CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE - The Secret Revealed

Mason nodded slowly. "What do you have in mind?" "How about a brunch?" Claire suggested. "Here, tomorrow. Something casual and intimate. It'll give you a chance to connect with my parents without the pressure of a fancy restaurant." Mason hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay. Yeah, let's do it." Claire smiled, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders. "Great. I'll take care of everything. You just need to be here, okay?" "I'll be here," Mason promised, pulling her into a hug. "I'm sorry, Claire. I'll make this right." As Claire nestled into his embrace, she allowed herself to hope that maybe, just maybe, things were starting to turn around. The next morning, Claire woke early, her mind already racing with brunch preparations. She had spent the previous evening planning the menu, wanting everything to be perfect. This was their chance to show her parents that she and Mason were solid, that they could weather this storm together. As she bustled around the kitchen, whipping