No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)
Chapter 224

After finishing her words, Leonora fled from the scene with Heidi.

Clara was under lan's watchful guard, and a direct confrontation was out of the question. Besides, Teo had just reconsidered the divorce because she saved Rose and didn't want to escalate things further. Her primary objective was to secure her place as the head, as Teo's wife. As for that bitch Clara, she'd deal with her sooner or later.

When Clara entered, lan immediately voiced his concern, "Where have you been? What took so long?"

"Just out for a stroll," she replied, her eyes darting away, unable to meet his gaze.

lan sensed something was off. Inhaling sharply, he exclaimed, "Clara, I'm in so much pain."

She rushed over to him, about to lift his shirt to check the wound, when lan grabbed her wrist. It was then that lan noticed the red mark of a slap on Clara's face. His eyes turned icy as he lifted her hair and demanded, "Who did this to you?"

Clara remained silent, and lan clenched his teeth in anger. "Was it my mother? I'm going to confront her right now!"

He attempted to get out of bed, furious that someone dared to strike the woman he wouldn't even allow a scratch upon. The fury within lan reached a boiling point, his forehead veins bulging prominently. But before he could move, Clara stopped him. "I didn't suffer in silence. I slapped her back."

Twice, in fact.

lan stared at her incredulously. "Are you telling me the truth?"

"I am. I did it for our child - she deserved that."

lan felt a twinge of pain in his heart at her words. He slowly wrapped his arms around Clara, whispering soothingly, "Clara, I'm sorry. I failed to protect you and our child."

The mention of their child brought a profound ache to both their hearts. The child had brought Clara much distress and had driven a wedge between them.

For the first time since their split, Clara allowed herself to be held without resistance. Ian cherished the fragile bliss, gently stroking her hair as his warm lips grazed her head unintentionally. Just then, the hospital room door swung open. Dawson froze, taking in the scene before him.

"I didn't realize you were " Dawson began, only to be cut off by lan's cold command, "Get out!"

"Yes, Mr. Hayes, right away." Dawson shut the door softly, patting his chest in relief, having seen the predatory look in lan's eyes. He knew if he had lingered, he might have been in grave danger.

Clara snapped out of her reverie and pulled away from lan. "I have to be in court today. I should go." She grabbed her things and headed for the door.

lan's voice followed her, laced with a touch of self-pity, "Clara, come over after work, will you? My family has gone on vacation, and no one is around to look after me. You're all I have."

His tone was tender and pleading, with a hint of vulnerability. To convince her further, he played the voice message sent by Grandma Rose. "lan, take care of yourself, dear. We're off abroad, and even the housekeepers are on holiday. Look after yourself."

Clara could see right through the Hayes family's intentions. She glanced at Dawson outside the door and said, "Dawson can keep you company. I have to take care of Snow."

lan looked at her with a mournful gaze. "If you don't want to, that's fine. Dawson has his girlfriend to attend to. I'll manage on my own. The doctors and nurses are here anyway. I won't die. You better hurry to your commitments." With that, he gave her an understanding wave.

Leaving the hospital room, Clara felt each step weighed down with guilt.

Once she was gone, Dawson re-entered and updated his boss. "Mr. Hayes, the paternity test results are in. May is indeed Attorney Clara's mother, but Victoria has no blood relation to Heidi."