A Night of Desire

"So, I’ve been thinking... perhaps we could smooth things over. After all, we were a family once..."

Before he could finish, Skylar Hayes cut him off coldly. "I told you last time, I don’t need your apology. Let’s just agree there was no right or wrong between us. As for smoothing things over, do you really think that’s possible, or even necessary?"

Cedric Grant let out a hollow laugh. "Yes, yes, I know you’ve done just fine without me. And on top of that, Clara has done so well for herself, marrying Seth Quinn. She’s the young madam of the Quinn Family now.

"And once Seth Quinn takes over as Family Head, she’ll be the matriarch of the entire Quinn Family. Skylar, you’ll get to live a comfortable life thanks to your daughter."

As he spoke, Cedric Grant sighed theatrically. "But then again, our Clara is more than worthy of being the Quinn matriarch. After what happened, I thought there was no way she could marry into the Quinn family. I never expected her to be so capable... she really has Seth Quinn wrapped around her little finger..."

Skylar Hayes was clearly perplexed by his words. She frowned and asked, "What happened back then?"

Cedric Grant froze for a moment. "You don’t know? Back then, with Clara’s..."

Standing in the entryway, Clara Grant realized what Cedric was about to say. She quickly swung the door shut behind her, creating a loud SLAM that instantly cut him off.

Skylar Hayes forgot all about what he was about to say and turned toward the door. When she saw her daughter walking over with a suitcase, she immediately stood up, her face beaming. "Clara, you’re back! Is filming over?"

Clara nodded and turned her gaze to Cedric Grant.

Cedric Grant scrambled to his feet, offering her an obsequious smile. "Clara, you’re back."

Clara’s expression, however, was frigid. "What are you doing here?" she asked coldly.

Cedric Grant paid her coldness no mind, still smiling amicably. "Dad came to see your mom. I didn’t realize I’d be lucky enough to see you too."

Clara shot him a look but didn’t say a word. Instead, she handed her suitcase to Skylar Hayes. "Mom, can you take my suitcase to my room and put my clothes away in the closet?"

Skylar Hayes knew Clara wanted to get her out of the room, but she didn’t argue. She simply nodded, took the suitcase, and headed to Clara’s bedroom.

Once the door was closed, Clara turned back to Cedric Grant and scoffed. "’Dad?’ I was under the impression you forbade me from calling you that the moment you found out I wasn’t your biological daughter. I thought you renounced our twenty-something years of father-daughter affection when you divorced my mother.

"Aren’t you doing just fine with your mistress and your illegitimate daughter? That daughter of yours is your own flesh and blood, and she’s so devoted to you. So why are you coming back to see my mother and me?"

Clara raised an eyebrow, feigning a sudden realization. "Oh, I get it now. You saw I married Seth Quinn and figured I’d married up. You want a piece of the action, so you’re swallowing your pride to come smooth things over with us. Is that it?"

Perhaps because Clara had seen right through him, the expression on Cedric Grant’s face grew strained. Still, he forced a smile. "Clara, don’t say that. Dad really came because I’ve been missing our twenty-plus years of history, and I’ve been thinking about your mom.

"Besides, I came to see your mother before, and you hadn’t married Seth Quinn yet. What, do you think I’m some kind of prophet who knew you’d definitely end up marrying him?"

With that, Cedric Grant sighed and added, "But, Clara, since I’ve run into you today, I might as well take the opportunity to apologize to you too."