Romance with the Cursed Siren

CHAPTER 18. Finding Grandpa

Crystal felt utterly exhausted from swimming nonstop from Caro Island toward Creekwood City. Her body ached terribly, every movement heavier than the last, yet she was still miles away from the city.

Unable to continue any longer, she slowly descended to the quieter depths of the ocean to rest.

The underwater world was dim and silent, disturbed only by the soft currents brushing against her green tail and long wavy hair that floated weightlessly around her. She settled herself on the sandy ocean floor, curling slightly as fatigue overwhelmed her body.

But the moment she stopped moving, her thoughts returned to her parents.

Her father shielding her from the gunfire, her mother and Christian’s trembling smile while telling her to leave.

Crystal covered her face with both hands as tears streamed endlessly from her eyes, dissolving into the seawater around her like tiny crystals.

She had always feared loneliness after Gabriel left the island, but this fear was far worse.

This was the fear of losing the people she loved most.

“Mom… Dada…” she whispered weakly, though no sound escaped underwater.

Her chest tightened painfully. For the first time in her life, Crystal truly understood what it felt like to be helpless. She wanted to swim back, she wanted to save them, But her father’s desperate voice kept echoing in her mind.

Go.

Crystal cried harder, her shoulders shaking beneath the water.

Above her, sunlight pierced through the ocean surface in golden rays, illuminating the deep blue surroundings.

It was already noon.

Which meant she had little time left before her tail transformed again.

Crystal slowly lifted her head.

“I have to keep going,” she told herself weakly.

Gathering the last of her strength, she pushed herself upward and began swimming once more.

Her large tail moved powerfully through the water in smooth, full-body motions as she forced herself forward despite the burning pain in her muscles.

Hours passed.

The farther she swam, the weaker she became, yet she refused to stop.

Until finally a tiny silhouette of the city appeared in the distance.

Relief flooded her eyes.

“I’m almost there…”

Her body was already completely worn out, but Crystal continued pushing forward desperately.

As she neared the coastal area, she deliberately chose a quieter part of the shoreline where few people passed by.

But she was still some distance away when a strange numbness suddenly spread through her body.

Crystal slowed, her breathing became uneven. A familiar pain should have been there—the usual agony of transformation. But this time—

There was nothing.

No pain. Only numbness.

“Why… can’t I feel anything?” she thought weakly.

The ocean current gently pulled her downward.

Her vision blurred.

“Mom… Da…

Darkness consumed her completely.

“Ma… how is she?” A soft voice echoed faintly through the darkness.

“She’s fine, sweetheart,” another gentle voice answered.

“We just have to wait for her to wake up.”

Crystal slowly fluttered her heavy eyelids open.

The surroundings appeared blurry at first.

A white ceiling,soft curtains moving near the window. Warm light.

She blinked several times until her vision finally cleared—

“Roxanne…” she whispered weakly.

The little girl gasped happily.

“Crystal!”

Crystal tried to sit up immediately.

“Ow—!”

A sharp sting shot through her lower back, making her wince in pain.

“Careful!” Roxanne quickly supported her shoulders.

“You’re still hurt.”

Crystal looked around the unfamiliar room.

“Where am I?”

“You’re in our house,” Roxanne explained excitedly. “Mom and I saw you drowning near the shore. We pulled you out of the water.”

She proudly smiled.

“My mom used to be a diver, so she rescued you really fast!”

Crystal looked down quietly.

“Why are you always in the ocean, by the way?” Roxanne asked curiously. “You looked so exhausted when we found you. Were you cleaning underwater again?”

Before Crystal could answer, the bedroom door suddenly opened.

A beautiful woman carrying a tray entered the room.

“Oh, thank goodness you’re awake!” she exclaimed warmly before hurrying closer. “How are you feeling?”

“I feel better now,” Crystal answered softly. “Thank you for helping me.”

The woman smiled kindly while setting the tray down.

“I’m Pearl, Roxanne’s mother,” she introduced herself.

“And you’re Crystal, right? Roxanne told me about you.”

Crystal nodded politely.

Pearl sat beside her on the bed.

