No Strings Attached

Chapter 499

As Clara drifted into slumber, he quietly made his way to the study. It was then that his inbox pinged with an email from Dawson. [Mr. Hayes, based on the photo of Zachary, we’ve had a sketch artist come up with this portrait. The authorities are now using it to track him down.]

Ian furrowed his brows as he examined the image on his screen.

Zachary had delicate, almost handsome features, and the digital portrait depicted him as clean-cut and genteel. Yet beneath that scholarly exterior lurked a man capable of the most vicious and ruthless acts.

Without hesitation, Ian fired back a response to Dawson, [Find out everything you can about the backgrounds of the Devil’s Claw chapter leaders. He might be hiding amongst them.]

...

A month later.

The first hearing of the case against Leonora for May’s murder was underway. The evidence was irrefutable, and the proceedings moved along smoothly with Leonora admitting guilt throughout.

However, when the judge inquired about the Katherine case, Leonora vehemently denied any involvement.

Ian watched her unrepentant demeanor in the courtroom, his heart in agony.

How he wished she had never brought him into this world.

How he wished he had no ties to her at all.

Then, he wouldn’t have to live with the constant fear of Clara leaving him.

The case involved two lives, and Leonora should have faced an immediate death sentence, but due to the ongoing investigation into Katherine’s case, the judge issued a death sentence with a stay of execution.

When she heared the verdict, Leonora’s eyes flicked towards Teo and Katherine. Her gaze was filled with unmistakable loathing. “Teo, you want to know who Katherine really is? Kill that bitch Clara for me, and I’ll tell you everything.”

At her words, Teo rose from his seat. His eyes were glaring with icy resolve. Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

“Leonora, I won’t let you harm Clara again. As for Katherine’s identity, I will uncover the truth.”

Leonora scoffed with disdain and laughed, only to be led away by the prison guards.

Teo watched her retreating back and sighed deeply. “At least this brings some closure for May. I just hope Clara can forgive us for keeping the truth from her.”

Ian looked pale. There was a nagging premonition gnawing at him. He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed Clara.

The phone rang endlessly without an answer. He then called Casey. The line connected, and Ian blurted out, “Casey, where’s Clara? Why isn’t she answering her phone?”

Casey was in the bustling food market. The background noise was overwhelming. He shouted back, “She was at home when I left. She’s probably out in the backyard with Snowy, enjoying the sun. Don’t worry. She’s fine.”

After hanging up with Casey, Ian called the house security. The guards reported that the lady of the house had not stepped out.

Clara, now pregnant, had always been on a strict routine. On such a beautiful day, it was unlikely she’d be cooped up in her room. Ian’s sense of foreboding intensified, and he rushed outside with his phone in hand.

Meanwhile, Clara sat with her phone, replaying the video over and over. The video had been sent from an unknown number. Thinking it was spam, she almost deleted it — until she saw the bold message below.

[Want to know who killed your mother? Watch the video.]

Expecting a prank, she clicked play. But as the video unfolded, she was frozen in shock. It was the full recording of Leonora’s trial, where she confessed to killing Clara’s mother. She also admitted to her affair with Paolo and to conceiving Heidi. It was revealed she had killed May and her daughter to secure a future for her own child.

Tears that Clara had been holding back finally broke free. The murderer of her mother was none other than Leonora, Ian’s mother.