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

not he could remember

mattered was their

upstairs for her shower while the ground floor

radiated a festive air of Christmas After checking

was already half-past seven in

begun illuminating

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

eyes would wander from his financial magazine to her delicate

resembled Crystal

with her fingers. “Daddy, you’re

on

cheeks flushed. Skyler leaned on Henry’s shoulder.

right then, looking pensive.

close as this. That boy was rather shy,

that moment, Melora and Berthold came down the stairs.

making ends meet. With her parents helping her take care of the child, she regained her former radiance. There

missed her, but he understood his place.

to the two children. “Come

she was rewarded with a large gift.

seemed bashful. He always perceived Alfred as a stern man. “Go on!” Melora reassured him with a pat on

courage and approached Alfred.

a

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

understanding yet not quite. “Daddy!”

uncle Alfred. But Great-uncle Alfred and Aunt

Skyler’s hair.

a clever child! She takes after her father.

tugged Berthold along to open their

slowly descended the stairs.

retrieved a box from his pocket, then presented it to

refused to

elder! Take it. I rarely come over, and I’ll be leaving tomorrow.

box and opened

pearl necklace that looked

quickly rejected it, but Alfred shrugged it off, downplaying

he 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

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

emotion, Henry looked on from

of that pearl necklace, but he didn’t expose it. At this moment, his phone rang in his pocket.

number was unfamiliar to

slipped off a

person on the line was

clutched the phone.

calls… After that, Crystal blacklisted the number. A

hesitation, Henry agreed to help. He asked for details about the situation

raised his gaze to

after her shower, but her face was unusually

you heading

donned his

Henry nodded.

us, Crystal. I’ll be

Alfred is leaving tomorrow

the banister

she knew

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

to Alfred.

smoking leisurely, a faint smile tugging

gaze shifted

fine. Henry, you

She wasn’t naïve.

much of

just playing the victim.

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

life, but she did

at

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

that, he turned

ones and this festive atmosphere not enough to keep you here? Or

frown crossed Henry’s face.

I didn’t think so.”

She didn’t want to create an awkward situation for the elders during

out, “You 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 truly trying to do what’s right or are you just too in love

said it. She finally spoke

looked serious. “Crystal, stop it.”