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.

this around his older brother, Mitch. It was

way.

a couple bites, he handed it back. "Alright, you should eat

and pointed into

a small amusement park beckoned, its lights drawing in a

at

whole life had been

game like

to know what she was doing. She showed him where to put

on as he

fast-make that really fast. Ball

and soon, a crowd circled

game finally ended, Clara was hugging the biggest stuffed bear at

stall.

glanced around, a little embarrassed by all the attention, and

out of the

bear to her chest.

said he'd brought her out for

was having

life. Clara,

to tag along, content

like the

was enough.

she'd "bought" had been

on and on,

artist's booth, watching the man

shapes. "Can you make me two really big, fierce dogs? Like, as

skeptical. "You're joking, right? No dog

unfazed. "Just do it. What are

grumbled, "That's

old man-"

mind. "Okay, then make my

Clara, eyebrow raised, but shrugged

minutes, a delicate sugar figure took shape-a girl with

Clara, grinning. "Here. For you.

brother."

up her

weird, happy tingle in his chest as they wandered on. "Is it