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

his brows and opened his eyes, making Lara

later, the car stopped in front of a

helped Lara out of

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

face and smiled faintly, saying nothing.

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

so eerily reminiscent of that other, and furthermore, she was Audrey’s younger

with just the barest embrace, he could claim her.

could possess a young and compliant lover, using her as a substitute.

few seconds of intimacy were a

at how much he

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

and Henry chose his family.

He chose Crystal.

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

the

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

hadn’t locked it. The door yielded effortlessly.

silk nightgown that shimmered under the lamplight. Her skin pecked

entranced

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

her close, and kissed her tenderly yet

did not

proved to be more docile in her

his hands began to wander

hazy with sleep, and met

hint of coral lipstick on his

was a mark of another woman.

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

face was pale, as if drained of all blood.

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

there, her body was a vision of allure, yet her

His movements faltered.

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

deftly undoing two of his shirt buttons to reveal the lipstick

shade was cunningly chosen.

just a ride. The driver was

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

he declared, “I haven’t betrayed our

even to be angry.

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

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

to look

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 become

cigarette when the heat from

“Why do

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

pained Crystal to

indeed, could

bit too much that

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

only speaking up when he was about

shirt with

estrangement in her posture, and he couldn’t help but wonder

ever really been in love?

Crystal found herself padding back

novel, her face

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

Audrey from years ago

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

what Henry had in

bound by the