Crystal’s One Night of Love

Chapter 170 Giving It A Try For I Love You Dearly

Henry pulled her into his embrace and pressed his lips against hers. "Say my name again."

Crystal was reluctant to do so.

Nestling against his shoulder, she inhaled the subtle scent of his sweat, embracing him tenderly.

I'm guessing Henry wants to do it again.

Tracing her slender fingers along his chiseled features, she murmured, "Get some rest, and make sure to have some stew later."

Henry's gaze grew deep and profound. "Are you worried about me?" he asked.

Indeed, Crystal did feel concerned for him.

Captivated by her gentle and submissive demeanor, the desire within him surged, and he rolled over before pinning her down, yearning for another round.

Before their intimate moment could proceed further, however, his phone rang, playing a distinct ringtone reserved exclusively for Joshua.

Naturally, Crystal displayed a strong aversion toward Joshua's phone call.

True to expectations, Henry's face darkened after a brief conversation on the phone. He soon got to his feet and proceeded to get dressed.

Seeing this, Crystal wrapped her arms around him from behind, refusing to let him leave.

"Henry, can't you just ignore her for once? You know she's doing this on purpose. How much longer will you let her hurt you? Shouldn't there be a limit to your debt of gratitude?" she exclaimed. Isn't he aware that I'm a woman as well? I can't keep pretending everything is fine and make him some nourishing food just to watch him go to the hospital to donate blood for a deranged woman! When her gaze fell upon the needle marks on his arm, she felt an overwhelming sense of suffocation.

Henry fell silent and simply gave her a passionate kiss that lasted for a long while.

He comforted her, waiting until she had calmed down a bit before reassuring her in a soft voice, "I'll be back soon."

"No, you won't. Audrey won't allow it," Crystal whispered, her voice tinged with resignation.

Her tone grew serious, and she uttered, "Henry, Audrey is not your responsibility! While it's understandable that you want to assist her with the lawsuit, your enabling behavior will only exacerbate her madness."

In truth, what she wanted to convey was that if Audrey was truly experiencing mental illness, she should consider seeking treatment from a mental health professional.

Henry seemed to have grasped her underlying message.

His gaze flickered with profound and inscrutable emotions, making it difficult to discern his true thoughts. Sensing the weight of his silence, Crystal decided to keep the rest of her thoughts unspoken.

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In the end, he still put on his clothes and left.

As usual, Henry did not return.

The spring nights were surprisingly chilly, and as the clock struck three in the morning, Crystal found it difficult to remain lying in bed. Although she initially considered returning to her condominium, she hesitated, not wanting to disturb Snowy.

Just like that, she sat motionless in the living room throughout the night.

Over the next two weeks, Audrey's penchant for kicking up a fuss escalated to the point where Crystal hardly saw Henry anymore.

During the only two occasions she met him, he appeared visibly unwell and would doze off the moment his head touched the pillow.

As time passed, Crystal no longer wanted to question him anything.

She knew that throughout the course of their relationship, she was always the one who got the short end of the stick with no way out. In fact, the bond between them had become so tenuous that she found herself sympathizing with him for no reason.

At times, she found herself pondering that, perhaps subconsciously, she had already given up on this relationship and was simply waiting for an eventual outcome to unfold.

Much to Crystal's surprise, David sought her out.

The secretary of Miller Corporation arrived in a car to pick her up personally, respectfully stating, "Miss Winters, our CEO would like to meet with you."

Half an hour later, Crystal found herself sitting in David's office.

The man seemed to hold her in high regard as he dismissed his secretary and personally brewed a cup of coffee for her. Smiling, he said, "I heard from Melora that you enjoy Mandheling coffee. I had my secretary purchase some beans for you. Please give it a try"

Naturally, Crystal was pleasantly surprised by the treatment she received.

However, she was also aware that individuals of David's status rarely stooped to such humble gestures without any reason.

Something's off about this...

As expected, after placing his coffee down, David sat across from her and spoke in a relaxed manner. "Why haven't you been coming to the house lately? Melora talks about you all the time, and Julia is eagerly looking forward to having a meal with you."

