Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 890

Charles sat frozen, staring at his phone, feeling colder with every second that passed.

Clara and Uno were still out at the gala. Charles glanced out the window at MiloBuddy racing around the yard. His eyes stung, turning red in an instant. He felt completely lost.

He was only ten when his oldest brother found him and brought him into the Chester family. That brother had done everything-hunted down doctors, paid for treatments—just to fix the mess of scars on Charles's face. If it weren't for him, Charles would've grown up looking like a monster.

His oldest brother had always been good to him. Mitch was decent too.

People liked to say he was the Chester family's stray dog. Charles never minded. Being loyal didn't make him any less of a person.

But tonight, he was falling apart. Everything he'd trusted in for years was starting to crack, and the feeling that his world was caving in was enough to make him want to scream.

Clara had no clue about any of this. After Louella left, she went off to meet Scarlette.

Scarlette had just wrapped up a business meeting with Carrie, and they were fine- tuning the contract. Once both sides signed, the deal would be sealed.

When Scarlette spotted Clara, she couldn't help but pull her into a hug. "It's been forever! You look so thin-are you eating at all?"

managed a smile, lifting a glass of wine. "I heard you're about to close a huge deal. Congrats! Maybe you'll be ringing the bell on Wall Street

ambitions were never small. She'd worked herself to the bone for this deal, and if it all went well, she was planning to take the company public

her a playful shove on the shoulder. "Clara, if you ever need a

out a soft laugh and nodded. “Thanks,

under? Everyone's talking about it. I saw Michael and Lucius at the

gaze, swirling the wine in her glass. "I really don't

Dylan married, and totally in love? How

Clara looked up, her eyes calm and

it, clear

not to push

for a few more minutes, then turned to leave-only to run

a coward, selfish to his core. Even when his only son, Simon, got into trouble, Michael barely blinked.

pocket,

lot of things, but no one could deny how

into a smirk. "Clara, remember that hotel address I sent you?

his arm, blocking her. His voice turned mocking "What's the hurry? If you didn't like that hotel, I can pick another. But the guy you're meeting has changed Since