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."

kicked him in frustration. "You wish you were dead! Can't you hope for the best for him? If

raise

This is my godchild. Why should they call you uncle? And who do you think you are, trying to

caught her ankle, a low chuckle by her ear. "For the sake

Chase's face. This darn man wanted to marry her? After he cold-heartedly called

all along. Now, he was making a move on her. She wouldn't let

of rage, she bit down hard

more nonsense,

a deep purple bite mark on his shoulder, looking pitifully at lan. "I've been