Chapter 206: Whose Husband is the Best?

In the kitchen, two men were bustling about, their focus unwavering as they worked side by side. Meanwhile, in the living room, two women lounged comfortably on the plush sofa. A glass coffee table before them was laden with an array of fresh, seasonal fruits, each more vibrant than the last. Lauren Wells was happily munching away, her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel, while Claire Grace sat beside her, seemingly uninterested in the bounty.

"Claire, isn't it odd? You barely touch your food," Lauren remarked between bites, a hint of surprise in her tone. She gestured toward Claire's untouched plate of fruit.

"I'm not really hungry," Claire replied with a soft smile. "I had a little earlier."

"A little? You only had one orange! I've eaten three oranges, a slice of watermelon, a cream puff, two bananas, and a handful of grapes. And I'm still hungry! You should eat more—you don't want to starve the baby."

Claire chuckled lightly. "Maybe it's because I'm still early in the pregnancy. When I first found out, I was ravenous, but now things seem to have settled. I feel just like I did before."

Lauren's eyes widened in awe. "Wow, lucky you! I'm exhausted all the time. No matter how much I sleep, I still feel like I could pass out at any moment. But at least the morning sickness has eased up, and now I'm eating like a horse. Did you have any morning sickness?"

Claire thought for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly before shaking her head. "Not really. Everything feels pretty normal."

Lauren's curiosity shifted. "How did you find out, by the way? Was it a home test?"

"Huh? What do you mean?" Claire asked, slightly confused.

"I just mean sometimes those home tests can be inaccurate. You should go to a doctor to confirm it for sure."

"Oh, I don't think there's any mistake. I bought ten different brands of pregnancy tests, and they all said the same thing." Claire's voice faltered slightly, her face paling at Lauren's caution.

Lauren handed her a tissue with a laugh. "Relax, I'm just saying that as a doctor, it's a habit of mine to remind people to double-check. If all ten tests showed the same result, you're fine."

Claire let out a relieved sigh. "You really scared me there for a second."

Lauren grinned, shaking her head. "You silly girl. Pregnancy isn't something to be so stressed about. Even if you weren't pregnant this time, you're young. There's plenty of time."

"But I've been looking forward to this for so long, and Lucas is so happy about it. I don't want to disappoint him." Claire's voice softened, a hint of determination shining through. After learning about her parents' regrets, she valued this baby even more.

"Men shouldn't be spoiled too much. Otherwise, they'll get too full of themselves. Look at Roy—he treats me like I'm made of glass, afraid I'll break. When I get leg cramps at night, he's so upset he practically wishes he could carry the baby for me!" Lauren laughed heartily, her pride and joy evident.

"Roy really is the perfect husband," Claire agreed with a smile, but her tone hinted at something more.

"Oh?" Lauren teased. "Are you saying Lucas doesn't measure up?"

Before Claire could respond, Lucas Zeller's playful voice drifted from the kitchen. "Are you two comparing husbands again?" Moments later, he emerged, carrying a beautifully plated dish.

"Wow, that smells amazing!" Lauren exclaimed, her keen nose immediately detecting the hint of vinegar.

Lucas smirked as he set the plate down and began clearing the table of fruit. "Lauren, you must be part bloodhound to catch the vinegar with just a pinch added."

He picked up a piece of the sweet-and-sour fish with his chopsticks and offered it to Claire. "Your husband cooks for you every day, and yet you're over here praising someone else's. Where's the love for me?" His tone was mock-serious, though his eyes twinkled with mischief.

Claire accepted the bite, savoring the burst of flavor that filled her mouth. "You only heard half of what I said," she replied with a grin.

"Well then, let's hear the other half."

"All right," she said, laughing. "I said Roy might be the perfect husband, but in my heart, my husband is the best and most wonderful man in the world."

Lucas beamed, clearly pleased. "That's more like it. As a reward, I'll get you a midnight snack of that lightly spicy oyster omelet you love."

"Really?!" Claire's face lit up with excitement.

Lauren groaned. "You two are so gross! Do you not see me sitting right here? I'm practically invisible to you."

Lucas shot her a wry smile. "Lauren, I could never ignore you. You're two people in one body now—a monumental presence."

Before Lauren could retort, Lucas deftly snatched the remaining fish from the plate with his chopsticks. "Speaking of which, shouldn't you check on your husband? He's been in the kitchen forever."

"Joel can handle himself," Lauren said, her eyes betraying her longing for the last piece of fish.

At that moment, Roy Lin stepped out of the kitchen, hands empty and looking slightly sheepish. "Roy, where's the braised pork trotter you promised me?" Lauren asked, narrowing her eyes.

Roy scratched his head awkwardly. "About that... I'm not used to cooking in Lucas's kitchen, and I accidentally used salt instead of sugar. Twice."

The room burst into laughter, the sound echoing warmly as they teased Roy about his mishap.