Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

He turned the two marriage certificates over in his hands, studying them for a long time. In the photo, his own lips were barely curved into a smile, while Clara's mouth drooped unmistakably downward.

But he didn't linger on their expressions. Instead, his eyes kept returning to their names, tracing the letters again and again.

The clerk stood nervously in front of him, dabbing sweat from his forehead with a tissue for what must have been the fifth time.

"Mr. Dylan, are you satisfied?" he asked, voice trembling.

Dylan lowered his gaze, lashes shadowing his eyes. "Yeah," he replied.

The clerk exhaled, relief flooding his face. Good-he's satisfied. Now please, let him leave before my legs give out.

Dylan finally tucked away the two red booklets and looked at Clara. "Let's go. Time to head home."

Clara hadn't moved at all, as if rooted to the spot. Who would've thought she'd end up married so quickly?

Dylan was already at the door, his tone as calm as ever. "Clara. Let's go."

Only then did she snap out of it and quietly follow him outside.

A line of men in black suits stood waiting, bodyguards forming a silent corridor and stepping aside as soon as they appeared.

Clara felt like she was walking through a dream where nothing was real, her legs heavy as stone with every step.

Back in the car, she sat with her head down, silent the whole way. As they neared Palm Bay, she couldn't hold it in any longer. "Mr. Dylan, do you plan to keep me locked up in the villa forever?"

learn

it so lightly, like it

the weight of a mountain

this-he was so

face went even paler. For once, she

walked numbly into the house. The villa was alive with the sounds

The whole thing felt even more

on the sofa, watching as a maid brought her a

just let us know," the maid said gently. "All the fruit in the kitchen was flown in

watched as Dylan stepped into the elevator and disappeared

have the strength to try talking to him.

wrapped around the cup, frozen in

marriage certificates again and stared at them

there was a

the door did he finally tuck them away

compartment.

Aiden came in.

word on the way to the registry office, playing the

is all set. Are you heading out now, sir? Or will you be staying for dinner

glanced at the hidden compartment, his voice as calm as ever.

heart clenched

she sat there before she saw Dylan and Aiden coming

to borrow a phone from one of the maids, but everyone shook their heads

looked away, silent