No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)

Chapter 68

Clara's eyelids fluttered down gently as consciousness began to fade, her body sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss of darkness.

After what felt like an eternity, warmth enveloped her, and she could sense the steady rhythm of life being breathed into her underwater.

Slowly, Clara opened her eyes to lan's chiseled features, etched with concern and fear. She didn't even have the strength to mock herself anymore. Consciousness slipped through her fingers like sand. lan cradled her face, tirelessly administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while patting her cheeks gently, but to no avail. He dragged her towards the surface, only for their legs to be ensnared by the muddy grasp below. Both of their bodies were trapped in the mud, and trying to struggle out was too difficult.

As Clara sank deeper and deeper, lan pulled her hand hard, trying to drag her out. He kept telling himself. "Clara, you can't die on me! If you dare, I'll drag you back from the afterlife myself."

Just then, a lifeline appeared before him. He seized the rope and heaved, pulling Clara from the murky depths. With one arm around her and the other clutching the rope, he swam towards the shore. Once on land, lan laid Clara down and pressed on her chest relentlessly. "Clara, wake up," he shouted, "Clara, come back to me!"

But his calls seemed to fade into oblivion. He leaned down to breathe life into her once more, and as his lips touched her cold ones, tears blurred his vision. He was terrified she might never awaken. Just then, someone suddenly shouted, "The doctor's here!"

lan snapped to attention, commanding, “Save her, by any means necessary."

The doctor knelt beside Clara, examining her eyes with a grave expression, "Mr. Hayes, I'll

do everything I can."

lan, frantic, grabbed the doctor's collar, "If you can't save her, your life is on the line too."

"Mr. Hayes, please let go. Any more delays, and it might be too late."

Several minutes later, Clara coughed up water, yet remained unconscious. lan carried her to the ambulance.

Outside the emergency room, he stood rooted to the spot, waves of dread churning within him.

Heidi arrived, clutching his arm, tears streaming, "lan, I didn't push Clara. She fell on her

own, jealous of our work trip together. She did this for your sympathy, lan, you have to believe me. I didn't push her."

Her grandmother Kayla came too, pleading for her daughter, "Yes, lan, Heidi is innocent. How could she harm anyone? It's Clara's trick. She's the cunning one, trying to win you back with her ploys." lan's eyes, dark and cold, turned towards them, "She wouldn't stay by my side even if I begged. Why would she need to resort to such schemes?"

"lan, do you not trust me?"

"What do you think?"

Heidi watched lan with teary eyes. She was about to explain something when the door to the ER opened.

lan rushed to the doctor, "How is she?"

The doctor frowned, "She has thalassophobia. Weren't you aware?"

lan shook his head, his voice husky, "I didn't know. Is it serious?

The doctor sighed, "She's had a traumatic experience in the water before. Just the sight of it can trigger her, let alone falling in Physically, she's stable, but the psychological trauma is severe. She'll need her loved ones to help her recover"