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

mattered was

while the ground floor

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

half-past seven in the

illuminating

heart melted. He scooped up his daughter in his arms

from his financial magazine to her delicate and

Crystal

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

on her

cheeks flushed. Skyler

right then,

close as this. That boy was rather

that moment, Melora and Berthold came

no longer grappling with the challenges of making ends meet. With her parents helping her take care of the child, she

he understood his place.

to the two children. “Come here and

forward, and she was

man. “Go on!” Melora reassured him with

his courage and approached

grew a little awkward.

head and handed over the gift. He said in a

understanding yet not quite.

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

Skyler’s hair.

clever child! She takes after her father.

Berthold along to open their gifts

slowly descended the

retrieved a box from his pocket, then presented it to

refused to accept

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

the box

the box lay a pearl necklace that looked expensive at first glance.

rejected it, but Alfred shrugged it

Lodge family that was passed down through generations to each

at this moment, he impulsively wanted to

Henry looked on from

true value of that pearl necklace, but he didn’t

unfamiliar to him.

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 without a helicopter, and she might freeze to death out there! She tried

person on the

clutched the phone.

Crystal blacklisted the number.

for details about the situation

gaze to find Crystal coming midway down the

after her shower, but

heading

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

Henry nodded.

us, Crystal. I’ll be back after

ready! Uncle Alfred is

banister and descended slowly.

but only she knew

ask Uncle Alfred to arrange a helicopter through his connections. I don’t think

to

a faint smile tugging

shifted to

Uncle Alfred’s help, you can trust it’ll be fine. Henry,

She wasn’t naïve.

too much of a coincidence.

just playing the

After all, if the helicopter

but she did care about

at

hand, brushing her cheek tenderly. In a gentle voice, he said. “It’s not often that Uncle Alfred comes here. Let him enjoy dinner with you guys. I’ll go take a look and will be back

turned to

“Are all these loved ones and this festive atmosphere not enough to keep you here? Or

faint frown crossed

didn’t

alarm Skyler. She didn’t want to create an awkward situation for the elders during Christmas

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 with

finally spoke her mind.

“Crystal, stop