No Strings Attached

Chapter 35

Clara’s heart felt as if it had been seized by an iron grip, the pain so intense she could hardly breathe. Frozen in place, her body trembled uncontrollably.

Sasha, sensing something was terribly wrong, patted Clara’s hand and called out, “Clara, Clara.”

After several shouts, Clara finally responded. Her small face, pale as a sheet of paper, looked ghostly under the streetlights.

Slowly turning her head, she glared at the woman with eyes filled with loathing. Her lips twitched, and in a hoarse whisper, she said, “You don’t deserve to be my mom.”

With that, she pulled Sasha into the car.

When Clara was seated behind the wheel, her legs still shook with tremors. Sasha gently pulled her aside, saying in a soothing voice, “I’ll drive.”

Clara didn’t resist. She slid out from the driver’s seat and settled into the passenger side. Resting her head against the seat, she intended to close her eyes, but tears silently streamed down her cheeks instead. Memories from seven years ago, like a savage flood, surged towards her.

left at the doorstep

woman with icy eyes, with Clara’s hateful gaze filling his mind. Just how deep the hurt must be for Clara to despise

cigarette from the pack and lit it with a deliberate slowness, his sharp features shrouded in a haze of white smoke. He turned to Dawson, his voice detached, “Check

immediately responded, “Right away, Mr. Hayes. But are you

a ring of

on, “You might have. compensated for Ms. Clara’s friend earlier, but to her, it looks like you were helping Ms. Heidi. Ms. Clara must be furious. You should tell her everything, tell her that in order to bring peace to the Bell family, you had a fight with your mother and even put your own assets of over a hundred billion at stake. That Ms. Heidi had already leaked the story to the media, and had you not intervened, even if Ms. Sasha won the lawsuit, her reputation would’ve suffered. Mr. Hayes, when you care for someone, you need to show the lengths you’re willing to go for them. By keeping all

He really hoped lan would grasp the gravity of his words, but the next thing Dawson heard was that

11:11

advice?