"Oh, no, it's not like that," Claire said quickly, her voice steady yet gentle. "If I'd come here to refuse, I wouldn't be standing here at all." She wasn't someone who would turn her back on kindness and loyalty, no matter the challenges ahead.
Mrs. Zeller froze for a moment, staring at Claire as if she couldn't quite believe what she'd heard. Then, as realization dawned, her eyes lit up, and she clasped Claire's hands tightly. "Claire, does this mean… you're agreeing to this arrangement?" Her voice wavered, full of hope and barely concealed emotion.
Claire's cheeks flushed softly, her hesitation melting away in the warmth of Mrs. Zeller's sincerity. She nodded, a small yet resolute movement that carried the weight of her decision. The doubts that had clouded her mind before coming here had inexplicably faded after meeting Lucas in person. Something about him—his quiet strength, his guarded demeanor—had stirred a determination within her to stay, to at least try.
"Oh, wonderful! I'm so, so happy!" Mrs. Zeller cried, pulling Claire into a warm embrace. Her joy radiated like sunlight, enveloping them both. But even as her laughter filled the room, a flicker of worry crept into her eyes. The shadow of Lucas's condition lingered in the back of her mind, threatening to tarnish this moment of happiness. She hadn't fully explained the details in her letter to Claire, and the thought of her changing her mind upon learning the truth gnawed at her.
Mrs. Zeller's arms tightened briefly around Claire before she pulled back, her expression now tinged with seriousness. "Claire, there's something I need to be honest about," she said, her voice quieter now, almost hesitant.
Claire tilted her head, noticing the sudden shift in her demeanor. "Hmm? What is it?"
Mrs. Zeller hesitated, her lips parting as if to speak before closing again. Finally, after a moment of deliberation, she met Claire's gaze and spoke. "In the letter, I mentioned wanting you to marry into the Zeller family, but I didn't tell you everything. The truth is… Lucas has a condition." She paused, struggling to find the right words, her hands clasping each other tightly.
Claire leaned forward slightly, her full attention on Mrs. Zeller.
"His body…" Mrs. Zeller's voice faltered before she finally forced the words out. "It has a *disability.*" Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she continued. "There was an incident… a terrible one. It left Lucas with permanent limitations. It's not easy for him, Claire, and I…" She trailed off, unable to finish, her anguish clear.
The sorrow etched across Mrs. Zeller's face pierced Claire's heart. The pain of a mother forced to confront her child's suffering was something Claire couldn't ignore. It reminded her of her own father, who had always done everything in his power to shield her from hardship, even at his own expense.
Without hesitation, Claire reached out and took Mrs. Zeller's hands in hers, squeezing them gently. "Mom, don't worry," she said softly, the word "Mom" slipping naturally from her lips for the first time. "If I've agreed to marry Lucas, then nothing about him will make me leave. I promise you—I won't walk away from him or from you and Dad."
Mrs. Zeller's breath caught, her eyes widening in surprise. Then, as Claire's words sank in, her face crumpled with emotion. Tears spilled freely down her cheeks, but they were tears of relief, of gratitude. "Oh, Claire…" she whispered, her voice breaking. She tried to say more, but her words failed her as she pulled Claire into another embrace, holding her as if she were a lifeline.
The sound of a clearing throat interrupted the moment. Both women turned to see Mr. Zeller standing in the doorway, his eyebrows raised in mild amusement. "What's this? A flood warning?" he quipped, though the warmth in his tone betrayed his fondness.
Mrs. Zeller sniffled, hastily wiping her tears before shooting him a mock glare. "Can't you say something nice to cheer up our lovely daughter-in-law?" she teased.
Claire blushed furiously at the title, her cheeks turning a deep shade of pink as she ducked her head shyly. "Mom…" she murmured, her voice barely audible as she buried her face against Mrs. Zeller's shoulder.
Mrs. Zeller laughed, a light, tinkling sound that chased away the lingering heaviness in the room. "Oh, how adorable! Look, even our Claire is embarrassed!" she said, her joy evident.
Mr. Zeller chuckled softly, though his gaze lingered on Claire for a moment longer. He gave a small nod, as if silently welcoming her into their family, before stepping aside to let the women continue their conversation.
Mrs. Zeller turned to Claire, her smile warm. "You've had a long day, dear. Let me show you to your room so you can rest."
Claire nodded gratefully and followed her upstairs.
"Since I haven't prepared the other rooms yet, you can sleep here tonight," Mrs. Zeller said, pushing open the door to a spacious, elegantly decorated bedroom. The furnishings were refined, with deep, earthy tones and clean lines—a distinctly masculine style. Her grin widened, though there was a hint of nervousness behind it.
Claire hesitated at the doorway, glancing around. "Mom, isn't this different from the room I woke up in earlier?" she asked, noting the contrast in decor.
Mrs. Zeller stiffened ever so slightly, her hand slipping from the doorframe. "Oh, well, I… I accidentally locked the other room earlier," she said quickly, her voice light but slightly strained. "You can just sleep here tonight. It's no trouble at all!"
Though Claire noticed the faint awkwardness in her tone, she decided not to press further. "Alright, then. Thank you."
Mrs. Zeller beamed. "Get some rest, dear. I'll make you a lovely breakfast tomorrow morning." With a final affectionate smile, she slipped out of the room, leaving Claire alone to ponder the unexpected turn her life was taking.