No Strings Attached

lan watched Clara with a gaze rich in unspoken affection, his voice dropping to a seductive rasp, "I'm still chasing her."

That single statement repositioned Clara in the grand scheme of things. She wasn't just some caged pet, pampered and kept by lan. She was the woman the crown prince of the Hayes dynasty had been tirelessly courting.

And who was lan? The epitome of power in Northbridge, an untouchable deity, perched high above mere mortals. He was the unattainable rose every woman yearned to pluck. With just a word, he could command legions of admirers to live or die for him.

And now, in front of the media, he was openly admitting his pursuit of Clara.

Such explosive news sent shockwaves through the press corps, igniting a frenzy as reporters bombarded them with questions, desperate for a nugget of confirmation.

lan's gaze lingered on Clara, tender and entwining as vines. "As for how long the chase will last, that's up to Attorney Clara to decide when she'll officially have me. But no matter how long it takes, the position of Mrs. Hayes is hers and hers alone."

mentioned 'love,' but they were drenched in deep-seated emotion. Such a declaration sent the crowd into a rapturous

as though she

dream, she was in a predicament, and the boy she adored

saw her as a sugar baby. He said

his features chiseled, his looks deceivingly aloof, but his eyes were like twin pools of allure, drawing her in. Those eyes were now gazing at her with a warmth that

a moment, Clara's heart ceased beating. She had to admit that she couldn't forget lan and

"lan." It was a call so

on her forehead. His eyes, those dark, fathomless orbs, couldn't hide the profound love within. "You were never a

moment, Clara's tears finally broke free, cascading down her cheeks. This was like a thorn that had pierced her heart for so long, throbbing in the quiet of the night. Now, with lan's public declaration, the thorn was being pulled out. Though painful, the sting was

before long, you'll definitely become my wife, Mrs. Hayes." With that, he took Clara by the hand and led her away from