Crystal's One Night of Love

Upon his return to the law firm, Henry found himself engrossed in his work. An hour later, a file was delivered to him.

Lara Chamber was twenty-two years old. She was brought to Mount Lorcroft during her formative years. Her adoptive parents passed away when she was twelve, and she was left to fend for herself.

The detective retrieved a cigarette and positioned it between his lips. “Something unpleasant happened to this girl when she was sixteen, so her biological family refused to acknowledge her despite finding her.”

Something unpleasant…

Henry could make a reasonable assumption.

As he was silent, the detective asked, “How shall we proceed? Should we bring her in?”

“No.” Henry responded in a measured tone. “Secure a suitable part-time job for her, but exclude any mention of me.”

As a mature individual, he could discern the admiration he detected in Lara’s gaze toward him. Although he sympathized with her situation, he did not want to entangle himself in intricate affairs. After all, he and Grystal were still not on good terms.

Having spent time with Crystal for more than half a year, he had figured out her temperament-she was undeniably possessive.

With matters addressed, he found himself alone in his office, lost in his thoughts.

Beyond the windowpane, snowflakes continued to fall from the sky.

He examined his feelings.

Recollections of the late Audrey and his current wife, Crystal, occupied his thoughts. Amidst this introspection, he acknowledged a degree of fondness for Crystal, even if a significant portion of this sentiment was tied to her physical attributes.

By the time he returned to reality, it was already nine at night.

The night sky lay shrouded in darkness, illuminated solely by the falling snow.

Henry grabbed his coat and left the law firm. On his way back to the Miller residence, he spotted a florist still open. He stopped and bought a bouquet of champagne roses.

He mused that women always had an affinity for flowers.

At ten, his car pulled up before the Miller residence.

By then, lights were already off at the Miller residence, and the living room was dimly lit. As he began to remove his coat with intentions to head upstairs, a low voice rang out. “Where have you been? It’s so late already.”

The room lights were switched on, forcing Henry to shield his eyes momentarily before adjusting to the newfound brightness.

Seated on the couch with legs crossed and a disgruntled expression was David. “You’ve finally decided to grace us with your presence, huh? If I were your wife, I’d have left you. Oh? You even bought flowers? Do you think your wife is in need of bouquets when she has an abundance of them?”

A sense of helplessness overcame Henry. “Dad, let’s talk about this tomorrow.”

Just as he was about to make his way upstairs, David sneered, “Your wife isn’t back yet. If I were her, I wouldn’t return either! Only you could do such a thing as leaving your wife behind on a snowy day! Henry, let me offer you a piece of advice. Keep up with your reckless behavior and your wife’s patience will wane sooner or later. There are plenty of people out there who are interested in your wife. Don’t overestimate yourself.”

Henry went back down the stairs and slipped on his coat.

“Where are you off to?”

“The mansion.”

His motivations eluded him; he wasn’t certain why he was proceeding in this manner. He acknowledged Crystal’s maturity and the fact that she possessed her own drivers and security personnel. Her safety was not a concern. Yet, that night, his yearning compelled him to see her.

Deep into the night, his car halted at the mansion.

He got out of the vehicle and saw that the lights were on, on the second floor.

Crystal was there.

housekeeper took his coat and said, “Mrs. Miller has been

in acknowledgement and went up the stairs.

to the dinner, but I

second floor, Crystal was holding a file

an abortion despite her young age.

her lips

young woman. Even my husband feels pity for her, offering

of suffocation overcame

approach Henry. She did not want anyone to

slowly and reached out for a lighter and set the

ashes burnt

opened, and Henry frowned

her head to meet

a designer coat and looked handsome

was her beloved husband, and yet, he was like

she answered

offered her the bouquet. She accepted

you like

dislikes

in for a long kiss. His lips still on hers, he asked, “Are you

Crystal responded

He found her honesty quite endearing. Sometimes, she

was warm on that snowy

her, and

two days had

on Crystal’s lips.

the small item from his pocket, she placed it on the desk. Under the dim light, she uttered slowly, “Henry, I’ve said before that love involving three people is overly complicated. I still believe that If you can’t move on from the past, we can’t proceed.”

man, was

Crystal had uncovered the

he responded, “There’s nothing going on between us. I have no interest in

looked up slowly, her eyes red.

giving her false hope. She might believe that your attention comes from your regard for her sister, Audrey. She might even aim to replace Audrey’s position in your heart.” Crystal traced his chest with her. fingers. “Henry, if you genuinely care, then helping her is not the right

a lover’s whisper. “What do you want

an adult, fully capable of surviving

Henry’s gaze darkened.

already done your investigation on her tragic past, Crystal, you’re a woman with billions. Can’t

after my husband. Am I supposed

fixed on her. The expression

the door

not run after him. She did not want

time, eventually retrieving the journal Henry had left for her from the drawer. As she turned its pages methodically, her vision became increasingly blurred.

treat me this way. Before he left, his wife and daughter had been his

Crystal chose not to return to their

night separately, lost in their

to find

come back

a bin near the staircase, he noticed

went to the office early this morning,” a housekeeper informed.

right,” Henry responded

the piano. He recognized it as the same one played by Ludweig, and

you like it? Crystal, you’re my morning dew.”

pulsed through Henry’s head. It was almost unbearable. Those words kept echoing in his mind. However, he couldn’t remember anything when he returned