No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)

Chapter 72

"Clara, hand it over to me."

"lan, haven't you hurt me enough already? Why do you insist on ripping open old wounds for all to see?"

The more she protested, the more lan's curiosity burned. Ignoring Clara's objections, he wrested the USB drive from her grip and plugged it into the computer.

As Heidi's image appeared on the screen, Leonora's voice pierced the air. "Heidi! What's wrong? lan, Heidi's passed out, get her to the doctor, quick!"

lan spun around to see Heidi sprawled on the floor, her face deathly pale. He knew that. fainting could mean a serious turn for someone with depression. But if he left now, he feared the truth might slip away forever.

and Just as lan was about to call for medical help, Leonora's voice rose again, urgent panicked. "lan, hurry! Heidi's convulsing, she's frothing at the mouth. If we don't get her treated now, she could die. Let's deal with this later. Clara's not dead. Why should we obsess over Heidi when it could cost a life? No one can afford that."

Sensing the dire situation, lan swiftly picked Heidi up. He glanced at Clara with a promise in his eyes, "I'll be back."

With haste, he left the room.

As the door closed and silence reclaimed the space, a mocking smile played on Clara's lips. Her eyes, red with emotion, turned to Christy, her voice a choked whisper, "Christy, what good is the truth when he doesn't care? It's all in vain."

"Don't you worry, Clara," Christy said, her tone reassuring, "Heidi won't get away with blaming you this time. We'll make her apologize and compensate you for emotional distress. If not, we'll take her to court." Anders looked at Clara intently, his voice tinged with a hint of reproach. "Clara, when will you stop being so foolish? You risked your own safety just to see whether lan would believe you or Heidi. Don't you remember your thalassophobia? Is a man who doesn't love you worth all this?"

Clara's laugh was bitter, her eyes misty. "You're a top-notch lawyer, Anders. Nothing gets by you. Heidi tried to frame me for pushing her, but I simply turned the tables on her. She's falsely accused me twice before-once for the push, once for Sasha vandalizing her car. I've been holding my breath for a chance to make her pay back double. I just didn't expect her illness to strike so conveniently."

Anders watched her with affectionate exasperation. "You're too naive. Her little tricks might fool lan, but not me. Drinking soap water can also cause frothing at the mouth. I've seen it before in cases I've worked on."

11:47

Clara let out a disbelieving laugh. "She really went to great lengths, didn't she?"

An hour later, lan returned to Clara's hospital room. Christy had to leave to take care of her baby, leaving only Anders tending to Clara. They were chatting about something, and Clara's face lit with a smile. That smile was a relic of the past for lan, one he hadn't seen since their breakup. His heart ached with a tearing pain, but he maintained a calm facade. as he approached her bedside, his gaze Intense. "I know she pushed you. But she's very ill now, seriously ill. Whatever compensation you want, I'm willing to agree to."

Clara looked at him impassively. "Anything I ask for?"

"Yes."

With a faint smile, Clara said, "I don't want any compensation. Just end our agreement."