No Strings Attached

Chase chimed in with a lighthearted grin, "You know, I was about to pick up a picture frame for you, stuff your photo in it, and set it up right here, but then I couldn't find a black and white portrait, so I bailed on the idea."

"Oh, well, thanks a ton," came the sarcastic reply, "Just light some more candles, why don't you? And you can hold a funeral for me right here."

Clara stood off to the side, watching the guys exchange jabs. She couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

The cool, commanding CEO could sling curse words and crack risqué jokes with his buddies. That was news to her. This was a side of him she had never seen before.

shot her a mock, resentful glance. "Clara, they're picking on me, and you're laughing. How about taking my side and showing

composure as she said, "You guys catch up. I'm heading to the nurses' station to check on how many IVs you're due

left the ward, Chase suddenly spoke up, "Clara, how have you been

Clara's lips, "Doing alright, Dr.

is far from okay. He's drowning in guilt. I've never seen him so down, not even when he lost his sight or when he broke his leg. He never got like this. If you

usually the carefree type, but he was dead serious when it came

few moments, she replied, "Dr. Chase, there are some things I just can't get past. I could forgive how he treated me, but not how he treated our unborn

moon - called me right away to find an OB-GYN for you. When the miscarriage happened, sure,

secretly give me those pills? If he didn't want a child, I never would've forced