No Strings Attached

Leonora's tears broke through the dams of her eyes the moment she heard those words. She lamented with a face full of regret, "She must have been worried about her daughter and wanted me to watch over her to fulfill her last wish. That's why I've been so kind to Heidi all these years, treating her as if she were my own flesh and blood. How could I have known she wasn't May's child? If I'd known it was Clara, how could I possibly have stood in the way of you two?"

Her sobbing was heartfelt, her pain piercing to the core. She beat her chest in sorrow, moaning, "It's all my fault. I had no idea things would turn out like this. I've let Clara and May down. Ian, please bring Clara back. I need to apologize to her properly, to beg her forgiveness."

lan's face remained unyielding, his voice growing even colder. "You killed her grandfather Reed, and nearly killed her father. Do you really think she'll forgive you so easily?"

"What do you want me to do then? I'll do everything you said," Leonora pleaded, her face streaked with tears and her eyes shining with unprecedented sincerity.

If lan hadn't already known the kind of person she was, he might have been fooled by her performance. With a chilly sneer, he said, "Divorce Dad and leave the Hayes family."

At this demand, Leonora immediately shook her head. "My maiden family is all but gone. Where would you have me go if I left the Hayes family? lan, I am your mother. Are you really that heartless? Do you wish to see me lonely for the rest of my life?"

anticipated her refusal and thus proposed another option. "Then, from today on, move to the back of Crimson Manor, and don't you dare step foot

to let you die. Someone, take her to Crimson Manor and make sure she doesn't

seizing her arms

you? Your sister and your father won't forgive you for treating me like this. Ian, I really didn't know Clara

He had grown up with this woman as his mother, but in

to being harsh and critical, constantly fighting with his father and scaring him and his sister to the

maintained a respect for their family bond, always giving her the benefit of the doubt, but his repeated

he couldn't allow her to harm

to the living room. He hadn't expected to find not