Claimed by the Crown Heir novel Chapter 35

"Luke..."

A sickeningly sweet voice floated through the air. The moment he realized it was Chloe Quinn, the light in his eyes was doused like a bucket of ice water over a flame, instantly dimming into freezing apathy.

"What are you doing here?"

He fell back onto the sofa, his tone practically arctic.

Chloe ran to his side, ignoring his blatant rejection as she wrapped her arms tightly around his arm, putting on her softest, most cloying voice.

"The baby and I missed you so much..."

Just yesterday, the lawyer Lucas hired had managed to secure her bail on the grounds of her pregnancy. According to the legal procedure, once the court gave its ruling, she could apply for house arrest as an expectant mother and avoid prison time.

Lucas shoved her away with a heavy shove, entirely out of patience.

"This is Vanessa's and my home. Don't ever step foot in here again."

Chloe stumbled back, biting her lower lip as a flash of pure malice darted through her eyes. That bitch Vanessa had ruined them, sold off half his shares, and vanished, yet Lucas was still pathetically hung up on her! She didn't dare show her fury, however, forcing down her hatred and plastering on a submissive mask.

Smelling the heavy stench of alcohol on him, she quickly pivoted the conversation.

"Have you been drinking? I'll go make you a hangover remedy."

She desperately needed Lucas to keep funding her legal defense to get a lighter sentence, but more importantly, she needed this baby to securely chain him to her. As long as the baby was born safely, she could secure her future and marry him legitimately. When that day came, no matter how much he missed Vanessa, he'd be forced to take responsibility for the child.

When she finally emerged from the kitchen carrying a warm mug of broth, she found Lucas already passed out against the sofa.

Even in his sleep, he was constantly mumbling Vanessa's name.

Chloe dug her manicured nails into her palms, the resentment in her eyes practically bleeding out.

*Ding—*

Just as she set the phone back down, Lucas suddenly shifted on the sofa. Chloe jumped out of her skin, barely steadying herself as she put on a brave face, gently shaking his arm. Her voice was pure honey.

"Luke, drink some of this before you sleep, or your head is going to kill you tomorrow."

The next morning.

Lucas sat up on the sofa, rubbing his throbbing temples.

His gaze absentmindedly drifted toward the open kitchen. The second he caught sight of that slender silhouette moving around, his rigid jawline instantly softened, a faint smile ghosting across his lips.

He stood up, his footsteps impossibly light as he walked over. Reaching out from behind, his arms securely circled her waist. He rested his chin against the crook of her neck, his voice husky with sleep and aching affection.

"Nessa, you finally came back. I knew you couldn't throw away three years of history so easily."

The body in his arms went totally stiff before she slowly tilted her head back, her voice liquid soft. "Luke, you're awake."