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.

eyes if one didn’t pay attention to it.

making Lara fumble to

in front of a condominium in a

out of

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. Nothing happened between us!”

stared at her petite face and smiled

car started again, Henry did not have the heart to continue

leaned close, he felt it. Here was a young woman, so eerily reminiscent of that other, and furthermore, she was Audrey’s younger sister. Her attentiveness to him

knew, with just the barest embrace, he could claim her.

compliant lover,

admitted to himself that those few seconds of intimacy were a test he

at how much he truly cared for

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

weighed their options, and Henry

He chose Crystal.

Henry stepped out of his car, he glanced up at the house. In the deepening. night, most of the

the stairs

a look at Skyler and Remi, he gently turned the knob of Crystal’s

locked it. The

the lamplight. Her skin

entranced by her.

him and the prolonged dry spell between them stirred

close, and kissed her tenderly

did not wake.

to be more docile in her dreams.

a few moments, his hands began to wander

and met his, focusing

then, she saw it-the faint hint of coral lipstick on his white shirt collar.

was a mark of another

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

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

soft spot behind her

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

His movements faltered.

“It was a chance meeting. I gave her a lift.”

adjusted her nightgown, her slender fingers deftly undoing two of

was cunningly

The driver was there. What could have

on him as well. He removed the tainted shirt, discarding it

to face Crystal, he declared,

too exhausted even to

did nothing, sure. You just helped her resume her studies, rented her a condominium, paid her

face tensed. “I don’t have such intentions.”

to look at him.

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

lighting a cigarette when the heat from the ember burned

moment, he said, “Why do

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 you’ll resist her advances.”

Crystal to speak her mind.

indeed, could

had drunk a bit too much that his head

her silhouette, he felt no point in discussing it further tonight. Rubbing his temple, he said. “Let’s

when

shirt with

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

really been in

Crystal found herself padding back to

grazed her fingertips over the novel, her face betraying

interest in Lara’s matters, she knew this

and Audrey from years ago was a hard

that Henry had regained his memories, and yet his first crush had regrettably passed, what man could resist the allure of

Henry had in mind.

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