SECOND CHANCE

Chapter 4 - Patience is a virtue

Jason got into the latest model of Nissan and drove straight to the Knight company building after visiting his so-called wife. He had known Crystal since they were young. At first, he had nothing against her. He believed she was cute, innocent and pure. The calmness she gave away smothered him every time he was angry or sad, but all of that changed when he studied abroad. When he came back to the country, she had changed. Gone was the innocent and pure young girl he knew. Instead, she had transformed into a stranger.

Jason drove to the right and drove into the underground parking lot. Then he parked on his spot and stepped out of the car. He pulled up the smartphone from his pocket and dialed his personal assistant. "Inform Mr. Owen to come to my office", Jason said, referring to his lawyer. "Of course, Mr. Knight. Do you need anything else?"

"No. That's all", Jason said and hung up. He didn't believe Crystal. Not even a tiny bit. Why would she suddenly want to divorce him? He knew her. She was stubborn and it was impossible to change her mind when she had decided on something. Jason mockingly laughed. She's doing this to catch my attention...

He was afraid that she would go back on her words, therefore he'll make a contract. Well, it was best to be on the safe side.

When Crystal got discharged from the hospital, Jason wasn't there to escort her home at all. This caused minor displeasure towards Crystal's parents. Although they were used to it, he could at least send her home. She was in fact discharged from the hospital after an accident.

"Let's just go", Crystal said to her parents. It seemed like Jason wouldn't come at all. Well, she would not waste her time waiting for that man and look like a complete idiot.

Mr. King – Jeremy – scoffed and held his daughter's hand. "Yeah let's go. No need to wait for that good-for-nothing son in law", Jeremy coldly said and was about to escort his wife and their daughter out of the hospital but stopped due to the sudden appearance of that good-for-nothing son in law.

Jason walked towards the trio with steady steps. He had a bucket of roses on his left hand. "I'm sorry for the wait", Jason apologized and handed the roses to Crystal. He didn't even try to explain why. He was late due to the hectic traffic. He hated excuses and therefore he didn't want to explain himself. He believed that blaming the traffic was just an excuse.

Crystal received the roses and sniffled on them. It smelled like the roses in the garden her mother used to plant. Crystal smiled at the memory. "Thank you", she said, and her voice was quiet and soft, pleasant to the ears. Jason was stupefied because he had never heard her thanking him after they got married but hid it well.

"It's nothing", Jason spoke and turned to his in-laws as he greeted them. They greeted him back and walked out of the hospital together. They separated and Crystal hugged her parents. Then Jason escorted her to his car. He opened the car door for her, and she quietly got in. He quickly imitated her action.

Nobody tried to start a conversation in the long forty minutes as Jason drove out of the city and towards their house. It was dead silent that Jason could hear Crystal's soft breaths. She leaned onto the car-window and glanced at the roses on her lap. Her mind drifted back to her former life.

"Mom what are you doing?" A young Crystal yelled from a long distance as she saw her mother. She started to run towards the garden and saw her mother kneeling on the ground. She frowned and pulled her mother up. "Why do you bother with gardening? It's so dirty", Crystal said in disgust. Her mother softly chuckled and looked at her daughter. "One day, my love, you'll see the beauty of gardening and the immense of happiness when you watch the flowers blossom". She lovingly stared at her daughter and hoped she would understand one day. Crystal slightly scoffed, "But the flowers take so long time to blossom". Her mother showed Crystal the roses. "Patience is a virtue". Roses are beautiful yet dangerous but are they really that dangerous? The thorns are just a shield. A shield that prevents harm from the roses.

"Mind to earth". Jason stared at her dazed face. He watched as she blinked and opened her mouth slightly. "Let's go inside", he stated and got out of the car. Crystal followed his action quickly. They passed a big fountain and she couldn't help but slightly gape at the design. She had never seen anything like this in her life. It was truly gorgeous.

While Crystal admired the fountain, Jason was already at the front of the outdoor. He stopped in his track when he noticed she wasn't behind him. Jason turned around and saw her standing beside the fountain. He leaned against the door and silently watched her. Her silky, brown hair was let loose in natural waves and she wore black pants which showed off her curves. She had on an oversized sweater that hid her figure, but it created some fantasies about her body in a certain place.

Jason closed his eyes and shook his head. "... great", he mumbled and turned around to open the massive door. The gardener, the butler, the maids, the cooks – he gave all of them a week off. He thought maybe Crystal would be uncomfortable with a lot of people around her.

After a long time, Jason walked out of the mansion and searched after Crystal. She didn't even step into the mansion. Jason was a little irritated. After a moment, he found her in the garden. She was sitting on the ground, staring at the roses.

Jason frowned. He didn't understand why she was sitting on the ground in the garden. He knew she hated the garden because it was dirty. This was the first time he saw her in the garden. Then the idea of her amnesia hit him. Of course, she doesn't remember anything.

"Patience is a virtue", she mumbled and touched the rose. "What are you doing?" Crystal was startled by the sudden appearance of Jason and flinched, causing her finger to touch the thorns. Blood ran out from the wound of her finger. She slightly winched in pain and held her finger.

When Jason saw this, he furrowed his brows. "Get up", he ordered. She hung her head low and got up. He sighed at the sight and gently held her wrist as he dragged her inside the mansion.