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.

escape one’s eyes if one didn’t

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

car stopped in front of a condominium

out of the

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 between us!”

at her petite face and smiled faintly, saying

started again, Henry did not have the heart to

was a young woman, so eerily reminiscent of that

just the barest embrace, he could

compliant

himself that those few seconds of intimacy were a test

much he truly cared

about was Crystal, of her vulnerability when her eyes were closed, lost in her music. The

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

foyer, ascending the stairs at a leisurely

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

The door yielded

under the lamplight. Her skin

was always entranced by

the prolonged dry spell between them

held her close, and

did not wake.

be more

his hands began to wander

eyes hazy with sleep, and met

saw it-the faint hint of coral lipstick

mark

passion seemed undiminished, his hands already working at the buttons of

go!” Crystal’s face was pale, as if

as mere coyness, whispered against the soft spot behind

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

His movements faltered.

and admitted, “It was a chance

fingers deftly undoing two of his shirt buttons

was cunningly chosen.

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

on him as well. He removed the

to face Crystal, he declared, “I

even

rented her a condominium, paid her

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

refused to look at

by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the night, and 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

lighting a cigarette when the heat from the ember burned his

a moment, he said, “Why do

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

pained Crystal to speak

indeed, could

a bit too much that his head

he felt no point in discussing it further tonight. Rubbing

still, only speaking up when he

your shirt

he couldn’t help but wonder if she had ever

ever really been

herself padding back

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

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

encounter between Henry and Audrey from years ago was a

had regrettably passed, what man could resist

knew what Henry

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