Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

No matter how wild things got outside, Clara's world was oddly still.

She'd been kneeling on the marble floor in the foyer of the Palm Bay mansion for four hours. Her knees had long since gone numb, but she didn't dare move. She had no idea what Dylan would do—or if he'd drag other people into this mess because of her.

Eventually, the pain got to her. She shuffled a little closer to the sofa, desperate for a break. It was strange: ever since Dylan had disappeared upstairs, he hadn't come back down, and the house was empty-no staff, no noise, just silence echoing off the walls.

She yawned, heavy and unrestrained. Last night, she and Eli had taken turns watching Beck, and she hadn't slept at all. Now she was exhausted, her eyelids drooping. She leaned against the sofa for just a second-then, without meaning to, she drifted off, half sprawled on the floor, half slumped into the couch, clutching a throw pillow like it was a life raft.

She didn't wake until the middle of the night, jolted upright by footsteps coming down the stairs. Groggy, she saw the pillow in her arms and tossed it aside, scrambling to kneel straight again.

And there was Dylan, sitting right beside her.

Her mind went blank. When had he come down? Had he seen her sleeping like that? But he didn't even look her way-just kept flipping through some papers, his attention somewhere far away.

Clara pressed her lips together, silent. Maybe Eden's injuries weren't as bad as everyone thought-otherwise, with how much Dylan cared about her, Clara wouldn't still be here.

She ducked her head as Aiden came downstairs, stopping next to Dylan with the kind of politeness that only came from years of practice.

"Mr. Ferguson, Walter wants to see you."

Eden's accident had convinced Walter there was something going on between Dylan and Clara-at the very least, that Dylan cared about her. By making such a spectacle out of the whole thing, Dylan was basically challenging Walter in front of everyone.

Now the entire Ferguson family was waiting, probably hoping to watch Dylan squirm.

Aiden caught Clara listening and, with a pointed glance, added, "Everyone else is there too. Walter even had Aaron brought over.”

Translation: this was a setup. A family showdown. All eyes on Dylan.

Dylan didn't react, just gave a quiet, "Okay."

Clara watched him, trying to figure out if she'd imagined the anger from earlier- that flash of emotion when the glass shattered at her feet. Was that side of Dylan —the side that actually felt things—something he only showed her?

She kept quiet, only hearing the soft roll of his wheelchair as he passed by. Instinctively, she sat up straighter, forcing herself to kneel even taller.

She couldn't help but wonder: why did Walter really want Dylan there? Was it just about Eden? And if Eden's situation was so serious, why hadn't Dylan taken it out on Clara?

None of it made sense. But then, nothing about Dylan ever did. He was impossible to read, all his feelings buried so deep you'd never know they were there at all. The part he let the world see was barely the tip of the iceberg.

No one knew what was hidden underneath. Maybe something terrifying.

She was still lost in her thoughts when Aiden strode over, grabbed her phone right out of her hands, tossed it up and caught it, then picked up the remote and switched on the TV.

Gossip news blared from the screen. Henry's name was everywhere.

Clara remembered him from when she was a kid, tagging along with Johnny to all those dinners. People always whispered about Henry-how he'd ruined so many lives it was impossible to keep count.

She shot Aiden a look, wondering if he just wanted to give her something to do

while she waited.

But then a name caught her ear-Eden.

She blinked, thinking she must've misheard, but there it was, plastered across the

screen.

The anchor was saying that Eden

was Henry's daughter. Online, people were demanding she be

kicked out of the country, and so far, no one from the Ferguson family had said a word in her defense.

Eden was Henry's daughter?

Clara always knew Eden wasn't a real Ferguson, but how had this secret-her being Henry's child-gotten out? It couldn't have been Dylan. He was always kind, always protective of Eden.noveldrama

Maybe the rest of the family had seen the news and wanted Eden gone, but Dylan was fighting to keep her safe. Maybe that's why Walter had called him in.

Thinking about it, the whole thing finally made sense.

Clara couldn't help a cold little smile. Eden deserved this.

Of all the people in the world, she had to be Henry's daughter. Henry-the devil everyone whispered about, the one who left nothing but destruction behind.