Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

After Clara dropped off Justin, she tried calling Z, but he didn't answer. She was worried he might be sick again, so she sent him a bunch of texts. Normally, he'd reply right away, but this time it took him a whole half hour to get back to her with a simple: "Busy, got stuff going on."

Feeling uneasy, Clara called him again. When he picked up, his voice sounded a bit off. "Z, are you sick again?" she asked.

"No, it's just been crazy busy here at Nightshade," he replied.

Clara didn't know much about Nightshade, assuming it was like any regular company that gave time off for holidays. She took a deep breath, realizing she was parked outside a big supermarket.

"So, are we still on for dinner tomorrow? Think you'll have time?" she asked hopefully.

There was a pause, then a sigh from the other end. "We'll see. I'm really swamped."

A wave of disappointment washed over Clara. With Ryan spending the holiday with Sarah, and if Z was tied up too, she'd be ringing in the new year solo.

"Alright, focus on your stuff. Just call me if things change," she said, trying to sound upbeat.

She hung up and drove home. If she was celebrating alone, there was no need for festive groceries. As she was about to get out of the car, she noticed a jar in the backseat-an herbal mix from an old alternative medicine expert, perfect for making health-boosting chicken soup.

She almost forgot about it. Grabbing the jar, she headed upstairs. After setting it down in the kitchen, she headed to her room, thinking a hot shower was just what she needed.

1. nou

Meanwhile, Aaron was catching his breath, eyeing the man in front of him with a smirk. "Dylan, I've told everything. Seriously, all those photos are gone. Grandpa said we have to be there tomorrow night. If I vanish now, you'll have a hard time explaining things to him."

Dylan, unfazed, toyed with a USB drive, his demeanor relaxed. Aaron had just gotten out of the hospital and was eager to get back to his plans, but Dylan had tracked him down faster than he expected.

Aaron spat blood, clutching his wounded arm. He thought he knew Dylan well, but

clearly, he still had a lot to learn. He hadn't even seen Dylan's knife strike.

Fear gripped him, but it also fueled his determination. No wonder Dylan had kept him in check for so long-he was formidable. But Bylan had a weakness, and Aaron Wasn't going to let that slide. noveldrama

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Aaron grinned, shrugging. "The backups are all here. I told Grandpa I'm planning

to learn a lot from you about running the company, so disappearing isn't an option."

Mentioning Walter was his safety card, especially during the holidays, knowing Dylan wouldn't want to cause trouble now.

Dylan barely glanced at him, his eyes cold and dismissive, which stung Aaron's pride. He saw Dylan as his rival, yet Dylan seemed to think so little of him.

Aaron refused to accept that someone with a weakness could hold such power. Dylan handed the USB to Aiden, his tone indifferent. "Handle it."