Crystal had no idea how to respond to that, for she couldn't see any hope or prospects in her relationship with Henry at the moment.

Being a shrewd businessman, David was well aware of the inner thoughts and emotions of a young woman like Crystal.

Moreover, he was also well acquainted with his son's temperament.

I really like Crystal. She's a stunning woman, and her tenacious spirit surpasses even that of my wife.

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With Audrey causing trouble and Henry's absence from home, David knew he had to do something about it.

He slid a letter of invitation across the table to Crystal. With a warm smile on his face, he said, "This is an invitation to join the most renowned music academy in Ferropene. I have no other intentions for doing this, but seeing the hardships you've endured recently, why not take some time abroad to heal your heart? Once your studies are completed and the legal issues with the Quinn family are resolved, all debts of gratitude will have been repaid. By then, you and Henry will be at the perfect age to marry and start a family."

Crystal stiffened up when she heard that.

She wasn't oblivious to the current circumstances, and she understood David's intentions.

Given the longstanding relationship between the Miller family and the Quinn family, I guess it's inevitable that I would have to bear the burden and make sacrifices. By getting me to leave, Audrey would stop kicking up a fuss which will, in turn, alleviate some of the hardships Henry is facing. It seemed like a perfectly arranged solution, taking into account everyone's well-being, but the fact remains that none of this is my fault, yet I'm the only one being sacrificed in the end. Everyone gets a happy ending, while I would have to leave my home and start anew in a distant land.

The mere thought of it caused a pang in Crystal's heart, leaving her breathless with pain.

The opulent office fell into prolonged silence, stretching out for what seemed like an eternity.

Nonetheless, David's demeanor remained calm. It was as if he had an endless reservoir of patience when it came to dealing with this young woman.

Finally, Crystal lifted her gaze and uttered with a heavy heart, "I need some time to consider it."

Her complexion was deathly pale as she got to her feet.

Feeling a twinge of sympathy, David got his secretary to escort her back home.

No sooner had Crystal left than Julia arrived.

Perhaps she had gotten the news from somewhere that Crystal would be here, but by the time she rushed over, the young woman was already gone. Her beautiful countenance was marred with concern as she began to reprimand her husband for the situation.

"Henry should have never gotten involved in Audrey's affairs! The fortune teller warned that he would only have two chances for romantic relationships in his life, and only one of them would lead to a successful outcome! David Miller, I'm telling you right now that if this situation ends up ruining Henry's marriage prospects, I will take Melora and Crystal with me and leave this family!"

She sobbed and added, "I'm going to make sure the two of you live a lonely life!"

David felt helpless as he listened to his wife's tirade.

He offered consolation to her, all while feeling frustrated with his son's lack of initiative.

As a father and a man, he was keenly aware that the main source of conflict in this situation was not Audrey but rather Henry himself.

I can tell that Crystal is genuinely in love with Henry. After all, only love could make a beautiful woman who comes from a good family and has a successful career such as herself wait for him. The real issue here lay with my son, who failed to cherish her or perhaps didn't love her enough.

I

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David's decision was born out of pure helplessness, for he knew that without this arrangement, their relationship would eventually crumble.

As such, he took a gamble, believing in Crystal's unwavering love for Henry.

Crystal returned home with the invitation letter in her hand.

She pondered over it for three days.

During this time, she had a single encounter with Henry, and they simply embraced each other without going any further.

As they held each other close that night, she found the courage to ask herself the pivotal question. Would my fondness and love for him be enough to endure this sacrifice? Although I could entrust my career to capable hands during the two years that I'll be gone, I won't be able to be there for my family, especially my ailing father....

As the morning light broke, Crystal delicately traced her fingers over the ring adorning her hand, reliving the stirring emotions of the day he had presented it to her. The echo of their shared moments filled her heart with bittersweet longing.

In the end, she came to the conclusion that the love she held for Henry surpassed any reservations or sacrifices that lay ahead.

