Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

No one else in the Ferguson family said a word. The room fell quiet as Rai and Walter started talking.

Rai didn't seem to know how the old lady had actually passed away he just tried to comfort Walter with a few gentle words.

They spoke in low voices for a while.

Dylan kept to himself, fiddling with his signet ring, lost in thought.

After dinner at the old manor, he went upstairs to rest. When he came out of the shower, there was a woman sitting on his bed.

She looked a lot like Clara-maybe she'd even gotten work done to resemble her —but something was off. She was pretty, but she couldn't hold a candle to Clara.

Dylan stopped in his tracks, brow furrowed, eyes calm. "Get out."

The woman stood up slowly and began to undress. "Your father sent me."

"Get out," he repeated, voice flat and cold.

She dipped her head, silent and obedient, and left without another word.

Dylan heard movement at the door and turned to see his father.

"What are you doing, Father?" he asked.

Walter's expression was hard to read. "I heard Clara's been bringing you meals lately."

"Yes," Dylan replied. No point hiding it-Walter could find out whatever he wanted, anyway.

"So, how do you feel about that?"

Did he really expect Dylan to get attached to Clara now? The Fergusons were never the hopeless romantic type.

"I don't feel anything. I can't taste the food."

Walter looked pleased. His eyes swept the room. "You and Milo are both grown now. You're not meant to be tied down to just one woman for the rest of your life. When you go abroad next month, if you want to see other people, go ahead. The Chester girl is possessive, so if you want to play around, do it now. You'll be leaving soon."

Dylan ran a towel over his hair, his tall frame giving off a cool, distant vibe.

Walter couldn't help but look satisfied, like he was admiring his finest creation.

Even overseas, Dylan would stand out.

"Be loyal to your partner," Dylan said quietly, heading for the balcony.

"And get someone to change my bedsheets."

He hated having another woman's scent in his room-it made his skin crawl.

He hadn't been back to the Palm Bay condo in a while. Word was, there was a woman staying there too As Oas he found out, he had her sent away.

Probably another one of his father's arrangements. He honestly couldn't care less.

He'd rather keep an eye on the stock market.

Walter's satisfaction only grew. "Dylan, this is how you should be Before you leave, I only have one rule: don't let Clara come to

Ferguson Corporation again Otherwise..."

Dylan paused but didn't hesitate. "I understand."

Seeing his son so calm, Walter turned and left, looking even more pleased than before.

Dylan tossed the towel aside and picked up the hairdryer, but then his hand stopped.

He found himself wanting someone

else to dry his hair for him. He

.n

missed the feeling, a vague acke settling in his chest, but he couldn't quite remember the details.

He ran the dryer over his hair halfheartedly, then grabbed his phone. His social media was completely blank.

Maybe nothing had been deleted-maybe he'd just never posted anything.

If he'd been paying more attention, he might have noticed that his messages had

been filtered. Every trace of Clara had disappeared.

If Clara hadn't forced her way back into his life, maybe they never would have crossed paths again.

Dylan stared at his phone, wide awake.

He was about to set it down when a text popped up from an unfamiliar number.noveldrama

It's ten o'clock. Are you getting enough sleep?

No name. No clue who it was.

But somehow, he knew.