No Strings Attached

Chapter 292

Ian felt a sudden tightness in his chest as he heard those words. "What's going on?"

The servant continued through her sobs, "Ms. Leonora was here earlier. I don't know what she said to Mr. Reed, but by the time I got back to the room, he was foaming at the mouth, pale as a ghost. It looked like he was gone."

Ian immediately hung up and grabbed Clara's hand. His icy grip held Clara's hand firmly. A dark premonition suddenly rose in his heart.

When he pulled Clara away, she knew something was wrong and immediately asked, "What's happened? Is it Grandpa Reed? Is he not well?"

Ian looked at her with a complex expression. "Clara, no matter what happens, you have to trust me, okay?"

Clara felt her eyes welling up. "What's going on?"

"Grandpa Reed's in trouble. We need to get back now."

As he pulled Clara toward the car, he was already dialing emergency services. By the time they got home, the paramedics had arrived. Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

The doctor shook his head in resignation. "Mr. Hayes, we did everything we could. Reed had a stroke. He's got no pulse."

At those words, Clara staggered backward, tears streaming down her cheeks. "That's impossible. Grandpa Reed was just fine a while ago. How could he suddenly have a stroke?"

She rushed into Reed's room like a madwoman, only to see him lying in his bed, pale as a sheet, still dressed in his suit.

Clara's fingers clawed at the doorframe, almost tearing her nails off. She couldn't believe that the man lying on the bed was Grandpa Reed. Just before they had left, he had told her to dress smartly so as not to bring shame upon her.

Step by step, Clara approached the bed. Her fingers gently traced Grandpa Reed's wrinkled cheek. The cold touch made her realize in an instant that Reed was truly gone.

She collapsed to her knees, burying her face on Grandpa Reed's body, her cries filling the room.

Ian watched her cry her heart out, feeling as if his own was being torn apart. He thought of the instigator of this tragedy, his fists clenching tightly. He took out his phone and called his father, Teo.

Teo was oblivious to the situation and caught up in the excitement of presenting the wedding gifts. "Ian, don't worry. The gifts are all set. Clara is going to love it."

It took Ian a few seconds before he could whisper, "Dad, Reed's gone."

"What do you mean gone? Wasn't he supposed to come with us for the wedding gifts presentation? He couldn't have been overwhelmed by city life, could he?"

Ian bit down hard on his lip. "Dad, I mean, he's passed away. Leonora was here earlier. I don't know what she said to him, but after she left, he had a stroke and died. You need to get Leonora under control, no matter what."

Hearing this, Teo's face darkened immediately. "Alright, I’ll send someone to find her right away. If it was her doing, I won't be lenient."

After hanging up, Ian walked over to Clara and pulled her into his arms to comfort her. "Clara, no more tears. We need to discuss arrangements for Grandpa Reed's funeral."

Clara looked up at him through tear-stained eyes. "What on earth happened to Grandpa Reed? He couldn't have just had a stroke out of nowhere."

Ian's brow furrowed deeply, and after a long silence, he said, "Leonora was here. I don't know what she might have said to him, and there are no cameras in the room."

At those words, Clara pushed Ian away, her face hardening with a resolve he had never seen before. "Ian, I won't let her get away with this, no matter who she is!"

"Don't worry. I won't show her any favoritism. We'll get to the bottom of this, but right now, we need to focus on Grandpa Reed's funeral."

Word of Reed's death quickly spread back to their hometown. According to local tradition, one should return to their roots in death. The funeral would have to be held back home.

Clara's family immediately suspected foul play, unable to fathom how Reed could be gone after just one day away from them.