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.”

aware of how disappointed she’d feel.

didn’t have the nerve to return to the condominium

people watching him.

he hung up the phone and turned to Leslie. “Have someone keep an eye

Leslie nodded.

at Coldbridge. Though he needed to rest after breaking a rib and suffering from a concussion, he couldn’t sleep at all. All he did for the night was smoke by the window,

the morning, Leslie visited him

injury? Lie down

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

he noticed the diamond ring

Leslie! I need to stay four years 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, she’ll be over

to speak a word, knowing Alfred was

in the hospital for three

long time before rejecting the call, which pained him greatly. I bet if she knows

on, Alfred started distancing himself

could easily deal with Melora. Instead of cutting things off with her cleanly, he did it slowly. As he tortured her, he was hurt, too.

Christmas, he returned to his

with Eras and

he became who he used

couldn’t contact Alfred, and on the occasion she

didn’t have the courage to question him face- to-face. All she could do was habitually wait for him

she’d forget to eat while waiting

Valentine’s Day, she received news

After Ingrid finished her performance, she changed into a beautiful gown. With his arm wrapped around her waist, they appeared to be

Barnwood, yet he

she still called his number,

clubhouse when

down and

Has your

moment later, Alfred smiled casually again. “She’s just a child. How long

the card game, he said, “Please

woman, she could tell it was

for reasons unknown to her, he reconnected with her again

her when in

to budge, Alfred urged, “Do it!”

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

before the call

he was about

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

swirling in

until midnight that he returned to his car. Leslie asked softly. “Where to,

out the window, distracted.

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3/5

he said,

of the night, he returned to the

surprise, Melora was there, sleeping on

were tear stains on the corner

at the entrance, Alfred teared up as well. I wonder how long she’s been waiting for me. Why didn’t she sleep in the room? Does

about to carry her, she

panic in her

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

her down on the couch, gently

her countenance, as