A Night of Desire-Chapter 64: She Doesn’t Have the Courage

After Jenna left, Seth Quinn looked at the new number saved on his phone, his lips curving into a slight smile.

’Just as I’d expect from my older sister. She knew I wanted to use Cherie to get information on Clara Grant, and she gave me her number without a moment’s hesitation.’

A hint of warmth softened his features. ’In the end, only family truly works together as one!’

’But what about Clara Grant? Even if he made her part of the family, would she be on his side?’

Seth Quinn’s expression turned grave for a moment, but he quickly composed himself.

’She’s just a "daily necessity" that my body desires. Maybe feelings will develop over time, but for now... am I getting ahead of myself?’

Seth Quinn let out a self-deprecating chuckle. He had just set his phone down when a knock came at his office door.

"Come in," he called out in a low voice. Chase Childs pushed the door open and walked in.

"Sir, these are the documents that require your review and signature." Chase Childs placed the file on the desk in front of him.

Seth Quinn pushed his personal thoughts aside, quickly shifting into work mode as he began to review the documents.

... 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Clara Grant was still in a complete daze after getting to the classroom and sitting through an entire lecture. She was only jolted out of it when Sarah Shelby, who had a class on the same floor, came to find her.

"Clara, what’s wrong? Are you okay?"

Sarah Shelby asked, waving a hand in front of her face with a concerned look.

"Huh? I’m fine," Clara Grant said, steadying herself and offering her a smile.

"Fine? I don’t believe you for a second. Spill. What really happened?"

Clara knew she couldn’t hide it from her best friend. Besides, Sarah already knew about her crush on Miles Quinn, so she told her everything that had happened that morning.

Clara had expected Sarah to share her outrage and start cursing out Chloe Grant, but her friend’s focus was on something else entirely.

"You ran into Miles Quinn? And you gave him a ride? Did he mention what happened a year ago?"

At the mention of that, Clara’s expression fell. The moment Sarah saw her face, she knew the answer and was so frustrated she nearly jumped to her feet.

"He’s still keeping his mouth shut? Refusing to say a single word about what happened a year ago? He knows you were the one who met him back then, and he knows you like him, but he just keeps stringing you along—not saying he likes you, but not saying he doesn’t either. What kind of game is he playing?"

A pang of sadness hit Clara, but she just smiled—a sad, mournful smile.

"Maybe... his silence is his way of saying he doesn’t like me."

"If he doesn’t like you, then why did he take advantage of you a year ago! If he doesn’t like you, why does he keep showing up and giving you hope! Scumbag!"

"It wasn’t really... taking advantage of me." Though her heart ached, Clara couldn’t help but defend Miles. "We didn’t do anything else... besides kissing. And that kiss was an accident, anyway."

’If I hadn’t been too shy to turn on the lights that night, if I hadn’t slipped and fallen into his arms, he probably wouldn’t have kissed me.’

"Even if it was an accident, he kissed you back, didn’t he? He was plenty passionate in the moment, but now he clams up and refuses to admit it happened? That makes him an even bigger scumbag! And to think he’s an idol to millions of girls... Pah!" Sarah’s face was a mask of contempt.

With that, she grabbed Clara’s hand. "Come on. I’m taking you to find him. We’re going to get a straight answer, once and for all. It’ll save you from being a nervous wreck and worrying about this all day."

"Sarah, don’t!" Clara pulled her hand away. Call her a coward for not daring to face it, or say she was afraid that if she confronted him, she and Miles wouldn’t even be able to be friends anymore. Whatever the reason, she just didn’t have the courage to ask.