No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)
Chapter 361

"Somebody's trying to cash in on the chaos, and it looks like they have bigger plans."

Hearing the analysis, Brodie furrowed his brow. "Keep Clara safe. They're probably after her."

Teo glanced up at Brodie and felt an odd sense of familiarity in his features. If it weren't for the fact that he'd never had a real relationship with any woman outside his marriage, he'd think Brodie was his own flesh and blood. With a hint of surprise, Teo asked cautiously, "How come your mother has this phobia of hospitals?" He trod lightly, knowing he was venturing into personal territory.

Brodie's eyes darkened, his face expressionless. "When she was young, she trusted the wrong guy and got betrayed by a lowlife. She got burned in a fire, and then someone tried to take her out. Waking up in a hospital bed covered in injuries became too common. That's how she developed the phobia."

Teo felt a sharp pang in his heart upon hearing this. It wasn't hard to piece together the kind of hell Brodie and his mother had been through. The kind of pain probably never faded.

Grinding his teeth, Teo spat out, "That scumbag deserves to be torn apart for betraying such a kind soul. What a piece of garbage."

Brodie's calm demeanor belied the fierce determination in his voice. "I'm on it. Once I find him, there will be no mercy."

The seemingly tranquil eyes hid an unmistakable ruthlessness that stung lan's own gaze. He had the unsettling feeling that Brodie was hinting at something more.

In the midst of their conversation, the doors to the emergency room swung open.

A young nurse stepped out and called, "The patient is too agitated to proceed with surgery. We need a family member to calm her down."

Without a second's hesitation, Brodie rushed into the operating room. The sight of his mother thrashing about in a frenzy brought tears to his eyes. He moved to her side, enveloping her in a comforting embrace. "Mom, it's alright. It'll be over soon."

Half an hour later, with the help of a psychiatrist and Brodie's soothing presence, Katherine finally completed the surgery.

When she was wheeled out, lan was shocked by the sight of Brodie. His face, his neck - they were marked with scratches, and his arm bore bite marks. Buttons from his shirt were torn off.

The typically suave Brodie now looked utterly disheveled. What state had Katherine been in to have lashed out so violently at her own son? Had she lost all reason in her episode?

lan clenched his fists and hurried over. "How is she?"

"Her back's stitched up, over a dozen stitches, but no bone damage," Brodie replied with a somber tone.

"I've got this. You should get those wounds treated."

"No need. If she wakes up and I'm not there, it'll only make things worse."

lan watched Brodie with concern. "Can't the psychiatrist do anything? All these years and no progress?"

Brodie managed a weak smile. "There has been progress. She doesn't have episodes when things are calm. But for a full recovery, we need to find the root cause. She's got amnesia, so it's been elusive."

lan felt an unexpected ache in his heart. He had always been cold and detached, but the plight of Brodie and Katherine touched him deeply. He couldn't imagine what Brodie must have endured all these years with a mother like that.

Outside of the hospital, lan cast a glance at Teo, who was also silent. In a heavy tone, he asked, "Dad, could Brodie be the result of one of your old flings?"

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