Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

No one else dared say a word, so everyone just started talking Walter down.noveldrama

"Carter, don't be mad—it's normal for kids to act out a little when they're young."

"Yeah, honestly, Jackson's only rebellious when it comes to marriage. In every other way, he's doing amazing. My own son can't hold a candle to him."

"And look at that acquisition last month-Jackson's speech was killer. The Dawson family is in good hands with him. Like he said, there's plenty of time. If he finds the right woman, he'll spoil her endlessly. Just wait."

With all the reassuring voices around him, Walter's face finally softened. He rubbed his brow, looking tired.

"He's still holding a grudge over the marriage I forced on him back then. But the girl he liked-she just wasn't the one."

Back then, Jackson had a girlfriend-a C-list actress with no family background. There was no way the Dawsons could ever accept her.

So Walter broke them up and arranged a new bride for him.

Jackson was furious-he fled overseas for three years. Even now that he's back, he barely acknowledges his wife.

After leaving the old Dawson house, Jackson climbed into his car, lit a cigarette, and called Dylan.

"Dylan, you haven't posted on social media for years, and the first time you do, it's a bombshell. If Walter comes for you with the family rules, give us a heads-up so we can drive you to the hospital."

He was practically gloating. When Dylan didn't answer, Jackson just hung up.

He chuckled to himself, but as soon as he thought about Clara, he felt a twinge of irritation.

Dylan must be blind-how could he fall for someone like her?

But Jackson wasn't one to lie to himself. If a friend's wife is off-limits, then that's that. He'd just have to swallow his dislike for Clara and deal with her.

He drove home, took a half-hearted shower, gossiped with Richard for a few minutes over the phone, then

flied onto the couch, plann

flip through a book. fo

That's when his phone buzzed-a Twitter notification.

He raised an eyebrow and checked his phone: Kaitlyn had posted a photo from a bar. Not Moonlight, though.

All his old messages to her were gone. She really was the type to walk away without a second thought-never even tried to contact him again.

He poked around and finally tracked down her account on Twitter.

Her profile was super low-key-barely any posts, not even verified.

If he hadn't recognized some background details in her photos, no one else would have found her.

Finding her gave him a little thrill. He changed clothes and headed straight to the bar.

She said she was married, but that just made him feel even more annoyed.

He knew he shouldn't be hung up on a married woman, but the way she'd flipped the script-from perfect chemistry in bed to deleting him

from her life overnight-would mess

with any guy's head.

Married, huh? Then things with her husband had to be bad. Otherwise, how could

she go home covered in marks and no one cared?

If that's really the case, her husband must be useless.

Jackson decided: there was still a chance for him to sneak around with her.

Married? Even better. That just made it more exciting.

When he got to the bar, he spotted her right away in a corner booth.

Kaitlyn was gorgeous. She looked so polished and capable, but deep down, she was fiercely competitive-always had to win,

even in bed. That wild contrast was

absolutely addictive.