"Claire?!" Her mother chastised her because of her outburst. How could this man be here when he'd been so arrogant when she tried to talk to him before. 'What could he possibly want?' She asked herself when she didn't see any folders, envelopes that may enclose a document - a divorce papers to be precise.

When she saw the reprimanding look that her mother is giving her, she tried her best to be civil and finally obliged to her mother's quiet instruction for her to seat.

"Okay, Claire, I will leave you two to talk. I will just be in the kitchen to prepare our dinner that Lucas agreed to join." Alessa said while standing up.

At what her mother said, she was about to say something again when her mother looked at her pointedly, a look that clearly tells her to behave and be on her best behavior. She just huffed in annoyance once her mother left the room and turn her gaze towards the man.

"So, what brought you here? Given that you don't carry anything that may contain the papers, it is not about you conceding to my demand, isn't it?" She asked calmly while arms folded on her chest.

---

Lucas doesn't know how to respond to Claire's indifference. All the tricks that he knows on his books will not save him when it comes to her, he knows. That is why he decided to tell her the truth.

"Yes, I didn't come here to give you the papers to sign, actually it is not even finalized." He saw her brows furrowed at what he said, so he countered it already even before a rant will sprout from her mouth.

"I have other reason for coming here and I know that you will not be pleased, at all." He stated calmly gauging Claire's reaction. When he saw that she is willing to listen eventhough a tad bit suspicious of his intent, he continued.

"You see, it concerns my family, myself and you, of course." He stopped and took a deep breath before continuing.

"You already know that my grandmother has been hatching different schemes for me to get married." At her nod of acknowledgment, he continued his tale. "Then, last friday she demanded me to come with her to a party hosted by her friend, at that party there's this woman, her name is Amanda, that our family knows since way back. I thought that Helen, my grandmother, is only pushing me to sort of date her, she even hinted for me to take Amanda as my date to the upcoming charity ball hosted by our company, which I declined stating that I already have my plus one for the event. I thought she conceded and let it pass, but I was wrong. What happened when we got home was the last straw, that I snapped. She is now demanding for me to marry Amanda, as per her parent's request. But I refused to do it, mainly because I do not like her. So in order for her to stop meddling with my life and insisting for me to wed Amanda, I told her that I am already married...to you."

Lucas waited for the outburst that never came. Instead, she is looking at him in disbelief. He was about to ask her if she is okay, when she burst out laughing.

---

Claire, listened to Lucas' tale quietly. Honestly, she do understand him, his predicament of being pushed to something you do not like to do, especially to that thing you despise of doing. But after he said that he admitted to his family that he is already married to her - which is true in a sense; she felt a little woozy, as if her head is being inflated like a balloon. She refuse to believe that he added another sin to his already grave one. Isn't it that she demended a divorce from him? So why confess, if it is going to end soon? Why will he make it more difficult to do so by involving his family. He should have said something else entirely rather than blurting out their secret. She feel herself becoming mad as hell, but instead of ranting and shouting because of the incredulity of the situation, she instead opted to laugh her heart out loud hoping that he is joking and messing up with her.

After her bouts of laughter, she said solemnly. "You're only kidding, right? You're only messing up with me, aren't you?"

---

Lucas, waited for several minutes for her to cease her laughter. She looks like a madwoman who escaped her confinement from a madhouse with how the way she laugh that he can feel himself becoming annoyed. So when she asked if he is only joking, he replied in a very serious tone.

"I'm afraid I'm not joking or making fun of you Claire. I am dead serious of what I said." With that, Claire became more solemn that he is afraid she is about to cry.

"Why did you do that?!" Claire finally blurted out. "You should've said another lie."

"I am sorry, okay. I am already at my wits end thinking on how to end this. Please believe that I do not want to involve you any further with my charade. But the situation last Friday made me cracked my resolve, I was pushed so hard into a corner that I don't know how to escape anymore." He said truthfully and paced, he even rubbed his hands on his face in which Claire caught as something he does when nervous or irritated.

She was about to say something but was cut off by her mother's voice from the doorway.

---

Alessa can hear the shouting from the living room, although a little muffled. So before any of them loose their cool, she decided to serve dinner and prepare the table for their meal. Then she went to the living room and called out.

"Dinner is ready children. Let's eat first then you can continue your discussion later. You can think better when your stomach is full, isn't it?" She said this with a smile.

The two agreed and stood to follow her into the dining table where food is already served.

---

Claire is speechless when she saw the amount of food on the table. It's like Thanksgiving again but without the turkey, or maybe more than Thanksgiving because everything that is served are all special recipes of her mother.

