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 disappointed she’d

didn’t have the nerve to return to the condominium when there

people watching him.

up the phone and turned to Leslie. “Have someone keep an eye on her until she returns home

Leslie nodded.

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

Leslie visited him after handling

saw Alfred smoking, he immediately said, “How can you still smoke after suffering such severe injury? Lie down quickly. The doctor says you need to be

Alfred settle down. “There’s still so much

that moment, he noticed the

the 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, she’ll be over thirty. There’s no way she can waste four years waiting for me.” I also don’t want to think about the possibility that

didn’t dare to speak a word, knowing Alfred was upset.

stayed in the hospital for

was discharged, Melora called him. He stared at his phone for a long time before rejecting

Alfred started distancing himself from

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 previous life.

reconnected with Eras

he became who he used to be.

contact Alfred, and

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

to eat while waiting for

Valentine’s Day, she received

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

Barnwood, yet he hasn’t asked to meet

gaze, she still called his number,

clubhouse when his phone

the cards in his hand down and

the matter? Has your puppy

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

the card game, he said, “Please

with Melora was, but as a woman, she could tell it was intimate since he had ignored her for

reasons unknown to her, he reconnected

she knew that, despite how affectionate he acted with her when in public,

she refused to budge, Alfred

the call. “Hey, Miss Miller! Mr. Alfred is

quickened before the call

moment right as he was about to play his

did I say? A child’s attention won’t last long,

swirling in his eyes.

he returned to his car. Leslie asked softly. “Where to, Mr.

out the window,

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3/5

said, “The

he returned to the place that had provided him with countless joyful moments.

surprise, Melora was there,

were tear stains on the corner of her

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

was about to carry her, she woke

gazed at him, the panic in her eyes clear.

cried silently. All

the couch,

look appeared on her countenance, as though she did