No Strings Attached

Chapter 27

Tears streamed down Heidi’s cheeks like a sudden summer storm. Her injured hand was raised before lan’s

eyes.

She had rushed to the hospital for treatment and then hurried back, all to catch Clara in the act, but she never expected to walk in on this scene.

lan knew about Clara’s miscarriage and still treated her with such kindness. All of Heidi’s carefully laid plans – had they crumbled to dust once again?

As tears cascaded down her face, Heidi moved closer to lan. But before Heidi could reach him, lan, gripping Clara’s hand, stepped back, avoiding Heidi.

His gaze was icy as he looked at Heidi, his voice devoid of emotion. “When exactly did she hurt you? She’s been

with me the whole time.”

Heidi was stunned by his words. She watched lan with disbelief, her eyes brimming with tears. “While Clara was in the restroom, she hurt me, lan. I swear it’s the truth. Check the security footage if you don’t believe me.” lan turned to a nearby waiter. “Bring up the security footage for me.”

Ten minutes later, the bar manager came over with an apology. “Mr. Hayes, I’m sorry, but the camera in that restroom is broken. We didn’t capture anything.”

Heidi was fuming. Pointing at Clara, she spat out her accusation. “This was Clara’s doing. She injured my hand and then destroyed the evidence. Just like that incident at work.”

Clara let out a soft chuckle. “Ms. Heidi, do you really think I’d use the same trick twice?”

“You have to believe me, lan. She hurt my hand,” Heidi persisted.

lan’s eyes darkened. “I believe in evidence. And since she was with me the whole time, how could she have possibly hurt you? Next time you try to frame someone, come up with a better story.” With that, he led Clara

away.

Heidi stamped her foot in anger. She had wanted to make a comeback, to teach Clara a lesson she wouldn’t forget. But with no video evidence and lan vouching for Clara, Heidi’s plan had failed. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

What kind of spell had Clara cast to make lan so blindly infatuated? Heidi swore she wouldn’t let this slide.

lan was about to head back to his private room with Clara when she pulled away.

“My father’s still at the hospital waiting for me. I need to go,” Clara said.

lan pulled her close, a frown creasing his forehead. “After all the help I just gave you, you’re just going to leave? Come inside for a bit. I’ll drive you back to the hospital later.”

“I don’t want to. Good bye.” she quipped, and left without looking back.

lan watched her defiant retreat, a smirk tugging at his lips. Was she getting a little too cocky?

He had only joked, and now she was taking it to heart. It seemed she needed a lesson.

Clara stormed out of the bar, feeling as if she was encased in ice. She wandered aimlessly until she found herself standing before the sanatorium, under the glow of a streetlight, looking at the quaint villa within its grounds.

Memories from seven years ago flooded over her.

It was here that she saw the once broken lan, and it was also here that she accompanied him step by step out of the darkness. Back then, she naively believed that lan was a gift from God, meant just for her.

14.11

They were each other’s redemption. They were the brightest light in each other’s lives.

So, when lan risked his life to save her three years ago, she quietly vowed in her heart that from that moment on, she would love this man for the rest of her life.

C