Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Clara got to her feet, her mind replaying flashes of the first time she'd met Charles. Strangely, though, in all those scattered memories, the person she'd grown closest to in recent days was missing.

She looked over at Charles and grinned. "Bro, are we going or not?"

To Charles, Clara could never be anything but adorable. As long as she still called him "brother," she was the best little sister in the world.

"Of course we're going!" Charles put on a dramatic pout. "I brought the helicopter, you know-the one you said should be covered in jewels? I actually did it! And you're not even going to compliment me? I'm heartbroken!"

When Clara and the others stepped outside, they were nearly blinded by the helicopter waiting for them. Under the glow of the setting sun, the diamonds encrusted on the chopper sparkled like crazy.

Clara couldn't help but rub her eyes. "We're really... taking that thing?"

"Obviously! Isn't it awesome?" Charles asked, suddenly sounding a little unsure.

Clara's lips twitched as she headed for the helicopter. "It's gorgeous. Anything from you is the best."

Ryan, watching all this from the side, felt a weird pang in his chest. Why were Clara and this guy so close? Who was he, anyway?

He drew in a breath, just about to follow them, when Clara stopped him. "Emily's coming with us. Ryan, you stay here."

Ryan froze, his face going pale. He looked down. "Are you worried I'll hold you back?"

Clara, feeling a bit sleepy, yawned. "Just go home, Ryan. I'll come find you when I'm done."

Ryan didn't say a word. He just turned and walked away.

Charles got into the pilot's seat and pulled on his headset. "He's mad, you know. Aren't you going to chase after him? Isn't he your little brother?"noveldrama

Clara leaned back, her eyes distant. "He'll have to grow up sometime."

Emily squeezed into the back with two huge dogs, doing her best to make herself as small as possible. The dogs took up so much space that she had to keep her knees pressed tightly together, barely daring to move.

She'd noticed the battered men lying in the yard, and the blood still on the dogs' mouths. Shivering, Emily shrank back even further, wishing she could just vanish.

Clara stared out at the fiery sunset, her eyes catching the last light before she rubbed her head.

"Hey, sis, are you feeling okay?" Charles asked.

"Not really. I feel kind of off, like I'm a machine that keeps short-circuiting. One minute I'm fine, the next I'm not."

"Don't worry. Milo and Buddy will watch over you. And so will I."

Clara kept staring at the sunset, lost in thought. It wasn't just her body-her heart ached, restless and uneasy.

*

The Ferguson family's birthday banquet was already in full swing.

The event was massive. A red carpet ran from the front gates all the way to the main entrance of the mansion. Walter was dressed in a bright red traditional suit, mingling with other elders and exchanging polite greetings. sŵnovel

The younger crowd clustered together, sticking close for comfort.

Meanwhile, business partners and rivals worked the room, networking and building connections.

The decorations weren't flashy, but everywhere you looked, the atmosphere was dignified and grand.

Walter spotted Dylan and waved him over. "Dylan, come greet everyone."

The men in this circle were longtime Ferguson family allies-some had even fought alongside the family patriarch back in the day.

Aiden pushed Dylan's wheelchair over.

Dylan picked up a glass of wine and nodded to the group. "Gentlemen, a toast."

They all looked at Dylan with approval. He didn't talk much, but that was normal for heirs in families like theirs. As long as he was capable, words didn't matter.

After a few words of praise, someone asked, "You're looking a bit pale tonight." Dylan took a sip of wine and handed his glass to a waiter. "Caught a chill recently. Sorry to make you worry."

"Dylan, you used to be such a handful when you were little-always running wild. Colin was always chasing after you. You two gave us quite a few headaches."

"That's right. Colin always had to compete with you, and you were always the clever one-had him running in circles. Remember that time when some foreign gang crossed the border? Colin talked you into staking out the woods, and you two actually camped there for three days, hiding in a cave and barely moving. You even took out the gang leader from a distance. When we finally found you, you were both dirty and half-starved. Back then, we said you two were bound for greatness. Too bad I didn't have a daughter, or I'd have arranged a marriage right then and there."

The others laughed. "You two were always trouble. Colin wasn't nearly as sharp as you-you played him like a monkey. We thought you'd both grow up to be wild, but look at you now more mature than any of us expected. No matter what happens, don't forget the bond you had as kids."

In families like these, everything was tied to interests and shifting alliances. One

wrong move and friends could turn into enemies overnight.

True friendship was rare in this world-most relationships were just different

shades of mutual advantage.