No Strings Attached novel (Sharp and Clara’s)

Chapter 166

After a month apart, lan appeared significantly thinner. His once captivating eyes now seemed somewhat sunken, with noticeable creases at the comers. She had never seen lan look so downtrodden before.

Clara stood quietly, watching as lan made his way toward her, step by step. His typically somber expression broke into a faint smile the moment his eyes met hers:

His voice was raspy, carrying a note of gratitude, “Clara, thanks for taking on my case.”

Clara lowered her gaze, all business, “I've been appointed by the city officials to represent you. Let's get down to the facts, shall we?”

She took out her voice recorder and placed it on the table, ready to begin. But lan’s broken voice halted her. “Clara, haven't seen you for a month. Have you been well? On sleepless nights, did you ever think of me? Clara, I've thought of you every single day. Missed you terribly.”

His gaze was intense as he looked at her, his handsome face etched with sincerity. Clara's hand, holding the pen, trembled ever so slightly, and she took a few seconds before she lifted her head. Their eyes collided unexpectedly, and she maintained her professional demeanor, “Mr. Hayes, I only have thirty minutes. I don’t want to let Mr. Trevor down.”

lan's response was a bittersweet smile. He began to recount the details of the case to her. After everything was said and done, his eyes burned with earnestness. “Clara, I honestly don't know when that woman came in. I didn't do anything to her. You have to believe me. In my life, I've only ever been with you. I've stayed true to you.”

After packing up her things, Clara's expression remained stoic as she faced bim. “Rest assured, Mr. Hayes, 1 will do my utmost to win this case for you. As for the rest, you needn't worry.”

With those final words, she left without looking back.

“Clara.” lan called out to her, standing up, his eyes, bloodshot, fixed on her. “Go have some food first. You must be hungry after the flight. The seafood here is pretty decent. Have Dawson take you. This case won't be settled in a day or two. Don't wear yourself out; it would pain me to see.”

A faint smile touched Clara's lips, “Don’t worry, Mr. Hayes. I'll take good care of myself until I get you out. I'll be going now.”

She left, her back to him, resolute and unwavering. lan watched her go, his heart aching with every step she took.

This wasn't the Clara he knew. The Clara he remembered would have teared up seeing him hurt, but now, there wasn't a trace of sorrow in her eyes.

Had she truly let him go? But he was falling deeper and deeper.

Clara had a quick meal, nothing fancy, and asked Dawson to take her to meet the young celebrity. The celebrity, Helena, was the neglected seventh princess of the royal family, not favored and craving recognition. Clara suspected that Helena’s scheme to frame lan was a bid for power, to gain the king's favor.

They met in a café, and upon seeing Clara, Helena's blue eyes flickered with an indescribable emotion. She sized up Clara with a calculating eye and a small smile.

“Attorney Clara, I know how desperately you want to free lan, but with the evidence stacked against him, you simply can’t win this case-unless..."

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