No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)
Chapter 211

No sooner had the words left his mouth than lan had enveloped Clara in a protective embrace. His large hand gripped her shoulder tightly. His face was a thundercloud, and his eyes were a stormy glare fixed on Brodie. Each word he spat out was laced with frost. "No way! She's my woman."

Every cell in his body was bristling with rage.

Brodie's little act couldn't fool him. Brodie was pretending to need a fake girlfriend, but actually attempting to snatch his girl. He had just managed to send Anders and Ryker packing, No way was he going to let another man anywhere near Clara. If it hadn't been for the fact that Brodie had saved Clara, Ian would have happily decked him one.

Brodie glanced at lan, then, with impeccable tact, turned to Clara. "I apologize if I've caused Ms. Clara any discomfort. Forget I said anything. Let's call it off. I don't need any compensation. Please, go on your way."

He nodded politely, ready to lie down for a rest.

Just then, Clara's voice, soft and clear, cut through the tension. "I agree to your terms."

At the sound of her voice, lan's arm tightened around her shoulders. He pulled her closer. His dark eyes churned with emotion. "Clara, you can't trust him; this is all his scheming."

Clara stepped back, breaking free from lan's hold. Her expression was calm. "I'm capable of making my own judgments, Mr. Hayes. We've settled our debts, remember? There's nothing between us anymore." Her words slapped him across the face. Those heartless words he said to Clara before became a knife targeting his own heart.

He clenched his fists. His voice dropped an octave. "Clara, is this really how you want to treat me? You'd rather trust a stranger than believe in me?"

Clara's smile was faint. "Didn't you do the same? Trusting Heidi over and over, pushing me to the brink?"

lan was left speechless. He stared at Clara's defiant face for a long moment, then said coldly, "You'll see that you're making a mistake!" He stormed out of the hospital room.

Chase hurried after him. "Come on. Don't go! I bet you could win her back. I don't want to end up babysitting that prickly little hedgehog."

lan shot him a glare. "Did I say I was giving up?"

"Then why aren't you stopping Clara? Brodie may look all prim and proper, but there's something off about him. He's got this sneaky vibe. I bet he knew Clara from before."

lan stopped dead in his tracks. His icy gaze turned to Chase. "What makes you say that?"

"Doesn't Clara like strawberry cake but not the strawberries in it?"

"How do you know?"

Chase gave a rogue's grin. "How would I know? But Brodie does, and he played it cool enough that Clara didn't see through him. Still think he's that simple?"

lan felt the gravity of the situation. It was a detail he had only found out about Clara over time. How did Brodie, upon first meeting, seem to understand her so well? There were no coincidences here. He immediately sent Dawson to dig up dirt on Brodie.

Meanwhile, Heidi, in her quest to sabotage Clara, had tripped someone at the party and got her ankle stepped on. She tried calling her brother Edwin for a ride, but the line went unanswered. She had this nagging feeling that Edwin was keeping something from her. Lately, he'd been distant, barely speaking to her, either not picking up her calls or hanging up after a few words.