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.

one’s eyes if one didn’t

furrowed his brows and opened his eyes, making Lara fumble to set her

front

helped Lara out of the

of the car. Lara bowed and said softly, “Mr. Miller, thank you for sending me home. If… if you

stared at her petite face and

started again, Henry did not have the heart to

young woman, so eerily reminiscent of that other, and furthermore, she was

with just the barest embrace,

a young and compliant lover, using her

few seconds of intimacy were a test he

at how much he

thought about was Crystal, of her vulnerability when her eyes were closed, lost in

always weighed their options, and Henry chose

He chose Crystal.

car, he glanced up at the house. In the

the foyer, ascending the

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

The door yielded effortlessly.

reclined on the couch, adorned in a soft silk nightgown that shimmered under the lamplight. Her skin pecked through, luminescent and delicate. She had

was always entranced

and the prolonged

held her close, and kissed her tenderly

not wake.

to be more docile in

few moments, his hands began

sleep, and met his, focusing on his handsome visage.

of coral lipstick on his white

a mark

passion seemed undiminished, his

pale, as if

soft

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

His movements faltered.

“It was

her nightgown, her slender fingers deftly undoing two

shade was

a ride. The driver was there. What could have

well. He removed the

he declared, “I haven’t betrayed our marriage.”

felt too exhausted even

studies, rented her a condominium, paid her tuition, and found her

don’t have

look at

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 would have tested yourself further. You might have followed her back to her condominium, let her remove your coat, perhaps even indulged her advances. She could have become your lover, a substitute for… Audrey.”

cigarette when the heat from the

said, “Why do you

Henry, you have only come! tonight because I’ve been giving you the cold shoulder. If our relationship was going well,

to speak her

could be

a bit too much that his head throbbed.

tonight. Rubbing

still, only speaking up when he was

your shirt with you.”

seeing just the estrangement in her posture, and he couldn’t help but

really been

Crystal found herself padding back

fingertips over the novel, her face betraying

matters,

Audrey from years ago was a hard one

crush had regrettably passed, what man could resist the allure

Henry had in

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