{A/N:} I am so sorry for not posting this chapter yesterday. I lost track of time and once I finally realized I didn't post, it was already 2 in the morning. So without further ado, I present chapter eighteen!

~~~

Lucas stood on the sidewalk, staring at his former wife. His brief conversation with Chloé eased his raging nerves which he thought had been solved. How wrong he was. There he stood in front of the succubus herself, his heart pounding in his chest. He wasn't going to let fear take control over his life anymore. He had to step up, if not for himself then for Elliot.

Before Eileen spoke, all the anxious feeling he had seemed to melt and change into anger. Lucas was beyond upset with her, his entire relationship was being manipulated since the very first day and he was through with it.

"Why did you leave?" The question caught Eileen off guard. She wasn't expecting Lucas to be so forward but powerful emotions could take its toll on someone.

"Why did you think everything would get better if you left? We have a child together, Eileen! We're married! We're supposed to tell each other our worries and help one another during stressful times." He finished.

Eileen let out a sigh and closed her eyes. "This doesn't qualify as stressful times."

Lucas scoffed at her response. "Well if this doesn't then I guess I don't know what does." He turned his gaze away while she looked up at him.

"Lucas... I don't want to leave."

He faced her again, bewilderment clear on his face.

"Then why are you!? You say you don't want to go but if you really meant it, then you wouldn't have! Everything you're saying is contradicting itself!"

Eileen stood up and stepped closer to the man she once loved. Even though she wouldn't like to admit it since she loved another, Eileen did love Lucas at one point but with the sudden obsession of Adrien Agreste taking over, she couldn't remember when that time was.

"Please Lucas, just calm down."

"Calm down?!" He scoffed again. "You of all people shouldn't be saying that... I'm not the one who's turning away from their family, you are... I just want to know why! When Elliot is old enough and asks where his mother is, I want to be able to tell him the truth and not sugar coat it."

"Maybe I'm leaving because I don't want to be here when everyone finds out!" Her voice was raised and her hazel eyes were narrowed, causing her glasses to fall down the bridge of her nose a bit.

"Find out what?" Lucas raised a brow, curious as to what she would say next, even if he didn't want to know deep down.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked away from his harsh gaze. "That I'm in love with Adrien..."

Lucas' eyes widened. Eileen actually admitted to her feelings and it made him physically sick. He had suspected for years that she had feelings for the blonde but finally hearing it come out of her mouth made him want to wither away into nothing.

Without a single word, Lucas turned around and began to walk towards his car. He was shocked to say the least and he didn't expect his heart to break any more than it already was. Eileen blinked the tears away and followed him.

"Lucas, wait!" She grabbed onto his arm in an attempt to stop him. He shook her off and continued to leave silently. As soon as he got into his car and slammed the door shut, his peripheral vision allowed him to see Eileen standing in the middle of the road, tears falling down her cheeks.

"You caused this..." He mumbled to himself and turned the ignition. Seconds later, Lucas had pulled out of the parking spot and drove off.

~~~

Chloé walked along the sidewalk, the letter in her hands. She decided to open it and while she continued on her way, tears spilled out of her blue eyes as they scanned over the words

Lucas is so sweet... he deserves someone who loves him just as much as he loves them... she thought to herself as she maintained her journey.

This letter would be the root of yet another problem for everyone and they had been through so much as it is. Chloé stopped suddenly and looked down at the folded piece of paper. Her hands trembled slightly as she examined it once again.

"I can't do that to them." She said softly, not intending for anyone to hear.

"Can't do what?"

Chloé jumped and spun around to see Kim. She blinked a few times before stuffing the note int her pocket

"Kim! I was just on my way to see you."

He raised a single brow. "Really? What for?"

Chloé swallowed the fear that threatened to climb up her throat and looked at him head on.

"Kim, I was such a fool on our first date. I thought you wouldn't like the real me if I opened up so... I pretended to be uninterested. It was a mistake because when you were walking away, I realized how much I really liked you and just as I was about to speak up, you were gone and I wish I could take that back. Even now I think back on it and curse myself for ruining a potentially great thing." She paused and looked down at her feet.

"I've never felt like that way about anyone before and I was... scared but now," Chloé glanced up and chewed on the inside of her lip. "I'm ready to admit it. Kim, I like you."

The pounding in her ears made her self-conscious. What if he could hear it and think she was bluffing about everything?

"Chloé, I... I don't know what to say." Kim shook his head and looked down.

The once hopeful blonde frowned as a figure behind the athlete appeared.

Alix.

"Oh..." Chloé pieced everything together and took a step back. "I-I'm sorry, I should've known."

Kim took a glance behind him and nodded. "Don't be. We recently started going out. We both wanted to wait until we were finished with school to pursue it."

Chloé flashed a fake smile even though she was screaming on the inside. "I'm... I'm happy for you both, you're good for one another."

Kim looked at Chloé again but before he could say anything, the blonde said her goodbyes and twirled around, leaving the couple alone.

~~~

The ride home seemed to pass by quickly and as he pulled into the apartment complex, a familiar vehicle made him stop in his tracks. Lucas had called the babysitter to watch Elliot and surely things were all right. Why else would he be there?

He parked in his normal spot and quickly jumped out, making sure no one was around to walk into the door of his car. Lucas trudged up the steps and there sat he sat on the bench beside Lucas' door.

"Ryan." He greeted the other who turned when his name was said.

His signature smirk appeared on his face as he stood up. "Lucas."

"Why are you here?" Surely Ryan knew that his sister had left, right? Maybe there's another reason that brings him here.

"We need to talk about my dear sister. She's gotten herself into quite the predicament."

Lucas narrowed his eyes. "First, I'm surprised you even know what that word means and second, Eileen and I are over. She left. Gone. Never coming back."

Ryan nodded. "I know that she told me."

"She... did?"

He nodded once again. "But I'm sure she gave you a completely different reason."

"Depends. What did she tell you?" Lucas crossed his arms. What the hell has Eileen done now?

"That she's pregnant."

His once narrow eyes had widened significantly. "Wait... that's why she left?"

Ryan snickered, clearly amused. "You're so oblivious, aren't you?"

"Well I did stay in a relationship with her for most of my life," Lucas mumbled.

"Eileen is pregnant with someone else's child. That's why she left not because of some feelings for Adrien."

~~~

{A/N:} Off topic, but my birthday was this past Sunday which is why I didn't update. I now have my own mini Eiffel Tower in my room!

Chapter nineteen: coming this Sunday

~miraculousduo♥️