Crystal's One Night of Love

Even though Alfred was swamped with work, he chose to stay at Barnwood with Crystal.

Leslie managed to secure a small office through some connections.

It might have been tiny, but it had everything they needed.

Alfred usually worked there, with his bodyguards stationed outside, while Leslie moved in and out freely.

The next day, Henry rushed back from the Kingdom of Brundela, looking disheveled and ridden with guilt.

As he arrived at the ICU, Alfred confronted him and punched him. Even though Henry didn’t retaliate, Alfred’s knuckles were still slightly swollen from his outburst.

While Leslic applied ointment on Alfred’s wounds, he threw a playful jab at his boss.

“You’re getting up there in age. Shouldn’t you work on that temper of yours?”

Alfred’s anger, which had just been suppressed, flared up again. “I don’t think I hit that b*stard hard enough. I should’ve pummeled more sense into him!”

As they talked, there was commotion at the door.

Leslie went to check and soon escorted Melora inside.

He knew when to step aside, so he left.

Melora cautiously approached Alfred, who casually lit a cigarette with one hand and asked, “What brings you here?”

She held up a tube of ointment. “Let me tend to your injuries.”

In truth, Alfred had already applied the ointment, but he didn’t mind a second round.

They sat close on a narrow couch, her hand gently tending to his wound. Alfred smoked his cigarette. while gazing down at her.

Her skin was fair like porcelain, and her eyelashes were very long.

Then, Alfred asked casually, “That young man seemed nice. Why aren’t you two together?”

She was taken aback for a moment before realizing what he meant.

Taking a deep breath, she replied, “I don’t really like him.”

With that, she finished tending to him and released his hand. In a soft voice, she announced, “I’m done!”

As she attempted to leave, he grabbed her.

Melora was forced back to his side. She couldn’t be sure if it was her imagination, but it felt like they were incredibly close-close enough for her to catch a whiff of the faint tobacco scent on him.

Alfred’s eyes darkened.

He caressed her lips with his fingers, causing her to tremble and call out helplessly, “Mr. Alfred…”

Alfred lowered his head, gently pressing his forehead against hers. “Why are you here? Are you trying to atone for your brother, or is it that you can’t control your feelings, or do you actually like a man more than a decade older than you? Tell me, what do you want from me?”

He was too candid, and she felt a blush creeping up her cheeks.

She quivered, unable to respond, but Alfred wasn’t looking for words.

He kissed her.

time, he cradled her in his arms to reassure her, then gently teased her lips apart with his tongue and explored her mouth, savoring the taste of

uneasy and wanted to

waist was held firmly, and before she knew it, he had her

blank. All she could do was cling to his neck, and then, unable to resist any longer, she slid her hand over his shoulder,

went weak in the knees. She didn’t

no idea why he treated

she started avoiding him.

they crossed paths at the hospital, and she pretended not to see him. She didn’t even

watched her retreating figure

“You probably bullied

kiss and the way she nestled against him like a

when dealing with Crystal’s affairs, he couldn’t help but think of her.

wondered if it was possible

to see if there was one possible path.

path yet when Henry made the significant decision

matter, Alfred slapped him twice.

bring himself to go any further. He knew how difficult this decision must have been for

Leslie couldn’t stop him. In the end. Leslie found Melora and begged her to persuade Alfred to stop. “Mr. Lodge has an important meeting tomorrow morning. If he keeps drinking

pleaded for a long

but didn’t go inside.

took a while for

on the couch with several bottles of red wine in front of him. When he heard her footsteps, he looked up before pouring himself another

she said, stepping forward to grab his hand and prevent him from reaching for the glass.

quietly, his eyes bloodshot. After

Melora refused to

on the carpet, gathering up the bottles

did this, it seemed like she was playing house. It looked rather silly and a bit

wasn’t a child anymore. She was

studying her carefully. During this difficult time, it felt

as he said, “Melora, let’s give it a try.”

he even thought about the consequences of them being intimate with each other. If they crossed that line, he’d have to take responsibility, no matter how difficult it might be.

his words

already

pressed against the couch as he kissed her. His lips tasted like the wine

Alfred…” she uttered, sounding

her face and gazed

he wanted, for his gaze held both desire and possessiveness. It was a gaze that a man gave a

then, he took her for

time, Alfred was tender

inhibitions to be tossed out the

to a small bed in the adjacent room. It was

became unrestrained in his actions, and the steel wires of the bedframe shook like a small

been in a relationship before, but she

and he didn’t need her to be experienced.

stay away and stood. guard at the door himself for most of the

woke up in Alfred’s

was a pleasant

A husky male voice

dare to speak.

rarely lost control like this. Moreover, there were many things left

in half an hour. There were some things he