No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)
Chapter 427

Time was ticking by, second by second. Just when a hint of a lead appeared, it would vanish without a trace. This happened over and over again.

It was enough to make lan's temples throb with pulsing veins of frustration. He knew that with every passing moment, Clara and their unborn child were in more danger.

Heidi, having escaped from prison, had no intention of being taken alive again. She must have been consumed with a vengeful fury, determined to take Clara down with her. The mere thought sent a sharp pain through lan's chest, making it hard to breathe. His fingers danced frantically over the computer keyboard, searching for any trace he could find. Meanwhile...

Clara awoke to find herself lying on the deck of a ship, her wrists and ankles bound tightly. The constant slapping of waves against the hull filled her ears. In an instant, she realized she had been kidnapped.

She remembered slipping into her wedding dress, lost in its stunning beauty, when suddenly a hand covered her mouth and a pungent scent filled her lungs, causing her to lose consciousness. She hadn't ever caught a glimpse of her captor's face.

The sound of the waves triggered Clara's deep-sea phobia, slowly consuming her with terror.

She reminded herself that she couldn't panic. She had to survive. Ian was waiting to marry her, and their child was growing inside her. She couldn't let anything happen to their baby.

Carefully, Clara began to inch her body across the deck. She spotted a jagged piece of metal not far away, perfect for sawing through her bindings.

She moved slowly, cautiously, not wanting to alert her abductor. She also had to be gentle to avoid harming her baby.

Inch by inch, she crept forward. Exhausted and drenched in sweat, she finally made it to the piece of metal. Her once pristine and beautiful wedding dress was now torn and stained. Ignoring her disheveled state, she sat beside the sharp object and began to saw at the ropes around her wrists.

Just then, she heard the sound of a door opening. She froze, fearing the worst.

Instead of a menacing kidnapper, she was met with a familiar face. Heidi stood in the doorway, clad in black, her gaunt face twisted with a sinister grin.

"Clara, we meet again," she sneered.

Clara, startled, managed to ask, "Heidi? How did you get out?"

Heidi sauntered over, squatted down beside her, and grabbed Clara's throat.

With clenched teeth, she hissed, "You've got some nerve asking that. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been in jail. Clara, you didn't expect this, did you? After all our battles, I'm the one who wins in the end." She threw back her head and laughed triumphantly.

Realizing that Heidi was her captor, Clara knew she was facing a desperate situation. If Heidi could escape from prison, she was prepared to face death.

In other words, this was the mysterious mastermind's final use for Heidi. And the price would be her life.

Clara tried to remain calm. She pleaded softly, "Heidi, don't be fooled by them. They're using you against me, but their real plan is to sacrifice you. If you let me go, I promise I'll help you find a way out. I'll even speak on your behalf to get your sentence reduced."

At these words, Heidi let out a scornful laugh. "Clara, you think you can still marry lan and live happily ever after? Dream on! I'll make sure you're dressed for your wedding, but dead before you take your Vows!"

Then, she grabbed Clara's hair and slammed her head against the deck. With venomous spite, she spat out, "Clara, you bitch, if I can't be the daughter of the Campbell family heiress, neither will you!"

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