The days following Robert’s visit were a blur of confusion and heartache for Claire. She’d trusted John, relied on him to guide her through the chaos of her life, and now everything felt like a lie. Each time she thought about his silence and about the damning documents Robert had delivered, the betrayal felt sharper, cutting into her like shards of ice.
She buried herself in her tasks, refusing to let herself dwell on the pain. Between her shifts at the office and her visits to the hospital, she barely had time to breathe, let alone process the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her. But no matter how much she tried to ignore it, John’s absence loomed over her like a storm cloud.
John, for his part, respected Claire’s request for space, but it was killing him. He wanted nothing more
