No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian) novel Chapter 244

Clara felt Ian's firm grip as he guided her out of the college's back gate, passing the very alley that had been the scene of a traumatic event three years ago.

The alley remained a picture of neglect, with its pothole-riddled path and walls crying out for a fresh coat of paint. The occasional yowl of a stray cat pierced the silence, and the flickering streetlights stretched their shadows long and distorted across the ground.

A shiver ran down Clara's spine as she clung to Ian's arm, her voice betraying her anxiety. "Ian, why are we here?"

Ian's handsome face was accentuated by the dim light, casting sharp contrasts across his features. His eyes, deep pools of mystery, shimmered with a soft light, and his lips curved into a half-smile as he gazed at Clara with a look as tender as moonlight on water.

"Clara," Ian's voice was warm, magnetic, "I never knew what it was to feel a heartbeat until I met you. I used to think my fondness for you was just physical attraction, but after you left, I realized it was more profound. The moment I saw you here, I fell for you. Otherwise, I wouldn't have agreed to let you stay and take care of me.”

“I never imagined myself capable of everlasting love; my parents' rocky relationship had left a lasting impression on me. So, I kept my true feelings for you hidden deep within. The harsher my words were to you, the deeper the pain in my heart. You taught me what love is and showed me how blissful it is to love and be loved.

“It took me three years to learn how to love someone, and because I didn't know how to express it, I ended up hurting you. If I could turn back time, I'd rewrite our story starting from this alley, and this time, I'd be the one to fall for you first. I wouldn't let you get hurt or lose our child.

“Clara, can we start over?"