Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

"Mom, I told you-if you want to leave, just go. Don't worry about me."

Disappointment clouded Ada's eyes. After everything she'd been through, battered and bruised, her own son Simon hadn't once called out Michael for it. The coldness stung more than any wound.

"Simon, can't you see it? Your dad's useless, a total waste, and Dylan is dangerous. If your father ever does something stupid and messes with Dylan, we're all done for. Dylan won't let us off the hook."

She couldn't bring herself to tell Simon that Dylan had shown up last night. With Simon's temper, she was afraid he'd do something reckless.

But Simon just scoffed. "Honestly, I hope Dad does try to take on Dylan. The Ferguson family should never end up in his hands anyway."

Ada's heart plummeted as she caught the bitterness and ambition in Simon's eyes. It was over.

The Ferguson family-so toxic, so messy-had finally pulled Simon down with it.

She had to find a way out. She had to get her son away from all of this.

After all these years in the Capital, she'd seen how the game was played. People worshipped power and crushed the weak. If you lost, you lost everything— especially if you lost to Dylan. There was no coming back from that.

She didn't say another word.

Simon, growing impatient, shot her a look. "Don't call me unless it's important. I'm busy lately."

Ada just gave a tired, forced smile and let the housekeeper help her tend to her wounds.

Simon left the house, lit up a cigarette, and tried to shake off the frustration churning inside him.

He pulled out his phone and called Megan. "Still nothing from Clara?"

Megan sounded tense. Clara had suddenly gone to see Beck, which made Megan

uneasy. Then Clara vanished, and Megan had no idea if she was plotting

something else. The uncertainty was driving her crazy.

"Nothing," she said.

edat

Simon kicked at a pebble on the sidewalk, taking a long drag. "I staked out Palm Bay all night. People at Ferguson Corporation say Dylan hasn't shown up for three days. He's a workaholic-this isn't like him. I'm starting to think he's

keeping Clara at Palm Báy."

If that was true, Dylan had it bad for her. Playing the respectable guy on the

outside, but doing something this intense in secret.

And Grandfather was still busy picking out wives for him.

The thought made jealousy flare up in Megan's chest.

Why Clara? Why did it have to be her?

Clara didn't deserve Dylan. Not even close.

Megan's grip tightened around her

eDidn't you say Walter wants

him married within two weeks? Why not go remind Walter again?"

She tried to sound casual, but deep down, she wasn't so sure. Dylan's place in the Fergusons was too solid.

A darker suspicion crept in.

"Mr. Simon, do you think there's a chance he's already married Clara in secret?"

He'd kept his feelings hidden for years, always holding himself back. A guy like Dylan-would he really marry someone else?

Megan couldn't shake the feeling. Dylan was the kind who'd tie Clara to his side, no matter what she thought of it.

When he got obsessed, nobody could predict what he'd do.

Simon brushed off the idea. "No way. Dylan wouldn't dare-he'd never hide something like that from the family."

Besides, the marriage deadline had already been announced to Grandma, She hadn't been to the

Capital in years, and back then,

nearly tost her life for Dylan, net

There

was no way he'd keep her out of the loop.

Still, something didn't sit right. He finished his cigarette, got in his car, and muttered, "I'll go check out Palm Bay again."noveldrama