hey were kids. Even though Clara had forgotten most of those early days, the occasional tug of bitterness in her heart was undeniable.
It didn’t take long for Quinn to make Clara feel completely alone. Without saying a word, Clara shook off Simon’s hand and got into the car.
Simon was frustrated, too. Clara had never been this distant before. Even if she was putting on an act, she was definitely overdoing it.
“Clara!” he called out, wanting to follow her, but Quinn’s voice stopped him. “Simon, what brings you to South Ashford?”
That was when Simon remembered why he was there and pointed at his car. “I brought some dishes Naomi cooked up for you. She was worried you wouldn’t like the food here, so she made these special. They’re still warm. Do you want some?”
Naomi rarely cooked, but she’d gone out of her way for her daughter. Quinn’s eyes lit up with surprise. “Really? Mom cooked?”
“Yeah, she’s been so worried about you that she’s barely eaten herself.”
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Quinn glanced over at Clara, but the dim light inside the car made it hard to read her expression. Still, she was pretty sure Clara was feeling it deep down.
Clara used to hang on every word from the Bradford family and was eager to do anything to get a compliment from them. Naomi cooking for her was a rare treat; usually, the housekeeper took care of everything. So, these home–cooked meals were a big deal.
“You’ve had a long day, Clara. Why not come back with us and have some? I bet you miss Mom’s cooking, too.”
Simon jumped in, “Naomi made it just for you, Quinn, not for Clara.”
“Simon, don’t say that.”
Clara didn’t say a word and just told the driver to go. Sitting next to her, Addison was fuming, “Those two are just disgusting! They’ll get what’s coming to them.”
Clara shut her eyes, trying not to waste energy on them. Her thoughts were tangled up with the issues in North Ashford. Seeing Clara leave in such a rush gave Quinn a smug sense of victory.
“Simon, join me for dinner.”
Simon nodded, feeling a bit better himself. He hadn’t seen Clara’s face clearly, but she probably looked upset, right? If she was upset, it meant she still cared.
Quinn linked arms with him, cheerfully turning to head back to the east wing. But then she noticed someone sitting nearby.
It was Dylan.
Dylan had a presence you couldn’t ignore, even from a wheelchair. Quinn had seen him around a few times before and had been totally wowed. She used to daydream about a guy like him falling head over heels for her and how she’d become the talk of the town.
But after Dylan’s accident, she let go of those fantasies. No matter how impressive he was, he was still stuck in that chair. Plus, even when he was in top shape, he’d always been indifferent toward her, which stung a bit.
When she heard about his accident, she actually felt a bit relieved. The perfect Dylan wasn’t meant for anyone; he was destined to be alone, dealing with his own struggles.
Chapter 50
