Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

That guy? The one who only ever cared about numbers and formulas?

Dylan was like a robot during those two years abroad. Forget women-he probably didn't even have a single female mosquito buzzing around his place. And now people expected him to turn against his own family for a woman? Sure, the girl in his car was pretty, but she wasn't exactly drop-dead gorgeous.

Still, there was something about her that felt oddly familiar...

Norman thought about it, then grinned. "Since you've already Googled the Chester family, and you know that idiot Charles, hasn't he mentioned you look a little like my sister? Maybe a third, at least. If Dylan fell for my sister while he was overseas and, after coming home, started liking you, it'd make sense. You'd just be a stand-in for her."

Clara didn't respond. Norman figured he'd finally scored a point.

When the car pulled up to Palm Bay, she was the first to get out. She glanced back, voice steady.

"I heard your little sister is a handful. From what I know about Dylan, he'd never fall for someone like that. Actually, scratch that—he wouldn't fall for anyone but me. So if anyone's going to be a stand-in, maybe someday your families will arrange a marriage, but your sister would just be my stand-in. If you really care about her, you should probably do something about it."

She shut the door, not waiting for a reply.

Norman squinted after her. God, her confidence was something else.

If her family could rival the Chesters, Walter wouldn't be making such a big deal out of going after her. Clearly, she didn't have much of a background. As far as everyone was concerned, she was nowhere near good enough for Dylan.

And yet, she was so sure about how Dylan felt about her. That's women for you, he thought. Fall in love, and suddenly they get all blindly confident, never realizing how cold men can be. He kind of looked forward to seeing her crash and burn.

Wait-what was her name, anyway?

He realized he'd never even asked.

He got out of the car, stopped in front of the Palm Bay gates, and didn't announce himself. He just watched Clara.

He wanted to see if she was really as bold as she claimed.

Clara walked up to the entrance and was immediately stopped by the security guard, who looked awkward.

"Ma'am, sir came home about half an hour ago. He told us not to let any women in."

Dylan just didn't want his dad sending random women in again.

Clara took out her phone and called Dylan.

At that moment, Dylan was standing in front of his wardrobe, staring at a woman's school uniform.

Aiden, standing nearby, reminded him, "Boss, your wife's back. She's at the gate."

Something flickered in Dylan's eyes, but all he said was, "Okay."

Since Dylan didn't object or add anything else, Aiden took the

and the security post bi

telling them to let Clara in.

The gates slowly swung open. Clara walked inside without a second's hesitation.

Norman leaned against his car, one eyebrow raised. He pulled out his phone and called Charles.

"Mitch, you at Palm Bay?"

Charles sounded surprised-Mitch almost never called him.noveldrama

"I'm on my way. Was going to see my sister, but MiloBuddy suddenly ran off toward Palm Bay. My sister must be there. Wait, why are you there? Did MiloBuddy catch your scent?"

Norman watched the heavy gates close, didn't bother going in, and just got back in his car. "What's your sister's name? Is she involved with Dylan?"

"Mitch, seriously? 'Involved'? They're way past that—those two are married, you know."