses. Even at home and at all hours of the day, she wore evening dresses. She was always magnificently decked out as if she were a queen that was about to attend a banquet.

She was the complete opposite of Crystal’s mother, Elsa, who had always been unkempt. Thus, every time she saw Jessica, she somewhat understood why her father had abandoned her mother and her.

After receiving no response from Crystal, Jessica became annoyed. She puckered her scarlet lips and went on provoking Crystal. She smirked at the poor girl and said, “I heard that your Mother left her legacy to some gigolo. You. must be here to ask your father for money!” Jessica laughed with scorn as she opened the gate.

Jessica led Crystal across the lawn and into the house. Crystal hadn’t originally intended to go in, but now that Jessica had inserted herself into the equation, she felt like she had no choice. As they walked, Crystal began to smile as a thought occurred to her. She looked at the back of Jessica’s head and said, “You’re right. I’ve run out of money, and I was hoping that my father would help me... and I think that he will. After all, he recently said that he wants to leave the Henry Group to his three children when he dies. He said that he hopes that one day we will find a way to get along.

“Does it bother you to know that he doesn’t plan on leaving you anything?”

When Jessica heard these words, she faltered and nearly tripped over her own feet.. She turned and scowled at Crystal. “Bullshit!” she hissed. “Mark my words: Not a single dime will fall into your hands!”

Crystal laughed and said, “Don’t be so sure. I am, after all, his biological daughter.”

“You have some nerve to come into my house and talk to me like this!” Jessica shouted. “What a sharp tone! One day, I’ll tear your mouth apart, you... you... motherless.... wild child!”

A motherless wild child? - Crystal couldn’t believe that Jessica had gone there. Crystal didn’t think that it was nice to speak ill of others, especially if they were dead. That being said, she didn’t want to escalate the situation, so she kept her mouth closed and allowed it. Jessica led her into the living room, where Carlos and Joyce were. They were sitting on the sofa flirtatiously, kissing each other as if no one was present.

Joyce was sitting on Carlos’ legs, facing him, with her long, white legs exposed. She wiggled her waist coquettishly and moaned shamelessly.

Crystal put on a pair of slippers and stomped on the floor to get their attention, but they didn’t care that she was there. After a moment, Joyce glanced at Crystal triumphantly and began to exaggerate her movements and the sound of her satisfaction. When it became apparent to Crystal that they would not stop, she took out her mobile phone. Then, she opened her Instagram account so that she could send a voice message to her friend. Serenity: “Serenity,” she said, “do you know the difference between humans and animals?”

Serenity: “What’s the difference?”

Crystal: “Humans know how to choose the right places to make love. As for animals, they can copulate anytime and anywhere.”

Serenity: “Ha-ha! That’s a fabulous speech!”

Don’t tell me; - you’re referring to that scumbag, Carlos, and that bitch, Joyce, aren’t you?”

Instead of sending a verbal response, Crystal sent her friend two Thumb Up emojis.

Carlos didn’t even look at Crystal, so Joyce’s slut face and the back of his cheating head were all she could see. It’s like High School all over again - Crystal thought wearily.