Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Ryan stepped out onto the street and flagged down a cab; he hadn't driven himself today. Once inside, he checked his phone. He had just left the guest room when a text came in.

"The clues about that man can be found if you return home."

Ryan didn't even need to reply to know who it was about—Clara's mysterious boyfriend. He wasn't a fan of this so-called boyfriend, so he was set on finding proof to help Clara break things off sooner rather than later.

First, Ryan headed back to his place to grab his car. To his surprise, Sarah was still there waiting for him, her eyes shimmering with tears as soon as she saw him. "Ryan, why are you back so late?"

He was a bit annoyed with her earlier actions, but seeing her fighting sleep to wait for him softened his mood, so he held back from saying anything harsh.

Sarah immediately switched to a more cautious tone. "I know I messed up. She's your sister, and I won't treat her like that again. Please don't be mad."

With the child she was carrying, Ryan couldn't just dismiss her completely. As expected, his attitude softened after hearing her words.

"Clara is not just my sister; she'll be your sister too. I've warned you before, and I don't want this happening again."

A flicker of malice crossed Sarah's eyes, but she forced a smile and nodded slowly. "Alright, I get it. Let's get some rest. It's late."

Ryan grabbed his gloves, speaking quickly, "I have something to take care of. I'll be back on New Year's Eve. Get some rest and don't wait up for me. Take care of yourself."

Sarah held his hand, puzzled. "It's almost New Year's. What's so urgent that you need to leave now? Can't it wait?"

Ryan saw no point in hiding it. As he changed his shoes, he said, "I haven't met Clara's boyfriend yet. I'm worried she might get hurt, so I need to check him out."

Again, it was about Clara! Sarah's hand clenched at her side. She had hoped to use these days to grow closer to Ryan.

Her teeth ground together, but she managed a strained smile and followed him. "Let me come with you. It's late, and I'll worry if you go alone. Ryan, I really care about you."

"You should stay here. Ask the cook to make something special for New Year's Eve. I'll be back to join you, and Clara will be here too."noveldrama

Sarah's forced smile was fading fast. Why did Clara always have to be in the picture?

Fine, if Ryan was leaving, she'd use this chance to make Clara disappear, ensuring no one would interfere with her and Ryan's future together.

Besides, she hadn't forgotten that seducing Ryan was part of her plan to get back at Clara.

"Alright, be careful. I'll call you every day."

Ryan nodded, grabbed his car keys, and left.

As soon as he was gone, Sarah called Megan, filling her in on Ryan's departure

and asking, "Could we hire someone to take care of Clara?"

On the other end, Megan paused, a sly smile spreading across her face.

"Of course. Since Ryan won't be back for a few days, call Clara the day after tomorrow and tell her Ryan's gone missing. Oh, and if Ryan hasn't left yet, you should mess with his phone-block Clara's number. That way, she won't reach him and will naturally go looking for him, giving us the perfect chance to act."

A bright gleam appeared in Sarah's eyes. Megan was truly clever to come up with such a plan.