No Strings Attached

Chapter 448

Edwin clapped Chase on the shoulder with a look of earnest concern before making his way over to Ian.

With a smirk playing on his lips, he said, “No way I’m playing the lonely heart’s club on my own. Gotta have someone to share the misery with me.”

Ian chuckled, “Just wait till he figures out what’s going on. You’ll probably get the beating of your life.”

“It’ll be you who gets it, not me. You started this whole mess. I’m just lending a brother a hand.”

They bantered and laughed as they made their way into the grand foyer. Only Anders remained still, rooted to the spot.

Ian glanced back at him and asked in a deep voice, “Waiting for Elle?”

Anders gave a faint nod. “Her arm’s been giving her trouble. I’m worried she might not be able to take good care of Orin.”

Ian let out a low laugh. “She went for an ultrasound today, then to set up a medical file for the baby. Didn’t she tell you?”

Anders shook his head. His expression was blank. “She didn’t mention it.”

Ian gave Anders a meaningful look. “If you want to win your wife back, you’ve got to abandon your dignity, mate. Elle told you not to look for her and you just obeyed? Keep this up and your son will be calling some other dude daddy before you know it.”

After saying that, Ian turned and walked away, leaving Anders alone, whose thoughts were as disheveled as the wind around him.

In these past days, he had tried to reach out to Elle, but she always found an excuse to evade him. Her coldness left him feeling powerless. He had sent gifts, which she accepted without complaint, and when he took Orin to visit the York family, she didn’t refuse.

However, any attempt at spending some alone time with her was met with an unequivocal no.

He had never felt such defeat in his life. It was as if he was all geared up with nowhere to go.

Chasing after Ian, Anders demanded, “What do you mean by ‘abandon dignity’, exactly?”

Ian turned back, with a mischievous grin on his face. “Ever tried seduction? Might work wonders for you.” Exclusive © material by Nô(/v)elDrama.Org.

Hearing that, Anders couldn’t help but curse under his breath, “You sleaze.”

But then he thought about how Ian had done worse to Clara than he ever did to Elle and still managed to make things right. This sparked a new curiosity about Ian’s approach.

He jumped into his car. The engine roared to life as he sped off toward the hospital.

Elle lay quietly on the hospital bed, letting the doctor glide the ultrasound device over her belly. While waiting in line, she saw others accompanied by their husbands, yet she was there with only her mother for company.

It was a bitter feeling, but she knew all too well that this child was not born of love but of duty. Sometimes she felt guilty for even bringing him into the world, knowing she couldn’t provide the complete family he deserved.

Just then, a voice filled with surprise rang out. “Ms. Elle, congratulations! The ultrasound shows you have two gestational sacs.”

Elle looked puzzled. “What does that mean, two gestational sacs?”

“It means you’re expecting twins!”

That was when it hit her. During the IVF procedure, they had indeed implanted two embryos, but she never imagined both would take hold.

Tears of joy welled up in her eyes. “Doctor, is it dangerous to have twins?”

“It’s riskier than a single pregnancy, but as long as you take good care and be cautious, you’ll be fine. The later stages will be tough. Your belly will grow much larger than a typical pregnancy, and you’ll need your partner’s support. Speaking of which, where is he? Why didn’t he come in to see?”

Before Elle could reply, a tall figure appeared before her. Anders grasped her hand firmly. His voice brimmed with uncontainable excitement. “From now on, I’ll take good care of you and our kids.”

After he spoke, he lifted Elle from the bed, helped her put on her shoes, and led her out of the hospital.

As they reached the exit, Elle tried to pull away from his grasp, but Anders held on tight. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he spoke softly, “The hospital’s crowded. I was worried someone might bump into you.”