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.

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 brought her lavish gifts. In that moment, she truly

a force to be reckoned with. In this household, there were

of being the center of attention. It was a treatment she had never known growing up in the Bell family, where she had been

her excitement, she thought of her father, Casey. She immediately took out her phone and dialed his number. S~ᴇaʀᴄh

expression. The coffee mug was a birthday gift from Clara, one he had been reluctant to use until now. The coffee beans were of

the tea couldn't mask

having a reunion dinner with the

sentimentality, his phone rang. He

came through, "Dad, have you missed