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 one didn’t pay

making Lara fumble to set her

later, the car stopped in front of

out of the

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

petite face and smiled faintly, saying

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

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

barest

possess a young and compliant lover, using her

that those few seconds of intimacy were a

was curious at how much he truly cared for

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.

options, and Henry chose his family.

He chose Crystal.

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

ascending the stairs at a leisurely pace.

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

locked it. The door yielded

the lamplight. Her skin pecked through,

entranced

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

her close, and

did not wake.

more docile in her dreams.

few moments, his hands began to wander more eagerly.

sleep, and met his, focusing on his handsome

hint of coral lipstick

a mark of

seemed undiminished, his hands

go!” Crystal’s face was pale, as

mere coyness, whispered against the soft spot behind her ears, “Still

her body was a vision of allure, yet her

His movements faltered.

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

slender fingers deftly undoing two of his shirt buttons to reveal the lipstick

coral shade was

was just a ride. The driver was

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

he declared, “I haven’t

too exhausted even to

just helped her resume her studies, rented her a condominium, paid her tuition, and

face tensed. “I don’t

refused to look

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

cigarette when the heat from

do you paint it so

been giving you

Crystal to speak her

could be ugly.

drunk a bit too much

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

stood still, only speaking up when he was

shirt

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

they ever really been in

herself padding

her face betraying

in Lara’s matters, she knew this day would come.

encounter between Henry and Audrey from years ago

his memories, and yet his first crush had regrettably passed, what man could resist

Henry had in

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