Chapter 611

Claire had been determined to provide breast milk for her daughter Bella, expressing milk diligently every day.

But now that Lucas had taken Bella, Claire's milk supply had dried up from sheer frustration.

When Evelyn arrived, Claire mentioned needing to discuss something important.

Evelyn thought it would be good for her distressed friend to talk things out.

Entering the apartment, Evelyn found only Claire inside, which felt unusual.

"Where's Julian? Shouldn't he be home?"

Claire sighed. "Lately, Julian's been leaving early and coming back late."

It was summer vacation with no dance classes scheduled.

Teenage boys had their own social lives, so Claire didn't pry too much.

Claire pulled Evelyn close and whispered urgently, "I'm sneaking into Bennett Manor tonight to get Bella back!"

Evelyn gasped. "You're kidnapping your own child?"

Claire nodded firmly. "I've checked. Lucas won't be home tonight, and I know Bennett Manor's layout perfectly. Even have the door code memorized..."

Evelyn hesitated. "Why not talk to Lucas properly? He doesn't seem unreasonable."

"We already discussed this at Bella's one-month celebration," Claire countered.

"If he wanted to give me custody, he would've done it by now. Why keep delaying?"

"Just wait here, Evelyn! I'll bring our baby home soon!"

Before Evelyn could protest, Claire dashed out the door.

Evelyn sat stunned in the dim living room. Nearly twenty minutes later, Julian crept in quietly.

Thinking everyone was asleep, Julian stealthily hid something beneath the shoe rack before grabbing pajamas.

When the bathroom light flicked on, Evelyn rose to investigate.

Beneath the rack sat a designer handbag worth about $50,000.

Suddenly everything made sense.

Julian hadn't been socializing - he'd been working multiple jobs to buy Claire this gift.

When Julian emerged, his dirt-streaked face and grimy nails told the full story.

"Construction site?" Evelyn guessed.

Julian froze. Claire's straightforward nature had kept her oblivious, but Evelyn saw through him instantly.

"Tutoring by day, construction by night," Julian admitted quietly. "Wanted to get her something nice."

Evelyn's heart ached. She couldn't bring herself to say Claire hadn't carried such "entry-level" luxury items since college.

This bag represented Julian's entire world - his maximum effort.

"Is the work difficult?" Evelyn asked gently.

Julian smiled. "Every brick I laid, I thought of her. That made it easy."

Meanwhile at Bennett Manor, Claire moved like a shadow through the darkened halls.

Bella's faint whimpers guided her.

"Why is she crying? Did that nanny neglect her again?"

Creeping toward the nursery, Claire's pulse raced.

The sight that greeted her shattered expectations: Lucas, who should've been absent, cradling their daughter with surprising tenderness.

"Want to hold her?" Lucas asked casually, as if expecting her.

The moment Bella settled into Claire's arms, the crying stopped instantly.

"She's hungry," Lucas observed when Bella nuzzled Claire's chest.

Claire blinked in confusion until realization struck.

Noticing Lucas's practiced movements, Claire realized he'd been caring for Bella extensively.

As Claire prepared to nurse, she glared at Lucas. "Out!"

Lucas smirked. "My house. My rules. Besides..." His gaze trailed meaningfully before he retreated to the bathroom.

While nursing, Claire noticed the nursery had been meticulously set up in what was once their honeymoon suite.

"Has Lucas been parenting solo all this time?" The thought stunned her.

After barely five minutes, Lucas emerged shirtless, water droplets tracing his sculpted torso.

Claire hastily adjusted her blouse as Lucas casually remarked, "Breaking and entering without even a hello? I could've cooked you dinner."

Clutching Bella tighter, Claire declared, "I'm taking her tonight."

Then disaster struck - Bella spit up violently.

Panicked, Claire froze until Lucas expertly positioned Bella upright, patting her back until she burped contentedly.

"Babies need burping after feeding," Lucas explained gently. "Claire...it's not that I won't share custody. But you can't even care for yourself properly - how can you care for our daughter?"

As Bella drifted to sleep in her crib, Lucas made his offer: "Stay the night. Prove me wrong."