Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 259

Clara opened her mouth but found herself at a loss for words.

When she first met him, she was swept away by the torrent of emotions that radiated from him-love, resentment, anger, sorrow. It was this intensity that stopped her from walking away. Her boundaries softened, and before she knew it, they were involved in a relationship.

The more she got to know him, the more she felt for him, and her boundaries kept shifting.

"Z," she whispered.

He didn't want to hear it. He pulled her close, a storm of emotions raging between them.

Afterward, Clara heard him murmur, his voice hoarse and raw.

"That's why I don't want you to see this side of me."

With that, he opened the car door, slammed it shut, and left.

Clara lay in the backseat, watching his figure fade into the distance. He didn't even bother to clean up this time; he must be really upset.

Slowly, she sat up, her mind still spinning from the intensity of their encounter.

the tissues beside her, cleaning up in silence, and

reminded her of a line from a

despair of sunsets, the moon of desolate fields, I offer you a soul gazing long at the solitary moon, I offer

tissue into the car's trash bin. She got it, but carrying

adult world, love can't be the only thing. Relying on someone entirely

careful, she might end up

up quickly, and

was elusive. She dreamt of a hot

asked her softly if

her cheeks were flushed, a captivating

dream self said, but he became agitated. A night

felt nothing but exhaustion, her

autopilot, she washed her face and brushed her teeth. As she climbed into her car, she saw a text

"I'm sorry."

heart softened again. She didn't know why, but she couldn't stay angry

funny that way, easily swayed by emotions that

to take a hard look at their relationship today, maybe even consider a break to cool off. But knowing he was awake at three,

some life in

she didn't reply immediately. Instead, she drove straight to Ferguson