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.

eyes if one didn’t pay attention to

brows and opened his eyes, making Lara fumble to set

in front of a condominium in a nice neighborhood.

out of the

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

merely stared at her petite face and smiled faintly, saying

not have

young woman, so eerily reminiscent of that other, and furthermore, she was Audrey’s younger sister. Her attentiveness to him

the barest embrace, he

young and compliant lover, using her as a substitute.

seconds of intimacy were a test

was curious at how much he truly cared for Crystal.

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

and Henry

He chose Crystal.

stepped out of 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

the foyer, ascending the stairs at a leisurely

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

hadn’t locked it. The door yielded

couch, adorned in a soft silk nightgown that shimmered under the lamplight. Her skin pecked through, luminescent and delicate.

always entranced

through him and the prolonged dry spell between them stirred a longing.

leaned down, held her close, and kissed

did not

proved to be more docile in her dreams.

hands began to wander more

her eyes hazy with sleep, and met his, focusing

saw it-the faint hint of coral

was a mark of another woman.

his passion seemed undiminished, his

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

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

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

His movements faltered.

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

two of his shirt buttons to reveal the lipstick

was cunningly

furrowed. “It was just a ride. The

of another woman on him as well. He removed

he declared,

exhausted even to be

calmly said. “You did nothing, sure. You just helped her resume her studies, rented her a condominium, paid her tuition, and found her a great

face tensed. “I don’t have such

refused to look

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

lighting a cigarette when the heat from the

he said, “Why do you paint it

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

to

indeed, could

too much that

he felt no point in discussing it further tonight. Rubbing his temple, he said. “Let’s talk tomorrow. Get

up when he was

shirt with

he couldn’t help but wonder if she had ever truly

ever really been in

Henry left, Crystal found herself padding back to

novel, her face

matters, she knew this day would come.

Audrey from years ago was a hard one to

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

knew what Henry had

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