His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 140

**Chapter 140**

**Claire’s POV**

As Elijah and I stepped over the threshold of our home, my thoughts were still swirling with the unexpected events of the day at the art studio. The brisk air from outside clung to my skin like an unwelcome reminder of the world beyond our door, but once we crossed into the warmth of our house, it felt as if a cozy blanket had wrapped around me, soothing my frayed nerves and inviting me to relax.

That afternoon had been a revelation. Jessica and I had actually managed to collaborate without the tension that usually colored our interactions. I was taken aback by how well we worked together. She had arrived with her sketches meticulously prepared, her demeanor cautious yet hopeful, as if she feared that one misstep could send me running for the hills. I might have done just that earlier in the semester, but today was different. Today, I chose to let her sit beside me, to share her pencils, and even to laugh when a smudge of charcoal streaked across her cheek. That laugh—oh, it was like a dam breaking; the tension I had been holding onto melted away.

As we slipped off our shoes in the hallway, I was suddenly overwhelmed by a familiar sensation—a bone-deep weariness that comes from juggling too many responsibilities at once. Between academic relay practices, art showcase preparations, and rehearsals for the Winter Festival performance, it felt like my life had been crammed into a single week. My mind was a whirlwind of tasks, leaving me breathless and longing for a moment of stillness.

Lost in thoughts about the colors Jessica wanted to incorporate into the showcase, I noticed the living room lights shining brighter than usual. There stood my mother, usually the epitome of calm and stability, bouncing around with a giddy energy that was almost contagious.

“Why is she smiling like that?” I asked Elijah, my curiosity piqued even before we were close enough for her to notice our arrival.

“I have no idea,” he replied quietly, lowering his voice as if to match the atmosphere. “But she looks like she just downed a bottle of sugar.”

Just then, my mom caught sight of us and turned with a grin that could light up the entire room, her excitement practically radiating from her.

“Oh good, you’re both home!” she exclaimed, her voice bubbling over with enthusiasm. “Come here!”

Elijah and I exchanged glances—his eyebrow arched in curiosity while mine knitted together in confusion. My mother rarely used that tone unless she had thrilling news to share or had discovered a new herbal tea she was eager to introduce us to.

“What’s going on?” I inquired, stepping closer, my heart beginning to race with anticipation.

Her enthusiasm was uncontainable.

“I’m pregnant.”

In that instant, everything inside me froze, as if time had come to a standstill.

Not in a dramatic way, not with a theatrical gasp, but rather, I simply… halted.

Pregnant.

The word echoed in my mind, and for a brief moment, I was certain my brain had short-circuited.

I blinked rapidly, hoping the word would rearrange itself into something more familiar, something simpler. But no, it remained right there, solid and undeniable.

“Mom,” I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper, “are you serious?”

She nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling with joy, her hands twisting together as if she could hardly contain her happiness. “Yes, sweetheart. The doctor confirmed it this afternoon, and everything looks good this time. Really good. They believe the complications from last time won’t happen again.”

Elijah exhaled softly beside me, the sound warm and gentle. He stepped forward first, wrapping her in a tender hug. That was Elijah for you—always stepping into responsibility before allowing emotions to surface.

I approached her slowly, feeling a swell of emotions rising in my chest. Fear, relief, hope—they were all intertwined, so tightly knotted that I couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began.

“I’m happy for you,” I whispered into her shoulder, my voice thick with emotion.

“I know,” she replied softly, running her fingers through my hair. “I can feel it.”

As I pulled back, Elijah’s hand brushed against my arm lightly, a reassuring gesture that reminded me he was right there beside me. My heart raced unexpectedly, a flutter I couldn’t quite control.

The evening transformed into a celebration that radiated warmth and strangeness, the kind only family gatherings could conjure. Ethan arrived home an hour later, announcing that he’d ordered “a quiet dinner.” Yet, in true Ethan fashion, his idea of quiet included three elaborate dishes, flickering candles, and a bottle of wine that my mother insisted she wouldn’t touch.

The house felt brighter, infused with the kind of good news that seeped into the very walls, lifting the spirits of everyone inside.

I should have stopped after my first glass of wine, but I was too caught up in the moment to heed that advice.

Ethan poured me a second glass, and I accepted it, unable to resist the sight of his beaming smile. Then Elijah handed me a third, mistakenly believing I had finished with the second.

By the time we reached dessert, my thoughts felt loose and warm, as if someone had transformed them into fluffy cotton candy.

When I attempted to stand, the room swayed around me, and I burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.

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