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Claire couldn't be more happier, her family is complete during their lucheon date. It was just a celebration out of nowhere since everyone is coming home and they wanted to try the newly opened diner. The place have great food and she will recommend it to anyone.

They were still eating and chatting when her mom caught her eye and gave a signal for her to follow. They both gave the excuse of going to the washroom to refresh which the boys did not give any comment.

When they entered the washroom, her mom locked the door after making sure that all the cubicles are empty. She felt that they will be having a talk and it will take some time. After checking one more that they were really alone, her mom faced her with a serious mien.

"Claire, honey, please answer me truthfully. You're pregnant, aren't you?"

Her mother's question made her laugh but the look that she gave her stopped it.

"Mom, seriously?" Her question only made her mother rose her brow.

She pondered for awhile if it will be possible. Yes, they've been doing it anytime of the day whenever they are together and Lucas is not using a protection since he knew she is receiving her shots. Speaking of shots, when was the last time she went to receive one? She searched for her phone in panic for she cannot remember if she got her due. She felt her blood drained from her face when she confirmed it, she received her last shot even before she agreed with the setup with Lucas, which means that she missed her last dose. She also checked her period tracker and it shows that she is already delayed for more than a month and a half.

She looked at her mother mouth gaping and firmly clutching her phone. She expected her mother to rant but instead, she received a full blown smile that she cannot help but asked.

"You're not mad mom?"

At her question, Alessa smiled and approached her, that's when she noticed that she is misty-eyed.

"Why will I be mad? I am going to be a grandmother, I already gave up with your brothers especially Ethan. Unless they will meet a good woman then I will have my hopes back, but until then you are the only one who can give us our dream of having a grandchild."

Her mother's answer made her jaw slacked once again. She didn't know what to think with these revelations. Though it is not confirmed yet, the probability that she may be carrying Lucas' baby made her feel elated that she suddenly burst out sobbing. Alessa hugged and soothe her, now also crying. After sometime, Alessa let go.

"Dry your tears and fix yourself honey, otherwise the boys will ask what happened. Okay?" She nodded at her mother's instruction. Her mother went out first after fixing herself. She tried to be presentable as well, when she thought that her emotion is well-controlled, she went out of the washroom and joined her family once more. She caught Ollie's questioning eyes, when she mouthed 'I'm okay', Ollie let it go, maybe because their mother also shows that she had been crying as well.

When they finished their lunch, they all went home and continued their family moment by watching a good movie just like the old times. Her mother talked to her seriously during bedtime and they planned to visit an OB that her mother knows the next day before she leaves for Manhattan. Whatever the result maybe, if she is really pregnant, she promise to keep the baby whether Lucas will accept this or not, for she suddenly realized that this is not included in their sham of a marriage. It will look like the future of them being a real family is bleak. The thought put her into a sad mood but she put it out of her mind and willed herself to be happy.

The next day confirmed her mother's suspicions. She is almost eight-weeks pregnant. Several blood test were done including an ultrasound which shows the outline of her baby. Both her and her mother took a copy of the ultrasound and kept it. Alessa promised her to keep it a secret until such time that she is ready to inform everyone of her situation, both the present as well as her set up with Lucas.

She and her mother left and go on their separate ways, Alessa going home and her going to Manhattan. She just hopes that Lucas will be happy and will accept the fact that he will be a father. She felt a sudden ominous feeling that he will not take this lightly. She just prayed that whatever happens, she will be strong enough to face it just like everything else she experienced before.

It is almost dark when she parked her car in the basement. As usual, Alvin met her at the landing and took her things to the bedroom.

"Thank you, Alvin. Is Lucas already here?"

"No, Ms. Claire, Sir Lucas flew to Las Vegas just an hour ago for some business." His response made her brows furrowed, for Lucas will call and inform her if ever he will leave and be out of the state for several days. He's been doing that ever since their relationship elevated from being just roommates.

"Okay, Alvin. Thank you and goodnight." She dismissed the butler and prepared herself to sleep. Her news will have to wait for several days then. Her thoughts before sleep took over were all blissful, not knowing what tomorrow or the future really holds for her, for Lucas and their baby.

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Lucas didn't come home until the weekend when it was her schedule to go to Millbrook again. He didn't call her as well like the other times. She felt something shifted and that there is a problem somewhere with his current behavior. It made her worry and anxious in which she tried not to be affected for the sake of her baby. She went back to Millbrook as planned, she refused Kevin to drive her car since her brothers are presently residing there. She did her work as usual and sent messages to Lucas every now and then for her calls aren't connecting. This continued for another two weeks until she cannot take it anymore. She also cannot deny her situation to Alvin whose been questioning her everytime she will vomit any time of the day. The 'morning sickness' that she thought only happens every morning is not happening to her. So the whole household including Kevin now knows that she is carrying Lucas' child, that is why both are adamant not to let her drive on her own especially if she going to Millbrook. She asked the men to keep it a secret first and both happily complied. She decided not to go to her store by the end of the week for she is expecting Lucas to come home, she informed Bea to take care of the shop while she is away in which the other agreed without qualms.

