Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run novel Chapter 218

In the hospital, Johnny was finally wheeled out, his ordeal merely a result of a stressful shock. Clara couldn't help but notice his temples speckled with grey, a clear sign of how deeply the incident had shaken him. She stood quietly by his bedside, a wave of regret washing over her.

Johnny lay there, staring blankly at the stark white ceiling for what seemed like ages before breaking the silence, "Has Quinn come back yet?"

A whole night had slipped by, and no one had gone to fetch Quinn. Naomi had cried until her eyes were swollen.

"You fainted out of nowhere; I couldn't think of anything else. Besides, the kidnapping was staged. She'll probably find her way back on her own. How are you feeling now? Is it serious?" Naomi's voice was laced with worry.

Johnny's state was fragile, as if he might slip away at any moment. He closed his eyes, taking several deep breaths before reopening them to focus on Clara. Clara stiffened momentarily, then hurried to his side, her lips moving soundlessly before she finally managed to speak, "Dad."

Johnny lifted his hand, intending to give her a comforting pat on the head, but let it fall back down, as if the effort was too much. Clara's eyes stung with tears she refused to shed, her heart twisting in pain.

After a long pause, she reassured him, "Don't worry about the company, Dad. I'll make sure we get that project back. The Bradford family business will pull through this rough patch." During the night of Johnny's unconsciousness, Clara had pieced together everything she knew, realizing just how critical this project was. It wasn't just about making a comeback for the Bradford family; it was a fight for survival. The company's finances were already in the red, and Johnny had been bearing the weight alone, keeping everyone in the dark. Naomi, Quinn, and even Clara herself had been spending without restraint, unaware of the pressure on their family's backbone, who finally buckled under the strain.

Johnny remained silent. His throat too sore to speak, and he didn’t know what to say even if he could. The tense quiet was suddenly disrupted when Ryan walked in, who had learned from the household staff about the previous night's drama. Ryan’s heart twisted the sight of his father. Johnny seemed to have aged twenty years overnight.