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.

would easily escape one’s eyes if one didn’t pay attention to

his brows and opened his eyes, making

in front of a condominium in

out

home. If… if you need me

petite face and smiled

Henry did not have the heart to continue his

young woman, so eerily reminiscent of that

with just the barest

could possess a young and compliant lover, using

those few seconds of intimacy were

at how much he

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

options, and Henry chose

He chose Crystal.

stepped out of his car, he glanced up at the house. In the deepening. night, most of the lights had been snuffed out, but the light from

through the foyer, ascending the stairs at a

and Remi, he gently turned the knob

hadn’t locked it. The door yielded effortlessly.

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

was always entranced

and the prolonged dry

and kissed

not

proved to be more docile in

moments, his hands began to

sleep, and

hint of coral

a mark of

fixed, unwavering, even as his passion seemed undiminished, his hands already working at the buttons of her nightgown.

go!” Crystal’s face was pale, as if drained of all

as mere coyness, whispered against the soft spot behind her ears, “Still mad at me,

a vision of allure, yet her voice was chilling. “You met Lara today, didn’t

His movements faltered.

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

two of his shirt buttons

was

was just a ride. The driver was there. What could have happened?”

scent of another woman on him as well. He removed the tainted shirt,

face Crystal, he declared, “I haven’t betrayed

too exhausted even

eyes as she calmly said. “You did nothing, sure. You just helped her resume her studies, rented her

tensed. “I don’t

look at

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

cigarette when the heat from the

said, “Why do

only come! tonight because I’ve been giving you the cold shoulder. If

pained Crystal to

could

had drunk a bit too much that his

no point in discussing it further tonight. Rubbing his temple, he said. “Let’s talk tomorrow.

speaking up when

shirt with you.”

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

ever really been in

left, Crystal found herself padding back to the

her fingertips over the novel, her face betraying little emotion. But deep within,

had taken an interest in Lara’s matters, she knew this day would

of the intimate encounter between Henry and Audrey from

yet his first crush had

knew what Henry had

the love for her