Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run novel Chapter 413

Ryan couldn’t bring himself to meet Sarah’s gaze. Panic had him in its grip. He avoided looking at Clara too, his head hanging low, the picture of defeat.

Clara had seen this side of him too often, and it only added fuel to her frustration. “Ryan!” she snapped, grabbing the front of his shirt and making him look up. “Tell me what’s going on in your head. If you’re choosing Sarah, then I wish you both the best.”

Ryan shook his head, tears spilling down as he bit his lip hard. Sarah was also in tears, standing beside him. “Ryan, are you really going to leave me? If so, I’d rather just die!”

With that, she got up and ran headlong into the wall without a second thought. The impact left a bloody smear, and she nearly passed out.

Ryan jumped up, startled. “Sarah!” he cried. Blood streaked across her forehead as she looked up at him, tears still flowing. “Ryan, I swear I won’t be a burden. I want to keep this baby. If I can’t, I’ll die with it.”

Ryan held her tightly, his eyes pleading as they turned to Clara. “Clara…”

His voice shook, and his hands trembled as he cradled Sarah. Clara found herself questioning everything. How had things gotten so messed up? Everything was fine when Dad was around.

As she made her way to the door, the guard stopped her. “Ms. Clara, if I may… Mr. Ryan tried to reach out to you so many times. You didn’t answer, and that’s when Sarah came into the picture. You kind of gave her the opening. We all think you’ve been too hard on Mr. Ryan.”

It hit her then—her neglect had paved a path for Ryan’s downfall. Her coldness had let Sarah in. It was all on her.

She rubbed her temples, and even the guard seemed pained to see her this way. “Ms. Clara, you and Mr. Ryan are family. You should show more understanding. He leans on you, trusts you. He’d do anything for you, even if it meant handing you a knife in your darkest hour. As the oldest, you need to guide him. He’s not ready to face the world alone. Your distance only confuses him. I’ll leave it at that.”

Clara forced a smile, got in her car, and told the guard, “I get it. Thanks for pointing it out.”