Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 505

Cole adjusted his glasses, tapping the stack of documents in his hand.

"There's something about these papers that just doesn't sit right with me. This overseas company-they're huge, super well-known, and they suddenly want to partner with the Bradfords? I looked into their reputation, and they've always worked with the top families here. Why us, and why now? It feels suspicious. I wanted to talk to Ms. Bradford about it, but I can't find her anywhere."

Ryan slumped into a chair, his mind spinning. He stared at the paperwork, but none of the words made sense.

After a long silence, he finally asked, "Cole, do you think Clara even cares about me?"

If she did, why couldn't she trust him?

If she hadn't doubted him first, he wouldn't have pushed things this far out of pure frustration.

"Honestly, Ryan, before or after the accident, Ms. Bradford has always treated you really well. I couldn't find a single fault."

Ryan let out a hollow laugh. "Or maybe she feels guilty about something-like she owes me."

she was making up for something. Like pretending

that snowy night, remembering the small

searching for any doctor who could help. When nothing worked-not in the city, not in the fancy hospitals—he started chasing after every weird alternative medicine tip he could find. That's how they ended up in the countryside, out of options and out of hope. Ryan had always wondered how Clara, who'd spent her whole life behind

temples, suddenly remembering that Cole had been with the family during those years,

do you remember what Clara was

was so weak that even the

pen, ready to sign, but paused-Clara's words from the past echoing in

through the documents again. Everything looked fine on the surface, but just like Cole said, why would such

the pen down and handed the papers

say-so. I'm heading back out to the

concern in his eyes. "Ryan, your eyes are

was just twenty. The old him would've burst into

up, moving slowly. "Clara did everything she could to save the company. We can survive a few more years. As for this new partner, I'd rather she