“What exactly happened to you?” she asked gently. “We were patrolling near the shallow waters earlier when Roxanne spotted you floating unconscious.”

She crossed her arms thoughtfully.

“At first I honestly believed her when she said you were probably cleaning underwater again…”

Roxanne awkwardly scratched her head.

“But I don’t think that explains why you nearly drowned today,” Pearl added softly.

Then she leaned closer and lowered her voice.

“And… why weren’t you wearing underwear?”

Crystal instantly froze.

She lowered her eyes without answering. She no longer had the energy to invent excuses. Her mind remained consumed by thoughts of her parents.

The image of her father pushing her away to save her life shattered her heart all over again.

Suddenly tears rolled silently down her cheeks.

Pearl immediately panicked.

“Oh no! Why are you crying?”

“Ma!” Roxanne gasped. “You made her cry!”

“No! I didn’t mean it like that!” Pearl hurriedly apologized while grabbing tissues from the bedside table. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Please don’t cry.”

But Crystal could no longer stop herself.

“Crystal…” Roxanne whispered worriedly while gently touching her curls.

Moments later, Roxanne’s own eyes began watering too.

Without hesitation, the little girl wrapped her arms around Crystal tightly. The two cried together quietly while Pearl stood nearby helplessly, her heart aching at the sight.

After several minutes, Crystal slowly pulled away and wiped her eyes.

“What time is it?” she asked weakly.

“It’s already ten in the evening,” Roxanne answered between hiccups. “Why?”

Crystal immediately pushed herself upright despite the pain.

“I need to go to my grandfather.”

“Now?” Pearl asked in surprise.

Crystal nodded urgently.

“My parents need help.”

She placed her feet on the floor and finally noticed she was wearing a clean white sundress.

Carefully, she stood up and walked toward the bedroom door.

The unfamiliar hallway beyond made her hesitate briefly.

But the memory of her parents immediately pushed her forward again.

“I can’t waste time,” she thought desperately.

Just as she stepped out—

“Crystal,” Pearl called gently while following her. “You really should rest first. Your body hasn’t fully recovered.”

“No,” Crystal answered firmly while walking downstairs. “I can’t stay here.”

Pearl followed behind her through the simple but cozy house decorated with blue floral wallpaper.

“What happened to your parents?” she asked carefully.

Crystal remained silent.

The yellow glow from the streetlights outside guided her toward the front door, and she immediately opened it without hesitation.

But once outside, she froze again.

Another unfamiliar place.

“Crystal, wait.”

Pearl gently grabbed her arm.

“Let me drive you.”

Crystal looked at her in surprise.

“But you already helped me so much…”

Pearl smiled warmly.

“It’s alright.”

She guided Crystal toward the parking area before opening a storage box.

“First,” she said while handing her a pair of flip-flops, “wear these before you hurt your feet.”

Crystal accepted them quietly.

“Thank you.”

“And this too.” Pearl handed her an energy bar. “You need sugar or you might collapse again.”

“Thank you…”

“Good. Now get in,” Pearl ordered cheerfully.

Crystal hesitated before looking back toward the house.

“What about Roxanne?”

“My sister’s watching her,” Pearl assured while starting the engine.

As the car drove away, Pearl glanced at Crystal.

“So… where exactly are we going?”

That question immediately made Crystal tense.

She slowly covered her face with both hands in frustration.

Pearl blinked.

“Wait… don’t tell me you don’t know?”

“A Construction and Design,” Crystal answered weakly. “That’s all I remember.”

Pearl sighed softly.

“So it’s probably the company name.”

She quickly searched online while driving.

After more than thirty minutes, they arrived at a tall building with the same name.

But the moment Crystal stepped out—

“No… this isn’t it.”

“You’re sure?” Pearl asked.

Crystal looked up at the twelve-story building.

“The one my father brought me to was much bigger.”

Pearl nodded.

“Alright. Let’s keep looking.”

After more than half an hour of driving through the sleepless streets of Creekwood City, Pearl finally slowed the car as they entered the business district filled with towering skyscrapers and glowing establishments.

