No Strings Attached

Chapter 352

Ian's expression turned icy upon hearing the words. Leonora really had a short memory for pain. Her wounds were still fresh, yet she was already plotting and scheming for Heidi. She sure had a soft spot for her. Even he and his sister had never been on the receiving end of such favor.

Ian's lips formed a thin line, his voice cold as he spoke, "She's found out about Clara's origins."

Edwin's brow twitched violently, "So she told Eve, and Eve used that to blackmail Mr. Casey, causing his heart condition to flare up and disrupt Clara's court appearance, all to save Heidi."

For the sake of Heidi, they were willing to disregard the lives of others.

Leonora knew that Clara was truly May's daughter. So, as May's best friend, shouldn't Leonora be protecting Clara and targeting Heidi? Why was she still setting Clara up?

It didn't make sense, either emotionally or logically.

Edwin began to doubt the depth of Leonora's relationship with their mother. When their mother was dying, she clutched a necklace Leonora had given her tightly in her hand. What was she trying to convey? Had she discovered some secret about Leonora?

Was Leonora implicated in May's death?

At the thought, a sharp pain pierced Edwin's chest, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

If it were true, what about Clara? She and Ian would be bound by an enmity.

Clutching his phone tightly, Edwin's voice grew hoarse, "Ian, have you found something out? Have you been keeping it from me?"

Hearing the accusation, Ian clenched his fist wearily. He denied flatly, "No, there are no leads."

"What about the necklace? No leads there either?"

"The necklace maker is dead; no one knows its secrets."

Edwin felt something was off. "Then give the necklace back to me. It's my mother's keepsake."

Ian said, “That’s my gift for Clara. I’ll give it to her when we get married.” Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"Ian, that's something Leonora designed. Are you sure Clara would want it? After all the harm Leonora's done to her, how do you expect her to feel wearing that necklace?"

"No, I'll tell her."

"One day she'll find out."

"If neither of us speaks, she won't!"

Ian's voice grew frantic. A formless dread was sweeping over him. He didn't know how to face Clara if Leonora was indeed the one who killed May. Nor did he know how Clara would react to him. Just thinking about it gave him a splitting headache.

Ian's abnormal behavior only made Edwin more certain of his suspicions. He clenched his teeth and hung up the phone.

Just then, his assistant knocked and entered with a report. "Mr. Edwin, I've found that the driver who worked for madam was a distant relative of Leonora. He was diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer just before the accident, told he had at most three months to live."

Edwin's dark eyes darkened. He remembered his mother always took good care of that driver, but now he realized it might have been due to the connection with Leonora. But to have an accident just after a terminal cancer diagnosis—coincidence or someone's deliberate arrangement?

Edwin asked in a deep voice, "Have we found the truck driver?"

The assistant replied, "Yes, he's a layabout, always eating but never working, and a frequent gambler. I heard he's quite the card shark and has won a lot of money."

Edwin's eyebrows lifted slightly, "Check out who he's been gambling with. Maybe we'll find the answer we're looking for."

—

Elsewhere.

After hanging up with Edwin, Ian stood alone in the hallway, smoking one cigarette after another. His heart felt as though it were being crushed under a heavy stone, making it hard to breathe.

He hoped the mastermind would be uncovered soon. Yet, he dreaded the moment of truth. He feared the incident was indeed linked to Leonora.

Ian stood quietly by the window, his gaze unwavering as he stared at the hustle and bustle of the street outside.