CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWO - The New City Life

As the days turned into weeks, they fell into a routine. Claire threw herself into her new role, determined to prove herself. Mason worked tirelessly to rebuild Universe X, dealing with the lingering effects of the previous lawsuit. Their busy schedules began to take a toll. Dinners together became less frequent, replaced by quick texts and hurried kisses goodbye in the morning. One evening, as Claire microwaved a sad-looking TV dinner, she realized she couldn't remember the last time they'd had a proper conversation. Just then, Mason burst through the door, looking harried. "Sorry I'm late. Conference call ran over." Claire forced a smile. "No worries. I was just about to eat. Want me to heat something up for you?" Mason shook his head, already heading for his home office. "No time. Got a deadline to meet." Claire watched him go, a knot forming in her stomach. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. The next day, they attended a networking event together. It was the first time i