Chapter 87: Heartache and Reluctance**

Claire Grace let out a soft sigh. It wasn't until the microwave dinged, signaling the end of its cycle, that she finally murmured, "Lucas, what exactly do you want me to say?" Did he not realize the only reason she'd held back her feelings was because of his clear declaration that he could never love her?

Lucas Zeller raised a brow, clearly unimpressed. "What do you mean, what do I want you to say?" He leaned slightly against the kitchen counter, exuding the effortless confidence that often left her speechless. "It's simple. If you love me, just say so. If you don't—well, that's impossible. Of course, you love me. It's obvious."

Claire shot him a side-eye while retrieving a pair of oven mitts. "Then why are you even asking?" she muttered under her breath, taking out the warm toast from the microwave and placing it on a plate. His arms around her waist kept her from moving freely, much less reaching the cabinet above her head for the jar of chocolate spread.

"Lucas," she said with exaggerated patience, "can you let me go? I'm starving."

Instead of obliging, he leaned in closer, his deep voice teasing. "Not until you tell me what you meant by 'then why are you asking?'"

Claire rolled her eyes and exhaled sharply, her frustration bubbling over. "You already know the answer, don't you? Are you just asking to make fun of me? Like the time at the bridal shop when you laughed at me for being delusional?" Her voice cracked, despite her efforts to keep it steady. "Do you know how humiliating that was? Or how much it hurt? I can't even count how many times you've torn my heart apart with these constant questions."

Lucas blinked, caught off guard. He straightened slightly and turned her around to face him, his large hand gently tilting her chin up. "What the hell are you talking about?" His expression darkened, and the commanding presence he always carried softened with confusion. "Why would I ever laugh at you? That's ridiculous. Do you think I don't care that you love me? That I wouldn't be thrilled?"

Claire bit her lip, tears threatening to spill over. "Then how else am I supposed to take it?" She wrenched herself free of his grip and dropped her gaze, her voice trembling. "You're the one who set all these rules. No public announcements about our marriage, no wedding ceremony. I can't even ride to work with you—we have to act like we barely know each other. Do you know how painful it is to hear people in the office whisper about how I'm just some 'corporate plant'? And I can't even defend myself because you made me promise not to say anything about us!"

Her voice broke as she continued, the weight of her emotions spilling out. "I didn't want to love you, you know. I tried not to. But you—" she gestured vaguely toward him—"you're smart, handsome, and sometimes… sometimes you're kind. How could I not fall for you? Even though you're arrogant, bossy, and have the most infuriating habit of calling me stupid. Do you have any idea how much that hurts? Especially since I grew up without a mother, and my dad was always working. I've always been on my own, trying to figure things out. And you… you just waltz in and call me dumb."

Lucas's jaw tightened as he listened. Her words hit him like a series of blows, each one landing harder than the last. His arms instinctively tightened around her waist, his chest aching with an unfamiliar pang of guilt. He took a deep breath, ready to respond, but Claire kept going, her voice rising.

"I know I'm not good enough for you. You're this incredible man—wealthy, successful, the kind of guy every woman dreams of. And me? I'm plain, awkward, and not even close to your type. You said it yourself—you'd never love me. I should have listened to you. I really tried. But I just… I couldn't stop. Every day, I found myself loving you more and more. If—" her voice caught, and she hesitated. "If you want me to leave, I will. If loving you is a burden, I'll let go."

Lucas froze. Her words—"let go," "leave"—sent a surge of panic through him. He didn't just hear them; they rang in his ears, reverberating like an alarm. "Leave? Divorce?" His voice rose sharply, almost cracking. He grabbed her chin again, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Claire, are you insane? What kind of nonsense is that? Divorce? From you? Never. And who the hell told you you're not good enough for me?"

Claire's tears spilled freely now, and she sniffled as she tried to respond. But Lucas's expression darkened further as he pressed on. "You think I'm upset because of your feelings? That's ridiculous. You're just overthinking this, like usual. And what's this nonsense about me saying I'd never love you? Who told you that?"

Her silence answered him. He grimaced as the memory hit him—a careless remark he'd made long ago, back when their marriage was a business arrangement, and emotions hadn't been part of the deal. "Okay," he admitted grudgingly, "maybe I said something stupid once. But come on, Claire! That was forever ago. Don't tell me you actually believed it?"

Claire sniffled again, clearly unconvinced. Lucas sighed and pulled her closer, his tone softening. "Look, I know I've been a jerk. But you've got it all wrong. If anything, I'm lucky you even gave me the time of day."

His unexpected tenderness caught her off guard. She stared up at him, her red-rimmed eyes wide with surprise. "You mean that?" she asked hesitantly.

Lucas rolled his eyes, but there was a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Yes, Claire. I mean it." Then, with a teasing smirk, he added, "Now, stop crying. And for the love of God, let's eat. I'm starving."

Claire giggled through her tears as Lucas grabbed the plate of toast and started walking toward the dining table. She trailed behind him, a warmth blooming in her chest. For the first time, she felt like she might finally understand the man she'd married—and the love that was slowly growing between them.