Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 71

Clara was too weak to fight back, with blood trickling steadily from her forehead. The man had ripped open her blouse and was about to go further when he was suddenly launched backward by a powerful kick. He crashed into a sharp corner, immediately spitting out blood.

Outside the closed men's restroom door, Richard, dressed in all black, stood guard. He lighted up a cigarette, telling anyone who approached, "You'll need to go somewhere else. We've got some private business going on here." With his intimidating aura and narrowed eyes, Richard wasn't someone you wanted to mess with. Once people recognized him, they quickly grabbed their friends and left.

Taking a drag from his cigarette, Richard leaned against the wall and called inside, "Take it easy. Your leg's still on the mend."

Inside, Dylan was crouched beside Clara, gently touching her forehead. The guy he'd kicked lay unconscious, eyes rolled back.

The pounding was unbearable in her head. Clara instinctively sought comfort in the warmth of Dylan's hand. "Can you stand?" he asked.

but she found the scent around her

out your leg's on the mend, do

a warm, solid chest. In her last moments

she realized her head was bleeding and instinctively tried to pull away so she wouldn't dirty his clothes. A gentle hand held her steady, and a voice, cold yet kind,

unconsciousness, unaware

hallways blocked off, supposedly for the arrival of an important guest.

took the opportunity to butter him up. "Mr. Simon,

notoriously difficult and rarely seen in public. It couldn't be him. With a dismissive snort, Simon glanced

shone in Jade's eyes. Clara hadn't come back yet, and she hoped that man had taken her to a room. If so, Clara would be ruined, and no man would want her after that. She always used her looks to lure people in; she