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 one didn’t pay attention to it.

and opened his eyes, making Lara fumble to set her back straight.

front of a condominium

Lara out of

me home. If… if you need me to explain to Mrs. Miller, please

face and

not have the

he felt it. Here was a young woman, so eerily reminiscent of that

the barest

compliant lover, using her as a substitute.

seconds of intimacy were

how much

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

always weighed their options, and

He chose Crystal.

the Miller residence, as Henry 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

the stairs at a leisurely

Remi, he gently turned the knob of

it. The

nightgown that shimmered under the lamplight. Her skin pecked through, luminescent

entranced

coursing through him and the prolonged dry spell between

held her close, and kissed her

not wake.

more

moments, his hands began to wander more eagerly.

and met his,

saw it-the faint hint of coral lipstick on

was a mark of

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

was pale, as if drained of all

against the soft spot behind her ears, “Still mad at

there, her body was a vision of allure, yet her voice was chilling. “You met Lara

His movements faltered.

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

her nightgown, her slender fingers deftly undoing two of his shirt buttons to reveal the

was cunningly

brow furrowed. “It was just a ride. The driver

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

to face Crystal, he declared,

too exhausted even

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

tensed. “I don’t have

to look at

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

was lighting a cigarette when the heat from the ember burned his

do you paint it so ugly,

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

to speak

could

bit too much that his head

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

speaking up when he was about to

your shirt with you.”

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

ever really been in love?

herself padding

her fingertips over the novel, her face betraying little emotion.

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

Henry and Audrey from years ago was a

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

what Henry had in mind.

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