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.

escape one’s eyes if one didn’t pay attention

and opened his eyes, making

an hour later, the car stopped in front of

driver helped Lara out of the car.

didn’t intend to get out of the car. Lara bowed and said softly, “Mr. Miller, thank you for sending me home. If…

at her petite face and smiled faintly,

Henry did not have

woman, so eerily reminiscent of that other, and furthermore, she

knew, with just the barest embrace, he could

young and compliant lover,

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

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

weighed their options, and Henry

He chose Crystal.

at the house. In the deepening. night, most of the lights

through the foyer, ascending the

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

hadn’t locked it. The door

adorned in a soft silk nightgown that shimmered under the lamplight. Her

entranced

alcohol coursing through him and the prolonged dry spell between them stirred a

her close, and kissed her

did not wake.

more docile in her dreams.

few moments, his hands began to

hazy with sleep, and met his, focusing on his handsome visage.

then, she saw it-the faint hint of coral

mark of another woman.

his passion seemed undiminished, his

as if drained of all

the soft spot behind her ears, “Still

yet her voice

His movements faltered.

“It was a chance meeting. I gave her a

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

shade was

just a ride. The driver was there. What could

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

he declared, “I

too exhausted even to

her resume her studies, rented her a condominium, paid her tuition, and found her a

don’t have such

look

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 lover, a

lighting a cigarette when the heat from the ember burned

“Why do you

you the cold shoulder. If our relationship was going well, an like

to speak

indeed, could

drunk a bit too

it further tonight. Rubbing his temple, he

still, only speaking up when he was

shirt

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

they ever really been in love?

left, Crystal found herself padding back to the couch.

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

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

between Henry and Audrey from years ago was a hard

his first crush had regrettably passed, what man could resist the allure of

Henry had

and she wasn’t bound by the