Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 425

Under Dylan's watchful eyes, a slender figure approached from the distance. In a world blanketed with white, the red in her hand stood out vividly.

Clara climbed into the car, brushing the snowflakes from her hair. She closed the door and casually handed him the sprig of holly she had broken off.

Dylan didn't immediately accept it. Instead, he examined the lingering snowflakes on its leaves.

Clara, thinking he might be bothered by the cold, started to shake off the snow when he asked, "What if this tree belongs to someone?"

Without a second thought, she replied, "Well, if I picked it for you, then you're its owner now."

Dylan was about to reach for it, but as her words sank in, his hand clenched involuntarily, the veins on his hand becoming prominent.

Noticing his sudden change in demeanor, Clara quickly asked, "What's wrong?"

He nodded slightly, took the holly, and with a soft "Thank you," his mood seemed to lighten visibly.

Relieved, Clara moved to the front seat and started the engine, fearing that this unpredictable man might next ask for a snowman. As the car purred to life, she caught a whiff of holly from the back seat.

"Mr. Dylan, do you like holly? It's quite unique. Most people only notice the white in winter, but who would expect such vivid red underneath, like..." She trailed off, sensing that she was verging on saying something inappropriate. Dylan himself was a bit like winter-aloof on the surface, yet surprisingly soft beneath it all.

"I do like it. No one's ever given me any before," he said, his tone mellow, yet he seemed a bit more alive.

him

a signal, we should call the New York office to send a helicopter. The roads are blocked, and we can't stay here. You're still running a fever, and I

me?" he asked, his voice

Dylan felt off. Wasn't it natural to worry about him? They were in this together, after all—she couldn't

to bring me here. I can't

tightening on the steering wheel, she said, "That place was just a ruin. If you'd told us earlier, we

his

Clara was momentarily

stumbled upon it once and

looked down at the holly, swaying it lightly,

near the ruins. I once talked about it with my boyfriend. We got trapped there as kids, and some things happened. I think I mentioned giving him holly?" The thought had come too quickly. She wasn't

his eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing gently. "Not many people like this flower, so your boyfriend must

"Mr. Dylan, are you complimenting

grip on the holly tightened briefly, almost breaking

Clara quickly added, "Because you

touching the petals.

signal. She had Dylan contact the New York office, and

snow continued to fall. If