Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Aiden couldn't hold back any longer. "Ms. Clara, your car really wasn't-" he tried to explain, but Clara, too furious to even check the footage yesterday, cut him off.

"I know it wasn't Eden," Clara snapped. "Anything else? I'm not answering more questions until my lawyer's here." Her mood was sour after everything that had happened, and she wasn't about to be pleasant to anyone.

Aiden sighed, feeling a tightness in his chest. He glanced at Dylan, who was just staring intently at Clara. There was something deep and complicated in his eyes that Clara couldn't quite decipher, so she chose to ignore it.

Dylan suddenly doubled over, coughing, his face looking worse by the second. Aiden rushed to help him, while Eden, standing nearby, panicked.

"Dylan, are you okay? Don't scare me!" she cried out. To her, Dylan meant everything, and she forgot about her own injuries as she hurried after him.

Once they were in the car, Eden sat beside Dylan, her voice urgent. "Dylan, where does it hurt? We need to go to the hospital right now."

Dylan, pale and silent, stared out the window. From the driver's seat, Aiden couldn't help but chime in, "Ms. Eden, maybe if you caused less trouble, the boss wouldn't be like this."

Eden's tears fell harder. "But I can't stand Clara! How dare she talk to you like that? Dylan, you're too nice to fight back. With her attitude, she should have been put in her place ages ago! And she tried to hit me!"

The more she talked, the more upset she became. Dylan, however, kept his gaze fixed on the passing scenery, tuning her out.

Eden broke down, sobbing. "Dylan, do you like her or something? Are you taking her side?"

She was about to continue her rant when he interrupted, "Let it go."noveldrama

Eden was stunned, thinking she must have heard wrong. She touched her forehead, "But Clara did this! I almost fainted! How can I let it go? She needs to pay!"

Finally, Dylan turned his attention from the window to his wrist, noticing how much thinner it seemed.

Eden's sobs ceased abruptly as she noticed his weight loss. Was Dylan sick? "Dylan, are you really sick? Is it because of me? Did I upset you? Please, don't be mad. I won't press charges. Your health is more important."

She sniffled, her eyes swollen from crying. Dylan had saved her life once; without him, she'd be nowhere. Living comfortably and with his support in New York's high society, she knew he needed her, he indulged her antics.

But deep down, she feared another woman might steal his attention, making her less significant. That fear was overwhelming and all too real now.

Having been by Dylan's side for so long, she understood him well. He was a master at hiding his true desires, appearing calm when he wanted something most. It was only in the quiet of the night that he might confront his real feelings.

Covering her eyes, Eden continued to cry. She loved him hopelessly, trying desperately to get his attention with her irritating behavior. As long as he tolerated her, it meant he cared.

The car echoed with her cries, loud enough to almost lift the roof. Yet, Dylan remained unmoved, absentmindedly rubbing his wrist for some comfort.

When the car stopped at Eden's place, she resisted getting out. "Aiden, weren't we going to the hospital? Why are you dropping me off? I need to take Dylan to the hospital. Didn't you see how pale he is?"

Aiden got out and opened her door. "Ms. Eden, I'll take him to the hospital. He doesn't want to see you right now."

Her face crumpled as tears streamed down, a sharp pain gripping her heart. Yet, Aiden showed no mercy, pulling her out of the car.

With the door shut, Aiden stood outside, motioning for her to go. Eden wanted to argue, but he said, "Ms. Eden, you can cry and vent all you want, but some people don't know how to express their pain. The boss is human, too."

Eden's sobs paused, tears still falling as she hoarsely asked, "Is it because of Clara? Is it about Clara?"

She had a feeling about Clara for a long time. Clara was different, and that's why she couldn't stand her.