Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 2

After wrapping up his words, he casually slung an arm around Quinn's waist and walked off without a second glance.

Clara stared at the phone number on her screen. The guy who'd just left claimed to be her fiancé, but he hadn't shown her a shred of concern. His entire focus was on sticking up for Quinn.

It felt like someone had wrapped a steel band around her heart, squeezing the color from her face with a sharp, involuntary ache.

Quinn seemed perfectly okay, while Clara almost died in that accident. Clara wondered how a guy like that could possibly be her fiancé.

She'd been MIA for three days, and received not a single call from her family. All she had was a hazy memory of someone she thought might be her boyfriend.

Without second-guessing, she tapped out the number. The call was quickly picked up.

"Miss Clara?"

"Hi, is this Dylan? I think I might have lost my memory in an accident, and I..."

the Capital and is still in rehab. Miss Clara, you called him with the same story last time. You claimed to be in a car accident and asked him to come pick you up. He really

"But I..."

ended with a series of

sinking back into her chair. Her mind was a chaotic mix of pain

Apple Pay still worked. She handed her phone to the nurse who had just come in, asking,

transactions. Just last week, she'd dropped two hundred grand on a pair of men's cufflinks. Surely, she

"Insufficient funds. Miss Clara,

elegant features were clouded with confusion. How could she be broke after spending two

and found a number marked

deep breath, she

pulling these stunts? Simon and Quinn have been an item behind your back for ages. Quinn only kept quiet because she didn't want to upset you. But no, you had to drag Quinn out when you saw them kiss. She had that accident because of you. You're such a headache. I wish you'd just stay away! Quinn always thinks of you as her sister, but all you know are dirty tricks. How did I end up with such a nasty

to ask something when she heard Quinn's voice in the background. "Mom, I think Clara might actually have amnesia this time. Can you

she had any backbone, she'd stay gone and spare me the stress. Quinn, stop defending her. Haven't you put up with enough over the years? Simon said he loved you first. Clara's too chicken to deal with Simon, so she's taking it out on you. You're just too

being torn apart. Was this really her mom speaking?