A Night of Desire

"Don’t worry, sir. I have people managing things back there," Sierra Sutton said, subtly glancing over at Autumn Shelby. "Besides, the company is very stable. You don’t need to worry."

Evan Shelby was taken aback. He had been trying to hint that Sierra should return to the U.S.A. soon. ’He probably didn’t get the hint,’ Evan thought. After a brief pause, he decided to state his intentions clearly.

"Yes, but it’s always best to oversee the business yourself. So, I think you should stay for a few days and then head back quickly."

Seeing that Evan had spelled it out, Sierra Sutton no longer hid his own intentions. He looked at Autumn Shelby and said, "I wasn’t planning to stay for long anyway. Once Autumn gets her business done, we’ll go back with her."

Autumn Shelby turned to look at him, frowning. Just as she was about to speak, Evan Shelby cut in, "Fine. When the time comes, if Autumn has truly finished her business here, you can all go back together."

Autumn Shelby and Yvette Zimmerman both stared at him, stunned. They knew that Autumn’s "business" in the country was just a pretense. There was no way she was going back to the U.S.A. with him—their target was Seth Quinn and the Quinn Family!

Autumn Shelby, in particular, was frantically trying to signal Evan Shelby with her eyes, but he acted as if he didn’t see a thing. He simply continued speaking amiably to Sierra Sutton.

"By the way, Sierra, where are you... and the child... staying?" Only then did Evan Shelby’s gaze flick to the baby in his arms before he quickly looked away and continued.

"You see, even though you and Autumn... well, you aren’t married, after all. No one in Novaria knows about your relationship, and they certainly don’t know about the child.

So, it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to stay here with us for the time being. If the wrong person were to see you, the rumors would spread like wildfire. Then, it wouldn’t just be your and Autumn’s reputations on the line; the child would suffer as well..."

"You don’t have to worry, sir." Sierra Sutton cut him off before he could finish. "I understand completely. The baby and I have a place to stay. We’re at the XX Hotel."

Evan Shelby let out a small, surprised "Ah." He hadn’t expected Sierra to be so proactive and find a hotel ahead of time.

After a two-second pause, he continued, "Ah, that’s good. That’s good. Sierra, please don’t blame Autumn, her mother, or me. Our hands are tied. We have to consider the Shelby Family’s reputation."

With that, he turned and took a couple of steps further into the house. "Alright then, let’s leave it at that for now. I’ve had a long day and need to rest. It looks like the baby is getting tired, too, so you should..."

A shadow passed through Sierra Sutton’s eyes, but his expression quickly returned to normal. "Sir, I’ll take the baby back now," he said. "Goodbye, sir. Ma’am."

He then turned to Autumn Shelby, his eyes full of hope. "Autumn, I’ll be waiting for you. The baby will be waiting for you, too."

Autumn Shelby’s gaze fell back to the baby. Seeing her mother looking at her, the baby lifted her head and reached out her little hands, wanting to be held. A soft "Mama" escaped her lips.

But Autumn Shelby gritted her teeth and turned her head away, unable to look at them any longer. Still, she gave a reluctant nod.

Seeing her wish denied again, the baby’s little lip began to tremble. Yvette Zimmerman couldn’t bear to see it, but she didn’t dare say a word.

Sierra Sutton finally walked out the door, holding the baby. The sky outside had already grown dark. Inside the Shelby home, not a single person had asked if he and the baby had eaten dinner. Not even Autumn.

’Even if they don’t care about me,’ he thought, ’the baby is still her own flesh and blood. She’s their own granddaughter. Aren’t they worried she might be hungry?’