Crystal’s One Night of Love
Chapter 320

Chapter 320 You Are Out Of My League Part 2

A strange atmosphere quickly descended upon the private room.

Alfred's expression darkened slightly as he gently brushed his finger across his cards. No one could tell what was going through his mind.

As for Melora, she stood at the entrance with tears in her eyes, just like a pitiful little

puppy.

Alfred slowly got to his feet and walked toward the door. Sensing something amiss, Ingrid called out by reflex, "Alfred!"

As if he didn't hear her, Alfred strode to the entrance and asked in a tender tone, "Why did you follow us here?"

Melora stared at him before shifting her gaze toward Ingrid and the others in the private

room.

It took a bit before she eked out the words. "I forgot to get the autograph."

Her lie fooled no one, but none in the room dared to expose her, for they could tell that she was someone special to Alfred.

At a snail's pace, Alfred broke into a smile before turning around and saying, "Miss Hopper, this is your fault. Hurry up and give the young lady her autograph so that she can complete her task and return home."

Ingrid naturally knew what the proper thing to do was.

She opened her bag and retrieved a scented photo of her to put her autograph on. Sashaying to Melora, she handed the card over and teased, "Alfred is right. It's indeed my fault."

Melora subsequently thanked her softly.

Despite her reluctance to look at Alfred, the latter kept his gaze on her.

It wasn't until she took her leave that Alfred got someone to send her home.

"There's no need for that." Her head shook as she said, "I drove here."

Not insisting any further, Alfred reached out as if to stroke her hair but eventually put down. his arm. Instead, he shot her a smile. "Be careful while driving."

With a hum of acknowledgment, Melora turned and left.

Throughout the entire episode, there wasn't a single hostile or resentful comment made

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between them. Melora knew that only lovers had the right to say such things, and she and Alfred were anything but that.

In fact, he wouldn't even allow her to have a crush on him.

Finally, the bronze gilded doors gradually closed.

Alfred was surrounded by an opulent atmosphere and stunning beauties while she was all alone, her long shadow cast upon the ground by the glittering chandeliers along the corridor.

As the buzz of activity returned to the private room, Ingrid leaned against Alfred obsequiously. Eras and the others couldn't help but tease, "You should have let the young girl stay, Alfred. How could you bring yourself to send your young admirer home like that?"

Alfred joked with them in response, but beneath his smiling face was a sense of frustration. that didn't belong.

As a bachelor, it wasn't a big deal for him to go around philandering. However, the fact that Melora had seen him doing so made him feel uncomfortable. It didn't matter that she wasn't his other half, nor did she have the right to restrict him.

"I'm done playing."

In the end, he threw his cards on the table and ended the evening's session, causing the room. to fall silent.

on't

A moment later, Ingrid eked out a smile and suggested coyly, "Are you feeling under the weather? Why you come over to my place and I'll give you a massage? You always let your problems get the better of you."

Eras quickly added, "That's right. Why don't you let Miss Hopper take good care of you."

Not wanting to embarrass Ingrid, Alfred had no choice but to go along.

Ingrid's home had an elegant decor. She even lit up some scented candles in her bedroom. for Alfred, a favorite of his whenever he dropped by in the past.

Leaning against the couch, Alfred closed his eyes to relish in the comfort Ingrid showered upon him.

As Ingrid softly sang a tune by his side, her slender waist and jiggly bosom were accentuated by her tight gown, making for an alluring sight.

After listening for a while, Alfred opened his eyes when he only grew increasingly irritated.

It was then that Ingrid, resting on his lap, pleaded, "Why don't you stay the night?"

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No man in Alfred's position then would be able to resist Ingrid's charms, yet all the former could think of was Melora, who had put on a strong front earlier despite being on the verge

of tears.

Gently nudging Ingrid away, Alfred put on his shoes as he remarked nonchalantly, "I still have a lot of work to do tomorrow morning. I don't have a choice!"

Naturally, Ingrid was upset, for she could tell that he was just making excuses.

Alfred then gave her cheeks a gentle pinch while comforting her, "I'm really busy!"

Stomping her feet in anger was all Ingrid could manage as she didn't dare throw a tantrum.

When Alfred left her place, Leslie was already waiting by the car. His employer's sudden. appearance took Leslie by surprise. "Are you not staying with Miss Hopper?" Ignoring the question, Alfred simply got into the car.

It wasn't until a short while passed that he asked abruptly, "Do you think the young one is angry at me?"

Leslie was briefly confused before realizing who Alfred was talking about. He then replied. smilingly, "She's just a kid. She'll probably forget it in a few days.'

A faint grin was the only response Alfred gave.

That's right. She's still a budding young lady. Her infatuation probably won't last long.

Closing his eyes, Alfred instructed softly, "Head to the Miller residence."

Late at night, David had just settled into bed when the housekeeper knocked on his door, informing him that Alfred's car had arrived.

