Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 884

Clara's hand shook as she clutched her chopsticks. "Yeah, maybe you're right. That's what I always believed. Before any of this happened, I was so sure I was his weakness. But for someone or something else, he could leave me stranded overseas and then come back and ignore me for days, like I meant nothing compared to whatever that was. Now I keep asking myself, why was I ever so confident? He never really let me in. Otherwise, how could I have missed something so important—some weakness he hid so deep that just trying to get close made him push me away?"

She set her chopsticks down, slow and careful. "But honestly, none of that really matters now. The real issue is, he made Z disappear. I can't forgive him for that, but I also can't bring myself to hurt him. I used to say, no matter who hurt Z, I'd never let them off the hook. But when it turned out to be Dylan, the first thing I realized was, I just couldn't do it. So the only thing left for me is to stay away from him. From now on, anything to do with Dylan has nothing to do with me."

Clara had always been the type to love and hate with her whole heart. When she said something, she meant it—she'd made up her mind.

Even if Dylan fainted right in front of her, she wouldn't so much as blink.

By all logic, Ryan should have been happy about this. Clara could come back to him, and it'd be just like before: the two of them looking out for each other, brother and sister against the world.

But all he could do was worry about Dylan.

He took a bite of his food, then finally spoke up. "What if Dylan comes to find you? What if he gets on his knees and apologizes, or does something big to win you back? Would you give in?"

Clara's eyes stung as she leaned back in her chair. "No. I'm done. I don't want any more chaos. You focus on the company, okay? I'm going to meet Kaitlyn later and see if there's any new investment projects. I can't just sit around-I need to stay busy."

Ryan pressed his lips together and nodded. "All right, Clara. But you promise me you'll eat and get some rest, okay? For now, just stay here. I'll really worry if you don't."

Clara gave a faint, lopsided smile. That was her way of agreeing.

*

When Jackson got to Palm Bay, the whole place felt icy cold.

He rubbed his arms and looked at Nicholas. "Do you feel that? The vibe here is all wrong. It's like someone left the fridge open."

Clara had called them a few days ago, asking if anyone knew where Dylan was, but none of them had a clue. Now that they'd finally heard Dylan was back at Palm Bay, of course they had to come and see what was going on. How did a grown man keep disappearing like that?

it

worried as they greeted them. "Mr. York,

glanced around, confused. "Where's Clara? Weird-she

Carter didn't go after her. This morning, he wouldn't eat, and we tried calling her, but

his eyebrows. So

to imagine Dylan, of all people, getting into a shouting

middle of the

Curious, Jackson headed upstairs.

Dylan's bedroom,

stopped short at

place looked like someone

it, searching through

s

frowned-Dylan was a total neat freak. How

what happened

barely stepped inside when

foot retreating.

his luck, he grabbed Nicholas by the arm and

frowned. "Why don't we just talk to him?

there now is asking

his phone and dialed Clara's

No luck-he was blocked.

Seriously?

just been asking about Dylan a few days ago,

turn. Try calling

fan of Clara, reluctantly