A/N: This chapter is dedicated to , thank you for your support.

I am sorry for the delay in uploading this chapter, some personal matters kept me busy.

Thank you for your patience, and for that, I now give you the continuation of Lucas and Claire's fated story.

Happy reading!

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Even after several days, Lucas still can't completely accept the fact that Claire left his office without a backward glance. She should've at least talked to him before she left his office and his building. He can't understand her, and he couldn't understand himself why he is so upset because of what she did, he felt betrayed when in fact he shouldn't be. It is as if she meant something to him. 'Ha! Not in a million years." He countered his thought. But he can give her credit for her courage, she was able to walk out of him. 'Do not be so upset Lucas, it is not as if she will be staying in your life forever.' At that thought he stilled because he felt something - a pang akin to sadness. 'Sadness?! Why will I be sad if she will not be in my life forever?...Cease these nonsense Lucas!' He willed himself to stop, took a deep breath and cleared his mind. He turned his head when he heard his grandmother's voice.

"Lucas! Can't you hear what I'm saying my dear boy? I've been asking you the same question thrice already. What has gotten you so deep in your thoughts? Is it the company?" His grandmother, Helen, asked him without a pause.

He cleared his throat before he answered. "I'm sorry grandmother, I was just thinking about business. What was it that you were saying?"

"I said that you should clear your schedule this coming Friday. You will accompany me to my friend's party. I am sure you will meet a woman that you may like this time." His grandmother said while staring pointedly at him.

He swallowed his food first before he answered. "I'm sorry grandmother but I have other things to do that day. Mother can accompany you in that party instead of me." He declined his grandmother's demand although he is free that day. He knows she is formulating again a plan of hooking him up to any suitable female to be his wife. Times like this makes him wants to blurt out that he is married, for because of this scheme that he formulated that plan. But considering that the wife he made up is real, he cannot just confess it without thinking about Claire. Bile rose up on his throat everytime he remembered the hurt look on her face when he carelessly said that she should be the one who will act as incapacitated for the annullment.

"Lucas..." his mother's pleading voice snapped him of his reverie.

He took a deep sigh before he conceded to his grandmother's demand. "Alright, I will try to finish my work earlier on that day. But I will come to that party on my own, I will not accompany you. You both know that I am aware of your schemes."

"That is okay with me Lucas, as long as you will come to that party and try to get to know any eligible female there." Although his grandmother agreed to his demand, he can feel she is brewing something on her mind, that is why he is preparing himself for anything that may happen.

"Lucas, I cannot quite understand why you do not like any of the women we set up with you. They are all nice, beautiful, well-educated, socially adept and came from prominent families." Helen said after sometime. She wants him to settle and get married already. She knows her grandson is afraid of marrying, though he is not saying it, she can feel it. His wayward ways worries her and his mother. Everyday since he became successful with the business, there is not a day where the gossip is not about him having an affair with different women. She and Anna, his mother is constantly in deep thoughts concerning his well-being. If ever there will come a time that he will choose a woman to marry will be wonderful, and she will be thankful for the rest of her life if he falls in love with that said woman. She returned her focus on her grandson when she heard him ask a question.

"How was your visit with Dr. Williams grandma? Is everything okay?" He asked sincerely. His grandmother's health is not the same as when she's younger.

"Oh, dear, everything is fine. My heart is still strong and my knees can still support a grandchild from you." She answered with a slight tease.

"I know that you are still strong grandma, but no need to insert the notion of having a family with everything that you say." He lightly berated her.

He then turned to his mother. "How about you mother, did you ask Dr. Williams about the pain that you are feeling on your back?" He instructed her to also visit the doctor along with his grandmother.

"Yes, Lucas, he said that I strained it when I did my gardening chores. I told you it was okay and that I feel fine." His mother assured him.

"It is better to have it checked and prevent any problem that may come." He said then stood up.

"Are you done eating?" His mother asked him that he replied with a nod.

"But you only ate so little." His mother said with a slight reprimand.

"I am already full mother, there are also some things that I need to finish regarding work." He simply said, turned and walked out of the dining hall.

He took a deep breath after he slumped on the chair inside his home office. With so many things running on his mind regarding his business and meeting Claire, another scheme from his grandmother is not what he is looking forward to especially attending a party - he is growing tired of it.

The ringing of his phone brought him out of his deep thoughts. He answered it at once when he saw Drake's name on the caller id. "Hello."

"Lucas, I already made the draft for the divorce papers that Claire demanded, I will personally give it to you tomorrow at the office." Drake said. "Are you sure you want to comply to her demand?" He heard him ask after sometime.