If two years is all that it takes to change our circumstances, then I'm willing to take the gamble. I'll take Dad and Anna with me to Ferropene. Once I'm done with my piano studies, I believe that I'll be better suited for Henry and will have more confidence to face Joshua when the time comes...

As Crystal made this decision, a sense of confusion and uncertainty filled her heart.

However, with Henry's face right in front of her, she felt her raging emotions cool off, for the man's attractiveness had enraptured her completely.

She leaned in and planted a tender kiss on his lips, whispering, "I love you very much, so let's give it a try

Henry stirred when he felt the kiss.

He rolled over and pinned Crystal beneath him before asking, "What did you just say?"

Blushing, Crystal remained silent, refusing to repeat her words.

Henry's gaze burned with intensity as his youthful vigor took over. He knew it was time to make up for his unfinished desires left from the previous night.

In response, Crystal was exceptionally cooperative.

Training his gaze on her, Henry looked at her with a mixture of deep longing and desire.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him closer for a passionate kiss. Her face flushed with a delicate shade of crimson, her eyes revealing her willingness to submit to him.

After indulging in their lust several times, Henry rolled over and lay beside her.

He chuckled breathlessly and asked, “What's gotten into you today? You're so proactive

He then shifted to the side and gently pinched her cheek, saying, "I heard that when girls reach a certain

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of men. Have you been eagerly awaiting this, Crystal?"

"You're the one who's been yearning for it!" Crystal swatted him away playfully before getting up and heading toward the bathroom.

When she came out again, Henry was already by the window engaging in a phone call with Joshua, discussing the intricacies of the lawsuit.

Seeing this, Crystal wrapped her arms around him from behind.

After he hung up the phone, she asked softly. "Will you be able to make it back for Valentine's Day on Saturday?"

Her submissive demeanor made his mood brighten instantly.

He gently caressed her hand and asked in a tender tone, "What gift are you planning to give me?"

Crystal's heart twinged as she thought about the invitation letter, but she kept her voice light and said, "It's a secret!"

Henry turned around and kissed her. It had been a while since they had indulged in such passion, and with him having a free morning, he couldn't resist the urge to continue their intimate session. Crystal hesitated for a moment before surrendering to his advances.

Later that afternoon, Henry went to the law firm.

Crystal made a phone call to David, and it was evident that he had been eagerly waiting for her call as he picked up almost immediately.

David's tone was as gentle as ever when he asked, "Have you made your decision?"

Crystal made a sound of agreement before adding, "I'd like to take my dad and Anna with me."

David was pleased to hear that and immediately expressed his approval, "That won't be a problem. After all, it's good to have your family by your side. You're a filial daughter."

He then asked, "Does Henry know about your decision?"

Crystal shook her head. "I haven't told him yet. Maybe I'll talk to him in a couple of days..."

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, she wanted to make some special preparations.

After all, this was their first Valentine's Day together. She wanted to cherish it and make it memorable, for she knew that the following two years might not offer them as much time together.

Having once been young himself, David could easily guess the reason behind her decision.

He chuckled warmly and said, "I'll have Julia and Melora accompany you for some shopping. If you ever feel lonely, get Melora to keep you company. She's not usually tied up with important matters anyway." Crystal shook her head gently.

David was slightly moved, and he found himself saying a few more words than usual. The fact that someone of his status was willing to indulge and comfort others showed just how much he valued her.

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Crystal spent the next two days taking care of things and making necessary arrangements.

She sought out a renowned studio in Barnwood to design a black-themed concept and renovate Henry's condominium on Saturday afternoon.

Despite the relatively high price tag of fifty thousand, she didn't feel the slightest pang of regret when swiping her card.

The thought that it was all for their first Valentine's Day made her feel that everything she had done was worthwhile.

Apart from the renovation, she even went to great lengths to prepare some candlesticks, champagne, roses and even had Michelin-starred meals delivered.

The ambiance was filled with romance.

At seven o'clock in the evening, Crystal called Henry. Her voice was filled with excitement as she asked, "When will you be back?"

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