Lucas's POVI couldn't wipe the grin off my face as I hung up with Claire, her sleepy, happy voice still echoing in my ears. God, I loved that woman. Loved knowing I could bring a smile to her face, even from across town."Jason!" I called, already reaching for my phone. "Get in here. I need you."He appeared in the doorway a second later, ever-present tablet in hand. "What's up, boss?""I need you to place an order for me. Top priority." I rattled off a list, my mind whirring. "A dozen sunflowers, the biggest basket of fresh fruit and cheese you can find, and throw in some of those fancy French pastries from that bakery Claire loves. Oh, and a few slices of that almond cake she made this morning, if they can swing it."Jason's eyebrows shot up, but to his credit, he didn't comment. Just nodded and tapped away at his screen. "Got it. Anything else?"I hesitated, then figured what the hell. In for a penny... "See if they can add a bottle of that raspberry champagne. The really good stu
Lucas's POVI couldn't shake the uneasy feeling as I drove away from Nova Designs, Eddie Spencer's smirking face haunting my thoughts. Something about that guy set my teeth on edge, despite his alleged history with Claire.Or maybe because of it."Keep an eye on him," I muttered to Jason as I slid behind the wheel. "I don't like the vibe I'm getting."Jason, to his credit, didn't even blink. Just nodded and tapped something into his ever-present tablet. "You got it, boss. I'll have a full workup on your desk by morning."I flashed him a grateful look, already peeling out of the parking lot. I didn't like leaving Claire alone with Spencer, but I trusted her judgment. And more importantly, I trusted her.Still, the sooner I could put some distance between them, the better I'd feel.The drive home was a blur, my mind too caught up in worst-case scenarios to focus on the road. By the time I pulled into my driveway, my head was pounding and my jaw ached from clenching.All I wanted was a h
Claire's POVAs I watched Lucas leave my office, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The way he frowned, the tense set of his shoulders...was he jealous of Eddie? I shook my head, trying to push the thought aside. Lucas trusted me. He knew how much I loved him. There was no reason for him to feel threatened.Right?Sighing, I gathered up my files and headed for the conference room, determined to focus on the task at hand. But even as I arranged my notes and samples, my mind kept drifting back to Lucas's pinched expression.The sound of the door opening jolted me out of my musings. I looked up, pasting on a bright smile as Eddie Spencer strolled in, all easy confidence and megawatt charm."Claire Blakes ," he drawled, crossing the room to pull me into a hug. "As I live and breathe. You haven't aged a day, you know that?"I laughed, returning his embrace. "Eddie Spencer, silver-tongued devil. You always were a smooth talker."He grinned as he pulled back, holding me at
Claire's POVThe drive back from Brian's school was unusually quiet, the weight of his earlier question hanging heavy in the air between us. I glanced at him in the rearview mirror, my heart clenching at the troubled furrow of his brow, the way he stared listlessly out the window."Sweetheart," I began, choosing my words carefully. "About what you asked earlier..."Brian's gaze snapped to mine, something painfully vulnerable in his eyes. "It's okay, Mom. You don't have to tell me. I know it's hard for you to talk about him."Oh, my sweet boy. So young, but already so perceptive. So attuned to the ache in my heart, the scars I tried so hard to hide."No, baby. You deserve to know the truth." I took a deep breath, quelling the tremor in my voice. "Your dad...he wasn't perfect. But he was a good man, at heart. Strong and kind and so full of life."A wistful smile tugged at my lips, the memories of those early days flooding my mind. "He would have loved you so much. Been so crazy proud of
EDDIE’s POV I paced the length of Claire's waiting room, my agitation growing with each passing second. Where the hell was she? How long did it take to pick up a kid from school, for chrissakes?I glanced at my watch for the hundredth time, the numbers blurring together in a haze of frustration. I couldn't do this. Couldn't just sit here, twiddling my thumbs, while the woman who had haunted my dreams for the past five years went about her merry way."I'm sorry, Mr. Spencer," Anna, Claire's annoyingly perky assistant, chirped from behind her desk. "Ms. Blakes should be back any minute now. Can I get you a coffee while you wait?"I waved her off with an impatient grunt, my jaw clenched so tight I could feel my molars grinding together. I didn't want coffee. I wanted answers. I wanted to look into those fathomless blue eyes and demand to know why she had left me, why she had run away without so much as a backward glance.But most of all, I wanted to know about the boy. The one with my c
Lucas's POV I woke up with a start, my heart racing as I reached for my phone on the nightstand. Seven missed calls from Claire. Two unread messages. Shit.I jumped out of bed, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I couldn't call her back. I needed to see her, to hold her in my arms and reassure myself that she was okay. Especially after that meeting with Eddie Spencer. That smarmy bastard had set my teeth on edge from the moment I laid eyes on him. And don't even get me started on Chloe's little ambush. I shook my head, trying to dispel the lingering unease. I had plans for today, dammit. I was supposed to take Claire and Brian to the art gallery, to nurture Brian's budding love of drawing. But now...I brushed my teeth in record time, barely pausing to rinse before I was thundering down the stairs. I snagged my keys from the hall table, my mind already three steps ahead."Lucas! Your phone!"I skidded to a halt, whirling to see Margaret, my long-suffering housekeeper, holding up
