No Strings Attached novel (Sharp and Clara’s)

Chapter 95

lan glared at the disheveled Anders, and his molars clenched in suppressed rage. “Do you think I won't touch you just “cause your old man's got pull?” he sneered.

Without waiting for Anders to snap out of his shock, lan lunged like a predator, pinning him to the ground and unleashing a flurry of blows.

Visions of Clara, flushed and disheveled in her nightgown, sprawled across the bed filled lan's mind. Her hair was damp, and her neck flushed red. He knew this image of Clara all too well-she was his woman, yet here she was, lying in bed with another man.

This bitter pill was something lan couldn't swallow. His punches landed with increasing ferocity, giving Anders no chance to defend himself.

Just then, a feeble voice cut through the chaos. “lan, stop it!” Clara's words, meant to be stern, came out weak and breathless due to her frail condition.

lan halted his assault, his eyes bloodshot as he turned toward Clara. Her eyes, brimming with tears, still held that familiar glint of desire that he couldn't ignore. He bit back his anger, a devilish smirk crossing his lips.

"What's this? A few hits, and you're all heartache and tears for him? Seems like you've fallen pretty hard, Clara!” lan sneered, pushing Anders aside and advancing toward the bed with a menacing air. He gripped Clara's chin firmly, his face a dark shadow looming over her.

Under the influence of the drug coursing through her veins, Clara's heart skipped a beat as lan's icy fingers touched her skin. Mental images of their past wild encounters flashed through her mind, intensified by the drug's effects.

She wanted to tell him she was drugged, to tell him she was suffering and needed his help. But before she could speak, Ian's voice came, chilling to the core. “Clara, you think I care who you're with? You're just another notch on my belt, a plaything I've grown tired of. I'm done with you, and if Anders here likes his goods second-hand, he's welcome to you. From now on, we go our separate ways!” After holding her gaze for several agonizing seconds, he released her and stormed out.

Clara watched lan’s retreating figure, her heart shredded by his words. She had no time for sorrow as she turned her attention to Anders, lying bloodied on the floor. “Anders, are you okay?” she whispered hoarsely.

Anders, battered and bruised, struggled to his feet. “Don't talk, save your strength. I'm taking you to the hospital.”

By the time they reached the emergency room, Clara had lost consciousness. It was a long while before she was wheeled out of the ER.

Anders rushed to the doctor's side. “Dr. Kork, how is she?”

1/2

She's been dosed with a potent narcotic from the black market. We don't have an

entidate domestically, but luckily, she’s lost a lot of blood, which has lessened the drug’s effects. She's pulled through, though. I've never seen anyone withstand this drug like she has. She's the first.”

Anders nodded his thanks. “I appreciate it, Dr. Kork.”

When Clara awoke, she remained silent, sitting on the balcony and gazing out the window. lan’s last words echoed in her head, each syllable like a knife twisting in her heart. She had seen his ruthlessness before, but his outright declaration that she was nothing more than a discarded toy was a first. She wondered just how little she meant to him for him to utter such callous words

Her eyes burned with the sting of unshed tears. She leaned back in her chair and slowly closed her eyes, hot tears slipping down her cheeks and tracing a path across her elegant collarbone. Her pale lips curled into a bittersweet smile that was difficult to describe, a mix of pain and resignation.