Chapter 116: A Scene Bound to Cause Misunderstanding

"Lucas, my right foot hurts so much—it feels like it's cramping," Blaire Zeller blurted out, her voice tinged with exaggerated distress. 

"Cramping?" Lucas Zeller looked up sharply, concern flooding his features. He moved to the side of her bed, kneeling to inspect her right foot. His hands hovered uncertainly, as he saw no visible sign of discomfort. 

"Well…" Blaire's tone shifted sheepishly. "It doesn't hurt now. But my temples are throbbing—like they're about to explode." She furrowed her brow, her fingers weakly massaging her head before dropping back down. "Ugh, even my hands hurt too much to rub it properly." 

Lucas sighed and sat down at the edge of the bed. "Let me help," he said gently, leaning forward to knead her temples with careful, practiced movements. He didn't notice the fleeting glint of mischief in Blaire's eyes. 

"Lucas, I'm sorry," Blaire suddenly murmured, her tone somber. 

"For what?" Lucas asked without looking up, his focus still on relieving her discomfort. 

"For being so selfish," Blaire said softly. "If it weren't for me, none of this would've happened. I've made you worry and even delayed your work." 

"This isn't your fault," Lucas replied with a sigh. "If I'd handled things better from the start, today's mess wouldn't have happened." 

"Are you mad at me?" she ventured hesitantly, her voice testing the waters. 

"Of course not. Don't overthink it—just focus on getting better." 

"Did you tell Claire about my car accident?" Blaire's voice dropped, her tone edged with curiosity. 

"No. I didn't want to worry her," Lucas admitted. His jaw tightened slightly as he thought of Claire Grace, his fiancée, affectionately nicknamed "Snail" for her slightly slow but endearing reactions. The thought of her finding out through someone else made him uneasy. Claire always had a way of overthinking things, turning minor worries into grand catastrophes in her head. 

What was Claire up to now? Had she made it home after her outing with Sarah? Or had she somehow found her way to the hospital to check on him? 

Knowing her, probably not. Claire loved him deeply, but her tendency to realize something was wrong came frustratingly late. He was confident he'd be home before she suspected anything amiss. Still, he wouldn't leave until Blaire fell asleep, ensuring her comfort with a 24-hour nurse on standby. 

"You're thinking about Claire, aren't you?" Blaire asked. Her voice sounded casual, but an undercurrent of jealousy rippled beneath her words. She bit the inside of her cheek, forcing a lighthearted laugh. "If you're worried about her, just go. I'll be fine here on my own." 

"Don't be silly. I'm not leaving you alone," Lucas said firmly. 

"Or… were you planning to sneak off once I fell asleep?" Blaire teased. 

Lucas looked momentarily startled. "How did you—" He cleared his throat. "I already arranged for a private nurse. You won't be—" 

"No!" Blaire interrupted, her lips curving into a pout. "You know I hate strangers fussing over me." 

"Then who's supposed to take care of you?" Lucas asked, his tone half exasperated, half amused. 

"I—" 

The conversation was abruptly cut off by the door swinging open with a bang. A petite figure dashed inside, her breathing uneven. 

"Lucas!" Claire's voice rang out, but the scene before her made her stop in her tracks. 

Lucas's hands were cradling Blaire's face, their foreheads mere inches apart. Blaire's arms were looped loosely around Lucas's neck, their pose far too intimate for comfort. 

What… are they doing? Claire's eyes widened as her stomach twisted. Blaire's expression held a strange, triumphant glimmer, one that felt almost like… a taunt? How could someone recovering from a car accident still have the energy to flaunt something so brazenly? 

Surely, Claire thought, she was seeing things. 

Noticing her frozen expression, Lucas followed her gaze. He jumped back, startled, his face slightly flushed. "Blaire! What are you doing?" 

"What?" Blaire tilted her head innocently. "I was tired of lying down. I just wanted to sit up for a bit. Is that so wrong?" She smiled faintly, knowing full well her actions would stir Claire's imagination. After all, her current injuries stemmed indirectly from Claire's presence in her life. 

Lucas exhaled sharply, tucking a pillow under Blaire's side. "The doctor said you can't sit up yet. Stay lying down and rest." He swiftly untangled her arms from his neck and stood, striding toward Claire. 

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice laced with irritation. "Didn't I tell you to head straight home?" 

Claire blinked, trying to shake the image from her mind. "I—what? Why are you scolding me? I just came to check on you." 

"I'm not scolding you," Lucas retorted, his tone softening. His brows furrowed as he took in her pale face and trembling hands. "You look awful. Are you feeling sick? Or… is it that time of the month again?" 

"What?" Claire blinked, confused, before her cheeks flushed red as realization dawned. "No! I was just worried about you, so I rushed over. The cab I took was going too fast, and it upset my stomach." 

"You rushed over?" Lucas's tone grew sharper. "How did you get here?" 

"I—uh—" 

"Of course, I brought her here," came a smooth, lazy drawl from the doorway. 

Lucas's head snapped toward the voice. Standing there, all ease and charm, was Blaine Jackson, a faint smirk playing on his lips. 

"Blaine?!" Lucas's tone darkened, his narrowed eyes fixating on the man now confidently standing at Claire's side