No Strings Attached

This was an unfamiliar number from overseas, but Edwin would recognize it anywhere.

His eyes snapped up, locking onto Clara's. His voice trembled slightly. "She's fine, how are you?"

lan's voice was laced with unbearable pain. "Give the phone to her."

Edwin promptly moved beside Clara, bending down gently. "It's lan, he's alright."

Upon hearing this, Clara's gaze momentarily froze. It took her a good ten seconds to process Edwin's words. She snatched the phone from Edwin's hand and spoke in a quivering voice, "lan?" As she called out his name, tears began to cascade down her cheeks.

lan closed his eyes in anguish. "Clara, I'm okay. We're on lockdown here, but I'll be back in a few days. Has Elude arrived?"

"He's here. Dad's surgery was a success," Clara managed to say through sobs.

"That's great. I didn't break my promise to you, Clara. Have you been eating and sleeping properly?"

had a bowl of beef stew

Wait for me to come back,

We'll

this phone, gotta

he'd been holding on to suddenly

you check out, I'll have your son call

respond to Ryker's threat. The light in his consciousness dimmed until darkness

"lan, wake up!"

you can't die. What about Clara

face desperately, trying to rouse him, but despite

chaos of war again. Children screamed throughout the conflict zone. Ian couldn't help himself and ran back to save them, getting struck by a bullet

officer and called Clara. He just wanted to know she was okay and needed

wound. "The bullet might have hit the spleen. He needs surgery now, but the risk of infection is high here." Ryker asked