Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 628

Clara lay on the bed, pale as a ghost, barely moving-like she couldn't even hear what he was saying.

She stayed that way all day, and by evening, her eyes were so swollen from crying it hurt to blink. When she finally opened them again, all she saw were her own puffy eyelids, swollen like little bread rolls. She looked away and weakly pointed at the bottle of water on the nightstand.

Ryan rushed to help her sit up, unscrewed the cap, and held the bottle to her lips.

"Clara, try not to worry about your boyfriend, okay? You asked me to go check on him, remember? He wasn't at home. Maybe he wasn't there last night either. That doesn't have to mean the worst. How about I go back to the city and see what I can find out for you?"

Clara's chest tightened with anxiety. She'd always trusted her gut, and right now, it was screaming at her. She lowered her gaze and nodded, just barely. She was completely out of energy-she couldn't bring herself to do anything.

If Z really was gone, she'd never forgive herself. He'd be lost to her at the exact moment she felt the most guilt-how could anyone handle a blow like that?

Ryan squeezed her hand. "I'll head back to the Capital right away and do some digging. You stay here and take care of yourself, okay? Or do you want me to call Emily? She's a great cook-her food will help you get your strength back."

Clara shook her head and closed her eyes. "I just want to be alone for a while."

silent, plugged in her phone beside the bed, and gave her one last reminder. "If you feel off, even a little bit, call me. Don't try

"Okay," Clara murmured.

again. Even when he got downstairs, he was

girl really was. People were always calling or showing up, asking about her. She even half-joked to herself that

and went

clearly remembered hearing a huge

an unfortunate mishap. Whoever was behind this must have some serious power to

the emergency workers, Ryan kept quiet and

in the yard.

duntouched. Now, it seel

had dug

nearby. "No one around here heard any explosions

shook his head as

nothing out here—just a cemetery not far away, but no one ever goes there. If someone driving by hadn't called it in the fire could've burned itself