Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Mrs. Ferguson noticed Dylan's mood had softened and waved her hand dismissively. "We've talked enough about the party. At this point, everyone here has their own role, and what happened last night isn't going to happen again. Dylan, try to show some mercy, alright?"

Dylan's fingers laced with Clara's as she kept twisting her wrist, unable to take her eyes off the jade bracelet. Clearly, she was over the moon about it.

Mrs. Ferguson caught the look on Clara's face and felt another pang in her chest. All that rare jade, and it ended up on someone like her. What a waste...

The butler, sensing the tension had finally let up, hurried to invite everyone to the table.

But ever since Clara slipped on that bracelet, the rest of the family just couldn't get comfortable. Who wouldn't envy Mrs. Ferguson's prized possession? The price was one thing-nowadays, even if you had the money, you couldn't buy something like this. The million-dollar jade pieces on the market now didn't even compare to what this one was worth back then.

And after all these years living under the Ferguson roof, none of them had ever gotten a single thing from Mrs. Ferguson. So why Clara?

Lucius's wife, Kayla, yanked a chair out with a bang. Her oldest son, Lincoln, was gone. Her younger son, Aaron, hadn't even made it to the party. Her husband was as useless as ever. No wonder she hated Dylan to the core.

She knew in her gut that Dylan was the reason Lincoln was dead. And the way things were going, she'd probably lose Aaron soon, too.

Now, with Mrs. Ferguson giving Clara that bracelet, it was basically a public announcement. Clara was officially recognized. From now on, everyone would have to treat her as the lady of the house.

Kayla couldn't figure out what Mrs. Ferguson was thinking. Maybe she'd just spoiled Dylan for so long, she'd finally given in to him.

was sour. Simon, sitting next to her, leaned in and whispered, "My injuries this time? All thanks to Dylan. He marries some woman like her and Grandma doesn't even say a word. Looks like the

working overseas, always careful, always loyal. And when he finally came back, he was pushed further and further out. How

devoted she'd been to Mrs. Ferguson back in

about her family's troubles, but this wild

If they were going to freeze her out anyway, why not go out with a bang?

the pot enough, caught Tara's eye from across the table. They exchanged a

was only here because Mrs. Ferguson had personally said she'd treat her like her own granddaughter. No way she was refusing that-plus, it gave her an excuse to

acting like she'd forgotten all the bad blood with Dylan. But just like Kayla, she

Clara's wrist.

sŵnovel

sympathy for Mrs. Ferguson—thinking she was just scared of Dylan-now she just thought the old woman was blind. Giving

her envy hidden, even leaning in to quietly ask Mrs.

composure: She reached out and patted the

ready for you too-one just

She knew Mrs. Ferguson

worried she'd mess up Dylan's

Happiness? This was happiness?