Claiming His Heart (English Version)

Chapter 33

Drake didn’t know whether to be annoyed, exasperated, or outright furious. No matter how many words he flung at the situation, his mother refused to listen, as if his protests were nothing more than background noise. What irritated him even more was watching Lucy, calm and composed, charm his mother effortlessly. It was almost comical, the way the two of them, both strong-willed, stubborn, and just a little eccentric, seemed to find an instant understanding in each other. Drake pinched the bridge of his nose, silently pleading for backup from his father, only to find the older man watching the scene with a bemused sigh.

He could hardly believe it: his parents, so easily convinced by a misunderstanding, while he, the supposed adult in the room, was left scrambling for explanations that fell on deaf ears.

“Lucy, tell me the truth. Do you have feelings for my son?” his mother asked suddenly, her voice sharp but tinged with curiosity.

Lucy smiled sweetly, clasping her hands together, and for a moment, Drake could swear her eyes twinkled mischievously as she looked at him.

“Not just feelings, Mama… I’m in love with him,” she said, calm, confident, and entirely sincere.

Drake’s jaw dropped. He nearly toppled off his seat, the words echoing in his head.

“Hey! Don’t call her Mama! She’s not your mom!” he snapped, his voice cracking slightly from both shock and indignation.

“Your mother said it’s okay. Besides, she’s going to marry you soon, so technically she will become Mama eventually. So why delay it? Right, Mama?” Lucy replied, her tone gentle, teasing, yet impossibly persuasive.

Drake’s eyes darted between Lucy and his mother, who was laughing heartily at the exchange. His father chuckled softly, shaking his head in amusement. Drake felt his blood pressure rise; he had no words left to argue against the tide of their combined charm.

“You know what, Lucy? You’re wonderful. I like you, and you can call me Mama. Welcome to our family, daughter-in-law,” his mother declared warmly, her arms crossed but her expression softening.

Drake’s mind reeled. He wanted to grab her arm and shake her, scream, plead... anything to make her see reason. But it was hopeless.

“Mom! Don’t let this crazy woman manipulate you! This is nonsense! I don’t want it!” he shouted, voice raising in desperation.

“Your mother’s right, son. I like her too. You two are perfect for each other. There’s chemistry, and I can see the strong connection between you,” his father added, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Lucy grinned, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “And it’s not just chemistry, Papa! There’s biology and physics too!”

Drake slammed a hand to his forehead, groaning. His brain felt like it was about to explode.

“Fine, do whatever you want. I’m going upstairs to rest,” he muttered, turning sharply and storming off before anyone could respond. He collapsed onto his bed, wrapping himself in a blanket. The lingering dizziness reminded him that, despite the emotional chaos, he still needed to rest.

Meanwhile, Lucy stayed behind with his parents. They exchanged amused glances, their laughter mingling with the faint hum of the house settling after the commotion. His mother shook her head, letting out a soft chuckle.

“Your son really is stubborn, hon,” Mrs. Anderson said warmly. “But I’m so glad someone like you has entered his life. I’ve always wanted a woman to shake things up for him, to make him smile again.”

Lucy’s eyes softened, touched by the sincerity in her mother-in-law-to-be’s words. “He always teases, but he’s harmless. And yes, I joined your fun too, Auntie,” she said lightly, trying to ease the tension.

“No worries. You can call me Mama if you want. I like you for my son. I hope you’re the one to bring happiness back to his life. I want him smiling, laughing, and in love again. I hope it’s you, Lucy,” Mrs. Anderson added, her tone gentle but filled with hope.

“That’s exactly what I hope too, Auntie. And soon enough, I’ll call you Mama once I’ve won his heart,” Lucy replied, her voice playful but earnest, full of determination and warmth.

“Don’t worry, Lucy. You have our blessing. I want my son back. The happy son who doesn’t hide in the shadows of the past. I know there’s a reason you two met. Whatever it is, I hope it helps heal his heart,” Mr. Anderson said, leaning back slightly, his expression contemplative.

Lucy had been curious about Drake parents’ cryptic remarks. If they were right, there were past wounds in his heart that hadn’t fully healed. It made sense why he had been so hesitant to let himself love again, to let anyone close.

She took a deep breath, gathering courage. “Auntie, Uncle… can you tell me about his past? Why is he so afraid of commitment? Why is he reluctant to love again?” she asked, voice quiet but earnest, revealing a rare vulnerability.

They exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them. His mother nodded.

“We’ll tell you, but please don’t share this with our son. I don’t want to interfere, but I know you’re the only one who can help heal the wound in his heart,” she said, glancing at Lucy. Lucy nodded solemnly, her expression focused and attentive.

“My son had a girlfriend once. Her name was Thalia. They had a perfect relationship. We could see the love between them clearly, it was obvious he was happy with her. They met in college, introduced by a friend, and became inseparable. Their bond was unbreakable, even after graduation. He courted her, and eventually, they became a couple. Their relationship was full of happiness, surprises, and excitement. We always saw our son smiling, asking his dad for ways to make Thalia happy,” Mrs. Anderson recounted, her voice soft but steady.

Lucy listened, her heart tightening. A pang of insecurity gnawed at her. Could she ever bring the same kind of joy to him? Could she be enough?

Mrs. Anderson’s voice grew heavier. “On their fifth anniversary, something unexpected happened… something that shook all of us. That was the moment our world started to collapse… Thalia… she…” Her voice faltered, she covered her face, shaking her head. Mr. Anderson gently rubbed her back, offering silent support.

“Thalia was shot. At the restaurant where they celebrated, a group of men caused chaos. Everyone panicked. Our son tried to protect her, pleading with the men not to hurt anyone. But they didn’t listen. Fear gripped everyone. One man grabbed an elderly person and aimed a g*n at him. Our son acted immediately to save the man, and the attacker turned the g*n on him. Before he could fire, Thalia stepped in front of him. The shot rang out, and Thalia collapsed, bleeding…”

Lucy’s eyes widened in shock. Her breath hitched. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. Drake had lost Thalia because she had saved him, her courage costing her life. The weight of the story pressed down on her, her knees weakening slightly as she absorbed the enormity of the sacrifice.

Step by step, she felt the story’s gravity settle over her, the image of a heroine giving her life for the man she loved etching itself painfully in her mind. She clenched her hands, silent tears forming, realizing the depth of the loss that had shaped Drake’s heart, and the weight of the trust he would place in her to help him heal.