Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run novel Chapter 269

"Go ahead and get some sleep; I need to have a quick word with him."

Just as Clara began to slip out of bed, she felt his arms wrap around her waist, holding her back. "Don't go."

His voice was low and had a touch of sadness, like something was weighing on him.

Clara was a bit puzzled but kept her tone calm and steady. "Z, you should get some rest."

He slowly released her, lying back down without a word, his face half-buried in the blanket. It was hard to tell if he was upset or just lost in thought.

Clara couldn’t help but feel a tug at her heartstrings. He had a knack for that.

She had planned to head out and catch up with Simon, but now she just couldn't bring herself to leave. Instead, she snuggled back into bed.

"Feeling a bit down? You seem a little off tonight," she asked gently.

Z turned to face her, pulling her into a tight embrace. Clara couldn't quite figure out what had upset him so much, but she could feel his need to be close.

She was wide awake, having taken a nap earlier, so she decided to indulge in some light-hearted gossip with him.

"Z, let's chat for a bit. Tell me about your life. Is anyone giving you a hard time at the club?"

"No one's giving me trouble," he replied quickly, then paused before adding, "At least, not anymore."

It seemed like he had been through some rough times before.

Clara turned to him, playfully poking his chest. "Really? You’re quite the tough guy now, huh?"

Her words were teasing, and he caught her finger with a quick reflex. "You're the only one who dares."

Clara felt a bit wronged. When had she ever given him a hard time?

Just as she was about to close her eyes, he said, "Tell me about your job, your boss, your colleagues."

"My colleagues aren’t worth mentioning. As for my boss, he's pretty cutthroat."

As soon as she said "cutthroat," the atmosphere got a little tense.

Clara, oblivious, snuggled closer to him. "We're from different worlds. I even dreamt of him at the hospital this afternoon and woke up in a cold sweat."