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.

hurried to the old lady. "Hold this over your face," she said, tearing a

Outside, monks in brown robes-volunteers-tried to douse

walls. "Help! Is anyone out there?

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

eyes, the old lady looked at Clara, struck by how calm she remained. Maybe Dylan was right about

a loud crash. Tara, still by the door, saw someone smash open a window from the outside.

toward Clara and the old lady, rage twisting

It had to be Clara behind all this-she wanted Tara dead,

flammable junk back through the window, trying to block the

holding on to the old lady, tried to get them both to the opening, but a wall of fire shot up, forcing

flames grew fiercer. The old lady, exhausted, sank to the floor. "We have to go now," Clara

barely conscious, eyes streaming from the smoke. She loosened her grip on Clara's hand. "Go. Leave

up

weak. "It doesn't matter.

life, I tried

saw flames licking at the old lady's skirt. Quickly,

Summoning strength from

deep, the old lady clutched Clara's hand tight. "You swore to Buddha, remember? This is all I ask. I know I was never your favorite, but for Dylan's sake promise me