Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Over the next few days, Clara was on fire, selling four to five thousand orders a day, though her fever just wouldn't let up. When she finally wrapped up the last sale, everything around her seemed to blur like a watercolor painting left out in the rain.

Her legs felt like jelly, and she sank into a nearby chair. Every last apple was sold, and the farmers gathered to celebrate their success. Noticing Clara passed out, they hushed up immediately. Her cheeks were flushed red, and her lips cracked from the dryness. Today, she couldn't even muster up a voice, resorting to typing her responses to the flood of questions online. The farmers knew how hard she had been working. She was pushing herself to the limit, and they were genuinely moved by her dedication.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Clara finally came to. Addison was by her side, checking her forehead. "You're still burning up. We need to get you back to the South Ashford guesthouse so you can rest for a few days."

Clara nodded, reminding the young helpers around her, "I have a feeling South Ashford might hit a snag tonight. Keep things under wraps, and don't post anything online."

They looked at her, puzzled. "What kind of trouble is South Ashford in for?" one asked.

Clara gazed at the stunning sunset painting the hills. "They didn't bother checking customer addresses. It's been four days since people first ordered, and those in far-off places are likely getting their apples now. With the heat down south, the apples might have spoiled during shipping."

The farmers exchanged worried glances, and the reality sunk in. "Ms. Clara, why not leave your number with us? Once we get our payments, we'd love to send you a gift. And you don't have to rush back to South Ashford tonight. We've got a local guesthouse here. It's nice and cozy, with a private hot spring. The spring isn't open to the public. The old village chief built it ages ago for special guests, but it's been unused for years."

The mention of a hot spring was all Clara needed to hear. She decided to stay and recharge for a few days. She dragged her tired self to the guesthouse and found out a VIP had arrived earlier. The hot spring was reserved and sanitized. She thought her chance for a soak was dashed, but then she spotted Dylan.

A few men in suits trailed behind him. Her eyes brightened. "Mr. Dylan?" Dylan's gaze landed on the mud splattering her pants and her overall bedraggled state. Clara quickly wiped the dirt from her face. "Mr. Dylan, what brings you to North Ashford?"

"Inspection,” he replied coolly as Aiden pushed his wheelchair behind him.

Clara hurriedly caught up. "Did you book the whole place with the hot spring? Can we crash here, too?"

Addison, who was cautious around their boss, hung back, surprised by Clara's

nerve.

"Do as you please," Dylan shrugged.

Clara sighed in relief. She was beyond exhausted and too tired to even consider traveling. All she wanted was a soak in the hot spring and some much-needed sleep. She hadn't had a proper rest in days.

The other managers realized Dylan needed some quiet and found reasons to leave. Even Aiden slipped away. Clara quickly positioned herself behind Dylan's wheelchair, gently pushing it along. From her vantage point, she could catch a glimpse of his dark hair.noveldrama

Dylan, in his black suit, asked mildly, "Exhausted?" Clara didn't expect him to ask and stifled a yawn. "A bit. I haven't had a decent rest in days. But hey, I sold all the apples here. Does that mean I've wrapped up the support project?"

"Indeed," Dylan confirmed. "The managers were singing your praises at dinner." Clara felt like a pariah after losing her memory, but Dylan's words stopped her in her tracks. Relief washed over her, and tears pricked her eyes. "Really?"

Dylan turned to see her expression, his brow furrowing slightly. "You did well."

Clara tried to smile. "Back in South Ashford, I thought hard work would pay off, but they didn't seem to like me much. Sometimes, I wonder if I'm just cursed to be unpopular."

"It's their loss," Dylan remarked, noticing her disheveled hair. It seemed she hadn't had a moment to shower or wash up in days.

Clara became self-conscious, quickly smoothing her hair. "I look a mess, don't I? I'll go take a bath and wash my hair."

She wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but did Dylan almost smile? When she looked again, any hint of emotion had vanished from his eyes. It must have been a trick of the light-he never smiled. Despite his aloof demeanor, she couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't retaliated if he was in that wheelchair because of her. She'd heard that those who crossed Dylan never fared well. But now wasn't the time to ask. Their relationship hadn't reached that point yet.

Following the staff's guidance, Clara headed to her room. After a refreshing bath, she received a message from Addison.

Addison: [Clara, you'll never believe it! South Ashford's apples are causing a stir. Tons of people online are complaining about getting rotten apples!]

As expected, Quinn was only ever interested in short-term success. South Ashford's apple reputation would likely take a hit from this debacle, but Clara wasn't losing sleep over it. They had it coming.