No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)
Chapter 439

He cradled Clara's delicate hand in his, showering it with kisses. His lips brushed against her skin repeatedly. Tears welled up in his eyes, a warm sensation swirling within.

At this moment, he couldn't quite capture the storm of emotions raging through him—was it the relief of a narrow escape or the joy of a precious return? He had even braced himself for the worst, rehearsing in his mind how he would console Clara if their child was lost.

Clara, overcome with emotion, was at a loss for words. Tears streamed down her cheeks in silence. After what felt like an eternity, her voice emerged, hoarse and trembling, "lan, I didn't let go of our kid. When Heidi kicked me, I shielded them with my arms. I'm a good mom, Ian. I protected our child."

These words pierced lan's heart, sending waves of acute pain through him. Without a doubt, he knew the lengths Clara had gone to protect their unborn child. He wrapped his arms around Clara, holding her close, his lips finding the crown of her head.

"You're amazing, Clara. You're the greatest mom in the world, and I love you," he murmured against her hair.

He kissed away the tears at the corners of her eyes. His lips finally rested on her pale, trembling ones. His voice was a deep, husky whisper. "Clara, I love you. I love you so much." Then, he captured the lips he had longed for day and night in a tender, lingering kiss.

The joy of their reunion was indescribable. It was a feeling beyond words. Ian poured all his pent-up longing into that kiss. His lips moved against hers with a fervor that left no inch of her untouched.

They lost track of time, consumed by each other, until a rumbling from Clara's stomach broke their trance. It was then that Clara remembered she hadn't eaten properly in days.

Her eyes were red-rimmed as she stared at lan. Her voice was still laced with the remnants of passion. "Ian, I'm so hungry. Is there anything to eat here? I'm craving ribs, shrimp, and cupcakes." Seeing her revert to her food-loving self, lan finally allowed himself to relax. He pinched her cheek playfully. "You've been hungry for so long. You can't eat too much at once. Start with some soup to ease your stomach back into it."

Clara nodded obediently. When lan handed her a bowl of veggie soup, her tears couldn't be held back. She knew this was her father Casey's doing. She couldn't imagine what he had been through these past days. Recalling Heidi's harsh words, she felt a pain sharper than a needle's prick.

Noticing her emotional state, lan gently massaged her head. His voice was soft with comfort. "Casey's strong. He always believed you were alive. He's been making this soup every day, waiting for you to come back."

Clara's teary eyes met his. "Is he okay? His health?"

"He's fine. I've had a doctor with him the whole time. Don't worry."

Weak from the ordeal, Clara was taken to the hospital for recuperation. When she finally saw Casey, she couldn't help but burst into tears and throw herself into his arms, crying out "Daddy" just like she did when she was a little girl.

Casey's own tears flowed as he stroked her hair soothingly. "Clara, I'm here. I'll always be with you. Now, no more tears. It's not good for the baby."

He tenderly wiped her tears with a tissue. His heart ached for her suffering yet filled with gratitude that she was alive and back in his arms.

Clara clung to Casey, murmuring over and over, "Dad, I just need you. That's all I need."

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