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”

sinking feeling told Clara this wasn’t good news. She hung up, gave her

doctor furrowed his brow and scanned the report. He then fixed his gaze on Clara. “Do you frequently use

Clara nodded.

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

difficult for you. It was already a

struck Clara like a knife to the heart, making

fabric of her dress.

of pregnancy and, after five years of marriage, still hadn’t conceived. Clara wondered if she’d ever

of pregnancy.

asked, “Doctor, isn’t there anything

which 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 many ways to practice contraception. He wouldn’t just

offered a bleak smile.

lan truly loved her, how could he let her bear all this?

door, the next patient came

like to have a pre–pregnancy