Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run novel Chapter 376

A string of makeshift cranberry beads, strung together with a bit of DIY effort—wearing this outside would definitely turn heads, and not in a good way, right?

Dylan kept silent, but out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Clara crouched by the window, carefully picking through the little red berries. She had already picked out her own string and slipped it onto her wrist. As she stood, a twinge of numbness shot through her legs from staying in that position too long. Her fair skin was flawless, and the crimson beads on her wrist only made it look even more like porcelain.

She'd planned to meet Dylan at seven, and as time crept closer, she waited patiently. An hour later, Dylan and Jackson finally appeared at the entrance. Jackson's eyebrows knitted together when he saw her, but Clara instinctively took her place behind Dylan. "Mr. Dylan, are we heading to Moonlight now?" she asked.

Dylan nodded slightly, and she quickly followed him into the car. Aiden was at the wheel, with Jackson lounging in the backseat. After a moment of hesitation, Clara decided to offer her gift. "Mr. Dylan, this is for you. A formal apology for the situation with Sarah."

The gift was a pair of cufflinks from a luxury brand, evident from the elegant little box. Jackson, sitting beside Dylan, let out a mocking laugh. "Word is, the Bradford family’s been tight on cash lately. You're really pulling out all the stops, huh?"

Dylan glanced at the box but didn’t immediately take it. Instead, his eyes drifted to her wrist, where the cranberry bracelet glimmered like fiery little gems. Clara's hand hovered in the air, awkwardly waiting. Just as she was about to say something to break the tension, Dylan took the box, placing it aside with a nonchalant air.

Jackson, enjoying the scene, chimed in, "Dylan, count yourself lucky. At least you didn’t end up with that cheap bracelet." Turning to Clara, he added, "Who’s the lucky recipient of that bracelet, anyway?"

Clara had a hunch and pursed her lips, "You don’t understand emotions."

Jackson might have looked like a playboy, but there was a time when he was all heart. He once loved a girl deeply, but his father, Walter, had insisted on marrying him off, forcing him to break up with his first love. He spent three years abroad, only to hear that she had married someone else. He returned, full of resentment, and immediately sought out a woman to sleep with, trying to rebel against the forced marriage. But, surprisingly, he found a good match in his current partner.

"How am I supposed to understand emotions?" Jackson scoffed. "With women, if she's a player, be straightforward; if she's innocent, spice things up. You just do the opposite. I don’t need to understand feelings. Most of the time, just throw some money around, and they come running."