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 to it.

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

stopped in front of a condominium

helped Lara out of the

didn’t intend to 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 not hesitate to ask me. Nothing

her petite face and

did not

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

just the barest

a young and compliant lover, using

of intimacy were

at how much he truly

closed, lost in her music. The surge of emotions he felt

options, and

He chose Crystal.

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

moved through the foyer, ascending the stairs at

took a look at Skyler and Remi, he gently

hadn’t locked it. The door yielded effortlessly.

under the lamplight. Her skin pecked through, luminescent and delicate. She had fallen asleep holding

entranced

him and the prolonged dry spell

close, and kissed her

not

more docile in

moments, his hands

her eyes hazy with sleep, and met

hint of coral lipstick on his

mark of another woman.

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

face was pale, as if drained

as mere coyness, whispered against the soft

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

His movements faltered.

he looked into her eyes and admitted, “It was

her nightgown, her slender fingers deftly undoing two of

coral shade was cunningly

The driver was there. What could

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

Crystal, he declared, “I haven’t betrayed

exhausted even to be angry.

helped her resume her studies, rented her a condominium, paid her tuition, and found her a great job. Tell me, Henry, how is that different from keeping

tensed. “I don’t

look at

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,

when the heat from the ember burned his finger.

said, “Why do

come! tonight because I’ve been giving you the cold shoulder. If our relationship was going well, an like Lara showed up, I doubt that

to

could be

had drunk a bit too much that his head throbbed.

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

when

your shirt

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

ever really been

herself padding back to

fingertips over the novel, her face betraying little

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

Audrey from years ago

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

what Henry had in mind.

she wasn’t bound by the love