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

eyes, making

front of a condominium in a

out of the

didn’t intend 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 Mrs. Miller, please do not hesitate to ask me. Nothing happened between us!”

at her petite face and smiled faintly, saying

not have the heart to

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

the barest embrace, he could

possess a young and compliant lover, using her as a

to himself that those few seconds of intimacy

was curious at how much he

close to him, all he thought about was Crystal, of her vulnerability when her eyes were closed, lost in her music. The surge

and Henry

He chose Crystal.

he glanced up at the house. In the deepening. night, most of

the stairs at

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

it. The door yielded

shimmered under the lamplight. Her skin pecked through, luminescent and delicate. She had

always entranced

the prolonged dry spell between them stirred a longing.

down, held her close, and kissed her tenderly yet

not

more docile in

few moments, his hands began

her eyes hazy with sleep, and

hint of coral lipstick on his white shirt collar.

was a mark

undiminished, his hands already working at the buttons of her nightgown.

was pale, as

resistance as mere coyness, whispered against the soft spot behind her ears, “Still mad at me, huh?”

allure, yet her voice was

His movements faltered.

eyes and admitted, “It was

undoing two of his shirt buttons to

shade was cunningly chosen.

just a ride. The driver was there.

well. He removed the tainted shirt,

face Crystal, he declared, “I

felt too exhausted even

her eyes as she calmly said. “You did nothing, sure. You just helped her resume her studies, rented her a condominium, paid her tuition, and found her a great job. Tell me, Henry, how is that different

don’t have such intentions.”

look at him.

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

the heat from the ember burned his

said, “Why do you paint

have only come! tonight because I’ve been giving you the cold

pained Crystal to speak her mind.

indeed, could be ugly.

too much that

tonight. Rubbing his temple, he

still, only speaking up when

shirt with

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

really been in

left, Crystal found herself padding back to the couch.

grazed her fingertips over the novel, her face betraying little emotion. But deep within,

in Lara’s matters, she knew this day

and Audrey from

first crush had regrettably passed, what

Henry had in mind.

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