A Night of Desire

"There’s nothing strange about you coming back by yourself. But for you to come back so soon after I did—that’s what looks strange to people. Especially since you brought a child with you," Autumn said matter-of-factly.

Sierra Sutton frowned. "Autumn, you’ve been back for several months now."

"Sierra Sutton, what’s that supposed to mean? So what if I’ve been back for a few months? Do I need you to remind me?"

Autumn flushed with shame and anger. Sierra’s words reminded her of the lie she had told him when she’d left for China—that she would be back in a week at most.

’It’s been three or four months, and I still haven’t gone back. What is he doing now, chasing me all the way here to demand an explanation?’

"I wasn’t trying to remind you, and I didn’t mean anything by it. I just wanted to say that the baby and I have been waiting for you for so long, and you never came back.

I’d call you, and you’d pick up at first, but then you stopped answering my calls altogether. I had no choice but to come back and find you."

As he spoke, Sierra glanced down at the baby and added, "His birthday is coming up soon. He just wants his mom to celebrate with him."

Autumn started to look toward the baby, but after a moment’s hesitation, she resolutely turned her head away, refusing to look at him. "It’s not convenient for you to stay here at the house right now. Take him to a hotel first, then give me the address. I’ll come find you guys later."

Sierra’s lips parted, as if to voice the questions weighing on his mind, but in the end, he held his tongue. He just looked at her and said faintly, "We’ve already found a hotel. It’s the XX Hotel, not far from the house."

When he finished, his gaze locked on hers, deepening with hope. "The baby and I will be waiting for you," he said.

Then he turned to Yvette Zimmerman and nodded. "Auntie, I’ll be leaving now."

Before he could even turn around, the door behind him was pushed open, and a housekeeper called out, "Sir."

The three of them turned to see Evan Shelby walk in, a displeased look on his face.

Evan Shelby lifted his gaze and saw Sierra Sutton standing before him.

Just like Yvette Zimmerman, he froze on the spot for a couple of seconds before he came to his senses.

His mouth hung half-open as he took two steps toward Sierra. After confirming it was really him, he finally spoke. "Sierra, why are you back?"

"Uncle, I came back to find Autumn. She’s been back in the country by herself for so long, and I was worried about her."

Though Sierra appeared outwardly calm, his heart was in turmoil. ’When they first brought me here, didn’t they tell me this was my home? That no matter where I went, no matter when, I would always be welcome back? So why is everyone now asking me, "Why are you back?" and "What brings you back?" Instead of the welcoming embrace I expected.’

But Sierra didn’t resent them for it; he just felt a faint sense of sorrow.

’I came to this house when I was ten and lived here until I moved out at twenty—a full ten years. And yet, they never truly saw me as part of the family, did they? But why should I be sad? I never was. Not even after what happened between Autumn and me, not even after we had a child.’

Evan Shelby frowned, though his tone softened slightly. "She’s a grown woman. What’s there to be worried about? Besides, this is her home. What kind of accident could she possibly get into?

But you, on the other hand... you just came back like this? What about your business in the U.S.A.? Who’s going to manage it if you’re not there?

It may be a small business, but you built it from the ground up with your own hard work. It would be a shame to let it fall by the wayside. You should hurry back and focus on your career; that’s what’s important."