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 to it.

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

front of a condominium in a nice

driver 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 to Mrs. Miller, please do not hesitate to ask me.

petite face and smiled faintly, saying nothing.

did not have the heart to continue

woman, so eerily reminiscent of

just the barest

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

seconds of intimacy were a test he set for himself.

at how much he truly cared

lost in her music. The surge

their options, and Henry chose

He chose Crystal.

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

foyer, ascending the stairs at a

he gently turned the knob

locked it. The door yielded

soft silk nightgown that shimmered under the lamplight.

was always entranced by

coursing through him and the prolonged dry spell between them

down, held her close, and

did not wake.

be more docile

moments, his hands began

sleep, and met his, focusing on his

saw it-the faint hint of coral lipstick on

mark of another woman.

undiminished, his

face was pale, as

against the soft spot behind her ears, “Still mad at me,

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

His movements faltered.

eyes and admitted, “It was a

her slender fingers deftly undoing two of his shirt buttons to

shade was cunningly

brow furrowed. “It was just a ride. The driver was there. What could have happened?”

on him as well. He removed the tainted

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

even to

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

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

look

lawful wife. Your relationship with her has already crossed the line. If the driver hadn’t been there today, you

heat from the

said, “Why do you paint it so

because I’ve been giving you the cold shoulder. If our relationship

pained Crystal to

could

had drunk a bit too much

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

still, only speaking up when he was

shirt with

in her posture, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she had

ever really been

herself padding

face betraying little emotion. But

matters,

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

that Henry had regained his memories, and yet his first crush had regrettably passed, what man could resist the allure of an

knew what Henry had in mind.

still not married, and she wasn’t bound by the