Chapter 27 Tears streamed down Heidiâs cheeks like a sudden summer storm. Her injured hand was raised before lanâs eyes.
She had rushed to the hospital for treatment and then hurried back, all to catch Clara in the act, but she never expected to walk in on this scene.
lan knew about Claraâs miscarriage and still treated her with such kindness. All of Heidiâs carefully laid plans â had they crumbled to dust once again?
As tears cascaded down her face, Heidi moved closer to lan. But before Heidi could reach him, lan, gripping Claraâs hand, stepped back, avoiding Heidi.
His gaze was icy as he looked at Heidi, his voice devoid of emotion. âWhen exactly did she hurt you? Sheâs been with me the whole time.â
Heidi was stunned by his words. She watched lan with disbelief, her eyes brimming with tears. âWhile Clara was in the restroom, she hurt me, lan. I swear itâs the truth. Check the security footage if you donât believe me.â lan turned to a nearby waiter. âBring up the security footage for me.â
Ten minutes later, the bar manager came over with an apology. âMr. Hayes, Iâm sorry, but the camera in that restroom is broken.
We didnât capture anything.â
Heidi was fuming. Pointing at Clara, she spat out her accusation. âThis was Claraâs doing. She injured my hand and then destroyed the evidence. Just like that incident at work.â
Clara let out a soft chuckle. âMs. Heidi, do you really think Iâd use the same trick twice?â
âYou have to believe me, lan. She hurt my hand,â Heidi persisted.
lanâs eyes darkened. âI believe in evidence. And since she was with me the whole time, how could she have possibly hurt you?
Next time you try to frame someone, come up with a better story.â With that, he led Clara away.
Heidi stamped her foot in anger. She had wanted to make a comeback, to teach Clara a lesson she wouldnât forget. But with no video evidence and lan vouching for Clara, Heidiâs plan had failed.
What kind of spell had Clara cast to make lan so blindly infatuated? Heidi swore she wouldnât let this slide.
lan was about to head back to his private room with Clara when she pulled away.
âMy fatherâs still at the hospital waiting for me. I need to go,â Clara said.
lan pulled her close, a frown creasing his forehead. âAfter all the help I just gave you, youâre just going to leave? Come inside for a bit. Iâll drive you back to the hospital later.â
âI donât want to. Good bye.â she quipped, and left without looking back.
lan watched her defiant retreat, a smirk tugging at his lips. Was she getting a little too cocky?
He had only joked, and now she was taking it to heart. It seemed she needed a lesson.
Clara stormed out of the bar, feeling as if she was encased in ice. She wandered aimlessly until she found herself standing before the sanatorium, under the glow of a streetlight, looking at the quaint villa within its grounds.
Memories from seven years ago flooded over her.
It was here that she saw the once broken lan, and it was also here that she accompanied him step by step out of the darkness.
Back then, she naively believed that lan was a gift from God, meant just for her.
14.11 Chapter 27 They were each otherâs redemption. They were the brightest light in each otherâs lives.
So, when lan risked his life to save her three years ago, she quietly vowed in her heart that from that moment on, she would love this man for the rest of her life.
Chapter 28 C