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.

older brother, Mitch. It was weird, but in a

way.

handed it back. "Alright, you should

shook her head and pointed into

park beckoned, its

at the

life had

a game

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

coins and cheered him on as he started

it fast-make that really

crowd circled around

finally ended, Clara was hugging the biggest stuffed

stall.

around, a little embarrassed by all the

out

hugged the giant bear to her chest. "What should we do next,

said he'd brought her

he was

life.

just to tag along, content

and wait, like the world

was enough.

candied hawthorn she'd

market stretched on and on, packed

stopped at a sugar artist's booth, watching

me two really big, fierce dogs? Like,

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

sat down, unfazed. "Just do it. What are you

artist grumbled, "That's

argue, "Hey, old man-"

his mind. "Okay, then make my

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

took shape-a girl with

handed the sugar figure to Clara, grinning.

brother."

her whole

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