No Strings Attached

Clara had barely caught her breath from the shock when she heard lan call out her name. In a daze, she walked over to his bedside, gazing at him for a few seconds before saying, "My wound is fine, but you're really hurt. You need to rest up."

Without warning, lan pulled her into his embrace and ripped open her blouse. A white bandage clung to her pale back. Beneath the bandage, the outer layer of skin was damaged, and the petal birthmark had vanished without a trace.

As lan stared at Clara's wound, a numb pain spread through his heart. He knew this attack had been meant for her. Destroying the birthmark had been the perpetrator's true intention. This meant that someone besides him and Edwin knew Clara was May's daughter.

lan's cold fingertips gently brushed Clara's skin. His voice sounded husky as he asked, "Does it hurt?"

Clara shook her head slightly. "The doctor said if you hadn't rinsed it with water in time, it could have been much worse."

Her mind was still filled with the image of lan, one hand pressed against his own blood-gushing wound, the other holding a hose to wash the acid off her. The scene was so shocking it pained her heart. It sent shivers through her entire body.

As Clara lost herself in thought, lan's raspy voice cut through. "But it still breaks my heart, and I feel guilty. None of this would have happened if I hadn't left you alone."

anguish. He was terrified by the thought of what could have happened if he hadn't been there. What if she had been

ran through lan's heart. He held Clara tight, his burning lips pressing against her back. A broken

so scared. Can I

quietly leaned against lan. Both were wounded,

was short-lived. The door to the

get a room, you two. Didn't anyone teach you to lock the

taking a hit to the back?

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and pulled her close, asking with concern, "How's your wound? Is

not too bad. It should heal

already contacted a friend abroad, and she's a plastic surgeon. She can help you with the reconstructive

close encounter with Greta. People said she was unapproachable and reserved. But now, she seemed like

smile. "Thank you, Miss