CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-ONE - The Romantic Getaway

"I love you too," Mason replied, wrapping his arms around her. "Always." As Claire drifted off to sleep that night, she felt a sense of peace that had eluded her for months. The road ahead was still uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, that uncertainty felt exciting rather than frightening. The next morning, Claire woke up with a renewed sense of purpose. She spent the day making plans, researching potential travel destinations, and looking into volunteer opportunities that aligned with her interests. As she worked, she felt a familiar spark of excitement, a feeling she had feared she might never experience again in the wake of the embezzlement scandal. Later that week, Claire had another therapy session with Dr. Winters. As she settled into the now-familiar armchair, she felt a sense of calm that had been absent in her earlier visits. "You seem different today, Claire," Dr. Winters observed, a gentle smile on her face. "More at peace." Claire nodded, returning the s