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.”

murmured an acknowledgment.

did not matter whether or not he could remember the

mattered was

the ground floor of the Miller residence

serving sumptuous dishes. The dining hall radiated a festive air of Christmas After checking on Remi, Henry descended the stairs with Skyler in

was already half-past seven in the

had begun illuminating the sky.

whose heart melted. He scooped up his daughter in his arms once

his financial magazine

Crystal a

intense gaze. Skyler fiddled with her fingers. “Daddy, you’re good- looking, but I

her on her

Skyler leaned

with David right

with Berthold wasn’t as close

that moment, Melora and Berthold came down the stairs.

parents helping her take care of the child, she regained

missed her, but he understood

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

and she was rewarded with

man. “Go on!” Melora reassured him with a pat

courage and

grew a

the boy’s head and handed over the gift. He said in a gruff voice.

yet not

Alfred. But Great-uncle Alfred and Aunt Melora are a couple, and they gave birth to you. Berthold. So, you

ruffled Skyler’s

clever child! She

along to open

slowly descended

retrieved a box from his pocket, then presented it to her. “Here’s your Christmas gift!”

to accept it.

brother addresses me as Uncle Alfred, so consider it a gift from your elder! Take it. I

the box and

a pearl necklace that looked expensive at

Alfred shrugged it

heirloom of the Lodge family that was passed down through generations to each successive wife of the Lodge

and Melora faced an uncertain future, yet at this moment, he impulsively wanted to extend this promise to

emotion, Henry looked

obtuse as his sister and knew the true value of that pearl necklace, but he didn’t expose it. At this moment, his phone rang in

number was unfamiliar to him.

The voice on the other end was filled with desperation. “Mr. Miller, please, you have 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

on the line

the

the number. A life is on

for details about the situation

up, he raised his gaze to find Crystal coming midway down the stairs.

shower, but her face was unusually pale.

you heading out?”

gaze met his as he donned his coat, ready to

Henry nodded.

Crystal. I’ll be back

ready! Uncle Alfred

clutched the banister and

composed, but only she knew how much her hands were

she stood before him and said softly, “We’ll ask Uncle Alfred to arrange a helicopter through his connections. I don’t

turned to Alfred.

smoking leisurely, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “I can

shifted to Crystal.

fine. Henry, you promised not to get involved with Lara anymore. Let me handle

She wasn’t naïve.

too much of a coincidence.

playing the

herself in such a perilous situation. After all, if the

didn’t care about Lara’s life, but she

at Henry.

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

he turned

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

crossed Henry’s face.

didn’t think

alarm Skyler. She didn’t want

off to find

She finally spoke her mind.

serious. “Crystal, stop it.”