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."

hand, they entered the room. They arrived just in

doing? Why are you drafting a will all of

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,

you over, she was pressuring you to make a will, to get all

My assets have nothing to do with the Bell family, and nobody should set their sights on them. They're all

any of it. I just want you to be okay. Once you're

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 the will in detail

and Clara had left, lan asked, "Dad, did Eva force you to do

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

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