No Strings Attached

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Edwin couldn't help but let out a sigh. It seemed that convincing Clara to embrace her roots wouldn't be a walk in the park. And given the shady things Paolo had done for Heidi, it was a good bet that Clara wouldn't want anything to do with him once she learned the truth.

Just then, Edwin's phone rang with a call from his father. He pressed the answer button, and the irritation was clear in his gesture.

Paolo's voice, hoarse with sorrow, came through immediately. "Eddie, Heidi's been sentenced to ten years," his father lamented. "She'll rot in jail for a decade. By the time she gets out, she'll be broken, a shadow of herself. You've got to find a way to get her out. She's your half-sister, for crying out loud."

Paolo began to play the emotional card, but Edwin wasn't buying it. "So, you orchestrated harm to Casey just to clear Heidi's name?" he asked with a cold laugh.

so stubborn? If she hadn't been so hellbent on the

utter disrespect. His fingers clenched around the phone, his voice icy. "You have no right to speak about her like

just a small-time lawyer. With lan looking after her, I can't touch her, but

him. He bit his lip in frustration and said, "If you lay a finger on Clara again, that's it - we're done as father and son. Just wait and see if you don't believe

His eyes, red with rage, rested on Clara. Because of his father, his mother had died in a car accident, and his sister had been

had been marred by twenty years of depression due to Victoria's influence. And now, because of Heidi, Clara had been hurt time and again. Her life, which should have been

"Clara, Casey's out of immediate danger. Please, have something to eat." Clara looked up at the sound of his voice. Her eyes met Edwin's dark and troubled gaze. She frowned slightly, perplexed. "Edwin, we're not close. Isn't

into a bitter smile. "Sorry, I'm just looking

me?" Clara said, incredulous. Had lan lost his mind? Why on earth would he send Heidi's brother to look