A Night of Desire

"I can’t get back to sleep. I’m a little hungry." Clara Grant tugged gently at the blanket, still looking pitiful.

"Hungry? Just a minute, I’ll go downstairs and see if there’s anything to eat," Seth Quinn said, quickly getting up.

"By the way, what time is it? How is it not light out yet?" Clara Grant asked, glancing toward the window.

As he got up, Seth Quinn glanced at his phone. "It’s almost dawn. You just lie back down. I’ll go see what I can find downstairs."

Clara Grant nodded, watching him walk out of the room. Her stomach let out a RUMBLE. She rubbed it through the blanket and pressed her lips together to hide a smile.

Perhaps she had slept so soundly because she’d been completely worn out. If her growling stomach hadn’t woken her, she had no idea how long she would have slept in.

Unable to fall back asleep and still hungry, Clara Grant picked up her phone and started scrolling. She stumbled upon a news article. It reported that Ewan Stratton, the eldest young master of the Stratton Family, was finally making his first public appearance two years after a car accident. The Strattons were the maiden family of Mrs. Linden, the matriarch of Novaria’s Linden Family. The purpose of his appearance? To announce his impending marriage.

The article included a photo of Ewan Stratton. He was sitting in a wheelchair, dressed all in black, with a grim expression on his face. He showed none of the joy of a man about to be married; instead, he looked like he was attending a funeral.

Back when she was still the esteemed daughter of the Grant Family, Clara Grant had heard of the Strattons, and she vaguely recalled hearing about Ewan Stratton as well. Rumor had it his car accident two years ago happened while he was chasing after some woman, but she didn’t know the details.

Since she’d heard of him, Clara Grant gave the photo a second look. The Ewan Stratton in the picture was actually quite handsome, but his overly stern, cold, and rigid expression made her frown.

’This guy probably has a bad temper. And after a sudden car accident? He’s probably in an even fouler mood, and even more explosive.’

Clara Grant couldn’t help but offer a moment of silence for the woman about to become his bride. Just as she was lost in thought, the bedroom door opened, and Seth Quinn walked in carrying two bowls of instant noodles.

The moment Clara Grant smelled the instant noodles, she tossed her phone aside. Her eyes lit up as she looked over, rubbing her hands together and swallowing hard. "Wow, that smells amazing!"

Seth Quinn walked over and set the bowls on the table. He looked at her apologetically and said, "There wasn’t anything else in the house, and it’s too late to order takeout. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to make do with this for now."

"What do you mean ’make do’? Don’t you know that instant noodles are the most tempting food in the world? I love this stuff." Clara Grant licked her lips and carefully scooted over, trying not to jostle her sore body too much.

She lifted the lid, grabbed her fork, and stuffed a mouthful in, only to let out a quiet "Ah!" as it burned her.

Seth Quinn, who had his back to her while pouring some water, heard the sound and spun around. He saw her sticking her tongue out and sucking in air. Forgetting the glass in his hand, he tossed it aside and strode over to her. "What’s wrong? Did you burn yourself?" he asked nervously.

Clara Grant stuck her tongue out like a puppy, her eyes welling with mock grievance as she looked at him and nodded. "Mhm."

Seth Quinn carefully inspected her tongue. Thankfully, it wasn’t burned too badly. He breathed a sigh of relief. "This is all my fault. I should have warned you that the noodles were still piping hot."

Clara Grant: ...

’Seth Quinn is really treating me like a three-year-old. Of course instant noodles are hot; I don’t need him to remind me of that, do I? It was my own fault for being too hungry and impatient. What does it have to do with him?’

But his attitude filled Clara Grant with a sense of warmth. It felt so good to be spoiled and cherished.

Clara Grant just looked at Seth Quinn and giggled, saying nothing.