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!”

a child, he’d probably drag her to

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

“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,

of any hesitation, but no one could see the fresh wound

like cords, his gaze piercing Clara. “Do you even realize what you’re

tired, lan. I’m tired of a

had been foolish before, believing that love was enough, that marriage didn’t matter. But she was wrong because lan’s heart had never truly been with

me into marriage? I must have underestimated you, or maybe you’re

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

bed, intent on leaving, but lan’s strong arm pulled her back into his embrace. His hot lips found hers with precision, biting gently. His husky voice was laced with a cool disdain. “Are you not

eyes widening. “What three years?! What do

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 me even with no marriage on the table–wasn’t it all just to save the Bell family? Do you have any other reason that

he had indeed thrown a lot of business their way, pulling them out of the mire. She had thought that lan was willing

for these three years, all your kindness was just an act, with no

irritation at her words. “Just a relationship of convenience, Clara. Did you really think I