No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian) novel Chapter 384

The air was thick with sorrow when a voice pierced the silence, startling everyone to the bone. All eyes turned to Ian. There he was, his gaze profound and dark, staring them down.

"Holy smokes! The son of a gun was playing possum!" Chase blurted out, quickly pulling Sasha into his embrace and covering her eyes.

Edwin, in disbelief, reached out to block Ian's nose. His shock turned to elation when he felt a warm breath on his hand. "He's not faking it! He's alive. I knew he wouldn't leave Clara and the kids."

Ian slapped Edwin's hand away, his voice raspy but laced with unmistakable annoyance. "Get your paws off me. The fire didn't take me, but you're gonna suffocate me to death!"

Seeing that he was alright, everyone finally began to relax.

Annoyed, Sasha swatted Chase's hand away. "Why are you covering my eyes?"

Chase grinned mischievously. "Why do I get a little smack for caring? I thought you'd be scared of ghosts. Here I am, heart on my sleeve, and you treat it like a dog's dinner, ungrateful little thing."

"How are you the only one with your head in the clouds? Ian was in a coma, not dead. What corpse is there to be afraid of?"

"But what if he was dead? You never know."

Sasha kicked him in frustration. "You wish you were dead! Can't you hope for the best for him? If he died, what about Clara? What about my godchild?"

Chase smirked. "Easy fix. I'll step in and raise them. They can just call me 'Uncle Chase.'"

"They'll call my Uncle Sam before they call you that! This is my godchild. Why should they call you uncle? And who do you think you are, trying to take advantage?"

Sasha tried to kick Chase again, but he caught her ankle, a low chuckle by her ear. "For the sake of your dear friend, I could, oh so reluctantly, marry you, and we'd raise their child together."

Clara walked over and gently caressed Ian's cheek, her voice soothing. "Alright, cut it out. You've scared them half to death. Tell them about the plan."

"My wounds hurt, honey. Can't you comfort me a bit?"

"Shall I explain?" Clara wasn't falling for it.

Ian lifted her hand, kissing it softly, a smile playing at his lips. "I'll tell them. You fill in the gaps."

He pulled Clara down to sit beside him, then turned to the rest with a serious demeanor. He laid out the plan, detail by detail.

After listening, Sasha clapped her hands in approval. "Acting's my jam. Just watch me go out there and put on a show for them."