No Strings Attached

lan's sculpted fingers pinched Clara's chin, his lips curling into a smirk as he gazed at her. "I was just trying to help you get the sleep out of your eyes. What did you think I was up to, huh?" He gently rubbed the corner of her eye, a low hum of pleasure escaping from his throat.

Clara's cheeks blazed a furious red as she stammered, "You..."

The sight of her all puffed up with indignation only deepened the smile on lan's lips. "If you wish, Mrs. Hayes, I can bear the pain to satisfy you, and if not, I can still make you..."

Clara immediately clamped her hand over his mouth, her eyes wide as saucers. "If you say another word, I'm done with you."

lan's tongue playfully flicked against her palm before he took her hand and led her towards the hospital room. "Enough teasing. Let's go check on Casey."

in hand, they entered the room. They arrived just in time to see Anders reading

the document away. "Dad, what are you doing? Why are

and prepared jewelry for you, all safe in our home vault. After I'm gone, the rest of my assets are all yours. If I don't set this straight, your grandma might take it all,

she called you over, she was pressuring you

have nothing to do with the

comforting him, "Dad, I don't need any of it. I just want you to be okay.

the whole truth. He patted Clara's shoulder and said, "He's just being cautious. Nothing's going to happen. Don't worry. I'll stay with him for a bit.

had left, lan asked, "Dad, did Eva force you to do this using

even did a paternity test in secret. She claims Clara shouldn't inherit my estate. She even compelled me to make a will, leaving everything to her. Otherwise, she'd tell Clara about her origins. Ian, if Clara finds out Paolo is her biological father, she won't be able to handle it. I fear the shock would

about the immense pressure Clara had endured while he was sick, and it cut him