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.

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

his brows and opened his eyes, making Lara fumble

car stopped in front of a condominium in

driver helped Lara out of the

Lara bowed and said softly, “Mr. Miller, thank you for sending me home. If… if you need me to explain to Mrs. Miller,

at her petite face and smiled faintly,

not have the heart to

young woman, so eerily reminiscent of

with just the barest embrace, he

a young and compliant

few seconds of intimacy were a test he

curious at how much he truly cared

all he thought about was Crystal, of her vulnerability when her eyes were closed, lost in her

weighed their options, and Henry chose his family.

He chose Crystal.

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

moved through the foyer, ascending the stairs at a leisurely pace.

a look at Skyler and Remi, he

locked it. The door yielded effortlessly.

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

was always entranced

alcohol coursing through him and the prolonged dry spell between

down, held her close, and kissed her

did not wake.

proved to be more docile in her dreams.

hands began to wander more

her eyes hazy with sleep, and

hint of coral lipstick on his white

was a mark of

unwavering, even as his passion seemed undiminished, his

pale, as if drained of all blood.

mere coyness, whispered against the soft spot behind her ears, “Still mad at

yet her voice was chilling. “You met

His movements faltered.

“It was a chance meeting. I gave her a

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

was cunningly

“It was just a ride. The

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

he declared, “I haven’t betrayed

felt too exhausted even to be

her a condominium, paid her tuition, and found her a great job. Tell me, Henry,

tensed. “I don’t have such intentions.”

refused to look at him.

at the night, and murmured. “You let her get close to you and allowed 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

heat from the ember burned

a moment, he said, “Why do you

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 you’ll resist

pained Crystal to speak her mind.

indeed, could be

bit too

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

still, only speaking up when he was about to

shirt with

he couldn’t help but wonder if she had ever

they ever really

Henry left, Crystal found herself

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

taken an interest in Lara’s matters, she

and Audrey from years ago was a hard one

and yet his first crush had regrettably passed, what man could resist the allure of an impeccable

Henry had in

they were still not married, and she wasn’t bound by the