No Strings Attached

Chapter 415

After finishing his words, he set Elle down gently on the ground and, true to his promise, pulled out a giftbox from his pocket and handed it to Clara.

Clara immediately recoiled her hand and hastily shook her head. “Mr. James, I really can’t accept this.”

“Ah, don’t be silly, girl. This is from me to Ian. The poor guy’s been injured. I have to show some concern. If I don’t, that rascal will be on my case,” James insisted.

With that explanation, Clara finally took the bills, nodding with a gentle smile. Her voice was soft as a whisper, “Thank you, Uncle.”

His heart warmed at her endearing demeanor, so reminiscent of May back in the day. Patting Clara’s head with a touch of affection, James said, “Take me to see him for a moment, and then we’ll be on our way.” ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

As they walked away, Trevor glared at Anders. His frustration was evident. “You useless piece of work. How much time has passed and you still haven’t won over Elle? What on earth are you thinking?”

Anders’ face was a storm of emotions. “I’ve tried, but if she’s not interested, what can I do?”

Trevor let out a derisive snort. “Have you, though? All you did was follow the girl home. If it weren’t for Marian cutting you some slack because of me, and letting you through the York family’s door, do you think James, with his doting daddy madness, wouldn’t have tossed you out? Anders, a man needs to know what he wants when it matters most. Once you’re sure, you go after it no matter what. You hurt Elle deeply. Do you think a few dinners and some bouquets of flowers will make it all better? You heard James just now. Elle went through hell carrying Orin. No woman can forgive that easily.”

With a heavy sigh, Trevor shook his head and walked away.

Alicia, ever the empathetic mother, patted her son’s arm, comforting him, “Elle’s hurt now, and with a baby on the way. A woman’s heart is most fragile at times like these. Son, you’ve got to step up. I’m waiting for you to mend fences with her.”

Anders watched his parents walk away as he bent down to pick up Orin from the ground. He looked into those big, innocent eyes and asked with a furrowed brow, “You think Daddy’s pretty useless, don’t you?”

Orin shook his head. “No, Daddy’s really strong in the courtroom. It’s just... you’re not that attentive to Mommy. If you don’t even know what she likes most, how can she forgive you?”

Anders frowned, realizing that during the half year he’d lived with Elle, it was always she who had made concessions for him.

Caught up in his work, he rarely paid attention to her life. Even the gifts and flowers were tasks he delegated to his assistant. Truth was, he didn’t actually know what Elle liked at all. He didn’t even realize she was the daughter of the York family.

With a burgeoning sense of resolve, Anders said, “Alright, I know what I’ve got to do. You’re going to help Daddy win Mommy back, okay?”

Orin nodded with a gleeful grin. “Go Daddy, you can do it!”

Meanwhile, Clara led James into Ian’s hospital room.

Seeing the two of them chatting as they approached, Ian felt a surge of jealousy. He quickly went over and pulled Clara into his embrace. His gaze was a mix of affection and reproach.

“Are you out of your mind, getting so cozy with everyone? You better watch out or this old fox might just whisk you away.”

James, irked, raised his hand in a mock threat. “If it weren’t for Clara’s sake, I’d flatten you for that comment. I’ve come all this way to see you, but you have the nerve to call me an old fox?”

Ian’s lips curled into a half-smile. “If not an old fox, then what? Why are you so nice to my wife?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. Believe it or not, I could whisk Clara away and leave you to be a bachelor!”

Seeing James genuinely upset, Ian finally felt a sense of satisfaction. He smirked triumphantly at James. “No chance of bachelorhood, I’m afraid because Clara and I are about to become husband and wife officially.”