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.

if

making Lara fumble to

later, the car stopped in front

helped Lara out of

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

stared at her petite face

Henry did not have the heart to continue

woman, so eerily reminiscent of

barest

compliant lover, using her as a

himself that those few seconds of intimacy were

at how much he

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

their options, and

He chose Crystal.

at the house. In the deepening. night, most of the lights had been snuffed out, but the light from Crystal’s room still

through the foyer, ascending the stairs at a leisurely

he gently turned

it. The

a soft silk nightgown that shimmered under the lamplight. Her skin pecked through, luminescent and delicate.

entranced by her.

alcohol coursing through him and the prolonged

close, and kissed

did not wake.

be more

his hands began to wander more eagerly.

her eyes hazy with sleep, and met his, focusing on

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

mark

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

was pale, as

mistaking her resistance as mere coyness, whispered against the soft spot behind

a vision of allure, yet

His movements faltered.

admitted, “It was a chance meeting.

adjusted her nightgown, her slender fingers deftly undoing two of his shirt buttons to reveal the lipstick stain.

coral shade was

just a ride. The driver was

well. He removed the tainted shirt, discarding

declared, “I haven’t betrayed

felt too exhausted even to

calmly said. “You did nothing, sure. You just helped her resume her studies, rented her a condominium, paid her tuition, and found her

“I don’t have

look

relationship with her has already crossed the line. If the driver hadn’t been there today, you

the heat from the ember burned his finger.

“Why do you paint it

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

pained Crystal to speak

could

too much

he felt no point in discussing it further tonight. Rubbing his

up when he was about to

shirt with you.”

her posture, and he couldn’t

really been in

Crystal found herself padding

novel, her face betraying little emotion. But

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

memory of the intimate encounter between Henry and Audrey from years ago was a

had regrettably passed,

knew what Henry had in

not married, and she wasn’t bound by the love for her children, she might have fought. their