Crystal's One Night of Love

Henry found himself engulfed in the constant swirl of his demanding job and the social obligations that came with it.

Frustrated, he drank, letting the intoxicating liquid cloud his thoughts more than he should have. The world seemed to sway as he staggered toward his car.

His driver, unfamiliar with his personal life, remarked as he opened the door for Henry, “Mr. Miller, you’ve had one too many. Miss Winters won’t be pleased. Women seldom are when their men are inebriated.”

Leaning into the plush upholstery of the backseat, Henry pulled out a cigarette, letting its familiar scent wrap around him.

He lit the cigarette. As the smoke danced from his lips, he murmured with a hint of irony, “As if she cares.”

Being married to Crystal felt as lonely as being single.

Crystal was indifferent toward him.

It had been a few months since they were intimate with each other.

She refused to let him touch her.

It was only normal for couples to fight every now and then. However, she had resolved to move to another room. It wasn’t just the lack of physical connection. Even a mere conversation with her felt like scaling a mountain.

Not wanting to wade into those deep waters, the driver simply resumed his place behind the wheel.

Just as he was about to depart, a mellifluous voice floated through the air. “Mr. Miller!”

Henry turned, and there, limping unevenly with a cane, was Lara.

She traced his gaze that landed on her injured leg. “The doctor says it’ll heal in a couple of months with no lasting damage.”

She flashed him a woeful smile, expecting, perhaps, even hoping, that he might have visited her during his wife’s cold spell.

Yet, he never did.

However, that was all right. If he wouldn’t come to me, I’ll just find a way to him.

Acknowledging her with a nod, Henry instructed his driver to drive away.

The driver nodded and turned the car around. Lara’s lips twisted into a smirk as the luxurious car pulled away.

She released her grip on the cane, crumbling to the ground in a display of vulnerability.

Henry caught sight of it. He furrowed his brows slightly and ordered to stop the car after a brief moment. of consideration.

The driver was stumped.

In an impassive voice, he ordered, “Help her into the car and send her back home.”

The driver replied hesitatingly, “Miss Winters won’t be pleased if she knows of this.”

Intoxicated, Henry said in a rather exasperated tone, “She won’t know if you keep your mouth shut. Besides, I’m only asking you to send her home.”

The driver bit his tongue and got out of the car to help Lara.

Lara sat beside Henry.

He closed his eyes and did not speak to her, but they were in such close proximity to each other that she could smell the faint scent of pine on him.

She stealthily turned aside to sneak a peek at him, drinking in Henry’s chiseled features.

His side profile was perfect, exuding an air of nobility.

Lara couldn’t help but eye in wonder at the luxurious interior of the car.

She pictured herself being together with Henry. Her cheeks were tinged pink as she leaned in to take in his heavenly scent, imagining herself underneath him…

Will his face contort in ecstasy as he presses down on me?

Lara felt warm tingles all over her body just thinking about it.

An audacious thought flitted across her mind as she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on his pristine white shirt, leaving behind the faintest trace of her coral lipstick.

if one

and opened his eyes, making Lara fumble to set

front of a condominium

out of

Miller, thank you for sending me home. If… if you need me to explain to Mrs. Miller, please do not hesitate to ask me.

her petite face and smiled faintly, saying nothing.

not have the heart to

Here was a young woman, so eerily reminiscent of that other, and furthermore, she was Audrey’s younger sister. Her attentiveness

just the barest

a young and compliant lover, using

of intimacy

at how much he truly cared for Crystal.

leaned close to him, all he thought about was Crystal, of her vulnerability when her eyes were closed, lost in her music. The surge

always weighed their options, and Henry

He chose Crystal.

Miller residence, as Henry stepped out of his car, he glanced up at the house. In the deepening. night, most of the lights had

the stairs at

and Remi, he gently turned the knob of Crystal’s bedroom door.

The door yielded

in a soft silk nightgown that shimmered under the lamplight. Her skin pecked through,

entranced by her.

coursing through him and the prolonged dry spell between them stirred a

and kissed her tenderly

not

to be more docile in her dreams.

his hands began to wander more

eyes hazy with sleep, and met

it-the faint hint of coral lipstick on

a mark of

even as his passion seemed undiminished, his hands already working at the

was pale, as if drained of

soft spot

a vision of allure, yet her voice was chilling. “You met Lara today,

His movements faltered.

into her eyes and admitted, “It was a chance meeting. I gave

undoing two of his shirt buttons to reveal the lipstick stain.

shade was cunningly chosen.

furrowed. “It was just a ride. The driver

lingering scent of another woman on him as well. He

declared, “I haven’t

too exhausted even to be

her resume her studies, rented her a condominium, paid her tuition, and found her a great job. Tell me, Henry, how is that different from keeping

don’t have such

refused to look at him.

get close to you and allowed her to challenge your lawful wife. Your relationship with her has already crossed the line. If the driver hadn’t been there today, you

heat

he said, “Why do you

you the cold shoulder. If our relationship

Crystal to

could be ugly.

drunk a bit too much that his head

it further tonight. Rubbing

up when he was about to

your shirt

just the estrangement in her posture, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she had ever truly loved

ever really been

Crystal found herself

over the novel, her face betraying

matters, she knew this day

Henry and Audrey from years ago was a hard one to crase.

that Henry had regained his memories, and yet his first crush had regrettably passed, what

Henry had in

not married, and she wasn’t bound by the love for her children,