Chapter 202: A Tremendous Surprise

Blaine Jackson was utterly baffled by Claire Grace's odd behavior. 

"Claire, you really do look like you ate something bad. Should we go to the hospital and get you checked out?" he suggested, concern lacing his words. 

Claire straightened up and waved her hand dismissively. "I'm probably just overtired. I'll go home and rest for a bit." However, no sooner had she spoken than a wave of nausea surged through her again. 

"Hey, don't be so stubborn! You've been dry heaving like this nonstop—wait, dry heaving?" Blaine's sharp, almond-shaped eyes widened suddenly, recalling a similar scene he'd witnessed not long ago. "Why do you have the same symptoms as Lauren? I saw her a while back, and she said she was nauseous, always tired, and feeling generally unwell too." 

"Are you kidding me, Blaine? Lauren's symptoms were because she's pregnant," Claire retorted with an exasperated eye roll. 

"You're the one being ridiculous! Lauren's a woman, and so are you. If she can be pregnant, why couldn't you be? Your symptoms are far too similar. I think you should get it checked out," Blaine insisted earnestly. 

His words struck a chord, and Claire suddenly remembered her period was two weeks late. Could it be…? No, no, it couldn't. Her cycle had been irregular before; this was probably just another instance. Maybe it was her diet causing the discomfort. 

"I'm too exhausted to think about it. I'll take off my makeup and head straight to bed. Besides, Lucas is busy with work. Me showing up would just distract him," she said dismissively. 

"Well, alright," Blaine replied with a shrug. 

---

After dropping Claire off at her apartment building, Blaine drove away, but Claire didn't immediately go inside. She paused, then turned around and headed back out to a pharmacy nearby. 

Once home, Claire tossed her bag onto the couch and dashed to the bathroom. Five minutes later, she steadied her racing heart and forced herself to look at the pregnancy test she held in trembling hands. 

Her breath caught. 

Two red lines. 

Two unmistakable red lines stared back at her. 

That meant… she was pregnant. 

A flood of emotions surged within her—joy, disbelief, and overwhelming excitement. Tears welled up in her eyes as she clutched the test stick tightly. Was this real? Had her longing finally been answered? But what if the test was faulty? The thought made her anxious, so she resolved to use all ten tests she had bought. 

One by one, the results lined up on the sink. 

All positive. 

She was undeniably pregnant. 

Claire's heart swelled with a complicated mix of happiness and vulnerability. She had always feared something might be wrong with her, especially after so long without conceiving. She'd even considered seeing a doctor but couldn't bear to hear bad news. Yet here she was, her prayers answered. 

Lucas Zeller would be ecstatic. 

He had always envied Roy Lin's impending fatherhood, and now he'd get to experience the same joy. The thought made her giggle with giddy anticipation. She couldn't wait to share the monumental news with him. 

Claire gathered the tests and quickly left the bathroom. Grabbing her phone from her bag, she dialed Lucas's number. 

---

Lucas, deep in the midst of a meeting, was momentarily distracted by the vibration of his phone. Glancing at the caller ID, a rare smile curved his usually serious lips. 

He answered with a click, and before he could speak, Claire's eager voice spilled through the line. 

"Honey, when are you coming home? I have some amazing news to share!" 

"Good news?" Lucas's smile widened at her cheerful tone, but he glanced around the room, reminded of the meeting still in progress. "Claire, I'm in the middle of something right now." 

"Wait, you're not calling me 'honey'? Is someone with you?" Claire's suspicion was immediate. 

"Yes, I'm in a meeting," he replied, keeping his tone professional. 

"With a woman?" Her voice turned sharp. 

Lucas sighed. "There are men and women here, Claire. It's a meeting." 

"Hmph! I knew it! You only stopped calling me 'honey' because there's a woman there," Claire accused, her tone escalating. 

"Claire, stop overthinking." Lucas's voice dropped into a soothing, albeit firm, whisper. "Give me a few minutes to wrap up. I'll call you back." 

"You better not hang up on me, Mr. Zeller!" she snapped, her voice filled with mock indignation. 

Lucas chuckled softly despite himself, then relented. "Alright, just give me a second. What's this big news you couldn't wait to share?" 

Claire took a deep breath, bracing herself. "You have to be ready for this. It's huge!" She exhaled slowly, savoring the moment before declaring, "I'm pregnant!" 

"What?" Lucas's voice rose an octave, startling everyone in the room. 

"I'm saying we're having a baby!" Claire repeated, unable to contain her laughter at his reaction. 

"Are you serious?" Lucas asked, his tone incredulous yet elated. 

"Of course! I used ten tests—all positive!" 

"Yes! Claire, you're amazing!" Lucas exclaimed, temporarily forgetting the need for composure. His sudden outburst caused his employees to exchange amused glances, struggling to suppress their grins. 

For Lucas, nothing else mattered. This was the best news he could ever hope for.