CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THREE - Claire’s Suspicion

Mason looked at Claire, conflict written all over his face. "I should go see them. Explain everything." Claire stood, her legs unsteady. "Go. We'll... we'll talk later." As Mason left, Claire sank back onto the couch, allowing the tears she'd been holding back to fall freely. She'd never felt so alone. Over the next few weeks, Mason threw himself into getting to know Sofia. He took her to baseball games, helped her with her science projects, and even started teaching her the basics of coding. With each passing day, the bond between father and daughter grew stronger. Claire tried to be supportive, joining them on outings when she could and making an effort to connect with Sofia. But she couldn't shake the feeling that she was becoming an outsider in her own relationship. One evening, as Mason regaled her with stories of Sofia's latest achievements, Claire finally snapped. "It's always Sofia this, Sofia that," she said, her voice tight with frustration. "Do you even remember that I