Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 58

Clara was completely wiped out. Every part of her body ached, and she was burning up with a fever, making it impossible to respond to any messages.

When she finally woke up, it was already the next day, and her fever was still raging. It hit her like a ton of bricks. Fortunately, she had managed to sell all the apples. After a quick freshen-up, she opened her room door, determined to grab a bite.

She walked into the dining room and spotted Dylan sitting at a table loaded with food. Clara was so hungry she felt like her stomach was stuck to her backbone. After asking a nearby staff member, she realized she'd slept through both breakfast and lunch. Now, she'd have to swallow her pride and ask Dylan to share his meal.

"Mr. Dylan," she called out softly.

Just saying his name was enough for Dylan to get the hint as he gently tapped his fingers on the table. "Have a seat."

Clara let out a breath of relief and flashed a grateful smile. "I'll take you up on that, then."

She was truly famished and had no clue how pale and frail she looked. Her lips were nearly colorless, and she'd lost a noticeable amount of weight.

As she savored the last spoonful of soup, a large hand unexpectedly landed on her forehead, freezing her in place. It was Dylan's hand-cool to the touch, almost detached.

"You've got a fever." His hand quickly retreated.

Clara, snapping back to reality, raised her own hand to check. "Yeah, maybe. I took some fever reducers, but they didn't really help. I'll just catch some sleep later."

Her voice was raspy, lacking energy. Dylan's gaze drifted to her neck, where a bruise crept from her back, dark and purple.

"Did you get hurt?"

in North Ashford, she'd taken a hit from a rake, leaving her back painfully sore for days. When she glanced in the mirror after a shower last night, her back was covered in alarming

done eating, get some

"Alright."

away, Clara realized he wasn't as standoffish as

bath the night before, so after eating, she took a half-hour rest, grabbed the robe provided, and headed to the hot spring pool

over a hundred square feet, enveloped in a thick mist that blurred everything. A subtle fragrance lingered in

turned into a commercial hot spring hotel-surely

hot spring and then leaned against the edge. The warmth flushed her

see Dylan

was completely bare. Flustered, she sunk back down,

had mentioned the water was freshly changed and unused, suggesting she could

might show up. And clearly,

her chest. Her whole body heated up, avoiding eye

Dylan until they were practically side by side. If Clara wasn't

on. A few bottles of fancy wine and some fruit were set out by the poolside-this guy sure knew

she'd have to pass right by Dylan. Clara

he slowly opened his eyes. Clara shifted slightly,