No Strings Attached

Chapter 154

lan propped his chin with the tip of his tongue, a devilish smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “Don’t blame me for not being Mr. Nice Guy, Paolo.. Someone messed with my girl, and I’m not about to swallow that insult.”

“lan, don’t forget Heidi nearly died trying to save you back in the day, and she lost her chance to be a mom. You can’t be so cold–hearted toward her.”

lan’s dark eyes grew stormier by the second. “She’s come after what’s mine time and again. Do you think I give a damn about that old debt?”

His words struck like a merciless bolt of lightning, aimed directly at Heidi. lan would even discard her life–saving grace for the sake of Clara. She could not longer use this leverage to threaten him.

With that realization, Heidi felt as if her world had crumbled. The last lifeline she had was slipping through her fingers. How could she approach lan now? How could she make him rush to her rescue without a second thought?

Heidi absolutely couldn’t let her ace in the hole go to waste.

Her sobs suddenly ceased, her tear–filled eyes locking onto lan. “lan, please don’t be mad. I’ll apologize to Clara. I’ll even accept my brother’s punishment. Just don’t stay angry with me, and don’t let my mistake ruin your bond with my brother. I’ll do anything.” Her plea was heart– wrenching, as if her soul was tearing apart. Belongs to NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

lan’s face remained impassive, his voice devoid of emotion as he spoke. “If I see Heidi playing her games, there will be consequences.” Then, he turned and walked away.

Just as lan settled into the car, Dawson’s call came through. “Mr. Hayes, Attorney Clara’s posted on social media. She’s laid it all out, every injury Victoria inflicted upon her.”

Hearing this, lan felt a sudden tightness in his chest. He knew well Clara’s fear of her past, and her aversion to Victoria. Yet now, she had bared her scars to the world, regardless of her psychological wounds. It must have taken her great courage to do so.

Instantly, lan pulled out his phone and accessed Clara’s social media page. Her

1/20

10:41

latest post had skyrocketed to the top of the trending list.

Each word, every sentence, pierced lan’s heart like needles of ice.

She spoke of being bullied at school seven years ago because of her mother.

She talked about her multiple suicide attempts due to the pain her mother caused.

She also revealed her struggle with severe depression.

And how Victoria’s confrontation on the rooftop had triggered a relapse.

At this point, lan felt choked up, a sharp pain throbbing deep within his chest, blurring his vision.

Clara had suffered from severe depression. She had a relapse on the rooftop.

He reread those lines endlessly, each word suffocating him more than the last.. They had been together for three years, and he was utterly clueless.

When she told him outright that depression wasn’t exclusive to Heidi, and she could have it too, what had he said?

He had dismissed her, telling her not to make a fuss, insisting that depression wasn’t like catching a cold–it wasn’t something you just got because your wanted it. She had tried to confide in him about her condition, but he hadn’t paid attention, mistaking it for jealousy.

So, the day she cried in Anders‘ arms, it was because her illness had relapsed.

lan felt every nerve in his body being torn apart by an invisible force. Furious with himself, he slammed his fist on the steering wheel.

Through gritted teeth, he cursed, “lan, you’re a real bloody bastard!”