Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Mrs. Ferguson almost fainted on the spot, clutching at the nearest person and

desperately asking what had happened.

A maid passing by, seeing her panic, quickly tried to explain. "Ms. Clara liked that

tree before she left, so the young master had it dug up for her."

Unbelievable.

Mrs. Ferguson's face went chalk white, and she collapsed right then and there.

She was convinced now-Clara had come to curse the Ferguson family. Of all

things, she'd had to take the family's lucky tree. Maybe Clara really was their bad

luck charm, just like those ill-fated stars people whispered about, destined to bring

trouble wherever she went.

Meanwhile, Clara was totally oblivious to the chaos she'd caused. When she got

back to Palm Bay, she asked someone to plant the tree just outside her floor-to-

ceiling windows.

The roots had barely settled when the butler called Dylan, sounding frantic.

"Young Master, Mrs. Ferguson just fainted."

Dylan frowned. Wasn't she fine just a little while ago? How did things go south so

quickly?

"Did someone upset her?"

The butler wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Ms. Clara took the tree Mrs.

Ferguson brought back from the temple. It meant a lot to her. She got too worked

up and passed out."

Dylan paused, his gaze shifting to Clara.

She was standing under the newly planted tree, gently touching its leaves. The

wrist caught the light, perfectly matching

leaves.

She looked stunning.

still talking on the phone, growing more anxious with

"Young Master, maybe we should

another one just like it

changed. That tree was one of a kind-where was

to find another?

"But-"

from under the tree, "Honey, is

keep it right here?"

to the butler he just hung up and

soft. "If you like it, that's

days were a whirlwind. Dylan

Clara only caught glimpses of

asleep at night.

of the party, a heavy rainstorm

unsettled. The main hall at Palm Bay was

last detail for

crowd. She didn't know any

going down to

was finally time for bed, she took a long

under the covers.

middle of

thunder woke

the other side of

still wasn't

robe tighter and stepped quietly into

silent except for a faint glow coming from the

about to call out,

you coming

his voice through

wasn't the warm,

used

was cold, detached.

always wanted him gone. The more thoroughly he

with him,

pushing a file aside. "A person like that, with a fate

his, doesn't deserve Clara."