Chapter 162: A Kind Heart, Met with Rejection

Lucas Zeller leaned lazily against the back of his chair, attempting to close his eyes and take a moment's rest. However, his mind was stubborn, refusing to quiet down. Images of those clear, untainted, glimmering eyes—Claire Grace's eyes—flashed vividly in his thoughts, unsettling him.

If it weren't for Lauren Wells calling to say she'd be bringing Claire along, Lucas doubted he would have bothered coming to this restaurant to endure Lauren's chatter. Everyone knew she and Roy Lin were masters of being noisy and dramatic. To make matters worse, he hadn't forgotten the argument he'd had with Roy just a few days prior, and he suspected Lauren might be here to seek revenge on her friend's behalf.

It had been an entire week since he'd last seen Claire. Was she upset with him? Or, worse, was she enjoying her time with Blaine Jackson so much that she'd completely forgotten about him?

The mere thought caused a strange, uncomfortable feeling to shoot through Lucas. His brows furrowed tightly as the unease settled in. Lost in his thoughts, the sudden sound of his phone ringing startled him.

"Hello?" Lucas answered.

"Lucas, I'm here. Why aren't you in the VIP Room 1? Isn't that what you reserved?"

"I switched to Room 3," Lucas replied curtly.

"Fine, I'll head over now," Lauren said before abruptly ending the call. Moments later, the door to VIP Room 3 swung open, revealing Lauren with Claire standing hesitantly behind her.

"Claire, what are you afraid of? Do you think he's going to bite you?" Lauren teased, rolling her eyes as she pushed Claire forward into the room.

Claire let out a soft gasp, her head lifting suddenly. Her uneasy gaze collided with Lucas's intense stare, which had been fixed on her from the moment she stepped in.

Their eyes met, and it was as if sparks ignited in the air between them. The charged silence weighed heavily, with neither of them daring to look away.

Claire's lips quivered as she pressed them into a slight pout. Her watery eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she took in the face she'd missed so dearly. Seeing Lucas in person reminded her of how much she longed for him, a longing so deep it made her heart ache.

Lucas noted her familiar expression. Even after a week apart, she still greeted him with that same pitiful, puppy-like pout that tugged at his heart. A sudden, overwhelming urge to pull her into his arms surged through him.

"Hey, could you two tone it down with the staring?" Lauren interrupted, breaking the tension with her playful voice. "If looks could set a room on fire, this VIP room would be nothing but ash by now."

Lauren grabbed Claire's arm and seated her next to Lucas before settling herself on a chair across the room.

"Lauren, are you avoiding me like I'm some kind of plague?" Lucas asked, raising a brow at her choice to sit so far away.

"Oh, hush. Don't be so ungrateful," Lauren retorted, scooting her chair closer to Claire's side. Her tone shifted to something more serious as she addressed Lucas directly. "Lucas, you know why I brought Claire here today, right?"

Lucas nodded silently, his deep, dark eyes never leaving Claire. The intensity of his gaze enveloped her, making her fidget nervously.

"Good. Then you should know it's time for you to explain yourself," Lauren continued. "It's been days, Lucas. Days! You've left her hanging with no answers. She deserves an explanation."

Lucas sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Explain what? I suggested we take a break for her sake. I didn't want to hurt her," he said matter-of-factly, his tone cool and detached. "I thought giving us space was the best thing to do."

"For her sake?" Lauren scoffed. "Lucas, you've already hurt her. A lot. Can't you see that? Or are you so caught up in your own head that you're blind to her pain?" She turned to Claire. "Claire, tell him. Don't hold back. Let him know how much his actions have hurt you."

"I…" Claire began, her voice trembling. She looked down, wringing her hands nervously. "I don't blame him. I know he's been going through a lot. I just… I don't have anything to say."

Lauren's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Nothing? That's it? After everything, you have *nothing* to say?"

Lucas's expression hardened, his emotions buried beneath his stoic façade. But Lauren wasn't done.

"Lucas," she said, her voice firm, "you've had plenty of time to be 'calm' and 'rational.' It's time to move on. We all have. Blaire's been gone for years. The rest of us have let go. Why can't you?"

"Lauren," Lucas's voice was low and cold, "what are you trying to say?"

"Do I need to spell it out for you?" Lauren snapped. "You're stuck in the past, Lucas. You think you're to blame for Blaire's death, but it's all in your head. There's no curse, no haunting guilt that should keep you from moving forward."

Lucas's jaw tightened, his face darkening. The room grew still, and even Claire seemed to hold her breath, not daring to speak.

"Lauren, maybe you should stop," Claire whispered timidly, glancing nervously at Lucas. His expression was stormy, and she feared he might erupt any moment.

"No," Lauren said firmly. "I'm not stopping until he gets it through his thick skull that he's ruining his own happiness. Lucas, if you don't bring Claire home with you today, I'm done. I won't play matchmaker for you two anymore. Do you hear me?"

Lucas glared at her, his voice icy. "Lauren, you're overstepping. Claire is my wife. This is between us. I don't need you meddling."

"Meddling?" Lauren shot up from her chair, fuming. "You think I'm meddling? I'm trying to help you, you ungrateful… Ugh!"

Claire, caught in the middle, could only whisper, "Please, both of you, calm down…"

Lauren huffed and sat back down, crossing her arms. "Fine. But don't expect me to stick around and watch you ruin your life."

The tension in the room was palpable, and Claire couldn't help but feel like everything was spiraling out of control.