Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run
Chapter 66

"Thanks, Dad."

As soon as Quinn held the banner, the journalists with them couldn't stop

snapping photos, heaping praise on her beauty. But the farmers quickly caught on and rushed over to grab the banner back.

"Who do you think you are?! What are you doing with our banner? It's meant for Clara!"

"That's just absurd! How could you even think of taking credit for Clara's work?"

Folks from North Ashford were known for their directness and had no patience for anyone trying to steal someone else's thunder.

A dozen government officials were momentarily puzzled and looked at Quinn. "Aren't you Miss Clara?"

Quinn's smile stiffened, and Johnny jumped in, "Clara? No way. It was Quinn who pitched in with the farming support. Clara only made a mess of things. You must've got the names mixed up."

The farmers were instantly livid. "What a load of rubbish! We've seen Miss Clara working hard ourselves. What do you mean we got the wrong name? You're trying to snatch her credit, aren't you?"

Snatching the banner back, they firmly placed it in Clara's hands, forming a protective circle around her while shooting suspicious looks at Johnny and Quinn.

A government official who recognized Johnny whispered, "Did you really bring two daughters for the farming aid project, Johnny?"

Johnny felt a knot in his stomach, sure that this crowd had confused the names. "Yeah."

"But we invited Clara, and that banner was for her. And as for Quinn, I heard she's been causing chaos down in South Ashford."

Johnny had hurried Quinn over for the spotlight, only to hear that the accolades were for the daughter he least valued. His expression turned a mix of frustration and embarrassment as he looked over at Clara, who was now surrounded by a crowd.

Clara didn't even glance back, acting as if she didn't know him.

The journalists quickly realized their blunder and made a beeline for Clara. With a warm smile, Clara answered a few questions and then posed for photos with the government officials, all eager to applaud her achievements.

Just then, the sound of a wheelchair approaching caught everyone's attention as Dylan arrived, flanked by another group.

The reporters quickly tucked their cameras away.

Both parties exchanged handshakes, and they dived into discussions about developing North Ashford and a confidential government project, which were all now under the wing of Ferguson Corporation.

Someone remarked, "Clara's really outdone herself. Plenty of folks have come to North Ashford over the years, but none have been as well-loved as her. Mr. Dylan, you've got a real gem of an employee."

Originally, the covert project's contracts were meant to be split among several companies, but Clara's impressive work in just a week led the top brass to hand everything over to Ferguson Corporation.

The crowd buzzed with celebration around Clara, careful not to disturb Dylan.

As the farmers took more photos with Clara, they inadvertently stepped back onto Quinn's high-end shoes.

Her cheeks flushed with anger, feeling more humiliated than ever. The farmers were unfazed. "Could you please step aside? You're getting in the way of our photo session with Clara."