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”

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

fixed his gaze on Clara. “Do you

Clara nodded.

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 take

a sympathetic eye. “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

words struck Clara like a knife to the heart, making it hard to

fabric of her

of pregnancy and, after five years of marriage, still

of pregnancy.

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

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

how could he let

patient came in. She was too distraught

a few steps 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 getting