No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)
Chapter 320

At this moment, lan was stripped of all his usual defenses, resembling a pitiful little puppy. His big, doleful eyes begged for sympathy.

Clara's heart felt as though it had been pricked with a needle, which sent waves of sharp pain throughout her chest. She slowly crouched down, gently stroked lan's hair, and whispered softly, "lan, let me take you home."

Red-eyed, lan looked up at her. "Promise you won't leave, and I'll go with you."

"Alright, I promise."

Hearing this, lan stood, albeit unsteadily, and allowed himself to be led away. His grip on Clara's hand never loosened. It was as if he feared he'd lose her the moment he let go.

Upon arriving at the Miller family residence, Clara helped lan clean up a little and tucked him into bed.

His brows still furrowed in distress. When she watched him sleep in this way, she felt a twinge of heartache and softly smoothed his furrowed brow with her fingers. Her fingertips couldn't resist tracing the contours of his handsome face, from his eyebrows to his eyes, from his nose down to his mouth.

With each inch of his skin her fingers caressed, Clara's heart ached in tandem. She knew that after she left, lan would be in pain for a while, and she hoped that time would be as brief as possible. The cool touch of her fingertips lingered on his sensual lips. Unbidden, memories of their intimate moments together flooded her mind.

Unable to resist, Clara leaned in close to lan's lips and murmured hoarsely, "lan, I'm sorry."

Tears, large as pearls, fell one by one onto lan's face. At last, she couldn't hold back any longer and pressed her lips to his.

The next morning, when lan awoke, it felt as if he had been in a dream. In that dream, Clara had cried. She had apologized to him. She had even kissed him of her own accord.

With these thoughts racing through his mind, he immediately grabbed his phone to call Clara. "Clara, where are you?"

Clara, dragging her luggage out of the airport terminal, felt a sting in her eyes. "I had some stuff to take care of, so I headed back to Northbridge."

At her words, lan bolted upright in bed. "Why didn't you tell me? Wait for me. I'll be at the airport in no time."

"It's alright. Ryker and Sasha are with me. You enjoy your time with Grandma Rose and the others. I need to spend some time with my dad and visit some relatives."

lan had a nagging feeling that something was off. Why was Sasha putting herself through all this back and forth while pregnant? Was she going to look for the baby's father? After giving Clara a few more instructions, he hung up.

As Clara walked out of the airport, a hurried figure flashed by her side. Paolo, pale as a sheet, was on the phone. "Eddie, what the hell is going on? What do you mean Heidi isn't Mom's child?" Edwin's voice was cold as ice. "We'll talk about it when you get to Grandma's. Just get on the plane."

"How is Heidi right now? Don't hurt her. She's innocent," Paolo implored.

Edwin chuckled darkly. "It seems you have a soft spot for this daughter. Her mother must have been quite special to you."

"Eddie, watch how you speak to me. I've only ever loved your mother. You know that."

"Then explain to me. How is Heidi your daughter but not Mom's child?"

"Give me some time to think. My head's a mess right now. Just don't hurt Heidi."

Edwin hung up with his father. His lips curled into an indescribable bitter smile. This was the man his mother loved deeply. Maybe she would never know that her husband had an affair and another daughter. Sitting in his room, Edwin held a picture with a petal birthmark, and his fingertips gently traced over it.

Where could his sister be? Was she doing well?

Just then, the door to his room opened, and a furry little head peeked in. Orin was lying at the door, smiling up at him. "Uncle Eddie, Mom says it's time for dinner."

Edwin put down what he was holding and beckoned to Orin. "Come here, let me give you a hug."

Orin, with his little legs, ran into Edwin's arms.

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