Fresh Start
345 Words
As Anne drove away from the Martin Group, she couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast in Claire’s demeanor from how she had looked that morning.
"What happened?" Anne asked, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.
"I broke off the engagement," Claire replied softly, staring out the window.
Anne sighed. "You should have done that ages ago. Erickson doesn’t love you—he loves your sister." She paused before adding, "I'm sorry. I shouldn’t have said that, but..."
"It’s okay. I know," Claire admitted, her voice steady yet tinged with sadness. "Actually, the only reason I wanted to marry him was to make Dad proud. He always admired Erickson, and I thought making him Dad's son-in-law would benefit the company, maybe even make Dad see me differently... maybe proud." Her fingers fidgeted in her lap as she spoke, betraying her inner turmoil.
Anne gave her a supportive smile. "Claire, you’re smart, and I’ve always known that. I just couldn’t understand why you were so stuck on a guy who clearly didn’t appreciate you."
"I don’t know. I guess I thought it was what I had to do," Claire murmured.
"Your work is already proof enough that you have a bright future. You don’t need to keep living in your sister’s shadow," Anne replied, trying to lift Claire’s spirits. "How about this? I’ll cancel all your appointments for today, and we’ll head to the mall for a makeover. You’ve done more than enough for the company, and one afternoon off won’t hurt."
"But..." Claire began to protest.
"No buts!" Anne cut in firmly. "Besides, who knows what tricks your sister is pulling at the company right now to try and steal the project from you. You need a break—and a fresh start."
Claire hesitated for a moment, her mind replaying the exhausting day and the confrontation with Erickson. After a few moments, she sighed and nodded, unwilling to face Samantha just yet.
"Alright," Claire finally agreed, her voice soft but resolute.
With a smile, Anne reversed the car, heading excitedly toward the mall.
- Writer
