A Night of Desire-Chapter 104: Treat Me to a Meal

Downstairs, in a shady spot, Clara Grant and Miles Quinn came to a stop.

"Miles, thank you for today," Clara Grant said, looking at the handsome young man before her.

"Don’t mention it. It was no trouble at all," Miles Quinn said, waving his hand dismissively.

"Honestly, I didn’t want to just let it go today. Deleting the post, finding the person who framed you, forcing them to apologize, and making sure they were severely punished—none of that should have been skipped.

But the man in the photo wasn’t me, after all. Besides, plenty of students saw me get to campus before you did that day.

I was afraid if I pushed the culprit too hard, they might produce evidence proving the man in the photos wasn’t me, which would just throw you back into the center of the controversy.

So, Clara, I’m sorry you had to go through this."

Hearing his last words, Clara Grant felt her eyes sting, and she nearly burst into tears.

’He said *I* was the one who had been wronged? Does he really believe I’m innocent? Doesn’t he have even the slightest doubt?’

"I’m sorry you had to go through this." What a gentle thing to say. Even though it didn’t come from a lover, it was enough to move Clara Grant to her core.

"Miles, you... you believe that I’m innocent?" Clara Grant finally asked after a moment’s hesitation.

"Of course I believe you’re innocent. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have rushed over to help you," Miles Quinn said with a broad, sincere smile. "Besides, didn’t you say you decided to test into the acting department at The Nymphaea three years ago because of something I said? In a way, I’m the one who led you here. Of course I trust the person I brought in."

Clara was mesmerized by his radiant smile. After staring blankly for a couple of seconds, she spoke again, "Regardless, Miles, I still have to thank you..."

Before she could finish, Miles Quinn frowned and rubbed his chin. "Well, since you’re so insistent on thanking me... why don’t you treat me to a meal? It’s almost dinnertime, anyway."

’Huh? Treat him to a meal? I don’t think I ever said I wanted to thank him with something tangible, did I?’

’Besides, I should be keeping my distance from him right now, so I can try to get over my feelings for him.’

’So, is it really a good idea for me to have a meal with him?’

’But then again, what’s so wrong about it?’

’He just helped me out. And besides, even if we’re technically brother- and sister-in-law, can’t we have a meal alone together?’

’But what if Seth Quinn finds out I’m having dinner with another man? Will he get angry?’

’Wait a minute, why am I even worried about whether Seth Quinn will get angry?’

’What would he be angry about? Miles is his own brother, and it’s not like he knows I have a crush on him.’

When Clara Grant finally realized she was overthinking things, she looked up to see Miles Quinn standing with his hands in his pockets, smiling at her as if waiting for her answer.

Looking at his smile, Clara found herself saying, as if on impulse, "Of course."

...

Behind the administration building, Chloe Grant emerged from the shadows. Watching the two of them get into Miles Quinn’s car together, she stomped her foot in fury.

’The man in the car that day obviously wasn’t Miles, but he admitted it was him for Clara’s sake.’

’God, she had wanted so badly to rush out and expose them just now, but she couldn’t.’

’If she had impulsively rushed out, Miles would have suspected that she was the one behind it all.’

’She couldn’t let Miles think she was the kind of despicable person who would stab someone in the back!’

’So now, all she could do was stand here and fume. There was nothing else she could do.’

But after her anger subsided, a sense of panic set in. There was the fact that Miles had actually shown up and claimed to be Clara’s boyfriend, and then there was the absolute trust he showed for her during their conversation.

Both of these things made Chloe Grant’s heart race with anxiety!

’Why? Why was it that she loved him with all her heart and pursued him openly, yet Miles completely ignored her?’

’And yet, there was Clara, who was too much of a coward to do anything but nurse a secret crush on him, and he was getting closer and closer to *her*!’

’Right now, *she* should have been the one getting into Miles’s car. *She* should have been the one openly going to dinner with him.’

’Instead, she was stuck hiding here, watching in silence, not daring to step forward.’

’Clara Grant... What right did she have? What right did she have to compete with her?’

’No. She had to destroy Clara Grant!’