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."

her phone beside the bed, and gave her one last reminder. "If you

"Okay," Clara murmured.

her again and again. Even when he got downstairs, he was still worried, so he slipped the innkeeper some cash and asked her to look

this girl really was. People were always calling or showing up, asking about her. She even half-joked to herself that she could make a fortune just

went straight to the

remembered hearing a huge commotion the

that fire just an accident. Still, the official report called it an unfortunate mishap. Whoever was behind this

the emergency workers, Ryan kept quiet and

over at a grave in the yard. Last time he was here, it

duntouched. Now, it seel

had dug

firefighter nearby. "No one

his head as

away, but no one ever goes there. If someone