CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN - The Business Unravels

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Mason standing alone in the living room, the weight of his words crushing down on him. The next morning, Mason woke to find Claire's side of the bed empty. He found her in the kitchen, nursing a cup of coffee, her eyes red-rimmed from a sleepless night. "Claire," he began, his voice soft. "About last night—" She held up a hand, cutting him off. "Not now, Mason. I can't... I can't do this right now." Before he could respond, his phone buzzed with an urgent message from the office. Another crisis, another fire to put out. He looked at Claire, torn between his personal life and his professional obligations. "Go," she said, not meeting his eyes. "Your company needs you." The words felt like a physical blow. Mason opened his mouth to protest, to explain, but the words wouldn't come. With a heavy heart, he grabbed his keys and headed for the door. As the days wore on, the rift between Mason and Claire grew wider. Victor, ever-present, con