No Strings Attached

Chase watched him with a mix of glee and scorn. "Why don't you keep up the act? I swear, man, there's no Long Island Iced Tea strong enough to match the bitterness of your charade. Haven't you figured it out yet? Clara's a lawyer, for Pete's sake. Trying to outsmart her in a wordplay is like bringing a knife to a gunfight!"

lan, clutching his side where the pain throbbed, glared at Chase. "Shut it, will you? Is it gonna kill you to be quiet for once?"

"Nope, but watching you get your comeuppance sure is killing me... with laughter, ha!"

Just then, Heidi breezed through the door with a sunny smile, offering invitations to lan and Chase. "Ian, Chase, my recital is next Saturday. You guys have to come and show some support!"

lan didn't even flinch, nor did he reach for the invitation. His voice was icy as he said, "I'm busy!" Then, he closed his eyes to rest.

instantly welled up with tears, a picture

lighten the mood. "Heidi, you've got your own gig now. That's big news! I will

with Clara? Her hands, hanging by her sides, clenched into fists without her

A week later.

most opulent concert hall. She had spared no expense,

all there for May. More than two decades ago, May had been a shooting star in the piano world, reaching her peak the moment she debuted. To this day, her skill remained unmatched. However, fate was cruel, and at 28, she perished in

love story with lan. Soon, the scandal of the Campbell family's heiress losing her motherhood rights for love was the talk of the town. Public sentiment

triumphant smirk, Heidi scrolled through the viral posts. "Clara, you think you can compete with me for a man? Dream

a 'prodigy' by the Piano Association. Dressed in a radiant white gown, she stood at the center of the stage like