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.

resignation. "What should've been a celebration has

over. Why should Clara have to pay that debt? Do you have any idea how much it hurts to see them at odds like

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, our ancestors

her knees in terror, pleading for 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 without fabrication. You can't

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

walk away from the Hayes family. She gritted

was an heirloom left by their ancestors. When it struck 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

follow her inside, she