No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)

Sasha stepped out of the bathroom, only to find Chase sitting on the bed, indulging in a post-coital cigarette.

He carried an unusual depth in his brows. His eyes were clouded with ambiguous emotions.

Sasha walked over, snatched her phone from his hand, and asked irritably, "Who gave you permission to go through my phone?"

Chase extinguished the cigarette and pulled her into his arms in one swift motion. The faint smell of tobacco mixed with the scent of shower gel rushed into her nostrils. "Are you planning to go on a blind date?"

Sasha nonchalantly responded, "This show wraps up next week. I'll have a chance to break up with you and then follow my family's wishes to go on a blind date."

With her confirmation, Chase's gaze suddenly deepened. The hand holding Sasha tightened a bit more. "Sasha, you heartbreaker. You've used me up, and now you'll be off on a blind date. How come I didn't know you were so fickle?"

Sasha glared at him. "I told you from the start that this was all an act. Don't get too involved."

"But I'm already too involved. What do I do now? Sasha, please don't go on the blind date, okay?" For the first time, the usually carefree Chase spoke to her so tenderly.

This momentarily gave Sasha a strange feeling. Blinking her large eyes at Chase, she said, "Not go on a blind date? Are you asking me to be with you?"

"Am I not good enough? Handsome and successful, romantic with a variety of interests. You have such a great guy in front of you, yet you choose a blind date over me. Are you out of your mind!"

He flicked her forehead hard. Chase had never been so serious before. He and Sasha had always been at odds. He thought she was too cold, and she thought he was too promiscuous. Now that she was actually going to leave him, he actually felt an unexpected reluctance. Could it be that they had developed feelings through their physical intimacy?

Sasha looked at Chase's handsome face and chuckled awkwardly. "Chase, I've had a problem since I was little-I hold grudges. I can never forgive those who have hurt or scorned me in my life." Chase, looking puzzled, said, "But I've never hurt you. At most, we've had some verbal spats. Are you holding a grudge over that? You're more petty than I thought."

Sasha bit her lip and asked again, "Then let me ask you one more time. Why did you call off the engagement?"

"Are you upset about that? I hardly

know that woman. We grew up together but hardly ever saw each other, let alone had any feelings. She was always chasing after me and calling me her brother. You don't

understand. That girl was at

real

nuisance, always babbling on. If I had married her, I'd never have a moment's peace."

Sasha, suppressing the anger in her heart, continued, "You dislike her that much? What if she was chasing you because she liked you?"

"That's her problem. There are plenty

of people who like me, but does that mean I should marry them all? Even if my grandfather threatened me would never agree to that match. Luckily, she had the sense to call off the engagement when she saw I wasn't interested."

Hearing this, Sasha nodded meaningfully. "Okay, I understand."

Then she tapped a few times on her phone screen and sent a message to Caroline. [Mom, I think that bank manager isn't bad. I'll have some time after the play wraps up next week. Let's meet him.]

She sent this message right under

Chase's nose. He stared at Sasha stunned, and asked, "So all my explanations were for nothing, and you're serious about this? Sasha, do you think I'm easy to mess with?"