CROWN OF DECEPTION

Hillary Crawford was the kind of person who could turn a tense room into laughter within minutes. She carried a bright smile, a sharp mind, and a stubborn determination that reminded everyone she was a close child to her parents. But those who knew her well understood that her laughter was only one side of Hillary. When the moment demanded seriousness, she could become someone impossible to dismiss — a young woman whose sharp mind and unwavering composure made even experienced business owners think twice before underestimating her. She had always lived a carefree life in Miami, surrounded by wealth, comfort, and the quiet assurance that nothing could truly go wrong. Until everything did. It started with her mother. The woman who had been her strength and her guide suddenly fell mysteriously ill. Hillary used to cry till all the tears dried up before sleeping. Her dad, Harry, assured her every night that he would do anything to save her. Admitting her to almost all the clinics and hospitals in the country but seeing no improvements, she was transferred to a specialized hospital in London. It was there that the answer they had been desperately waiting for finally came — but it was one Hillary wished they had never found. They were informed that Katelyn, Hillary's mom, had been poisoned. The poison was deadly; it had damaged all her organs and nothing could be done about it. Upon hearing the news, Hillary felt the light in her eyes darken. On the flight back to Miami, Hillary didn't speak. Not once. Until they were descending over the Atlantic, she whispered, "You promised me, Dad..." Hillary's voice cracked. "You promised you would save her. So why couldn't you?" She tried to be herself again. She forced herself onto the Ferris wheel at Bayfront Park, laughing when the kids did and going quiet at the top. She thought she was slowly finding her way back to herself, but fate had other plans. The second blow came when she least expected it. Her father was accused of a massive financial crime. The kind that didn’t just make headlines, but destroyed legacies. Except he hadn’t done it. Hillary knew that much, but knowing didn’t matter. He had disappeared without a trace. Because of this, she paused her studies. Her absence was felt, even by the lecturers in Biscayne University. After one afternoon class, Professor Lena called Diego, Hillary's close friend and the only heir of Preston Textiles, to ask why Hillary had not been in school for a couple of weeks. He was quiet for a while. The Professor then continued, "It's okay if it is private, but i hope you check on her often. I've heard something, and I know she's going through a lot." Diego headed to Crawford's villa right after school. The place was utterly quiet as compared to before. It felt empty and sadness hovered around the compound. He was let in by the security man, who was a good friend to his father. "Hey kid, it's been a while. How's your dad?" the guard inquired. "He's been fine. I'm here to see Hillary, is she around?" Diego responded, his thoughts focused on Hillary. Walking him into the house, the guard said in quite a downhearted tone. "My boy, she hasn't been herself lately. She doesn't get out of her room, nor does she eat anything. I hope your presence here makes a change". The guard went back to his post while Diego made his way to Hillary's room. He knocked thrice but got no response. He tried opening the door but it was locked. Worried, he reached out for the hair clip Hillary gave him from his backpack. He carefully inserted the clip into the keyhole, manipulating the lock's hidden mechanism with precision. With a faint whisper, the lock cracked open. He saw Hillary lying on her bed, motionless, staring at the window. Assuming she was asleep, he sat on the other side of her bed and began glancing through the books on the nightstand. As Diego flipped through the books, a piece of paper slipped out. He picked it up, recognizing Hillary's handwriting." Hillary, what's this?" he whispered, his voice trembling as he read the words. "To whoever is reading this, I'm sorry. I couldn't stand it anymore. The world seems bare and cold to me now. It's been hurling stones I can't handle. I needed to end it. I want to be at peace with my mom. Before I go, please tell Diego I love him so much. I know he has so much greatness ahead of him. He shouldn't worry about me, he should find himself a new best friend. Someone who will care for him and understand him more than I did. As for the company, I leave it in the hands of Diego. I know he can never forgive me, but please find a place in your heart, Diego, and do forgive me. I'm sorry." His eyes widened in horror as he realized the truth. "Hillary!" he cried, dropping the note and rushing to her side. "No, no, no! Not like this!" Hillary's face looked pale, her lips dry as she lay on the bed lifeless. "Tell me it's a joke please, Hillary!" Tears trickled down his cheeks as he shook Hillary violently. Hurriedly, he lifted her onto his shoulder and headed to the gate. His eyes, still filled with tears, he shouted, "Lucas, Lucas, bring me one of the car keys. "What happened? What's going on?" the guard asked abruptly. "I found her unconscious in her room. Please hurry up." He quickly took the key to the black Rolls-Royce Phantom on the shelf. "I'll drive. Get in the back with her!" the guard said. Leaving the maids in the house, both rushed into the car and sped off. Staring at the pale, slender Hillary in his hands, tears welled up Diego's eyes. "How could you? How could you do this, Hillary? You should have thought about your mom and dad for once. As for Crawford's F&B Corporate, it's only for you to control. I already have my dad's business to run. Please, don't leave me like this. I beg you, Hillary," he whispered as he hugged her tightly. In about 10mins, they arrived at the hospital. Diego and the guard rushed inside. "Help! Help! Somebody, she's dying!". Doctors came rushing to their aid. "What happened to her?" the doctors asked as they put her on the stretcher. "I don't know, she's been indoors for weeks. I found her lying unconscious when I broke into her room." As he ended his statement, the doctor continued, "You're not allowed inside. Please stay here as we operate on her." In anguish, he fell to the ground and held the guard's feet, "Please tell me she's going to be fine, please." "Boy, control yourself. You have to stay strong for her. Put yourself together." After hours of tension, the doctor came out. Diego and the guard rushed up to him. " Are you related to the patient?" he asked. "Y-yes" Diego answered. " That's good." The doctor's expression turned grave as he began to explain Hillary's condition, his words dropping like a heavy curtain in the sterile hospital room. 'She's in a critically fragile state due to severe starvation, and to add to the complexity, we found a substantial amount of drugs in her system. Her lungs, unfortunately, have suffered severe damage as a result – we're uncertain at this point if they'll recover fully.'