《No Strings Attached》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 After a passionate rendezvous, ra¡¯s skin shimmers with an understated glown held her close, his slender fingers tracing the contours of her delicate features. In the depths of his mesmerizing eyes, there was a tenderness that she had never seen before. ra was left utterly spent by their lovemaking, but at this moment, she felt deeply cherished. However, before the afterglow of their desire could fade,n¡¯s phone began to ring. ra¡¯s heart skipped a beat at the sight of the caller ID. She tightened her grip onn¡¯s arm and looked up at him with pleading eyes, ¡°Can you not answer it?¡± Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! The call was from Heidi,n¡¯s long¨Ctime sweetheart. Since she¡¯d returned stateside less than a month ago, there had been several cries for attention, masquerading as suicide attempts. ra knew all too well that Heidi¡¯s antics were deliberate, butn didn¡¯t seem to care about ra¡¯s feelings. He pushed her away without a second thought. The warmth of their recent intimacy was completely gone as he eagerly answered the call. ra couldn¡¯t make out what was said on the phone. She only saw the waves of emotion churning inn¡¯s deep¨Cset eyes, darker than the night outside. After hanging up, he quickly dressed. ¡°Heidi¡¯s causing a scene again, threatening to hurt herself. I¡¯ve got to go check on her.¡± ra sat up in bed, her skin now flushed and marked with the evidence of their love. Her gaze was intense as she watched him. ¡°But today is my birthday. You promised to spend it with me, and I have something important to tell you.¡± Before ra could react, the bedroom door mmed shut. Soon after, the sound of a car engine roared to life outside. ra reached under her pillow and pulled out a small, exquisite box. Inside were two matching rings, which she stared at with misty eyes. Three years ago, when a thug cornered her in an alley, it wasn who came to her rescue, and he got injured in the process. She had volunteered to stay and care for him. One night, after a bit too much wine, he slept with her. Ian had asked her then if she wanted to date him, but he made it clear he wasn¡¯t offering marriage. Without hesitation, ra had agreed, becausen was the man she had secretly adored for four years. From that day, she wasn¡¯s efficient and attractive secretary by day, and by night, his obedient lover. She naively thought thatn loved her and that he was hesitant about marriage because of issues with his family. She spent a whole day preparing a proposal setup, hoping to break through his emotional barriers. But Heidi¡¯s call shattered ra¡¯s illusions. Perhapsn wasn¡¯t against marriage. It just wasn¡¯t ra he wanted as his wife. With a bitter smile, ra packed away the rings. She dismantled all the decorations on the patio herself. Driving off alone, she had not gone far when a sharp pain struck her lower abdomen, followed by a warm flow running down her thighs. She looked down and saw that the white leather seat was stained with blood. A bad premonition washed over her. She immediately calledn. n, my stomach hurts. Can youe get me, please?¡± ra, seeing more and more blood, started to cry out in fear, Tan, fes not lying My stomach really hurts, and I¡¯m bleeding so much.¡± She couldn¡¯t finish her sentence before being met with his callous reply ¡°ra, Heidi¡¯s life is at stake, and you have the nerve to make a scener Stunned by his words, it took her several seconds to respond. Sheughed weaky, a pallid smile on her face ¡°You think I¡¯m being unreasonable?¡± Isn¡¯t that what this is?¡± His voice wasced with annoyance and a chilling detachment that stabbed right through ra¡¯s heart. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 She bit her lip hard, her fingers clenched around her cellphone with all the strength she could muster, and she cursed, n, you jerk!¡± ra was sweating bullets from the pain. She tried to dial for emergency help, but her fingers were too weak. Finally, her vision went ck, and she passed out. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org When she came to, she was lying in a hospital bed. Sitting beside her was her best friend, Sasha. As soon as Sasha saw her open her eyes, she stood up, her gaze full of concern. ¡°ra, how are you feeling? Are you still in pain?¡± ra looked at her nkly. ¡°What happened to me?¡± Sasha hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°You were pregnant, but the doctor said your uterine wall was thin to begin with. Plus, withn¡¯s rough¡­ behavior, you had a miscarriage and severe bleeding.¡± ra¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Her mind was reeling with the thought. ¡®I was pregnant, but the baby¡¯s gone.¡® That was her andn¡¯s baby. Even though she didn¡¯t know where things withn were headed, it would have been her first child. ra¡¯s fingers curled involuntarily, and tears slid down her cheeks. Sasha couldn¡¯t help but embrace her, whispering words offort. ¡°You¡¯ve just had surgery, and you can¡¯t cry, darling. Once you¡¯re better, I¡¯ll introduce you to a bunch of hunks. They¡¯ll make you forget all about that bastard!¡± ¡°That scumbagn. He doesn¡¯t care about your life, and he even cheats on you right in front of your eyes? Doesn¡¯t he think karma¡¯s gonna bite him?