Chapter 219: A Sense of Foreboding

The soft, luminous glow in Claire Grace's deep, expressive eyes lingered on the sharply defined features of Lucas Zeller's face. A tender smile unconsciously graced her lips, delicate and heartfelt. 

She simply stared at him, her love for him swelling with every passing second. 

Her fingers, smooth and gentle, traced the contours of his face—his brows, the bridge of his nose, and finally rested on his perfectly shaped lips. She caressed them repeatedly, oblivious to the large, warm hand that suddenly clasped hers. One by one, his lips pressed softly against her fingertips, igniting a jolt of electricity within her. Snapped from her trance, her heart raced. 

"Claire, you're being quite restless," Lucas murmured, his tone affectionate yet teasing. With a gentle tug, he pulled her closer, letting her rest against his chest. His hand slid to the crown of her head, stroking her hair soothingly. 

"I just couldn't sleep," she murmured, closing her eyes as she listened to the steady, powerful rhythm of his heartbeat. Her slender fingers idly traced patterns on his firm chest. 

"Is something on your mind?" he asked suddenly, his tone laced with concern. 

"No, not really." 

"Then why can't you sleep?" Lucas pondered for a moment before quirking an eyebrow, his smirk turning mischievous. "Claire, could it be...you were thinking about last night and couldn't help yourself?" 

"No, no!" she exclaimed hastily, cutting him off before he could say more. The heat rushed to her cheeks as she avoided his gaze. "Maybe it's because dawn is near. Once I wake up, I can't seem to fall back asleep." 

In truth, she knew the reason. She was reluctant to part from him, yearning to imprint every detail of his face into her memory. 

"Claire, you've been acting a little strange lately," Lucas said suddenly, narrowing his eyes as he studied her. 

"Huh?" Her heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?" 

"Well, just two weeks ago, you wouldn't let me get too close, worried about the baby. But last night..." His tone shifted, tinged with playful accusation. "Not only were you eager, but you were...insatiable. Like a little kitten, constantly seeking more. Don't get me wrong, it was amazing, but it felt like you were trying to hold onto something—like you were memorizing me." 

"You're overthinking things. I'm perfectly fine." She raised her head to kiss his jaw, but tears inexplicably welled up in her eyes, spilling over before she could stop them. 

"Claire?" He froze, feeling the warmth of her tears against his chest. Flipping them over, he gazed into her tear-streaked face, concern flooding his dark eyes. "Why are you crying? Are you feeling unwell? Or is it because of last night—" 

"No, no. I'm fine," she insisted, shaking her head. "I just...felt like crying." 

"Crying doesn't seem fine to me," Lucas countered, his confusion evident. "Are you sure you're okay?" 

"Yes." She wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice soft as she whispered, "Lucas, I love you." The confession, buried deep within her heart for so long, finally spilled out, and the tears fell even faster. 

"Whoa, wait. You're crying while saying you love me?" he muttered, overwhelmed and unsure how to console her. Tenderly, he wiped away her tears and kissed her cheek. "Alright, I get it. You love me. So don't cry, okay? I love you too. Loving each other is supposed to make us happy, right?" 

"I know, but I'm just...too happy," she said with a wobbly smile, her tears mingling with her laughter. 

"Uh..." He blinked, perplexed. "So you cry when you're happy, too? Claire, is this a pregnancy thing?" 

"Why would you ask that?" she asked, startled. 

"Well," Lucas hesitated, "I've been reading about the emotional changes women experience during pregnancy. I just wanted to be prepared, so I'd know how to support you when you're feeling overwhelmed." 

"Lucas..." Her tears, which had just subsided, started flowing again. 

"Hey, not again!" He kissed her cheeks fervently, trying to dry her tears. "I must be a terrible husband. All I do is make you cry." 

"Lucas, I want to kiss you," she declared suddenly, her gaze fixed on his lips, her tearful expression heartbreakingly beautiful. 

"Claire, I'd be delighted," he replied with a grin, leaning down to meet her halfway. Their kisses grew deeper, more passionate, until his control snapped, and he once again lost himself in her... 

--- 

By the time Lucas woke up, the clock read past eight. The space beside him was already empty. Recalling Claire mentioning that she'd be helping at Sophie Jackson's store today, he thought nothing of it and headed to the bathroom. 

After his morning routine, he reached for the neatly folded clothes Claire had prepared for him. However, as he dressed, he noticed something missing—his tie. 

Reflexively, he picked up his phone to call her but paused. He remembered Lauren Wells's advice: phones emit radiation that's particularly harmful to pregnant women, especially during calls. Deciding against it, he opted to find the tie himself. 

As he opened the dresser drawer, his brows furrowed. Something felt off. 

The clothes in the wardrobe seemed...fewer. And the ones missing were notably colorful. 

His heart sank as he rummaged through the closet. Only the maternity clothes remained. 

A wave of unease gripped him. Turning swiftly, he grabbed his phone and dialed her number. 

"The number you have dialed is currently unavailable..." 

Unavailable? Why would her phone be off? 

A sense of foreboding engulfed him. He sank onto the bed, panic creeping in as he frantically searched every corner of the room. 

Thankfully, aside from a few missing clothes, everything else appeared untouched. 

Her phone...perhaps it had run out of battery. Her clothes...maybe there was an explanation. 

But the unease gnawed at him. Then, a name flashed through his mind. 

His expression darkened. Without hesitation, he threw on his shoes and bolted out the door.