No Strings Attached

Clara felt a surge of emotions she couldn't quite name. There was a tenderness for lan, certainly, but even more so, she was moved by the lengths he had gone for her.

She mastered the storm brewing in her eyes and turned to Elle with a small curve of her lips. "Thanks for sharing all this with me. I hope you and Anders find your way back to each other soon." Elle offered a faint smile. "Reconciliation sometimes takes more than just courage. It also requires someone's silent sacrifice. Haven't you ever found anything odd about that case about lan, Ms. Clara?" Clara's brow furrowed slightly at these words. "What do you mean?"

Elle continued, "I mean, lan loves you so deeply. How could he ever give another woman a chance to get close? Do you really believe he was out of it that night after having too much to drink?"

After this, Elle gave Clara a light smile, "That case cost Hayes Corporation a fortune, nearly tarnished lan's reputation, but it also made you an overnight sensation, catapulting you from rock bottom to the pinnacle. Haven't you ever wondered?"

Elle took another sip of her coffee, nodded at Clara, and left the café.

didn't know that the car Elle climbed into was occupied by

the window at Clara sitting by the café window, and without realizing

to comfort her. "Grandma Marian, what's wrong?

"I'm fine. It's just that when I saw that girl pick the strawberries off her cake, she reminded me of your aunt.

take you to visit Auntie when we have

"Will that young lady be at

I think she and lan

couldn't fathom why the mere sight of Clara through the glass had struck such a chord in her, why she felt such a pull towards her. Meanwhile, Clara didn't head back

of their birthdays, which she knew well, and she breezed through the login. Sᴇaʀᴄh

folder labeled with her name. Opening it, she