Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Dylan stepped into the hallway and handed the empty bowl to a housekeeper, then headed straight for the study.

Someone was already waiting for him.

While Clara had been asleep these past few days, the doctor had run every test possible. Now, he set a thick folder down on the desk. "Sir, I'm afraid there's more to Clara's past than we thought. She didn't lose her memory because of the car accident—she was medicated before it even happened. Her memory problems started well before these last few months, but they must not have seemed serious at the time. Since she didn't have many friends, no one noticed. I've had the lab analyze the drugs-similar to the recent ones, but more advanced."

Dylan leaned back in his wheelchair, his face growing darker with every word. After a long pause, he said quietly, "Bring them in."

Eli was shoved into a pitch-black room, blindfolded and fuming. "Damn it, don't push me! I haven't been treated like this in years. If you don't let me go, I'm seriously going to lose it."

Right on cue, someone ripped off his blindfold.

He blinked, spotting Seth tied up nearby, looking infuriatingly calm. That only made Eli angrier.

Seth barely spoke, so even in captivity, he never got roughed up. Eli wasn't so lucky his mouth always got him in trouble, and every insult earned him another beating. But he knew Dylan wouldn't let him die. As long as he was breathing, Eli wasn't about to keep quiet. What was the point of having a mouth if he couldn't use it?

Taking a deep breath, he glared at Dylan, who sat alone in a chair by the window. Eli cocked an eyebrow. "Wow, dressed up all proper. Almost passes for civilized- too bad you're still a monster."

Before he could finish, Seth cut him off. "Just stop. Seriously."

Eli clamped his mouth shut, looked away, and snorted.

Dylan ignored him, turning to the doctor. "Check him for any traces."

When Eli saw the doctor approach with a syringe, his eyes narrowed dangerously. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

But he was tied up tight-he couldn't move an inch.noveldrama

The needle slid into his arm. Eli shot Dylan a glare. "Trying to turn me into a brainless puppet, huh? So you can keep lying to Clara?"

Dylan leaned his head on one hand, a lazy smirk on his lips. "Maybe."

It was weird-Eli almost felt like Dylan was in a good mood today. Usually, when

Eli picked a fight, Dylan just ordered someone to shut him up. Today, he actually answered.

Eli went quiet, staring at Dylan for a while before his eyes dropped to Dylan's collarbone.

There it was: a deep bite mark, impossible to miss with his shirt unbuttoned at the top like that. Anyone paying attention would have noticed.

Eli's hands clenched into fists. "Go

31.ne

on, Dylan, keep living in that dream world of yours. When Clara finds out you killed the person she cared about most, let's see if you still have the guts to stick around. You used to just take it in silence when people tried to kill you. I almost feel sorry for you. Maybe all those

assassination attempts gave you Stockholm syndrome."

Seth's face was tight with annoyance. "Can't you just shut up for once?"

Eli bristled. "What, you want me to be like you? Never say a damn thing?"

Seth closed his eyes. "If making

noise actually solved anything, I'd let you. But do you really think Clara

would leave a mark like that if she care about him? That kind of thing can't be forced."

Eli's cheeks flushed red, his whole body shaking. "She's just been fooled! Don't forget what he's done!"

Seth didn't even open his eyes. "Don't forget what you said when she saved you: that you'd support her, no matter what."

Eli fell silent, eyes down, shoulders slumping as if all the fight had left him.

Ten minutes passed before he

finally muttered, voice hoarse, "I just

don't like that guy. He made her lose

her memory for his own selfish

reasons. She shouldn't be like

is.

She used to shine so bright, and now

she's trapped by him. If he really loved her, how could he fet all this happen..."

Dylan glanced up at Eli, his gaze lingering for a moment before looking away.

The doctor returned, sounding certain. "Sir, he's got traces of that drug in his system too."

Dylan raised his eyebrows—and, unexpectedly, let out a quiet laugh.