Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Jeffree's lips quivered, her eyes glistening with tears she wouldn't let fall, and her voice shook with emotion. "You got my boyfriend exiled because of Richard; you ruined his life. I never thought the number belonged to you. This was your plan all along! Clara, I can't stand you!"

Her gaze was fierce and full of hatred, but the knife in Clara's hand made her back away, fear overtaking her anger. Clara knelt down, meeting her eyes. "Have you really not contacted Eden?"

Jeffree's expression changed. Of course, she had been in touch with Eden. Clara wanted to question her further, but out of the corner of her eye, she noticed someone emerging from the small cottage. It was Z.

Quickly, Clara stood, tossing the knife back into the car, and told Eli, "Keep an eye on her. I need to talk to Z." Eli had spotted the man too, standing a few yards away, and felt a chill run through him as he clenched his fists.

Clara made her way to Z, but he went inside the house first. She followed him in, asking, "Did I scare you?"

Could he have seen her threatening Jeffree with the knife? His voice was calm, with a hint of worry. "Clara, I didn't see anything. I'm just a bit on edge."

"Why?"

"Feels like someone's been coming around my place lately."

Clara frowned. Out here in the middle of nowhere, it seemed unlikely anyone would bother him. The place looked so rundown, not even a thief would waste their time. Was someone targeting Z? But he kept to himself and had no enemies.

Z suddenly pulled her into a hug, sounding exhausted. "I keep feeling like there's someone in my house, but when you're here, it all goes away."

Clara stayed still, a wave of unease washing over her. Was his condition getting worse? "Z, have you gone to a proper hospital to get checked out?"

The room went silent, like even the air stopped moving. "My condition's not serious; it's almost better. But he... he always wants to get rid of me..."

He trailed off and then collapsed, his head resting quietly in her lap. "It's okay, Clara, really."

Clara held his hand, feeling the ring on his finger and the red bracelet on his wrist, her heart softening. "Z, why don't you come stay with me?"

He didn't reply, just traced her fingertip with his own. After a few minutes, he finally spoke, his voice rough "If you care about me, stay away from other guys, including the one in your car tonight." noveldrama

Eli hadn't even left the car, yet Z knew. Even Clara, who tended to miss the

obvious, started to get suspicious. "Are you spying on me?"

Her run-in with Eli had been a surprise. How did Z know? "When I called, I heard someone else breathing."

That explained it. Spending so much

time alone must've made him

sensitive to little sounds. Just as she

was about to reassure him, Eli's voice rang out from outside. Clara! Come out here!"

Clara shot to her feet, but Z grabbed her wrist. She quickly freed herself and hurried outside. As she opened the door, she saw Eli, and at his feet lay Jeffree, motionless.

Her heart skipped a beat as she rushed over. "What happened?"

Eli, holding a knife, looked troubled. "I don't know; she just collapsed."

Crouching down, Clara checked

Jeffree's pulse. It was serious. Jeffree was gone. The cut on her neck

k was meant to scare, not harm.

So, what happened? She eyed the knife in Eli's hand.

Eli's face turned ashen. "You don't think I did this, do you?"