Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 693

The morning before Walter's big birthday party, Clara still hadn't seen Dylan. She kept asking the staff about him, but all they'd say was that he was busy. The longer it went on, the more it bothered her-how could he stay mad this long?

She finally gave in and called Charles again. He was outside the manor at the time, half-heartedly pulling at weeds, looking bored out of his mind.

As he worked, one of the men passed by and called out, sounding barely interested. “Get ready. Walter's turning eighty, and this year the Chester family is expanding the business to Country Z. Mitch and I are both going. What about you? Are you coming with us?"

Charles had been stuck at home for days, thanks to a strict order from his eldest brother-two full weeks of house arrest before he could leave. He'd planned to wait it out, then head to Country Z to find Clara. But now, with his brother and Mitch both going, this was his shot.

He almost jumped up in excitement. "When are we leaving? Seriously, I'm ready! Just say the word!"

His brother couldn't help but smile a little at Charles's enthusiasm. Charles had always been different from a typical younger brother. On the surface, he played the clueless guy who just hung out with the dogs. In reality, he'd quietly solved more problems for the family than anyone realized. Nobody really saw both sides of him, but the Chester family had learned to use that hidden strength well. "An hour from now. I've already filed the flight plan," his brother said.

Charles whooped and practically bounced away to pack.

own wing in the Chester house, though it wasn't filled with expensive things-just boxes and shelves crammed with his brothers' old toys. He dug through

standing in front of a pile of dog toys, looking completely lost. Charles was tall-six foot two-and

up one toy after

you doing,

think I have anything valuable here. Do you

only Charles knew-his brother's collection was

his brow and

kept his valuable stuff in a private vault, one that needed a special key—a room he

To him, nothing in there could ever be more precious than his

his coffee, led the way. The family doctor stood nearby watching as Charles wandered through row

but say, "These are your most valuable things, sir. If