Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

The next morning, a whole crew of workers showed up on the rooftop, hauling up

heavy crates packed with sparkling gemstones.noveldrama

Clara couldn't believe something she'd mentioned offhand had gotten so many

people moving.

Right then, she was in the garden, picking fresh flowers and weaving them into a

crown for Charles.

Once again, Charles was putty in her hands. Around her, he couldn't stop smiling;

it was almost embarrassing how easily she could make him happy.

"Oh, come on, what am I supposed to do with a flower crown? I'm a guy," he

complained—though his hands said otherwise as he slipped it right onto his head.

Clara laughed, gently straightening the crown. "You look best with it, Charlie."

He raised an eyebrow, grinning with pride. Suddenly, he wanted to make one for

her, too.

But his hands, so steady when it came to rough things, were totally useless with

something this delicate. After half an hour, he still couldn't get it right. Sweat was

running down his forehead as he struggled, just as the doctor came rushing in,

looking panicked.

"Dylan's here!"

The half-finished crown dropped from Charles's hands. His smile disappeared in

an instant.

The doctor added, "Richard's with him. They're both at the gate, and they brought

a bunch of people. Young master, they're not here for a chat. The three days are

up. You promised to hand Ms. Clara over. Finish the job for your brother, or

Richard's going to make trouble."

Charles was still wearing Clara's crown, but his mood crashed. His eyes went

dark, anger simmering just beneath the surface.

Clara picked up the fallen crown and asked softly, "What happened?"

Charles couldn't say a word. He just wanted to get rid of everyone standing in his

way.

She crouched in front of him, looking into his face. "Charlie, what's wrong? Are

you upset because you can't make the crown? I can teach you if you want."

He was about to answer when the doctor handed him a phone. "Young master, it's

your brother."

Charles shot the doctor a look. He knew the doctor had told his brother

everything.

The doctor just sighed, helpless. They were so close to the end—he couldn't let

things fall apart now.

Charles picked up the phone. His

brother's voice came through, cold

and businesslike. "Charlie, don't

forget what you promised. I'll let you

have your way about everything else,

but you made a deal. If you really

want to see her, you can visit her

later."

Charles pressed his lips tight, gripping the phone hard.

His brother must have sensed his

silence, because his tone softened a

little. "Didn't you say you wanted to

stay in Country Z longer? I'll talk to

Dylan, see if he'll make an exception.

But don't do anything stupid, okay?"

No one doubted what Charles was

capable of. If he really snapped, the

Chester family and Dylan would be

enemies for life. Charles was a

double-edged sword—unstoppable if

you used him right, but just as likely

to turn everyone against you.

"Brother, can't we just give up the sea route? Clara and I get along so well. No

one's ever made me this happy before. You know everyone else treats me like a

monster. Only she treats me like a real brother."

Sometimes, he honestly believed Clara was his sister. But he was just a servant in

the Chester family. He always felt like Clara deserved more—a real family, not

someone as feared and broken as him.

Across the ocean, his brother rubbed his forehead, frustrated. He'd let things go

too far. Just three days, and even someone like Charles had started to care.

He even wondered for a second if this "sister" was some plant sent in by someone

else, just to get to Charles.

He hadn't felt this uneasy in a long time.

Charles's voice was quiet, almost pleading. "Brother, can't we just let her stay? I

don't want her to go."

For a split second, his brother nearly gave in.

But in his position, he didn't have that kind of freedom. No matter how much he

cared about Charles, no matter how much he saw him as a real brother—he still

had responsibilities.

His voice went cold. "Hand her over. Don't make me say it again."