No Strings Attached

"Alright, can't I just try to win the kids' mom over a day sooner?"

Watching the two bicker, Clara felt a surge of happiness for them. At the same time, that sense of déjà vu stabbed at her heart like a knife.

She immediately stood up and said, "I should head back. Have a safe trip tomorrow. I've got a court case to attend to, so I won't see you off." "Sure, no need for goodbyes. Remember to visit the three kids more often."

Clara drove away from Elle's house, finding herself unconsciously at the graveyard of her baby. She placed a bouquet of fresh flowers on the gravestone.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Kneeling down, she wiped the gravestone clean with a tissue. Tears dropped onto the gravestone, one by one. Her voice choked with emotion. "Baby, mommy went to see Aunt Elle's two babies today. They're so adorable. If you were still here, you'd probably be just like them."

She sat on the ground, burying her face in her knees. Her shoulders shook uncontrollably.

She cried for a long time before she heard footsteps approaching her. Turning her head, she met lan's cold gaze.

Dressed in black, his tall figure approached her with strong, steady steps. Though he looked much haggard, his spirit was undiminished.

lan placed his flowers on the gravestone, his eyes filled with undeniable sorrow. "Don't be too sad. It's not good for your body. The baby won't rest easy over there if they see you in this state."

Clara's eyes were downcast, and her

voice was still nasal from crying. "Today, I visited Elle's two babies. Roy was so clingy to me. He cried when

as leaving, as if he couldn't

bear to part with me. lan, if our baby were still here, would he be just as clingy to me?"

Hearing this, lan couldn't hide his emotion. He looked up at the sky, trying hard to prevent tears from falling from his eyes. His voice was hoarse "Clara, if you like, you can visit them more often. Don't lock yourself in the past. You must move forward."

Clara stood up, took a deep breath, and said, "Don't worry. I will. I have many things to do; I won't stay down."

As he watched her rigid posture and listened to her unwavering words, lan felt a sharp pang in his heart. He clenched his fists tightly. His gaze was intense as he looked at Clara. "Clara, I'm leaving for abroad tomorrow, and I don't know when I'll return. Take good care of yourself. Do you understand?"

Clara wasn't surprised by the news. Katherine and his grandfather were abroad, and Greta was detained there too. Ian would surely go there to rescue them. However, with this departure, their next meeting was uncertain. Perhaps by then, everything would have changed. Perhaps they would have new people by their sides.

When she thought of this, the ache in Clara's heart intensified. Still, she showed no emotion, simply saying, "Take care." Then she turned and left.

As he watched her retreating figure, the tears lan had been holding back finally fell. To control his emotions, he clenched his fists tighter. Even the veins stood out on his forehead. He finally understood the pain of heartbreak, the agony of longing. And at that moment, he was living it.

Clara wasn't faring any better. She drove off immediately, with her tears streaming down her cheeks as she silently wished, "lan, you must take care of yourself."