¡± ra¡¯s heart ached more than if a thousand arrows had pierced it. She clutched Sasha with a cold hand, her voice choked and barely able to speak. She was thinking of the child that was lost before its time, thinking of the man she had loved for seven years. She just couldn¡¯t calm herself down. After a long while, ra finally spoke. ¡°So you saw him.¡± Sasha nodded. ¡°He¡¯s on the fourth floor with Heidi. When you were in surgery, I called him from your phone toe and sign some papers, but that jerk didn¡¯t even pick up.¡± ra closed her eyes, pained. ¡°Take me to see him.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve just had surgery. You can¡¯t upset yourself.¡± ¡°There are some things I need to see with my own eyes before I can make any decisions.¡± Sasha couldn¡¯t argue with her and took her to the fourth floor. ra stood outside the door, watchingn softly. coaxing Heidi to take her medicine. That tender gaze and soothing voice stabbed ra in the heart. When ra saw Heidi¡¯s face, which bore a resemnce to her own, it was as if everything suddenly made. sense. ra smiled, but it was tinged with sadness. She turned to Sasha and said, ¡°Take me back.¡± The next time ra sawn, it was two dayster. Shey in bed, quietly observing the man she had once loved deeply. When it came time to make a decision, her heart still ached unbearably. ra¡¯s eyes were teary, but she was holding back a wave of emotions, keeping silent. ra¡¯s gaze was t as she watchedn. ¡°I don¡¯t want it anymore.¡± ¡°Then how about I get you a new car? Ferrari or Porsche?¡± ra¡¯s hands tightly gripped her nightgown. Her clear, bright eyes quietly watchedn. Her lips were slightly pale and parted slightly. ¡°I want to marry you!¡± Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Hearing those words,n¡¯s expression turned icy in an instant. His dark eyes fixed on ra with an intensity that felt like a physical force. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before I¡¯m not the marrying kind, ra. If you couldn¡¯t handle that, you shouldn¡¯t have agreed to this.¡± A faint redness tinged the corners of ra¡¯s eyes. ¡°It was different before,n. It was just the two of us. Now, there¡¯s a third.¡°¨C ¡°She can¡¯t threaten you.¡± ra let out a self¨Cdeprecating chuckle. ¡°She just makes one call, and you drop everything for her, leaving me in the dust. Tell me,n, how is that not a threat?¡± A sh of anger sparked inn¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯re making a mountain out of a molehill over a little menstrual pain?¡± ¡°What if it was more? What if I was pregnant?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t try to trap me with talk of a kid. I¡¯ve always been careful!¡± His voice was cold, his words unhesitating. If there were a child, he¡¯d probably drag her to get rid of it. Thest shred of hope in ra¡¯s heart shattered. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, the pain unnoticed. She lifted her chin, her smile bitter. ¡°You once said that we were all about the romance, not the nuptials. That if one of us got bored, we¡¯d part amicably. Well,n, I¡¯m done. Let¡¯s break up.¡± Her words were crisp, devoid of any hesitation, but no one could see the fresh wound bleeding in her heart. ¡°I know you hate to hear it from me, but I¡¯m tired,n. I¡¯m tired of a love that¡¯s divided among three.¡± She had been foolish before, believing that love was enough, that marriage didn¡¯t matter. But she was wrong becausen¡¯s heart had never truly been with her. ra stared at him, her disappointment boundless. ¡°Think what you want. I¡¯m moving out today.¡± She rose from the bed, intent on leaving, butn¡¯s strong arm pulled her back into his embrace. His hot lips found hers with precision, biting gently. His husky voice wasced with a cool disdain. ¡°Are you not afraid that the Bell family will return to its former struggles without me? You traded three years of your life for this.¡± ra¡¯s mind exploded with disbelief, her eyes widening. ¡°What three years?! What do you mean?¡± Three years ago, the Bell family had indeed faced an unprecedented financial crisis. Aftern got involved with her, he had indeed thrown a lot of business their way, pulling them out of the mire. She had thought thatn was willing to help because he liked her. Shaking, ra asked, ¡°So for these three years, all your kindness was just an act, with no real feeling?¡± The words were a knife to ra¡¯s heart. Her three years of devotion had been nothing but a sordid transaction ton. She had been the fool, thinking he loved her. Chapter 3. 2 With that realization, every inch of her skin felt as if it were being torn by hounds. The grief in her eyes turned to ice. ¡°Three years should be enough to repay your kindness. We¡¯re even now,n. From here on out, we go our separate ways,¡± ra curled up on the bed, alone. Tears she¡¯d held back all this while began to cascade down her cheeks. Her seven years of affection and three years of tender care was actually part of a shameful deal in lan¡¯s eyes. In the game of love, the first to fall was the first to lose. And she had fallen forn four years before he even Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. noticed her. She had lost, miserably and utterly. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 After the crushing weight of her sorrow began to lift, ra quickly packed her belongings without a backward. nce and walked out the door, leaving her past behind. Elsewhere, a sleek ck Rolls¨CRoyce Cullinan cut through the silent streets like a bolt of lightning. Frustrated,n yanked off his tie and tossed it aside. His phone rang several times before he finally picked up. