Chapter 138: The Angel’s Breakfast

As dawn approached, Claire Grace climbed out of bed, her hands pressing against her temples in an effort to ease the pounding headache that felt like it would split her skull. After a few moments of rest, she pulled herself together and stepped out of the bedroom. Immediately, the rich aroma of food wafted through the air, catching her by surprise. 

Following the scent to the kitchen, she was greeted by the sight of a tall, lean figure, standing with impeccable posture, his broad back turned toward her. 

Wait a minute—was Lucas already awake and making breakfast? No, that wasn't right. Just last night, he had insisted she take over all the cooking. So what was this? Had he forgotten his own declaration? 

Claire couldn't help but admire Lucas. He was undeniably a remarkable man. Even his back was captivating—strong, composed, and confident. And he wasn't just good-looking; he excelled in everything, from his career to mundane household tasks. If there were a CEO manual for domestic life, Lucas seemed to have mastered it. 

But no, there was no "CEO" anymore. That chapter of her life was closing. He'd told her he'd expedite the divorce process. 

Her chest tightened, a fresh wave of pain mingling with the pounding in her head. No, she couldn't let her thoughts drift back to him. She wouldn't. 

"You plan on staring all day?" A smooth, magnetic voice broke through her daze. 

Startled, Claire looked up to see Lucas Zeller turning toward her. His face, flawless and sharp, carried a smile so dazzling it felt like the first rays of sunlight cutting through her stormy heart. 

"You have such a beautiful smile, Lucas," she blurted, without thinking. "Like an angel." 

The words were out before she could stop herself, and her hand flew to cover her mouth. Her wide eyes betrayed her embarrassment. 

Oh no! She had done it again. Lucas hated being complimented on his looks—she knew that. What man would enjoy being called "beautiful"? But it was the truth! His handsomeness was almost unfair. It had completely overridden her better judgment. 

To her surprise, Lucas' grin widened, his charm now dangerously disarming. 

"What's there to fear, Claire?" he teased lightly. "Now, go wash up and come try the breakfast this angel prepared for you." 

"Huh?" Claire blinked, caught off guard. Lucas wasn't upset. In fact, his smile seemed even more genuine. Was it... sympathy? Maybe he felt bad for her situation. No, she told herself, stop thinking about *him*. 

"Lucas, you're amazing," she said earnestly. "I'll work really hard to learn from you. I promise!" 

"Good," he said with a playful nod. "Now, go." 

As Claire hurried off to freshen up, Lucas turned back to the stove, carefully plating the food with a precision that spoke to his perfectionist nature. 

After breakfast, which was as delicious as the aroma had promised, Claire helped Lucas clean up before they headed downstairs together. 

Even though it was still early, Lucas' studio was already open for business. 

"Claire! You're here so early today!" Amy, one of the studio assistants, exclaimed as she wiped down the customer waiting area. Her curious gaze flickered between Claire and Lucas. 

"Uh, well, I..." Claire faltered, her thoughts scrambling for an explanation. She glanced toward Lucas, silently pleading for help. But Lucas merely raised a brow and shrugged, completely unfazed by the situation. 

"Why the questions, Amy?" Lucas said, his tone crisp and slightly amused. "Stick to your tasks, okay?" 

Amy's cheeks flushed, but before she could respond, another voice chimed in. 

"Hey, Amy, Claire came down with the boss—obviously, she stayed upstairs last night. Right, Claire?" Greg, one of the male employees, teased before realizing his misstep. "Uh, I mean—not like that... Boss, I didn't mean—" 

The color drained from Greg's face as Lucas shot him a cold glare. "Sorry, I'll stop talking now," Greg mumbled, retreating with his head down. 

Claire sighed. "It's okay, Greg. I was going to explain anyway." She turned to the group, her voice steady despite her nerves. "The truth is, I've had some issues with my husband recently, and I didn't have anywhere else to go. Lucas offered to let me stay here temporarily. That's all there is to it." 

"What?!" Amy gasped, her eyes widening. "But Claire, your husband loves you so much! The other day, when you weren't at work, he was all over the place looking for you. His messages were everywhere! I thought you two were doing something romantic. What happened?" 

"Yeah," Greg added. "He came here late that night, asking for you. And the next day, there were missing-person ads all over the city." 

"Your husband really loves you, Claire," another coworker, Adam, chimed in. 

"Not just loves—adores," Lauren confirmed with a knowing nod. 

Claire lowered her head, feeling the weight of their words. If only they knew the truth. 

"Back to work!" Lucas' sharp voice cut through the chatter, and everyone scattered like birds startled by a loud noise. 

"Claire," Lucas said softly once the room had quieted, "don't overthink it. Focus on yourself." 

Claire looked up at him, her lips curving into a small, grateful smile. "Lucas, I've decided. I want to completely transform myself. I want to be strong, confident, and capable. I don't want people to see me as some country girl anymore. Will you help me?" 

Lucas arched a brow, a flicker of intrigue in his eyes. "You're sure about this?" 

"Of course!" she insisted. "I want to create a new version of me—one that will make people take notice!" Especially Blaire Zeller, she thought privately. She wanted Blaire to see her in a new light. 

Lucas seemed to read her thoughts. "This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with Blaire, would it?" he asked, his tone sharp. 

Caught off guard, Claire bit her lip and didn't answer. 

She hated how much Blaire's words had affected her. 

"If you want to change," Lucas said, his voice calm but firm, "then you'll have to follow my lead completely. Let's start with your wardrobe." He stepped back, surveying her from head to toe. 

"What are you wearing? Jeans and a tank top? This is... regressive. We're fixing this today."