Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Sarah was cremated and buried that same night. Ryan even put the old dog tooth in her grave, hoping it might ease some of the guilt gnawing at him.

Clara stopped by, set a bouquet on the gravestone-a simple marker with only a photo-and turned to leave.

Ryan sat nearby, smoking. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Clara, there's something I want to say to you."

He'd felt brave for a moment after Cole's call, but here, standing at Sarah's grave with Clara watching, all that courage evaporated.

He was exactly the kind of guy Clara hated and looked down on. If he mentioned his suspicions about Megan, would Clara just think he was being petty? She barely trusted him as it was. Whatever little trust was left might disappear for good.

He dropped his gaze and took a slow, deep drag on his cigarette.

"You're not really a Bradford," he said quietly. "When I visited the old alternative medicine doctor, I found the real gravestone for Clara Bradford. The year your dad took you to the country, the Clara who came back wasn't the same. I don't know what happened in between-Dad's gone, and when I tried to ask Mom, she didn't know anything. I kept it from her. I just wanted to help you get your memories back, let you know who you really are."

Clara kept walking. All she said was a simple, "Mm.”

Seeing her so distant, Ryan felt his heart clench.

Yeah, she really does hate me.

He didn't mention Megan. He was afraid that if he did, that would be the last straw.

After Clara left, Ryan just sat there, staring at Sarah's grave in silence.

Cigarette butts were scattered at his feet. He was only twenty, but he felt ancient, like life had already wrung all the color and excitement out of him.

Clara got in her car and drove off without a second thought.

She'd suspected for a long time that she wasn't really a Bradford. Naomi's attitude toward her was always so harsh, and Johnny's feelings were confusing-he cared, but it was complicated, like he wanted her to do well, just not too well.

His care was real, but it was mixed with something more tangled.

Now, after what Ryan said, it finally made sense. She really wasn't a Bradford. But then-who was she?

She drove straight to the Bradford Group and called Cole into her office.

"You know I'm not actually a Bradford, don't you?"

"Ms. Bradford, honestly, your last name doesn't matter. You've already turned this company around once. Everyone supports you. No one cares about your bloodline."

The message was clear: the company could always be hers, as long as she wanted it.

Clara studied Cole for a few seconds, her voice serious. "My father never told you anything about this?"

If Johnny had planned all this, surely he would've told his right-hand man.

Cole shook his head. "No. Mr. Bradford always treated you like his own daughter. You could feel his care, couldn't you?"

Every word was perfectly inoffensive-there was nothing to argue with.

Clara frowned, considering whether she should make another trip to the countryside to find that old doctor. But tonight, she had things to deal with in the rough part of the city.

*

That night, she went to Megan's apartment.

Megan hadn't expected her and felt a jolt of panic, but managed to keep her expression steady. "Clara, what brings you here all of a sudden? You didn't call."

Clara brushed past her into the living room. "I needed somewhere quiet to handle something. Your place is always the calmest."

Megan forced a smile, went to the kitchen, and returned with two cups of tea.

"So, what's going on?"

"You'll see in a bit."

The area really was quiet-anyone who could afford it had already moved out, choosing to share apartments elsewhere rather than stay in this run-down neighborhood.

Clara glanced around and couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you used to rent near Moonlight Park? Why do you mostly stay here?"

Megan looked uncomfortable,

gripping her mug. "That place was too fancy for me. I grew up

here-this is my world. I know the et

reputation is bad, but most people are just struggling to get by. And honestly, most of my neighbors have moved out. It's safe now-no shady people around."

Clara remembered, just that afternoon, that there were a few empty, run-down apartments near Megan's.

Her phone buzzed. It was Eli. He'd brought the person.

She got up to go. Megan looked worried. "Is something else going on tonight? Do you need me?"

"I have something to deal with, but it has nothing to do with you. I'd rather you didn't see what's about to happen."

With that, Clara slipped out to a neighboring apartment.

The door was battered, the inside a mess of garbage-no one had cleaned it innoveldrama

ages.

Beck was kneeling on the floor, still clueless about who had kidnapped him. Whoever it was, they were good-he'd never seen anything like it.

Clara stepped in, Megan trailing behind. The moment Megan saw Beck, her eyes froze for a split second, but then she quickly pulled herself together.

Clara walked over and yanked the blindfold off Beck's eyes.

He looked up, shocked to see Clara—then, when he saw Megan, his eyes widened in disbelief.

Clara raised an eyebrow, glancing at Megan. "You two know each other?"