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.

easily escape one’s eyes if one didn’t

and opened his eyes, making Lara fumble to

the car stopped in front of a condominium in a nice

Lara out

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

at her petite face and smiled faintly, saying nothing.

again, Henry did not have the heart to continue his

that fleeting moment, when Lara had leaned close, he felt it. Here was a young woman, so eerily reminiscent of that other, and furthermore, she was Audrey’s younger

knew, with just the barest embrace, he could

could possess a young and compliant

of intimacy were a test

curious at how much he

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

and

He chose Crystal.

the Miller residence, as Henry stepped out of his car, he glanced up at the house. In the deepening. night,

through the foyer, ascending the

took a look at Skyler and Remi, he gently turned the knob of Crystal’s bedroom

hadn’t locked it. The door yielded

in a soft silk nightgown that shimmered under the lamplight. Her skin pecked through,

was always entranced by her.

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

and kissed her

did not

to be more docile in her

few moments, his hands began to wander more

stirred, her eyes hazy with sleep, and met his, focusing on

then, she saw it-the faint hint of coral lipstick on his white shirt

a mark of another

undiminished,

go!” Crystal’s face was pale, as if drained of all

coyness, whispered against the soft spot behind her

a vision of allure, yet her voice was chilling. “You met Lara today, didn’t

His movements faltered.

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

fingers deftly undoing two of his shirt buttons to

was cunningly chosen.

“It was just a ride. The driver was there. What could have

him as well. He removed the tainted shirt, discarding it in the

Crystal, he declared, “I haven’t betrayed our marriage.”

even to

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

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

refused to look

crossed the line. If the driver hadn’t been there today, you would have tested yourself further.

when the heat from the ember

“Why do you paint it

I’ve been giving you the cold shoulder. If our relationship was going well,

to

indeed, could be ugly.

drunk a bit too much that his head

it further tonight. Rubbing his temple,

up when he

shirt

posture, and he couldn’t help but wonder

ever really been

left, Crystal found herself padding back

novel, her face betraying little

interest in Lara’s matters, she knew this

of the intimate encounter between Henry and Audrey from years ago was a hard

had regained his memories, and yet his first crush had regrettably passed,

knew what Henry had

by the love for her children, she