No Strings Attached

lan's statement wasn't a question, but an assertion.

His deep-set eyes were fixed intently on Brodie, as if trying to see right through him.

The room fell into an unnerving silence, so profound you could hear the sound of each other's breathing.

It was only after a pregnant pause that Brodie chuckled lightly, "When did you figure it out?"

That laugh made something heavy settle in lan's chest.

Discovering a brother who shared his blood, seemingly out of nowhere, was a feeling lan couldn't quite articulate.

He had always been guarded around Brodie. Partly because of his mysterious past, and partly because of his feelings for Clara.

lan had considered many possibilities, but the notion that Brodie was his half-brother had never crossed his mind.

few seconds before lan found his

doesn't matter when I found out. What matters is that you've known all along. You suspected Sierra was behind your mother's framing and you've been

I also knew Teo was the scumbag who abandoned my mom. If it weren't for Clara, do you think I

at

you've noticed. She holds a soft spot for

"That's your father too."

If it wasn't for him, my mom wouldn't have been hurt. We wouldn't

gave you a life of wealth and comfort. What he gave me was a lifetime of narrow escapes from death. I believe my mom wasn't the kind of person to knowingly get involved with a married man. It must have been your father who deceived her, then turned a blind eye after she got pregnant, leaving her to

was a trace of emotion on his face. His dark eyes were tinged with

for Teo

in a fire, enduring excruciating pain to save her child without medication, it cut him like

meaningful intensity. His voice was a shade huskier. "This isn't as simple as you think. Maybe my dad was also a pawn in someone's game. I'm investigating, and if Sierra is behind this I won't

hope you'll keep your word. If Sierra troubles my mom again,