Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

She was clearly annoyed, but Dylan just looked at her, a small, almost teasing smile tugging at his lips.

Clara couldn't help but notice he seemed off today-something must have happened to put him in such a mood, and now he was taking it out on her in his own playful way.

What on earth had happened to him?

She took a breath, forcing herself to calm down. Reaching out, she grabbed his wrist and moved his hand away.

He didn't resist; he just let her do it, his touch loosening until he let go completely.

The candy he'd given her had already melted on her tongue, its sweetness lingering in her mouth-just like his worries, dissolving little by little.

Without another word, Dylan turned and walked toward the main house.

Clara didn't follow. She touched her lips, still tasting that unexpected sweetness, and glanced at the table where a few more candies sat, still in their wrappers.

What kind of candy was that, anyway? It was actually really good.

Dylan entered the main house. In his study, he just stared at his fingers, lost in thought.

Aiden came in, dropping a stack of files onto Dylan's desk. "Mr. Ferguson, these are the reports you need to review this afternoon. Dinner at the old manor is at six sharp."

Dylan didn't even look up. He kept staring at his hand, completely out of it.

Aiden just sighed.

*

Ada's funeral was over almost as quickly as it began. Once the last of the Fergusons left, Simon ordered the ashes to be taken away.

hadn't shed a single tear throughout the whole thing. Simon looked dazed,

gotten along, but she'd

treated women like

his? Somehow, Simon seemed even

aren't you going to

had picked out the plot himself.

and got in. "I have things

but he held it in. He'd have to rely on Simon

Simon couldn't focus on anything. One address kept flashing

outskirts of the city. Shelly had been buried here years ago—this was the most exclusive cemetery in the

address in her notebook, but why

that mean the child

No way.

always treated Eden

still care

Dylan was hiding about his child, it had to be

Suddenly, Simon

only visiting Shelly's grave That's why the rumors about him never getting over Shelly wouldn't die,

really just using the gossip to

let this go now. He was determined to bring Dylan down,

entrance. Everyone coming and going

some big-name officials showed

people buried here were from powerful families or had some

family tombs, and Simon had never been over there. People said it was under military control,

among the family graves, pretending to be there for someone, but his eyes kept drifting toward a narrow path that led up another hill. Even from a

himself to walk that way, but

uniform