Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Early the next morning, a servant knocked anxiously on Dylan's door.

"Sir, madam is gone."

Dylan didn't even bother finishing getting dressed before ordering everyone to search. He checked Clara's bedroom himself twice-then looked in the closet, behind the curtains, everywhere she could possibly be.

With how tight security was at Palm Bay, there was no way she could just slip out on her own.

"Clara!" he called out, but the house was dead quiet.

Just as he was about to check the other rooms, someone pulled up last night's security footage. There was Clara, asleep in a car.

Dylan let out a long breath, glanced down at his feet-one shoe on, one off-and rubbed his temples.

He went back to finish getting ready, then headed out to the car. When he looked inside and saw Clara still fast asleep in the backseat, he turned to Aiden. "Why didn't you close the car door?"

Aiden just scratched his head, still groggy from the morning. "Guess I forgot last night."

Clara woke up, rubbing her eyes. Spotting Dylan standing outside, she sat up straight. "I want to go out with you today."

Dylan was dressed sharp, clearly heading out for something important. His hand tightened a little on the door handle.

Clara stayed put, refusing to leave the car. Another day trapped at Palm Bay and she'd probably lose her mind.

Dylan remembered what the doctor had said-Clara hadn't been sleeping well, something was bothering her. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to take her out for a change.

He lowered his gaze and got in the car. "I'll wait. Go change your clothes."

Clara's eyes lit up, but she still looked at him warily. "You're not just saying that, right? You won't disappear as soon as I go upstairs?"

She said it, but she was already out of the car and sprinting up the stairs.

Something inside her knew-Dylan wasn't the type to break a promise.

She washed up in record time, snatched some bread from the breakfast table, and dashed back out.

Only when she was back in the car did she finally exhale and relax, quietly nibbling her bread.

Dylan handed her a bottle of water. "Take your time."

Was it her imagination, or was he suddenly being a lot gentler than usual?

She took the water, finished her bread, and finally realized they weren't heading toward Ferguson Corporation.

So who was Dylan meeting today?

When the car finally stopped at Westhill Cemetery, she recognized it instantly.

She'd been here once before with him. This was where Shelly was buried, and even that first time, she'd felt how different this place was.

There were armed guards at the cemetery gates-only the most important people were buried here.

So Dylan was here to see Shelly.noveldrama

Clara remembered the note she'd

wonder is he finally saying. ve

found and couldn't help but

to Shelly so he can marry Taca? He did have feelings for Tara, after all.

Dylan got out, Aiden pushing his wheelchair, but then both of them heard footsteps behind them-Clara was following.

She hadn't gone inside last time, but today, she wanted to see for herself.

She thought Dylan would stop her, but even as they reached the hillside, he didn't say a word.

She could feel his mood shift the moment they stepped inside he grew tense, almost withdrawn.

The guards saw Dylan's face and immediately let him through.

Clara hurried to keep up, but the guards stopped her.

She stared after Dylan's back, unable to hold it in. "Dylan, let me go with you."

He stopped and glanced back at her, his eyes full of complicated emotions-like

he was weighing something big in his mind.

After a long moment, he looked away. "Come on, then."

The guards stepped aside and Clara hurried through.

The left side of the hill was huge, stretching as far as she could see, with even an escalator running up to the top.

She watched Dylan step onto the escalator and quickly followed.

When they reached the top, the escalator stopped.

In front of them was a grand, imposing building, surrounded by high walls that

made it feel completely off-limits.

Even at the door, guards stood with guns at the ready.

When they saw Dylan, the doors slowly swung open.

Clara was about to follow him inside, but Dylan's voice stopped her. "Wait for me

out here."

This time, she didn't argue the place gave her an uneasy feeling.

The door barely opened before it was shut again.

The guards gave her a quick once-over, then went back to staring straight ahead.

Clara sat nearby and waited. It

was

her first time here. Surrounded by graves, she noticed that every

to belonged to someone

important.

But what was inside that building? With so many guards, was someone actually living in there?

Wasn't Dylan supposed to be visiting Shelly? So why go in there?

She'd caught a glimpse through the crack in the door-outside was intimidating, but inside, the gardens even more beautiful than

Palm Bay.

She waited more than two hours before the doors finally opened again.

Dylan came out, his face completely drained of color, like he'd left his soul behind.