No Strings Attached

Chapter 11

lan’s gaze faltered, a cold glint passing through his eyes as they settled on Clara. “If you’re feeling suicidal, be my guest,” he said with ice in his voice.

Clara’s delicate face twisted with a mock smirk. “And what makes you think I haven’t been through it? What if I just lost 2000 milliliters of blood? Would you still have me donate to her?”

“Clara, cut the drama, lan snapped. “At most, a woman loses about 60 milliliters during her period. If you’re going to make excuses, at least make them believable.”

A bitter smile tugged at Clara’s lips. She couldn’t have made it clearer, yet he refused to believe her.

Even a little concern from him would have prompted him to ask. If he knew her at all, he would understand she wasn’t the type to leave someone in the lurch.

That was the difference between love and indifference.

A mere scratch on Heidi had sent him into a panic. Yet, he hadn’t noticed at all when Clara had gone through a dangerous miscarriage.

Amidst her heartache, Clara’s eyes caught sight of a figure at the door of the hospital room. She froze in place. The day Clara had her miscarriage, she had seen a shadow during her moment of unconsciousness. A man’s gentle and low call echoed in her ears. When she forced her eyes open, she had seen the very man standing before her now.

She remembered clutching his arm tightly, pleading in a whisper, “Please, save me.”

When she awoke, Sasha told her a handsome guy with glasses had brought her in.

With a self–deprecating laugh, Clara approached the man identified as Edwin. “Are you Heidi’s brother?” she asked softly.

Edwin nodded slightly, his voice soothing. “Ms. Clara, if there’s anything wrong with your health, I can-”

Clara closed her eyes in resignation. Fate sure had a twisted sense of humor. The very man she had wanted to thank for saving her life turned out to be Heidi’s brother.

With a wry smile, she said, “Mr. Edwin, may I have a word with you in private?”

Just as she was about to lead Edwin to the nearby stairwell, lan’s grip tightened around her wrist. “What do you need him for? Can’t you say whatever it is in front of me?”

Clara scoffed, “Why should you be privy to my words?”

‘Since when did you become so unreasonable, Clara?”

“Is it me who’s unreasonable, or is it you who’s heartless?” Without waiting for lan’s response, she broke free from his grasp.

Under lan’s icy stare, she took Edwin aside. Clara’s usually vibrant face was now pale. Looking up at Edwin’s handsome features, she began, “Mr. Edwin, I haven’t had the chance to thank you for saving my life that day. Little did I know I’d get the opportunity to repay you so soon. Don’t worry, I will donate blood for your sister. But I have a condition–I need you to keep the fact that you saved me a secret.”

A look of concern flashed across Edwin’s face. The baby was lan’s, wasn’t it?”

Clara smiled faintly. “Whose it was doesn’t matter anymore. It’s gone. I just don’t want this to affect my decision.”

All she knew was that she didn’t want any more complications. She wanted to get away from lan as soon as possible.

14.05

Edwin’s eyes darkened. He seemed to see a glimpse of a mother in Clara’s expression. With a slight catch in his voice, he asked, “But you lost a lot of blood that day, and it hasn’t been long. Are you sure you can handle

this?”

1. Clara’s lips curved into a mirthless smile. “That’s my concern. I just want to repay your kindness and be done with it. After that, we don’t owe each other anything.”