No Strings Attached

Hearing her voice, Marian, who was teetering on the brink of death, suddenly found her heartbeat again. The doctor immediately exclaimed, "The patient is responding! Keep talking to her; say something more."

Clara watched Marian's pale face. Her heart ached as she nestled into her embrace. She didn't want to admit that she wasn't her father's biological daughter. Yet faced with the kindness Marian had always shown her, Clara's heart was torn with guilt.

Although Marian had long known Clara was her granddaughter, she had concealed her longing, fearing the truth might cause Clara to lose her child.

The loss of her own daughter in her middle years had devastated Marian, and now in her elder years, she was afraid to acknowledge her own granddaughter. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FɪndNøvel.ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Remembering the times she'd spent with Marian, Clara was moved by the careful affection she'd been shown. Her tears began to fall as she lay in Marian's arms, whispering, "Grandma, it's me, Clara, May's daughter, the one you loved so dearly. Please, wake up."

was Edwin or the entire York family, they had all been waiting for this moment for

turned to Edwin with a quivering voice, "Clara's accepted

he clutched the talisman May had left him, murmuring softly, "Mom, I've found our little sister. Rest in peace. We'll take good care

"Grandma, did you hear that? Clara's acknowledged us. Please get better soon, so

the truth. Please wake up. We're going to throw her a grand family

with tears at the corners. She turned her head to look at Clara and, with a shaky voice, she touched Clara's

I are both fine. Please, get well soon. I want

"Just like your mother. She craved those two dishes the

had always associated the word with Victoria, the woman who brought her nothing but pain. She knew little of her birth mother, May.

felt a pang of sympathy, knowing Clara's shadows of doubt concerning a mother's