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

eyes, making Lara fumble to set her

in front of a condominium

out

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 happened between us!”

petite face and smiled faintly, saying

again, Henry did not have the heart to

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

just the barest embrace, he could claim her.

young and compliant lover, using her as a substitute.

himself that those few seconds of intimacy

curious at how much he truly cared

vulnerability when her eyes were closed, lost in her

always weighed their options, and Henry chose his

He chose Crystal.

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

moved through the foyer, ascending the stairs at a

Remi, he gently

locked it. The door

that shimmered under the lamplight. Her skin pecked through, luminescent

entranced by her.

him and the prolonged dry spell

and kissed

not

to be more docile in

a few moments, his hands began to

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

she saw it-the faint hint of coral lipstick on his white

was a mark of another woman.

fixed, unwavering, even as his passion seemed undiminished,

as

coyness, whispered against the soft spot behind her

allure, yet her voice was

His movements faltered.

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

fingers deftly undoing two of his

shade was

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

as well. He removed the tainted shirt, discarding

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

even to be angry.

“You did nothing, sure. You just helped her resume her studies, rented her a condominium, paid her tuition, and found her a great

don’t

to look at him.

her has already crossed the line. If the driver hadn’t been there today, you would have tested yourself further.

cigarette when the heat from the

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

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 was going well,

pained Crystal to

indeed, could be

drunk a bit too much that

felt no point in discussing it further tonight. Rubbing his temple, he said.

stood still, only speaking up when he was about to exit.

your shirt with you.”

back, seeing just the estrangement in her posture, and he couldn’t

they ever really been

Crystal found herself padding

face

matters, she knew this

the intimate encounter between Henry and Audrey from years ago was

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

Henry had in mind.

wasn’t bound by the