No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)
Chapter 204

lan was nothing short of a business prodigy, with an uncanny knack for pinpointing a person's Achilles' heel. Ryker, goaded by lan's words, felt the last of his hesitation vanish. "Let's get that contract signed. Mark my words, I'll surpass you one day."

Upon hearing this, lan's hidden sense of satisfaction gradually surfaced in his eyes. He motioned for someone to bring the contract to Ryker.

After everything was settled, the event coordinator turned to Ryker with a grin, "Mr. Ryker, we've got a major game happening here tomorrow. There are still some loose ends to tie up, so I'm afraid you're in for a long night."

A chill ran down Ryker's spine as he shot lan a frosty glare. "You did this on purpose, just to get close to Clara."

lan tilted his chin up, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Tomorrow's game is a national event. If you don't want to lose to me, you'd better get prepping. As for Clara, I'll make sure she gets home safe."

Ryker clenched his fists, seething. When it came to cunning, he was no match for lan. "If you so much as think about taking advantage of her, I won't let you off the hook." He spat.

And so, lan drove Clara home. It had been ages since he'd been this close to her, and her subtle floral fragrance alone was enough to set his blood on fire.

He glanced at Clara, who sat quietly in the passenger seat, gazing absently at the retreating city lights. Her face was the picture of serene grace, with the hint of a smile playing upon her lips.

lan's heart skipped a beat, and he gripped the steering wheel tighter. He hadn't felt this content in a long time. Without Clara, life seemed bland.

But this moment of bliss lasted less than ten minutes before lan's phone rang at the most inopportune time. Edwin's deep, gravelly voice emanated from the phone. "lan, the person you're betrothed to isn't Heidi."

lan slammed on the brakes. It took him a few seconds to regain his composure. "What do you mean?"

"Heidi isn't my mother's child. The girl you were engaged to was switched at birth. Heidi is my father's love child with another woman."

Edwin's voice was choked with emotion. It had taken him weeks to unravel this truth. He had thought the paternity test with their father would prove that Heidi wasn't the Campbell heiress, but to his shock, the reports confirmed they were indeed father and daughter.

Fortunately, he had kept his mother's maternity dress, stained with her blood, as a memento. Using her blood, he had conducted a DNA test with Heidi, which led to this staggering revelation.

Heidi was his father's illegitimate daughter. That woman, seeking to elevate her own child to the Campbell fortune, had not hesitated to murder his mother and abduct his sister.

lan was stunned by the news. After a pause, he asked, "Is there any word on where the sister might be?"

Edwin let out a sorrowful sigh. "The doctor mentioned she has a birthmark shaped like a petal on her shoulder blade, identical to one my mother had. That's all I know." At these words, lan's gaze sharply turned to Clara sitting beside him.