No Strings Attached

The video had been taken in a hotel room in France, where lan had been set up that night.

Inebriated, he lay sprawled on the bed, unconscious, but every time Helena tried to get close to him, he deftly avoided her advances. Throughout the whole charade, not once did their skin even graze each other.

The entire scene was nothing but a farce orchestrated by Helena herself. So Elle had been right all along. The case involving lan was all about pulling her from the depths of despair.

Yet, it had cost him a fortune.

Accustomed to a life of luxury, lan had spent over a fortnight in a dank, dreary cell, even subjected to the pecking order established by his tough jail inmates.

He had stooped so low, all to see her rise again.

She had to admit that without this case involving lan, regaining her former glory would have taken at least six months, and as time passed, the industry might have forgotten her, sealing her fate.

quickly shut down her computer and dashed

blazed with a longing for love, just as it

her slight figure plunged into the misty downpour, all to see that man just a moment sooner, to throw

when he heard the door burst open.

eyes were bloodshot as she gazed at him.

he asked, "What's wrong? There was an umbrella in the car; why did you run through

quivering from the cold, her voice raspy. "Ian, that case in France... you

paused for a moment but soon

Clara's face, his voice soft. "I didn't set it up. I just knew beforehand that they were plotting against me, and I walked into their

bit her lip. "You had evidence to prove your innocence.

once boasting about his own role in the victory. Overwhelmed by the tenderness in his eyes, Clara couldn't hold back any longer. She grabbed lan's collar, stood on her tiptoes, and pressed