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 and half

crying. Take care of yourself and the baby. Wait for me to come back, okay?" Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in

will. We'll wait for

I borrowed this phone, gotta hang up

ended the call. The strength he'd been holding on to suddenly deflated. The phone slipped from his grasp, and his eyes

him, Ryker shouted, "lan, if you check out, I'll have your

didn't respond to Ryker's threat. The light in his

"lan, wake up!"

Clara and the kid? Come

face desperately, trying to rouse him, but despite turning red from the slaps,

they stumbled into the chaos of war again. Children screamed throughout the conflict zone. Ian couldn't help

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

the spleen. He needs surgery now, but the risk of infection is high here." Ryker asked urgently,