Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Clara was kneeling on the cold marble floor of the hall, sitting perfectly still, her eyes glued to the TV. She didn't even blink as the news scrolled by.

It was almost morning, but Dylan still wasn't back. What if Walter had punished him? The thought made her chest tighten with worry. Every so often, she'd glance at the door, rubbing her knees to try and get some feeling back.

The news had been running non-stop all night. The reporters just kept rehashing Henry's scandal and stirring up more gossip about the Ferguson family. Everyone was talking about them now-Walter especially, since he'd once stepped down from that same spotlight. There was no way they could avoid attention this time.

Clara let out a long sigh, just as she heard a car engine outside. She craned her neck, heart pounding. Headlights flashed across the window, then footsteps echoed at the door.

Aiden walked in.

She met his eyes, then quickly looked past him, searching for Dylan. He wasn't there.

"Aiden, where's Mr. Dylan?"

Aiden gave a sharp, humorless laugh and hung his coat on the rack. "Thanks to you, Clara, the boss has to get married within two weeks. Walter's orders."

Clara's mind spun. "Wait, what does Eden have to do with Mr. Dylan getting married? Is Walter making him marry Eden?"

Aiden's face darkened as he strode closer. "Clara, do you even listen to yourself? You saw the news, didn't you? The boss leaked Eden's background info to protect you. Now the whole Ferguson family is in the crosshairs. Walter thinks he's got feelings for you, so he's forcing him to get married—just to kill any chance between you."

He rattled it all off, and Clara barely caught half of it.

Who liked who?

Dylan... liked her?

She almost laughed at the idea, but the look on Aiden's face made her pause. She rubbed her aching knees, suddenly unsure.

"So... you mean Mr. Dylan likes me?"

never blamed her. She'd pushed his buttons more times than she could count, and he always let it slide. When

it all up,

spent any

back over everything. "You're saying Mr. Dylan exposed Eden's secret just to protect me? Isn't that risky for him? What about

stopped, realization hitting

in trouble for sure. Walter wanted him married off. But his first love was gone-who

your

have a boyfriend," she said seriously, lifting her eyes

He just turned and marched

watching as Aiden

kit. Her heart lurched. Dylan's legs still weren't healed. Had

Simon after he'd been

"Aiden..." she called softly.

Aiden ignored her and

the pain, but she hurried after him. By the time she reached the gate, Aiden was already

"Aiden!"

to leave the estate, making it all the way to the front gate, but the guard stopped her cold.

something to eat. There was a stale sandwich and a slice of

a phone

someone showed up.

noon, and

grew. How deep was Dylan in this mess? Even

she went to the gate and asked the guard for a

waited. Ate whatever leftovers

in

news changed. Someone had snapped a blurry photo of Dylan being rushed into the