Claire's POVI clung to Lucas, drawing strength from his solid warmth, his unwavering presence. How did he always know just what to say, just what I needed to hear?"Thank you," I murmured, pressing a kiss to his chest. "For being here. For...everything.""There's nowhere else I'd rather be." He squeezed me tight, dropping a kiss to the top of my head. "I love you, Claire. So much.""I love you, too." The words came easily, naturally. A simple truth that anchored me, even in the midst of this chaos.We stayed like that for a long moment, just holding each other. Breathing each other in. And slowly, gradually, I felt the knot of tension in my chest begin to ease.Lucas was right. We would get through this. Together. Just like we always had.As if on cue, Brian came barreling back into the room, his face scrubbed pink and shining. "Pancakes now? I'm starving!"Lucas and I broke apart with a laugh, the heaviness of the moment dissipating like mist in the sun. "Pancakes now," Lucas confi
Claire's POVMy heart swelled with joy as I watched Jason and Anna walk through the door, their arms laden with gifts and bright smiles on their faces. I never expected them to arrive so quickly, but the surprise was a welcome one.I knew Anna was aware of Brian's birthday, but how did Jason know? The question flitted through my mind, but I quickly brushed it aside. Now wasn't the time for puzzles. It was a time for celebration.I joined the throng of guests, the laughter and chatter wrapping around me like a warm hug. Brian bounced on his toes, his eyes wide and eager as he tugged on my hand."Mommy, are we still having the party again tomorrow?"I smiled, smoothing a hand over his wild curls. "No, darling. Tomorrow we'll rest and open your presents. But tonight, we celebrate!"Lucas appeared at my side, his arm sliding around my waist as he grinned down at Brian. "And tomorrow, buddy, we're going to the park for a real party. Just like I promised."Brian's face lit up, his smile bri
CHLOE'S POVIt has been a busy day trying to figure out where and when to begin the whole plan with Kelvin "I can't wait for him to get more frustrated." I smiled as I shook my glass slowly before pouring the content into my mouth.There was this joy leaping in my heart, I felt less stress when I realized that I was actually getting everything under control.My sleepless nights weren't a bad night after all. I will use them to fight against those that said I was weak...One of them is dead already."Ma'am, your coffee." One of the men handed over the cup of coffee to me."This is warm.." I took the cup from him and took a sip and continued with what I had to admire."Just like she died like a puppet, just looking, she begged for Mercy, and she found none. I will make every one of them be that way." I clenched my teeth.My phone vibrated, I felt reluctant to pick it up but then I remembered that I had so many people around getting me informed about everything that was happening."Who
LUCAS POVI had to fight so many pains during the day and night. I drank myself into a stupor and got help from the least expected person who happened to have another plan in mind. "I don't have to be this way anymore. I have a lot of things to do." I tried to convince myself to drink.My parents are very good at observing, so I think by now they must have known that I have been active these days.They will probably be thinking it is about my worker who died."It's about him anyway." I stared at my reflection in the mirror.I cleaned my eyes and tried to get out of my mess. There is no time to be crying over anything. The paper in my hand was evidence that Brian was my child.For a second, I was lost in thoughts again; the bang on my door brought me back to reality. I fluttered my lashes a thousand times trying to get out of what I was thinking."Who is there?" I folded the paper in two halves and put it in my safe."Lucas!" Mom's sounded terrifying.I scoffed and reached for the doo
KELVIN'S POVIt's been years since I found peace in being alone and not letting anyone in.The great morning, just when I was about to start my daily routine I heard a knock on the door.I don't know who I was expecting apart from the man that picks up the trash. I dressed just like I had always dressed, I didn't put on too much.With the cup of coffee I opened the door, I found who I least expected. Someone I don't even know from anywhere.The elegant woman in front of me looked at me in shock and couldn't say a word. We bantered with our eyes for a few minutes before she could finally say a word.She introduced herself to me but I spent a lot of time trying to process what she was saying.The whole “our” in the sentence was getting me confused.“Lucas!!” She called his name and the atmosphere suddenly changed.There was an awkward silence between us, I wasn't the only one whose mood was changed because of the name that she just mentioned.She is affected too, her mood, her eyes, eve
CLAIRE'S POVThe words Lucas said to me kept replaying in my head. I couldn't get it off my head, my day went bad, I could barely think like a normal human talkmore of responding to questions that were asked.Right from when I drove off until when I got home, I have been distracted with the things that replayed in my head."I need a quiet time, I do not want anyone or anything?" I instructed the maid and the security there before I entered my room."Yes ma." They nodded and proceeded with what they were doing.I fell on my bed and sobbed. All the years I hid this from Lucas, it finally came to light."How he found out is the worst way someone would find out something. I mean I will literally act the same way"Lucas.." I slowly called out the name as I bit my pillow hard so I would not be heard. "Ma?" I heard a knock on the door I immediately cease to cry, I really want to hit the bastard head off. I gave an instruction and now someone is knocking?"What the fuck is going on there?"