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± A rascally, carefree voice came through the speaker. ¡°What took you so long to answer the phone, buddy?.¡± ¡°I¡¯m driving!¡± Chase let out a mischievous chuckle. ¡°With Ms. ra? Hope I¡¯m not interrupting anything.¡± ¡°Got nothing better to do?¡± ¡°Nope, just checking in. Youing to the Nightshade Bar? Edwin¡¯s treating.¡± Ten minutester, at the Nightshade Bar, Chase slid a drink over ton and grinned impishly. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve been dragged through the mud. Trouble in paradise with ra?¡± ¡°Oh! Look at you, falling ¡®hard¡® for her, aren¡¯t you?¡± Chase emphasized the word with a smirk, his expression a blend of mischief and nonchnce. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll back off. Just a friendly heads¨Cup, if you¡¯re serious about ra, you better draw a line with Heidi. Don¡¯t go running every time she calls. Otherwise, don¡¯te crying to me if you lose yourdy.¡± ¡°Which woman would? Heidi¡¯s been your childhood sweetheart, and y¡¯all have had a marriage pact since you were kids. You think any girl would be cool with her man always running back to his old me?¡± Before he could finish, the private room door swung open. Edwin walked in, arm in arm with Heidi. ¡°Sorry, guys, Heidi wasn¡¯t feeling great, so I brought her along. Hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Chase shotn an apologetic look and chuckled awkwardly. ¡°Do we mind? Of course not. Your sister is like my own. Heidi,e sit by me.¡± Heidi¡¯s smile was gentle and pure, belying any ulterior motives. ¡°You¡¯re right under the AC vent. It¡¯s too cold. I¡¯ll sit here.¡± She took the seat next ton and ced a small, elegant box in front of him. n,st time you stood up your girlfriend to save me. She¡¯s not mad at you, is she?¡± ¡°Good. I got her this lipstick as an apology. If there are any misunderstandings, I can exin it to her myself.¡± At his words, Heidi¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears. n, are you upset because I keep bothering you? I don¡¯t mean 14.02 to, but sometimes, when I have an episode, I can¡¯t help but call you.¡± Tears fell down her cheeks as she spoke. behalf.¡± Heidi¡¯s mood brightened as she pouredn a drink. ¡°Try this,n. My brother got it at an international auction, a vintage from ¡¯82.¡± As she handedn the ss, her fingers unintentionally brushed his wrist.n pulled away instantly, stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray. ¡°Just put it down here,¡± he said tly. Heidi masked a sh of coldness in her eyes, reverting to her sweet,pliant demeanor. Edwin raised his ss ton. ¡°I¡¯ve yet to meet your girlfriend. Bring her around sometime.¡± Chase¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Might be a bit difficult now. They¡¯re having a spat.¡± Edwin, notingn¡¯s dark mood, added, ¡°A little argument is nothing. Just butter her up. A bit of sweet talking usually does the trick. Just don¡¯t end up like that guy I saved the other day¨Chis wife was bleeding out after a miscarriage, and he wouldn¡¯t pick up his phone while he was with another woman.¡± Chapter 5 Chapter 5 The day Heidi attempted suicide, ra had bombarded him with calls about her excruciating cramps, and although he had answered at first, in a fit of anger, he eventually hung up on her. He couldn¡¯t shake the thought that she would break up with him over this. With his gaze cast downward,n listened to Edwin and Chase spewing venom at the scumbag of a husband He was so lost in thought that he didn¡¯t even feel the cigarette burning into the back of his hand. Restlessness consumed him all evening. At times like these, ra would have already called, concerned. Yet now, well past midnight, not a single message had pinged his phone. A bad feeling suddenly gripped him. He stubbed out his cigarette and, clutching his phone, left in a hurry. Stepping out of the bar, he saw a little girl approaching him, her basket brimming with fresh flowers. ¡°Sir, would you like to buy some for your girlfriend?¡± she asked with a smile. ¡°Pack them all up for me,¡± he said. The girl beamed, swiftly bundling the flowers and handing them ton, her words a stream of cheerful blessings. For the first time that night,n¡¯s stern face softened. He pulled out a few crisp hundred¨Cdor bills from his wallet and handed them to the girl. But when he got home, flowers in arms, he wasn¡¯t greeted by that petite figure he expected, but by the housekeeper instead. ¡°Sir, wee back. I¡¯ve made you some chicken noodle soup. Would you like a bowl?¡± she offered. The housekeeper hesitated, then said, ¡°Ms. ra¡¯s gone. She asked me to give this to you.¡± Dialing ra¡¯s number, he waited through endless rings before she finally picked up. ¡°What is it?¡± ra¡¯s voice was hoarse but clear. ¡°I¡¯m sure, ra replied, her calmness like ice. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare regret this, ra.¡± With that, he hung up and stormed upstairs. ¡°Sir, the flowers-¡± the housekeeper called after him. ¡°Trash them!¡± His voice was sharp, and he didn¡¯t look back as he continued on. He reached the bedroom and saw his white Samoyed Snow wearing a yellow charm around its neck, one he recognized from ra¡¯s social media. She imed it was a charm for her beloved, fetched from a sacred ce. Turns out, her beloved was the dog. ¡°What are you barking for? Your morris ditched you!