"Claire, the bride's already gone, so why are you still standing there like a statue?" Lucas Zeller walked up to her, wrapped his arm around her waist, and guided her out of the bridal lounge.
Claire cautiously glanced up at him, noting the tense, serious expression on his face.
Is he upset? Was it something from last night?
"Lucas…" she ventured softly.
"If you have something to say, then say it," he replied coldly, not even looking at her.
"Are you…mad at me?" she asked.
"What do you think?" he scoffed. Finally figured it out? She was truly oblivious.
"But I don't even know what you're mad about," she murmured. It couldn't be that he was mad the medicine had worked and cured his illness, right? Unless he was really out of his mind. "I just felt you seemed upset, but I wasn't sure if it was with me or Lauren."
Lucas shot her an indignant look. "I'm mad because you chose to help her instead of me. Whose side are you on here, Claire?"
"Did I help Lauren?" Claire asked, perplexed.
Lucas stopped himself, remembering she had no idea Lauren was purposefully toying with him and genuinely believed Lauren's medicine was what had restored his health. No wonder she'd said what she did.
Saying nothing, he held her hand and led her through the hallways to the bustling reception outside.
---
Given Lauren's complicated family background, the wedding wasn't held in a church but was organized in an old-fashioned style by a professional planning company. Once all the ceremonies were over, Claire finally let out a sigh of relief.
Standing in uncomfortable heels all this time had been torture. Every part of her body was aching. As soon as the ceremonies were done, she hurried back to the bridal lounge, eager to kick off the heels and rest for a moment.
But… where was Lucas?
Frowning, Claire scanned the crowd, finally spotting him at the end of a corridor.
---
Lucas was glaring at the fair-skinned arm that had slithered over his shoulder, his brows furrowing sharply. The woman who had seized him by surprise had practically plastered herself against him after he left the restroom. She wore a low-cut dress and was clearly enjoying pressing up against his chest.
"Miss, could you please remove your hand?" Lucas said dryly. Yes, he knew his charm was boundless, but this was absurd.
"Oh, Mr. Zeller, don't tell me you've forgotten me already?" The voluptuous woman pouted, letting her hand drift down his chest as if by accident, clearly with other intentions.
Scowling, Lucas grabbed her hand and pushed it away. "I'm not interested in women who throw themselves at me, especially when I don't even know them."
"Oh, come on. Really don't remember?" The woman leaned closer, flashing him a sly, knowing smile. "Not even the slightest?"
"Should I?" he asked, clearly unimpressed.
"Maybe this will jog your memory," she replied. "I'm Tiana Flores—your thirty-ninth blind date." Seeing Lucas's stunned expression, she smirked, half-jokingly tapping his cheek. She moved in, her lips almost brushing his ear. "So… are you married?"
Lucas's eyes widened, taken aback. How did she know about his marriage? Did Lauren tell her?
"How do you know about that?" he asked, voice dropping.
"Oh, please. That adorable bridesmaid by your side—she's your wife, isn't she?" Tiana laughed, her eyes flashing.
Lucas raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Lauren told you?"
Tiana leaned closer, nearly whispering in his ear, "She doesn't need to. The rings you two are wearing match perfectly—it's obvious. Plus, how could I not be curious about the woman who managed to win you over?"
Lucas mentally kicked himself. It was careless of him to let Claire wear her wedding ring in such a public setting.
"You have quite the eye, Ms. Flores," he said. "But I don't see how that has anything to do with you pushing yourself on me."
"Oh, it does," Tiana replied with a mischievous smirk. Her gaze traveled slowly down his body, settling provocatively, and she murmured, "I'm just wondering… are you really 'unable' or just pretending?"