Chapter 199: The Snail Queen

When Claire Grace and Lucas Zeller arrived home, Claire sank into the couch with a sigh of exhaustion, her body melting into the cushions. Meanwhile, Lucas seemed unusually energetic, sliding beside her and pulling her into his arms. Her head rested against his chest as he held her close. 

"Lucas, I'm so tired," Claire murmured, her eyes half-closed. She caught the mischievous glint in his eyes, and despite herself, she chuckled faintly. 

Lucas tilted his head down, brushing his lips lightly across the bridge of her nose. "Don't worry," he teased, "I won't disturb you." 

Claire squirmed and giggled at the ticklish sensation. "Oh really? Then why are you already interrupting my nap? I just want to rest for a little while." She held up a single finger to emphasize her point, but Lucas captured her hand and playfully nibbled on it, treating it as though it were a carrot. 

"You've got it wrong," he said with a roguish grin. "I didn't say you had to move." 

Rolling her eyes, Claire gazed up at the ceiling in mock frustration. "Well, could you kindly remove your hand from where it doesn't belong, Mr. Zeller?" she shot back, her voice tinged with sarcasm. 

"Fine, fine," he relented, sitting up with sudden seriousness. "Let's talk about something important." 

Claire raised a curious brow, straightening up a bit. "Oh, right. You mentioned you had something big to discuss when we were at the hospital. I'm listening." 

Taking a deep breath, Lucas met her gaze. "I want to give you a grand, luxurious wedding." 

Claire froze, her mind reeling. A wedding? Did he just say he wanted to plan a wedding for them? 

"I've mentioned this before," Lucas continued, his tone steady but earnest. "I've owed you this for a long time. Now that you're back in my life, I want to cherish you—and our love. I want to give you the wedding of your dreams, one that will make the whole world know you're the woman I love most." 

"But…my parents don't even know I'm back yet," Claire stammered. 

"That's why we'll take our time planning everything. When they return, we'll be ready to celebrate with them. What do you think?" 

Claire bit her lip, hesitation flickering in her eyes. 

"You don't want to?" Lucas's voice rose slightly, and a faint frown creased his brow. "Or is this something you've never really thought about? I remember you once dreamed of having a beautiful wedding." 

"Of course, I want to," she reassured him quickly. It was true—she had always dreamed of a wedding as romantic as the one Lauren Wells had with her husband. But now that it was actually happening, she felt unprepared, overwhelmed even. It all seemed so sudden, so surreal. 

"Then why the hesitation?" Lucas teased, tapping her nose lightly. "Are you afraid I'll boss you around again? I promise, from now on, I'll treat you like a queen—my queen." His tone softened, his sincerity evident. 

Claire's lips curved into a sly smile. "You're serious? Treat me like a queen, huh?" 

Lucas raised a brow, nodding with confidence. "Absolutely. My word is my bond." 

"Well then," Claire said, leaning back with mock grandeur. "As your queen, I'm hungry. I command you to prepare a grand feast for me." 

Lucas chuckled, standing up. "As you wish, Your Majesty. But does this mean you're saying yes to the wedding?" 

Claire tilted her head playfully. "If being a queen is part of the deal, how could I possibly say no? Besides, ordering you around sounds like it could be quite fun." 

"It would be an honor to serve my Snail Queen," Lucas quipped, earning a laugh from Claire. "And to show my gratitude to Blaine Jackson for taking care of you this past year, I've decided to send him a complimentary supply of cosmetics from our company and hire him as a beauty consultant for the brand." 

"Wow, you've really thought of everything, Lucas. Thank you," Claire said, her voice thick with emotion. 

"Words alone won't suffice as thanks," he said with a smirk, tapping his lips meaningfully. 

Claire gave him an exasperated look but leaned in to press a quick kiss to his lips. "You're impossible. Who asks for this as a thank-you?" 

The moment her lips met his, Lucas wrapped his arms around her, pulling her down onto the couch. His hands roamed over her, and his playful demeanor turned into something more intense. 

"Hey! That's cheating!" Claire protested, trying to squirm away. "I agreed to a kiss, not all of this." 

"I didn't say it would stop at one kiss," Lucas replied, his grin wicked. "Your turn's over. Now it's my turn to kiss you." 

Before she could argue, he trailed kisses along her bare shoulder, each one sending shivers down her spine. 

"Stop!" she gasped, laughing despite herself. "The queen is hungry, remember? Get to the kitchen, Mr. Zeller." 

Lucas sighed dramatically but relented. "Fine. But there's one more thing I need to discuss." 

Claire arched a brow. "Make it quick. I'm starving." 

He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "What do you think about Lauren Wells being pregnant?" 

The question caught her off guard. "What are you trying to say?" she asked cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper. 

Lucas grinned mischievously. "I'm saying we should work harder to keep up. Don't you think it's time for us to have a little one of our own?" 

Claire's breath hitched. The thought had crossed her mind before, but doubt lingered. "But…what about my modeling gig for the perfume ad? How would I explain a baby bump on set?" 

"That's only a two-month shoot," Lucas countered smoothly. "It won't be a problem."