¡±n spat before mming the bedroom door shut. The next morning,n reached out habitually to pull someone close, only to grasp at empty space. His eyes snapped open, the realization hitting him¨Cra was gone. A suffocating feeling weighed on his chest. Mornings had always started with a unique feast, where he watched his sweetdy moan beneath him. It filled him with an indescribable feeling. It was like poison, slowly seeping into his bones, making him now almost lose control with the urge to find ra. The thought of her leaving without a word had him boiling with rage. Would he go after her? Not a chance! Chapter 6 Chapter 6 He descended the stairs and spotted Dawson standing in the living room, phone in hand, deep in conversation with someone on the other end. Dawson immediately ceased his texting, concern etching his features. ¡°Mr. Hayes, is Ms. ra very ill? Does she need to go to the hospital?¡± ¡°Yeah, she just asked me for a week off. I was wondering why she did not just tell you directly. Why go through the formal process with me?¡± ¡°Just did. You said Ms. ra should rest up at home, and I¡¯ll handle the work.¡± Dawson figured his go¨Cgetter attitude would earn him some praise from the big boss. But instead, he was met with a frosty voice that said, ¡°That¡¯s your quarterly bonus gone.¡± ra had taken a week off work due to excessive blood loss from surgery. On her first day back, her colleagues were quick to fill her in on the dreadful week they¡¯d had. They were workingte every single day. For granting her the time off, assistant Dawson had his quarterly bonus shed by a hefty sum courtesy ofn. ra knew that money was Dawson¡¯s rainy day fund, and now, because of her, it was gone. After briefing her colleagues on a few work¨Crted matters, she knocked on the CEO¡¯s office door. Upon entering, she foundn, d in a crisp ck suit, sitting at his desk. His demeanor was cold and weary, his features sharp and distinct, and his deep¨Cset eyes carried an air of casual indifference. An aura of icy aloofness and sophistication surrounded him. His expression barely changed as his gaze settled on ra for a few seconds before returning to his work. Facing him again was painful for ra¨Cseven years ago, it was this detached and handsome man who had drawn her to him, leading her to throw caution to the wind. But she never expected her years of devotion to be treated as nothing more than a casual fling byn. ra masked the turmoil in her eyes as she approachedn, her tone all business. ¡°Mr. Hayes, the company¡¯s leave policy states that direct supervisor approval suffices for absences of ten days or less. Dawson is my supervisor, and he approved my leave. Why did you cut his bonus?¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org ra¡¯s heart tightened. ¡°Is it because our breakup annoyed you? If you have an issue with me, confront me directly. Don¡¯t take it out on others.¡± A bitter smile flickered across ra¡¯s face as she handedn her prepared resignation letter. ¡°Mr. Hayes, not only will I not be moving back in, but I¡¯m also resigning, effective immediately. Here¡¯s my resignation. I hope you find someone to take over my duties soon.¡± A sly smile curved ra¡¯s lips. ¡°Mr. Hayes, you were the one who said we¡¯d part ways when you were done. By not letting me go, you¡¯re making me think you can¡¯t handle the game.¡± At her words,n rose from his chair and closed the distance between them. He grasped her chin, his fingertips grazing her smooth skin. His voice bore a forceful sense of oppression. ¡°ra, it¡¯s not that I can¡¯t handle the game. I¡¯m just not done ying it yet!¡± Chapter 7 Chapter 7 The soft, sweet sensation of her skin electrified every nerve in his body. The beast within him, trapped for so long, was relentlessly battering against its cage, aching for release. When he was with ra, their lovemaking was beautifully in sync. No matter how much he demanded, she went along with his desires. Even on the days she was exhausted to the point of fainting, she neverined. But now, ra was beneath him, fiercely defiant, relentlessly struggling for freedom. Hot tears streamed from the corners of her eyes. ra looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears, her lips parted and blood¨Cstained. ¡°Ian, I won¡¯t stay for your humiliation!¡± Humiliated, ra quickly straightened her clothes and marched towards the door. As she pulled it open, she saw Heidi standing there, innocently d in a white sundress, a harmless smile on her face. n, I brought you breakfast.¡± This was ra¡¯s first close encounter with Heidi. Their resemnce was uncanny, especially around the eyes and nose. ra¡¯s suspicions were confirmed. Ian had kept her close, mistaking her intentions because she had been a stand¨Cin for Heidi. Three years of what seemed like mutual affection ended with her being just a substitute. ra¡¯s heart felt like it was being sliced open. Sheposed herself, nodded slightly at Heidi, and left. The moment the office door closed behind her,n¡¯s eyes turned cold as he stared at Heidi. ¡°What are you doing here? Heidi¡¯s eyes instantly reddened, her head drooping like a scolded puppy, her voice choked with emotion. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,n. I heard you¡¯ve been skipping breakfasttely, and your stomach¡¯s been acting up, so I came to bring you something to eat¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Heidi¡¯s face lit up with joy as she scurried over and ced the pink lunchbox on his desk, her voice sugary sweet. n, I remember how much you love tuna and ham sandwiches. Please try it and tell me if it¡¯s good.