Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

"Tara, I'll explain everything later. It's not as simple as you think. Places like this rehab center exist all over the world, but I can't fly right now. Do me a favor-call Richard and have him wipe my info from their system."

The Warren family had serious connections. As the heir, Richard could come and go from restricted places like it was nothing. Wiping someone's records? Child's play.

Tara's fingers shook a little, but she pulled herself together fast. "Uncle, I don't know if my brother would even help. I hardly ever talk to him in the Warren family."

Flynn looked more rattled than usual, yanking at his tie and taking a long breath. "It's fine. Just thought I'd ask. I need to lay low for a while, so don't reach out. Clear our call logs. When this all dies down, we'll talk."

Tara nodded, her eyes glued to her phone as scandal after scandal lit up the trending topics. The anxiety in her chest wouldn't let up.

Right then, the Ferguson family's matriarch showed up, saying she had something to discuss.noveldrama

Tara's face went cold. She pushed down her frustration, changed clothes, and headed downstairs.

"Mrs. Ferguson," she greeted, sitting across from her, every inch the picture of respect.

The old lady studied her for a moment, then sighed. "Tara, do you have time soon? We should visit the temple together again. I'll ask Clara to come, too. There are things I want to talk about with you both."

Tara almost laughed. She could already guess what was coming. No matter what, this woman always favored Clara.

Mrs. Ferguson pulled out an emerald bracelet and slipped it onto Tara's wrist. "I meant it when I said I'd treat you like my granddaughter. What happened with Dylan was his fault he's stubborn, always chasing after Clara. I tried talking sense into him, even yelled, but nothing works. I'm old, and honestly, I'm tired of meddling."

Tara looked down at the bracelet. It wasn't cheap, but the one Clara wore was even finer.

Tears welled up and spilled over. "Mrs. Ferguson, I was planning to go abroad, but with those pictures everywhere... If I don't clear things up, what will people think of the Warren family? My grandmother was already upset when I insisted on staying in Dylan's room that night. Now this... I just..."

Mrs. Ferguson looked genuinely guilty. Even after everything, Tara was still speaking up for Dylan.

"Tara, you've always been the one I admire most. All those years ago, something I said in passing made your grandmother take things the wrong way, and I've felt guilty ever since I'll make it up to you. You'll get more than Clara ever could. Let's find time to visit the temple together, okay?"

Tara smiled, but her thoughts were sharp. She wanted to see what the old woman was plotting this time.

"Of course,” she said sweetly. "But is Clara okay? Will Dylan even let her leave the house?"

Mrs. Ferguson let out a sigh of relief. "I'll talk to Dylan. Once this is over, I'm going

to retire and live quietly. I'm done with all this."

She'd spent her life tangled up in

family drama, always convinced her plans for Dylan were best. After decades of trying to control

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everything, he still ended up making the same mistakes. She could never quite let it go, always hoping that one day, she'd finally get to prove herself to someone from her past. The things that were said all those years ago still echoed in her mind. She'd tasted every kind of heartbreak, thinking if Dylan could just reach the top, maybe the pain would fade.

But in the end, he was just as much a hopeless romantic as she was.

As soon as Mrs. Ferguson left, Tara slipped the bracelet off. She wasn't like Clara,

dazzled by pretty things-she'd seen better.