Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Even the most skilled fighter couldn't pull off a move like that-kicking someone's wrist with perfect aim, knocking a knife clear from their grip, and catching it midair as if it belonged in their own hand. But she did it so easily. The whole thing was so smooth and graceful, it was almost hypnotic to watch.

When Aaron came back home after Clara lost her memory, he told her they'd been friends. But Clara just stared at him blankly, no hint of recognition. There was still a flicker of caution in her eyes, a spark of who she once was, but amnesia had blurred her edges, hiding her true self under a layer of fog.

Aaron wasn't the most powerful member of the Ferguson family, but nobody could piece things together the way he could. He'd once snapped a photo by accident, and later, seeing how Dylan held himself back around Clara, Aaron started to suspect a truth that everyone else was too afraid to touch.

Now that Dylan had pushed him this far, Aaron didn't feel guilty about fighting back. He'd risk everything just to prove he could pull that golden boy down from his throne.

Aaron kept his cool, but when he saw Simon's face twist in shock, he let out a cold, mocking laugh.

"You don't believe me? Think about it-why hasn't Dylan ever admitted he likes Clara? Because he's scared she'll hate him. I'll bet anything Clara knew something before she lost her memory. That's why things were so bad between them. But now she's forgotten, and Dylan's slipped right in. He acts all gentle and innocent, but when it comes to Clara, he's done plenty of dirty things."

Honestly, Aaron had never believed Dylan was as clean as he pretended. The longer a guy wears that perfect mask, the darker he is inside. Dylan might be able to keep up the act for now, but if Clara ever turned on him-really hated him— he'd probably lose it and take everyone down with him.

That's the real Dylan: a mad dog, and the only leash on him is Clara's hand. But with her amnesia, she's so slow to catch on. Dylan could drag her straight into the flames and she'd probably still be confused.

If there's anyone in the world who doesn't want Clara to get her memory back, it's Dylan. Every moment he spends with her now is stolen time.

Simon practically lit up at Aaron's words. He always knew Clara hated Dylan before, but he never understood why. He jumped out of his seat so suddenly he forgot they were still in the car, banged his head on the roof, and blurted out, voice full of excitement, "So what are we waiting for? Just tell Clara the truth! Tell her Dylan killed the person she loved most! She'll hate him-really hate him! That's what I want. If Dylan cares about her half as much as he pretends, this'll eat him alive!"

Dylan always acted like he was better than the rest of the Fergusons-so high and mighty. Well, let's see how he handles being ruined by the very thing he thought he controlled.

Aaron's lips curled into a slow smile

as he looked out the window, his

voice soft. "Simon, you've been cooped up too long. You're still way too hotheaded. Clara's lost her memory-we can't just dump everything on her. Right now she actually likes Dylan, thinks he's a good guy. All we need to do is show her who he really is. When her memory comes back, she won't need us to remind her how to hate him. You think Dylan losing his legs was just bad luck? He dared to show up at Clara's graduation, and paid for it. Then he ran off overseas to lick his wounds. He deserved every bit of it."

Thinking about it, Aaron's eyes burned with satisfaction-and something darker. The humiliation he'd suffered lately had nearly driven him insane. He'd grown up living in Dylan's shadow, believing that if he just worked hard enough, their grandfather would finally see him.

Those years abroad, Aaron had nearly lost his life more than once. He thought coming home would finally earn him a piece of the Ferguson Corporation. But reality was brutal: as long as Dylan was around, nobody would ever notice his effort.

All it took was one careless word from Dylan to wipe out everything Aaron had worked for.

He was done living with that. He wasn't going to accept it anymore.noveldrama