No Strings Attached

When Clara saw Anders again, it was on the night they celebrated Alicia becoming her godmother.

He looked like he had lost a ton of weight. His eyes were sunken, and his complexion pale as chalk. He stood in the hallway, forlornly puffing on a cigarette alone.

Clara approached, offering him a bottle of water and said softly, "Anders, have you found Orin's mom yet?"

Anders' red-rimmed eyes met hers. "Clara, I'm sorry. I've let you down."

Clara shook her head with a smile, "Don't beat yourself up. We never really got started. Cutting our losses now is the best thing for both of us. I don't want you to turn into one of those deadbeat jerks I loathe."

Anders closed his eyes in pain, his voice husky and weak. "Orin's had leukemia since he was little. None of our relatives were a match for a bone marrow transplant, and the doctors suggested we have another child."

Orin in the picture, I never gave up on you. planned to find Elle, clear things up, and raise the kid together while chasing our own true love. But when I heard about Orin's condition, I just broke down. He might have been an accident, but I'm still his biological father-I can't just

you go, Clara. It took me so long to finally have you running towards me, and now this curveball. Do you have any idea how reluctant my heart

down his face. Torn between the girl he'd liked for years and the blood-related

eyes grew warm too, but she kept a calm smile on her face. "Anders, from now on, consider me your sister. I hope you get over this relationship soon and give Orin and his mom the happy home they

that, she turned and walked away,

hotel, Clara bumped into Ryker. He handed her a pink-frosted cupcake, "Taste something sweet, and life won't

looked surprised, "You

smirked, "Don't all you girls love these things when you're feeling

all grown up, understanding girls' hearts

rejected outright. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FɪndNøvel.ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of