Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Charles took a deep breath, then walked straight over to Clara and gently

grabbed her hand.

"Clara, I'm just going to be real with you. You're not actually my sister, but from

now on, you're as good as. If anything ever happens, call me your brother. If

you're in trouble, I'll be the first one there for you, no matter what."

Clara looked at him, her eyes wide with confusion, then surprise. "Brother, what's

wrong?"

Charles looked into her clear, innocent eyes and felt a sharp ache in his chest.

She really didn't understand. In her mind, she was still just a ten-year-old kid.

He tried to smile. "Nothing's wrong. But listen, we can't go out tomorrow. I want

you to memorize my phone number, okay? This one's special-only my big

brother and Mitch know it. If you need anything, call me. No matter where I am, I'll

come find you."

She nodded and reached up to wipe a tear off his cheek. "Brother, why are you

crying?"

Charles let out a shaky laugh and waved her off. "Hey, guys can cry too. It's not a

big deal."

Clara didn't quite get it. "So... are we still playing cards tonight?"

He shook his head. "No, not tonight. I'm taking you to see the stars instead."

She nodded, letting him lead her up to the rooftop.

There, a helicopter sat waiting, sleek and ready to go.

A doctor hurried over, worry written on his face. "Charles, you've been running

yourself ragged for two days. Can you please just rest for a bit?"

But Charles couldn't sit still. He knew Richard would be calling again tomorrow-

he felt like every minute mattered.

"Come on, sis, let's go see the stars."

The doctor, seeing he couldn't change Charles's mind, turned to Clara instead.

"Ms. Clara, you should get some rest. Your body still needs time to heal."

Clara saw the concern in the doctor's eyes and glanced back at Charles.

"Brother, can we just rest tonight? I don't really like this helicopter."

Charles hopped down from the landing pad, looking worried. "You don't like it?

What kind do you want? I can get it for you just say the word."

She thought for a moment, remembering the sparkling gemstones they'd dig up

together in their games. "I like the ones with jewels on them."

The doctor blinked in disbelief. But before he could say anything, Charles was

already dialing his phone.

"Hey, big bro, yeah, I need those

gemstones. Can you get them set

into a helicopter? I want a lot-like

really a lot. You've got your own

mines, right? Why can't you do it? I

need them now. Send someone to

get it done."

He hung up and turned to Clara with a grin. "Don't worry, sis. If there's one thing

your brother's got plenty of, it's gemstones."

Clara nodded, completely innocent at ten, she had no idea what those jewels

were actually worth.noveldrama

The doctor, listening to their conversation, felt like he was about to lose his mind.

His phone buzzed-a call from overseas.

He stepped away to answer, keeping

his voice low. The person on the

other end sounded all business

"Why does Charles suddenly want

so many gemstones?"

"Sir, it's the little sister he picked up. She says only a helicopter covered in jewels

is pretty enough."

For the first time in his twenty-nine years, the man on the other end was left

speechless.

The doctor rubbed his temples. He'd

been with Charles for years and

knew all about his childlike ways.

Now there was someone else willing

to go along with his antics-who

knew what kind of chaos would

follow.

The man sighed and loosened his tie. "Fine. If he wants them, let him have them.

I'll send someone over in the morning."

Money was never the problem-not in this family. The only thing that mattered

was Charles's happiness.

And Charles was right. They had more gemstones than they knew what to do

with.

If money could solve it, it wasn't really a problem.

The doctor just shook his head. With the eldest brother's approval, there was

nothing more to say.