No Strings Attached novel (Sharp and Clara’s)
Chapter 1

Chapter 1

After a passionate rendezvous, Clara's skin shimmers with an understated glow lan held her close,his slender fingers tracing the contours of her delicate features. In the depths of his mesmerizingeyes, there was a tenderness that she had never seen before.

Clara was left utterly spent by their lovemaking, but at this moment, she felt deeply cherished.However, before the afterglow of their desire could fade, lan's phone began to ring. Clara's heartskipped a beat at the sight of the caller ID. She tightened her grip on lan’s arm and looked up athim with pleading eyes, “Can you not answer it?"

The call was from Heidi, lan’s long-time sweetheart. Since she'd returned stateside less than amonth ago, there had been several cries for attention, masquerading as suicide attempts.

Clara knew all too well that Heidi's antics were deliberate, but lan didn't seem to care about Clara'sfeelings. He pushed her away without a second thought. The warmth of their recent intimacy wascompletely gone as he eagerly answered the call.

Clara couldn't make out what was said on the phone. She only saw the waves of emotion churningin lan’s deep-set eyes, darker than the night outside.

After hanging up, he quickly dressed. “Heidi's causing a scene again, threatening to hurt herself. I'vegot to go check on her.”

Clara sat up in bed, her skin now flushed and marked with the evidence of their love. Her gaze wasintense as she watched him. “But today is my birthday. You promised to spend it with me, and I havesomething important to tell you.”

lan was already buttoned up, his brows sharp and his gaze cold. “When did you become sounreasonable? Heidi could be in real danger.”

Before Clara could react, the bedroom door slammed shut. Soon after, the sound of a car engineroared to life outside.

Clara reached under her pillow and pulled out a small, exquisite box. Inside were two matchingrings, which she stared at with misty eyes.

Three years ago, when a thug cornered her in an alley, it was lan who came to her rescue, and hegot injured in the process. She had volunteered to stay and care for him.

One night, after a bit too much wine, he slept with her. lan had asked her then if she wanted to datehim, but he made it clear he wasn't offering marriage. Without hesitation, Clara had agreed, becauselan was the man she had secretly adored for four years.

From that day, she was lan’s efficient and attractive secretary by day, and by night, his obedientlover.

She naively thought that lan loved her and that he was hesitant about marriage because of issueswith his family. She spent a whole day preparing a proposal setup, hoping to break through hisemotional barriers.

But Heidi's call shattered Clara's illusions.

Perhaps lan wasn't against marriage. It just wasn't Clara he wanted as his wife.

With a bitter smile, Clara packed away the rings. She dismantled all the decorations on the patioherself.

Driving off alone, she had not gone far when a sharp pain struck her lower abdomen, followed by awarm flow running down her thighs.

She looked down and saw that the white leather seat was stained with blood. A bad premonitionwashed over her. She immediately called lan.

“lan, my stomach hurts. Can you come get me, please?”

Chapter 1

lan's voice was tinged with impatience. “Clara, you can throw a tantor, but theres a time and placaClara, seeing more and more blood, started to cry out in fear, Tan, fes not lying My stomach reallyhurts, and I'm bleeding so much.”

She couldn't finish her sentence before being met with his callous reply “Clara, Heidi's life is at stake,and you have the nerve to make a scener

Stunned by his words, it took her several seconds to respond. She laughed weaky, a pallid smile onher face “You think I'm being unreasonable?”

Isn't that what this is?" His voice was laced with annoyance and a chilling detachment that stabbedright through Clara's heart.