No Strings Attached

"Clara, you have no idea how deep my feelings run for lan. Our engagement was set before I was even born. I grew up under his wing; we've always been close. If it weren't for your meddling, we would've been married by now."

Clara arched an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Really? With such profound love, shouldn't you have been his rock during his darkest times when he couldn't see? Why did you bolt faster than a frightened rabbit?"

"I had no choice. It was my father's decision."

Clara leaned nonchalantly against the doorframe, her tone sharp and piercing. "You seem to have a knack for finding ways out. If push came to shove, you could've played your last tragic card. The Campbells cherish you too much to let you go. Or couldn't you simply stomach the idea of spending her life with a 'broken' man? Your double-dealing is obvious, you know. Did you really think it would go unnoticed?" With every word Clara struck at Heidi's core, anger bubbled up inside Heidi until she felt she might spit blood in rage. Her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her gaze was venomous as she glared at Clara, wishing she could tear her apart.

teeth nearly cracked from the pressure of her biting anger. "Clara, lan is mine, forever. Don't even dream of snatching him away." Clara scoffed, a smirk on her lips. "Oh,

that of a docile kitten. "Ian, does it still hurt? You nearly scared me to death." Her tears, which

were void of warmth, his voice frighteningly cold.

head, tears streaming. "lan, your wound is deep. You've lost a lot of blood, and you need someone to look after you." "But I don't

were a

at lan. "Ian, do you really despise me that much? Didn't you make a promise on the rooftop that day to allow me to be close to you as a

only agreed to your request to save you and repay a life I

heart. That's why you agreed."