No Strings Attached

Chapter 24

Clara then remembered that Chase had been her father’s attending physician. Without hesitation, she blurted out, “Dr. Chase, my dad, he’s passed out.”

“Stay calm. We’re on our way.”

Half an hour later, Chase emerged from the emergency room, mask in hand, his eyes searching for Clara.

“He’s out of immediate danger, but the outlook isn’t great. His heart valve replacement from before wasn’t maintained properly and it’s led to an infection. We’ll monitor him for a few days before deciding, but another operation might be necessary. I’ll consult with a few more specialists. Rest assured, I’m on it.”

Clara’s complexion was ashen as she faced Chase. “Thank you,” she managed to say, her voice trembling.

Chase let out a soft chuckle. “I’m a doctor. It’s my duty to save lives and heal the sick. This has nothing to do with that jerk, so don’t worry about it.”

Clara forced a weak smile. “I know, and I still appreciate what you’re doing.

“All right then. If you want to thank me, treat me to dinner once your father’s better.”

“Deal.”

“Just make sure he stays calm. Any emotional stress won’t do him any good.”

Standing vigil by her father’s bedside, Clara’s expression was solemn. The sudden turn for the worse in her father’s health filled her with suspicion. In a hoarse whisper, she asked Anders, “Did my dad see someone before this happened?”

Anders furrowed his brow, looking at her. “When I arrived, Heidi had just left. I suspect she told your dad about your miscarriage.”

Clara’s fists clenched tightly, a fierce glint appearing in her normally beautiful eyes.

Her father had always cherished her like a treasure. On the same day, he had learned not only of her being framed by her family and becoming lan’s mistress for three years but also of the child she had lost. It was too

much for him to bear.

Heidi must have calculated all of this, breaking the truth to her father and then presenting lan with a falsified report. She was trying to corner Clara with no way out.

In her mind, Clara silently recited Heidi’s name with resolve.

At the Midnight Bar, Heidi was riding high on victory. She had managed to turn lan’s feelings against Clara and worsen Clara’s father’s condition. Heidi had even sabotaged the Bell family’s business deals.

Now, Clara certainly had no chance of turning things around. This was the fate of anyone who dared to compete with her for a man. Heidi’s eyes shone with ruthlessness, a scornful smile playing on her lips.

As Heidi sauntered into the restroom, she stumbled upon Clara, doubled over the sink, retching. With a click of her tongue, Heidi sneered, “Oh, look at you, still playing the morning sickness card

even with no baby. Too bad. even if you spill your guts out, lan won’t give a damn. It’s your fault to get rid of his child”

Clara had come to meet with clients in a bid to rescue her father’s company She hadn’t expected them to be so callous, pressuring her to drink. To make matters worse, Clara had overheard a conversation lan was having in a private room, claiming he had never cared for her, describing her as nothing more than a sugar baby.

Already on edge, Clara now faced Heidi’s provocations, and her pent–up emotions exploded. Her eyes bloodshot, she faced Heidi with a fierce smirk. “It was you who doctored the medical records, wasn’t it? It was you who told my dad about my lost child, right?”

Heidi laughed dismissively. “That’s right. I wanted lan to dump you, to leave you and your family in ruins. You

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overstepped, competing with me for a man. I gave you a chance to leave him, but you stubbornly ignored my advice. So, don’t blame me for not playing nice.”

Heidi inched closer to Clara, her eyes shimmering with barely concealed triumph. Clara bit down hard, a cold smile spreading across her face.

“Heidi, didn’t anyone ever tell you that what goes around, comes around?”