Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

She spun around and left, too angry for words. When she got pushed to her limit, her mind just went completely blank.

This wasn't the first time he'd pulled something like this. So why did she keep falling for it, every single time?

Clara stormed out, almost bumping straight into Aiden as he came in.

Aiden took one look at her face-clearly fuming—and asked, "Ma'am, what happened?"

Clara didn't even slow down. She took a deep breath and tossed over her shoulder, "Ask him yourself."

She didn't have the energy to explain.

With a sharp slam, she shut herself in the guest bedroom, feeling more agitated

than ever.

Meanwhile, Aiden opened the master bedroom door and finally noticed the doorknob was busted.

By the window, Dylan sat with his chin resting on his hand, idly stirring his soup, a faint smile on his lips-like he was in a surprisingly good mood.

Aiden could guess why. Dylan always seemed to get what he wanted.

Deciding it was none of his business, Aiden just called for someone to come fix the doors in the morning.

Back in her room, Clara flopped onto the bed, still restless and upset.

She couldn't sleep.

She got up, headed to the bathroom, and stared at the dark circles under her eyes. With a sigh, she splashed her face with cold water.

But it didn't help. She still felt like a frog in slowly boiling water-trapped, helpless, and getting more anxious by the minute.

This couldn't go on.

She needed to get out of Palm Bay. Soon.

She changed clothes and started wandering around the house. As she reached one of the outer walls, she looked up.

That's when she heard it—a soft, almost whispery voice in the dark.

"Go forward two hundred steps and turn left. There's a side door. Nobody's there right now."

She thought she was imagining it. She looked around but saw no one.

Still, she followed the directions. And there it was a side door she'd never seen open before, now quietly ajar.

Clara's heart pounded. Dylan's Palm Bay was supposed to have ironclad security. Why was there suddenly a gap?

A thrill shot through her, and she almost stepped outside. But then she hesitated.

If Dylan had been punished by Walter, that meant Walter knew about their marriage. If anyone could break through the security here, it would be Walter.

Walking out right now would be walking into a trap.

She stepped back, her mind suddenly clear. Freedom was important, but her life mattered more.

She turned to leave, but the voice came again.

"Don't you want to see your boyfriend? He's badly hurt. He wants to see you just one last time."

Clara froze, her face going pale.

Z...

She hadn't heard from him in so long. Knowing how stubborn he was, there was no telling what he might do.

Without thinking, she wandered back to the main house and sat, lost in thought.

Was the voice telling the truth? If Walter was involved, he could definitely find Z and use him to threaten her.noveldrama

Was Z really hurt that badly?

Anxious, she found herself upstairs, standing outside Dylan's door.

She was about to knock when she heard a cough from inside.

She hesitated, then knocked anyway.

The door wasn't even fully closed—it was left slightly open.

She stepped inside, lowering her gaze as she saw him sitting by the bed.

"Mr. Dylan, I..."

He looked at her, and just from her face, he could guess what she wanted to say.

He set his book aside, his voice calm and cool. "I'm going to sleep."

Clara frowned and quickly crossed the room, grabbing his hand.

"Mr. Dylan, I don't know why you're so set on marrying me, but someone just told me my boyfriend's in

trouble need to see him. If you net!

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want to keep an eye on me, fine just take me there yourself. I have to know if he's okay."

Dylan glanced at her hand gripping his wrist, then looked up at her. "Who told you that?"

"I don't know. But the side door's

open anne

someone tried to lure me

out. Looks like Palm Bay isn't as

secure as you think."

As soon as she finished, he suddenly flipped his hand, his fingers sliding up to her

wrist.

It happened so fast, but for a

mone felt like she'd just been

caught by something

dangerous-like a beautiful snake coiling around her.

He pulled her a little closer, his voice low. "So why didn't you go?"

Clara blinked in surprise. Was that... happiness in his voice?