Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 612

She was never really part of the Bradford family to begin with. This time, when

she headed back to the Capital, she planned to take Z with her, move to another city, and never look back.

A day went by.

Clara was sitting on a bench in the village when someone called out behind her.

"Clara, is your foot any better? Want to take some more medicine?"

This village was a good day's drive from downtown Capital, tucked right on the edge of the city. She'd walked nonstop for two days and nights, her feet covered in blisters. Luckily, the place she was staying belonged to a local herbalist.

She turned and smiled at the girl with twin braids.

"I'm feeling a lot better, Emily. Thanks."

Emily was the one who took her in. Her parents worked in the Capital and left her to be raised by her grandfather in the countryside. The old man was a renowned herbalist, and Emily had picked up a lot from him over the years.

Emily came over and crouched down to take a look at Clara's foot.

"It's healing, but you should still rest up. Try not to walk around too much."

Clara nodded. It had been ages since she'd chatted with someone so easily.

So much had happened in the Capital-just the mess with Ryan was enough to drive her crazy, not to mention that sudden, ridiculous marriage to Dylan. For the first time in a long while, she finally felt like she had a moment to herself.

the village, Clara

this were filled with old people and little kids left behind by parents working in the city. But here, there were a

watching a dozen or so men pass by in the

work in the city, but how come there are so many middle- aged men around here? I

shelf, and she looked a little awkward

a rehab center here about ten years ago, for people with... you know, mental health problems. The jobs there pay really well. That's who those men are -the staff. My parents wanted to work there too, but for some reason, they ended up taking my little brother to the city instead. Maybe there are requirements to get hired.

rehab center? Way

Weird.

Clara had nothing

rehab center? Wouldn't Western medicine work faster on

are allowed anywhere near it, and most of them are men-not exactly friendly, either. You have no idea, but around here, getting a job at that center is a big deal The

grip tightened. "When they built the rehab center, it took over most of our family's land. My

was all years

still at that age where she couldn't keep things to

barely finished talking

from inside the house her grandfather's. His voice, rough and aged, came through the paper-thin window "Why are you telling outsiders

face and clung to Clara's arm. "Just

pretty, Clara-I'm worried they'll give you

a whole day and night without stepping outside. No one

girl from the Bolton family was

to cause trouble for herself, so she just followed

*

Capital City, Palm Bay.