Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 881

When the car pulled up at Palm Bay, she could tell Dylan was dead set on

keeping the whole thing with the child and Walter a secret—for good this time. She didn't even bother asking. Instead, she went straight upstairs and found the guest room furthest from the master bedroom to crash in.

Dylan stood alone in the empty foyer, listening as her footsteps faded down the hall.

The housekeeper spotted him and lit up. "Sir, you're finally home! Is there anything you'd like for dinner tonight?"

Dylan shook his head, glanced up the stairs, and started climbing, slow and heavy-footed.

He paused when he heard noise from the courtyard. Looking out, he caught sight of a face that looked almost exactly like Charles's-only younger, as if they could be twins.

Uno saw him too, but his face stayed blank. He just kept munching through a plate piled with fruit.

The housekeeper hurried over. "He's someone Mrs. Clara brought home. Eats like he's starving, every single meal."

Dylan just nodded and went upstairs without another word.

He and Clara had slipped into this weird, silent standoff. Two days went by and neither of them said a thing.

On the third night, Clara woke up in the middle of the night, restless and frustrated. What was the point of acting like this? She'd risked everything to find him-gone alone to dangerous places. Now they were both safe. Why keep pretending nothing was wrong?

She got up and padded down the hallway toward his room.

sliver of light

knock when his voice drifted through the

do? His feelings are messing with

second voice answered, low and calm. "Sir, you already

it..." Dylan's voice sounded lost and,

and instinctively started to turn back, but

Clara can't find out. She's still looking for the truth about his disappearance. She

one hand braced against

was she

in her head: Z's red bead bracelet and that ring had both shown up

Megan was just imagining things. But after everything lately, it was all too much. She'd gone to the West Hill cemetery,

a deep breath, switched on the guest room light, and stepped out onto the balcony. The night air was sharp and cold, clearing

chaos in her mind came rushing

isn't good enough for Clara. I wanted him dead.”

"I do."

tangled together her thoughts. Maybe it was the stress-or maybe she was just done with

of the hallway, Dylan's bedroom was still lit

hesitate. She stomped straight over and thrust

just about to lie down. He looked up, startled, as she barged

he'd been talking to

Dylan. His Adam's apple bobbed like