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.

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

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

child's happiness. If I let you get away with this, our ancestors would

mercy. "It wasn't on purpose. That old man was already on his way out. You can't pin it all on me. Besides, I spoke only the truth

too lenient in the past, which has 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 Rose was implying. Rose wanted to use this situation to force Leonora

fulfilled; she couldn't just walk away from the Hayes family. She

flesh, it would tear skin and flesh alike. A hundred lashes could leave someone half dead, if not fully. Soon, the great hall echoed with the crack of the whip and Leonora's

to her front door. Just as he was about to follow her inside, she stopped him. "This is as far as you go.