Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run novel Chapter 30

Clara had just settled into her new apartment, ready to relax, when her phone buzzed with a notification from the office group chat. She was curious and opened it, only to find her colleagues gossiping about her. Someone had snapped a picture of her from behind.

[Why is Clara staying at a hotel?]

[She probably has a date tonight. Doesn’t she have a lot of guys around her?]

[She only got into the company because of Mr. Simon.]

Clara raised an eyebrow, realizing they had forgotten she was in the group. She quickly typed a response. [I have a lot of guys around me? News to me.]

The chat had been buzzing with speculation about how many times Clara might have cozied up to Simon to get into Ferguson Enterprises. It went dead silent at her unexpected message.

Clara directly tagged the person who had taken her picture. [Never stayed at a hotel in your life?]

The group chat fell into an even deeper silence. If it hadn’t been a work related chat, it might have disbanded from sheer embarrassment. Clara, unfazed, drifted off to sleep. She wasn’t the one gossiping behind people’s backs, after all.

The next day, Clara noticed the odd atmosphere in the department. She pretended to be oblivious, focusing on her tasks. After work, Megan called her, suggesting some retail therapy. Clara had recently bought a new house. Although she ordered some items online, she still needed to see some furniture in person.

The house was newly built, with fresh furnishings. She’d hired cleaners, and after picking up a few more items, she could move in that night.

When Megan heard about Clara’s fully paid $2 million house, her smile wavered for a moment. “Clara, weren’t you short on cash before? How did you suddenly afford all this?”

“Unexpected windfall,” Clara replied nonchalantly, eyeing a lamp. “Do you have anything more vintage?” she asked the shop assistant.

“Right this way.”

Clara found it amusing and made to leave. But the woman grabbed her wrist again, a threatening tone in her voice. “What’s your problem, Clara? Pay up. Do you want me to stop saying nice things about you to Simon? Hurry up. I gotta meet others for dinner.”

Clara’s expression darkened. “Let go.”

Standing behind her, Megan whispered, “She’s Simon’s aunt. You used to spend lavishly on this family, buying them all sorts of designer bags. Simon’s other aunt’s husband also had gambling debts that you covered.”

Hearing this, Clara felt a headache coming on. It took her a moment to chuckle, “Are you sure?”

So that was why she had been spending so freely on these leeches and why the Bradford family had started restricting her expenses.

Sonya, with her arms crossed, looked at her with arrogance. “Come on, where’s your card? You’re not short on cash.”