Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

He kissed her for a while, his mood lifting with every second.

"Then just don't meet up with him again, okay? It's not like I did it on purpose- you're the one who always makes me jealous."

He kept kissing her, pulling her onto the couch and wrapping his arms around her waist.

"This couch really needs to go, you know. It's so uncomfortable. Next time, I'll ask my assistant to get you a new one. My back always hurts when I sit here too long."

His hands slid up slowly, his intentions written all over his face.

He was only twenty-three-right at that age where he couldn't get enough of this kind of thing.

Scarlette, though, was almost thirty. For women her age, work came first.

She turned away, already calming down.

Nicholas wasn't having it. He ran his hands around her waist, pouting, "What's wrong, big sis? Not in the mood?"

Scarlette stood up and walked to the bedroom.

Nicholas, still riding the high from just now, followed right behind her.

She picked up her pajamas, ready to head to the bathroom, but Nicholas stuck out an arm to stop her.

"Let's shower after."

Scarlette let out a long breath, her voice softening. "I have to be up at five tomorrow. There's so much work to do. Can't you let me get a decent night's sleep? You never know when to stop once you get going."

Seeing her give in a little, Nicholas didn't push further. He shrugged off his already-ruined suit jacket. “Let's just shower together."

Scarlette frowned but didn't argue.noveldrama

They spent forty minutes in the shower. Nicholas didn't get everything he wanted, but he still got plenty, and afterward he sprawled out on the bed, totally satisfied.

Scarlette grabbed her laptop and started working.

Nicholas, bored, pulled out his phone and scrolled through old photos.

He and Scarlette had known each other for over twenty years. There were endless pictures of them together.

Scarlette typed away at her laptop, fingers flying.

Nicholas leaned against the headboard, and every time he found a new photo, he'd lean over and steal a kiss from her.

"Hey, do you remember this one? My birthday. You didn't want to come home from school. It was pouring, and I went to find you."

Scarlette was busy, but she glanced over when he spoke, then went right back to typing.

The photo was from her high school days. Living at school had been her first taste of real freedom-at least there, she didn't have to constantly cater to Nicholas. fo

At school, she could focus on what she wanted to study, without Nicholas always interrupting and dragging her into his silly games.

The Greenard family treated her well, giving her the best schooling, clothes,

everything her only job was to keep Nicholas happy.

Nicholas stared at the picture, his expression softening.

Back then, Scarlette boarded at school and was always busy-so busy she didn't come home for his birthday.

He'd waited at home for hours, hoping she'd come back to blow out the candles with him. The housekeeper tried to comfort him.

"Young Master, Miss Scarlette has a lot of homework. She called and said she won't be home tonight. Why not blow out the candles first?"

"She's going out of town for a competition this weekend. She'll spend time with you next month."

Of course Nicholas refused. He stubbornly waited until seven, even after the Greenards got home from work and the whole family gathered around to sing happy birthday. He didn't smile once-because Scarlette wasn't there.

"Mom, where's Scarlette? Is she really that busy? She promised she'd never miss my birthday."

"Nick, she's in high school now. It's tough, and she's doing great. Didn't she say she'd spend time with you next month?"

Nicholas was furious. He left everyone and stormed out.

"Nick!"

The Greenards panicked. It was raining hard outside, and they quickly sent the driver after him.

Scarlette's school was pretty far from home-a distance she'd worked hard for. That night, she stayed in the library until nine. When she left, the rain was pouring down.

She was walking with a classmate, talking about the upcoming competition. The teachers liked both of them and were hoping they'd bring home a trophy.

Her classmate walked her to the

dorm, sharing an umbrella. She was

just about to ask about a question from the practice test when she spotted a small figure standing alone outside the girls' dorm

building.

Scarlette thought she was seeing things.

"Nicholas?"

Nicholas had been waiting there for an hour. As soon as he saw her, his eyes went red.

"Scarlette!"

He was still shorter than her back then, completely soaked, and he ran over and wrapped his arms around her waist.