A Night of Desire

Chapter 478: Chapter 471: A Sparkle in His Eyes

The next morning, Sienna Hale arrived at the hospital bright and early with Mrs. Cheney, carrying a delicious, slow-cooked soup and several tasty dishes.

Clara Grant was bent over the bed, helping Seth Quinn wash his face and hands. "Here, lift your head a little so I can get the other side."

Seth Quinn obediently lifted his head. Clara held the washcloth in one hand and reached out with the other to steady his head. The moment her hand was next to his cheek, he quickly turned and planted a surprise kiss on it. "What did you put on?" he asked. "You smell so nice."

Clara shot him a playful glare, and Seth’s lips curved into a smile.

"I’m not wearing anything. What are you talking about?" Clara pulled her hand back and sniffed it. There was no scent at all.

She suddenly remembered how, because of Seth’s sensitive nose, he had complained about her scent many times when they first met.

As she continued washing his face, she said, "So you think I smell nice now? Don’t you remember? When we first met, you were always complaining that I smelled bad."

Of course Seth remembered. He let her wash his face, a smile playing on his lips. "I remember," he said. "It wasn’t that I was complaining about *you*, it’s just that the scents you wore were genuinely awful. You wore perfume a few times, and it really didn’t smell good."

"That was only because Sarah insisted on spraying it on me," Clara laughed too. "I didn’t think it smelled bad, though. I thought it was rather fresh. At the end of the day, you’re just too picky."

"Mm, that’s true," Seth admitted freely. "I’m picky about everything, and I’m especially picky when it comes to women. So, for someone as selective as me to choose you in the end... that must mean you’re the best."

Clara looked up, a smile playing on her lips. "Are you putting your plan from yesterday into action? The one about saying nice things to me every day to win back my forgiveness?"

"Yes. A man has to keep his word."

While the two of them were inside talking and laughing, Sienna Hale stood in the doorway, watching.

She could see that Seth looked a bit haggard—he probably wasn’t sleeping well, having to lie on his stomach—but his eyes sparkled as he looked at Clara. He seemed blissfully happy.

In all his twenty-eight years, his mother, Sienna Hale, had almost never seen him wear such a look of blissful, smiling contentment. Let alone flirtatiously whisper sweet nothings to a woman.

Seeing Seth like this, Sienna Hale was momentarily stunned.

Seeing her staring blankly at the couple, Mrs. Cheney thought for a moment before leaning in and whispering tentatively, "Ma’am, look how happy the Young Master is with her. I’ve never seen him this happy before."

Mrs. Cheney’s words pulled Sienna Hale from her thoughts. She glanced back at the older woman but said nothing.

"Ma’am, we should go in," Mrs. Cheney added. "The soup won’t be as good if it gets cold."

Sienna Hale nodded and stepped inside.

"Mom," Seth said, spotting her first.

Clara had just finished washing Seth’s hands and was about to empty the basin of water. When she heard him say "Mom," she froze. Then, she quickly picked up the basin, took two steps back to make way for his mother, and said with her head lowered, "Mrs. Hale."

Sienna Hale’s eyes swept over her, but she said nothing.

Clara quickly added, "I’ll just go empty this water."

With that, she carried the basin to the bathroom.

Sienna Hale’s eyes followed Clara’s retreating figure until she disappeared through the bathroom door. Only then did she look away.