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.

shed a single tear throughout the whole thing. Simon

and Ada had never gotten along, but she'd

he was no saint-he'd always treated women like toys, keeping around whoever

of his? Somehow, Simon seemed even

aren't you going to

himself. Simon hadn't

and got in. "I have things

but he held it in. He'd have

anything. One address kept flashing through

Shelly had been buried here years ago—this

in

the child was already

No way.

fighting-Dylan had always treated Eden differently, and

kid was gone, why would Dylan still care so much? There had to be more to the

was hiding about his

Suddenly, Simon

was only visiting Shelly's grave

he really just using the gossip to hide

was determined

watching the entrance. Everyone coming and

city's elite; even some big-name

from powerful families or had some kind of

had never been

be there for someone, but his eyes kept drifting toward a narrow path that led

pressed his lips together and forced himself to walk that

uniform