Crystal silently stared outside the window, her fingers nervously twisting on her lap.

Then suddenly—

“There,” she whispered.

Pearl followed the direction of her gaze and immediately slowed down further.

Standing proudly among the surrounding buildings was the massive headquarters of A Construction and Design.

Unlike ordinary office buildings, the structure looked more like a gigantic machine forged from steel and glass. Towering metallic pipes ran vertically along the exterior walls, while enormous silver cylindrical staircases spiraled dramatically around the building like coiled serpents. The entire structure carried an industrial yet luxurious appearance, intimidating and magnificent at the same time.

Bright lights reflected against the polished steel surfaces, making the building glow beneath the night sky. Large glass walls revealed glimpses of elegant interiors inside, while suspended bridges and exposed framework gave the skyscraper a modern architectural design.

“It’s so huge…” Pearl muttered in disbelief while staring upward.

The building seemed endless from below, stretching high into the dark sky like a giant fortress of metal and power. People in formal clothing moved in and out of the entrance while expensive vehicles lined the front driveway.

Crystal slowly stepped out of the car and looked up at the towering structure.

“Yes,” she whispered softly. “This is the place.”

Pearl got out beside her, still visibly stunned.

“Your grandfather is here?”

Crystal nodded quietly, though anxiety remained obvious on her face.

The glowing sign of A Construction and Design stood prominently above the grand entrance, its silver letters reflecting the city lights beautifully.

As they walked closer, the building became even more overwhelming.

Massive steel columns supported the lower floors, while elegant glass canopies extended above the entrance doors. The exterior pipes and industrial framework made the skyscraper appear almost mechanical, yet the polished finishes and sophisticated lighting still gave it an expensive, luxurious aura.

“It feels like we’re entering some billionaire’s kingdom,”

Pearl whispered nervously.

Crystal remained silent.

Her heart pounded harder with every step.

The lobby doors automatically opened before them, revealing a grand interior filled with marble flooring, enormous chandeliers, and modern metallic accents that matched the building’s striking exterior design.

Despite the luxury surrounding her, Crystal felt small standing inside such a powerful place. But she swallowed her fear, her parents needed help.

Inside the elevator, Pearl crossed her arms nervously.

“Are you absolutely sure your grandfather lives here?”

Crystal shook her head.

“No.”

Pearl stared at her in disbelief.

“What?! Then why are we here?!”

“We used to meet him here before,” Crystal explained anxiously while squeezing her fingers together. “But last time, my father took me somewhere outside the city. I just don’t know how to get there.”

Pearl sighed deeply.

“Well… let’s hope he’s here then.”

Unfortunately, no one answered the doorbell.

They stood before enormous white-and-silver double doors on the fiftieth floor.

“Crystal…” Pearl muttered while glancing around the luxurious hallway. “I don’t think your grandfather is here.”

Crystal lowered her head.

Her lips trembled again.

“Why am I so useless?” she whispered brokenly.

Pearl looked at her sympathetically.

“Who exactly is your grandfather anyway? This place looks like a palace.”

Before Crystal could answer, the elevator doors suddenly opened.

A housekeeper stepped out carrying fresh towels.

She immediately frowned upon seeing them.

“Who are you?” she asked suspiciously. “What are you doing here?”

Crystal quickly approached her.

“Hi… I’m looking for my grandfather, Teofilo Alonzo. Could you please tell me where he is?”

The maid’s expression instantly changed.

“How exactly is Mr. Alonzo your grandfather?” she asked coldly. “He only has one granddaughter—Miss Rachel.”

“Yes!” Crystal quickly nodded. “Rachel is my cousin!”

The maid looked unconvinced.

“Please,” Crystal begged desperately. “My parents are in danger. I need help.”

But the woman stepped back cautiously.

“I’m sorry, miss, but I will not disclose private information to strangers.”

Crystal’s eyes filled with panic.

“Please—”

“If you don’t leave now,” the maid warned sharply, “I’ll call security to remove both of you.”

Pearl could no longer bear watching Crystal beg helplessly. She gently pulled her away before things escalated further.