Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Early the next morning, a servant knocked anxiously on Dylan's door.

"Sir, madam is gone."

Dylan didn't even bother finishing getting dressed before ordering everyone to search. He checked Clara's bedroom himself twice-then looked in the closet, behind the curtains, everywhere she could possibly be.

With how tight security was at Palm Bay, there was no way she could just slip out on her own.

"Clara!" he called out, but the house was dead quiet.

Just as he was about to check the other rooms, someone pulled up last night's security footage. There was Clara, asleep in a car.

Dylan let out a long breath, glanced down at his feet-one shoe on, one off-and rubbed his temples.

He went back to finish getting ready, then headed out to the car. When he looked inside and saw Clara still fast asleep in the backseat, he turned to Aiden. "Why didn't you close the car door?"

Aiden just scratched his head, still groggy from the morning. "Guess I forgot last night."

Clara woke up, rubbing her eyes. Spotting Dylan standing outside, she sat up straight. "I want to go out with you today."

Dylan was dressed sharp, clearly heading out for something important. His hand tightened a little on the door handle.

Clara stayed put, refusing to leave the car. Another day trapped at Palm Bay and she'd probably lose her mind.

Dylan remembered what the doctor had said-Clara hadn't been sleeping well, something was bothering her. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to take her out for a change.

He lowered his gaze and got in the car. "I'll wait. Go change your clothes."

Clara's eyes lit up, but she still looked at him warily. "You're not just saying that, right? You won't disappear as soon as I go upstairs?"

She said it, but she was already out of the car and sprinting up the stairs.

Something inside her knew-Dylan wasn't the type to break a promise.

some bread

in the car did

her a bottle of water. "Take

it her imagination, or was he suddenly

the water, finished her bread, and finally realized they weren't

was Dylan meeting

the car finally stopped at Westhill Cemetery, she recognized

with him. This was where Shelly was buried, and even that

cemetery gates-only the most important people were

was here to

the note

he finally saying.

couldn't help

so he can marry Taca? He did have feelings for Tara,

pushing his wheelchair, but then both

hadn't gone inside last time, but today, she wanted to see for

would stop her, but even as

the moment

Dylan's face and immediately

up,

to hold it in. "Dylan, let

at her, his eyes

was weighing something big in

a long moment, he looked away. "Come on,

aside and Clara

the hill was huge, stretching as far as she could

onto the escalator

the top,

grand, imposing building, surrounded by high walls

it feel