CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY - Reaffirming Their Commitment

In the days that followed, they slowly adjusted to their life without Sofia. There were moments of sadness, of course, but also a renewed appreciation for each other and the life they had built together. One evening, as they sat on their balcony watching the sun set over San Francisco Bay, Mason turned to Claire, a soft smile on his face. "You know," he said, "I never properly thanked you." Claire raised an eyebrow. "For what?" "For everything. For standing by me through all of this. For uncovering the truth about Elena. For being so amazing with Sofia." He paused, his eyes shining with emotion. "I don't know if I could have gotten through this without you." Claire leaned in, kissing him softly. "You don't have to thank me, Mason. We're partners, remember? In everything." Mason nodded, pulling her close. "Partners. I like the sound of that." The warm California sun filtered through the gauzy curtains of their Los Angeles penthouse as Claire and Mason stumbled through the door, l