Chapter 178: A Fiery, Passionate Kiss

"Claire, how long are you going to keep avoiding me?" The deep, magnetic voice brushed against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. 

Claire Grace froze, her eyes widening in shock. 

"What… what did you just call me?" Her voice trembled. Was she hearing things? 

"I've missed you," Lucas Zeller said casually, his intense dark eyes locking onto her panicked gaze. 

"Do you even know who I am?" Claire's voice quivered, her hands clenching tightly. 

"When you wear those sunglasses, no. But the moment you take them off, of course, I do. You're my Claire—my wife, Claire Grace," Lucas declared, enunciating each word deliberately. 

Her name. He remembered her name. 

Claire snapped out of her daze and tried to turn away, but Lucas grabbed her arm before she could escape. With a sudden pull, he brought her tumbling toward him, his strong arms locking around her waist, pressing her against his chest. 

"Lucas, you jerk! This has to be some kind of setup! You're playing me, aren't you?" she demanded, struggling fiercely. How could it be a coincidence that he collapsed right where she happened to pass by? 

"Stop squirming," Lucas scolded, his brow furrowing. "I still have a fever, and my body feels like it's falling apart. If you keep thrashing, you'll break me." 

"Hmph! Like I care," Claire shot back. But despite her sharp words, her resistance softened. She noticed his grimace deepen and recalled what Dr. Lin had warned her: If the fever didn't subside, it could become serious. 

"I'm not lying. Look at me—this fever proves it," Lucas said earnestly. What he didn't admit was how he had intentionally made himself sick. Hours spent in the company's freezing storage room, alternating with cold showers at home, finally resulted in a raging fever. All just to stage this moment. 

"Why did you happen to faint right in front of me? That's way too convenient," Claire pressed suspiciously. 

"Fate," Lucas said, his gaze deepening. His lips, searing with fever, brushed against her nose. "It's destiny bringing us back together. I've missed you, Claire. Why did you leave me so abruptly?" 

The word *divorce* exploded in her mind, snapping her back to reality. 

"You've got some nerve asking me that," she shot back angrily. "Wasn't it you who suggested we take a break? You couldn't bring yourself to say the words, so I filed for divorce to make it easier for you!" 

"Are you out of your mind?" Lucas's voice rose, incredulous. "Who told you I wanted a break to end things? I was furious at how close you were with Blaine Jackson! That's why I said we needed time apart." 

"And what's your problem with Blaine?" Claire scoffed. "What did he ever do to you?" 

"He got too close to my wife, that's what!" Lucas growled. "You spent every waking moment with him. Wait… what did you just call him? Blaine?" 

"What's with everyone obsessing over what I call Blaine?" Claire rolled her eyes. "I'm not answering." 

"You've changed," Lucas said, his tone quieter now. 

"Have I?" Claire's lips curled into a wry smile. 

"I don't like it." His brow furrowed, and his hand inched upward along her back. 

"Huh?" Claire blinked. "What don't you like?" 

"The new you," Lucas said bluntly. "I liked the old Claire—the shy, sweet girl who was always one step behind, who didn't even realize I was teasing her until it was too late." 

"Yeah, because you enjoyed messing with me," Claire snapped. 

"And you seem to like this new you," Lucas countered. 

"Damn right, I do!" Claire retorted. "Because now, nobody can mess with me." 

"Oh, really?" Lucas's lips curved into a devilish smirk as his gaze dropped lower. 

Claire followed his line of sight and froze. Her pale blue tank top had ridden up, revealing far too much skin. Worse, Lucas's hand was sliding beneath the fabric. 

"Lucas, you—" 

Her protest was cut off as his lips claimed hers. His kiss was wild and dominating, leaving her breathless. There was no trace of the weakened man who had fainted hours earlier. 

The familiar taste of him stirred something deep inside her. Heat coursed through her veins, her resolve faltering. A small voice in her head urged her to push him away, but her body betrayed her. She responded with a passion that surprised even herself. 

His fevered skin felt like molten steel against her own. She didn't know whether it was the lingering fever or his unrelenting desire, but his touch burned her. 

Their breaths grew ragged, and the room seemed to pulse with an almost tangible heat. Suddenly, Lucas flipped her onto her back, pinning her beneath him. 

"Claire, I need you," he murmured, his voice thick with longing. 

Her breath hitched as his words and touch sent shivers through her. 

"I've missed you. Every second of every day. I need you to make up for the pain you caused me by leaving," he whispered, his lips trailing down her neck. "Come back to me, Claire. Please." 

His plea echoed in her ears, breaking through the haze clouding her mind. Slowly, she opened her eyes, and reason began to return.