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 one

eyes, making Lara fumble to

front

driver helped Lara out of

said softly, “Mr. Miller, thank you for sending me home. If… if you need me

stared at her petite face and

again, Henry did not have the heart to

moment, when Lara had leaned close, he felt it. Here was a young woman, so eerily reminiscent

just the barest embrace, he could claim her.

and compliant lover,

those few seconds of intimacy were a test he set

at how much he truly cared

Crystal, 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 from Lara.

and

He chose Crystal.

his car, he glanced up at the house. In the deepening. night, most of the lights had been snuffed out, but the light from Crystal’s

moved through the foyer, ascending the stairs

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

it. The door

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

was always entranced

alcohol coursing through him and the prolonged dry

down, held her close, and kissed her

did not wake.

proved to be more docile in

a few moments, his hands began

sleep, and met his, focusing on his

of coral lipstick on his

mark

unwavering, even as his passion seemed undiminished, his hands already working

was pale, as

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

yet her voice was chilling.

His movements faltered.

admitted, “It was

adjusted her nightgown, her slender fingers deftly undoing two of his shirt buttons to reveal the

coral shade was

ride. The driver

woman on him as well. He removed

to face Crystal, he declared, “I

felt too exhausted even to

did nothing, sure. You just helped her resume her studies, rented her a condominium, paid

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

look

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

cigarette when the heat

“Why do you paint it so

argue and merely whispered, “The truth is often harsh. Henry, you have only come! tonight because I’ve been giving you the cold shoulder. If our relationship was going

Crystal to speak her

could be

bit too much that his head

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

only speaking up when he was about

shirt with you.”

he couldn’t help but wonder if she had

ever really

Henry left, Crystal found herself padding back

her face betraying little emotion. But deep within, the

matters, she knew this

the intimate encounter between Henry and Audrey from years ago was a hard one to crase.

his first crush had

knew what Henry had

wasn’t bound by the love for