Female Novel
Chapter 364
Just as he was about to reach Clara, a gunshot echoed from behind, and the man fell to the ground.Blood flowed down the man’s spine, pooling on the ground.
Ian immediately covered Clara's eyes, whispering soothingly, "It’s okay. It's all over now. Let's getout of here." He scooped Clara into his arms and gave Dawson a few quick instructions before theyleft.
Clara, who had just been in a standoff with the kidnapper, now lay limp and weak in Ian's embrace.Her icy little hands clutched at his shirt fiercely, and her teeth were still chattering. Her wet eyesstared intently into Ian’s, her voice frail, "Ian, how's Katherine?"
Ian leaned down and kissed her lips gently, his voice warm, "She had to get a few stitches in herback, but she's going to be okay, don't worry."
Clara gazed into Ian's eyes. They were so similar to Brodie's. She murmured softly, "You know, awoman's instinct in the face of danger is to scream, but Katherine just charged forward. Don't youfind that strange?"
Ian looked down at her. "You think she's in love with my dad?"
"It's not just a simple crush. It's love deep in her bones. That's why she had rushed in so fearlessly.If you were in danger, I'd do the same."
"But Dad always said his dalliances were just for show, that he never slept with any other woman."
"That doesn't stop other women from falling for him. Teo was a legend in his day, handsome anddebonair. He must've been the dream of countless women, and there must've been some historybetween him and Katherine, even if he doesn't realize it."
Ian's eyes darkened slightly. He remembered words Brodie had once shared – about his motherbeing betrayed by a scoundrel and pursued by enemies. Whether that jerk was his father orsomeone else was a question that needed answering.
Clara was shaken and took a long time to calm down. She drifted into a heavy sleep once they gotback home.
When Ian descended the stairs, Dawson and a few others were waiting for him in the living room."Mr. Hayes, the guy infiltrated the hotel disguised as a waiter. He took advantage of the momentAttorney Clara went to the restroom to abduct her. But he's dead now. We can't find out who wasbehind it."
Ian's dark eyes deepened. "With me and the bodyguards there, he couldn't have hurt Clara. Whydid the SWAT team need to fire?"
Dawson replied, "The shot wasn't from the SWAT team. Someone was lying in wait on the oppositerooftop. By the time the shot rang out and the SWAT team got there, the shooter was gone."
Hearing this, Ian's expression grew colder. From the falling chandelier to Clara's abduction to thesilencing of the kidnapper – it was all meticulously planned.
Their target wasn't Clara. It was him. Put another way, it was the entire Hayes family.
Who could harbor such a deep grudge against the Hayes family to weave such a web overdecades?
The gravity of the situation weighed on Ian. The enemy knew Clara was his Achilles' heel, meaningshe would be in danger again. He had to get her away from here as soon as possible.
Elsewhere.
When Katherine woke up the next morning, she saw Brodie sitting by her bedside, his face etchedwith exhaustion. She touched his hand with a heart full of sympathy. Her voice sounded husky asshe said, "Brodie, I've been a burden to you for so many years."
Brodie offered a gentle smile. "Mom, don't talk like that. I'm your son. Taking care of you is what I'msupposed to do."
"Brodie," Katherine grasped her son's hand, whispering softly, "I think I used to know Teo."novelbin