Chapter 218: The Reward

"I think you'll love this," Lucas Zeller's voice echoed from the bedroom. Moments later, he appeared with a small black box in his hand, offering it to Claire Grace. "This is a one-of-a-kind, limited-edition piece of jewelry." 

"Limited edition?" Claire raised an eyebrow as she took the box. "Is it a ring?" 

"Why don't you open it and see?" Lucas replied, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. 

Claire shot him a skeptical glance before carefully opening the black box. A subtle, enchanting fragrance wafted out, instantly captivating her senses. She instinctively closed her eyes, relishing the aroma that lingered in the air. 

"What does this remind you of, darling?" Lucas teased. 

"I'm guessing it's not jewelry—it's perfume, right? And not just any perfume, but the soon-to-be-released *True Love*," Claire said with certainty. 

"So confident?" Lucas chuckled. "How about a wager? Loser owes the winner a favor." 

"Seriously?" she pouted, her glossy lips enticingly bright. "You already know what's inside. That's just you trying to gain an advantage." 

Unable to resist, Lucas leaned in to steal a kiss, his eyes twinkling with laughter. "So, does that mean you're too scared to bet?" 

"Who's scared?" Claire huffed, her confidence undeterred. "I'm around that perfume every day. I won't get this wrong." She opened her eyes and peeked inside the box. 

"Huh? Why is this—" Claire exclaimed as she lifted the item from the box. "It's a necklace? But the scent is so strong I thought it was perfume." 

The necklace was breathtaking. Its pendant was a heart-shaped piece surrounded by tiny, sparkling diamonds. At its center was something unusual—a crystal-clear, liquid-like substance that seemed to flow and shimmer. 

"Lucas, what's the liquid inside? It's so beautiful." 

"It's perfume," Lucas explained, holding the necklace closer to her nose. "Doesn't the scent become even more pronounced this way?" 

"Yes," Claire admitted. "That's why I thought you were giving me perfume, not jewelry." 

"This is the world's only necklace made with perfume," Lucas said. "That's why I called it a limited edition—because I designed it just for you." 

Claire's eyes glistened. "What's it called?" 

"'Only Love Snail,'" Lucas said with a tender smile. 

"Snail?" Claire blinked in surprise, gazing at him. 

"Did you know?" Lucas began, his voice soft. "'Only Love Snail' was actually the name I intended to use for a fragrance at last year's Liquid Diamond launch. I planned to surprise you then, but it got delayed until now. I hope it's not too late. Right, darling?" 

"Lucas," Claire murmured, her eyes brimming with tears as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing herself close. 

All this time, she'd misunderstood him. He wasn't afraid to love—he simply hadn't known how to admit his feelings. 

"Claire," Lucas whispered, holding her tightly. "You lost the bet, you know. A hug won't get you off the hook." 

"You're so cute," Claire said with a teasing smile. "So cute it almost hurts." 

"I don't like being called cute," Lucas grumbled playfully. "I'm a mature man. You should—" 

"Fine," she interrupted. "I should call you bossy, overbearing, sharp-tongued, and cold-blooded?" 

Claire placed the necklace back in its box, laughing as she sat down. "I call you cute because I love you. Do you see me telling other men they're cute?" 

"You told Blaine Jackson that once," Lucas said, smirking. 

Claire rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me you're still jealous of Blaine?" 

"No," he admitted sheepishly, sitting beside her. "But sometimes, I can't help feeling a little uneasy." 

"You're ridiculous," Claire said, her tone exasperated but affectionate. "I've told you—Blaine and you are not the same in my heart. You're my husband. He's just a friend. There's a big difference." 

"Why is there such a big difference?" Lucas asked, genuinely curious. 

"Because you're my husband," she said firmly. "He's a friend. Don't ask me again, or I'll ignore you." 

"Alright, alright," Lucas relented, a wry smile on his face. "I feel bad for misunderstanding Blaine before. I'll invite him out for dinner sometime to make up for it." After a pause, he added, "By the way, have you thought about getting a check-up? Didn't Lauren Wells suggest regular monthly exams? Since work has slowed down, we could go tomorrow." 

"Tomorrow?" Claire froze for a moment before responding, "Can we go the day after tomorrow instead? Blaine will be busy tomorrow, and I want to check if he needs any help." 

Lucas studied her, his expression thoughtful. "Alright, the day after tomorrow, then." 

---

After dinner, Lucas tucked Claire into bed. As he sat beside her, he accidentally pressed on her hand under the blanket. 

"Lucas," she murmured in her usual soft, affectionate tone, smiling as her eyes fluttered open. 

"Did you have a nice dream?" Lucas asked, leaning down to kiss her forehead. 

"I dreamed about you," she said mischievously, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him close. 

"Claire," Lucas growled, his voice thick with emotion. "Do you know what you're doing?" 

"What do you think I'm doing?" she teased, her fingers tracing the contours of his chest. 

"You're playing with fire," he warned. 

Claire giggled. "I lost the bet, remember? This is my reward for you. If you don't want it, I'll stop." 

Before she could withdraw, Lucas caught her hand, his lips capturing hers in a passionate kiss.