No Strings Attached

Upon hearing those words, Clara spun around, her gaze steady and fearless. Her voice was a chill breeze as she said, "Well, Mr. Paolo, that remains to be seen if you've got what it takes." After saying that, she pivoted on her heel and ascended the staircase.

Paolo gritted his teeth in frustration, about to retort when lan's low chuckle filled the space. "Sorry, Paolo, my dear Clara has been utterly spoiled by me. It's my fault she's so informal with you. But I have to say she's spot on you really don't have what it takes."

lan leaned casually against the doorframe, with his hands buried in his overcoat pockets. The shadow of a smirk played on his lips. His eyes flashed a clear warning: "Touch her and you'll see."

Paolo clenched his fists, too angry to utter another word of disrespect. Instead, he turned to lan. "Didn't she dump you? And yet here you are, defending her. Don't forget, because of her, your mother endured a hundred lashes."

lan's gaze was icy as he replied, "Which is exactly why you should know better, Paolo. Anyone who has harmed Clara is on my blacklist, even if it's my own mother."

your mom! What's so great about her? She's from a lowly background, with such a scandalous mother. Aren't you afraid of being the family's laughingstock if you

grabbed the nearest broom and swung it at Paolo. "Who are you calling

furious, even resorting to violence. He wished he could knock some sense into

broom. He brushed off the dirt with disgust, glaring at the door as he bit down hard on his lip. Pulling out his cell phone, he made a call to Leonora. "Looks like your son's cozying up to Clara again. You took your

winced with pain. "Don't worry. I won't let Clara win,"

suppressed fury. "At this point,

hanging up, he drove

broom aside and fixed lan with a serious look. "I hoped to one day reveal the truth to Clara, but with a

he spoke, the more emotional he became. His eyes reddened. His daughter was so beautiful and kind; why did her past have to be so

she had endured