No Strings Attached

Chapter 462

The pair descended the mountain, their hearts heavy as if weighed down by a boulder.

This whole business of fortune-telling and astrology was a matter of belief. If you bought into it, it held sway; if you didn't, it's just smoked. But there was no denying that bad news could sour your mood.

There were less than twenty days until the 8th of next month. They had to ensure that nothing dangerous would happen in these twenty days to have the wedding go off without a hitch. They got straight to work as soon as they got back home.

Two days later, Clara returned to her family home. The following day, the Hayes family arrived at the Bell residence with wedding gifts in tow.

To ensure the wedding would be safe, they decided to hold it at the old Hayes family estate, inviting only the nearest and dearest, keeping the guest list intimate.

Wedding preparations proceeded smoothly. Clara spent her days receiving gifts and trying on a variety of bridal gowns, basking in her happiness.

Following local tradition, the bride and groom were not to see each other for the three days before the wedding, so Casey whisked Clara back to his family home.

The Yorks all came from Riddleton, with Marian and Michael opting to stay at the Bell residence.

Watching everyone bustling about for her wedding warmed Clara's heart. Her room was overflowing with gifts, some from Casey, and some from the York family. Every single item was chosen with love.

Sasha burst into the room and was taken aback by the sight. "Whoa, jackpot! You've turned into a little rich lady overnight! All this stuff must be worth billions, right?"

Clara watched her friend with a twinkle in her eye. "Billions is just the start. The Hayes family also gave me shares and real estate. And then there's my grandma's shares and my dad's assets. I'm now a major shareholder of Hayes Corporation and York Enterprises."

Sasha's eyes widened in disbelief. "Holy moly! So if I cling to your coattails, I'm set for life, right? Ah, my wealthy friend, let me get a taste of that success."

She hugged Clara tightly, like an affectionate puppy, and planted a kiss on her cheek. Then, looking straight at her, Sasha said, "Clara, seeing you this happy is just the best. You've got to keep this up forever, got it?"

Clara took Sasha's face in her hands and gave it a playful squish. "I've found my happiness. What about you? What's going on with you and that movie star? And what about Dr. Chase? Aren't you two living together? The internet is buzzing with rumors about you dumping your boyfriend for that male actor."

Sasha's mood soured at the mention of Chase. Her smile vanished, replaced by a chill. "Don't even bring up that jerk. If it wasn't for fear of being torn apart by the fans, I'd have kicked Chase to the curb already. We're just putting on a show. There's nothing between us. I'm even paying him, for heaven's sake."

Clara chuckled. "Oh, I see. And here I thought you two had done it. But seriously, there's nothing between you? Ian reckons you've got a love-hate thing going, that you fight like cats and dogs but are actually cozy behind closed doors."

"Puh-lease! Ian's never short of trash talk. Whoever ends up with Chase is an absolute idiot!"

"That's just talk, Sasha. Don't jinx yourself. If you ever end up with him, you'll be eating your words."Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Clara laughed and gently patted Sasha's face, which only made Sasha grab her wrist in mock anger. "Clara! You're not even married yet, and here you are, spouting all that funky gossip like Ian. Don't let him corrupt you."