Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Aiden rubbed his forehead, exhaustion etched in every line of his face. He hadn't eaten in three days, barely leaving his post by the door even once.

Now, with nowhere left to turn, he just sank into a chair, defeated.

The doctor let out a long sigh. "Maybe let Mrs. Ferguson try. If he hears her voice, maybe he'll feel a little better, even if it's just a bit."

Aiden was running on fumes. He'd been on edge for days, and now that he'd hit a wall, all that tension just evaporated. He slumped back, the cold chair biting through his clothes.

He massaged his temples and took a deep breath. "You don't know their history. The CEO's breakdown this time—it's all because of Mrs. Ferguson."

The doctor adjusted his glasses. "Well, then there's nothing more we can do. We wait. If we're lucky, he'll wake up. If not... you'd better get ready to take over Ferguson Corporation."

It took Aiden a few minutes to pull himself together before he finally reached for his phone, planning to call Palm Bay.

But the phone was dead.

He grabbed a charger. The second the phone powered on, it started ringing.

"Aiden, Mrs. Ferguson took Mrs. Clara away three days ago," a panicked staff member blurted out. "She threatened us-said she'd rather die than let us stop her. We couldn't do anything."

Aiden felt like something heavy just crashed down on his chest. He wanted to run out the door, but he couldn't just leave the CEO alone...

He walked back into the room. If Mrs. Ferguson had taken Clara, there was no point in going to Palm Bay. Mrs. Ferguson only listened to the CEO.

He looked at the man lying motionless in the hospital bed, and couldn't hold back anymore.

"Sir, Mrs. Clara's been gone for three days. If you don't wake up now, you may never see her again."

He stood there, waiting. Ten agonizing minutes ticked by.

Finally, Dylan's lashes fluttered. He slowly opened his eyes.

Relief flooded Aiden. He practically ran to get the doctor.

Dylan pushed himself up, still pale as a ghost, and threw off the blanket. "Let's go home."

Aiden was so relieved he almost cheered. He quickly brought the wheelchair.

But instead of Palm Bay, they went straight to the Ferguson family estate.

Mrs. Ferguson had clearly been expecting them, but when she saw Dylan's face, worry flickered in her eyes.

"Dylan, what happened to you? Let me get the doctor to check you over. You look terrible."

Dylan scanned the old house, his voice calm, almost too calm. "Mother, where's Clara?"

Mrs. Ferguson started twisting the prayer beads in her hands. "I was taking her to the temple that day, to pray, to cleanse her soul. But

lou

halfway there, a group blocked us-they were after her, and they had guns. I passed out and didn't wake up until yesterday. That's all I know."

Dylan started coughing, eyes turning red. He turned to Aiden. "Find out what happened."

Aiden nodded.

Mrs. Ferguson took a deep breath. "Dylan, if Clara really is dead, you should start planning your wedding to Tara."

Dylan's hand rested on the wheelchair, his gaze dropping to the wedding ring on his finger.

"Mother, I'll do whatever else you ask. But not this. And from now on, don't ever set foot in Palm Bay again."

Mrs. Ferguson's face twisted in disbelief. She jumped to her feet, completely forgetting her prayer beads.

"You! Dylan, do need to remind you

again? You only have this position

because your brother made it possible! If one Clara can bring you down do you think you deserve

everything he did for you? You saw him not long ago-doesn't any of it matter to you?"

"It doesn't."

He looked up a tired smile on his lips. "Mother, I mean it. The Ferguson family, my brother, all of it-none of it matters compared to Clara if she's gone, I won't keep living either. So you'd better hope she's still alive. Otherwise, the Ferguson heir will have to be

someone else."

Mrs. Ferguson collapsed onto the sofa, her prayer beads snapping and scatteringnoveldrama

across the floor with a sharp clatter.

She went pale, like she'd just heard the end of the world. Her lips trembled. "You're insane. Absolutely insane. Do you even hear yourself? You'd choose death for a woman? You've... you've completely disappointed me.”

Dylan turned his wedding ring, his eyes softening as he stared down at it. "Ten days. If she isn't found, get ready for my funeral."