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 pay attention to it.

opened his eyes, making Lara fumble to set

car stopped in front

helped Lara out

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

petite face and smiled faintly,

the car started again, Henry did not have the

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

the barest embrace, he could claim her.

compliant lover, using

seconds of intimacy were a test he set for

at how much he

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

always weighed their options, and Henry

He chose Crystal.

In the deepening. night, most

through the foyer, ascending the stairs at a leisurely

look at Skyler and Remi, he gently

it. The door

nightgown that shimmered under the lamplight. Her skin pecked through, luminescent and delicate. She had fallen asleep holding

entranced by her.

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

down, held her close, and kissed her

did not wake.

more docile in

moments, his hands

hazy with sleep, and met his, focusing on his

she saw it-the faint hint of coral lipstick on

mark of another

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

pale, as if drained of all blood.

resistance as mere coyness, whispered against the soft

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

His movements faltered.

eyes and admitted, “It was

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

was cunningly chosen.

a ride. The

as well. He removed the

he declared, “I haven’t betrayed

even

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

“I don’t

refused to look at

close to you and allowed her to challenge your lawful wife. Your relationship with her has already crossed the line. If the driver

cigarette when the heat from the ember

said, “Why do you paint it so

have only come! tonight because I’ve been giving you the cold shoulder. If our relationship

Crystal to speak her

indeed, could be ugly.

bit too much that his

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

stood still, only speaking up when he was about to exit.

shirt

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

they ever really been

left, Crystal found herself padding back

her fingertips over the novel, her face betraying

in Lara’s matters, she knew this day

memory of the intimate encounter between 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

knew what Henry

were still not married, and she wasn’t bound by the love for her children, she might have fought. their