Chapter 18 - Claire and Mark Share a Quiet Moment Together
Back inside the quiet penthouse, the shattered glass had been cleared away by the night cleaning crew.
Mark poured two glasses of aged bourbon, handing one to Claire as they stood together by the terrace windows.
“To new beginnings and unvarnished truths,” Mark toasted softly, clinking his glass against hers.
“To surviving the monsters we thought we knew,” Claire replied with a warm, genuine smile.
The tension of the evening slowly melted away, replaced by a quiet, comforting understanding between old friends.
Mark realized that Claire had not only saved his company from ruin, she had saved his soul from a toxic prison.
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“What happens next for you, Claire?” Mark asked, looking into her eyes with renewed appreciation.
“I think I’m finally ready to stay in Manhattan for good,” she answered softly.
