No Strings Attached

Chapter 21

Clara tilted her head back, locking eyes with him. Her gaze was icy, her eyes rimmed with the faintest hint of

red.

“What if I am? Are you going to strap me onto an operating table and get rid of it, Mr. Bayes?

lan’s expression darkened as he stared at Clara’s gaunt cheeks for an eternity before he finally spoke Why wouldn’t you tell me something this important?”

A bitter laugh escaped Clara. “Would you want me to tell you early just so you take out child away as soon as you can? Is that it?”

“Clara, can’t you just listen to me for once? lan’s grip tightened on her chin

Her eyes, misty with unshed tears, met his “Mr. Hayes, you’re about to marry someone else and start a family Even if I were with child, would you even care?”

No matter how much Clara struggled, he hold

lan’s uncompromising voice stopped her. “Don’t

ached more at his words lan was taking Heidi, the woman he loved, for prenatal care, all the while planning to terminate her pregnancy.

hadn’t miscarried, wouldn’t it be an even greater agony just for her unborn child to be discarded by its own father? With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Clara

free. “Don’t trouble yourself, Mr. Hayes.

back, glanced once more into lan’s inscrutable dark eyes, and turned to leave But before she could get far, she was swept off her feet. lan’s deep voice rumbled next to her ear “Are you afraid of getting checked? Or do you plan to secretly have the baby and then ride on its coattails into the

struggled to free herself. “lan, you don’t deserve to be a father! Put me down!”

lan carried her into a hospital room. Only then did he notice how much thinner Clara’s face had become. “I thought you were capable of taking care of yourself. How come you’ve let yourself go like this since leaving me? Can you even stand to look

his voice growing huskier. “I told you, come back to

out a cold laugh. “That day

tried to rise, lan’s firm hand pressed her back down. Their argument was interrupted by the sound of Clara’s phone ringing. She answered