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.

brother, Mitch. It was

way.

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

and pointed into the crowd. "Wanna try

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

pointed at the

had been

played a game

was doing. She showed him

and cheered him on as he started tossing

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

crowd circled around

Clara was hugging the biggest stuffed bear at

stall.

glanced around, a little embarrassed by all the attention,

out of

bear to her chest. "What should we do

he'd brought

honestly, he was having the

his life. Clara,

tag along, content

and wait, like the world

was enough.

hawthorn she'd "bought" had

market stretched on and on, packed with food stalls

at a sugar artist's booth, watching

two really big, fierce dogs? Like, as tall as

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

sat down, unfazed. "Just do it. What

artist grumbled, "That's

to argue, "Hey, old man-" but then he caught Clara's eye

then make my little sister.

at Clara, eyebrow raised, but shrugged and got

a delicate sugar figure took shape-a

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

brother."

smile lit up her

a weird, happy tingle in his chest as they