93. The Threat.

[Claire]
I had no idea why I told him I was going to marry Jake, I just wanted to hurt him, it seemed to him that he had won after we had sex in the bathroom stall, and oh my, was it amazing.
I watched as his eyes froze over and his features hardened.
"Then I'm taking my child when he's born." Fear gripped my heart immediately after he uttered those words.
"What, I'm his mother, you can't do that, I'll, I'll f-fight you in court." My voice shook as I spoke.
"Oh really!" He took a step back from me and one of his eyebrows shot up. "And you think you would win." He smirked, looking at me menacingly.
"Yes, the court will grant me favor seeing as I'm the child's mother." I decided not to cower and spoke up bravely.
"You were always so naive, Elskede." He moved closer to me and cupped my face in his arms. "I'm a Prince, the Crown Prince of Denmark and that child is the nation's heir, you still think you'd be granted custody?"
"Get away from me." I slapped his hand from my face and moved back as the realization of my situation hit me.
No matter how rich and influential my father was, Luke was more, he was right, the child was heir to such an important monarchy, there was no way I would be granted custody.
Luke was going to take my baby from me.
"Hey, it's not going to come to that, I wouldn't want my child to grow up without a mother, even if we are not together."
I did not even realize that I was crying and trembling badly until Luke spoke and pulled me into his arms.
"Please stop crying, I'd never take our child from you, please don't cry."
"You would, you just said you would." I cried harder.
"I won't, I promise, I want the three of us to be a family so badly but if you don't want that, I won't pressure you, just please return back to Denmark with me." He begged.
"Luke." I started but he shushed me.
"You have a life there, Claire, even before me and I'm sure even after your mother, I know you love it there and I'd help you, I'd give you what you want, anything."
"I need to think about it." I pulled out of his embrace and wiped my eyes clean.
"Claire, please be reasonable."
"I said I'd think about it." I snapped at him and he frowned, visibly shocked by my outburst.
"You have till tomorrow, I leave for Denmark early next tomorrow, I'd like you to have made up your mind before then." He said, put his hands into his pocket, and walked away.
I stood there in front of the door and watched as he drove away, I felt very weak as he left and my legs couldn't support me, I would have fallen to the ground but the door opened and my mother was there to break my fall.
"I'll make you some tea." She said after helping me inside.
"Thanks, mother."
"What are you going to do?" My father asked me.
"You heard everything?" I asked him.
"Yes, you guys were not exactly quiet." He said and I chuckled.
"Gossip," I muttered, he heard me and he laughed.
"Who is he to threaten her." My mother came back with the tea and gave it to me.
"Don't compound the issue, the issue is already big as it is." My father frowned at my mother.
"I don't want you to go anywhere." She ignored my father and turned to me.
"That child is more than just a child, he's life is already a political debate before he is even born and he already holds so much power."
"What would you have me do then father?" I frowned at him.
"I'd have you look after your child, place his interests above everything." He said and then turned to my mother. "You know that the child is the most important to consider here."
"He's right." My mother sighed. "The child is the most important person here."
"So you will have me go with him?" I asked them both."
"Yes." My father said but my mother just nodded.
"I don't understand."
"You need to protect your child, the palace, royal family, it's ruled by politics and politics by blood, I know that he lied to you and what he did was wrong but he loves you and you love him, you're also having a child together." My father advised.
"It will be better if you are in a position where you can look after your child all the time." My mother added.
"I'm tired, I'd like to get some rest, thank you for everything." I stood up and headed to my room without looking back.
It wasn't that I was upset at them, no, I was upset that they were right and also because this was not the life I'd chosen.
I thought Jean was an ordinary man, someone I could have an ordinary and simple life with, now I find out that he's a Prince and worse I'm expecting his child.
I needed to talk to Jake, I'd gotten his hopes up unnecessarily and I needed to kill them off, there was no way I could have anything to do with him, ever.
I'd return to Denmark with Luke, he was right, I did love Denmark and my life there but I'd be damned if I made things easy for him.
***
"You're going into work today?" My father asked as I descended the stairs.
"Yes, I have to tie up a few loose ends," I told him and he nodded.
"Come have breakfast." My mother said, coming out of the kitchen.
"I'm having breakfast with a friend, I'll see you later. Dad, will I be seeing you at the office today?" I asked.
"No, I'm staying in today." He said and I nodded.
I felt guilty as I walked out to my car, Jake had been so ecstatic when I called him and invited him for breakfast.
"Hello, Miss Hamilton, your guest is already here." The waiter led me to a table as soon as I entered the restaurant.
"You're here early." I smiled at Jake as the water opened my chair for me.
"Yes, you said you wanted to talk and I just wanted to get here on time." He smiled at me and I nodded.
"I'm so sorry." I looked down at my hands as I spoke.
"Sorry for what?"
"I shouldn't have used you like that."
"It doesn't matter, I'm not upset, I was surprised but then a bit happy too."
"That's exactly what I'm sorry for, I didn't mean it."
"Why don't we order something to eat first, we can talk about all of that later." He said Ignoring what I was saying.
"Jake," I called him softly and looked at him. "You're a great friend and I—"
"It's Luke isn't it?" He looked hurt as he asked me. "He has your heart doesn't he?"
"Yes." I sighed and looked away from him, I didn't want to see the hurt in his eyes.
I expected to leave, yell or do something else, but I never expected what he did.
He burst out laughing and I froze, I had no idea how to react.
"That Luke, he was always the best at everything and he had the best of everything, no matter how hard I tried to beat him, he always won, and even now, he's won again."
"Jake, I'm sorry, I don't understand—"
"It doesn't matter Claire, if you're trying to apologize, you don't need to, it's alright, I get it, if he ever treats you bad, let me know and I'll set him straight, I hope this doesn't mean that we can't be friends anymore."
"No, of course not, I value your friendship deeply." I smiled at him.
"I'm glad if you don't mind me asking, why did you pretend not to know Luke and why did he pretend not to know you too, it's not like him."
"We had a huge fight." I sighed. "It's all just really complicated."
"Love usually is." He said and ordered some food for himself and me.
"Thank you." I thanked him for the order.
"No problem, we have a lot to discuss about the company though." He said, changing the subject.
"I'm afraid you'll have to consult with my father on that."
"Why, I thought you said we'd remain friends?" He asked, sadly.
"No, yes, that's not what I mean, I'm leaving America."
"When, why?"
"Luke," I replied and he nodded.
"He lives in Denmark, I heard he's made it big there, I suppose, seeing as he's the chairman of our alumni committee."
Right, not many people knew that Luke was a Prince.
"Yeah, I also have a life there."
***
"I told you that I'm leaving tomorrow, have you made up your mind yet?" Luke asked me, he'd come to meet me at the office.
"Yes."
"Yes, what?" He asked.
"I'll go back to Denmark with you," I replied and he sighed out of relief, his expression softened and he even beamed at me.
"That's amazing." He rushed to me and tried to hug me but I stopped him.
"But that doesn't mean we're back together."