Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

The old man's words hung in the air, and no one dared move. The whole room was silent-except for Kayla, whose face had turned ghostly pale. Among all the calm faces, she stuck out like a sore thumb.

He'd been around the block enough times to spot guilt when he saw it. His voice was cold and sharp. "Say it yourself. If you confess, maybe I'll go easy on you."

Kayla had always been invisible in the Ferguson family—kind to the staff, respectful to the elders. No one would've ever guessed she'd do something so outrageous.

She lowered herself to her knees, tears filling her eyes.

“Dad, I didn't have a choice. My oldest son died and none of you even cared. Today is your eightieth birthday, and Aaron couldn't make it. I've spent all these years doing everything for this family, always following the rules. But how could you all be so heartless? If you'd just let Aaron come home today, I wouldn't have said a word."

She was crying so hard her whole body shook.

The old man took a deep breath, his mind racing with more urgent matters. "What did you use?"

He needed Dylan to get better, fast. The Chester family from North America was coming tonight, and as the heir, Dylan had to host them himself.

Kayla wiped her tears, letting out a bitter laugh. "I don't even know what it was. I just bought something off someone. He needed to find a woman."

The old man's expression darkened as he turned to Tara. "Was the Warren girl in on this?"

It was all too coincidental―Tara had brought the soup at just the right time.

He'd had his own suspicions, and maybe now he could bring everything to light.

Tara's eyes instantly filled with tears, her face the picture of wounded innocence.

Mrs. Warren was furious. “Walter, what are you implying? You think my daughter is so desperate to marry into your family she'd stoop to this? Tara's had the best upbringing, trained in etiquette since she was a child— she'd never do something like this! That's enough. Tara, let's go. We don't need to stay here. There are plenty of men in the world who are good enough for you.”

"But Dylan..." Tara's voice shook as she looked over at him lying in bed. She clearly couldn't let go.

Kayla spoke up then. “Tara didn't know. The drug wasn't in the soup-it was in the incense in the ancestral hall. Anyone who went in would be affected. But if you drank the seafood soup within half an hour, it would cancel out the drug. Dylan is allergic to seafood, isn't he? I made Tara bring the medicine on purpose-I wanted to push them together."

If Dylan loved Clara, then Kayla would make sure he lost her. She'd realized it now-if Dylan lost

everything, maybe he wouldn't care. But if she could break his heart that would be real revenge. If Dylan ended up with Tara tonight, he'd be stuck with her forever.

When she finished, the old man actually felt a pang of regret. Tara's sobs broke the silence as she dropped to her knees too.

Everyone was stunned. Tara's head was bowed, but her back was ramrod straight.

“If I say I'm willing, will everyone look down on me? But I love Dylan. Even if it's just for one night, I don't care. After that, I'll leave the country and never come back."

She was giving in by pretending to give up—anyone would be moved by that.

Mrs. Warren's face turned red with anger, and she slapped Tara across the face. "Tara, are you out of your mind? They were just accusing you, and now you're humiliating yourself like this? What will people think of our family? We raised you with care and high hopes, not so you could throw your dignity away!"

Everyone in the room felt the sting of her words.

They'd all thought Tara was the culprit, but she wasn't. And after being accused, she still humbled herself for Dylan.

How much must she love him?

Mrs. Ferguson looked deeply moved, while the old man's expression was conflicted. The way the women backed each other up made his earlier suspicion seem almost shameful.

Everybody in that room was sharp-they all knew he was in a bind.noveldrama

Meanwhile, Dylan still lay there with his eyes closed, pale as a ghost. The doctor leaned in and whispered, "Maybe... let Ms. Warren help the young master first..."