CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND ELEVEN - SIGNS OF A SHADOW

Claire leaned back on the plush sofa, scrolling through the photos on her phone. Her best friend, Vanessa, sat beside her, peering over her shoulder with a grin. "Oh my god, look at Henry's face!" Vanessa exclaimed, pointing at a particularly adorable shot of the birthday boy covered in cake frosting. Claire laughed, her eyes crinkling with joy. "I know, right? He was determined to eat that entire cake by himself." "He's definitely got Mason's appetite," Vanessa teased, nudging Claire playfully. "And my stubbornness," Claire added with a wink. She swiped to the next photo, showing Mason holding Henry high in the air, both of their faces lit up with laughter. "You guys look so happy," Vanessa said softly, a hint of envy in her voice. Claire's smile softened. "We are. It's been a crazy journey, but I wouldn't change a thing." Just then, Claire's phone buzzed with a new message. She tapped it open, expecting another birthday wish from a relative. Her breath caught in her throat as