Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Michael was shaking all over, furious, but he couldn't move a muscle-his hands and feet were tied tight.

"Ada! Was it you who let them in? Are you out of your mind?" he shouted. "You really think just because Dylan has me boxed in, you'll get anything out of it? In the end, you need me! If I go down, you're going with me!"noveldrama

Ada remembered that night all too well, the moment she saw Simon drowning Sonya. It was like something inside her snapped awake. She could pretend nothing else mattered, but she couldn't pretend her own son didn't.

Money, status-it all felt fake now. She had enough of both anyway. All she wanted was to take Simon and disappear to another city, start fresh.

She shot Michael a cold look. "I want a divorce. I'm taking Simon with me. If he stays with you, he'll end up just as messed up. I won't let that happen."

Lately, Simon had been taking out his anger in the boxing gym at home, but Ada could see that restless fire in his eyes. She was scared he'd end up on a path he couldn't come back from. She needed to do something-get them out while there was still time. They could still have a good life, just the two of them.

Michael coughed, breathless with rage. Typical, he thought—women always thinking they're clever.

Women were only good for the bedroom, never meant for anything more!

He let out a bitter laugh and called for a servant to untie him.

As soon as he was free, he stalked over to Ada and slapped her, hard.

"You think you can divorce me? In your dreams! I never wanted you anyway. The only thing you were good at was in bed. I used to think about kicking you out every day. But now? No way. You're not going anywhere. I'm keeping you here, and I'll make you suffer. Who was it that used her tricks to get into my bed in the first place? Don't act all high and mighty now!"

He picked up a vase and smashed it over her head.

Ada just stood there, blood running down her face, staring at him in shock.

She'd gotten used to the beatings. The more he hit her, the more she saw the ugly

truth about the man she'd once loved. What had she ever seen in him?

Pain made everything clear. She realized she'd only ever loved his money.

Now her own bank account was stacked. Why keep clinging to him?

She let out a cold, bitter laugh. Blood kept streaming down her face, making her look almost ghostly.

Michael felt a chill. He grabbed a chair, ready to swing it at her, but the housekeeper rushed in and stopped him.

"Sir, if you hit her with that chair, you'll kill her. What will you say to Simon then?"

At the mention of Simon, Michael hesitated. He threw the chair aside and kicked Ada a few more times.

"You're not leaving this house. Think long and hard about what you've done. I'll deal with Simon."

Ada was soaked in sweat from the pain, but she still managed to spit, “You couldn't handle anything even if you tried, you pathetic loser."

Michael almost lost it. He grabbed her by the hair, furious.

"Ada, have you lost your mind? Ever since your sister died, you've been acting like you're possessed! If you

want me to beat you to death,

you better shut your mouth!"

Hearing Sonya's name, Ada instantly went quiet, flashes of that night coming back to her.

It wasn't until Michael stormed out that she reached for her phone and called Simon.

But Simon didn't show up until the

next day. He'd spent the night

Pel.ne

outside Palm Bay, and when he

finally saw Ada's bruised, swollen

face, his brows knitted tight.

"Mom, did you get into it with Dad again?"

These days, Ada was always calling him after a beating, hoping he'd come

running, hoping he'd want to protect her.

Wasn't a son supposed to protect his mother?

But Simon didn't have the time or energy to care. He was too busy searching for

Clara. Honestly, Ada just annoyed him.

A dad who cheated on everyone. A

mom obsessed with money and bailing out her brother. No wonder Clara wanted nothing to do with him. His family was half the

problem-Ada had even tur vel

on

Clara before.

"Simon, I want to leave this city with you. I have plenty of money, enough for us to live well for the rest of our lives," she said. It wasn't the first time.

Simon's hands clenched into fists. The anger inside him just kept getting bigger.

He hadn't found Clara. He hadn't seen Dylan go down. How could he leave now?

If he left, he'd only leave with Clara beside him.

Clara owed him. And he wasn't leaving until she paid him back.