Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Mr. Sheffield stepped forward and gave Richard's shoulder a reassuring pat.

"Alright, you've already apologized to Walter-let's leave it at that. You're usually so steady. What got into you today?"

Richard didn't answer right away. He stood there for a moment, silent, then let a faint smile slip across his lips.

"As long as Dylan's okay. Walter, I was out of line today. I'll stop by and apologize in person next time."

Mr. Sheffield breathed a sigh of relief and continued chatting with Walter.

Richard wasn't really listening. He turned and headed downstairs.

After lighting some incense, he was just stepping outside when his phone buzzed. Clara's name flashed on the screen.

"Richard, have you seen Dylan?"

He rubbed his temples, feeling the start of a headache. "The old man pulled a fast one. Dylan's probably not at the house anymore."

Clara's heart started racing. In her eyes, Mr. Sheffield was ruthless-if he really wanted to hurt Dylan, he wouldn't waste any time.

Her voice was rough, almost breaking. "Then where could he have gone?"

Richard looked down, fished a cigarette from his pocket, and stuck it between his lips. "No idea. Maybe the Fergusons have some secret basement or something."

He only smoked when he was truly on edge. After a few drags, he caught the sound of soft sniffling on the other end and hesitated.

"Clara... are you crying?"

His words jolted her back to reality. She wanted to deny it, but her cheeks felt wet.

She reached up, surprised to find real tears.

"I..."

"Dylan's going to be fine. Worst case, like I told you, they'll just try to make him forget you. But with the way he is even if he does forget, the moment he sees you again, he'll fall for you all over. Don't stress."

Clara felt her heart twist painfully tight.

Even Richard was saying this-it was obvious how much Dylan cared about her. Richard had seen it all along.

She opened her mouth, but the ache in her chest was overwhelming.

Richard took another drag, then said quietly, "And Dylan doesn't want to leave the country. To him, nothing matters more than you. Clara, can't you try being a little more forward for once?"

He tossed the cigarette into a nearby trash can, not bothering to finish it "If he does forget you, just stick close to him. I bet he'll fall for you again in two days, tops. Anyway, that's all."

He hung up before she could say anything else, leaving Clara clutching her phone, her head pounding.

Charles, sitting next to her, shot her a worried look and quickly handed her a bottle of water. "Sis, does it hurt? Want some water?"

Clara's face was pale. She shook her head slowly and managed a weak smile.noveldrama

"I was just wondering... how much does Richard actually know, to sound so certain?"

Suddenly, she remembered overhearing a conversation between Richard and Dylan once. Richard had asked if Dylan was really planning to wait, and Dylan had given a definite yes.

Back then, she'd assumed Dylan was waiting for someone else—a girl from the Dawson family, maybe.

But now that she thought about it was she actually the one Dylan had been waiting for all this time?

If that was true, it would explain why Richard sounded so sure.

She couldn't help herself-she called Richard again. He picked up with a sigh.

"What is it now?"

"Do you remember that time you asked Dylan if he was really going to keep waiting?"

"Oh, that? Yeah, I remember. He's liked you for years, honestly. I don't even know how long exactly. If you go to Palm Bay, you'll probably find an old set of your school uniform hidden somewhere. Remember your graduation photo? You were the only one not in uniform. He stole yours and kept it for all these years."