No Strings Attached

He cradled Clara's delicate hand in his, showering it with kisses. His lips brushed against her skin repeatedly. Tears welled up in his eyes, a warm sensation swirling within.

At this moment, he couldn't quite capture the storm of emotions raging through him—was it the relief of a narrow escape or the joy of a precious return? He had even braced himself for the worst, rehearsing in his mind how he would console Clara if their child was lost.

Clara, overcome with emotion, was at a loss for words. Tears streamed down her cheeks in silence. After what felt like an eternity, her voice emerged, hoarse and trembling, "lan, I didn't let go of our kid. When Heidi kicked me, I shielded them with my arms. I'm a good mom, Ian. I protected our child."

These words pierced lan's heart, sending waves of acute pain through him. Without a doubt, he knew the lengths Clara had gone to protect their unborn child. He wrapped his arms around Clara, holding her close, his lips finding the crown of her head.

"You're amazing, Clara. You're the greatest mom in the world, and I love you," he murmured against her hair.

corners of her eyes. His lips finally rested on her pale, trembling ones. His voice was a deep, husky whisper. "Clara, I love you. I love you so much."

pent-up longing into that kiss. His lips moved against

stomach broke

craving ribs, shrimp, and cupcakes." Seeing her revert to her food-loving self, lan finally allowed himself to relax. He pinched her cheek playfully. "You've been

She knew this was her father Casey's doing. She couldn't imagine what he had been through these past days. Recalling Heidi's harsh words, she felt a pain sharper than a

strong. He always believed you were alive. He's been

his.

doctor with him the whole time.

she couldn't help but burst into tears and throw herself into his