No Strings Attached

Chapter 80

lan glanced at Dawson with a frosty gaze. “Focus. I’ll handle my own affairs.”

“Understood.”

“Have you found out where that woman is?”

“Not yet. She used to go by the name Victoria. If we haven’t found her after all this time, she’s probably changed her name.”

“Keep looking. Don’t let her get anywhere near Clara.”

lan was certain that Clara’s disappearance over a year ago was tied to this woman. Otherwise, she wouldn’t harbor such hatred for her.

That evening, lan was summoned back to the family estate by a barrage of calls from his mother.

Upon his arrival, Leonora slammed a stack of documents onto his chest and demanded, “You already took the solar energy project from me for Clara’s sake. Why are you pulling the other projects too? Are you trying to seize all the power, to be the only voice that matters?”

lan was merciless. “You know exactly why I’m doing this, don’t you?”

“Just because I crossed Clara? You’re this infatuated with her? What’s so special about her that you keep defying me time and time again for her sake? Don’t forget. We will never allow a woman of her mother’s ilk through our doors.” Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

With his long legs crossed, lan sat, a cigarette casually dangling from his lips. He took a deep inhale, then slowly breathed out. In his dark, flickering eyes, there was a light that seemed to

shimmer and fade.

“I’ve warned you. If you touch her again, if you touch the Bell family, I won’t let it slide. You obviously didn’t take my words seriously, and you acted recklessly. My dad and sister are coming back next week. It’s the perfect opportunity for you to step aside and work on your marriage. Otherwise, you might find your place as Mrs. Haynes up for grabs.”

“lan, I’m your mother. What kind of son wishes for his parents‘ divorce?”

lan’s expression turned stormy. “If it weren’t for my dad’s promise to grandma, he would have left you by now. You wouldn’t have us watching you fight every day, affecting our own marriages.”

Enraged, Leonora knocked a teacup off the table and shouted, “lan, you, your father, and the whole Hayes family are all in this together, trying to drive me out of this house. Don’t forget. If it wasn’t for my mom saving your father, the Hayes line would have ended a long time ago!”

She spoke through clenched teeth, seething with righteous indignation, as if the person before her was not her son at all.

Then, Rose’s stern voice cut through from behind. “If lan listens to you, the Hayes family will end indeed!”

Rose hurried into the room and sat down on the couch. Her eyes were filled with disdain as she surveyed the mess.

At the sight of her, Leonora’s arrogance melted away, and her tone softened. “Rose, I was just so angry, so I misspoke. Please don’t be upset.”

“Hmph, was it a slip of the tongue, or is that what you truly think? Why does the idea of the Hayes family ending appeal so much to you? You know full well that Heidi can’t have children, yet you still

insist on pushing her and lan together. Don’t think for a second that I’m unaware of what you’ve done to Clara.”

Rose commanded the ultimate respect in the family. Even lan was a bit intimidated by her. Leonora quickly tried to placate her, “The marriage between lan and Heidi was arranged by May and me. Even though May has passed away, we can’t just break the engagement.” “Hmph, I sometimes wonder if she’s really May’s child at all. Her character is so far removed from her mother’s. It wouldn’t be impossible that there was a switch at the time of the car accident.”