Chapter 220: Finally Understand

Blaine Jackson locked the door to his studio and turned to secure the side door when a loud, rapid banging echoed from the main entrance. 

"Lucas Zeller, what are you doing? Bored or just itching for trouble?" Blaine muttered, shaking his head. It was far too early for such antics. 

"Blaine, what are you doing here?" Lucas asked, surprise flickering across his face as Blaine emerged from the side door. 

"That's a question I should be asking you," Blaine retorted, raising an eyebrow. "This is my shop. If I'm not here, where else would I be?" 

"I mean, why is your shop closed? Isn't today supposed to be busy?" 

"Busy? Who told you that?" Blaine leaned against the doorframe, his single-lidded eyes narrowing slightly. "I closed it because I'm heading back to France for a few days. The studio's on a three-day break." 

"You're going to France?" Lucas's voice shot up in pitch, betraying his shock. "Then where's my wife?" 

Blaine froze for a second before turning to face him. "...Your wife? And you're asking me where she is?" 

Lucas frowned, irritation creeping into his expression. "She told me your shop was packed today, so she was coming over to help. Who else would I ask?" He briefly recounted Claire's explanation and added, "Her clothes were missing from the wardrobe, so I got worried and came over. But something feels off." 

With a heavy sigh, Blaine gestured toward the side door. "Come inside. There's something we need to talk about." 

Lucas followed, unease tightening in his chest. 

"Blaine, what's going on? Don't tell me she's planning to follow you to France," Lucas demanded, his restlessness evident as he paced in the small space. 

"Your imagination is running wild," Blaine said, handing him a beer and rolling his eyes. "I thought when she said she'd made a decision, she'd be honest with you. Turns out, she chose to leave without a word instead." 

"Leave?" The single word struck Lucas like a thunderclap. His expression darkened. "Blaine, can you stop being so cryptic and just tell me what's going on?" 

"Can you calm down and let me explain?" Blaine's tone remained steady despite the icy glare Lucas directed his way. 

"Well, get to it already!" 

Blaine sighed again, deciding to forgo arguing. "Haven't you noticed that Claire's been acting differently lately?" 

"Differently how?" 

"Distracted, distant, emotionally volatile—ring a bell?" 

Lucas hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. "Yeah, but I thought it was because of the pregnancy. The books say it's due to hormonal changes and stress." 

"You're right about the stress," Blaine said, fixing Lucas with a steady gaze. "But it's not because of the pregnancy. In fact…" He paused, his voice softening. "She's not pregnant at all." 

The revelation hit Lucas like a tidal wave, leaving him stunned. "What? Are you joking?" 

"Do I look like I'd joke about something like this?" Blaine's voice was firm. He hesitated before adding, "Not only is she not pregnant, but her chances of conceiving are nearly zero." 

Lucas sat heavily in a nearby chair, his eyes dropping to the floor as disappointment washed over him. "Why would she fake a pregnancy?" he murmured after a long pause. "I don't even know her anymore. She kept this from me, fooled me completely…" 

"Hold on. You've got the wrong idea," Blaine interrupted, his tone sharper now. "This wasn't some elaborate deception. She genuinely thought she was pregnant. Then, one day, after eating spicy food at the street market, she had severe stomach pain. I took her to the hospital, and that's when we learned the truth. She was devastated, Lucas. She couldn't even think straight when she left the hospital." 

Images of Claire clinging to Blaine, her face pale and tear-streaked, flashed through Lucas's mind. The scene he'd witnessed that night finally made sense. 

"No wonder she wouldn't tell me what was wrong," Lucas murmured, his chest tightening with guilt. 

"She was terrified," Blaine continued. "Terrified of disappointing you, your parents—everyone. She said you loved kids, even had names picked out. She thought if you knew she couldn't have children, you'd…" 

"Leave her," Lucas finished, the words bitter on his tongue. Memories of Claire's desperate pleas flooded back—*Don't leave me. Please don't leave me.* 

The realization was like a punch to the gut. She'd kept him in the dark, confiding in Blaine instead. Anger flared, but it was quickly overtaken by pain. Had he failed her so profoundly that she couldn't trust him with her fears? 

"Do you know the only thing she kept saying when she broke down?" Blaine asked softly. "It was your name, Lucas. You're all she could think about." 

Lucas buried his face in his hands, his voice muffled. "Why didn't she just tell me?" 

"Because she's scared, Lucas. Scared you won't love her the same way anymore," Blaine replied. "But you need to fix this. She's not running because she doesn't care—she's running because she's terrified of losing you." 

Lucas clenched his fists, his heart aching. He'd never felt so helpless—or so determined. 

"Where is she now?" he asked, his voice low but resolute. 

Blaine hesitated. "I don't know, but if I were you, I'd start looking at places that make her feel safe."