Chapter 190: They Went on a Date?

Lucas Zeller woke up in his own bed, a faint throbbing in his head reminding him of the high fever he'd endured. From the living room, the hum of a TV filled the silence. He frowned, a hint of confusion passing through his sleepy expression, then his eyes lit up. He swung his legs off the bed and made a beeline for the living room. 

"Claire, I just knew—Wait, what?" Lucas stopped short, staring in disbelief at the woman lounging on his couch. She was devouring a family-sized bag of chips with unsettling enthusiasm. 

"Boss, you're awake!" Sarah jumped up from the couch, brushing crumbs off her hands, and darted to his side. "Dr. Lee said you should stay in bed. You just pulled the IV out this morning, and your fever was intense. You need to rest!" 

"Why are you here? Where is she?" 

Sarah hesitated, her face twisting awkwardly. "She... went out on a date. With Blaine Jackson." 

"What?" Lucas's already pale face darkened. "She knew I was sick and still went out with him?" His voice was low, almost a growl, but his disappointment was unmistakable. 

"Boss, maybe it's just a walk. Or a quick coffee. I don't think Claire would ever cross the line. I mean, I *know* she wouldn't!" Sarah's tone was quick and placating, trying to diffuse the tension she saw building in him. 

"She left while I had a fever. Does that mean nothing to her?" Lucas's hands found his temples, rubbing in small circles as though trying to massage away not just the headache but the sting of rejection. 

"Claire's not like that, Boss. I think she's testing you. Back when she called me from abroad, I asked if she had feelings for Blaine, and she denied it. She wouldn't just change her mind overnight." 

"Testing me?" Lucas repeated, his tone sharp. "She kissed him, Sarah. Right in front of me. She said she wanted to prove a point, but how far is she willing to go?" 

"Wait, does this mean you're giving up?" Sarah asked cautiously. 

"Giving up?" Lucas snorted. "Not unless she looks me in the eye and tells me the man she loves is Blaine. As long as it's just 'like,' there's no way I'm letting go." 

"So, what's your plan?" 

"Nothing for now," Lucas said, flopping down on the couch with a groan. 

Sarah raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "*Nothing*?" 

"I'm exhausted, Sarah. Once I'm better, we'll see. Right now, if I try to intervene, I'll probably collapse, and then what? She'll just go off with him again." 

"Fine, but don't wait too long," Sarah warned as she gathered her things. "I'm heading home now. Who knows when their 'date' will be over?" Realizing her slip, she quickly darted out the door. 

Left alone, Lucas exhaled sharply. Stretching his legs across the coffee table, he sank deeper into the couch. Every muscle in his body ached, not just from the fever but from the emotional whirlwind swirling through his head. 

Suddenly, his phone rang from the bedroom, dragging him from his thoughts. He trudged back to the bedroom, scooping up the phone with a sigh. 

"Hello?" His voice was hoarse. 

"Lucas, don't tell me you're asleep already. What are you, an old man now?" Roy Lin's teasing voice rang out over the line. 

"Why are you calling to annoy me?" Lucas snapped, too drained to put much venom into it. 

"That's weird. You're not yelling at me like usual. What's going on with you?" 

"Nothing." But his mind wandered back to Claire and Blaine, and the bitterness in his tone betrayed him. 

"Hey, don't tell me the company's going under or something," Roy joked, completely oblivious to Lucas's mood. 

"I don't have time for your nonsense," Lucas retorted, though it lacked his usual fire. 

"Whoa, what's got you so down? Did Claire finally come back and bring chaos with her?" 

"Shut up, Roy," Lucas growled. "You're on vacation; stop bothering me. Come back and handle the perfume endorsement case already. I've got more important things to deal with." 

Roy hesitated, sensing the weight behind Lucas's words. "More important than work? Who are you, and what have you done with Lucas Zeller?" 

"I need to stay close to Claire," Lucas muttered, almost to himself. 

"Well, good luck with that," Roy replied with a chuckle. "By the way, I wanted to tell you Claire's back in town." 

"I know," Lucas replied flatly, cutting Roy off before he could ramble further. "Just get back here soon." 

Without waiting for a response, Lucas ended the call and collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. The good news Roy had promised felt like a cruel joke. Claire might be back, but she wasn't his—not yet, anyway.