A Night of Desire

Chapter 281 - 278: This Is My Gift to You, Do You Want It?

Clara Grant couldn’t help but think, ’This man might look perfectly calm, but he must be a whirlwind of emotions on the inside, right?’

’He’s so good at hiding his feelings and putting on an act!’

Just as that thought crossed her mind, she heard Seth Quinn speak. "You thought I was proposing to her?"

His voice was cool and steady, not at all like someone desperately trying to fake it.

Clara Grant thought to herself again, ’He must be upset that she was gone for so long. Seeing her so suddenly, he must be a little angry with her. That has to be why he’s being so cold, right?’

Seth Quinn’s words stunned Autumn Shelby. They hadn’t seen each other in over a year, and the first thing he said wasn’t even, "When did you get back?"

Even if he had asked, "Why are you back?" she would have been happy, feeling that he at least cared about her a little.

Seeing Autumn Shelby standing there, stunned and silent, Seth Quinn continued, "There’s no need."

Everyone present, except for Autumn Shelby, knew that Seth Quinn and Clara Grant were already married. So their immediate assumption was that Seth meant since he was already married to Clara, there was naturally no need for him to propose again.

But Clara Grant was a classic case of being too close to the situation to see clearly. To her ears, Seth Quinn’s words sounded like an explanation to the woman he truly loved. He was telling her that everything between him and Clara was fake, that it was all an act. Therefore, he wouldn’t propose to her; there was simply no need.

Autumn Shelby had clearly misunderstood Seth Quinn’s meaning as well. She lowered her head and opened the red brocade box. Lying quietly inside was a pair of earrings, not an engagement ring.

Autumn Shelby instantly breathed a sigh of relief. ’Thank goodness,’ she thought. ’They haven’t gotten to the point of marriage yet.’

But even though she was relieved, she still felt incredibly uneasy, her eyes fixed on the pair of earrings.

They were a pair of exquisite pearl earrings, each a single, small pearl—understated and elegant, not at all flashy.

They shone like stars, yet had a unique presence. Their lustrous, translucent white color hinted at their considerable value.

’This must be the first time Seth Quinn has ever given a gift to a woman, right? And for his first gift, he chooses something so exquisitely crafted and valuable!’

Even though she had followed him around for so many years, he had never given her a single thing—not even a worthless wildflower picked from the side of the road.

A wave of jealousy surged through Autumn Shelby. She shot a sideways glance at Clara Grant. ’What right does she have?’

’Is it because she’s pretty? We seem to be about equal on that front.’

’Because she has a good body? Ha! Anyone can see that my figure is much better than Clara Grant’s!’

’Is it her family background? She’s just a daughter abandoned by the Grant Family. How could she possibly compare to me, the eldest and most legitimate daughter of the Shelby Family?’

’And when it comes to their history, she and Seth Quinn have known each other for over twenty years, while Clara Grant has only been in the picture for a few short months.’

’Even if Seth Quinn’s feelings for me aren’t deep, given his personality, choosing me would be a much better option for him than choosing Clara Grant!’

’Choosing a woman is a hassle. He’d always prefer someone familiar over someone new—that’s just how Seth is.’

’So, as long as they aren’t married, I still have a chance.’

While Autumn Shelby was lost in thought, Seth Quinn took the brocade box back from her hands. With the lid still open, he held it out to Clara Grant.

"This is a gift for you. Do you want it?"

Although his words were neither romantic nor charming, the gentleness and apprehension in his tone were unmistakable.

Clara Grant stared at the earrings in the box for a long time. They were truly beautiful. Even she, who rarely wore earrings, was captivated by them at first sight.

’Logically speaking, with Seth Quinn’s ’real’ woman standing right here, I shouldn’t accept this gift.’

But, for some inexplicable reason, her hand reached out anyway.