¡± Disappointed yet obedient, Heidi nodded. ¡°Okay, you go ahead. I¡¯ll wait here for you. I won¡¯t disturb you.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a lounge next door. Wait there.¡± He then pressed the inte for Dawson. ¡°Take Ms. Heidi to the lounge and find someone to apany her.¡± Dawson was swift to act, and in less than a minute, he appeared at the door, gesturing politely for Heidi to follow Chapter 8 Chapter 8 ¡°Ms. Heidi, the lounge next door has got some snacks and refreshments. I¡¯ve asked Nicole to keep youpany,¡± Dawson offered with a weing smile. With a gleam of sincerity in her eyes, Heidi looked at Dawson earnestly. ¡°I¡¯ve heard such good things about Ms ra. I was hoping she could join me.¡± ¡°Sorry, Ms. ra is the President¡¯s Chief Secretary. She¡¯s needed in the meeting,¡± Dawson replied. He wasn¡¯t born yesterday. The boss had been at odds with Ms. ra these past few days. If he let her stir the pot, would the two ever patch things up? Heidi¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver. ¡°Is that so? I¡¯ve heard she makes an excellent cup of coffee. Could you ask her to brew one for me?¡± With a cold tone, he instructed, ¡°Do as she asks.¡± Dawson stared atn for a good ten seconds before heaving a resigned sigh internally. ¡®Mr. Hayes, you¡¯re having your current me wait on your ex. Do you realize this could cost you your rtionship?¡± Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Dawson reluctantly led Heidi away. ra was at her desk organizing documents for the meeting when Dawson tapped on her workspace. ¡°Ms. ra, Mr. Hayes wants you to bring Ms. Heidi a cup of coffee in lounge 02.¡± ra looked up, her response cool and collected. ¡°Sure, in a moment.¡± After tidying up her materials, she headed to the pantry. She took out a bag of coffee beans from the cab and began grinding them in the coffee machine. As she prepared to brew, a petite figure sidled up beside her. Her expression remained neutral. ¡°Ms. Heidi, the coffee will be ready in five minutes.¡± Heidi¡¯s seemingly innocent face twisted into a sneer. ¡°Ddoesn¡¯t it strike you as odd to see me here?¡± Without pausing her task, ra¡¯s gaze remained lowered, focused on her work. Her voice was even. ¡°There¡¯s no shortage of women throwing themselves at Mr. Hayes every day. I see nothing strange here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you get it?¡± Heidi¡¯s voice took on a chilling edge. n¡¯s only with you because you look so much like me. He¡¯s never cared for you. You¡¯ve been nothing but a stand¨Cin for me. Now that I¡¯m back, it¡¯s time for the understudy to exit stage left.¡± ra poured the hot water into the coffee cup, the aroma filling the pantry. She inhaled the scent with pleasure and asked with a smile, ¡°Italian beans have a nice kick. How sweet do you like your coffee, Ms. Heidi?¡± Hejdi felt like she had punched a pillow, her anger deted. Fists clenched, she seethed ¡°ra, drop the act You¡¯re withn for the money, right? Here¡¯s a check for ten million. Please disappear from his life promptly ra masked her inner turmoil with a carefree demeanor, casually dropping a sugar cube into the coffee and stirring with practiced ease. Her tone was casual, dismissive. ¡°I hear you¡¯ve been under the weather You should probably save that money for your medical bills. It¡¯d be such a pity if you didn¡¯t make it to the altar withn, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°ra, you-¡± Heidi gritted her teeth in fury. She had underestimated how tough ra would be to deal with. With venom in her eyes, Heidi grabbed the coffee from the table and flung it at ra. The scalding liquid arced gracefully through the air, heading straight for ra¡¯s face. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 ra sidestepped with the agility of a cat, but even her quick reflexes couldn¡¯t save her from the ssh of scalding coffee that hit her foot. She sucked in a sharp breath from the pain. She was about to give Heidi a piece of her mind when she looked up just in time to see Heidi¡¯s body hurtling. towards the ss disy cab behind her. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Instinctively, ra reached out to grab her, but Heidi shook her off violently. Crash! Heidi¡¯s arm shattered the ss. Blood streamed down her arm to the floor. At that moment,n¡¯s icy voice came from behind. ¡°ra, what the hell are you doing?!¡± Heidi¡¯s pale face was streaked with tears, her lips quivering. n, it¡¯s all my fault. I identally spilled coffee on ra, and she thought I had done it on purpose, so she pushed me. Please don¡¯t be mad at her, okay?¡± ra¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn¡¯t believe Heidi would go to such lengths to frame her, resorting to self¨Cinflicted injury. She immediately retorted, ¡°I didn¡¯t push her. She fell on her own.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be back to deal with you!¡± he said coldly. With that, he whisked Heidi away in a hurry. Watching their retreating figures, ra¡¯s face was etched with indescribable hurt. This was the man she had loved for seven years. Between her and Heidi, he never chose to believe her. ra quicklyposed herself. She wouldn¡¯t let Heidi¡¯s schemes seed. She andn had broken up, so she didn¡¯t care what he thought of her. But she couldn¡¯t tolerate being framed. If it happened once, it could happen again. She immediately sought out her colleague Nicole, asking her to get her tech¨Csavvy boyfriend to copy the security footage of the incident. She needed to prove her innocence. Once everything was handled, ra pulled herself out of the mess and dove back into her hectic work. Withoutn, the atmosphere in the conference room was noticeably rxed. ra¡¯s colleagues praised herpetence and even teased her about her seamless work withn, wondering if she might end up as their boss¡® wife. ra responded to theirpliments with a slight smile. ¡°We¡¯re just colleagues, let¡¯s not specte. Besides, I¡¯m about to resign soon.