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Lucas really followed Claire's wish of them to live their separate ways. It's been several months already and it's been hell for him but he doesn't have the courage and the will to undermine her decision. He knows Claire is nearing her due, with Drake constantly reminding him and it's making him restless, worried and guilty - always the guilt, of not being there with her, of not seeing her belly grows with their child. He knows he needed to make up his mind and decide what to do with their current relationship. Will he just let it be? Will he just let something this great slip off his grasp? Or will he be brave enough to walk into Claire's house and suffer her family's wrath especially her brothers? Knowing what lies ahead, if he did that, didn't made him agitated, perhaps he is a masochist, welcoming the punishment the Anderson brothers in store for him.

The finality of his decision came after he woke up one day and drove to the place he swore he will never go, not in a million years. The last time he came here was when that person was sent to his final rest - his father's grave. He stayed for several minutes inside his car, the engine was still running, willing the strength and courage to brave the ghost of his past. After ten minutes, he turned off the car, took the flowers he hastily bought from a flower shop nearby and step out. He felt like his feet is attached to a lead with how heavy his footfall are and walked towards the grave where he put the flowers on top of the gravestone.

He stood still for several more minutes before he succumb to his emotions, emotions he stored for more than a decade, he cried until no more tears left; and all the things he refused to say upon his death came pouring out of his mouth, words that he kept buried, words he thought will mean nothing since the person was already dead cold.

"I am blaming you for everything that happened in my life, you know. All the heartaches and pain you inflicted not just to me but to my mother as well, especially to Anne, your wife. If you hadn't been so selfish, if you hadn't been so greedy, you could have been happy, we could have been happier. But no, all the things you did, all just for your sake and no one else. Yes you had been a good provider for us the first few years but it will not equal to the horror and hell you made us suffer for more than ten years. Why? Why was everything not enough to you back then? Why did you do it? Why aren't we enough for you to be happy and contented?"

So many things he needed to say but he knows it is all for naught. The person will not come back no matter how many times he will talk and blame him for all. So he kept quiet and feel the stillness and silence the cemetery can offer to him.

He took a deep breath after several minutes with the realization and resolution.

"And you know what, I will not be like you. I will hold on to what matters to me and to hell with everything else. I will cherish everyone who welcomes and accept me even for my weaknesses and flaws. I will be seen as your son because of our sameness in tackling the business, because you are a great businessman before insanity took you over. But I will never be seen as your son who inflicts pain and suffering to my loved ones, I will not be like that, I refuse to be like that, I will do it, I will make it happen."

After his rant, he turned on his foot and decided to leave but before he did he turned back for he remembered something.

"I am forgiving you for everything for I am refusing to carry the hurt anymore. I am freeing myself to your ghost and I will not allow myself to be haunted by the painful memories you gave me." After that, he left and felt lighter than he had ever felt in a long time. He finally felt free as a result of releasing himself off from carrying a burden he refused to let go.

He went inside his car with a clear destination in his mind. He will finish everything within this day, as a preparation for tomorrow. He just hopes that he is not too late and that she is still holding on and waiting for him.

He drove back to Manhattan and went to his family's house. He was greeted by the familiar smell of lilacs and roses which his grandmother kept inside the different jars of potpourri all over the house. He seek for his grandmother and found her at her mini library where he knows she usually stays. He was immediately enveloped in her warm embrace.

Helena was misty-eyed after that embrace, for she was happy that Lucas came back after so many months of refusing to communicate with anyone.

"Grandmother, I'm sorry-" Lucas stated but he was immediately cut off.

"No need to say anything my dear boy, I can completely understand that you are hurting - still. All I can do is to pray and wait for you to realize that we all care for you, even though you feel you don't deserve it or that you do not trust why and how we do, and you do now, do you?" Helena asked, hoping.

"Yes grandma. Thank you for everything you have done for me since the very beginning. I know I've been neglectful in saying it."

"Oh, thank you. Thank God." Helena said fervently while wiping the tear that escaped his eyes unnoticed.

"Have you seen your mother?"

"No, not yet. I sought you out first." Lucas answered sniffing.

"Then go. You know where to find her."

Lucas only nodded then left the room and found himself at the door leading to the garden where he saw Anne crouching down, holding a spade on her gloved hand. He saw her stiffen when she realized she is not alone, and exclaimed when she turn around and saw him. Anne stood and run towards him, engulfing him in a motherly embrace he realized he longed for.

Anne released him after several minutes where she is already crying.

"I am so glad you came back. Thank God you came back, we are so worried. How are you?" Anne asked while checking him from head to toe.

"I am fine mother. I am sorry that I left without communicating with any of you." He answered while ushering Anne to a nearby bench.

"I understand, we understood that you need to solve your problems on your own. I just hope that you already found what you are looking for." Anne said which made him thoughtful.

"Yes, mother, I did, and I went to see him. I finally had the courage to face him." Lucas then narrated everything, from the day at Claire's hospital room until he decided to face all his fears and let go of the past that haunted him until now.

"I am so glad you went to see him. I have longed for you to have a closure with what he did."

"How did you manage to forgive him so easily back then?" Lucas asked wondering.

"I loved him, that is why. I already loved him from the very start, from the time my family told me that I will marry him someday. My love for him was greater than the bad things he did and it didn't marred my feelings towards him. It only made me so hurt seeing him like that and I am blaming myself as well for I am not capable of helping him. That whatever I do, it wasn't enough, I wasn't enough for him, I always felt I was lacking for I did not made him feel contented. But you know, it was only that remaining years when he did those horrifying things. He had always been a gentleman and he loved me in his own, though different way. You may be wondering how I manage to stay during those times, I have you, you see. I already loved you as my own ever since I held you in my arms. I may have been bound to the promise I made to Lucille, but you cannot refute the fact that I treated you like you came from me. You are my son Lucas, and nobody can say otherwise." Anne said truthfully which shows on her eyes and face.

They chatted a little more, making up for those times when they could have talked like a mother and son would do, but because of the pain they felt, both doesn't know how until now. They were having a great time, not noticing that the sun begins to set when a news came to them, his wife is about to deliver their child.

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Claire is currently cooking dinner when she suddenly experienced severe contraction which is different than the previous days. She shouted for her mother who rushed her to the hospital. Her father and brothers came when she is already inside the labor room and wait to be transferred to the other room when the time is nearing.

She concentrated in regulating her breathing as what was instructed to her by the nurse who has been very kind. She stayed there for six more hours until her contractions became powerful, that she cannot control herself not to shout. When the doctor checked her, she was immediately transferred to the delivery room where she was prepared and draped for the coming of her first born. The continuous strong contraction rendered her weak that even with the urging and proper instructions of everyone, she cannot push properly. Maybe it was her subconscious, but she keeps on uttering Lucas' name. Several minutes passed when she felt somebody holding her hand and urging her to push and breath properly. After the final push, a loud cry of a baby was heard inside the room while the doctor exclaimed, "It's a boy, a healthy baby boy!"

When she heard that she delivered her son, she let go and succumb herself to sleep but not before she felt someone kissed her and whispered, "You did well sweetheart, thank you, I love you."

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Two more chapters and we're done. Hope you like this chapter, and if you do, kindly comment and vote.

Stay with me until the end, please.

Thank you for reading!

-blue