CHLOE'S POVMy eyes needed to get off that but here I was talking and looking down to admire.“Umm…it would help me if you tie a towel or better still put on a Short.” I smiled nervously.He scoffed and licked his lips. “I don't even know who you are, why are you giving me instructions?” He shrugged.“If you need to know who I am…then I need to concentrate.” My eyes went down there again.That isn't helping matters at all.He left the door wide open, I guess that was a sign to come in.I slowly walked into the house and inspected the whole place with just a glance.“So, what or who do you say you are?” He asked, putting on his trousers.I cleared my throat now that I had come back to my right senses.“You must be Kelvin?” I smiled.“Are any of your children missing?” He opened his arms.He sounded sarcastic and annoying at the same time. I faked a smile just so that I could get what I wanted.“What?” He cleaned my eyes with his palms.“Are you still lost? Do I have to wear a garment t
CHLOE'S POVAll my life I have never had a great opportunity to like this. I stalked Lucas' house because I knew she was going to come around, I wasn't wrong.Claire came to meet Lucas, and after some minutes, she left the house; her face when she drove past me showed there was a little problem between them."Well, she would stay longer if she had no problem with him. So...." I smiled as everything was like a book open at me.I snapped and turned off my engine to get into the house. I don't know what I was going to say, but with the way he was hurt, he would definitely want someone around, it might not be me, but I'm the only available person right now.Chloe.." he called out slowly.He was soaked with the wine that he drank. I've not seen him in this state before...I couldn't say a word, I took the drink and helped him with the wounds until it was morning.It was easier to make him have me that night but I chose to let him heal from what he was going through that night.He stood up
LUCAS POVThis is surely a day of pain and heartbreak, I don't know how to escape it. Playing strong was the best idea until Charles died; how was I going to fix it?I have put him in many risks, and now he is finally gone; I can't even explain what happened."More drink, please; I don't want to ask for these things again. They should be here." I ordered the maid that walked to and fro.I couldn't go back to my father's house. That was a big load for me, I don't know how I was going to explain anything to them.Especially my dad. He would want to beat the shit out of me, he can't do it but his actions would change."Here Sir." I felt tipsy and began to imagine things that would properly never happen in this life."Someone is here to see you, sir..." One of the securities came to inform Me.Before I could think of a response to give to him, Claire came in.My eyes widened and it looked like I just saw my problem standing right in front of me.She acted as she has always been acting, i
CLAIRE'S POVThe news left me in great shock, I couldn't get over it. My head was stuck with going to check on him and know how he was doing.I don't know how he was going to react seeing me, that is something else that kept me away from going there.It's a new day, and all through the night, I have been thinking about Lucas and the things he just lost.“Get my bathtub ready. I will need to go out soon.” I instructed the maid immediately after I got out of my room.“Mom? Where are you going?” So bad of me not to know that he was there.Now I have to find a perfect lie to say to him.“That's not the greetings I expected from you, Brian.” I squat to his level.“Sorry about that mom, good morning. But I still want to know where you ought to leave me?” He looked sorry for a second, and the next minute, he was so concerned about something else.“I am an adult and I can go anywhere I wish. Just don't get worried, I'll be back home before you know it.” I faked a smile.“Mom…you promise to ta
CLAIRE'S POVI couldn't stop panicking until I got to the office. Even when I got there I still had this fear hovering around me.Chloe was my nightmare, she would literally torture me anytime she got the chance. I am so mindful of the way I do things, Lucas is mad at me and there's no hope that he would want to go through any stress for me again.“Good morning ma'am.” A worker greeted me.I was supposed to answer that but I suddenly remembered what Chloe said about the workers in my Company. I don't know who to trust and who not to. My head was scattered and so fucking noisy that I thought of running away and nothing else.*"Come on, why are you acting so surprised? No one around you is to be trusted.”*The words came lurking in my head. It felt like I was trapped in that sentence.“I need to fucking breathe.” I rushed to the office.Mirabel was trying to comply with the documents and other papers I had no idea about.“Good morning ma'am.” She greeted me without lifting her head up.