A Night of Desire

Chapter 194 - 192: How to Go On With This Kissing Scene?

"Yeah, yeah! Faye, you can’t keep it from us then. Good news is for sharing."

Faye Jennings was quite satisfied on the inside, but she put on a helpless expression. "If it’s true, I definitely won’t hide it from you girls."

...

Back in the dressing room, as Clara Grant’s makeup was nearing completion, the previous scene happened to wrap up.

A whole crowd of people whose scenes were over came rushing into the dressing room to remove their makeup and change.

The makeup artist straightened up, checked his work one last time, and then smiled at Clara Grant. "All done."

Clara Grant smiled back with a "Thank you" and stood up.

Seeing that her makeup was done, Holly Summers put away her phone, pulled Clara over to look her up and down, and let out a heartfelt sigh of admiration. "Clara, you’re seriously so beautiful. Even I’m captivated by you, and I’m a woman."

The praise made Clara Grant blush. "Come on, Holly. You’re exaggerating."

"How am I exaggerating? If you don’t believe me, ask Tony. Tony, what do you think?" Holly raised her voice to ask the makeup artist.

"It’s true. Clara is already very pretty, and the makeup makes her even more so. Honestly, Clara is one of the few women I’ve ever seen who looks just as good with heavy makeup as she does with a lighter touch," Tony replied with a smile.

"Tch. Pretty? The entertainment industry has never been short on pretty women." Suddenly, a dissonant voice cut in. The group turned to see Sandra sitting at her vanity, speaking disdainfully as she removed the ornaments from her hair.

"So what if she’s pretty? So what if she pays off reporters to write some trashy, attention-grabbing rumors? What’s the use of all that wishful thinking? If he’s not yours, you’re never going to get him."

Anyone could tell Sandra was referring to the recent news about the rumors between Clara Grant and Seth Quinn. Since no one knew the truth, her words made it sound like Clara had indeed paid off reporters to write it intentionally, and a murmur of gossip rippled through the room.

"Sandra, what nonsense are you spouting now? Who paid off any reporters?" Holly couldn’t help but retort.

Clara Grant just felt that Sandra was only spouting some nasty but ultimately harmless words that couldn’t really get to her. Thinking it best not to stoop to her level, she tugged on Holly’s arm, but couldn’t hold her back. Holly continued to fire back at Sandra:

"Even if someone were paying off reporters, they’d have to be newsworthy in the first place. Some people could spend all the money in the world and still not get a single article written about them."

"And another thing—so the entertainment industry isn’t short on pretty women. At least our Clara *is* pretty. Some people are just a classic case of sour grapes!"

"You!"

It was true. She wasn’t as pretty as Clara Grant, and she certainly couldn’t pay off reporters to write about her and Seth Quinn.

Sandra was so angry she almost threw the hairpin in her hand, but she couldn’t come up with a powerful comeback.

But after only two seconds, she regained her composure. Her lips curled into a cold smirk. "Since you’re so pretty, since you’re so capable of buying off reporters, then why don’t you show some real skill and get a man to actually do something for you?"

"When you think about it, Faye is the impressive one. She’s quiet, doesn’t waste time stirring up rumors, and yet she’s the one who gets men to give her special treatment. President Quinn made a special trip here early this morning just for Faye. You’re pretty, you can cook up rumors, but do you have what it takes to make President Quinn do that for you?"

Clara Grant had been listening nonchalantly with her head down, adjusting her costume, but Sandra’s last two sentences made her heart jump.

’What? Seth Quinn is here?’

Just then, the assistant director’s voice boomed over the loudspeaker outside, calling for the actors in scene three to get ready. With no time to think, Clara Grant hurried out of the dressing room.

Holly Summers shot Sandra an indignant glare before following Clara out.

The moment Clara Grant reached her mark, she glanced over and saw Seth Quinn sitting not far away.

Her heart skipped a beat. ’He really is here!’

She hadn’t seen him in over a month, but he was just as he’d always been, his handsome face a mask of indifference, looking arrogant and unapproachable.

Seth Quinn saw her too. For the past month, he had been coming to see her every three to five days, but always in secret, so he’d always kept his distance.

Today was the first time in over a month that he was seeing her this close. So, although his cold face remained expressionless, his eyes held a look of unconcealable wonder.

He had always known she was beautiful, but he never expected that with makeup, she would be so stunning he couldn’t look away.

River Sterling recognized Clara Grant as well and sighed internally. He was practically green with envy. ’Seth found himself such a gorgeous wife.’ Even that famous beauty from back in the day, what’s-her-name, seemed to be lacking a little something in comparison to Clara.

He turned and saw Seth Quinn staring intently at Clara Grant. He couldn’t help but tease him in a low voice, "Hey, Seth, be careful. You’re about to drool all over the floor. Is it really okay to be staring at your own wife with your eyes lit up like a hungry wolf?"

Seth didn’t move an inch. He simply shot River a cold glance from the corner of his eye, which was enough to make him flinch.

"But really, your wife is just too beautiful. I can’t even bear to blink. Even my unpoetic brain is conjuring up that line about being ’just as lovely with a light touch or a heavy hand.’"

"Shut your eyes and your mouth."

River Sterling...

’That’s just too tyrannical! I can’t even compliment her, and he won’t even let me look! If you won’t let people look or comment, then why did you let her become an actress in the first place? Unbelievable!’

Nearby, Poppy Vance was also stunned by Clara Grant. She tugged on Linden Jennings’s hand and gasped, "Linden, that actress is gorgeous! Who is she? How come I’ve never seen her on TV?"

"She’s Seth’s secret wife, Clara Grant." Although Linden Jennings had to admit Clara was very beautiful, he only had eyes for Poppy Vance. No other woman, however pretty, could ever catch his attention.

"So that’s Sister-in-law Quinn! She’s so beautiful, way prettier than that Faye Jennings." Even as a girl herself, Poppy Vance’s eyes were shining with admiration.

...

"Hey, Clara." A greeting from Miles Quinn broke the gaze between Clara Grant and Seth Quinn.

Clara Grant snapped back to reality, realizing she had been staring at Seth Quinn for quite some time. A blush crept up her face, and to cover her distraction, she leaned closer to Miles Quinn and asked, "Why did President Quinn suddenly show up?"

Miles Quinn shook his head. "I don’t know either."

He had also just come from the men’s dressing room and discovered his older brother on set. ’I’m a little nervous, too,’ he thought. ’With my brother watching, how are we supposed to film this kiss scene?’

’And Clara looks really uncomfortable. I bet with my brother here, she can’t bring herself to kiss me, can she?’

But he still asked, feigning ignorance, "What’s wrong? Is there a problem with my brother being here?"

"No, no." Clara Grant gave an awkward laugh, but inwardly she was grumbling, ’With Seth Quinn here, how are we supposed to film this kiss scene with Miles Quinn?’

To Seth Quinn’s eyes, their interaction looked like two intimate people sweetly whispering to each other.

His face instantly darkened, and an indiscernible emotion flashed in his eyes.

But River Sterling, who happened to turn and look at him just then, caught it. ’Seth... he can’t be jealous of his own brother, can he?’

’That’s a little... twisted!’

"Miles, Clara, are you ready?" the assistant director yelled to them.

Clara Grant quickly got into position, not daring to look at Seth Quinn again. She gave the assistant director an "OK" gesture, and Miles Quinn nodded to him as well.

Seeing that they were both ready, Director Liam Keane had all departments stand by, then called, "Action!"