No Strings Attached

Before, her big brother wasn't like this. He'd always put her needs at the top of his list. Could it be that he was still holding a grudge because she played the death card to force lan back to her side?

The thought brought a flicker of displeasure to Heidi's eyes. She couldn't afford to lose her brother, her ace in the hole to keep lan in check. So, she picked up Edwin's favorite midnight snack, a box of greasy, mouth-watering pizza slices, and headed straight over to his place.

When she arrived, she found his house eerily quiet. Edwin wasn't home. Heidi wandered restlessly from room to room, and just when boredom was about to consume her, she noticed a snowy white plush bunny sitting atop the study desk.

With a joyous squeal, she darted in and hugged the bunny, peppering it with kisses. Every ounce of annoyance evaporated like morning mist.

Her brother did care after all. She'd only mentioned in passing that she wanted that bunny, and lo and behold, he'd gotten it for her.

Clutching the bunny, she spun around in the office chair, lost in her own giddy world. That was when she noticed a sheet of drawing paper on the desk, depicting the smooth back of a girl. Even from just a silhouette, one could tell the girl had an enviable figure.

out of longing for his unrequited love. Perhaps he did this for

pink petal birthmark adorning the girl's elegant shoulder blades. Her eyes widened

that the girl Edwin

for anything related to Clara. Under no circumstances would she allow her brother to fall for her, nor would she let

upon an envelope marked

as the paternity report revealed a shocking truth: she

she was the child of her father's

and Edwin were half-siblings, and she shared no familial

once wanted to

tightness gripped Heidi's chest. She finally understood that Edwin's recent aloofness wasn't due to busyness

to spill everything to lan? What was she supposed to do? How could she keep him tethered