No Strings Attached

The air was thick with sorrow when a voice pierced the silence, startling everyone to the bone. All eyes turned to lan. There he was, his gaze profound and dark, staring them down. "Holy smokes! The son of a gun was playing possum!" Chase blurted out, quickly pulling Sasha into his embrace and covering her eyes.

Edwin, in disbelief, reached out to block lan's nose. His shock turned to elation when he felt a warm breath on his hand. "He's not faking it! He's alive. I knew he wouldn't leave Clara and the kids." Ian slapped Edwin's hand away, his voice raspy but laced with unmistakable annoyance. "Get your paws off me. The fire didn't take me, but you're gonna suffocate me to death!"

Seeing that he was alright, everyone finally began to relax.

Annoyed, Sasha swatted Chase's hand away. "Why are you covering my eyes?"

Chase grinned mischievously. "Why do I get a little smack for caring? I thought you'd be scared of ghosts. Here I am, heart on my sleeve, and you treat it like a dog's dinner, ungrateful little thing." "How are you the only one with your head in the clouds? lan was in a coma, not dead. What corpse is there to be afraid of?"

"But what if he was dead? You never know."

frustration. "You wish you were dead! Can't you hope for the best for him? If he died, what about Clara? What

I'll step in and raise

they call you uncle? And who do you think you are, trying to take advantage?" Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early

"For the sake of your dear friend, I could, oh so reluctantly,

the smug look on Chase's face. This darn man wanted to marry her? After he cold-heartedly called off their engagement, claiming

he was making a move on her.

grip, but his strong hand held her fast, rendering her immobile. In a fit of rage, she bit down hard on Chase's

nonsense, I'll do more

on his shoulder, looking pitifully