Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

When Clara woke up in the middle of the night, it felt like she was lying next to a furnace. Instinctively, she reached over to Ryan and touched his forehead-he was burning up!

"Ryan!" she called out, but he just lay there, lost in a feverish haze. Panic set in as Clara grabbed her phone and dialed the emergency services. The earliest they could arrive was at dawn, so she kept feeding the fire, trying to keep him warm.

Even in his state, Ryan was restless, curling up and mumbling. Once, he opened his eyes just enough to ask, "Who are you?" His confusion tugged at her heart, but she had to stay calm. Using a strip of cloth, she wrapped some snow and gently placed it on his forehead to cool him down.

His face was flushed, and his hands were reaching out aimlessly, almost touching the fire. Clara quickly tied his hands to prevent any accidents. "I'm not dealing with this now. We'll talk when we're back in New York," she said firmly.noveldrama

Ryan blinked, struggling to focus. "Are you really here for me, or is it all an act? Is it about the Bradford fortune, Clara? Or whatever your real name is?" His words were pained, more than she'd ever seen him before.

Taking a deep breath, Clara continued to care for him, brushing off his feverish ramblings. As the rescue team arrived at six, Ryan kept asking if she truly cared. She let his words float by, knowing it was just the fever talking.

Once they landed in New York, Clara rushed Ryan to the hospital. The doctors

were in a frenzy, noting his poor mental state and the high fever likely to last days. Clara spent the afternoon in the hallway, her heart sinking when she asked, "Doctor, will he be okay?"

The doctor glanced at her. "It's hard to say, but he needs family care."

"I am his family. I'll stay with him," she insisted. Just then, Sarah barged in, having somehow heard the news. Her face twisted in shock at the sight of Clara, but she quickly moved to Ryan's side, tears streaming down her face.

"Can you stop crying? He needs rest," Clara said, feeling the headache coming

on.

Sarah's glare was filled with anger. "Clara, did you do this on purpose? You want him gone so you can take everything, don't you? You vile woman!" Her insults were sharp, her eyes burning with fury.

Clara's patience wore thin. She pressed the call button for security, having Sarah escorted out. Sarah's parting words were venomous. "Clara you should've died out there! This is all your doing. You want everything the Bradfords have!"

Ignoring her, Clara stayed by Ryan's side. Outside, Sarah was livid, calling Megan in a fit of rage. "Megan, you said Clara wouldn't come back. Why is she fine, and Ryan's the one hurt? If anything happens to him, expose you!"

Megan, irritated, couldn't figure out how Clara escaped. Had Dylan intervened? Sarah's threats continued. "Find a foolproof plan, or I'll tell Clara everything!"

Megan, calm as ever, examined her nails with a malicious glint. "Sarah, didn't you say this was all to get back at Clara? Or have feelings for Ryan changed that? He's nothing compared to Dylan."

Sarah flushed, stumbling over her words. "I'm pregnant. I need to think of the child's father. I don't want Ryan hurt, nor do I want Clara in control. Make sure Clara's gone in a week, or I can't promise I won't expose you."

Megan smirked, seeing Sarah as an easy pawn. "Relax, Sarah. I'll handle it. You're right-Clara's only after the Bradford fortune. Ryan, naive as he is, might see her as kind even in death. But you can save him."

Sarah's determination flared. Yes, she could save Ryan. She wouldn't let Clara harm him.

bel.n

After hanging up, she touched her belly. Being pregnant with Ryan's child changed things. Initially a plan for revenge, she found herself genuinely wanting to marry him and start a family. Given her background, marrying into the Bradford family was a dream-and she wouldn't let anything ruin it.