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?"

you learn to

so lightly, like it meant

it felt like the weight of a mountain crushing her

about this-he

face went even paler. For once, she didn't even know how to

the sounds of staff preparing for

whole thing

sat on the sofa, watching as a maid brought her a

let us know," the maid said gently. "All the

didn't answer, just watched as Dylan

didn't even have the strength to try talking to him. What was the

there, hands wrapped around the

the marriage certificates again and stared at them for

when there was

he finally tuck them away in

compartment.

Aiden came in.

on the way to the registry office, playing the part of the perfect

Are you heading out now, sir? Or

compartment, his voice as calm as ever. "No. She won't eat if I'm

heart clenched at

saw Dylan and Aiden coming down

to borrow a phone from one of the maids, but everyone shook their heads and avoided her. Clearly, they'd been warned

silent as a