Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 351

Breaking Point 351

Chapter 351

Claire’s POV

I smoothed my dress as I reentered the conference room, channeling every ounce of grace I’d learned at finishing school.

Lucas and Sophia were reviewing documents while Richard took notes, all three absorbed in their work.

“I’m so sorry to interrupt,” I said brightly. “But I’m absolutely dying for coffee. Would anyone else like some? There’s a lovely café just

downstairs.”

Lucas glanced up. “I’m fine.”

“I’ll take one,” Richard said. “Black, two sugars.”

Sophia hesitated, then shook her head. “No, thank you.”

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“Oh, come on,” I insisted, moving closer to her. “You look exhausted, Sophia. A little caffeine might help.” I turned to Lucas. “Darling, what

about you? I know how you take yours.”

He sighed. “Fine. The usual.”

I beamed. “Perfect. I’ll be right back.”

The café downstairs was busy enough that no one would pay attention to me. I ordered four coffees–Lucas’s with cream, Richard’s black

with two sugars, and two plain blacks for Sophia and myself.

I made a quick stop at the pharmacy two blocks away. The pharmacist barely looked at me when I asked for herbal supplements for

“women’s wellness.” I selected fast–acting capsules that dissolved quickly in liquid and paid cash.

In a narrow alley beside the building, I crushed two capsules between my fingers, letting the powder fall into one of the black coffees. I

stirred it with a plastic stick, watching the white specks disappear completely.

Then I headed back inside.

Halfway across the lobby, I stumbled deliberately, letting out a sharp cry as my ankle twisted. The coffee carrier tilted dangerously, but I

caught it just in time, sloshing hot liquid over my hand.

“Damn it, I hissed, loud enough for the security guard to hear.

He rushed over. ‘Mademoiselle, are you all right?”

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Chapter 351

“I’m fine,” I said, wincing. “Just clumsy. These heels…”

Back in the conference room, I set the coffee carrier on the table with a sigh.

“I’m so sorry that took so long,” I said, distributing the cups. “There was a line, and then I nearly dropped everything.”

I handed Richard his coffee, then placed Lucas’s in front of him. The two plain blacks sat side by side–one laced, one clean.

Sophia was seated next to Richard now, leaning toward him as they discussed something on his tablet. She looked pale, her jaw tight.

I picked up the drugged coffee and held it out to her. “Here you go, Sophia. You really do look like you need this.”

She glanced at it, then shook her head. “I’m fine, thank you.”

“Are you sure?” I pressed, setting it down in front of her anyway. “You’ve been working so hard. Lucas always says you push yourself too

much.”

Her eyes flicked to Lucas, then back to the coffee. “I said I’m fine.”

I sat down next to Lucas, letting my hand rest on his arm. “You know,” I said thoughtfully, “I’ve noticed Sophia refuses a lot of things.

Coffee, wine at dinner last night… It’s almost like she’s avoiding something.”

Sophia’s face went blank.

“Maybe she’s just particular, but I remember she could drink coffee before,” Lucas said.

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“Or maybe,” I continued innocently, “she’s one of those people who can’t handle caffeine. My cousin was like that–even a sip would make her jittery and sick.” I paused. “Of course, my cousin was pregnant at the time. But I’m sure that’s not the case here.”

Sophia’s hand tightened around her pen.

Richard looked between us, clearly uncomfortable.

I leaned forward, my smile warm but my eyes sharp. “Sophia, if you’re not feeling well, you really should take care of yourself. Drink the

coffee. It’ll help.

She stared at the cup.

“Unless, I added softly, “there’s a reason you can’t?”

The challenge hung in the air. Refuse, and I’d keep pushing, keep implying, keep making Richard and Lucas wonder. Drink, and she d

prove me wrong.

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Chapter 351

Her jaw set. She reached for the cup, her fingers wrapping around it slowly.

“Thank you, Claire,‘ she said tightly. “How thoughtful.”

She brought it to her lips and took a long sip.

I watched her swallow, satisfaction blooming in my chest.

Got you.

I let a few minutes pass, chatting with Lucas about our evening plans while Richard and Sophia returned to their work. Sophia took

another sip of coffee, then set it down, her cheeks beginning to flush slightly.

Now for the next part.

I shifted in my seat, letting out a small hiss of pain.

Lucas glanced at me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I said quickly, but I let my hand drift to my ankle. “I just twisted it when I almost dropped the coffee. It’s fine.”

“Let me see.”

“Lucas, really, I’m-”

“Claire. His voice was firm. “Let me see.”

I sighed and lifted my foot slightly. It wasn’t swollen, but I winced when he pressed against it.

‘It’s not too bad,” he said, “but you should ice it.”

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Richard looked up. “There’s a first aid station on the ground floor. Perhaps you should take her down, Mr. Reynolds. We can continue this

later.

Lucas hesitated, his gaze flicking to Sophia and Richard.

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