Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

"Dylan!"

It was the first time Mrs. Ferguson ever called him by his full name, her fury so sharp she nearly lost her balance.

Dylan spun his wheelchair around, ready to leave without another word.

Mrs. Ferguson, shaking, waved over the nearest person, her voice cracking with panic. "What are you standing there for? Go find him! Now!"

She knew Dylan too well. If he said he'd do something, he'd do it no matter the cost.noveldrama

She'd thought he was just being impulsive, never imagining he'd actually risk his life.

Quickly, she made another call. "Restore the deleted security footage. Give everything to Aiden."

With that done, she drained her cold tea in one gulp. All her usual composure and careful scheming disappeared in that single moment.

Meanwhile, Aiden was still frustrated, unable to find any trace of the missing footage. Then, out of nowhere, the entire set of surveillance videos landed on his desk in less than three minutes.

But whoever took Clara had planned it well. It'd been late at night, and the road to the temple was chosen for a reason-there were no cameras anywhere along that stretch.

After that, there was just nothing. No more sign of them on any screen.

Aiden watched the endless stream of cars on the monitor and pointed to one direction.

"Check the traffic cams up there. And look this way too-that's all wild hills, about ten kilometers from the temple. These cars didn't come back for a while. I'm guessing they went out there for something."

What that "something" was, no one could say yet. The truth was still up in the air, and nobody dared to guess.

*

Tara waited at home for three days, not hearing another word about Clara. She finally let herself relax.

She called Mrs. Ferguson, as she always did, just to check in. It was a habit—one that had kept them close for years.

But today, Mrs. Ferguson's tone was off.

"Tara, dear."

"Mrs. Ferguson, are you feeling alright? Should I come by the house and check on you?"

Mrs. Ferguson was slumped on her sofa, still rattled. After everything with Dylan, she couldn't focus on anything.

"That boy's lost his mind," she muttered. "He actually said he'd die for Clara. He's completely out of his head."

She couldn't think of any other way to describe it.

For the last ten years, ever since Dylan left, she'd watched him grow up. He'd

never seemed to care about anything-so detached he almost seemed like a robot, never showing any extra emotion.

But she remembered a time when Dylan used to laugh all the time, when he was warm and kind to everyone. She didn't know when all that changed.

She'd always blamed it on what happened with his brother, thinking the weight of it had just shut him down She didn't pry-after all, someone in his position didn't need extra feelings getting in the way.

But he wasn't empty. He'd just saved every bit of feeling he had for Clara.

Back in her own youth, Mrs. Ferguson had always been decisive. She and Walter had chosen Dylan as the family's successor for a reason. Now with no one else in the Ferguson family good enough to take over, there was no option to change heirs.

None of those other candidates could hold a candle to Dylan.

She was smart enough not to push him too far.

If he wanted a woman, so be it. She'd give Clara to him.

As long as he'd listen in the future-besides, he was important abroad, and the

family's reputation depended on him.

She took a deep breath. "Tara, I'm

afraid your engagement to Dylan just isn't going to happen. I underestimated how much Clara means to him. He'd give his life for her, and I can't fight with that Just let it go, honey. He's like a man possessed-no one but Clara will do. I started to suspect it when I saw those broken flowers at the temple, but I told myself I was imagining things ara, from now on you're like my own granddaughter. If you ever fall for someone else, I'll make sure you're treated right. Let Dylan be with Clara. I can't really let him throw his life away."

Tara's face went pale with rage.