No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)
Chapter 201

When Clara saw Anders again, it was on the night they celebrated Alicia becoming her godmother.

He looked like he had lost a ton of weight. His eyes were sunken, and his complexion pale as chalk. He stood in the hallway, forlornly puffing on a cigarette alone.

Clara approached, offering him a bottle of water and said softly, "Anders, have you found Orin's mom yet?"

Anders' red-rimmed eyes met hers. "Clara, I'm sorry. I've let you down."

Clara shook her head with a smile, "Don't beat yourself up. We never really got started. Cutting our losses now is the best thing for both of us. I don't want you to turn into one of those deadbeat jerks I loathe."

Anders closed his eyes in pain, his voice husky and weak. "Orin's had leukemia since he was little. None of our relatives were a match for a bone marrow transplant, and the doctors suggested we have another child."

Tears began to well up in his eyes as he spoke. His gaze was deep and watery as he looked at Clara. "I never thought of marrying another woman for life. Even with Orin in the picture, I never gave up on you. planned to find Elle, clear things up, and raise the kid together while chasing our own true love. But when I heard about Orin's condition, I just broke down. He might have been an accident, but I'm still his biological father-I can't just stand by and do nothing."

"Having another child seemed the only way to save him, but that meant I had to let you go, Clara. It took me so long to finally have you running towards me, and now this curveball. Do you have any idea how reluctant my heart is?"

Anders' voice choked up, and tears streamed down his face. Torn between the girl he'd liked for years and the blood-related son he couldn't bear to abandon, he felt a heartache so intense it made him forget to breathe.

Clara's eyes grew warm too, but she kept a calm smile on her face. "Anders, from now on, consider me your sister. I hope you get over this relationship soon and give Orin and his mom the happy home they deserve. She must really love you to have the child on her own, and with Orin being sick all this time, these years must have been so tough for her. You've got to treat her right."

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Anders alone with his solitary silhouette.

Exiting the hotel, Clara bumped into Ryker. He handed her a pink-frosted cupcake, "Taste something sweet, and life won't seem so bitter."

Clara looked surprised, "You know about this?"

Ryker smirked, "Don't all you girls love these things when you're feeling down?"

She patted his head, laughing, "You are all grown up, understanding girls' hearts now. I'll find you a girlfriend soon."

"No way." Ryker rejected outright.

"You're 22. A relationship could help you settle down. Why not?"

Ryker's gaze, sharp as an eagle's, didn't waver from her. "I only want to date you. I don't care for any other girl."

Clara glanced at him, "I've told you before, we're not a match. Keep those thoughts in check, or I'll have your granddad ship you off."

Ryker scoffed, "Why can you consider lan and Anders, but not me? Where do I fall short? Looks, physique, or family background-why won't you even consider me."

"They're not better than you. I just don't think it's right."

"That's nonsense! You're still hung up on that jerk lan. What's so great about him that you can't forget? Whatever he can offer you, I can provide just the same. Just say the word, and I can take over the family business, become the current head of the Miller family, and then make you my wife."

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