No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)
Chapter 237

"lan, if you don't show, you better be ready to pick up my pieces! I promised May I'd look after Heidi. I can't just let her die."

Leonora's voice was edged with desperation as she grabbed the paring knife beside her, pressing it to her throat.

Kayla lunged forward, shouting into her phone, "lan, your mother's threatening to off herself. You know how she gets. Get over here, now!"

lan felt a pulse of anger, veins throbbing at his temples. He couldn't fathom why his mom would bend over backward for Heidi. Her reputation was as shot as yesterday's news, and she still thought she could marry lan off to her. Did she really want her son to be a laughingstock?

Inside, lan was a tempest, his voice colder than a glacier, "I'm on my way!" He hung up abruptly, vision tinged with red as he glanced toward the kitchen.

Clara was rinsing veggies, her expression unreadable. She couldn't have missed the conversation.

lan strode into the kitchen, wrapping his arms around her from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder, his voice a husky whisper. "Clara, wait for me to come back for dinner. I'll set things straight with her." Clara didn't struggle but offered a light smile, "Go. It's a matter of life and death, not to be taken lightly."

lan's mind raced back to the night Clara was hemorrhaging and how she'd called him for help, only to be dismissed with 'Heidi's life is on the line, stop making a scene.' How heartbroken she must have been. Ian felt an aching swarm of regret.

Heidi had always been a barrier between him and Clara, one she couldn't cross. He had to resolve this once and for all, or Clara would never come back to him. When lan arrived at the hospital, the room was in chaos. There were tears, shouting, a cacophony of distress.

Paolo wiped his eyes as lan entered, pleading, "lan, for my sake, talk some sense into Heidi. Get her to comply with the treatment, or she'll die from the poison."

lan glanced at Heidi on the hospital bed, frothing at the mouth, pale as death, her body convulsing. Her eyes locked onto his, weakly uttering, "lan."

He stalked over, his face a thundercloud, "You want to die? There are less painful ways. I could get you a euthanasia pod. Lights out in ten seconds. Interested?" His voice was devoid of sympathy, his gaze filled with disdain.

The indifference cut Heidi deep. Even now, lan could be this cruel to her yet so gentle with Clara.

Why?

He was supposed to be hers. Why did Clara get to steal him away?

Tears slipped down Heidi's cheeks. "If you want me dead that badly, lan, what's the point in living? I've loved you so much, and you've shown me no compassion, not even the smallest bit. When you were in danger, I didn't think twice before jumping in to take the hit for you. The thought of you getting hurt... I just wanted to take that pain for you. But the knife struck my womb, robbing me of motherhood. No matter what I've done, it's all been for you, the one I love. No matter how you treat me, I have no regrets. All I want is for you to live a good life, lan." She coughed up blood, her face ghostly as she looked at him.

lan's face remained impassive, his eyes shadowed and unreadable. "So you called me here to watch you die and feel guilty? Is that it?"

Heidi sobbed, shaking her head. "No, I just wanted to see you one last time, to remember how heartless you were, so in my next life, I won't be so good to you."

lan let out a bitter laugh, "Heidi, such a wasted talent on anything but the stage. Do you think I'm as naive as I was three years ago? Someone get in here and check her properly. Find out what poison she's 'taken."

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