No Strings Attached

Chapter 151

Clara stared at him with an icy glare. “And then what? She throws a tantrum and pretends to off herself, and you, scared out of your wits, rush to save her, abandoning everything else. lan, why do I have to pay for something you owe her?”

“No, Clara, I swear I won’t deal with her again. I won’t let her hurt you,” lan pleaded, his voice a mix of desperation and resolve.

He could see Clara’s shoulders trembling uncontrollably, and with a heart aching with empathy, he wrapped his arms around her, his large hands gently stroking her back.

The fear of losing her, of her possibly getting another episode over this ordeal, gnawed at him like nothing he’d ever experienced before.

Clara, with an unexpected burst of strength, shoved lan away. The hurt and disappointment in her eyes were impossible to mask.

She pointed towards the door, her voice as cold as ice. “Leave. I can’t stand the sight of you right now.”

“I just want to be here for you, Clara,” lan said, trying to reach for her hand, his gaze locked onto hers, begging for understanding.

Clara shook him off as if he was something vile, her voice cutting through the air. “lan, I’ll live a better life without your drama. From now on, stay away from me.”

Sshe flung the door open, her face void of emotion as she watched lan leave. The moment he stepped through the threshold, she slammed the door shut with a thunderous bang. The tears she

had been holding back finally broke free, tracing wet paths down her cheeks. Sliding down the cold door, she collapsed to the floor, utterly defeated.

Ever since Heidi had returned, Clara’s life had been turned upside down..

Every time Heidi staged a midnight suicide attempt and called lan away, leaving Clara alone to guard the empty room, Clara would console herself incessantly. She would tell herself that lan’s feelings towards Heidi were merely gratitude, that the one he truly liked had always been her.

However, when Clara heard lan utter the words “It’s just a game with no strings

attached,” she realized how foolish she had been.

In two months, Clara had endured a breakup, vicious rumors, false accusations, kidnappings, and the agony of being drugged. Now, she was being branded an ungrateful daughter who wouldn’t even care for her own mother, all thanks Heidi.

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She sat on the cold floor, her bloodshot eyes fixated on the wall clock, watching time slip away as her heart grew colder with each passing second. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Then came a frantic knocking at the door. Expecting lan, she shouted, “Get lost!”

But it was Casey’s concerned voice that answered back. “Clara, it’s me. Open the door for me.”

Wiping away her tears, she opened the door with red–rimmed eyes. Casey’s heart sank when he saw her state. He enveloped his daughter in a warm embrace, his voice soothing. “Don’t worry, I’m

here now. I won’t let her hurt you.”

Clara nodded vigorously.

Soon Anders and Ryker joined them, and the four sat on the couch, facing the situation with a calm resolve.

After her tears, Clara felt stronger. She asked Anders, “I want to know the real situation at the firm, Anders. Don’t lie to me.”

Anders hesitated before admitting, “Some clients have started to pull out, especially the ones under your management. But don’t worry, this little storm won’t capsize us.”

Clara managed a faint smile. She knew the firm was still in its infancy, and of course the firm would be affected. Their reputation was everything in this industry.

After a long silence, she turned to Casey. “Dad, I don’t want to run away this time.”

Casey looked at her with a pained expression. “Clara, can you handle all the negative fallout this will bring?”

“I can. Seven years ago, I was too young and fragile. That incident broke me. But I’ve grown up now, and I won’t let her pull my strings anymore.”