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.

one’s eyes if one didn’t pay

his eyes, making Lara

an hour later, the car stopped in front

helped Lara out

the car. Lara bowed and said softly, “Mr. Miller, thank you for sending me home. If… if you need me to explain

her petite face and

car started again, Henry did not have the heart to continue his

eerily reminiscent

the barest

a young and compliant lover, using her as a substitute.

that those few seconds of intimacy were a test he set for himself.

was curious at how much he

Crystal, of her vulnerability when her eyes were closed, lost in her music. The surge of emotions he felt then

always weighed their options, and Henry

He chose Crystal.

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

Remi, he gently turned the knob of Crystal’s bedroom door.

locked it. The door yielded

on the couch, adorned in 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 by

through him and the prolonged dry spell

down, held her close, and kissed her tenderly yet

not

be more docile in her

hands began to wander more eagerly.

with sleep, and met his, focusing on his handsome

of coral lipstick on his white shirt

was a mark

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

face was pale, as if drained

resistance as mere coyness, whispered against the soft spot behind her ears,

yet her voice was chilling. “You met

His movements faltered.

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

undoing two of his shirt buttons to reveal the lipstick stain.

coral shade was

just a ride. The driver

loathed the lingering scent of another woman on him as well. He removed the tainted shirt, discarding it in the

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

even to

her

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

refused to look at

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

the heat

a moment, he said, “Why do you paint it

truth is often harsh. Henry, you have only come! tonight because I’ve been giving you the

to

indeed, could

had drunk a bit too much that

he felt no point in discussing it further tonight. Rubbing

when he

shirt with you.”

her posture, and he couldn’t help

really been

herself padding back to the

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

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

Audrey from years ago was

yet his first crush had regrettably passed, what man could

knew what Henry had in

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