Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 667

Charles pulled Clara through the night market, the place buzzing with laughter,

bright lights, and the mouthwatering smell of street food. It was the kind of chaos

that felt alive, like the city itself was throwing a party.

Clara drifted toward a stall selling candied hawthorns, her eyes glazed with

curiosity. She trailed behind the old man running the stand, grabbed a stick, and

strolled off without a word about paying.

The old vendor spun around, ready to scold her-until a crisp hundred-yuan note

appeared under his nose. He glanced up, startled, and found himself staring into

the sharp, intimidating face of a guy who looked like he'd walked out of a movie.

Charles's voice was low and flat. "Keep the change."

The vendor snatched the bill and hurried away, half-shivering, eager to put

distance between himself and Charles.

As soon as he was gone, Charles's tough-guy vibe disappeared. He turned to

Clara, suddenly looking more like a scolded dog than a bodyguard. "Clara, you

know you're supposed to pay for stuff, right? Don't just grab things."

But before he could keep scolding, Clara handed the stick of candied hawthorns

to him. "This is for you, bro."

Charles blinked, caught off guard. "For... me?"

She nodded. "You were staring at them."

He took it carefully, like it might break, and bit into the glossy red candy. It was

ridiculously sweet, but for some reason, his chest felt even warmer.

felt like this around his older brother, Mitch. It

way.

handed it back. "Alright, you should

her head and pointed

far away, a small amusement park beckoned, its lights drawing in a

pointed at

had been training

a game like this

Clara seemed to know what she was doing. She showed him where

on

hang of it fast-make that really fast. Ball after ball slipped

crowd circled

Clara was hugging the

stall.

glanced around, a little embarrassed

out of the

to her chest. "What should we do next,

said he'd brought her out

honestly, he was having

life. Clara,

to tag

like the

was enough.

candied hawthorn she'd "bought" had

stretched on and on, packed

sugar artist's booth, watching the man pour golden

really big, fierce

up, skeptical. "You're joking, right?

down, unfazed. "Just do

grumbled,

man-" but then he caught Clara's eye

"Okay, then make my

glanced at Clara, eyebrow raised, but shrugged and got to

sugar figure took shape-a girl with

the sugar figure to Clara, grinning. "Here. For you. From

brother."

her

his chest as they wandered on. "Is