Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 617

Clara's brow furrowed, that familiar knot of worry tightening in her chest. She liked to think she understood him-sometimes his silence felt less like calm, more like the warning before a storm.

But would her leaving really make him that angry?

His eyes flashed through her mind on a loop, making her uneasy. She didn't dare gamble on what he'd do. If she set foot back in Dylan's territory, she'd be walking right into a showdown she couldn't win.

So, she stuck to her plan: disappear to another city, lay low until news broke that Dylan had married Tara, and then maybe just maybe she'd come back to the Capital.

She took a deep breath. "Don't tell anyone where I'm going. I'll head to the next city. Once I'm settled, I'll let you know."

Ryan's voice wavered. "So you're not coming back to the Capital for a while?"

Clara was beyond exhausted but still managed to lean down and gently coax Emily to eat some chocolate.

Emily barely had the strength to chew, but she forced herself. She wasn't ready to give up.

Clara finally answered Ryan. "I won't be back for at least a year. When Dylan gets married, let me know."

Ryan's eyes instantly reddened. "So that's it? I'm just never going to see you again? Clara, I shouldn't have accused you of wanting the Bradford family money.

I was wrong. You can have it-everything. Can't we just go back to how things were?"

He finally said what had been weighing on him.

cared so much about the inheritance. If she really wanted it, he could just give it to her. It wasn't like having it

back, her voice rough and

Ryan could handle the company on his own, anyway. She'd been away from the Bradford Group for a while,

when he saw Clara's eyes

pressed the gas pedal and

hours later, they finally pulled into the

check into a fancy hotel-too easy to track. Instead,

didn't care much

stared at the peeling paint and grimy windows, panic written all over his face. "Let me book you somewhere nicer with my

hard to get

and was out in

up some clean

could find. When he got back, he heard the

out, "Clara, I've

the bathroom

out, Clara looked and felt a little

sensing she

address. When you get back to the Capital, go find him. Tell him where I'm staying

did that guy get such

him so deserving?

jaw and said

knew exactly how he