Chapter 102: Is It a Misunderstanding?

"Lucas, what are you thinking about? Did you even hear what I just said?" Blaire tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as she studied the man she called her brother, yet dreamed about far too often. His distant demeanor and the way his thoughts seemed miles away frustrated her deeply.

"Huh? Oh," Lucas responded, snapping out of his thoughts. His gaze landed on Blaire, who was leaning her entire upper body against his shoulder. Startled, he jumped up from the couch, his dark brows knitting into a tight frown as he shifted toward the far end of the sofa. "Blaire, can you sit properly? Why do you always cling to me, no matter where I sit?"

"What's the problem?" Blaire retorted, unfazed by his reaction. To her, lying against him like this was perfectly natural—exactly the effect she wanted. She hoped Sarah, busy in the kitchen, would see the scene and take the hint to leave.

"You're not a child anymore," Lucas scolded, his tone firm, as if addressing a kindergartner. His dark, glassy eyes watched her cautiously, ready to dodge her inevitable attempt to close the distance again. 

"I might not be a child, but aren't we still siblings? I distinctly remember that on my eighteenth birthday, you even let me sit on your lap to cut the cake," Blaire said, her voice taking on a wistful tone. Those were her happiest days, where she was cherished and pampered like a princess. Back then, she had firmly believed that her prince was none other than the man she called "brother." 

"That was then," Lucas replied, his voice hardening slightly. "You're twenty-four now, Blaire, and I'm married. If Sarah saw us just now, how do you expect me to explain that?" The thought of Sarah misunderstanding him—of her silently bearing her heartbreak—gnawed at him.

"So, you're worried about her?" Blaire's voice suddenly rose, a spark of anger igniting in her chest. 

"She's my wife. I'm her husband. Isn't it normal for a husband to care about his wife's feelings?" Lucas said instinctively. The words tumbled out naturally, and even he was startled by how easily they came. Sure, he'd already recognized his feelings for Sarah, but this was the first time he'd said it aloud with such certainty in front of someone else.

"What do you mean by that?" Blaire demanded, her tone laced with hurt. He called Sarah his "wife" so easily, so affectionately. Didn't he care about how much those words would wound her?

"Blaire," Lucas began, exhaling deeply. "I thought your time in the U.S. might have helped you see things more clearly. But today—"

"You've fallen for her, haven't you?" Blaire cut him off, her voice sharp and accusatory. 

Lucas raised an eyebrow, resting his left elbow on his knee as he massaged his temples. How could he answer her? Any response would only confirm what she already suspected. 

In his hesitation, Blaire found her answer. Her voice cracked as she leaned closer, her frustration boiling over. "How could you do this to me? I've loved you for over a decade, and you didn't so much as bat an eye. But in less than two months with her, you've fallen in love? What's wrong with you? Are you under some kind of spell? What does she have that I don't? What could she possibly offer that's better than me?" 

"Blaire, please, calm down." Lucas groaned inwardly. Why did every woman except Sarah resort to this kind of outburst? Was it any wonder she was the only one he loved? 

"You expect me to calm down when you've fallen for someone else?" Blaire's voice cracked with raw emotion. "Then what am I supposed to do with all the love I've had for you?" 

"She's my wife," Lucas said firmly, meeting her tear-filled gaze. "Loving her is natural and right. You should be happy for us, not throwing a tantrum." 

"You—!" Blaire choked on her words, her anger dissolving into heart-wrenching sobs. Tears streamed down her face, unchecked, as she stared at Lucas. 

Caught off guard, Lucas panicked. He grabbed a handful of tissues from the coffee table and handed them to her. "Here," he said awkwardly, but Blaire made no move to take them. Instead, she let her tears fall freely, her shoulders trembling with each suppressed sob. 

"Alright, alright," Lucas said, his voice softening. "I'm sorry for raising my voice. I shouldn't have done that." He reached out and gently wiped her tears away, though her crying only seemed to intensify. A pang of guilt tugged at his chest. 

He rarely lost his temper with Blaire. The last time had been years ago, when he found her hiding in his bed late at night. Even then, his anger had stemmed more from surprise than any real frustration. She had always been the fragile one, the little girl he'd taken under his wing and protected when she first arrived, frail and undernourished. He'd spoiled her too much, and now he was paying the price. 

"Are you going to stop caring about me now that you have a wife?" Blaire asked, her voice trembling as she looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with tears. 

"Blaire," Lucas said gently. "As long as you see me as the brother I've always been, you'll always be my cherished little sister. How could I ever stop caring about you?" 

"Lucas…" Blaire whispered, her voice delicate and sweet as she flung her arms around his neck. Lucas frowned, trying to pull away, but Blaire held on tightly. 

At that moment, Sarah walked into the living room, carrying a tray of dishes. Her eyes landed on the two of them, locked in an embrace on the couch. 

For a moment, her mind went blank. Then, like fireworks exploding in her head, her thoughts spiraled into chaos. 

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Don't panic, don't get upset, don't cry. They're siblings, after all. Lucas always doted on Blaire, so this shouldn't mean anything. Blaire just returned from the U.S.—maybe she's just overly affectionate. Yes, that must be it. Just pretend you didn't see anything. 

But then, why did her chest ache so much? Why did the pain spread from her heart all the way to her throat? 

She shook her head, scolding herself. *Claire, don't be so petty. You need to trust him.* 

Even so, her chest felt heavier with each passing second. Without another glance, she turned back toward the kitchen, deciding to bring out the rest of the food instead. 

But as she turned, Lucas caught sight of her from the corner of his eye. His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately pushed Blaire away, springing to his feet.