Chapter 10 lan glanced down to find her feet, usually so pale and smooth, now marred with swollen, red scalds. He couldnât help but snap, âYouâre going to be the death of yourself!â
With that, he bent down and swept Clara 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 glove compartment and pulled out an unopened box of burn ointment. His lashes. 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.
lan opened the box and squeezed a dollop of the creamy ointment onto his long fingers. Then he gently smeared the ointment across the swellings on Claraâs foot. His expression was inscrutable as he worked.
Claraâs delicate brows furrowed with pain, her lips white from biting them, her fingers curling tightly into her palm.
lanâs touch softened, ensuring he covered each inflamed area. He lifted his gaze, his eyes dark and unreadable. as he stared at her and almost chuckled, âWith your kind of smarts, are you really sure youâd survive without. me?â
Straightening up, he tossed the ointment into Claraâs lap, âApply this in the morning and night and keep your feet dry for the next couple of days. If you end up with scars, donât come crying to me.â
Claraâs eyes were downcast, her voice devoid of emotion. âThe only way to know if I can survive is to try, isnât it?â
lan watched her stubborn little face, a frustrated snort escaping him. âClara, have your tantrum, but why were you dragging Heidi into this? You know she struggles with depression. Iâve told you, sheâs no threat to you. Why wonât you believe that?â
The flicker of gratitude that had sparked within Clara instantly iced over, her gaze turning frosty as she faced lan. A scornful smile played on her lips. âlan, let me repeat myself. I didnât lay a finger on her. She fell on purpose, trying to set me up. If you donât believe me, check the security footage.â
lan met her eyes, âIâm not that naive, but with Heidiâs clotting disorder and her rare blood type, sheâs losing too. much blood, and thereâs none in reserve. If you donate, I promise the Campbell family wonât touch you, and wel can put this whole mess behind us.â
If Claraâs heart had been aching before, now it was in excruciating agony, so intense she nearly forgot to breathe.
lan was insisting she donate blood to Heidi, when she had just had an abortion last week.
During the surgery, sheâd lost so much blood that she was left anemic, still recovering with the help of meds.
Claraâs dark eyes fixed on lan, her tone laced with a rare defiance. âWhat if I told you that my body isnât up to donating blood right now, lan? What then? Are you going to force me?â
lanâs gaze was icy as he looked back at her. âYour medical report doesnât show anything serious Donating 400 milliliters wonât harm you. Besides, Heidi is Paoloâs little princess. Whether or not youâre to blame, if he comes after the Bell family because of this, even I canât help you.â
Clara laughed bitterly. All lan cared about was that Heidi was her fatherâs little princess. Wasnât Clara someoneâs princess, too?
When she was hemorrhaging, he didnât 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.
Claraâs gaze was filled with desolation as she looked at lan. âlan, 400 milliliters may not do much harm, but what about 2000?â
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