Chapter 323 Just A One Night Stand


    Even though Alfred was swamped with work, he chose to stay at Barnwood with Crystal.


    Leslie managed to secure a small office through some connections.


    It might have been tiny, but it had everything they needed.


    Alfred usually worked there, with his bodyguards stationed outside, while Leslie moved in and out


    freely.


    The next day, Henry rushed back from the Kingdom of Brund, looking disheveled and ridden with


    guilt.


    As he arrived at the ICU, Alfred confronted him and punched him. Even though Henry didn’t retaliate,


    Alfred’s knuckles were still slightly swollen from his outburst.


    While Leslic applied ointment on Alfred’s wounds, he threw a yful jab at his boss.


    “You’re getting up there in age. Shouldn’t you work on that temper of yours?”


    Alfred’s anger, which had just been suppressed, red up again. “I don’t think I hit that b*stard hard


    enough. I should’ve pummeled more sense into him!”


    As they talked, there wasmotion at the door.


    Leslie went to check and soon escorted Melora inside.


    He knew when to step aside, so he left.


    Melora cautiously approached Alfred, who casually lit a cigarette with one hand and asked, “What


    brings you here?”


    She held up a tube of ointment. “Let me tend to your injuries.”


    In truth, Alfred had already applied the ointment, but he didn’t mind a second round.


    They sat close on a narrow couch, her hand gently tending to his wound. Alfred smoked his cigarette.


    while gazing down at her.


    Her skin was fair like porcin, and her eyshes were very long.


    Then, Alfred asked casually, “That young man seemed nice. Why aren’t you two together?”


    She was taken aback for a moment before realizing what he meant.


    Taking a deep breath, she replied, “I don’t really like him.”


    With that, she finished tending to him and released his hand. In a soft voice, she announced, “I’m


    done!”


    As she attempted to leave, he grabbed her.


    Melora was forced back to his side. She couldn’t be sure if it was her imagination, but it felt like they


    were incredibly close-close enough for her to catch a whiff of the faint tobo scent on him.


    Alfred’s eyes darkened.


    He caressed her lips with his fingers, causing her to tremble and call out helplessly, “Mr. Alfred…”


    Alfred lowered his head, gently pressing his forehead against hers. “Why are you here? Are you trying


    to atone for your brother, or is it that you can’t control your feelings, or do you actually like a man more


    than a decade older than you? Tell me, what do you want from me?”


    He was too candid, and she felt a blush creeping up her cheeks.


    She quivered, unable to respond, but Alfred wasn’t looking for words.


    He kissed her.


    Just like thest time, he cradled her in his arms to reassure her, then gently teased her lips apart with


    his tongue and explored her mouth, savoring the taste of her.


    She felt uneasy and wanted to resist.


    Yet, her waist was held firmly, and before she knew it, he had her on hisp.


    He kissed her with a tender yetmanding passion, leaving her mind nk. All she could do was


    cling to his neck, and then, unable to resist any longer, she slid her hand over his shoulder, eventually


    wrapping it around his back….


    He kissed her until she went weak in the knees. She didn’t even know how she left that room.


    Most importantly, she had no idea why he treated her like this.


    Afterward, she started avoiding him.


    asionally, they crossed paths at the hospital, and she pretended not to see him. She didn’t even


    greet him; she simply turned away and left.


    Alfred watched her retreating figure with a pensive expression.


    Leslie teased, “You probably bullied her!”


    Alfred, hands in his pockets, remembered that kiss and the way she nestled against him like a kitten.


    He knew he desired her. Even when dealing with Crystal’s affairs, he couldn’t help but think of her.


    He wondered if it was possible for them together.


    Among countless impossibilities, he wanted to see if there was one possible path.


    Alfred hadn’t found that path yet when Henry made the significant decision to secretly send Skyler to


    theb and set Crystal free.


    Upon learning about the matter, Alfred pped him twice.


    However, he couldn’t bring himself to go any further. He knew how difficult this decision must have


    been for Henry.


    On the night Skyler was sent away, Alfred drank a lot of alcohol. Even Leslie couldn’t stop him. In the


    end. Leslie found Melora and begged her to persuade Alfred to stop. “Mr. Lodge has an important


    meeting tomorrow morning. If he keeps drinking like this, he’ll embarrass himself!”


    After he pleaded for a long time, Melora finally agreed.


    Leslie opened the door for her but didn’t go inside. He whispered, “I’ll wait outside!”


    In the tiny and dimly lit room, it took a while for Melora’s vision to adjust.


    Alfred was slouched on the couch with several bottles of red wine in front of him. When he heard her


    footsteps, he looked up before pouring himself another ss.


    “Don’t drink anymore,” she said, stepping forward to grab his hand and prevent him from reaching for


    the ss.


    Alfred stared at her quietly, his eyes bloodshot. After a long silence, he said, “You should go.”


    But Melora refused to leave.


    She knelt on the carpet, gathering up the bottles of wine.


    As she did this, it seemed like she was ying house. It looked rather silly and a bit na?ve.


    Even though Alfred had been drinking, he knew she wasn’t a child anymore. She was a mature


    woman.


