No Strings Attached

"Ian, just you wait, at tomorrow's dinner party, I'm gonna give you a run for your money!"

The uncles and cousins of the York family who had been waiting outside all surged forward, standing by Edwin's side, giving lan odd looks.

"Eddie, don't you worry," one of the uncles boomed, slapping Edwin on the back. "If he wants to whisk away our little princess, he'll have to pass our test. Make sure there's plenty of booze for tomorrow. We're going to have a proper drink with our future son-in-law."

lan was unfazed by the challenge from the twenty-odd men. He had come prepared to stand by Clara's side.

He knew the York men were notorious for doting on the women in their family. When May passed away, her brothers were devastated. Now that they had found her daughter, it was only natural that they would shower Clara with all the love that had been pent up over the years.

family reunion, in addition to recognizing her grandparents, Clara was also introduced to her grandfather's six brothers, ten uncles, and thirteen male cousins. Though only James was her blood uncle, each had

of the Hayes family, but their tight-knit solidarity made them a force to be reckoned with. In this household, there were no secret schemes or fratricide; it was just a clan united in

up in the room, her heart a cocktail of emotions. For the first time, she was experiencing the sensation of being the center of attention. It was a treatment she had never known growing up in the Bell family, where she had been the least favored due

thought of her father, Casey. She immediately took out her phone and dialed his number. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on

couch, sipping coffee with a pensive expression. The coffee mug was a birthday gift from Clara, one he had

the tea couldn't mask his longing

Clara should be having a reunion dinner with the York family right

he wallowed in his sentimentality,

came through, "Dad, have you missed me? I've missed you