Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 897

"Sorry, we haven't found anything yet. If there was anyone in that car, they're gone."

Clara's hand dropped to her side. She'd bitten her lip so hard it was almost bleeding.

She'd been standing by the river since sunset, waiting, watching, barely moving as the sky turned from deep blue to pitch black. The search teams kept working, dragging the water with their big nets and floodlights.

Finally, they pulled the car out. It was empty. Not a single clue inside. An expert came over to explain-because of the recent flooding, the current was strong enough to sweep away anything, even bodies.

The river was wide and fast, especially with the tide rising. People always gathered here to watch, but tonight, the crowd was bigger. Everyone wanted to see for themselves.

With the tide so high, there was no way anyone could have survived. If anyone had been in that car, they were gone.

Clara stared at the empty metal shell, her eyes burning, rimmed red.

Someone in the crowd recognized Dylan's name and started whispering. The news had already reported that Dylan was missing-maybe dead. Social media was a mess, everyone speculating, sharing theories.

Ryan finally found her by the water, after pushing through a wall of people.

"Clara, it's already midnight. Let's go home, okay?"

Her mind was buzzing. She barely heard him. All she could do was stare at the river, blank and numb.

Ryan tried again, gentler this time. "They haven't found a body. That's something. There's still hope. Let's get you home."

to him, her voice flat but

who just disappeared. He was too

looked earlier- pale, exhausted, barely holding it together. Even if the car hadn't gone into the river, even a small accident could have been too

thoughts spun out of control. She managed a few steps before everything went

"Clara!"

before she hit the ground, panic in his voice. He rushed her

and pushed herself up, wincing. She looked out

death. Let's just get you checked

her hand to her forehead, throat raw. “I said

She'd wake up and everything would be

a shaky breath, just relieved she was

home, Clara didn't

bother showering, She just collapsed on her

wake up

so tired she actually fell asleep

on her, quietly opening her door to make sure she was still breathing, terrified

couldn't go

"Clara."

ceiling she'd seen a thousand times

a tray of food. He sounded desperate. "You've been asleep for

look at the food-she just grabbed her phone and checked

news.