¡± Before she could finish her sentence, the conference room door flew open with a bang.n stood in the doorway, dressed in a sharp ck suit, exuding an aura of intimidating chill as if he had just emerged from the underworld. His dark eyes fixed on ra with a frosty re. The once peaceful and rxed atmosphere of the conference room suddenly became stifling and tense. Everyone rose to their feet, echoing a respectful ¡®Mr. Hayes.¡¯ He dragged ra out of the conference room. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 With that, he bent down and swept ra up into his arms. They reached the car park, and he set her down on the passenger seat with a firm hand. He rummaged through the glovepartment and pulled out an unopened box of burn ointment. Hisshes. cast a shadow as his eyes lowered, and his lips pressed into a thin line. A storm seemed to brew in the deep ink of his eyes. ra¡¯s delicate brows furrowed with pain, her lips white from biting them, her fingers curling tightly into her palm. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Straightening up, he tossed the ointment into ra¡¯sp, ¡°Apply this in the morning and night and keep your feet dry for the next couple of days. If you end up with scars, don¡¯te crying to me.¡± ra¡¯s eyes were downcast, her voice devoid of emotion. ¡°The only way to know if I can survive is to try, isn¡¯t it?¡± The flicker of gratitude that had sparked within ra instantly iced over, her gaze turning frosty as she facedn. A scornful smile yed on her lips. n, let me repeat myself. I didn¡¯ty a finger on her. She fell on purpose, trying to set me up. If you don¡¯t believe me, check the security footage.¡± If ra¡¯s heart had been aching before, now it was in excruciating agony, so intense she nearly forgot to breathe. During the surgery, she¡¯d lost so much blood that she was left anemic, still recovering with the help of meds. ra¡¯s dark eyes fixed onn, her toneced with a rare defiance. ¡°What if I told you that my body isn¡¯t up to donating blood right now,n? What then? Are you going to force me?¡± raughed bitterly. Alln cared about was that Heidi was her father¡¯s little princess. Wasn¡¯t ra someone¡¯s princess, too? When she was hemorrhaging, he didn¡¯t even take her calls. But a small cut on Heidi, and he was beside himself with worry, even using the Bell family as leverage against her. ra¡¯s gaze was filled with destion as she looked atn. n, 400 milliliters may not do much harm, but what about 2000?¡± Chapter 11 Chapter 11 ra¡¯s delicate face twisted with a mock smirk. ¡°And what makes you think I haven¡¯t been through it? What if I just lost 2000 milliliters of blood? Would you still have me donate to her?¡± ¡°ra, cut the drama,n snapped. ¡°At most, a woman loses about 60 milliliters during her period. If you¡¯re going to make excuses, at least make them believable.¡± A bitter smile tugged at ra¡¯s lips. She couldn¡¯t have made it clearer, yet he refused to believe her. Even a little concern from him would have prompted him to ask. If he knew her at all, he would understand she wasn¡¯t the type to leave someone in the lurch. That was the difference between love and indifference. A mere scratch on Heidi had sent him into a panic. Yet, he hadn¡¯t noticed at all when ra had gone through a dangerous miscarriage. Amidst her heartache, ra¡¯s eyes caught sight of a figure at the door of the hospital room. She froze in ce. The day ra had her miscarriage, she had seen a shadow during her moment of unconsciousness. A man¡¯s gentle and low call echoed in her ears. When she forced her eyes open, she had seen the very man standing before her now. She remembered clutching his arm tightly, pleading in a whisper, ¡°Please, save me.¡± When she awoke, Sasha told her a handsome guy with sses had brought her in. With a self¨Cdeprecatingugh, ra approached the man identified as Edwin. ¡°Are you Heidi¡¯s brother?¡± she asked softly. Edwin nodded slightly, his voice soothing. ¡°Ms. ra, if there¡¯s anything wrong with your health, I can-¡± ra closed her eyes in resignation. Fate sure had a twisted sense of humor. The very man she had wanted to thank for saving her life turned out to be Heidi¡¯s brother. With a wry smile, she said, ¡°Mr. Edwin, may I have a word with you in private?¡± Just as she was about to lead Edwin to the nearby stairwell,n¡¯s grip tightened around her wrist. ¡°What do you need him for? Can¡¯t you say whatever it is in front of me?¡± ra scoffed, ¡°Why should you be privy to my words?¡± ¡®Since when did you be so unreasonable, ra?¡± ¡°Is it me who¡¯s unreasonable, or is it you who¡¯s heartless?¡± Without waiting forn¡¯s response, she broke free from his grasp. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Undern¡¯s icy stare, she took Edwin aside. ra¡¯s usually vibrant face was now pale. Looking up at Edwin¡¯s handsome features, she began, ¡°Mr. Edwin, I haven¡¯t had the chance to thank you for saving my life that day. Little did I know I¡¯d get the opportunity to repay you so soon. Don¡¯t worry, I will donate blood for your sister. But I have a condition¨CI need you to keep the fact that you saved me a secret.