Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Clara froze for a few seconds, her mind blank. Panic took over and she snatched a vase from the cabinet, smashing it right over his head.

A rush of sweet plum blossom filled the air. The dried flowers she'd arranged so carefully scattered their petals everywhere, and the beautiful vase-one she'd picked out just for him-shattered to pieces against his skull.

But Clara had no idea the flowers were the ones she'd given him, or that the vase was expensive.

Pressed against the wall, she eyed him warily, her voice tight. "Are you clear- headed now?"

Dylan didn't answer. He just felt something warm drip down his face.

He didn't bother to touch it. Instead, his gaze drifted to her lips.

Her lips were swollen and bright red. There was even a spot of blood at the corner his doing.

Clara felt a chill under the weight of his stare. She couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the Dylan she knew.

If Dylan used to be pure white, the man in front of her now was all shadow and contrast-dangerous, unpredictable.

If the old Dylan had manners and boundaries, she used to think she could handle him.

But right now, she felt like prey, dangled in front of a hungry lion.

She dropped her gaze and made a break for the door, but his voice stopped her.

"I asked Aiden to get your household register. We're getting our marriage certificate tomorrow morning."

Clara froze, her hand locked around the doorknob.

She gripped it so tightly, her knuckles went white.

"Mr. Dylan, I told you-I have a boyfriend."

matter to

same four words.

not true. I care about him. I'm just more

out a sharp laugh, eyes drifting to the vase shards at his

her

calm have to mean being heartless? She just wanted

mean dragging each other

"If I leave the country, Walter

up to

hand clamped around her chin.

jaw ached and her brows

pressed against her lips,

him off, desperate to put

cupped her face in his hands, his voice low

"Clara, don't push me."

She had no idea what to say, or what to do to keep him from getting

next words made

I'll keep

She shoved him away, stumbling back

now, her face gone

turned, yanked open the bedroom

floor, she nearly

a

either. She kept

over

for the front

and rushed past,

was huge-way