No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)
Chapter 324

lan returned to Riddleton five days later. Barely had he settled into the car when Dawson began his report. "Mr. Hayes, something odd is going on. Lately, Mr. Casey has been reaching out to his business contacts, saying he wants to sell his newly established company due to health issues. And he's willing to let it go for a song."

A flicker of concern passed through lan's eyes. Something didn't sit right with him.

Casey's new venture was in the solar energy sector, a field that was not only flourishing but also perfectly aligned with his expertise. Less than six months since its inception, the company was already worth billions. With the trajectory it was on, it wouldn't be five years before it outstripped the giants in the industry in annual profits. A poor bill of health couldn't be the sole reason for such a hasty sell-off. There had to be another reason.

Casey was planning to leave, lan thought. His heart skipped a beat. "To the Bell family estate," he instructed immediately.

Half an hour later, the car rolled through the gates of the Bell estate. Ian strode into the foyer with purpose, his tall figure cut through the air. When he saw Casey, clad in an apron, emerging from the kitchen, his coiled nerves finally relaxed. Still, his voice betrayed an urgency he couldn't suppress. "Casey, where's Clara?"

Casey pointed upstairs with a smile. "Up there. When did you get back?"

"Just now. I brought some gifts for you and Clara from Riddleton and came straight here."

Casey's eyes momentarily danced with an indescribable emotion as he glanced at the assortment of gift boxes in Dawson's arms, but he quickly regained his composure. "Dinner will be ready soon. Could you please call Clara down?"

"Sure."

lan hurried upstairs, unable to wait a moment longer. Pushing open Clara's door, he found her packing a suitcase that looked ready to burst. She was struggling to zip it up, her efforts evidently futile. lan clenched his fists, feeling a pang in his heart as if it had been struck. He strode over, and his hand came down heavily on the suitcase. His voice came out icy. "Where are you planning to go?" Clara looked up sharply. Her gaze met lan's fiery one, and she felt a flicker of panic. If lan knew she was leaving, he would never let her go. All her careful planning would be for naught. She quickly composed herself, feigning indignation. "Ian! Don't you knock? You nearly scared me to death!"

"Clara, answer me. Why are you packing? Where are you going?" lan's tone was uncompromising. His grip tightened on her wrist. He pulled her into an embrace, his breath hot and hurried on her face. His eyes were burning with uncontainable rage.

Clara defensively glared at him. "lan, you're hurting me."

lan didn't loosen his grip. Instead, he held her closer, his face inching towards hers, his dark gaze fixed on her unsettled eyes.

"Why is your dad selling the company, and why are you packing? Are you planning to leave?"

Clara shook her head immediately, denying it. "No, I'm just moving some off-season clothes to my apartment. My dad's health is getting worse, and I want him to retire early. lan, you don't need to make such a fuss. My career is just taking off. How could I think of leaving?"

She hoped the explanation was convincing. After all, she was Northbridge's most sought-after attorney, with a monthly retainer in the millions. No one would ever choose to leave at a time like this.

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