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

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

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

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

out like cords, his gaze piercing Clara. “Do you

hate to hear it from me, but I’m tired, lan. I’m tired of a love that’s

didn’t matter. But she was wrong

chin. “Is this your way of forcing me into marriage? I must have underestimated you, or

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

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 afraid

eyes widening. “What

sticking with me even with

with her, he had indeed thrown a lot of business their way, pulling them out of the mire. She had thought that lan was willing to help because he liked

your kindness was

her words. “Just a relationship of convenience, Clara. Did you