No Strings Attached

lan carried Clara back to their room, his heart aching as he saw her in pain. He held Clara's hand tightly, whispering comfortingly, "Clara, don't worry too much. Everything will be okay." Looking at his haggard face, Clara asked hoarsely, "How is your sister doing?"

"I've sent a lawyer over. The case is currently in the evidence collection stage, so it's still uncertain."

"lan," Clara softly called out, "I'll be fine. With so many people at home taking care of me, nothing will happen to me. You should focus on your sister's case. That's more important." Hearing her say this, lan's eyes instantly welled up with tears. Because of him, she had lost their child, and her father's fate was hanging by a thread.

Yet, she had never once blamed him. Instead, she comforted him.

How deep must her love be for her to be so selflessly devoted?

A sharp pain throbbed in lan's heart as he gently kissed Clara's forehead. Hot tears fell on her face.

With a hoarse voice, he said, "Clara, why are you so good to me? I'd feel better if you hit me or scolded me. Do you know how much it hurts me to see you like this?"

Clara gently caressed his face, trying to muster strength. "This isn't your fault. It just wasn't meant to be with our baby. Once this is over, we can try for another. Don't blame yourself too much. Everything will be okay."

She's a mother who had just lost her child, a daughter whose father was still lying in the hospital bed. Despite such a great blow, Clara was still comforting him.

lan had never felt more heartbroken than he did at this moment. He kissed Clara's forehead over and over, murmuring, "Clara, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

The two of them held each other, silently shedding tears.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

They both understood each other's feelings. Both buried their own pain to comfort the other.

Eventually Clara, weakened and

shocked, managed to stay awake for

an hour before falling asleep. She slept for a long time, so long that it felt like the whole world had changed when she woke up.

She opened her eyes and saw Sasha's face streaked with tears.

Sasha immediately stood up, wiping away her tears. "Clara, how are you feeling?"

The first thing Clara asked upon opening her eyes was, "Where is lan?"

Sasha cried even harder. "You're in this state and still worried about him? If it weren't for all that mess in his family, my godchild wouldn't have been lost, and Casey wouldn't be in a coma. Clara, for your and Casey's safety, you should leave him. It's better for you and your family."

Clara's eyes reddened as she stared at her. "Who told you to say these things? Was it lan? Has he decided to leave me too?"

Sasha didn't expect her to be so lucid at this moment. Clara guessed right at the heart of the matter.

She said calmly, "Of course not. I

just couldn't stand it anymore. That's why I said something. The problem is right here; being with him will only bring danger. Only by leaving him will you and Casey, the York family, and the Campbell family

be safe. Clara, I know you love,

but you've already lost too much for this relationship. Don't insist on making your life worse. Maybe separating is better for both of you. Wouldn't it be nice to be happy singles for the rest of our lives?"

Clara stared at Sasha's babbling mouth without saying a word.