It wasn't until the housekeeper repeated herself that David sat back

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Julia, too, put on her jacket but was stopped by David, who ranted, "That Lodge kid must be upset about something to have come here and be bothering us in the middle of the night!"

Nevertheless, he had no choice but to receive his

guest.

As Crystal and Henry had yet to be married, he couldn't avoid entertaining Alfred accordingly.

After putting on a jacket, David replaced the scowl on his face with a warm expression. "It's a surprise to see you here, Alfred. Why didn't you tell me that you were in town? I would have thrown a feast to welcome you back."

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With his distinguished figure standing in the living room, Alfred broke into a smile. "It's still not too late to do it now!"

David froze in response.

Now? Is he kidding? It's almost ten. What's the f*cking point of having a welcome feast at this hour?

Amidst their conversation, a slender figure with long black hair came down the steps. She was wearing a flowy white dress, her reddened.

eyes

It was none other than Melora.

She had come down after hearing the commotion downstairs and ended up seeing Alfred.

What... is he doing here?

other

Alfred had a leisurely air to him as he beamed at her, as though she were any younger member of the family.

Under the light's illumination, he noticed how pale her face looked.

Nevertheless, the

unsuspecting David instructed the butler to prepare a meal before saying

to his daughter. "Since you've come down, hurry up and greet Alfred."

Melora's lips moved but no words came out.

Right after that, she spun on her heels and ran back upstairs.

Shaking his head, David said to Alfred, "She's but a spoilt child! Please don't mind her, Alfred."

Alfred's gaze shifted upstairs as he grinned. "It's no big deal. She's just a kid."

After the butler personally served up a feast, David ate and drank with Alfred for about an hour but still had no idea what the latter's purpose of this visit was.

It wasn't until the wee hours of the morning that Leslie helped Alfred into the car, for he had had a lot to drink.

Leaning back into his seat, Alfred fell into deep thought. I'm heading back to Coldbridge tomorrow morning, but that little girl is still upset with me.

He felt compelled to cheer her up before leaving.

When he tried calling her phone, no one answered. He let it ring seven to eight times before finally ending the call.

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An indescribable bitterness welled up within him, causing him to be stricken with heartache.

Truth be told, someone like him should never be involved in a relationship, let alone with someone as immature as Melora. Despite his vehement denials and how he kept insisting she was simply a younger family member, he couldn't deny that she was special to him.

Unfortunately, he couldn't reciprocate her feelings, nor could he forget her either.

Holding that thought, Alfred opened the car window to let in the wind, hoping to reinvigorate himself with it. A short while passed before he pretended to be calm by joking with Leslie. "I've embarrassed myself in front of you."

Those who pursued Alfred were too many to count.

Some were after his position, while others were after his good looks. In fact, he couldn't even remember some of their names.

Among them all, Melora was the only one he seemed to care about.

They barely had a relationship to speak of, let alone shared a night of passion. All they ever did together was have a meal, and there was also the time when she took a nap in his bedroom. On top of that, they kissed once, and she greeted him as Mr. Alfred...

Thereafter, he never heard from her for a while.

After Crystal became pregnant and the Miller family came to propose a marriage between. the two families, Alfred expected to see Melora, for she always enjoyed a lively occasion.

When she didn't turn up, he felt slightly disappointed and spent most of the event smoking alone, going through half a pack of cigarettes.

The day Crystal got married, Alfred finally got to see Melora.

She was wearing a beautiful blue dress with a hue so pure that it left him mesmerized. As she kept her distance from him and stayed with the other girls, all he could do was watch her from afar.

Alfred thought, This is for the better. I don't know what to say if I see her, as there's nothing I can give her at all, nor should I give her anything.

The gap between their age and identities was a gulf too big to bridge.

He didn't dare dwell upon the intensity of the feelings a young girl like her had for him and whether she could withstand the trials and tribulations involved. As for his own feelings, he was forced to cast aside the affection he harbored deep in his heart before he even had the chance to confess it.

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It was just that he couldn't help missing her.

As for his close female friends, it had been a long time since he contacted any of them.

Clueless to what was going on, Eras and the others thought that he had changed for the better. Little did they know that he had inadvertently fallen for Melora.

During his business trip to Hulcaster, he personally queued and bought two stuffed rabbits in his free time.

He had heard that they were called "Stella Lous" and girls adored them.

Upon bringing them back to his office, Leslie couldn't contain his smile. "These are so cute. When you go on a business trip to Barnwood next week, I'm sure Miss Melora would be very happy to receive

them."

Lighting up a cigarette, Alfred gave Leslie a side-eye. "Who said that I bought them for her? Even if I were going to gift her, Crystal would get one too. I didn't get it specifically for her."

Leslie quickly corrected himself. "That's right. The whole point is to give one to Miss Lodge."

Only then did Alfred get off Leslie's back.

Once he was alone, he couldn't resist wondering if Melora would like the toy.

That young girl should always be happy.

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