No Strings Attached

Chapter 223

On the other side of the hospital, Ian had just reached for his phone with the intention of calling Clara, wondering why she hadn't returned yet when the door to his room swung open. From NôvelDrama.Org.

Heidi, all smiles and without a trace of last night's ejection from the room, stood in the doorway, pushing Leonora in a wheelchair.

"Ian, Leonora asked me to bring her over to check on you."

Ian's good mood evaporated at their arrival. Annoyed, he snapped, "You just woke up, and you're already not resting. What are you wandering around for?"

Leonora, pale but with an unyielding spirit, glared at Ian's wound and blurted out, "All for Clara, huh? Besides trouble, what's so good about her that you can't get her out of your head?"

A chill flashed in Ian's eyes. "She's my girl, and how I treat her is my business. Living or dying for her is my choice, and I don't need anyone else's opinion!"

"Ian, I'm your mother. Don't you even listen to me anymore?"

"Maybe in the past, but since you played a part in the death of my child, you lost that right. If it weren't for the fact that you saved Grandma Rose, do you think you'd still be in the Hayes family?"

Leonora, coughing from her fury, insisted, "What's so bad about Heidi? How is she inferior to Clara? Besides, she's the one you've been betrothed to since childhood. You can't be so heartless."

Ian scoffed coldly, "Really? Was she truly the one I was betrothed to as a kid?"

That single question made both women's hearts skip a beat, but it was quickly suppressed.

Heidi quickly attempted to diffuse the tension with a smile, "Leonora, I don't feel slighted. Even if Ian never marries me, I'll always take care of you."

Leonora, touched by Heidi's loyalty, patted her hand. "Don't worry, I won't let you be wronged."

After the shameless two women left the room, they reached the elevator just in time to see Clara walking out.

The sight of Clara ignited Leonora's fury anew, remembering Ian's disdain and disrespect was all because of this woman. Without warning, she stood from her wheelchair and swung at Clara.

Caught off-guard while looking at her phone, Clara was stunned by the unexpected blow. A fierce look flashed in her eyes when she saw who had struck her. "Leonora, did you get your brains scrambled in an accident? Who attacks people in broad daylight?"

"I'm hitting you, you homewrecker. If it wasn't for you, my son wouldn't have nearly lost his life. You're a jinx. Why can't you just stay away from him? He doesn't want you, yet you are shamelessly clinging to him. Don't you feel cheap?"

Clara's cheek was numb from the slap, stars dancing in her vision. She clenched her fist tightly. "Since you're well enough to make a scene, don't blame me for not being polite!"

With that, Clara's arm swung out, smacking Leonora across the face. A slap echoed through the corridor, leaving Leonora's ears ringing. She had never imagined Clara would retaliate.

Trembling with rage, Leonora pointed at Clara and yelled, "You hit me!"

Heidi, equally shocked, gaped at Clara. "She's Ian's mother. How could you hit her!"

Clara sneered dismissively, "Yeah I did! The first slap was for my child who's gone because of her, and this one is for all the times she framed me."

With those words, Clara struck the other side of Leonora's face.

Stunned and frightened, both Leonora and Heidi stared at Clara with wide eyes. "Clara, believe me, I could have you taken out right now!"

"Then bring it on. I've been framed by you before. I'd like to see how powerful you really are."

Leonora, shaking with anger and eyes bloodshot, spat venomously, "Clara, don't think you can do whatever you want just because Ian lusts after you. Sooner or later, you'll pay dearly for those slaps."