Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Palm Bay, the capital.

Aiden paced nervously by the door, his eyes darting toward the doctor as he stepped out. “Still nothing?" he asked, voice tight with worry.

The doctor let out a sigh, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Aiden, I told you before he can't keep taking that medication. He's way over the limit. Now the side effects are starting to show. He'll probably have hallucinations-hearing and seeing things that aren't there."

Aiden's guilt was written all over his face. Two days ago, the boss had collapsed out of nowhere, and he hadn't woken up since.

Last night, someone mentioned a cottage on the outskirts got bombed. But in Palm Bay, no one really paid attention-everyone was too focused on Dylan, just hoping he'd wake up soon.

Aiden felt completely lost. The boss had been in rough shape for a while, barely holding it together with medication. No one expected things to get this bad after Mrs. Ferguson walked out. Now, not even the pills were helping.

"So what do we do now?" he asked quietly.

The doctor glanced at Dylan, lying motionless on the bed. "We wait. When he wakes up, two pills at a time, no more. I gave him a bottle meant to last, but he finished it in four days. It's no wonder he passed out."

Aiden just nodded, closing the door softly behind him as the doctor left.

He'd barely made it downstairs when someone rushed over. "That cottage really was bombed last night."noveldrama

Aiden almost laughed at how ridiculous it sounded. Who would go all the way out there to target that place? It was in the middle of nowhere.

A knot formed in his stomach. He had a bad feeling about this, but until Dylan woke up, there was nothing he could do.

Dylan finally came to at sunset, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Aiden was right there, relief flooding his face when he saw Dylan's eyes flutter open. "Sir, you're awake!"

Dylan's collapse had been so sudden, Aiden could hardly believe he was finally up.

Moving slowly, Dylan propped himself up and reached instinctively for the bedside drawer.

Aiden quickly stepped in. "I've got your meds. Two pills, no more. That last episode was from taking too much. If you keep this up, you're going to start seeing and hearing things. Please don't take any more for now. And... the cottage outside the city was bombed."

Dylan leaned back against the headboard, his expression cool, almost indifferent. "Alright."

Aiden was surprised-he'd expected Dylan to freak out. That place was supposed to be important.

Dylan turned his gaze to the window. He looked before. "Maybe it's better

pale but steadier the

Let it disappear for good c

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There was nothing left in that grave anyway. The only thing that mattered had been in his care for a long time.

He opened his fist, revealing a tightly clenched ring. Even when unconscious, he hadn't let it go.

After staring at the ring for a long moment, Dylan stood up. "Have those people shown themselves again?"

They'd always been keeping tabs on his legs. With the Ferguson family in chaos, Aiden had expected them to make a move by now.

"I sent them away. They were just testing the waters. Everyone thinks you'll never walk properly again, so for now, they're not doing anything serious."

Dylan got up and headed for the shower, grabbing his robe on the way.

When he emerged, he was back in a crisp suit, pressing a gentle kiss to the ring before slipping it into his pocket. "Let's go. It's time to bring her home."

She's been out there long enough, he thought. It was time.

Aiden blinked in surprise. He'd expected Dylan to deal with the cottage first, but apparently, that could wait.

Honestly, he was relieved. With Mrs. Ferguson back, maybe Dylan wouldn't need so much medication. That could only be a good thing.

"But sir, I'm worried someone's trying to set you up for what happened at the cottage."

Dylan's color had returned, and he gave a small, knowing smile. Of course he'd thought about that.

But to be fair, they weren't exactly wrong. He had wanted that man to disappear- permanently.

Once they were in the car, Aiden punched in the address, then hesitated. "What if Mrs. Ferguson doesn't want to come back?"

Clara had left without looking back-not even a hint of regret. Aiden couldn't blame her for being stubborn.

Dylan leaned his head against his hand, eyes fixed on the scenery passing by. "Then she'll just have to see a different side of me."