No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian) novel Chapter 261

Those words cut through Heidi, leaving her with nowhere to hide her shame. Turning to Ian with a pitiful look, she pleaded, "Ian, I didn't mean to embarrass Clara. It's perfectly normal not to have any special talents. Not everyone is gifted, you know. You don't have to be so protective of her."

Her words implied that Clara was devoid of any talent and that any attempt would be a spectacle of embarrassment.

Ian was about to speak up when Clara's delicate hand covered his mouth. With a twinkle in her eye, she reassured him, "As a proud attorney, do I really need Mr. Hayes to speak for me? Don't worry, Ian, I won't let you down."

Turning her gaze to Heidi, Clara asked confidently, "So, what would you like to challenge me to?"

Heidi feigned embarrassment, "Oh, I was just speaking off the cuff. Don't take it to heart. It's okay if you can't perform. I just thought Grandma Rose has been so good to you, and it would be a shame not to do a little something for her birthday, don't you think?"

Clara nodded in apparent agreement. "Well, you have a point. But I only know a bit of piano, and I gave it up in high school because the coursework was just too demanding."

Heidi's heart swelled with glee at Clara's admission. "It's all right, darling. Grandma Rose won't mind. You must still remember 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,' right? Or even 'Happy Birthday' would do."

The thought of Clara playing 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' in front of all the guests, as the future matriarch of the Hayes family, tickled Heidi. What a comical scene that would be! Clara would be out of her depth in no time.

With a sly gleam in her eye, Heidi anticipated Clara's fall from grace.

Clara frowned slightly as if troubled. "Well then, I shall oblige. Let's see what I can remember and improvise." With that, she approached the grand piano on stage.

Whispers followed her, but Clara seemed unaffected, taking her seat at the piano with composure.