Crystal's One Night of Love

Crystal quickly and firmly placed Lara’s number on Henry’s blacklist.

The task was accomplished, but her feelings still felt a little bruised. She was somewhat absent-minded when Henry tried to converse with her.

Their car finally rolled to a stop at the mansion.

Unbuckling his seatbelt, Henry turned toward Crystal, his voice laced with tenderness as he asked, “Why are you so quiet?”

Men always like to compare.

Henry pondered for a while. “Did I hurt you just now?”

Crystal shook her head.

She opened the door and got out, sidestepping the topic. “They’re waiting for us.”

They hadn’t gone far when Henry looped his arm around her waist, pulling her close from behind, and she fell into his embrace.

The snow fell all around them, wetting their coats, but neither of them seemed to mind. It was rare for them to warmly embrace each other like this on a cold winter night.

“Crystal, I’m thinking I could actually become a good husband to you,” he whispered, his breath a gentle. caress against her ear.

He decided to discard any preconceived notions about her, aiming to accept her completely.

No matter if it was due to his desires as a man or her kind nature, he believed she’d make an exceptional lover, wife, and mother.

Leaning against his shoulder, Crystal murmured, “Really? What is it that you like about me?”

Henry patted her back. “I’ll tell you tonight!”

“This is all going a bit too fast…”

Henry’s fingers glided along the curve of her spine. Her entire body felt soft to the touch, and he was happy to stay this way with her.

At the entrance of the mansion stood David and Alfred, who were puffing away on cigarettes.

David’s eyes widened as he asked, “Do you see that couple embracing each other over there? Is that Henry and Crystal?”

Lowering his head, Alfred lit his cigarette and took a long drag from it. He was the embodiment of rugged charm.

Casting a glance their way, he confirmed, “There’s no doubt about it!”

David grew anxious.

With the cigarette hanging from his mouth, he marched through the falling snow and shouted, “Henry, have you lost your marbles? Why are you frolicking in the snow on a freezing day like this? Even if you and your thick skin can handle it, your wife just gave birth two months ago. How could you drag her out in the snow with you?”

Alfred’s cigarette came close to searing his fingers.

Crystal gently removed herself from Henry’s embrace, feeling embarrassed. “Dad’s coming over!”

Henry, realizing the inappropriateness of standing in the snow like this, slipped off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. He pulled her into his embrace and said, “Okay, let’s head inside. I told you that Dad loves you to bits.”

David had come over right then.

He handed a large black umbrella to Crystal and launched into a tirade against his wayward son.

Henry fished a cigarette from his pocket, ignited it amidst the delicate snowfall, and then threw Crystal a smirk.

He was clearly teasing her with that smirk.

Truth be told, this version of Henry appealed to Crystal. However, with the elders around, she didn’t dare to flirt with him, so she quickly walked into the living room.

David proceeded to lecture his son about taking proper care of women who had just given birth.

In the end, he waved his hand dismissively and said, “Go on and attend to your wife. Looking at you gets on my nerves!”

Henry nonchalantly finished his cigarette, then followed Crystal indoors.

As he stepped inside, he saw Crystal taking off her coat and drying her hair with a towel.

Clad in a delicate dress made from wool that set off her fair skin, she radiated softness and elegance.

Henry’s voice took on a tender tone as he said, “We’ve got half an hour until dinner. How about upstairs for a shower? I’ll go check on Remi!”

Skyler, holding his hand, said eagerly, “I’ll go with you, Daddy!”

Bending down, Henry lifted the little one and planted a kiss on her forehead.

Skyler beamed as she wrapped her arm around his neck with happiness.

Crystal’s gaze softened at the sight of the father and daughter.

Julia took the towel from her hand and said gently, “He’ll settle down eventually. You two have such a deep bond.”

an acknowledgment.

not

was

for her shower while the ground floor of

festive air of Christmas After checking on Remi, Henry descended the stairs with Skyler in

seven in the

begun illuminating

pretty little dress, Skyler ran around Henry, whose heart melted. He scooped up his daughter in his

wander from his financial magazine to her delicate and fair little

resembled Crystal

with her fingers. “Daddy, you’re

on

her cheeks flushed. Skyler leaned on Henry’s

David right then,

Berthold wasn’t as close as this.

moment, Melora and Berthold came

recently, no longer grappling with the challenges of making ends meet. With her parents helping her take care of the child, she regained her former radiance. There was an

missed her, but he understood his

bent down and said to the two children. “Come here and get your

was rewarded with a large gift.

Alfred as a stern man. “Go on!”

his courage and approached Alfred. “Great-Uncle

atmosphere grew a little awkward.

of embarrassment crossed Alfred’s face, but he tenderly patted the boy’s head and handed over the gift.

nodded, seemingly understanding yet not

swooped in, explaining in a clear voice, “Great-uncle Alfred is Mommy’s uncle, so I call him Great- uncle Alfred. But Great-uncle Alfred and Aunt Melora are a couple, and they gave birth to you. Berthold. So, you need to call

ruffled Skyler’s

She

Berthold along to open their

slowly descended the

pocket, then presented it to her. “Here’s your Christmas gift!”

refused to

it a gift from your elder! Take it. I rarely come over, and I’ll

accepted the box

a pearl necklace that looked

it, but Alfred shrugged it off, downplaying its value.

reveal was that this piece was a cherished heirloom of the Lodge family that was passed down through generations to each successive wife of the Lodge family head.

future, yet at this moment, he impulsively wanted to extend this

Henry looked

as his sister and knew the true value of that pearl necklace, but

number was unfamiliar to

to help Lara! She lost her financial support, so she went back to her hometown to work. It’s snowing today, and her hometown is situated in the mountains. She slipped off a cliff, and rescue is near impossible now… Mr. Miller, I know she made mistakes and offended Mrs. Miller, but now it’s hard to rescue her without a helicopter, and she

the line

the

the number. A life is on the

about the situation and assured Emily that he would handle

he raised his gaze to find Crystal coming midway down the

shower, but her face was

you heading

he donned his coat,

Henry nodded.

us, Crystal. I’ll be back after dealing with it.”

ready! Uncle Alfred is leaving tomorrow morning!”

the banister

but only she knew how much her

before him and said softly, “We’ll ask Uncle Alfred to arrange a helicopter through his connections.

to Alfred.

was smoking leisurely, a faint smile tugging

gaze shifted to

you can trust it’ll be fine. Henry, you promised not to get involved with

She wasn’t naïve.

was too much

just playing

she was daring enough and willing to trap herself in such a perilous situation. After all, if the helicopter didn’t arrive, she would really freeze to death in the

life, but she did care

at Henry.

“It’s not often that Uncle Alfred comes here. Let him enjoy dinner with you guys.

that, he turned to leave.

keep you here? Or is it that you don’t trust me? Do you think I blacklisted her on purpose?”

frown crossed

I didn’t

want to create an awkward situation for the elders

being a good husband and about making things better… Yet now, just a short while later, you’re off to find a woman who is clearly interested in

finally spoke her mind.

serious. “Crystal, stop