No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)
Chapter 243

lan watched Clara with a gaze rich in unspoken affection, his voice dropping to a seductive rasp, "I'm still chasing her."

That single statement repositioned Clara in the grand scheme of things. She wasn't just some caged pet, pampered and kept by lan. She was the woman the crown prince of the Hayes dynasty had been tirelessly courting.

And who was lan? The epitome of power in Northbridge, an untouchable deity, perched high above mere mortals. He was the unattainable rose every woman yearned to pluck. With just a word, he could command legions of admirers to live or die for him.

And now, in front of the media, he was openly admitting his pursuit of Clara.

Such explosive news sent shockwaves through the press corps, igniting a frenzy as reporters bombarded them with questions, desperate for a nugget of confirmation.

lan's gaze lingered on Clara, tender and entwining as vines. "As for how long the chase will last, that's up to Attorney Clara to decide when she'll officially have me. But no matter how long it takes, the position of Mrs. Hayes is hers and hers alone."

His words may not have explicitly mentioned 'love,' but they were drenched in deep-seated emotion. Such a declaration sent the crowd into a rapturous uproar.

Clara felt as though she was ensnared in a dream.

In this dream, she was in a predicament, and the boy she adored rescued her from the shadows just like in days past.

He said he never saw her as a sugar baby. He said the title of Mrs. Hayes was reserved for her.

Tears welled up unbidden in Clara's eyes as she looked at lan. The man was devilishly handsome, his features chiseled, his looks deceivingly aloof, but his eyes were like twin pools of allure, drawing her in. Those eyes were now gazing at her with a warmth that could melt glaciers.

For a moment, Clara's heart ceased beating. She had to admit that she couldn't forget lan and couldn't resist everything he brought into her life - the good and the bad.

Her voice trembled as she whispered, "lan." It was a call so fragile it nearly shattered him.

He smiled, gently ruffling her hair before pulling her into an embrace, his lips brushing a feather-light kiss on her forehead. His eyes, those dark, fathomless orbs, couldn't hide the profound love within. "You were never a fling. You were the Mrs. Hayes I've always wanted to marry."

At that moment, Clara's tears finally broke free, cascading down her cheeks. This was like a thorn that had pierced her heart for so long, throbbing in the quiet of the night. Now, with lan's public declaration, the thorn was being pulled out. Though painful, the sting was strangely sweet, a sweetness that radiated from her heart, engulfing her entire being.

lan's cool fingertips gently wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes, his voice a husky whisper, "Clara, believe me, before long, you'll definitely become my wife, Mrs. Hayes." With that, he took Clara by the hand and led her away from the crowd.

The Ivywood University anniversary celebration had already drawn considerable attention, but this news sent it skyrocketing to the top of the trending searches. Some even dug up old videos of lan's high- profile courtship of Clara.

In no time, the 'Cold CEO and His Secretary' mini-drama was crafted and went viral.

Heidi was livid, her phone shattering against the floor. Her body quivered, eyes bloodshot with fury.

She would never let Clara triumph. The title of Mrs. Hayes was hers.

Anyone who dared to contest it would pay with their life!

With a trembling hand, she pulled out another phone and dialed a number.

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