No Strings Attached

"It's going to be a tough ride for you, bunking at the hospital just to keep it real. You sure you can handle this?" he said, his voice tinged with concern.

Clara nodded her head. "I'll be fine. I practically lived at the hospital when my dad was sick, and our kiddo was still okay, wasn't he? Let me go fetch the folks outside and fill them in."

lan gently ruffled her hair, his expression softening. "You and the little one have had it rough these past days. Once we wrap up this mess, I'll whisk us away to start our own little adventure, just us."

After strategizing their next moves, Clara stepped out of the ER. As soon as everyone saw her, they crowded around.

Tears brimmed in Clara's eyes, and the pain she felt was unmistakable.

"Clara, how's lan doing?" Edwin asked, with a sense of dread, as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

doctors say he inhaled too much carbon monoxide. Even if he wakes up, he'd be in

like

Clara into a tight embrace, sobbing, "If he's a vegetable, what will you and the baby do? Clara,

in close. He rubbed her head gently, whispering, "Crying like this isn't helping Clara. She's the one who's

and said, "Clara, don't worry. Even if lan

tact? That's not how you comfort

I can't control my mouth." Sasha retorted, clearly irked. She gave Chase a shove before pulling Clara back

knew she had to make her act convincing-to make the eavesdropper believe lan was truly in a vegetative state.

"Go in and see him, folks. He might still hear you. In a few days, his brain might stop working altogether, and he won't feel anything