Semua Bab Divorced, Now Watch Me Rise!: Bab 21 - Bab 30

CLAIREI lost track of time. One minute I was updating the first sketch, refining the lines of the dramatic dress, and the next I was on the fourth design, my hand moving across the page like it had a mind of its own.The ideas just kept coming, flowing out of me in a way they hadn't in years.I added details I'd never considered before, small touches that made each piece feel more complete. A hidden pocket in the blazer. Subtle pleating in the jumpsuit that would catch the light. A detachable belt for the coat that could change the entire silhouette.Julian had moved to the couch at some point, his laptop balanced on his knees while he worked on whatever business he was always handling. He didn't interrupt me, didn't ask questions, just let me work in the comfortable silence that had settled between us.The clock on the wall read nine PM, then ten, then eleven. My eyes were getting heavy but I pushed through, determined to finish all five designs before I let myself stop.Just one mo

CLAIREI woke up before my alarm went off, my stomach already twisted into knots of nervous excitement. The meeting was at two PM, which meant I had hours to overthink everything, to second-guess my designs, to convince myself that this was all a terrible mistake.I rolled out of bed and walked to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face and staring at my reflection in the mirror."You can do this," I whispered to myself. "It's just a meeting."But it wasn't just a meeting and I knew it. This was my first real step toward building something that belonged to me, something that had nothing to do with Ethan or my father or anyone else who'd tried to define who I should be.This was mine. I got dressed carefully, pulling on black pants and a cream-colored blouse that made me feel put together without trying too hard. I dried my hair and put on minimal makeup, just enough to look polished and professional.When I walked out to the living room, Julian was already up, dressed in dark je

CLAIRE The contracts arrived via email the next morning while I was drinking my coffee and staring at my sketches for the hundredth time. My phone buzzed with the notification and I nearly dropped my mug when I saw Nina's name.Nina: Contracts attached! Review at your leisure and let me know if you have any questions. Also included timeline and fabric supplier contact info. Excited to get started!I opened the attachments with shaking hands, scrolling through pages of legal language that might as well have been written in another language. Julian walked out of his bedroom, already dressed for the day in dark jeans and a white button-down shirt."Morning," he said, heading straight for the coffee pot."Nina sent the contracts," I blurted out, holding up my phone like evidence.Julian turned around, coffee cup in hand, and raised an eyebrow. "That was fast," he said. "She must really want to work with you.""Can you look at them?" I asked, feeling suddenly overwhelmed. "I don't underst

CLAIREAfter dinner, I helped Julian clean up the kitchen, both of us moving around each other in comfortable silence."I'm going to head to bed," I said finally, drying my hands on a dish towel. "Today was good but I'm exhausted.""Get some rest," Julian replied, closing the dishwasher. "You earned it."I walked down the hallway to the guest room, my body tired but my mind still buzzing with thoughts about fabrics and timelines and all the work ahead of me.I changed into pajamas and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face, the routine automatic and soothing. When I looked up at the mirror, I paused.My reflection stared back at me, hair damp at the edges from washing my face, bare skin showing the exhaustion of the day. I turned slightly, looking at my profile in the mirror.My stomach was flat under my pajama shirt, the fabric hanging loose around my frame.Without thinking, I lifted the shirt and placed my hand on my bare stomach, my palm flat against the skin, the

CLAIREJulian was quiet for a moment, his gaze focused on the water."Because I know what it's like to grieve alone," he said finally. "And I wouldn't wish that on anyone, especially not you."I turned to look at him, surprised by the raw honesty in his voice."Your mother?" I asked gently.Julian nodded."When she died, everyone in the family acted like it was just an unfortunate event," he said, his voice tight. "Like we should all just move on and not make a fuss. No one wanted to talk about it or acknowledge that it hurt.""That's terrible," I said softly."It was," Julian agreed. "So I learned to grieve alone, to hide it and pretend everything was fine even when it wasn't."He turned to look at me, his gray eyes serious."I don't want you to do that," he said. "I don't want you to feel like you have to hide your pain or pretend you're okay when you're not. Not with me."My heart did something strange in my chest, a flutter that had nothing to do with grief and everything to do wi