A Night of Desire

’Thinking back, she must have accidentally seen Autumn Shelby’s medical records back then.’

He started walking toward Clara. "Clara, please, let me explain..."

"Explain what? Are you going to explain that you investigated Autumn Shelby’s condition because you were afraid she really had depression and you’d feel guilty for not knowing? Or are you going to explain that you agreed to meet her because you genuinely felt you owed her?

But either way, why did you hide it from me? Can’t we just have no secrets, no lies between us?"

Seth Quinn stepped closer, but Clara instinctively flinched away.

Seth stopped in his tracks, a helpless look on his face. "Clara, it was wrong of me to hide the investigation into Autumn Shelby’s condition from you. I’m sorry. As for seeing her today... if I said it was just a coincidence, would you believe me?"

Clara didn’t say a word, but Seth could tell from her expression that, of course, she didn’t believe him.

Seth gave a wry smile. After a moment’s thought, he took out his phone, dialed a number, and put the call on speaker.

Clara was taken aback for a moment, surprised that he was actually making a call.

The call was answered while she was still processing, and Theodore Quinn’s voice came through the speaker. "Seth? Is something the matter?"

"Nothing major," Seth said, glancing at Clara. "It’s just about that investigation you asked me to run into Autumn Shelby’s depression. We have the results."

"Oh? What did you find?" Theodore asked immediately.

Clara froze as she listened to their conversation. ’His father was the one who asked Seth to investigate Autumn Shelby? It wasn’t something Seth decided to do on his own?’

’In that case, had she misunderstood him?’ At the thought, Clara bit her lip gently, but their conversation quickly drew her attention again.

"Autumn Shelby’s depression is real. The medical records are all there, and her doctor confirmed it."

"Oh..."

Theodore’s reply was drawn-out, and to Clara’s ears, it sounded like he was rather disappointed.

"However," Seth continued, "while her medical condition matches what she told us, there are some other discrepancies. The investigator I hired told me that Autumn Shelby wasn’t alone in the U.S.A. like she claimed. It seems a young man was with her."

Theodore’s voice came over the speaker again. "Are you suspecting their relationship is more than it seems?"

"They were deliberately keeping their distance in the U.S.A., so it’s not easy to confirm, but based on my deductions, I’d say yes." Seth nodded. Otherwise, Autumn Shelby wouldn’t have been so quick to deny it when he brought up the man earlier today.

Theodore was silent on the other end for a moment, apparently in thought, before speaking again. "Alright, I understand. As for what to do next, whether to continue the investigation... I’ll leave that up to you."

"Yes, I understand." Seth said, then glanced at Clara before adding, "I’m just calling to let you know, so you and Mom are aware of the situation. Especially Mom. She should just be a bit more careful next time she sees Autumn Shelby."

"Alright, got it."

Seth hung up, but Clara didn’t even notice. She was still completely lost in the conversation she had just overheard.

’Autumn Shelby had a man with her in the U.S.A.? And Seth and his father suspect there’s something inappropriate about their relationship?’

’What are they suspecting? Are they suggesting Autumn Shelby was already with another man before she even went to the U.S.A.?’

’Is that... even possible?’