No Strings Attached

Chapter 66

Clara’s eyes brimmed with tears as she recalled the recent past. Perched on the edge of the bed, she clasped her baby’s tiny hand, gazing at her with unabating focus. So engrossed was she that she didn’t even notice when someone entered the room.

Heidi glanced at the child, then at Clara, and said with a smile, “Isn’t the little one just adorable? You must be very fond of children, aren’t you, Ms. Clara?”

Without even lifting her head, Clara replied coolly, “Whether I like them or not is none of your concern.”

“Now, why would you say that? After all, you’re carrying a child you’ll eventually be handing over to me. You are the birth mother, but I’m going to be her adoptive mother her only legal mother. Are you not aware of that, Ms. Clara?”

Stunned, Clara looked up, her gaze icy. “What do you mean?”

Heidi’s smile was radiant. “Haven’t you ever wondered why lan would have you bear his child if he doesn’t love you? It’s because a few years ago, I was injured while saving him, which left me unable to conceive. Grandma Rose was against us being together because of this, but lan wanted to marry me and also didn’t want the Hayes family line to end. So, he came up with this surrogacy plan. Once you’ve given birth, the child stays, and I become her only legal mother. You’ll never get to acknowledge your child as your own. Tell me, Ms. Clara, how does it feel to watch your own flesh and blood call someone else “Mommy“?”

shocked to her core. All her doubts were suddenly dispelled. lan’s ruthlessness was crystal clear he had devised this surrogacy scheme, using her as a vessel

–

her child call someone else ‘Mommy‘.

with all of

was like a bomb exploding in her head, leaving her mentally battered and bleeding. She stood up from the chair, her eyes fierce as she glared

those words, she marched toward

hatred towards lan. She wished she could take a knife and

him.

into a broad chest. Without looking up, she muttered an apology