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.”

he was aware of

nerve to return to the condominium when there were undoubtedly

people watching him.

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

Leslie nodded.

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

Leslie visited him

said, “How can you still smoke after suffering such severe injury? Lie down quickly. The doctor says you need to be on bed rest for at least a

Alfred settle down. “There’s still so much

the diamond ring in Alfred’s

headboard, Alfred smiled bitterly. “Despite my age, I fell for a young woman, 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,

dare to speak a word,

only stayed in the hospital

a long time before rejecting the call, which pained him greatly. I bet if she knows I don’t want

Alfred started distancing himself from Melora.

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

returned to

reconnected with Eras and the

he became who he used

was over, Melora had lost a few kilograms. She often couldn’t contact Alfred, and on the occasion she could, Leslie was the one who answered in an apologetic tone.

could tell what Alfred was doing. However, she didn’t have the courage to question him face- to-face. All she could do was habitually wait for him at the

eat while waiting for

she received news

performance, she changed into a beautiful

hand. He’s in Barnwood,

teary gaze, she still called his number, wanting an explanation.

was at the clubhouse when his

down and

joked, “What’s the matter? Has your puppy caught up to you?”

just a child. How long can her attention last?”

card game, he said, “Please

relationship with Melora was, but as a woman, she could

her, he reconnected with her again recently.

despite how affectionate he acted with her when in public, he had never

that she refused to budge, Alfred urged,

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

quickened before the call ended abruptly.

as he

say? A child’s attention won’t

icy look was swirling in his

midnight that he returned to his car. Leslie asked softly. “Where to, Mr. Lodge?”

stared out the

|||

3/5

said,

middle of the night, he returned to the place

his surprise, Melora was there, sleeping on the dining table.

were tear stains on the corner of

up as well. I wonder how long she’s been waiting for

to carry her, she

at him, the panic in

she cried silently. All she did was

her down on the couch, gently patting her head.

as though she did yet