No Strings Attached

Chapter 3

Hearing those words, lan’s expression turned icy in an instant. His dark eyes fixed on Clara with an intensity that felt like a physical force. “I’ve told you before I’m not the marrying kind, Clara. If you couldn’t handle that, you shouldn’t have agreed to this.”

A faint redness tinged the corners of Clara’s eyes. “It was different before, lan. It was just the two of us. Now, there’s a third.“–

“She can’t threaten you.”

Clara let out a self–deprecating chuckle. “She just makes one call, and you drop everything for her, leaving me in the dust. Tell me, lan, how is that not a threat?”

A flash of anger sparked in lan’s eyes. “You’re making a mountain out of a molehill over a little menstrual pain?”

“What if it was more? What if I was pregnant?”

“Don’t try to trap me with talk of a kid. I’ve always been careful!”

unhesitating. If there were a child, he’d

Clara’s heart shattered. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug

her chin, her smile bitter. “You once said that we were all about the romance, not the nuptials. That if one of us got bored, we’d part amicably. Well, lan, I’m done. Let’s break

words were crisp, devoid of any hesitation, but no one could see the fresh wound bleeding in her heart.

his gaze piercing Clara. “Do you even

from me, but I’m tired, lan. I’m

love was enough, that marriage didn’t matter.

grip tightened on Clara’s chin. “Is this your way of forcing me into marriage? I must have

boundless. “Think what you want. I’m moving out

found hers with precision, biting gently. His husky voice was laced with a cool disdain. “Are you not afraid that the Bell family will return to its former struggles without me? You traded three years of your life

her eyes widening. “What three years?! What do you mean?”

cold fingers carelessly traced the bite mark on her lip, and his mouth curved in a mocking smile. ‘Setting up a scenario for me to save you, sticking with

Bell family had indeed faced an unprecedented financial crisis. After lan got involved with her, he had indeed thrown a lot

your kindness

throbbed with irritation at her words. “Just a relationship of convenience, Clara. Did you really think I was serious?”