Crystal Hefner admits she was never in love with late husband Hugh

Crystal Hefner, who was by Hugh Hefner’s side in the final years of his life, admitted she was never “in love” with the controversial Playboy founder.

Ahead of the release of her memoir, titled “Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself,” Crystal explained that she had love for the magazine publisher, but their relationship came with a “price.”

“I realized I was dealing with a really big power imbalance,” Crystal, 37, told People Thursday.

“It seemed like a world of success and fantasy, but everyone’s having to sleep with an 80-year-old. There’s a price,” she went on. “Everything has a price.”

Crystal was just 21 when she was invited to stay at the Playboy Mansion in October 2008.

A few months later, she and Hugh entered a relationship.

The model became Hugh’s third wife when they tied the knot in 2012 and they remained married until his death at the age of 91 in 2017. At the time I thought I was on top,” she said of the early days of their relationship.

I thought, wow, if I just like everything that he likes and do all the things that he wants me to do, then I’m the favorite. And I was, but I just lost myself in the process,” she added. Elsewhere in the interview, the “Girls Next Door” star said the name of her upcoming tell-all was derived from Hugh’s directive to his wife.

I want you to continue my legacy going forward…and I want to remind you to only say good things about me,” she recalled him telling her. The former Playmate also got real about the dirty conditions within the famed Holmby Hills property.

“This place doesn’t really get cleaned that well and there’s mold, and it just felt just kind of run down and gross after a while. Too, too many parties. It was worn out,” Crystal said. I feel like I was constantly crying for everything and everybody there,” she continued.

“All those animals were so depressed and sad-looking. It was all an illusion. I don’t even know if I was happy, to be honest.”