No Strings Attached

She couldn't bear to gamble with the lives of her loved ones anymore.

Oh, how Clara yearned to wrap her arms around lan, but her hands, dangling helplessly by her sides, clenched into powerless fists instead. Her voice was laced with a helpless rasp as she said, "lan, let's just take a breather, okay? My dad's health isn't great, and I need to go check on him."

Heedless of her protest, lan kissed the top of her head, his voice deep and soothing, "I'll take you home."

As he took Clara's hand to leave, his gaze inadvertently fell upon Leonora. His eyes, which had been filled with warmth just moments before, now seemed coated in a layer of frost. "Clara and I will never be torn apart in this life. If you dare to interfere again, I'll sever all maternal ties with you!" Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

sighed in resignation. "What should've been a celebration has turned into a wake. What sins

forward to console her. "Mom, don't worry. I'll make sure they stay together. As for Leonora, I'll have someone keep an eye on her. She won't get another chance to wrong Clara." Rose's eyes brimmed with tears. "We owe Leonora our lives-twice over. Why should Clara have to pay that debt? Do you have any idea how much it hurts to see them at odds like this?" Leonora's mother had saved her son, and then Leonora herself had saved her. Because of those two lives, the Hayes family had refrained from dealing with Leonora's malevolence and venom.

steely gaze. "This affair has caused harm, and I won't let it go. As a daughter-in-law of the Hayes family, you've shown neither virtue nor sincerity, and you've schemed to block your own child's happiness. If I let you get away with this,

was already on his way out. You can't pin it all on me. Besides, I spoke only the truth without fabrication. You can't punish me like

led to this mess. If you no longer wish to be part of the Hayes family, I might consider sparing you." Leonora knew exactly what

Her ambitions were far from fulfilled; she couldn't just walk away from the

by their ancestors. When it struck flesh, it would tear skin and flesh alike. A hundred lashes could

follow her inside, she stopped him.