No Strings Attached novel (Sharp and Clara’s)

Chapter 176

Edwin ruffled her hair with a gentle smile and reassured her, “No need to let your imagination run wild. It's just a bit of a cold. A good rest, and youll be back on your feet in no time. But we do need to have a blood test.”

Heidi looked up at him with puppy eyes, “I'm in this mess because of Clara. I'm sure she’s behind the attack on me. Didn't you find any

leads at all?”

“Nothing solid” he replied, shaking his head. “The attacker was well disguised, impossible to identify Plus, Clara was in the pub all night, knocking back drinks the staff can vouch for her”

"But she's a lawyer, Ed. She knows how to cover her tracks. And that night at the cemetery, with all that spooky stuff happening? Has to be her doing. She's runed me, and you're just going to let her get away with it?”

Edwin stared at the fierce determination in Heidi's eyes and was suddenly reminded of their mother. His mother was the epitome of kindness, treating even the servants with respect and affection. The mention of his mother still brought tears to the eyes of the old butler.

He had once believed Heidi had inherited their mother's gentle nature. But recently, he realized that the sister he knew was just a facade, void of their mother's warmth and grace

A touch of ice crept into his voice as he warned her, “if you don't learn your lesson and keep going after Clara, I won't be able to protect you from lan’s wrath.”

Heidi's shoulders slumped, her voice laced with sorrow, “I won't

won't cause any more trouble. Please, don't abandon me, okay?"

Just then, the hospital room's television broke into a news segment. It was Clara, victorious in the case against lan, smiling as reporters swarmed her. A dark shadow passed over Heidi's eyes as she saw Clara basking in the limelight. Her fingers twisted the hospital sheets tightly.

Though lan hadn't openly admitted his pursuit of Clara, his gaze held the kind of affection reserved for lovers, a sentiment that cut Heidi deeper than any confession. How could he, so cold and domineering, bow down for Clara?

Heidi was seething, her eyes locked on the screen until a nurse came to draw her blood, snapping her out of her reverie.

That's when Paolo, her father, walked in. Seeing Heidi's pale face, he quickly wrapped her in a comforting embrace. “Forget about lan, that heartless man. I will find you someone a thousand times better”

Heidi sobbed quietly into her father's chest, “I only want him.”

Paolo sighed deeply. “I regret listening to those rumors about lan going blind, pushing for the annulment. Had it not been for that, you would've been married to him by now, and none of this Clara business would matter”

"Dad, can you check where lan was recuperating after his injury? I have a feeling he knew Clara long before all this.”

"Of course, sweetheart. I'll have someone look into it. Now, let's get that blood drawn. Your brother has also scheduled a check-up for me, so I need to get tested too.”

Half an hour later, Edwin walked into a private lab, carrying two vials of blood, determined to uncover the truth.

Without needing