'I cannot believe this.' Claire thought and blew a breath and eyed her mother questioningly which Alessa only ignored and ordered them to sit.

They said their grace before eating. The first few minutes after they started dinner passed in complete silence.

Alessa was the first to speak and ask, "So Lucas, is everything to your liking?", in which Claire chastised, "Mom!"

"What? He may not like it." Alessa countered.

"I think that eventhough he doesn't like it, he will tell he does, for he wants to be in our good side; considering he needs something from us, especially me." She said it as a matter of fact while looking at Lucas impassively.

---

It was clear to Lucas that he needs to give something as a comment to deny or agree to Claire's statement. Though it is true that he needs to be on their favorable side, he cannot lie about how good the food is. He cleared his throat first before speaking truthfully.

"I do love the food ma'am, albeit, I need to be in your favor since I needed something, I do not lie." He said the last words looking pointedly at Claire who only shrugged.

They continued eating while talking mundane things until Alessa asked where he will stay for the night.

"I will try to find a hotel nearby so that I will be able to come back tomorrow to talk to Claire, again." He said despondently while eyeing Claire.

---

Claire only raised one brow at what Lucas said about them having another discussion tomorrow. She is quite sure with herself that he is going to persuade her into going with him on the charity ball that he said a while ago in the living room, in order for his grandmother to believe him. To refuse it is her initial resolution, if ever Lucas will suggest it, but his forlorn expression during his recounting of last Friday's happenings makes her doubt her decision not to help him. Doubt is already creeping on her mind that if he really, really did convince her, she is afraid that she will agree without much effort. So in order for her not to be weaken effortlessly, she kept her mouth shut. But what her mother said next made her wanted to cry in disbelief.

---

"You can stay in the guest room for tonight, it may take you awhile to find a hotel to stay into. It is only me and Claire in here anyway, we have so many vacant rooms." Alessa suggested. She knows Claire is about to contest what she had just said. So she said something to oppose it.

"Claire, he is your husband - technically - so he is already a family. If you consider him other than that, then treat him as a visitor instead." Then she turned her head towards Lucas with a look asking for a reply.

Lucas can only nod his head and say a simple thanks. He was stunned on how Alessa dodged Claire's contest, and he saw how the latter only sigh in exasperation.

They finished their meal in a comfortable silence, cleared the table and Claire offered to wash the dishes, he suggested to help that she immediately declined. So he just went out and followed Alessa into the living room once more, offering a tea in which he respectfully refused, he is more of a coffee person.

---

"I told you she is not in the mood today, if that happens, we always went out of her way until she cools down on her own. So it's a good thing you left her alone when she refused your help. The chore will help her to chill her temper and she knows that. If you have insisted, then your fear of not being able to talk to her will become a reality." Alessa explained while sipping her warm tea.

The dinner gave her an ample time of assessing this man who have become her daughter's husband accidentally. He really is a handsome guy and a serious one, like he is always thinking and the world is on his shoulders.

"So, what is it that you want to talk with Claire? Is it something about your situation together?" She asked with caution, she doesn't want her to appear as an intruder. She was pleased when Lucas answered her querries and even retold her last Friday's incident with his grandmother.

"Oh, that's unfortunate because Claire told me you are already processing the divorce or annullment - whichever will qualify. So what are you planning to do?" She asked with curiosity though she has an idea, and maybe Claire does as well, of what he is about to suggest.

---

Lucas took his time deciding whether to tell Alessa his plan or not. But he needs all the help he can get, in order to persuade Claire to agree of what he is planning, and he knows that Alessa will be able to lend a hand, if he will play his cards right.

"I plan to introduce Claire as my wife at the charity ball, and I hope she will agree. I did not plan in making this charade more complicated than it already does, but something is making it how it is now. I know it is quite too late to say this, but I am sorry for dragging you and your family, especially Claire into this mess."

They fall into complete silence at what he said. He is thinking that Alessa may not concur to his idea, she is Claire's mother after all. But he thought wrong when Alessa suddenly blurted out.

"I will help you in your case with my daughter, but on one condition."

Lucas only nodded, he is a businessman after all. He knows that sometimes there should be a bargain between two sides, they may have a different goal but needed each other to achieve that, a win-win situation, as some would say. But the condition that Alessa said made him confused.

"Do not in any way concede to my daughter's demand for a divorce."

************************************

Why do you think Alessa made that condition? Does she have a plan of sort?

Please write your comments or insights if you have any.

Thank you for reading and supporting my work.

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