No Strings Attached

Hearing that, lan's smile gradually stiffened on his face. Leaning close to Brodie, he whispered hoarsely, "Just who the hell are you, and what's your deal with Clara?" With a nonchalant sip of his drink, Brodie's lips curled into a smirk. "Take a guess!"

lan's thigh pressed forcefully against Brodie's, his smile intact, but his teeth nearly shattered from clenching. "Whoever you are, I won't let you snatch Clara away. She's mine." "We'll see if you've got what it takes to keep her safe. I made her a promise to protect her for life, and I don't go back on my word."

"Are you referring to those childish pinky promises, Mr. Brodie? Clara has wiped those from her memory clean. Still pining away-I mean, don't you find that a bit pathetic?"

"Whether it's pathetic or not, maybe I should reveal my true identity and see if Clara remembers our past."

At those words, lan's grip tightened on Brodie's wrist, his eyes filled with a threatening glare. "Don't you dare!"

The two men, each nursing a drink, baited each other, the tension thick in the air.

harmonious, but underneath, it was an all-out war. Ian, seeking revenge on Brodie, attempted to get him drunk, only to find Brodie's tolerance matched his own. Both men drank a bit too much. Brodie was escorted away while Clara

Clara brought a basin of hot water and wiped lan down. Just as she was about to leave with the basin, a strong hand wrapped around

domineering and intense, laced with the potent scent of

haunted by Brodie's words. He said Clara was the one he had always protected since they were kids. She was clearly lan's woman. What right did Brodie have

of the May case, likely tied to his own mother, sent stabbing pains through lan's heart. He had never been so afraid as he was now, afraid of losing Clara when

then? He loved her

even more fervent. Clara nearly cried out, biting her lip

dad and

laced with seduction. "Then let

cheeks burned hotter at his words. Her eyes were dewy and