No Strings Attached

After finishing his words, he set Elle down gently on the ground and, true to his promise, pulled out a giftbox from his pocket and handed it to Clara.

Clara immediately recoiled her hand and hastily shook her head. "Mr. James, I really can't accept this."

"Ah, don't be silly, girl. This is from me to lan. The poor guy's been injured. I have to show some concern. If I don't, that rascal will be on my case," James insisted.

With that explanation, Clara finally took the bills, nodding with a gentle smile. Her voice was soft as a whisper, “Thank you, Uncle."

His heart warmed at her endearing demeanor, so reminiscent of May back in the day. Patting Clara's head with a touch of affection, James said, "Take me to see him for a moment, and then we'll be on our way."

passed and you still haven't won over Elle? What on earth

you did was follow the girl home. If it weren't for Marian cutting you some slack because of me, and letting you through the York family's door, do you think James, with his doting daddy madness, wouldn't have tossed you out? Anders, a man needs to know what he wants when it matters most. Once you're sure, you go after it no matter what. You hurt Elle deeply. Do you think a few dinners and some bouquets of flowers will make it all better? You heard James just now. Elle went through hell carrying Orin. No woman

sigh, Trevor shook

ever the empathetic mother, patted her son's arm, comforting him, "Elle's hurt now, and with a baby on the way. A woman's heart is most fragile at times like these. Son, you've got to step up. I'm waiting for you to mend

attentive to Mommy. If you

up in his work, he rarely paid attention to her life. Even the gifts and flowers were tasks he delegated to his assistant. Truth was, he didn't actually know what Elle liked at all. He didn't even

a burgeoning sense of resolve, Anders said, "Alright, I know what I've got to do. You're going to help Daddy win Mommy

with a gleeful grin. "Go Daddy, you can

James

approached, lan felt a surge of jealousy. He quickly