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

not he could remember the past.

was their

her shower while the ground floor of the Miller residence buzzed with

The dining hall radiated a festive air of Christmas After checking on Remi, Henry descended

half-past seven

illuminating the sky.

whose heart

would wander from his financial magazine to her delicate

resembled Crystal a lot.

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

patted her on her

her cheeks flushed. Skyler

entered with David right then, looking pensive.

with Berthold wasn’t as close as this. That boy was rather

that moment, Melora and Berthold came

the challenges of making ends meet. With her parents helping her take care

but he understood

children. “Come here

forward, and she was rewarded with

Alfred as a stern man. “Go on!” Melora reassured him with a pat on his

and approached

grew a

embarrassment crossed Alfred’s face, but he tenderly patted the boy’s head and handed over the gift. He said in a gruff voice. “You

nodded, seemingly understanding yet

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

Skyler’s hair.

clever child! She takes after her father.

to open their

slowly descended the

a box from his pocket, then presented it

to accept

a gift from your elder! Take it. I rarely

the box

pearl necklace that looked

Alfred shrugged it off,

piece was a cherished heirloom of the Lodge family that was passed down

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

the air crackled with emotion, Henry looked on from a distance.

of that pearl necklace, but he didn’t expose

unfamiliar to

thought for a while before deciding to 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

on the line

clutched the

After that, Crystal blacklisted the number. A life is

He asked for details about the situation and

up, he raised his gaze to find Crystal coming

her shower, but her face was unusually

you heading

his as he donned his coat, ready to step outside.

Henry nodded.

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

is ready! Uncle Alfred is

the banister and descended slowly.

she knew how

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

turned to Alfred.

was smoking leisurely, a faint smile tugging

shifted to Crystal.

gentle as she said, “With Uncle Alfred’s help, you can trust it’ll be fine. Henry,

She wasn’t naïve.

much of a coincidence.

was just playing

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

care about Lara’s life, but she did care about family harmony.

stared at

brushing her cheek tenderly. In a gentle voice, he said. “It’s not often that Uncle Alfred comes here. Let him enjoy dinner with

that, he turned to

all these loved ones and this festive atmosphere not enough to keep you here? Or is it that you don’t trust

frown crossed

didn’t think

gaze, not wanting to alarm Skyler. She didn’t want

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 truly

finally spoke her

serious. “Crystal, stop it.”