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.

one’s eyes if one

furrowed his brows and opened his eyes, making Lara fumble to

hour later, the car stopped in front of

helped Lara out of the

“Mr. Miller, thank you for sending me home. If… if you need me to explain to Mrs. Miller, please do not

face and smiled

Henry did not have the heart to continue his пар.

had leaned close, he felt it. Here 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

compliant lover, using

those few seconds of intimacy were a test he

curious at how much he truly cared for Crystal.

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

and Henry chose his family.

He chose Crystal.

the deepening. night, most of the lights

ascending the

look at Skyler and Remi, he gently turned the knob of

locked it. The door yielded effortlessly.

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

entranced

him and the prolonged dry

close, and

not

be more

moments, his hands began to wander more eagerly.

eyes hazy with sleep, and met

of

mark

unwavering, even as his passion seemed undiminished, his hands already working at the

face was pale, as if drained of all

the soft spot behind her ears, “Still mad at me, huh?”

yet her voice was chilling. “You met Lara

His movements faltered.

looked into her eyes and admitted, “It was a

her nightgown, her slender fingers deftly undoing two of his shirt buttons to reveal the

was cunningly chosen.

just a ride. The driver was there. What could have happened?”

well.

declared, “I haven’t betrayed our

exhausted even to be

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, Henry, how is that different from keeping a mistress?”

“I don’t have such intentions.”

look at

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

was lighting a cigarette when the heat from the ember burned his

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

didn’t argue and merely whispered, “The truth is often harsh. Henry, you have only come! tonight because I’ve been giving you the cold shoulder. If our relationship

to speak her mind.

could be ugly.

too much that his head throbbed.

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

when he

shirt with

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

they ever really been in love?

Crystal found herself padding back to the couch.

grazed her fingertips over the novel, her face betraying little emotion.

in Lara’s matters, she

Audrey from years ago was a hard one

that Henry had regained his memories, and yet his first crush had

knew what Henry had

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