No Strings Attached

Chapter 143

She spoke with such casual ease, you’d never guess anything was amiss. lan’s gaze burned Into her. “You think I’d look after her instead of you? Clara, am I really that bad?”

“Weren’t you always like that before?” Clara replied. Her tone was neither light nor heavy.

“But this time it’s a matter of life and death. I’d have to be a real jerk to ignore you now.”

Clara tied a perfect bow on his arm. The corners of her lips revealed an indescribable. bitterness. “Really? I doubt it,” she said, drawing out her words.

lan was left speechless. He grabbed Clara’s wrist. His voice dropped an octave. matter what happens from now on, I won’t leave you behind. Please believe me.”

ara, no

Clara let out a soft laugh. Her eyes betrayed a hint of disbelief. She had trusted him so much before, that now she was treading carefully. She wouldn’t lose herself over a few words from him like she did three years ago. NôvelDrama.Org (C) content.

When lan saw her leaving, he immediately wrapped his arms around her, pulling at his wound painfully. He gasped, “Clara, it hurts so much. Don’t leave me.”

He’d never shown such vulnerability before. Even with the worst injuries in the past, het never furrowed his brow.

Clara glanced at him and slowly broke free from his hold. Her voice was much softer. “I’ll get the car. We need to get you to a hospital. That cut looks deep. You’ll probably need stitches.”

lan finally relaxed as he got into the car, trusting Clara to drive him to the hospital.

Just as Clara had predicted, lan’s wound did indeed require stitches. She watched the stark wound, saw lan’s veins stand out on his forehead, and noticed the beads of sweat trickling down his face.

Clara couldn’t help but clench her fists, a surge of emotion welling up in her eyes.

lan caught her gaze in an instant. He gently squeezed her hand and said with a smile, “You say you don’t care, but you are about to cry now.”

Clara quickly cast her eyes down, hiding all emotion. “I’m just a bit queasy with blood.”

lan covered her eyes and whispered in her ear, “Then don’t look. It’ll be over soon.”

He pulled her into his embrace, burying his head in the scent of flowers that lingered around Clara. The pain seemed to lessen. A rare look of contentment appeared on his face.

This side of lan was one Heidi had never seen before. From his eyes, she saw affection, the indulgence he had for Clara. All the happiness that should have been hers was stolen by that bitch Clara.

Heidi’s fist tightened, a flash of hatred in her eyes. When she pushed open the door and saw lan’s wound, tears immediately filled her eyes, Large drops rolled down her cheeks. “lan, how are you? Does it hurt?”

She maneuvered her wheelchair closer to lan, reached out to touch his arm, but he dodged her. A cold voice followed, “It’s not fatal,”

That tone, that attitude, was nothing like how he had been with Clara. Heidi bit her lip in defiance, but her face still showed extreme concern. While wiping away tears, she said, “Clara, lan

apologized to you in front of the whole world. Why won’t you forgive him? Even if he wronged you, you wouldn’t set him up to get hurt like this, would you?”

Her voice was sincere, and her crying was pitiful. Even Clara almost believed her. She watched Heidi’s tear–streaked face and scoffed. “And how do you know it was me who set this up?”