The Valentine that changed everything

Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Beneath the Surface

The sound of the car’s engine hums in the background as I sit in the passenger seat, staring out the window at the city lights blurring by. Roy hasn’t said a word since we left the gala, and for a moment, I’m thankful for the silence. My thoughts are a tangled mess—Warren’s angry face, Clara’s smug smile, and the sudden, overwhelming weight of my decision to drag Roy into this mess.

“You’re not okay, Crystal,” Roy finally says, his voice breaking the silence.

I glance at him, his profile sharp in the glow of the streetlights. “I’m fine.” The words come out too quickly, almost too defensively. I’m not fine, but I don’t know how to explain what’s going on inside my head.

He doesn’t respond immediately, but I can feel his eyes on me, watching me carefully. “You know you don’t have to do this,” he says quietly. “You don’t have to keep pretending.”

“Pretending?” I scoff, turning to face him fully. “I’m not pretending anything.”

He raises an eyebrow but doesn’t push me further. Instead, he focuses back on the road. “If you say so.”

I hate the way he makes me feel like he can see right through me, like I’m an open book.

“Where are we going?” I ask, trying to change the subject, desperate for something to break the tension.

“You need a place to stay for the night. I know a hotel nearby,” Roy answers, his voice still calm but distant.

“I’m fine. I’ll go back to my apartment,” I insist.

“Not happening.”

I look at him sharply. “Why not?”

“Because it’s not safe,” Roy replies, his voice hardening slightly. “You’re not staying alone tonight. Not after what just happened.”

I open my mouth to argue but close it again. The truth is, I’m not sure where I want to be right now. Part of me wants to curl up in my apartment and drown out everything with sleep, but another part of me feels like I’m sinking into quicksand, and I need someone to pull me out.

The car pulls into a parking lot, and Roy turns off the engine. “We’re here.”

I don’t argue. He’s right. I don’t feel like being alone.

We step out of the car and head inside the sleek, modern hotel. The lobby is bright, with polished marble floors and high ceilings. The receptionist gives us a polite smile, but I can see the curious glance she throws toward Roy. I have a feeling he’s used to that kind of attention.

“Two keys, please,” Roy says smoothly, flashing a smile that makes the receptionist’s eyes widen slightly.

“Of course, Mr. Reed,” she says, typing quickly on her keyboard before handing over the keys.

We make our way to the elevator, and as soon as the doors close, I let out a sigh.

“You’re tense,” Roy observes, his voice softer now.

I cross my arms, trying to suppress the emotions threatening to bubble over. “You don’t know me, Roy.”

He doesn’t respond right away, but I can feel his gaze on me. “I don’t need to know you to see you’re not okay.”

The elevator dings as it reaches the top floor, and we step out into a plush hallway. Roy leads me to a room at the end, his hand on the door handle before turning to me.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks.

I glance at the door, feeling both relieved and nervous. “I don’t even know what to say.”

Roy steps aside, holding the door open for me. “You don’t have to say anything. You just have to breathe.”

I hesitate, then step inside. The room is breathtaking—large windows offer a stunning view of the city skyline, and the king-sized bed looks impossibly soft.

“Wow,” I breathe, glancing around.

“It’s nothing special,” Roy says, his voice unreadable.

I raise an eyebrow. “Nothing special? This place is incredible.”

He shrugs, walking over to the minibar and pouring himself a drink. “It’s a place to sleep.”

I sink into the plush chair by the window, my mind still racing. “What do you think Warren was trying to do back there?”

Roy pauses, his eyes meeting mine as he takes a sip. “He was testing you.”

“Testing me?” I repeat, confused.

“Yeah,” he says. “He’s trying to see how much you’ll let him control you.”

“Control me?” I laugh bitterly. “He can’t control me. Not anymore.”

“You sure about that?” Roy asks, his voice low.

I stiffen, feeling a strange shift in the air between us. “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” Roy says, placing his glass down and taking a step closer, “you’re letting him get to you. You’re letting him define you.”

I rise from the chair, anger bubbling up again. “You don’t know anything about me, Roy.”

He holds his hands up in mock surrender. “I’m just trying to help, Crystal.”

I look away, staring out the window, trying to steady my breathing. “I don’t need anyone’s help.”

Roy steps beside me, his presence undeniable. “Maybe you do. Maybe it’s time to let someone else help carry the weight.”

I can feel his gaze on me, and I swallow hard. “I don’t need anyone,” I say again, but this time, the words sound hollow, even to me.

“Liar,” he murmurs, barely loud enough for me to hear.

I turn to face him, my heart thumping in my chest. “What is it that you want from me, Roy?”

He looks at me for a long moment, his gaze unreadable. “I don’t want anything from you, Crystal. I just don’t want to see you fall apart.”

There’s a moment of silence, and I feel like the world around me is holding its breath. For a second, I wonder if I’m about to c***k, to let the tears I’ve been holding back spill over.

But before I can say anything, there’s a knock at the door.

“Perfect timing,” I mutter, trying to shake off the heavy feeling between us.

Roy walks over and opens the door, revealing a hotel staff member holding a bouquet of roses. “For Miss Crystal,” the staff member says, his eyes flicking between me and Roy.

I blink in surprise. “For me?”

The staff member nods. “Yes, Miss.” He hands over the bouquet, then quickly leaves, closing the door behind him.

I look down at the flowers, my stomach dropping. The roses are beautiful, but the note attached to them makes my hands tremble.

“From Warren,” I whisper, reading the name on the card.

Roy’s expression hardens as he steps closer, glancing at the card. “What does he want now?”

I shake my head, my mind racing. “I don’t know. He’s trying to pull me back in, but I’m not falling for it.”

Roy places a hand on my shoulder, his voice low. “You’re stronger than this, Crystal. You don’t need him.”

I nod, but deep down, I feel the tug of something familiar. Warren has always had a way of getting under my skin, making me question myself. But I can’t let him do that anymore.

I drop the card on the table, turning away. “I don’t need him,” I say, my voice more certain this time.

Roy watches me for a moment, then smiles. “That’s the Crystal I know.”

I turn to face him, a small, shaky smile on my lips. “Thanks, Roy.”

He doesn’t answer, but his eyes soften as he looks at me. “Anytime.”

And for the first time tonight, I believe him.