No Strings Attached

Chapter 225

Ian's face darkened with each line of the report. It was clear that this wasn't a simple case of a switched identity. It reeked of premeditated murder.

The culprits must have been plotting May's car accident with the intention of killing two birds with one stone. Then, they brazenly delivered Heidi to the Campbell family as May's daughter.

No one probably expected Clara to survive against all odds. Someone had abandoned her, and then Victoria had found her.

With this in mind, Ian immediately commanded, "Find Victoria. She might know something about what really happened back then." Even the slightest clue could be pivotal to cracking the case.

Dawson nodded in agreement. "I'm on it," he said, ready to take action.

"Has the perpetrator confessed?" Ian inquired further.

"He has. Turns out he's a die-hard fan of that celebrity. They have a fan club, and someone was stoking the fire. Clara's address was even shared, making it look like just a fan causing trouble."

Ian's gaze darkened. "Check every single fan. There's more to this. His intention was to destroy Clara's birthmark, which means someone knew about her identity before we did."

Meanwhile, Clara took a break at noon to create a new account and joined the fan group of the big star. They were all discussing her recent attack. These people were like lunatics, oblivious to the fact that their actions were illegal. They were even plotting how to rescue the assailant.

But then Clara noticed something - the profile picture of the most vocal fan seemed eerily familiar. Upon closer inspection, it was a man's hand with long, distinct fingers. When she zoomed in, she saw a faint bite mark at the base of his thumb. She knew that mark all too well. It was her bite mark.

She had bitten into Ian's hand when she couldn't bear the pain of his treatment. Her bite mark was distinctive, with two pronounced canines. She couldn't possibly be mistaken.

Staring at the profile picture, Clara had a hunch about who it was.

Clara feigned righteous indignation in the group, cursing herself as a fan, vowing to avenge the star. Before long, a fan named "Chirpy Cat" reached out to her. They told her that Clara was in room 1108 at Saint Anne's Hospital, even detailing her clothes and shoes with eerie precision.

Ian's hospital room was private and upscale. Aside from close acquaintances, no one knew of it. Moreover, she had just changed into new clothes that morning, unseen by any outsiders. Thus, she quickly deduced that Chirpy Cat was Heidi.

A cold ferocity veiled Clara's eyes.

In her obsession with Ian, Heidi had repeatedly tried to destroy Clara. First, she aimed to ruin Clara's reputation and innocence. And now, she sought to disfigure her face, perhaps even take her life.

Clara's fingers tightened around her phone, her knuckles pale, as a wave of resolve surged within her. Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

At that moment, a message popped up on her phone. She opened it to find a picture from Ian showing his wound being treated. It was accompanied by a message. [Clara, don't worry. The wound is healing nicely, and it doesn't hurt a bit. Focus on your work.]

Clara knew all too well that the anesthesia from Ian's surgery had long worn off. He was likely in the throes of pain. His words said one thing, but every letter seemed tinged with quiet suffering.

Clara chuckled softly, responding with a single word to Ian. [Okay]

Ian was lying in bed, talking to Chase, when his phone chimed. He immediately checked it and saw that noncommittal 'Okay.' He instantly felt a wave of frustration.