But her expectation did not come into reality for Lucas did not come home even when he already came back from his business trip. As per Alvin he is staying somewhere else in which he doesn't know as well for Lucas only said he will not be staying at the penthouse. She shouldn't have minded it except that Alvin looked at her with pity and worry. It made her feel on edge and that foreboding she felt for several weeks now becomes stronger. Something is really wrong and she planned on knowing whatever it is even if it will hurt her to no end. She decided to see Lucas the next day at his office where she knows he will be, considering he is away for several weeks. She had a fitful sleep that night with all the things running through her mind that when she woke up, she felt every aches and pain on her body. It even shows on her face, with the dark circle around her eyes as well as the loss of its spark that she is already used to see from the many months of happiness. She stopped her train of thoughts and decided to dress, she also put effort in her make-up so as not to show that her problem is affecting her so much.

She went to an OB clinic first and had a check-up which she's been putting on hold until she was able to talk yo Lucas. But that is already out of the question, for the said person is avoiding being with her. After her check-up and buying the prescribed medicines for pregnancy, she drove to The Harrison building. Kevin conceded on her driving on her own since she will not be driving that far. She showed her ID pass to the guard and went directly to Lucas' office using the private elevator. Sophie is not on her table when she stepped out of the compartment so she went directly to his office and opened the door after knocking. She thought he will be surprised with her visit but what she saw inside shocked her. It made her numb and both feet failed to comply to her bid of leaving.

Lucas was sitting on the sofa with Amanda straddling him. Both stopped kissing when she opened the door but they did not move to fix their appearance. When she just stood there, mouth gaping at the scene, Lucas said something to Amanda which made the woman stood and walked towards her wearing a smirk which clearly sends a message that she won. She willed herself not to show any emotion on her taunt but fixed her gaze to the man who is now standing by the sofa. When Amanda thought that she will not be taunted, she went out but only after she left a message to Lucas. "I'll see you tonight darling."

The message made her clench her teeth and eyes watered but she refuse to let it fall. When the door closed indicating that they were alone, she saw Lucas fixed himself, she was thankful that he had the audacity to remove the lipstick that clung in his mouth from torridly kissing that snake of a woman.

She just stood there by the door, staring pointedly at the man whom she loved her whole heart. She thought that what she currently felt is already the worse but when Lucas spoke with so much coldness, she heard her heart cracked.

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you since you are not coming home." She replied in a hushed tone.

"I will not be coming at the penthouse, not until you leave." His emotionless statement made the crack on her heart more pronounce.

"What happened Lucas? I thought our relationship is going well. We are happy, aren't we?" She said weeping, but it didn't faze him. She thought he will not say anything but what he said next shattered her heart into billion pieces.

"It's just sex for me, Claire, nothing else. Might as well use the time we spend together, with you living in my house and sleeping in my room, consider that as a payment of sort."

What he said made her feel humiliated. She didn't thought that she can be violent but she found herself in front of him and the resounding crack that echoed inside the room made her woke up as if in trance. She slapped him, hard, that made her hand stung and his face turned the other side. He didn't say anything to counter what she did as if he is already expecting it. She willed herself to stop crying and said with finality.

"I will leave your house today for I cannot pay my stay anymore with my body. I promise that you will not see or hear anything from me. I will be expecting the divorce papers soon, just send it to my store and not in my family home. I will still thank you for everything that you've done including the sex, because now I won't be ashame to do it with anyone else since you've been a very good teacher. Goodbye, Lucas."

After that she turned and left the room. She controlled herself from banging the door for she felt her lashing inside is already enough. It also drained her energy. She saw Sophie now on her table and gave her a weak smile which she returned with an understanding one.

She didn't know how she ended up on her car and just found herself already on the landing of his penthouse where Alvin met her as per his usual. She saw him gave her a sad smile which confirmed her assumption that he knows what Lucas has been doing this past several weeks. She went directly into the bedroom and took her luggage. She packed what she brought and did not include the ones that Lucas purchased or gave her. She left the access card as well on the bedside table and proceeded to leave but not before she said goodbye to Alvin and Kevin for they have been the best companion ever since she stayed here. Kevin also offered to drive her back to Millbrook for which she refused profusely. They accompanied her to the basement and put her things on her trunk. She said her goodbye to them one more time and made them promise not to tell Lucas about her condition before she went inside her car and start the engine.

She kept her tears at bay until she passed the border of New York. Too numb to care for her surroundings, she didn't notice the car that has been following her since she left The Harrison building. Too occupied with the pain that she's been experiencing, she didn't saw that the road has several sharp barbs. She only refocused when she heard her tires blow up making it screech and her to frantically tried to control the steering wheel. Her mind went to the baby on her tummy, praying that both of them are fine after this.

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No! I hate Lucas in this chapter. What do you think will happen to them after this? If you were Claire or Lucas, will you also do what they did?

Please type in your comments or insights. Don't forget to vote as well.

Thank you for reading!

-blue