No Strings Attached

Chapter 382

The doctor clad Clara in a set of sterile scrubs before guiding her into the emergency room. Upon seeing Ian, a human pincushion of medical devices, the taut string within Clara nearly snapped. Her fists clenched so tight that her nails dug into her flesh without her even noticing the pain.

She approached Ian's side, her icy fingers wrapping firmly around his larger hand. Her voice, as smooth as silk, broke the silence. "Ian, our baby's going to be two months old in just a few days. The doctor said we could hear the heartbeat then. Don't you want to feel their little presence?"

She placed Ian's hand gently over her belly, sharing her warmth, willing him to connect with their child's existence.

She glanced at the heart monitor, which showed no sign of improvement, and continued, "Honey, in a few months, our baby will be kicking and dancing in my womb. I've heard it's the most magical feeling. Don't you want to experience that?

Weren't you the one who promised to read to him, to play him Mozart and the Beatles? I got those books from Christy, and you haven't read a single one to him. You can't leave us like this. Please, won't you stay with us?" With every word, her voice wavered more, tears streaming down her cheeks, unfelt.

At that moment, Ian's finger twitched faintly. The lines on the heart monitor surged dramatically.

"The stimulation's working. Keep talking to him!" the doctor urged immediately.

A glimmer of joy broke through the tear-stained mask on Clara's face. She took a warm towel and tenderly wiped Ian's ashen face clean. Then, she leaned down to press a kiss to his lips.

The slightest touch sparked a reaction from Ian. His cold lips, initially unresponsive, gradually and involuntarily drew Clara's lips into his mouth, savoring the kiss.

Clara felt his response, and her tears cascaded onto his face. It was impossible to tell how long they remained locked in that embrace before Ian's eyes slowly opened, revealing a depth of unspoken agony. He raised his hand to brush away the tears on Clara's face, his voice husky with emotion. "Clara, I'm sorry for scaring you."

Hearing his voice, Clara felt her world crumbling. She burrowed into Ian's embrace, her tears falling freely onto him. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Ian felt the warmth of her tears and caressed her head, his heart in pieces. "Clara, please stop crying. It's breaking my heart." He knew the turmoil she had endured through the night.

Ian held her close, gazing deeply into her pale face. Time seemed to stand still until Clara's sobs subsided. Wiping away her tears, she sat up to face Ian. "You can't let this injury be in vain. We have to catch the person behind this this time."

Ian felt a mix of pain and amusement. He teased her nose gently, chuckling, "I'll follow your lead. What's the plan, love?"

Clara's eyes, still wet, adopted a steely glint. "Whether it was the kidnapping or this fire, they've always been after Hayes Corporation. Let's spread the word that you're in a vegetative state due to your injuries. They'll likely take a shot at Hayes Corporation, thinking it's vulnerable. We'll wait in the shadows and see what they're up to, and that will lead us to the mastermind."

Hearing her plan, Ian lovingly ruffled Clara's hair. "My Clara, always on the same wavelength as me. I had two reasons for rushing into the fire to save Leonora. The first was to stabilize the media storm, and the second was to draw out the big fish. When Crimson Manor blew up, I ducked into a shower stall. The glass there is shatterproof, and that's how I cheated death."