No Strings Attached

Chapter 489

Chase's laughter was laced with triumph. "Great, we can't miss such a joyous occasion. Godparents have to be there." Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

After hanging up the phone, Clara stood frozen in place, unable to shake off the shock.

Ian walked in just in time to witness her daze. He strolled over and kissed her swelling belly, chuckling, "What's on your mind that's got you so spaced out?"

Clara's eyes sparkled with mirth as she looked up at him. "You were spot on—Ian, Sasha, and Chase are an item now."

Ian's brow furrowed. "What do you mean by 'an item?'"

"You know, they've hit the sheets. Sasha doesn't just get intimate with anyone. She must have feelings for him. Ian, wouldn't it be wonderful if those two really hit it off?"

Ian pinched her chubby cheek affectionately and said with a smile, "I'm afraid it's not that simple. Sasha won’t give it up to Chase that easily."

"Why not? Chase seems like a perfect match for her. Are you keeping something from me?"

"Just a hunch," he replied, although there was no way he'd tell his wife that Sasha was actually the one Chase had broken off an engagement with.

Chase's journey to win back Sasha was not going to be an easy ride, not if Ian had anything to say about it.

Ian picked up a cardigan from a nearby chair and draped it over Clara's shoulders, suggesting with a smile, "The sun's lovely today. How about I take you out to soak up some vitamin D?"

As they descended the staircase and looked up at the clear blue sky, Clara sighed wistfully, "I'd love to go out, maybe hit the mall."

Seeing the longing in her eyes, Ian caressed her cheek tenderly.

He leaned down to kiss her lips. "Clara, I hate to see you suffer like this, cooped up all day, but the situation is still dicey. I can't risk anything happening to you or our baby."

Clara smiled understandingly. "I know. Everything will get better once Leonora is sentenced. How's the case going? Has she not confessed yet?"

Ian's gaze darkened for a moment. "The evidence in the other cases is overwhelming. She won't escape justice. But with Katherine's case, the victim has no memory, so Leonora won't confess, and we're at a standstill. The only way forward is for Katherine to regain her memory and discover her true identity."

"But Brodie mentioned that for Katherine to fully recover, they might have to use exposure therapy to recreate the original traumatic scene. Wouldn't that be too cruel for her?"

Ian stopped in his tracks, gently stroking her belly. In a soft voice, he reassured her, "Don't you worry about that. Just focus on taking care of yourself and the baby, alright?"

Clara obediently nodded, then inquired further, "What about the investigation into my mother's case? You and my brother haven't mentioned it lately. Are you still lacking leads?"

Her question caused Ian's hand on her stomach to pause momentarily, a surge of emotion flashing in his eyes before he quickly masked it.

He ruffled her hair playfully. "I've told you not to stress about these things. Are you being disobedient by asking?"

"I'm just curious. I keep dreaming about Mom, covered in blood, begging me to find her killer, to avenge her death. Maybe she must have been wronged by someone she trusted the most."

At her words, a chill ran down Ian's spine.

He pulled Clara into his embrace, kissing her forehead repeatedly.

"Clara, once our baby is born, everything will come to light, and I'll give you the answers you need, okay?"