No Strings Attached

Chapter 20

Leonora didn’t have a shred of sympathy as she vented her frustration over the phone, “Is this all my fault? Would I have argued with your father if he hadn’t been such a ladies‘ man? lan, let me tell you, I’ve made up my mind about Clara. I will not let that woman stay by your side, not even as a mistress!”

With that, she coldly ended the call.

lan, fuming with anger, shook a cigarette out of the pack and lit it, inhaling deeply as he leaned back in his

chair.

A few days later.

After Clara had helped her father with lunch, she received an unexpected call from the hospital’s OB/GYN department. Following her recent miscarriage, she had undergone a comprehensive gynecological exam, and it seemed the results were in.

She stepped out of the hospital room and answered the phone.

“Ms. Clara, there’s an issue with your test results. It would be best if you came in right away”

feeling told Clara this wasn’t good news. She hung up, gave her father a few instructions, and made an excuse to

then fixed his gaze on Clara. “Do you

Clara nodded.

pill. Her last pregnancy was a result of lan’s vigorous love–making. She had fallen ill with a high fever and forgot to take

“Your uterus is tilted, and the inner lining is thin. On top of that, the frequent use of emergency contraceptives is showing early signs of ovarian aging. Getting pregnant is going to be difficult for you. It was already a miracle you conceived, but you didn’t take care, and the miscarriage and subsequent bleeding did significant harm to your body. According to the report, your

to the heart, making it hard to breathe. Her cold, trembling hands clutched

fabric of

forty percent chance of pregnancy and, after five years of marriage, still hadn’t conceived. Clara wondered if she’d ever experience motherhood as she had a

of pregnancy.

as she asked, “Doctor, isn’t there anything that can be

might increase the odds. But I must warn you, no more emergency pills. For a woman to lose the ability to become a mother is something you might regret for a lifetime. If a man truly loves you, there are

a bleak smile.

her, how could he

of the office. As she reached the door, the next patient came in. She was too distraught to recognize the face,

out, she heard a familiar voice. “Doctor, I’d like to have a pre–pregnancy check-up. I’m planning to have children right after