"Keep it for a while." He simply replied to his question.

"So, you are considering my idea of you pursuing her?" Drake inquired with a slight disbelief.

"No, I am not. Just keep it there, I'll inform you if I need it, but for now, just keep it under lock and key." He sighed after he answered.

"What is the problem man? It looks like you're in deep shit, well, technically you are - with Claire." Drake asked and added when he kept silent. "Is it Helen? Is she planning another scheme?"

"You got it right. She wants me to accompany her in another party of her friend." He answered in a deadpan tone in which Drake only countered with a laugh.

"Stop laughing, will you. I'm gonna hang up, I still have things to do and I need a plan to counter any ploy that my grandmother will do on friday." He said to Drake then close his phone.

'I needed a drink.' He said to himself as he opened a bottle of brandy and poured himself two fingers in which he drowned in one go.

***

Friday came faster than he thought possible as he finished his work in his office. He sent Sophie home earlier since she will be spending her weekend with her daughter's family.

He left at eight sharp in the evening then changed his office attire with another suit. Although he doesn't want to come to this party he already agreed to be there.

The place is already packed when he got out of his car. He gave the keys to the valet then went straight to the area where a band is playing an old song. He saw his grandmother and mother on a table with several other people. He approached them while trying to place a name to the faces. Two of them are of his grandmother's age, one to be the same age as his mother and the remaining one stood out to be younger than the rest. He sighed first, willing himself to relax and not to show any annoyance on his face, before he kissed his mother and grandmother for a greeting.

"Lucas! I am so glad you came." Helen exclaimed and turned to everyone else on the table for introduction.

"Lucas, these are my friends, Sonya - the wife of Atty. Newman, you know him don't you?" At his nod, Helen continued. "This is Dorothy - the wife of Sen. Jackson, who is also one of our regular sponsor at the foundation; this is Stella - the wife of businessman Timothy Curtis and their lovely daughter, Amanda. They used to come into our house when you were younger, don't you remember? They just came back from staying in Paris for several years because of business. But I hope that they will stay for good. Everyone, this is my grandson Lucas." Helen said enthusiastically in which he only replied with a simple "Nice to meet you."

He pulled the remaining seat at the table which is situated strategically beside Amanda. He remembered her alright, she always accompany her parents when they were coming into their house during a party. She is beautiful, no doubt, but he cannot find himself to want to be with her even on a friendly level. She is vicious even when they were younger, he remembered that she always do something to trap him into having a relationship with her. She even conspire with an old friend to make him drunk and put him on the same bed with her naked. Good thing Drake was able to caught the ploy before the disaster happened. That is why he always steer clear away from her everytime they attended the same gathering or occasion which is a difficult task given that they have the same circle of friends and acquaintances. So he was very thankful when it came to his attention that their family is migrating to France for a business that her father is acquiring. But now that they are back, he fear she will do something again; and with the scheming his grandmother is doing right now, it will give her a boost to try harder to take a hold of him.

Speaking of which, the woman attempted to start a conversation with him. "Hi Lucas, it's good to see you. You're looking great by the way." She purred at him like a cat that made his hair stood up on its roots.

Instead of answering her, he only gave a slight nod then focused himself on eating the food served in front of him. It is better to stop their conversation before it even began than to attempt to do so after everything started. Prevention is better than cure after all, as what doctors would say. He was thankful that the woman didn't push through, though he can see her looking at him expectantly from time to time from the corner of his eye.

His grandmother interrupted him after awhile. "Lucas, do you have a date on the upcoming charity ball that will be held next week? I am sure Amanda would love to accompany you on that night."

He almost choke on what she had suggested. Good thing he caught himself in time before he sputtered what he is eating. He chewed first the food and swallowed before he answered without much thought. "I already have a date on that night grandma." At his words his grandmother's face fell slightly which he felt a tad bit regretful.

"Who might that be? Do we happen to know her?" His grandmother covered up her disappointment with a question.

"No, not yet grandma. Although, I would love to introduce Claire to you beforehand, she is quite busy with her business." He answered unknowingly using Claire's name that when he realized what he said, it was already too late. His grandmother already caught the name. It will do him no good if he will retract whatever he said. When Helen, asked him when they can meet her, he only said soon. Fortunately for him, their discussion was interrupted by a booming voice on the stage where the host is currently thanking all who came for the celebration.

Thankfully the night came to an end without any mishaps or another ploy from his grandmother or her digging more information regarding Claire. They went home peacefully; or so, he thought.

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