No Strings Attached

Chapter 113

His searing gaze was fixed on Clara with an intensity that felt like he could see right through her.

Clara felt as if someone had thrust a knife into her chest. She lifted her eyes to meet lan’s. “What if I said yes, Mr. Hayes? What do you plan to do about it? Can you offer me the love I desire or the marriage I seek?” lan was left speechless. His sensuous lips parted, but no words came out.

Seeing him flustered, Clara let out a scornful laugh. “Perhaps you can’t offer either, can you? So why dredge up the past? For amusement, perhaps?”

“Clara!” lan’s hands gripped her shoulders, his eyes burning into hers. “At the anniversary celebration, I gave you a chance. All you had to do was dance the first dance with me, and I would have acknowledged you as my girlfriend in front of everyone. It was you who overstepped, getting tangled up with Anders at a crucial moment. It’s not that I didn’t offer; it’s that you didn’t want it.”

Clara smiled bitterly. “Should I be thanking you for your generosity?”

“Clara, I can let bygones be bygones. Let’s start over.”

can’t just forgive and forget!” With that, she

spill from her

her three years of dedication being reduced

ignored her

he had coldly abandoned her

not pursue the past when each memory stabbed her heart, causing an indescribable pain. How could he expect her to ‘start over‘ with just a ‘let bygones be bygones?‘

turn back, no matter how much lan called after her. She just got in her car and drove

feigned concern. “Ian, you’re not blaming Attorney Clara for what happened that night, are you? In such situations, nobody has the luxury of choice. It’s life that matters, not virtue.” Her words were dripping with reason, but her heart reveled in the misfortune. She

drugged, what of it? He still wouldn’t want