No Strings Attached

Chapter 87

Clara stepped into her gown and stood before the mirror, catching her breath as she gazed at her own reflection. The dress was a stunning shade of midnight blue, her absolute favorite.

It featured a strapless design with a daring open back, which was held together by a delicate satin ribbon that tied into a lifelike butterfly. All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.

The dress flowed into a floor–sweeping hem. The sheer blue fabric was scattered with diamonds that caught the light and sparkled like stars strewn across the night sky.

The manager couldn’t help but exclaim, “Mr. Hayes has an exceptional eye.

This gown suits Ms. Clara to perfection – it’s elegant, noble, yet not ostentatiously so. You look like a fairy descended from the heavens.”

The bad mood that Clara had been in yesterday, thanks to Victoria’s meddling, evaporated like mist in the face of such stunning attire. She picked up the hem of her dress with a smile. She was about to descend the staircase to show lan when two familiar figures appeared.

Leonora, arm in arm with Heidi, approached with the affectionate ease of mother and daughter, both beaming smiles her way.

Heidi’s eyes widened at the sight of Clara’s gown. She tugged at Leonora’s arm, “Leonora, Ms. Clara’s dress is so beautiful. I want to try it on too.”

Leonora’s expression soured upon seeing Clara’s radiant appearance. “A secretary dressed to the nines? Who are you trying to seduce?”

Clara’s eyes, which had been warm and smiling moments before, turned cold at the

comment.

There were too many grievances between her and Leonora. It was Leonora who had orchestrated the deletion of the video, the theft of the evidence and almost had Clara branded as intentionally harming Heidi. It was also Leonora who had nearly driven her

own father to his death.

Anger surged within Clara. He

eyes were icing over. She lifted her delicate face with a sardonic smile. “Why, I’m dressing to impress your son, Leonora. Isn’t that obvious?”

Leonora, stung by her retort, clenched her teeth in anger. “Clara, you’re nothing but a whore, kept by lan for his amusement. Once he’s bored, you’ll be tossed aside like rubbish. You don’t deserve such finery. Take it off for Heidi.”

Clara’s smile didn’t falter in the face of the insult. “This was custom–made for me by your son. Even if I were to discard it, do you really think it would suit Heidi?”

Her eyes swept over Heidi with a hint of disdain. She focused on Heidi’s less voluptuous

figure, and her lips twitched in a sneer. “Ms. Heidi would need quite a few pads to fill out this gown, don’t you think? And with its trailing hem – are you certain your stature can carry it off?”

Heidi, humiliated by Clara’s belittling comments, clenched her fists tight. She knew she wasn’t as tall or as slender–waisted or as curvaceous as Clara. But she just couldn’t

swallow the insult.

Hiding the malice in her eyes, she replied with a smile, “How would you know whether or not I’d look better in it if you don’t let me try, Ms. Clara?”

She couldn’t stand the thought of Clara attending the anniversary celebration in that dress, potentially outshining everyone as if she was the guest of honor.

Heidi turned to Leonora. Her voice was soft and persuasive. “Leonora, I’m sure I would look better than her in it. Please, make her take it off and let me try.”

Leonora looked at the manager with a cold gaze. “Well? Help her out of the dress.”