Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 256

As soon as the words left his mouth, the office door swung open, and in rolled Dylan, casting a quick glance their way. Clara stood by her desk, with Simon leaning against her, looking all too comfortable. Dylan's fingers clenched slightly around the armrest of his wheelchair.

Clara suddenly wondered if Dylan had orchestrated the beating Simon received. Simon had run his mouth in the office earlier-not as recklessly as Lincoln, who had outright threatened Dylan—but enough to challenge Dylan's authority. Was this Dylan's subtle way of putting Simon in his place? If Simon acted up again, would he end up like Lincoln?

Dylan wheeled himself slowly over to Clara's side. She swallowed, trying to keep her tone respectful. "Mr. Dylan, I didn't realize you were burning the midnight oil too."

Dylan's eyes lingered on the hand Clara used to steady Simon, and for some reason, Clara felt her palm grow warm. Simon had planned to rile Dylan up with a few choice words, but the pain he was in was no joke. He looked like he might pass out from it.

"Clara, I feel like I'm dying. Please, take me to the hospital," Simon pleaded.

At first, Clara thought he was exaggerating, but she could feel his body trembling slightly, like he was fighting off serious pain. It seemed like he really had made a break for it from the hospital.

Taking a deep breath, she said, "Simon, are you a kid? Running over here like this -your mom's gonna have a go at me again."

have the energy to argue and just muttered a weak, "I'm

have hesitated to give him a piece of her mind. But now, with him about to keel over,

steadied him and nodded to Dylan. "Mr. Dylan, we're

stay quiet, but he surprised her by repeating,

towards Eden, she straightened

a bit forlorn, but Clara was too wrapped up in her own thoughts to notice. She helped Simon into her car and slid into the driver's seat. Her phone rang-it was Z

sweating bullets in the passenger seat. Sometimes he'd gasp in pain, other times

and she blew through a few red lights to get him to the hospital. Once there, she found out the doctors had been searching for Simon; he had

finally took a deep breath, sinking into a chair in the

it was something important, she quickly

you. What are

could tell him the truth, especially since Z could get intensely jealous. Next time,