No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)
Chapter 218

"Clara, you have no idea how deep my feelings run for lan. Our engagement was set before I was even born. I grew up under his wing; we've always been close. If it weren't for your meddling, we would've been married by now."

Clara arched an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Really? With such profound love, shouldn't you have been his rock during his darkest times when he couldn't see? Why did you bolt faster than a frightened rabbit?"

"I had no choice. It was my father's decision."

Clara leaned nonchalantly against the doorframe, her tone sharp and piercing. "You seem to have a knack for replaceing ways out. If push came to shove, you could've played your last tragic card. The Campbells cherish you too much to let you go. Or couldn't you simply stomach the idea of spending her life with a 'broken' man? Your double-dealing is obvious, you know. Did you really think it would go unnoticed?" With every word Clara struck at Heidi's core, anger bubbled up inside Heidi until she felt she might spit blood in rage. Her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her gaze was venomous as she glared at Clara, wishing she could tear her apart.

Verbal sparring with Clara was a battle Heidi never won. Her teeth nearly cracked from the pressure of her biting anger. "Clara, lan is mine, forever. Don't even dream of snatching him away." Clara scoffed, a smirk on her lips. "Oh, dropping the act, are we? Your beloved lan is watching you right now."

With a subtle tilt of her chin, Clara signaled behind Heidi, who spun around, her heart racing, only to meet lan's icy stare. In an instant, Heidi's fiery demeanor melted into that of a docile kitten. "Ian, does it still hurt? You nearly scared me to death." Her tears, which had been held at bay, now cascaded down her cheeks like a broken dam.

lan's deep eyes were void of warmth, his voice frighteningly cold. "Who let you in? Get out!"

Being ejected in front of Clara was a massive blow to Heidi's pride. She shook her head, tears streaming. "lan, your wound is deep. You've lost a lot of blood, and you need someone to look after you." "But I don't need you!"

lan's words were a merciless blade.

Heidi, wounded and bewildered, stared at lan. "Ian, do you really despise me that much? Didn't you make a promise on the rooftop that day to allow me to be close to you as a sister?"

lan's gaze remained frosty. "Do you think I care about your life or death? I only agreed to your request to save you and repay a life I owed. From that day on, we were even. I owe you nothing, and you should stop using death as a threat. If it happens again, I won't intervene!"

Heidi's world shattered, tears streaming uncontrollably. "Ian, you lied, it's not true. You have me in your heart. That's why you agreed."

"Heidi," lan repeated, his voice like steel, "aside from that obligation, I feel nothing for you. Now that it's settled, we owe each other nothing. Stay out of my life!"

Crushed, Heidi sobbed uncontrollably as she was forced to leave the hospital room under lan's icy glare.

As soon as the door closed behind her, lan's eyes softened, and his voice turned tender. "Clara, come here. Let me see how you're doing."