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.

before Paolo replied, "Clara brought it on herself. Why did she have to be so stubborn? If she hadn't been so hellbent

voice icy. "You have no right to speak about her like that! Heidi's sentence

lan looking after her, I can't touch her, but the day lan drops her, I'll handle her

beyond him. He bit his lip in frustration and said, "If you lay a finger on Clara again, that's it -

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

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 carefree, was

opened the door to the hospital room and approached Clara. His voice was hoarse. "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 it a bit

twisted into a bitter smile. "Sorry, I'm just looking after you on lan's behalf. Please, don't

me?" Clara said, incredulous. Had lan lost his mind? Why on earth would he