¡± A look of concern shed across Edwin¡¯s face. The baby wasn¡¯s, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ra smiled faintly. ¡°Whose it was doesn¡¯t matter anymore. It¡¯s gone. I just don¡¯t want this to affect my decision.¡± All she knew was that she didn¡¯t want any moreplications. She wanted to get away fromn as soon as possible. 14.05 Edwin¡¯s eyes darkened. He seemed to see a glimpse of a mother in ra¡¯s expression. With a slight catch in his voice, he asked, ¡°But you lost a lot of blood that day, and it hasn¡¯t been long. Are you sure you can handle this?¡± 1. ra¡¯s lips curved into a mirthless smile. ¡°That¡¯s my concern. I just want to repay your kindness and be done with it. After that, we don¡¯t owe each other anything.¡± Chapter 12 Chapter 12 ¡°You really don¡¯t have to do this. I¡¯m not that kind of guy. If you¡¯re not up for it, I won¡¯t push you,¡± Edwin said, his voiceced with concern. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I can¡¯t stand owing favors, especially to anyone connected to Heidi,¡± ra replied with a firmness that belied her frail frame. ¡°Mr. Edwin, I hope you haven¡¯t forgotten our arrangement.¡± With a curt nod, ra turned and approached the nurse who had been waiting patiently. ¡°Let¡¯s get this bloodwork over with.¡± ¡°ra!¡±n¡¯s voice crackled with urgency as he pulled her back, his gaze burning into her. ¡°What¡¯s with you and Edwin? Are you hiding something from me?¡± Unfazed, ra met his stare, a wry smile ying on her lips. ¡°What, scared I¡¯ll make him my next sugar daddy? Don¡¯t worry. Even if I were desperate, I wouldn¡¯t go after your closest friend.¡± After shrugging offn¡¯s grasp, ra walked confidently behind the nurse, leavingn clenching his fists as he watched her go. Twenty minutester, ra emerged from the room, her small face as pale as a ghost. Her typically rosy lips were drained of color, and her eyes, usually so vivid, were now dull. She staggered along the corridor, supporting herself against the wall. Without hesitation,n scooped her up into his arms, the look in his eyes indescribable. ¡°I¡¯ll take you somewhere to rest.¡± But before he could move, a nurse¡¯s voice called from behind. ¡°Mr. Hayes, Ms. Heidi is having a fit. She¡¯s crying and asking for you. Please, you need to see her right away.¡± ra watchedn with an unreadable gaze, her pale lips twitching into a bitter smile. Earlier, when they had taken her blood, she had felt a wave of dizzying darkness fall across her vision. She had been fighting sleep ever since. But in spite of this, she had strived to emerge from her hospital room. Seeingn approaching her, a sliver of hope had stirred within her. She wanted to tell him that she couldn¡¯t hold on any longer, to whisk her away. Yet, upon hearing the nurse¡¯sment, sheughed scornfully. After all, between Heidi and herself,n had never sought her. ¡°Ms. ra, allow me to escort you back,¡± Edwin offered gently, reaching out to support her, but his gesture was fervently rejected. She fixed him with a defiant gaze, her voice cold and filled with resolve. ¡°Mr. Edwin, our debts are paid, and I won¡¯t bear the burden of owing you anything further.¡± With those words, she began to make her way out, steadying herself against the wall. She felt the tremors. running through her legs, the world around her darkening, her strength waned. And yet, through sheer willpower, she managed to descend the stairs and slip out from the purview of the Campbell family¨Caway fromn¡¯s sight. However, she didn¡¯t get far before her body betrayed her, overwhelming darkness blotted out her vision as she fell towards the ground. Just when she was resigned to her fall, a strong hand grasped her waist. A man¡¯s worried voice echoed in her ear, ¡°ra!¡± Chapter 13 Chapter 13 ra¡¯s eyelids funtered open, and a familiar face loomed into view, a beacon in the tumultuous sea of her consciousness She clung to him like he was her lifeline. Her fingers gripped the fabric of the man¡¯s shirt as she whispered with a frail voice, ¡°Anders, get me out of here.¡± Thest thing she wanted was forn to witness her in such disamay. She couldn¡¯t bear his pitying gaze. She didn¡¯t want anything from him. She just needed to escape this ce as quickly as possible Anders watched her, his eyes betraying a hint of anxiety. How can you leave in this state? I should take you to a doctor No, Anders! I just donated blood, that¡¯s all I¡¯m just a bit drained. Please, just take me home,¡± she implored A gentle look in Anders eyes despened into concem. He bent down and lifted ra in his arms, holding her securely against his chest. Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯ve got you¡± he soothed as he carried her away. Asn burst out of the building he caught the sight of re being cradled into a car by another man, a man who gazed upon her with an expression filled with tenderness andpassion. When ra awoke again, it was the following morning After having no food for a whole day and night and having lost so much blood, she felt an emptiness gnawing at her stomach As she stepped out of the bedroom, a delicious aroma grested her nostrils, drawing her gaze toward the kitchen. A tall, imposing figure approached her Anders, holding a bowl of nourishing soup, had tied a pink apron adorned with cartoon pigs around his waist and watched her with a smile 7 spoke to the doctorst night, and she said you need to replenish your strength. I¡¯ve made you some chicken soup. Come and try it,¡± he said, his voice warm and inviting. ra chuckled awkwardly, ¡°Anders, you¡¯ve been such a help. I owe you dinner.