No Strings Attached

Anders was careful not to hurt the child, restraining his emotions throughout. He held Elle's face, kissing her lips over and over again.

As they rekindled their intimacy, flashes of memories from three years ago instantly filled his mind. Back then, Elle always wore a smile, excited like a little swallow flying towards him whenever he came to pick her up from school.

She would then jump into his arms, looking up at him with a laugh. "Anders, how did you know I was missing you during class?"

He chuckled, gently pinching her perky nose, and said softly, "You came abroad to study, not to daydream about boys."

Elle's smooth cheek rubbed against his chest as she cooed, "Studying and missing my man can go hand in hand. I topped my class again in the exams, so you should reward me."

Anders smiled proudly. "That's amazing. What reward would you like? Just name it."

With a mischievous sparkle in her eyes, she tiptoed and whispered in his ear, "I want you."

Hearing those words made Anders' ears turn instantly red. He gently stroked Elle's hair, his voice laced with laughter. "You're still a little kid. No"

"I'm 22 already. Some of my classmates already have kids at 22. Don't you like me? Or are you still hung up on your first love?"

Tears welled up in Elle's eyes as she stared at him.

She had been repeatedly rejected, her heart feeling more hurt than unwilling. From the moment she saw Anders, she fell for him. Though knowing well that his heart belonged to another, she kept drawing closer.

Back then, she was confident, radiant, and happy. She believed that seizing the moment was the best way to live.

Anders caressed her cheek gently, unsure how to face Elle's feelings. Deep down, he knew he allowed her closeness merely because she resembled Clara.

He had hoped to start a relationship and then forget the past, but he wasn't ready to get involved with anyone before he was certain of his feelings.

He kissed Elle's forehead softly, "Let's go have some delicious food first, then we'll talk."Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

Elle understood what he meant.

Tears streamed down her face. Yet, she forced a smile and wiped away her tears. "I want to eat steak at Simon's. I also want fried chicken and foie gras."

That meal cost Anders a lot. They both drank a lot, too.

When he took Elle home, he found her crying alone in the bathroom. His heart ached when he saw her tears.

He wanted to comfort her by any

means necessary, so he held heret

his arms and kept kissing her lips. "Elledisten, stop crying. Let's go to bed, okay?"

Elle looked at him through tear-filled eyes, her gaze revealing undeniable pain. "Why? I've tried so hard. Why can't you like me? Anders, do you know Lused to be a proud and spoiled princess, too? But for you, I gave up everything. Why can't you let go of your past?"

After saying that, she burst into tears in his arms. It was the first time Elle had ever acted so willfully.

Under the influence of alcohol, Anders, who was always rational, took the boldest action in his life. He held Elle, kissing her in the bathroom.

They took a bath in the bathtub together. The two moved from the bathroom to the living room sofa and then from the sofa to the bed.

The intense hormones, fueled by alcohol, made them unable to stop.