Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 757

Clara was crouched on the floor, gathering scattered things, when she spoke up,

her tone steady. "You could give him the world and he still wouldn't be happy. But with me? Even if I treat him badly, he smiles. That's what love is-someone giving, someone willing to take it. I thought you'd figured that out by now."

Tara's tears fell silently, one after another.

The old lady watched her, heart aching. Tara should've been radiant, but because of something she herself had said years ago, Tara had grown stubborn and closed off.

"Tara, listen to me," the old lady said softly. "Take those shares. Go abroad. Start fresh wherever you want. You still have a chance at happiness."

But before she could finish, flames erupted outside the door, thick with the stench of gasoline and turpentine.

Clara jumped up and tried the door, only to find it locked tight from the outside.

She turned to Tara in disbelief. "Is this what you want? To go down together?"

Tara's face went pale. She rushed at the door, rattling the handle, but it wouldn't budge.

She shoved Clara aside, her face twisted with rage. "This is all you, isn't it? You want me dead so you and Dylan can be together, no guilt at all! And the old lady too-get rid of us both, and no one stands in your way!"

Her eyes were wild and red, but there was no time to argue. The air was thick with toxic smoke.

over your face," she said, tearing a strip from her shirt and handing it over.

burning. Outside, monks in brown robes-volunteers-tried to douse the flames, but their buckets of water weren't nearly

on the walls. "Help! Is anyone out

Clara caught her, steadying her as best she could. "Breathe slow," she urged, pressing the cloth over the old lady's

by how calm she remained. Maybe Dylan

door, saw someone smash open a

the old lady, rage twisting her features. Let them burn— then she could tell Dylan

wanted Tara dead, out of the way, so

junk back through

the opening, but a

to

conscious, eyes streaming from the smoke. She loosened her

Clara hauled her up again. "We're

weak. "It doesn't matter.

these years, nothing changes. My whole life, I tried to warm his heart, but it

but saw flames licking at the old lady's

Summoning strength from

is all I ask.