Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run
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 replace 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."

They were in a high-end mall, surrounded by luxury brands. Each item cost a small fortune. Clara purchased a lamp, left details of her address, and arranged for it to be delivered. Megan trailed behind, watching as Clara bought a $5,000 lamp without a second thought. Her fingers curled slightly.

"Did Simon give you the money? Or someone else?" Megan probed.

Clara picked out a few more items and arranged for their delivery. She was excited about settling into her new home. "Neither. It's a long story. Want to check out the new place later?"

Megan forced a smile. "Sure, I've never seen a $2 million house."

Many people spend their entire lives working in the Capital and can't even afford an apartment. As Clara passed a designer handbag store, she didn't pause. She preferred canvas totes over bags that cost a small fortune.

But then an excited voice called out, and someone grabbed her wrist. "Clara! It's been ages. Get me this bag, will you? It's only $30,000, and I really like it."

The woman was in her forties, well-kept but with a calculating glint in her eyes. Clara frowned, gently removing the woman's hand. "And you are?"

Sonya's expression soured, and she scoffed. "Oh, come on, stop joking around. Just pay for it already."

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."