No Strings Attached

Following Clara closely, lan's face was a mask of concern. He rubbed her back gently as they made their way to the bathroom. He asked, "What's wrong, love? Have you been overworking yourself lately? Skipping meals? Maybe we should head to the hospital, just to be safe?"

Hunched over the toilet, Clara heaved a few times, but nothing came up. Her eyes were bloodshot from the effort. She gave her head a slight shake. "I'm okay. I just need some Pepto-Bismol, and I'll be fine." lan wasn't convinced. His large hand came to rest on her forehead, feeling for a fever. "I'm calling the doctor over. I can't relax seeing you like this."

"It's just an old stomach issue, nothing new. A bowl of hot chicken noodle soup should set me right," Clara insisted.

From the doorway, Casey appeared, drawn by the commotion. "Clara, what's all this about? You're not—"

little chance she'd conceive even after three months with lan, let alone a

with a pale face, forcing a smile for her father's sake. "Dad, I'm

your favorite soup. Come have some. Ian, could you grab the bowls

thing. Let me just help

diligence that made Clara feel almost guilty for his fussing. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the (F)indNƟvᴇl.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ

Casey with a face full of guilt, his voice tinged with an unspoken sorrow. "I'm so sorry for the hurt this has caused you

lan and believed he was the right match for his daughter. Yet, with recent events, he

mother's words caused him pain in his final moments, and that's probably the hardest thing for Clara to bear. Give her time to process this. Your birth mother was the perpetrator, Reed was the victim, and he cherished Clara.

couldn't bear to see the young couple part. He also knew that if Clara