A Night of Desire-Chapter 40: Big Sister Wants a Boyfriend

"Cherie Shaw, what are you still doing up so late?" The music on the other end finally died down. She must have found a quieter spot to take the call.

"You’re one to talk. Aren’t you still out at a club this late?"

"Uh, haha." She was clearly feeling a little guilty on the other end and immediately tried to butter him up. "Son, you must be calling me so late because you have some important intel, right?"

"But of course." Cherie, acting like a little adult, spilled everything he’d wheedled out of Clara Grant. Then he added, "I think there’s still a real chance for Clara and Uncle. As the saying goes, ’The master opens the door, but the student must enter on their own.’ We just used a little trick to get Clara and Uncle to meet for the first time. The fact that they keep running into each other afterward—if that’s not fate, what is?"

Listening to her son seriously misuse a proverb over the phone, Jenna Quinn rubbed her temples, a headache forming. "What kind of nonsense is that? That’s not how you use that saying... Pfft, never mind, that’s not the point. The point is... Son, you’re so right."

Cherie’s mouth twitched. ’And to think his grandparents had named his mother Jenna. She was anything but quiet, and the things she said were always so ridiculously dramatic.’

"Okay, here’s the plan. I’ll come home tomorrow and sound out your uncle. Once things are steady between them, I’ll come pick you up. For the next few days, keep mentioning your uncle to Clara, and make sure to say lots of good things about him, understand?"

Jenna Quinn, clearly oblivious to her son’s silent criticism, continued with her instructions.

"Got it."

"Alright then, Mommy’s still got some things to do here, so I’m hanging up now. Good night, sweetie." After she spoke, the line immediately went dead.

Cherie sighed, speechless. Just as he finished fiddling with his watch, Clara Grant pushed open the bathroom door and walked out. He quickly lay down on the bed, shut his eyes, and pretended to be asleep.

Seeing that he was "asleep," Clara took the hair dryer into the bathroom to dry her hair, then came back and lay down on the bed.

Looking at Cherie’s little face next to her, so similar to Seth Quinn’s, she couldn’t help but think back to her time at The Tuberose.

’The image of Seth Quinn entangled with that sexy woman... His words came rushing back. "Shouldn’t you apologize for last night?" "I want to sleep with you right now. Name your price." "Even for a woman pure as driven snow, I, Seth Quinn, wouldn’t stoop to taking advantage of someone in a vulnerable position. Let alone someone like you... It’s beneath my contempt..."’

’And his last, unfinished sentence: "Last night, I didn’t..." Didn’t what? Didn’t force her? Was it all her own doing?’

’That man! So infuriating, so hateful!’

Clara closed her eyes in frustration, trying not to think about it anymore. But the images and words kept tumbling through her mind, impossible to banish.

...

The next day, Clara Grant was woken up by Skylar Hayes. She groggily got out of bed, washed up, changed her clothes, and left the bedroom.

In the dining room, Skylar Hayes was helping Cherie with his porridge. Seeing Clara walk in looking listless, she asked with concern, "Clara, did you not sleep well yesterday?"

Clara stopped a yawn halfway through. She sat down in a chair and answered with a bright smile, "Not at all, I slept great."

’That bastard,’ she secretly cursed Seth Quinn. ’Nothing good ever happens when I run into him, and now he’s even ruining my sleep. That jerk deserves to be cut into a thousand pieces!’

Across from her, Cherie took a sip of porridge, kicked his little legs, and said to Skylar Hayes, "Grandma, Clara wants to get a boyfriend."

Clara nearly spat out the mouthful of porridge she had just taken. ’That little brat! Isn’t that the same as saying I’m lovesick?’

"Cherie Shaw, shouldn’t that porridge be keeping your mouth full? Say one more word of nonsense and I’ll smack you."

Skylar Hayes, however, studied her daughter seriously for a few moments before smiling. "Clara, you’re twenty-two now. If there’s someone you like, you can try dating him. Mom’s not that old-fashioned; I won’t be against it."