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.

not he could

mattered was

ground floor

dishes. The dining hall radiated a festive air of Christmas After checking on Remi,

already half-past seven in

illuminating the

heart melted. He scooped up his daughter

his financial magazine to her delicate and

Crystal a

her father’s intense gaze. Skyler fiddled with her fingers. “Daddy, you’re good- looking, but I think Christopher is more

patted her on her

cheeks flushed. Skyler leaned on Henry’s

David right then, looking

relationship he shared with Berthold wasn’t as close as

that moment, Melora and Berthold

making ends meet. With her parents helping her take care of the child, she

missed her, but he understood his

and said to the two children. “Come here and get

forward, and she was rewarded with a

bashful. He always perceived Alfred as a stern man. “Go on!” Melora

and approached Alfred. “Great-Uncle

atmosphere grew a

the boy’s head and handed over the gift. He said

nodded, seemingly understanding yet

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

ruffled Skyler’s

She takes

Berthold along to open their gifts together.

descended

pocket, then presented it to her. “Here’s

refused to accept it.

as Uncle Alfred, so consider it a gift from your elder! Take it. I rarely come over, and I’ll be leaving tomorrow. Who knows when I’ll be back again?”

the box and

the box lay a pearl necklace that

but Alfred shrugged it off, downplaying

didn’t 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

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

with emotion, Henry looked

knew the true value of that pearl necklace, but

unfamiliar

answer it. 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 hard to rescue her

the

clutched the

the number. A

He asked for details about the situation and

his gaze to find Crystal coming

looked relaxed after her shower, but her face was unusually

you heading

met his as he donned his coat, ready to step

Henry nodded.

got something to do with us, Crystal. I’ll be back after dealing with

is ready! Uncle Alfred is leaving

clutched the banister and

but only she knew how much

Alfred to arrange a helicopter through his

to Alfred.

smoking leisurely, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

shifted to

trust it’ll be fine. Henry, you promised not to get involved with Lara anymore. Let me handle this,

She wasn’t naïve.

much

was just playing

herself in such a perilous situation. After all, if the helicopter didn’t arrive, she would really freeze to death in the

about Lara’s life, but she did care about

at Henry.

Uncle Alfred comes here. Let him enjoy dinner with you guys. I’ll go take a look and will be

he turned to

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

crossed Henry’s face.

didn’t

She didn’t want to

were just talking about 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 you. Henry, are you

She finally spoke her mind.

“Crystal, stop