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

and opened his eyes, making Lara fumble to

in front of a condominium in

out of the

softly, “Mr. Miller, thank you for sending me home. If… if you need me to

her petite face and smiled faintly, saying

car started again, Henry did not have the heart to

had leaned close, he felt it. Here was a young woman, so eerily

just the barest embrace,

compliant

that those few seconds of intimacy were a test

much he truly cared

were closed, lost in her music. The surge of emotions he felt then couldn’t compare to any

options, and

He chose Crystal.

the deepening. night, most of the

the foyer, ascending the stairs

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

The door yielded effortlessly.

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

was always entranced

alcohol coursing through him and the prolonged dry spell between them

her close, and kissed her tenderly

not wake.

proved to be more docile in

moments, his hands began to wander more

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

hint of coral lipstick on

a mark

fixed, unwavering, even as his passion seemed undiminished, his hands already working at the buttons of her nightgown.

Crystal’s face was pale, as if

mere coyness, whispered against the soft

body was a vision of allure, yet her

His movements faltered.

her eyes and admitted, “It was a chance meeting. I gave her

two of his shirt buttons to reveal the

coral shade was cunningly chosen.

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

as well. He removed the tainted shirt, discarding it in

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

felt too exhausted even to be

her studies, rented her

tensed. “I don’t have

to look at

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

a cigarette when the heat from the ember burned his finger.

moment, he said, “Why do you

giving you the cold shoulder. If our relationship was going

pained Crystal to speak her mind.

indeed, could be ugly.

drunk a bit too much that his head throbbed.

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

still, only speaking up when he was about to

your shirt

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

they ever really been in love?

Henry left, Crystal found herself padding back to the

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

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

intimate encounter between Henry and Audrey from years ago was a hard one to crase.

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

knew what Henry had in mind.

bound by the love for her children, she might