Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 544

Clara hadn't even made it to the front door when, out of nowhere, several people appeared and blocked her way with careful, almost deferential precision.

"Ma'am, please, you need to go back inside."

The suddenness of it made her stumble back a few steps, her heart thudding in her chest. She'd checked-she was sure she'd checked. There hadn't been a soul nearby. Where had these people even come from?

A cold shiver ran down her back.

If she couldn't see anyone hiding, did that mean she'd been watched the entire time? Had someone been tailing her from the moment she left the main house?

Humiliation burned through her for thinking she could sneak around, for believing she was clever enough to get away with it. And then came the anger- sharp and hot-for Dylan, for the way he always seemed to pull the strings, for how he never lost control.

She pressed her lips together, fighting the urge to lash out. "... Did you see me out there the whole time?"

The man didn't answer. He just bowed with that same polite detachment. "Please, ma'am, head back inside."

Her anger boiled over. She turned and stalked back toward the house, not bothering to hide her frustration.

She went straight upstairs, barely pausing at Dylan's bedroom door before kicking

it open.

She expected resistance, but the door wasn't even locked-it flew open with a loud thud.

was bright, lights still

she saw he was turned away, his back to her, apparently deep

to do next. She

"Dylan!"

awake slowly, pulling the blanket up, his tone flat. "What

for you? Watching me wander around out there

her, she couldn't see his expression, couldn't tell what he

closed his eyes again,

clenched, struggling to find words.

burst out, "What do you

really didn't have a clue what he was

slipping to his waist, ha messy, eyes on her. The room suddenly

said, quietly, "Come

blinked, taken aback, then slowly stepped closer.

he grabbed her wrist, pulled her

her-soft, but

I

went wide. She froze,

way that almost

her like a shock. Her chest tightened; she lifted her hand, ready to slap him. But when

what felt like forever before letting

Ryan, she would've slapped