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."

the room. They arrived just in

you doing? Why are you

weak from surgery, Casey explained with frail breath, "Clara, you and lan are about to get married. I've deposited a cool billion in your account and prepared jewelry for you, all safe in our home vault. After I'm gone, the rest of my assets are all

was pressuring you

Bell International, I only took my own shares. My assets have nothing to do with the Bell family, and nobody should set their sights on them. They're all for

grew misty. She took her father's hand, comforting him, "Dad, I don't need any of it. I just want you to be

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. You go over

did

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 harm her, especially now tha she's pregnant.

pressure Clara had endured while he was sick, and it cut him to