No Strings Attached

Chapter 406

Teo gazed at Brodie, who had always epitomized calm and poise, now standing with veins throbbing on his forehead. His eyes were ablaze with undissolvable hatred.

A sharp pang went through Teo’s heart. What could have possibly happened to drive him to such a state?

Teo‘s eyes began to sting, and his throat tightened. He couldn’t even muster the courage to recognize Brodie as his own.

After what felt like an eternity, he spoke with a heavy voice, “I don’t know what went down back in the day, but since it seems my actions wounded you, I’m not expecting you to make amends with me. All I’m asking is for a chance to make things right, to take good care of your mother, to help her regain her memories.” NôvelDrama.Org holds text © rights.

Brodie stared into Teo’s eyes for a long moment before finally releasing his grip and his eyes reddened slightly. “If it turns out you’re the reason my mom’s hurting, I’ll never forgive you!” After saying that, he turned and walked into the hospital room.

Teo watched his retreating figure and sighed softly. Pulling out his phone, he dialed a number. “Look into every woman I’ve come into contact with 24 years ago.”

In another hospital room, Clara had just finished her prenatal checkup and was replaying the baby’s heartbeat on her phone for Ian, over and over. Her face was lit up with joy and excitement. “Can you hear that? That’s our baby’s heartbeat. The doctor says it has a big head, almost half the size of its body, and you can make out all the organs. Who do you think it resembles more —you or me?”

As she spoke, her hands gently caressed her belly. She was eagerly anticipating the birth in a few short months, imagining what their child would look like.

Ian leaned down and kissed her lips softly. His voice was husky. “No matter who the baby takes after, they’ll be ten times cuter than Roger’s daughter. Sure, she’s got delicate skin and big eyes, but our genes are unparalleled.”

Clara’s eyes twinkled with mirth as she retorted, “If Roger heard you talking about his daughter like that, he’d cut ties with you in a heartbeat.”

“Let him! I dread the day he might come begging for a union with our future son. No way do I want to be in-laws with that guy.”

Clara couldn’t help but laugh at his look of distaste. “The Hicks family isn’t half bad, you know. Della is my goddaughter, after all. The kids can grow up together. Even if they don’t end up married, they could be as close as siblings — like Brodie and me. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

Ian’s brow furrowed in displeasure, and he bit Clara’s lip in a silent warning. “Clara, don’t you dare talk about your feelings for another man in front of me. Are you asking for trouble?”

Before Clara could respond, Ian captured her plump lips in a fierce, retaliatory kiss. His skills were expert, and it didn’t take long for Clara to surrender. Her moan was a low hum in her throat, and her eyes misted over with desire.

In this state, Clara was irresistible to Ian, a man of strong appetites. His hands began to unbutton her blouse, wandering up from her lower belly.

With a husky, pleading voice, Clara whispered, “Ian, please don’t.”

But Ian, undeterred, justified his actions. “The books say you might get itchy here during pregnancy. Let me massage it for you.”

His massage was skillful, eliciting several pleas from Clara.

“Ian, that hurts.”

“Ian, stop kissing me.”

Her voice was laden with unbridled desire, raspy and trembling beyond her control.