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."

doesn't matter to

same four

to stay calm. "That's not true. I care about him. I'm just more rational than he

laugh, eyes drifting to the vase shards at his feet. "You really don't

her

have to mean being heartless? She just wanted the best for everyone, so she

to mean dragging each other

arguing. Without looking at him, she said, "If I leave the country, Walter will stop

stepped right up to her, studying

hand clamped around her

and her brows drew

her lips, wiping away the

a hand to push him off, desperate

in his

"Clara, don't push me."

to say, or what to do to keep him

words made it

I'll keep

lashes fluttered. She shoved him away,

scared now, her

open the bedroom door,

floor, she nearly

a

other either. She

over

the front

and rushed past,

Bay was huge-way bigger