No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)
Chapter 363

The man glared at Edwin without a trace of fear. "What's the matter, feeling sorry for her? She's your buddy's girl. What's it to you? Got some dirty little secret between the two of you?" "Shut your mouth! Believe me, I'll blow your head off right here, right now."

Edwin aimed his gun at the man. Immediately, the man pressed his knife against Clara's delicate neck. "Go ahead, shoot. Let's see what's quicker, your bullet or my blade. I forgot to tell you that I was a butche back in my hometown. I could take down the biggest steer with a single slice, let alone a woman."

He pushed down slightly, and a bright red line of blood appeared on Clara's neck.

Edwin, out of sheer terror, released the trigger and shouted, "Don't you dare touch her!"

"You want me to leave her be? Then get the hell out of my way, or I'll make sure she dies right in front of you."

Everyone stepped back a few paces. No one dared to make another move.

Clara shook with fear. She knew this guy was desperate, beyond reach of any threats. His attack with the chandelier was just a diversion, and his real target was her. In other words, he wanted to use her to ge to lan.

Maybe through this guy, they could reel in the big fish they were after. Realizing all this, Clara tried to calm herself. She needed to keep him stable and buy time for lan to arrive.

Taking a deep breath, she spoke with a steady voice, "You're already committing a crime by taking a hostage. Even if you manage to seize control of Hayes Corporation, you won't be able to run it. In the end, you'll walk away with nothing. If I were you, I'd demand a hefty ransom from lan, maybe a helicopter too, and then make a run for some foreign land. Sounds much better than being a pawn here, doesn't it?" At her words, the man's brow furrowed. "How do you know I'm being used? Don't I look like the mastermind of a kidnapping ring?"

Clara offered a faint smile, bending her lips slightly. "The man fit to be your boss is surely ruthless and meticulous. Yet, here you are, full of mistakes and a loving father. If I'm not wrong, your child is under five. What a young kid fears most isn't poverty but losing their most beloved person."

She lifted her hand, lightly tapping his wrist where a pen-drawn watch lay, smiling as she said, "That watch must be your child's artwork. It's set to ten o'clock, which I guess is her bedtime. She wants to see you before she sleeps. It's only half an hour to ten. Do you really want to say goodbye to her forever?"

Her words seemed to stir something in the man. He stared at the makeshift watch on his wrist, his eyes swimming with something that looked suspiciously like tears.

Just as he was lost in thought, lan burst onto the scene. He raised his gun and shot straight at the man's wrist.

With a loud 'bang,' the knife clattered to the floor. Clara seized the moment and delivered a swift kick to his groin. Then, she ran towards lan.

lan pulled her into his arms, one hand covering her ears, as he fired two more shots at the man's knees.

The man fell to his knees with a thud, his face twisted in a dark scowl at Clara. "You damn bitch, you tricked me!" he spat. He reached for the knife on the ground, aiming to stab it toward Clara's abdomen.

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