No Strings Attached

Chapter 199

lan’s eyes were a reservoir of unspoken agony. He carefully cradled Clara in his arms, his large hands gently stroking her back. His voice was low and husky, tinged with a slight tremble. “Clara, lash out at me, please. If it helps, you can throw a punch, too. Just don’t bottle up all that pain, alright?”

Clara didn’t resist his embrace. She no longer had the strength to argue with him, nor did she want to let herself be hurt over lan anymore. She managed a faint smile, “lan, I should be thanking you, really. If I find out that child when I fall madly in love with Anders, that would be the real knife to the heart. Tonight’s ordeal? It’s nothing. Just a few days of gossip, a few pitying glances, and then it be old news.”

Just like before, when the whole office knew she was lan’s pampered pet. She was already used to the whispers and the rumors. Perhaps it was her fate to be the subject of such talk.

As a child, she was pointed at for her mother’s actions. As an adult, it was her love life.

Clara’s calmness made it seem as though this ordeal wasn’t about her at all. Ian felt each word like a jab to his heart. His gaze was filled with pain, his throat constricted, “Clara, was the surgery very painful? Were you scared when so much blood flowed out?”

Clara’s usually indifferent demeanor showed a slight ripple of emotion. She lifted

me it would hurt, but I felt nothing. Maybe because no physical pain could match the ache

a heart in agony, shattered lan’s last defenses. He pulled her close,

sobs.

ahead, yell at me. Hit me.” As he spoke, he took Clara’s hand and started hitting

forgive him, but no matter how he struck himself, Clara just watched him quietly. Her eyes, brimming with

deeply must a heart be

in anguish. He buried his face in her shoulder, his body shaking with eách sob, his hot tears soaking through