¡® Both were talents from Ivywood University Law School Anders was two years her senior, and both were prot¨¦g¨¦s of the legal luminary, Mr. Marco. Three years ago, their professional paths diverged. Anders had graduated with his master¡¯s and moved abroad to build his career, while ra becamen¡¯s secretary C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Anders gave a light¨Cheartedugh. Td like that, and Mr. Marco has been saying he misses you. Once you¡¯re feeling better, we should invite him along.¡± ra rubbed her head sheepishly ¡°Mr. Marco was always so good to me, and I feel guilty for not following in his footsteps. I¡¯m too embarrassed to face him.¡± She had been Mr. Marco¡¯s most promising student, and he had high hopes for her openly iming she would make waves in the legal world once she graduated. Yet, she had turned her back on a law career to stay withn, a decision that had left Mr. Marcomenting for quite some time. Anders pulled out a chair for her with gentlemanly grace. ¡°Everyone has their own path, and Marco never med you for choosing yours.¡± A bittersweet feeling washed over ra. She looked up at Anders and asked, ¡°You¡¯ve be a renowned fawyer in Scandinavia with an ie that¡¯s off the charts. What brings you back home?¡± A sh of light sparked in Anders¡® eyes, quickly fading to a soft glow. ¡°I never got used to the food there, so I decided toe back,¡± he replied, his voice even. He handed ra a spoon, casually changing the subject. ¡°What happened between you and him?¡± ra forced a smile, her voice light. ¡°We broke up.¡± Anders¡® gaze intensified, resting on her face for a moment before he casually shrugged off the heaviness, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ve got me. I won¡¯t let him bully you.¡± He reached out, hisrge hand gently patting her head in aforting gesture. He knew all too well how much she had suffered in that rtionship. Last night, even in her sleep, she had cried. However, before his hand could retreat, the room¡¯s door swung open. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Without waiting for any reaction from the duo, his long legs carried him swiftly toward ra. He snatched the spoon from her hand, bent down, scooped her up from the chair, and strode hurriedly into the bedroom. With a resounding ¡®bang,¡® he locked the door behind them. By the time ra came to her senses, she was pinned undern on the bed. Anders¡® frantic knocking echoed from the other side of the door. His eyes, tinged with a hint of crimson fury, bore into her as his voice came out hoarse. ¡°I can get even crazier!¡± With that, he captured her lips with his own. His mind was clouded with the image of that man staring at ra with adoration. Never before had he felt such an overwhelming loss of reason for a woman. He devoured her lips with a wild hunger, trailing kisses down her baster neck. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! As she struggled, ra cursed, n, you bastard! It¡¯s over between us. Don¡¯t make me lose all respect for you!¡± ¡°We¡¯re done. Who I¡¯m with is none of your business!¡± ¡°Is that so? What if I make him disappear from the legal world? Still none of your business?¡± n, you wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± ¡°He tries to touch what¡¯s mine. You think I wouldn¡¯t?¡± ¡°He¡¯s just a friend to me, nothing more. Don¡¯t go after him.¡± ra knewn¡¯s methods were ruthless. Anyone who crossed him never got off easy. Anders had just returned from abroad, his footing unsure. One move fromn could ruin his career. Seeing her anxious expression,n¡¯s lips curled into a cold sneer. ¡°Come back with me, or I can¡¯t promise his safety.¡± Just then, the bedroom door burst open with a forceful kick. Anders didn¡¯t wait for ra to react. He dashed into the room and lunged atn. Soon, the sound of shattering and crashing filled the space. ra¡¯s screams sounded brittle and powerless. After what seemed like an eternity, silence reimed the room. Anders emerged, disheveled and bloodstained, from the bedroom. He squatted down, staring at ra with a pained tenderness. ¡°ra, I won¡¯t be the reason you bow to others. Get up. It¡¯s time to eat.¡± He reached out a strong hand, helping the trembling ra to her feet, and guided her to the dining chair. Tears brimming in her eyes, ra looked at him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Anders.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t apologize to me. We¡¯re friends, ra. It¡¯s my duty to protect you. The soup has gone cold. I¡¯ll warm it up for you.¡± He took the now¨Ccold bowl and headed for the kitchen. That was whenn also emerged from the bedroom. Though not as bedraggled as Anders, his face bore marks of the fray. Hw wiped his lip, his gaze dark as he looked at ra. ¡°Come with me, or stay and sip his soup. It¡¯s your choice.¡± ra met his gaze with icy resolve, ¡°It¡¯s over. I¡¯m not going back with you.¡± ¡°ra, remember, this was your choice. Don¡¯t regret this.¡± 14:07 He turned to leave, and at that moment, his phone rang. It was Heidi. With impatience,n answered. n, the footage from the break room has been wiped by ra. My folks are livid. They want to charge her with aggravated assault. You need toe and talk some sense into them, or ra¡¯s going to jail.¡±