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.

living room with the flowers. The housekeeper took his coat and said, “Mrs. Miller has been in the study for quite some time.

nodded in acknowledgement and went up

would send her to the dinner,

on the second floor, Crystal was holding a file containing Lara’s background

had an abortion despite her young

lips forming a

an innocent young woman. Even my husband feels pity for her, offering her a respectable job for the sake of a

sense of suffocation overcame Crystal.

a young woman like Lara to approach Henry.

down slowly and reached out for a

ashes burnt her hand.

door opened, and Henry frowned at her. “What are you

to meet his

donned a designer coat and looked handsome as always.

he was like a stranger to

a long while, she answered softly, “Something from the

her the bouquet. She accepted it and inhaled its fragrance.

like

woman dislikes flowers.”

a long kiss.

responded

quite endearing. Sometimes, she

room was warm on that snowy night.

and sparks

realization hit her. Forty- two days had passed since she had

grew on Crystal’s

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

a prideful man, was a little

Crystal had uncovered the truth.

on between us. I have no interest in a

slowly, her

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,

on the tenderness of a lover’s whisper. “What do

the point. “She’s an adult, fully capable of surviving on her own. Withdraw any special treatment and

Henry’s gaze darkened.

woman with billions. Can’t you show

I supposed

his posture slowly, his gaze fixed on her. The expression he wore shattered Crystal’s heart into

pushed open the door and left.

did not want

Henry had left for her from the drawer. As she turned its pages methodically, her vision

Before he left, his wife and daughter had been his priority. A random woman named

to return to

two spent the night separately,

awoke to find an empty space beside

did not come back to the

the stairs. In a bin near the staircase,

to the office early this morning,” a

right,” Henry responded

fell on the piano. He recognized it as the same one played by Ludweig, and he knew that its name was

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

almost unbearable. Those words kept echoing in his mind. However, he couldn’t remember anything when