No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian) novel Chapter 258

The video had been taken in a hotel room in France, where Ian had been set up that night.

Inebriated, he lay sprawled on the bed, unconscious, but every time Helena tried to get close to him, he deftly avoided her advances. Throughout the whole charade, not once did their skin even graze each other.

The entire scene was nothing but a farce orchestrated by Helena herself. So Elle had been right all along. The case involving Ian was all about pulling her from the depths of despair.

Yet, it had cost him a fortune.

Accustomed to a life of luxury, Ian had spent over a fortnight in a dank, dreary cell, even subjected to the pecking order established by his tough jail inmates.

He had stooped so low, all to see her rise again.

She had to admit that without this case involving Ian, regaining her former glory would have taken at least six months, and as time passed, the industry might have forgotten her, sealing her fate.

Watching this, Clara's eyes brimmed with tears. She quickly shut down her computer and dashed for the door.

At that moment, her heart blazed with a longing for love, just as it had three years prior on that fateful night.

Disregarding the pouring rain outside, her slight figure plunged into the misty downpour, all to see that man just a moment sooner, to throw herself into his arms.

Ian was sitting up in bed, poring over some documents, when he heard the door burst open. He looked up immediately.

Clara stood before him, completely drenched with water dripping down her face. Her eyes were bloodshot as she gazed at him.

A pang of concern tightened Ian's chest, and he quickly approached her. His large hand brushed her forehead as he asked, "What's wrong? There was an umbrella in the car; why did you run through the rain?" Sensing something amiss, he grabbed a towel and began to dry her hair while he looked down at her with tender eyes.

Clara simply watched him, her lips quivering from the cold, her voice raspy. "Ian, that case in France... you set it up, didn't you?"