A Night of Desire

Although Sienna Hale still had reservations about Clara Grant’s background, Clara was, after all, a daughter-in-law of the Quinn family now.

’That makes Skylar Hayes my son’s mother-in-law. If Jean Jarvis humiliates her, isn’t she also humiliating me and the entire Quinn family?’

"You’re going too far! An experience like that is a woman’s worst nightmare, and you’re describing it so graphically. Are you trying to drive her to her death?"

Since Cedric Grant had saved Theodore Quinn’s life, Sienna Hale didn’t make her words too harsh, but her anger alone was enough to silence Jean Jarvis.

But Jean Jarvis’s deliberately graphic description was already more than Skylar Hayes could bear. Hearing Sienna Hale’s words now, she felt utterly mortified.

’So, Sienna Hale knew all along. The whole Quinn family knew. How can I ever face them again? How can we possibly remain in-laws?’

Skylar Hayes spun around and ran off, stumbling as she went. The bag of groceries she was holding fell to the ground, but she paid it no heed.

’Jean Jarvis knew that was the nightmare of my life. Is she doing this on purpose, trying to make sure I can never escape it?’

Although she had been unconscious at the time and couldn’t remember what happened, ever since she learned she had been kidnapped and then assaulted, she had been plagued by nightmares for over a year, dreaming of that horrifying scene.

Now, the scenes from her nightmares flashed before her eyes, and her thoughts began to spiral into chaos.

’No, please, no! I have to get away! I have to escape!’

...

Sienna Hale watched Skylar Hayes’s retreating figure, feeling a pang of pity. She turned back to Jean Jarvis, her expression grim. "Jean Jarvis, you’re Mrs. Grant now. Why are you still so relentless with her? She was once like a sister to you. You should know when to let things go."

Jean Jarvis looked a little embarrassed. Just as she was about to defend herself, her phone rang. She let out a breath, quickly answering the call that had just saved her. "Hello?"

"Hello? Jean, what a coincidence. Fancy running into you just popping out to buy a pack of smokes." A sleazy-sounding man’s voice came from the other end.

Jean Jarvis’s expression changed instantly. She quickly feigned composure, gave Sienna Hale a small nod, and walked a short distance away.

"Where are you?" she asked, glancing around, but she couldn’t see him anywhere.

"Don’t be scared, Jean. I’m not going to pop out," the man chuckled.

"If you have something to say, just say it," Jean Jarvis said, breathing a sigh of relief. She instinctively glanced over at Sienna Hale.

"Well, I didn’t have any business, really. I just happened to see you and thought I’d say hello. But since you’re asking, I’d feel bad if I *didn’t* have a reason to call. Money’s been a bit tight lately, Jean, so..." The voice on the other end had a lazy drawl that made Jean Jarvis’s chest tighten with dread.

"How did you spend it? It’s gone already? Do you think my money grows on trees?"

"Whoa there, Jean, that’s not fair. As for what happened back then, our business was concluded. I didn’t come looking for you, did I? This time, you came to me for a favor. I do you a favor, you give me money. Isn’t that just how it works?" the man said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"The problem is, you didn’t actually help me, did you?" Jean Jarvis hissed through gritted teeth, afraid to raise her voice.

"Hey, that’s not my fault. You’re the one who called it off."

"You—!" Jean Jarvis was fuming.

"Besides, you got your wish and became Mrs. Grant. What’s wrong with giving me a little spending money? If you don’t want to pay up, well, I can always go find Cedric Grant and tell him all about what happened back then." His voice was dripping with threat.

No matter how furious she was, Jean Jarvis had no choice but to give in. "I don’t have much cash on me. Come to the usual place tomorrow morning to pick it up."

"See? That’s what I like about you, Jean. Always cooperative. Alright, I won’t disturb you any longer. See you tomorrow."

With that, the person on the other end hung up, leaving Jean Jarvis seething with helpless rage.