No Strings Attached

Chapter 12

“You really don’t have to do this. I’m not that kind of guy. If you’re not up for it, I won’t push you,” Edwin said, his voice laced with concern.

“I can’t stand owing favors, especially to anyone connected to Heidi,” Clara replied with a firmness that belied her frail frame. “Mr. Edwin, I hope you haven’t forgotten our arrangement.”

With a curt nod, Clara turned and approached the nurse who had been waiting patiently. “Let’s get this bloodwork over with.”

“Clara!” lan’s voice crackled with urgency as he pulled her back, his gaze burning into her. “What’s with you and Edwin? Are you hiding something from me?”

Unfazed, Clara met his stare, a wry smile playing on her lips. “What, scared I’ll make him my next sugar daddy? Don’t worry. Even if I were desperate, I wouldn’t go after your closest friend.”

nurse, leaving lan clenching his fists as he watched

ghost. Her typically rosy lips were drained of color, and her

hesitation, lan scooped her up into his arms, the look in

“Mr. Hayes, Ms. Heidi is having a fit. She’s crying

from her hospital room. Seeing lan approaching her, a sliver of hope had stirred within her. She wanted to tell him that she couldn’t hold on any longer, to whisk her away. Yet, upon hearing the nurse’s comment, she laughed scornfully. After all, between Heidi

moment before gingerly laying her down, instructing her in a grave voice to wait. Watching lan hurry into Heidi’s room after leaving her there, Clara maintained an eerily

his gesture was fervently rejected. She fixed him with a defiant gaze, her voice cold and filled with resolve. “Mr. Edwin, our debts are paid, and I won’t