    He gently pulled her closer, studying her carefully. During this difficult time, it felt like they only had


    each other.


    Alfred’s voice was hoarse as he said, “Melora, let’s give it a try.”


    Under the influence of alcohol, hepromised. Just like any ordinary man, he couldn’t resist


    temptation. He wanted to cherish the woman he liked. At that moment, he even thought about the


    consequences of them being intimate with each other. If they crossed that line, he’d have to take


    responsibility, no matter how difficult it might be.


    Melora didn’t hear his words clearly.


    However, he had already kissed her.


    She was pressed against the couch as he kissed her. His lips tasted like the wine he had just drunk,


    intoxicating her.


    “Mr. Alfred…” she uttered, sounding scared while trembling violently.


    In response, Alfred gently caressed her face and gazed at her.


    She knew what he wanted, for his gaze held both desire and possessiveness. It was a gaze that a man


    gave a woman he loved.


    There and then, he took her for the first time.


    During that time, Alfred was tender and restrained himself.


    However, all the alcohol had caused his inhibitions to be tossed out the window, and he craved more.


    Afterward, he carried her to a small bed in the adjacent room. It was a creaky old spring bed that made


    noise with every movement.


    He became unrestrained in his actions, and the steel wires of the bedframe shook like a small boat in a


    storm while apanied by her involuntary moans.


    She had been in a rtionship before, but she wasn’t skilled at sex.


    Alfred was dominating in bed, and he didn’t need her to be experienced.


    Outside, Leslie naturally heard themotion, so he ordered the bodyguards to stay away and stood.


    guard at the door himself for most of the night.


    In the early morning, Melora woke up in Alfred’s arms.


    Her body ached, but it was a pleasant ache, and she didn’t want to move.


    “Are you awake?” A husky male voice came from above her.


    Melora didn’t dare to speak.


    In truth, Alfred didn’t want to get up either. He rarely lost control like this. Moreover, there were many


    things left for him to resolve. Thus, he grabbed his watch and nced at the time.


    He had to get up in half an hour. There were some things he wanted to tell her right now.


    Before he could say anything. Melora spoke first, her voice trembling. “Mr. Lodge, don’t worry. Last


    night was just a one-night stand.”


    Mr. Lodge…


    A one-night stand…


    Alfred chuckled, pulling her ear gently and teasing, “Who was it that called me ‘Mr. Alfred’ all night? You


    had me melting then, and now it’s just a one-night stand? If everyone takes advantage of me like this,


    I’ll be so busy that I’ll probably die in a woman’s bed sooner orter.”


    As his words weren’t very tactful, her eyes turned red.


    Alfred didn’t feel any better, either. He cared for her, but Crystal’s situation made him unable to fully.


    enjoy himself.


    In the end, he hugged her and spoke some tender words. “Did you receive the rabbit? Do you like it?”


    Melora, with teary eyes, replied softly, “I like it.”


    Alfred didn’t say anything more; he simply held her.


    After a while, he leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “As long as you like it


    He began to dress, and as he put on his clothes, he said to her, “You should get some more sleep. I’ll


    be back around noon.”


    Those flirtatious words he usually used with women didn’te so naturally this time. After all, she


    was different.


    He got dressed neatly and sat on the edge of the bed, pinching her cheek.


    “I have to go now. Otherwise, I’ll bete for the meeting. Take a look at my neck. Does it have any


    marks from a certain little wildcat?”


    Wrapped in the nket, Melora watched him with teary eyes.


    They had crossed that line.


    What made itplicated was that he hadn’t said anything, and she didn’t dare to ask for a future with


    him because this wasn’t the right time,


    Feeling somewhat wronged, she didn’t bother waiting for him to return. After that, she decided to avoid


    him. She deliberately didn’t meet him, but at night, she often found it hard to sleep because of him.


    During the following days, Alfred was very busy.


    Four dayster, she received a call from him. His voice was gentle but tinged with exhaustion. “I’m


    returning to Coldbridge tomorrow. Can we meet?”


    It was only when he said this that she realized how much she longed for him.


    Their respective statuses meant she couldn’t ask for more, so she had to cherish what they had.


    She felt incredibly lowly in their rtionship…


    In the end, they met at a private restaurant. Leslie weed her at the door before leading her to a


    spacious private room.


    Inside, there was just Alfred.


    He was in a light blue shirt and ck trousers.


    There was a navy blue jacket that he had casually draped over the back of a chair. At that moment, he


    was engrossed in reading a document.


    Leslie opened the door with a smile. “Miss Melora is here!”


    As usual, he thoughtfully stood guard outside.


    Melora leaned against the door, nervously watching Alfred. It was always a bitplicated to be in a


    rtionship with an older man. One never knew what he was thinking.


    Alfred put down the document and looked at her. After a long silence, he smiled and said, “Why are you


    standing there like a guard? I already have many of them. Be a good girl ande sit beside me.”


    Melora caught the implication in his words and sighed internally. He still saw her as a child!


    Nevertheless, she couldn’t resist her longing for him, so she moved closer and took a seat beside him.


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Alfred personally poured her a cup of coffee and, as he set it down, asked in a rather gentle tone, “Is it


    still hurting there?”