Crystal's One Night of Love

At two in the afternoon, Leslie came to pick Alfred up.

After Alfred boarded the vehicle, Leslie teased, “You seem high-spirited today.”

Alfred grinned. “Not at all. She was so clingy that I feel tired!”

Leslic chuckled.

Hours later, Alfred left his meeting with a scowl.

Leslie approached him, asking in a whisper, “What happened?”

“We’ll talk in the car.”

Once inside the automobile, Alfred pulled the curtains for the windows and sighed. “Do you remember the project from half a year ago?”

Leslie nodded.

Undoing one button on his shirt, Alfred continued, “I recommended Noel for the project. However, he and his wife died in a suspicious car accident.”

Leslie was stunned for a long while.

Lowering his head, Alfred lit a cigarette with trembling fingers. Several minutes passed before he took a puff. What he didn’t tell Leslie was that there were obvious bruises on Noel and his wife that looked like they were beaten up.

Ultimately, Noel had sacrificed his and his wife’s lives to protect the project data.

Someone had to take over the project.

And since Alfred was the one who designated Noel to oversee it, he had to take responsibility.

As he continued to smoke with his quivering fingers, he removed the small box from his pocket with another hand. Initially, he planned to propose to Melora today and marry her after Christmas.

However, Noel’s death made him question if he should.

The sight of Noel’s and his wife’s ghastly deaths haunted Alfred.

Though Alfred didn’t speak his mind, Leslie could guess what the former was thinking about. Unfortunately, he could only remain silent.

Suddenly, something smashed into the black Audi, launching Alfred forward.

When the car stopped, a man in black clothing riding a motorcycle in front of the automobile halted as well. He then peered through the window as though he had x-ray vision.

The driver cursed and made to exit the vehicle.

Bearing the pain, Alfred exclaimed, “Don’t step out of the car! It’s dangerous!”

When the man in black clothing saw the car didn’t move, he sped off.

Leslie crawled to the backseat to check Alfred’s injury. “How are you feeling, Mr. Lodge?”

Alfred pressed his hand on his abdomen. I must’ve broken a rib.

Despite that, he didn’t show any emotions in his countenance. “To think they’ve received the news so soon. after the meeting concluded! This foreign company is outrageous!”

As much as he wanted to avenge Noel and the latter’s wife, he had to focus more on protecting his own life.

At that moment, his phone rang.

It was from Melora. After a brief moment of hesitation, Alfred answered the call and uttered gently, “I’ve got an emergency at Coldbridge, so I won’t be joining you later, Melora.”

was aware of how

the nerve to return to the condominium

people watching him.

comforted Melora, he hung up the phone and turned to Leslie. “Have someone keep an eye on her until

Leslie nodded.

hospital at Coldbridge. Though he needed to rest after breaking a rib and suffering from a concussion, he couldn’t sleep at all. All he

Leslie visited him after handling some

such severe injury? Lie down

Alfred settle down. “There’s still so much work

that moment, he noticed the

on the project. What will I become by then? Though I’m always saying Melora is young, she’s already twenty-eight. After four years,

dare to speak a word, knowing

the hospital

stared at his phone for a long time before rejecting the

started distancing himself from

cutting things off with her cleanly, he did it slowly. As he tortured

to his previous life.

Eras and the

who he used to be.

the time Christmas was over, Melora had lost a few kilograms. She often couldn’t contact Alfred, and on the occasion she could, Leslie

question him face- to-face. All she could do was habitually wait for him

eat while

received news

changed into a beautiful gown. With his

Barnwood,

her teary gaze, she still called his number,

was at the clubhouse when his

settled the cards in his hand down and stared at Melora’s number

matter? Has your puppy caught up to you?”

Alfred smiled casually again. “She’s just a child. How long can her attention last?”

the card game, he said, “Please help me answer the call, Miss

no idea what his relationship with Melora was, but as a woman, she could tell it was intimate since he had ignored her for some

to her, he

despite how affectionate he acted with her when

refused to budge, Alfred

answer the call. “Hey, Miss Miller! Mr. Alfred is having fun in the clubhouse. How about you come

before the call ended abruptly.

a moment right as he was about

say? A child’s attention won’t last long, but she keeps calling me. It’s quite

look was swirling

that he returned to his car. Leslie asked

stared out the

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3/5

he said,

of the night, he returned to the place

his surprise, Melora was there, sleeping on

on the corner

as well. I wonder how long she’s been waiting for me. Why didn’t she sleep in

to carry her, she

him, the panic in her

mouthed the word “Mr. Alfred” before she cried silently. All she did was stare at him, waiting for an

on the couch, gently patting her head. “Don’t wait for me

as though she