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

eyes, making Lara fumble to

front of

helped Lara out

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

at her petite face and smiled faintly, saying nothing.

not have the heart to continue his пар.

when Lara had leaned close, he felt it. Here was a young woman, so eerily reminiscent of that other, and furthermore, she was Audrey’s younger sister.

just the barest embrace, he could

young and compliant lover, using her as

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

much he truly cared

were closed, lost in her music. The surge of emotions he felt then couldn’t

options, and

He chose Crystal.

at the house. In the deepening. night, most of

ascending the

took a look at Skyler and Remi, he gently

locked it. The door yielded

that shimmered under the lamplight. Her skin

always entranced

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

her close, and kissed her

did not wake.

to be more docile in her

few moments, his hands began to wander

hazy with sleep, and met his,

faint hint of coral lipstick

was a mark of another woman.

seemed undiminished, his hands already working

pale, as if drained

against the soft spot behind her ears,

a vision of allure, yet her voice was chilling.

His movements faltered.

and admitted, “It was a chance meeting. I

undoing two of his shirt buttons to reveal the lipstick

was

The driver was there. What could have happened?”

scent of another woman on him as well.

Crystal, he declared, “I

exhausted even to be angry.

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 a mistress?”

tensed. “I don’t have

to look at him.

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

cigarette when the heat from the ember

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

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

to speak her

indeed, could be

a bit too much that his head throbbed.

it further tonight. Rubbing his temple, he said. “Let’s talk tomorrow. Get some rest.”

when he was about

shirt with

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

really been

found herself

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

an interest in Lara’s matters, she knew this

intimate encounter between Henry and Audrey from years ago was a hard one to

his first crush had regrettably passed, what man

what Henry had in

they were still not married, and she wasn’t bound by the