Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 554

"Ma'am, we made chicken soup tonight. If you'd like something different, just let us know a day ahead," the housekeeper murmured softly beside Clara.

Everyone in this house treated Clara with genuine warmth-so long as she didn't ask to borrow their phones, life stayed peaceful and easy.

Clara cradled her mug of ginger tea, taking a forced sip. Just then, she heard footsteps in the hallway.

Dylan must be back.

She'd thought he'd be working late, especially since he'd skipped out on the office for days. But here he was, home earlier than she'd expected.

Clara kept her eyes down, refusing to even glance at the entryway.

She'd been living at Palm Bay for quite some time now, and not once had Dylan come looking for her. Marrying her seemed more like placing a vase in the living room—a decoration, nothing more.

She didn't get him at all. Was he really willing to go against Walter's orders just to keep a stand-in around?

As soon as Dylan walked in, the staff started setting the table, laying out a proper feast. The housekeeper called out, "Ma'am, dinner's ready."

But Clara, still shaken from her dream about Z, felt no hunger at all. She put down her teacup and headed straight upstairs.

watched her go, his face unreadable. All he

surprised. Hadn't Mr. Ferguson asked them to

never spoke. Or rather, Clara never answered Dylan's questions, never even looked his way. Silence had

they were like strangers who'd

you should try to eat

the elevator,

and quietly cleared away all the food they'd worked

went to his study, opened a drawer, and took out a ring. He turned it slowly

after a closer

piece of jewelry

the band with his thumb, his mood

came in, pausing when he saw the softness

this from Walter much longer. He's already

clever. Dylan and Richard Warren were close, and out of respect for Richard, Dylan couldn't just turn

edges, Richard doted on his cousin Tara. Tara had liked Dylan once; after he gently turned her

the socialites, Tara

Built

chased after Dylan again. She'd an impressive career-she'd