Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Worried he might fall sick again, Clara tried calling him, but no luck-no answer. She sighed in frustration. Since she couldn't just drop everything and rush over, she decided to send the photo to Jackson instead. Worst case, he'd throw some sarcastic comments her way, but being a Dawson, he might know something.

Meanwhile, Jackson was chilling at Richard's place with Nicholas and Dylan. He chuckled coldly, tossing his phone onto the coffee table. "What's Clara's deal? Suddenly asking about this estate? Does she think we're tight or something?"noveldrama

Dylan, sitting nearby, glanced over. His grip on his cup tightened as he caught a glimpse of the estate in the photo. Richard picked up the phone, raised an eyebrow at the picture, and said, "Never seen it before. She knows you don't like her, but she's still asking? This place must mean a lot to her."

"Maybe, but I'm not in the mood to reply," Jackson shrugged.

Richard turned to Dylan, "You know this place?"

Dylan set his cup down and shook his head. Richard was genuinely puzzled. The estate looked like a million bucks. How could none of them recognize it?

He handed the phone to Dylan with a teasing grin, "Why not let her ask you instead?"

Jackson leaned in, glancing between Dylan and Richard. Richard was the sharpest tool in the shed, but what was he getting at?

"Dylan already said he doesn't know. Why should Clara ask him? And who does she think she is, messaging him just like that? Dylan wouldn't want to reply."

Nicholas, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke up. "He would."

Richard raised an eyebrow, curious if Nicholas was onto something.

Nicholas leaned back, looking all smug. "I always wondered why Dylan agreed to dinner with Clara. Now I get it. He's still holding a grudge about his legs. Honestly, if he hadn't stopped me back then, Clara would've been history. Dylan, you're planning to get revenge, aren't you? Make her think you care, then drop her like a hot potato? The one who lifts her up only to pull the rug out—she'd be shattered."

Richard rubbed his temples, amused by the drama.

Nicholas, thinking he nailed it, shrugged. "Clara's such a romantic. Make her fall head over heels, then ditch her, and she'll learn her lesson. Maybe all that Simon stuff was Dylan's doing, sending Simon to mess with her. Clever move."

Dylan quietly looked up, fixing Nicholas with a stare.

Feeling a bit rattled under Dylan's gaze, Nicholas forced a smile. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

Dylan replied to Clara's message, "No, just thinking even if you had a century, you'd never win over Scarlette."

Mentioning Scarlette shut Nicholas up real quick.

Meanwhile, Clara got a speedy reply from Jackson.

"Never seen it."

Even Jackson hadn't seen it—so what was this place? As she wondered, Jackson sent another message.

"But you could ask Dylan. He's got loads of properties; he might know."

Clara was taken aback by Jackson's uncharacteristically helpful vibe today. It felt weird, like seeing the sun rise in the west.

Still, the thought of asking Dylan made her uneasy.