No Strings Attached

Chapter 141

By the time Clara came to, she found herself lying on the gritty floor of a dilapidated warehouse. Her wrists and ankles were bound, and duct tape sealed her mouth shut.

Not far from her, two men sat watching. They were well–covered, making it impossible for

Clara to discern their faces.

It was only then that she realized she had been kidnapped. She had to stay calm and think of a way to call for help.

Just then, she caught sight of one of the kidnappers dialing a number on her cell phone. Clara’s heart seized with fear. Muffled sounds of “no” escaped from behind the tape.

She dreaded the thought of them calling her father. A call in the dead of night with news of her abduction would be too much for his recently mended heart to bear.

As she struggled to crawl towards them, lan’s husky voice came through the phone. “Clara, are you alright?”

Before Clara could react, the kidnapper spoke menacingly into the phone, “Mr. Hayes, your girlfriend is in my hands. If you want her safe, prepare ten million, or I’ll take very good care of her for you.” While speaking, he leered at Clara suggestively.

There was a brief silence on the line before lan’s voice returned, cold and stern. “Let her

speak!”

The kidnapper yanked the tape from Clara’s mouth and pressed the phone against her ear. There was a gun pointed at her head. “Play nice, or I end you right here.”

Terrified, Clara nodded frantically. She trembled all over but tried to keep her composure. She knew she had to warn lan about the

gun.

She was gasping for air. In a weak voice, she said, “lan, the cash is in the wooden box on the first shelf of the safe in the study. Remember to bring it all.”

With a gun to her head, she couldn’t be too obvious. She hoped lan would understand her coded message and bring a weapon.

After a pause, lan replied, “Alright, don’t move. I’m on my way with the money.”

Just as Clara began to feel a sliver of relief, Leonora’s shrill voice pierced the phone call. “lan, where are you going? Heidi’s fighting for her life, and you can’t leave her side. She was attacked over business. You can’t abandon her.”

“Man, Heidi lost her chance to be a mother to save you, and now she’s been seriously hurt for your company. You can’t be so heartless, ignoring her like this.”

“Mr. Hayes, Ms. Heidi’s awake. She’s crying and wants to see you. She says if you don’t come in, she won’t go through with the surgery.”

11.30

Despite the chaos on the line, Clara understood the gravity of the situation. Heidi was injured and in critical condition, refusing surgery unless lan stayed with her. And there Clara was, still waiting for her rescue.

Her heart clenched tight. Her voice trembled so much she could barely speak. Before the phone cut off, she didn’t even hear lan make a sound. All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.

Her eyes closed helplessly, a bitter smile on her lips. Fate always seemed to play the same cruel joke on her.

She knew that between Heidi and herself, lan would always choose the former. So why kept jabbing at her already raw wounds?

She curled her cold body tightly

Every second felt unbearably longer. The silent night seemed to swallow her whole.

Just as she was losing all hope, ready to fight the kidnappers in a desperate bid for freedom, she heard the sound of rapid footsteps outside.

Then, a figure, tall and commanding like a deity, emerged from the endless darkness and

strode toward her.