Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run novel Chapter 361

The meeting dragged on until ten at night, leaving everyone completely drained. Even Clara admitted that what Bradford Group desperately needed were profitable projects. Without them, the company would just keep limping along until it finally went under.

After all, there were thousands of employees depending on them, with huge monthly expenses. Once the money dried up, bankruptcy was inevitable.

When Clara finally got home, her eyes felt gritty, and she was beyond exhausted. All she wanted was to collapse into bed and sleep.

What Clara didn't realize was that someone had already set out in the dead of night to find Naomi.

After Johnny's funeral, Naomi had retreated to a secluded convent. It was a four-hour drive from the city, and someone had driven through the night, twisting the truth with every mile.

“Your beloved son was led astray by her,” the visitor claimed. “All those loyal executives who stood by Johnny were fired. Don’t you want to fight for justice? Don’t you want to see your son, who's been through so much?”

Naomi clutched her prayer beads, eyes closed, reciting her prayers. The visitor’s tone remained calm and deliberate.

“Naomi, you were Johnny’s first wife. People believe you. If you tell everyone that Clara did all this out of greed for the Bradford fortune, then Ryan could be saved. Everyone would pity him for being betrayed by his own sister.”

Naomi kept murmuring her prayers, hands clasped, undisturbed by the visitor’s words.

The visitor’s patience wore thin. “Naomi, I’ve been talking for ages, and you haven’t even opened your eyes. Isn’t that a bit rude?”

Naomi had shaved off her beautiful hair and wore simple, coarse clothes. When Johnny was alive, he spoiled her with designer clothes and fine dining. They had risen from poverty together, and he had never let her down.

She loved Johnny more than anything. Now that he was gone, life felt pointless. And after seeing Quinn's true colors, she couldn’t tell what was real anymore. The solitude of the convent brought her peace.

She lit some incense, bowed with respect, and finally spoke.

“I know why you’re here. I was foolish, blinded by my own biases, forgetting Clara is my daughter too. Our estrangement is my fault. I tried to make her life hard to make up for neglecting Quinn. But Quinn’s words were all lies. I’ve been deceived for so long, losing my husband, my father, and even my daughter. If my own daughter can deceive me, why should I believe you?”

Her voice was calm, as if she’d truly seen through life’s illusions.