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

and opened his eyes, making Lara fumble to set

stopped in front of a condominium in

driver helped Lara out of

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

face and smiled faintly, saying nothing.

car started again, Henry did not have the heart to continue

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

the barest embrace, he could claim

a young and compliant lover, using her as

those few seconds of intimacy were

much he truly cared for

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

always weighed their options, and Henry chose his

He chose Crystal.

glanced up at the house. In the deepening. night, most of

through the foyer, ascending the stairs at a leisurely

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

The door yielded

the lamplight. Her skin pecked

was always entranced by her.

and the prolonged dry spell between them stirred a longing.

held her close, and kissed her tenderly yet

did not wake.

to be more

few moments, his hands began to wander more eagerly.

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

she saw it-the faint hint of coral

mark

undiminished, his hands already working at the buttons

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

mere coyness, whispered against the soft spot behind her ears,

was a vision of allure, yet her voice

His movements faltered.

admitted, “It was a chance meeting. I gave her a lift.”

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

was

“It was just a ride. The driver

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

to face Crystal, he declared,

felt too exhausted even to be

eyes as she 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 job. Tell me,

“I don’t

look at him.

If the driver hadn’t been there today, you would have tested yourself further. You

lighting a cigarette when the heat from the

he said, “Why do you paint it so ugly,

“The truth is often harsh. Henry, you have only come! tonight because I’ve been giving you the cold shoulder. If our relationship was going

pained Crystal to

could be

drunk a bit too much that

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

still, only speaking up when he

shirt with you.”

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

ever really been in love?

herself

over the novel, her face betraying little emotion.

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

the intimate encounter between Henry and Audrey

and yet his first crush had regrettably passed, what

what Henry had

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