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.

gently teased her lips apart with his tongue and explored her mouth, savoring the

and wanted to resist.

she knew it, he had her on his lap.

All she could do was cling to his neck, and then, unable to resist any longer, she

the knees. She didn’t even know how she left

she had no idea why he

she started avoiding him.

the hospital, and she pretended not to see

figure with a pensive expression.

“You probably

his pockets, remembered that kiss and the way she nestled against him like a kitten.

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

was

see if there was one

path yet when Henry made the significant decision to secretly send Skyler

the matter, Alfred

He knew how difficult this decision must have been for Henry.

of alcohol. Even 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

long time, Melora finally agreed.

for her but didn’t go inside. He

dimly lit room, it took

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

grab his hand and prevent him from reaching for the glass.

his eyes bloodshot. After a long

Melora refused to

gathering up the

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

had been drinking, he knew she wasn’t a child anymore. She was

During this difficult time,

he said,

At that moment, 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

didn’t hear his words clearly.

had already kissed her.

the couch as he kissed her. His lips tasted like

she uttered, sounding scared while trembling violently.

response, Alfred gently caressed her

knew what he wanted, for his gaze held both desire and possessiveness. It was

took her for the first

time, Alfred was tender and restrained

be tossed out

adjacent room. It was a creaky old spring bed that made noise

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

relationship before, but she wasn’t skilled

bed, and he didn’t need her to be

so he ordered the bodyguards to stay away and stood. guard at the door himself for most of the night.

early morning, Melora woke

ached, but it was a pleasant ache,

male voice came

didn’t dare

truth, Alfred didn’t want to get up either. He rarely lost control like this. Moreover, there were many things

an hour. There were some things