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.

easily escape one’s eyes if one didn’t pay

his brows and opened his eyes, making Lara fumble

in front of a condominium in

Lara out of

intend to get out of the car. Lara bowed and said softly, “Mr. 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

again, Henry did not have the

woman, so eerily reminiscent of that other, and furthermore,

the barest

could possess a young and compliant lover, using her as

few seconds of intimacy were a test he set for himself.

how much he

to him, all he thought about was Crystal, of her vulnerability when her eyes were closed, lost in her music. The surge of emotions he felt then couldn’t compare to any amount of attention from Lara.

weighed their options, and Henry chose

He chose Crystal.

his car, he glanced up at the house. In the deepening. night, most of the lights had been

through the foyer, ascending the stairs at a leisurely

he took a look at Skyler and Remi, he gently turned the

it. The door yielded effortlessly.

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

entranced by her.

prolonged dry spell between them

and

did not

to be more docile in her dreams.

few moments, his hands began

eyes hazy with sleep, and

of coral

mark of

was fixed, unwavering, even as his passion seemed undiminished, his hands

face was pale, as if drained of all

whispered against the soft spot behind her ears,

there, her body was a vision of allure, yet her voice was chilling. “You met

His movements faltered.

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

her slender fingers deftly undoing two of his shirt buttons to

coral shade was

The driver was there. What could have happened?”

loathed the lingering scent of another woman on him as well. He removed the tainted shirt, discarding it

Crystal, he declared, “I

felt too exhausted even to be

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

don’t have such intentions.”

look at him.

the night, and murmured. “You let her 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 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

cigarette when the heat from

moment, he said, “Why do you paint it so

whispered, “The truth is often harsh. Henry, you have only come! tonight because I’ve been giving you the cold shoulder. If our relationship was going well, an like Lara showed up, I doubt that

pained Crystal to speak

indeed, could be ugly.

bit too much that his head throbbed.

further tonight. Rubbing his

stood still, only speaking up when he

your shirt with you.”

he couldn’t help but wonder if she had

they ever really been

found herself padding

novel, her face

matters, she knew this day would come.

Henry and Audrey from

first crush had regrettably passed, what man could resist the allure

knew what Henry

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