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 didn’t pay attention

his brows and opened his eyes, making Lara fumble to set her back straight.

the car stopped in front of a condominium in

out of the car.

for sending me home. If… if you need me to explain to

face and smiled faintly, saying nothing.

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

Lara had leaned close, he felt it. Here was a young woman, so eerily reminiscent of that other, and furthermore, she

barest embrace, he could claim

possess a young and compliant lover, using her as

few seconds of intimacy were a test he set

was curious at how much he truly cared for Crystal.

eyes were closed, lost in her music. The surge

and Henry chose his

He chose Crystal.

out of his car, he glanced up at the house. In the deepening. night, most of the lights had been snuffed

the foyer, ascending the stairs at

a look at Skyler and Remi, he gently

The door yielded effortlessly.

the lamplight. Her skin pecked through,

always entranced

through him and the prolonged dry spell between them

close, and kissed her

not

be more docile in her

few moments, his hands began

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

she saw it-the faint hint of

mark of another woman.

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

was pale, as if drained of all blood.

against the soft spot behind her ears, “Still mad

yet her voice was chilling. “You met

His movements faltered.

looked into her eyes and admitted, “It was a chance

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

coral shade was

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

woman on him as well.

face Crystal, he declared,

felt too exhausted even to be

just helped her resume her studies, rented her a condominium, paid her

tensed. “I don’t

refused to look at

by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the night, and murmured. “You let her get close to you and allowed her to challenge 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 might have followed her back to her condominium, let her remove your coat, perhaps even indulged her advances. She could have become your

when the heat from the ember burned his

said, “Why do you paint

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

pained Crystal to speak

indeed, could be ugly.

bit too

in discussing it further tonight. Rubbing his temple, he said. “Let’s talk tomorrow. Get some

stood still, only speaking up when he was about

shirt

the estrangement in her posture, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she had ever truly loved

really been in love?

herself

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

in Lara’s matters, she knew

of the intimate encounter between Henry and Audrey from years ago

first crush had regrettably passed, what man

knew what Henry had in mind.

not married, and she wasn’t bound by the love for her children, she might have