Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Sunlight flooded the room as Clara tossed off her covers and got out of bed, the lingering anxiety making her feel queasy. When Cole stepped into the bedroom, he was taken aback by her pale face, sitting there on the edge of the bed with cold sweat on her forehead.

"Ms. Bradford, did you have a nightmare?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

Clara had shared her house's security code with him ages ago, but she hadn't expected a visit today. She rubbed her temples and took a deep breath, trying to shake off the unsettling emotions left by her dream.

Cole pulled the curtains open, letting in more light. "You were up really late last night. I know it's not my place, but I just wanted to remind you to take care of yourself. If your dad were still around, he'd hate to see you pushing yourself this hard. Also, there's been some movement with Richard; Jared's position has been revoked, and nobody knows who's taking over yet. Jared's a bit sneaky, and I worry he might suspect your involvement."

Clara lowered her gaze, the dream's heat still coursing through her, leaving her mind in a jumble. "I underestimated Richard. He knew about Jared all along but chose to ignore it. To him, Jared was just a minor nuisance. Even when his father sneakily handed over that position to his illegitimate son, Richard couldn't be bothered."

The Warren family was basically Richard's kingdom. Whatever his father did behind his back, Richard probably knew more than anyone else. But if the illegitimate son became public knowledge, Richard couldn't ignore it, so Jared had to stay hidden. Thankfully, Richard hadn't come after her for any of it. Next time, she'd make sure not to leave any traces.

"Ms. Bradford, you should get up and eat. I ordered some takeout," Cole suggested gently.

Clara nodded quickly, heading to the bathroom to freshen up before sitting down at the table. Cole had pulled an all-nighter, almost clearing the backlog of work at the company. Clara slowly sipped her soup and suddenly asked, "Did I really hate Dylan before?"

Cole paused, then continued peeling the plastic wrap from the side dishes. "Yeah, you did."

"Strange. I hated him so much that everyone knew, yet Dylan, the untouchable figure he is, never held it against me? Even after I caused his leg injury? I've seen him be ruthless with business rivals, leaving no room for mercy."

Dylan was known for using every legal trick to ruin his opponents' lives. Cole sat down, serving himself some soup too. "What do you think the truth is, Ms. Bradford?"

Clara still felt exhausted, her dreams too tangled to make sense of. With Z in the picture, she couldn't openly search for her past memories; it would unsettle him. Z, the person she cared about most right now, was also the one most scared of her remembering. She had to consider his feelings.

“I don't know, I just can't figure it out." She couldn't finish her soup, setting the bowl aside. With Jared's position gone, the project had to pause. She needed to see who'd take charge next; if it was one of Richard's people, collaboration would be tough.noveldrama

Just as she was about to head to the office, she remembered her promise to Z last night, saying she'd bring him something delicious today. She rubbed her temples again, having pre-ordered takeout from a restaurant for him.

As she was leaving, Cole followed her, silently carrying a briefcase. Clara got into the elevator, glancing at her tired reflection in the mirror. Last night's dream still haunted her after just two hours of sleep. She yawned as Cole offered sincere advice, "The Bradford Group's entertainment investments are doing well. Even if you took a step back, the company would be fine for the next few years. If we nurture Justin properly, he could take over in ten years. You could focus on yourself, maybe revisit familiar places or check on Ryan."

Clara smiled weakly, sighing, "I'm always scared the Bradford legacy could collapse overnight, so I just can't stop. But you're right, with the holidays coming, we should pause the projects and let everyone enjoy the season."

In the car, her first stop was Ryan's place. Peering through the window, she saw him at his desk, reading, and felt a wave of relief wash over her. Ryan seemed to sense her gaze, quickly standing to tap on the window frame.

"Clara!" he called out, looking like a lively young wolf, finally shedding the despair from when he first succumbed to his vices.

Clara sighed in relief and walked briskly to his room. The place was spotless. The caretakers said Ryan insisted on cleaning himself. Previously, his body had suffered greatly, drenched in sweat from constant pain. But he endured, and as long as he stayed away from his past temptations, he wouldn't crave them again. He'd learned his lesson.

Ryan's biggest fear was being abandoned by Clara. Standing by his desk, Clara picked up his finance notes, finding a newfound vitality in them. Her brother had finally been reborn.

Ryan, flashing a hidden smile with his canines, said, "Sis, I can totally go out now. Can I come with you to buy holiday groceries?"

He tugged at her sleeve, pleading, "I've finished all the books. You have to let me put it into practice."

Clara patted his head, "Alright, let's go shopping in the morning."

Ryan's eyes lit up with excitement as he hurriedly packed his books, tears streaming down his face.