Female Novel
Chapter 126
Chapter 126
Clara furrowed her brow in frustration, her voice low and filled with regret. Tm really sorry, butthere’s nothing I can do to help. It’s not that I’m heartless, but there are plenty of people who couldsave him. My involvement isn’t essential. You really shouldn’t force me Into doing something I’muncomfortable with.”
Leonora’s temper flared upon hearing those words. “After all the good lan’s done for you, youungrateful wretch, it’s like you’ve got no soul! You’d actually stand by and watch him suffer. Let’s notbeg her. Heidi can save lan; we can’t wait any longer. Her words painted Clara as a callous traitor,someone who would abandon another in their time of need.
Anders swiftly pulled Clara close, his voice a tender shield. “No one can force you to do anythingyou don’t want to. Go outside and wait for me. I’ll handle this.”
He ushered Clara out the door and shut it firmly behind her. The gentle expression on his faceinstantly turned to one of icy detachment.
He approached lan’s bedside, watching him thrash in agony. Not a shred of sympathy crossed hisface. Instead, a mocking smile curled at the edge of his lips. “lan, you’re not the only one in pain.Clara’s suffering more than you. When she was under the influence, she was calling out yourname.”
“She would rather die than compromise the honor you bestowed upon her, yet look how you’vetreated her! You believed the slanderous words of others and trampled the very honor she fought sodesperately to preserve.
“Do you have any idea how desperate she felt?
“You pushed her away again and again. It was you who didn’t want her. Please, don’t use guilt tobind her. She owes you nothing, and she owes the Hayes family nothing, either.
“There are many ways to cling to life. She isn’t the only solution.”
With that, Anders left without waiting to see lan’s reaction, pulling Clara along without a backwardglance.
lan’s hands clenched the sheets tightly, his jaw set so firmly his teeth might crack. The image ofClara screaming his name haunted him.
Thinking about her suffering to protect what was his, lan suddenly sat up, a mouthful of bloodspraying out before he succumbed to unconsciousness.
When he awoke the next morning, Dawson was at his bedside, attending to business.
Hearing lan stir, Dawson immediately stood up. “Mr. Hayes, you’re awake. How do your feel?”
Memories of the previous night flooded lan’s mind. He sat up abruptly, tearing out the IV. His handwas smeared with fresh blood, startling Dawson, who quickly pressed a swab
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against the wound. “Mr. Hayes, your stomach ailment has flared up. The doctor advised a few daysof observation.” novelbin
“No need!” His voice was hoarse and deep.
Disregarding Dawson’s pleas, he stubbornly drove away. It wasn’t until lan parked beneath Clara’sapartment building that he realized his hands and feet were icy, his fingers trembling slightly.
He looked up at her window, his heart feeling as if it had been struck hard. The pain tore throughevery cell in his body.
Only now did he understand the depth of the hurt he had inflicted on Clara, the woman, who wouldrather die than compromise her honor for him.
Dragging his weary body, he knocked on Clara’s door. She opened it to find a ghostly pale- lan onher doorstep.
Gone was his usual poise. His clothes were wrinkled, his cuffs stained with drying blood. His eyeswere bloodshot, a sight of lan she had never seen before.
Before she could speak, lan’s feverish hand pulled her into an embrace, his voice raw withstruggle.
“Clara, I’m sorry.”