Claire returned home, stepping into the living room where her mother sat, leisurely enjoying a plate of fruit. Claire dropped her bag onto the floor and sank into the couch with a weary sigh. It had been a long, emotionally exhausting day, and her body was feeling the weight of it.
"Where have you been?" her mother asked, looking up with curiosity. There was a hint of concern in her tone as her eyes scanned her daughter's face.
"I was at Henry's house," Claire replied, trying to keep her voice steady despite the tension she could already sense building in the room. Her mother's eyes widened in surprise.
"You went to his house? Why?" Her mother's tone was edged with disbelief.
Claire met her gaze, her own expression firm. "I went to talk to Chantel. I asked her to convince Henry to drop the charges against Andrew."
The effect of her words was immediate. Her mother's face tightened, and she sat up straighter in her chair. "Why on earth would you do that? Lower yourself to beg Chantel? Are you out of your mind?" Her voice grew sharper, a mix of anger and frustration. "You know she'll just see that as some kind of victory."
"Calm down, Mom," Claire said, her voice steady and controlled, despite her mother's outburst. "I know exactly what I'm doing. Do you really think I'd just go and beg her without having a plan?" There was a spark of determination in her eyes as she spoke, her resolve evident.
Her mother's expression shifted, her skepticism clear as she asked, "What kind of plan do you have?"
Claire's lips curved into a faint smile. "Just watch and see, Mom. You'll find out soon enough."
For a moment, her mother was silent, considering her daughter's words. Then she leaned in closer, lowering her voice. "If she's the one standing in our way, we can find a way to get rid of her."
Claire shook her head. "It's not that simple, Mom. If we try to get Chantel out of the picture too soon, it will only make things worse for us. Andrew and I would immediately become the prime suspects. We can't afford that kind of attention right now. We have to approach this carefully."
Her mother frowned, her mind visibly working to process the situation. After a moment, she changed the subject. "By the way, your dad called earlier. He said he was planning to come to California for a meeting. But I told him not to bother. I'll be attending the meeting for him, so he won't be coming after all."
"Why don't you want Dad in California?" Claire asked, puzzled by her mother's decision.
Her mother's gaze darkened. "It seems you don't think as far ahead as I do. Remember when Chantel asked about your father? If he comes here, she might run into him, and if she does, she'll find out the truth—that I was the one who threw her out of our house."
Claire nodded slowly, understanding the implications. "You're right, Mom. It's better if he stays away for now." Her tone softened as she added, "I've found a new house for us, and I'm planning to move tomorrow."
Her mother glanced at her, a sad expression crossing her face. "And what about me?" she asked quietly.
"You don't need to worry," Claire reassured her, standing up from the couch. "You can come with me to the new house in California, or you can go back to Washington. It's up to you."
With that, she turned and headed upstairs, leaving her mother to sit alone with her thoughts.
Meanwhile, in another part of town, Chantel was in her children's room. The nanny was there, keeping a watchful eye on the little ones as they played on the floor. Chantel sat on the edge of the bed, her heart warmed as she watched her children laugh and play together.
"Nanny," she said softly, "please dress them nicely. I want to take them out to the garden. It's been too long since we all had some time outside together."
The nanny nodded with a smile, gathering the children's clothes and preparing them for the outing. Just as she was helping the youngest child into a jacket, Henry appeared in the doorway.
Chantel looked up, her face lighting up at the sight of him. "Henry," she greeted him warmly, "I was thinking about taking the kids to the garden. Would you like to come with us?"
Henry's smile grew as he stepped further into the room. "That sounds like a great idea. You've had such a stressful day—you need a break. Some fresh air and a bit of fun will be good for you."
Chantel nodded, the weight of the day beginning to lift. As she reached for her son's hand, she glanced at Henry, feeling a sense of comfort at his presence.
Back at Andrew's house, Claire and her mother were getting ready to leave. The maids were outside, loading their luggage into the car. Claire's mother stood by the front door, looking forlorn as she watched the bags being packed into the trunk. But Claire, on the other hand, felt a mix of happiness and relief. She stepped out of the house without looking back, eager to start fresh. She climbed into the back seat of the car and settled in next to her mother.
As the car pulled away from the house, Claire looked out the window. She felt a sense of freedom, as if she was finally leaving behind a life that had weighed her down for too long. Her mother watched her closely, noticing the look of determination on her daughter's face.
"Claire," her mother said after a while, "do you really think this is the right choice? Are you sure this is the path you want to take?"
Claire turned to face her. "Yes, Mom," she replied without hesitation. "There's no better choice than this. I'm completely sure I'm doing the right thing."
Her mother's gaze sharpened. "And is this still about Henry?" she asked, her voice cautious.
"It's partly about Henry," Claire admitted. "But it's also about the children. They need to be with me."
Her mother frowned. "It won't be easy, you know. Andrew wants the kids too. The only way it would be straightforward is if you stayed with him and fought for custody together."
Claire's expression hardened. "Please, Mom. Stop bringing up Andrew. I'm tired of hearing his name. I'm not going back to him, not after everything he's done. I'll make sure he ends up in jail if I have to."
"And what if your father finds out what you're planning?" her mother asked, her concern deepening.
"He'll find out eventually," Claire answered, a trace of bitterness in her voice. "But it's not my fault. Andrew was the one who cheated, and he didn't even try to hide it."
Her mother sighed. "I just hope you're prepared for what happens next," she said, her voice heavy with worry. "Even if Henry doesn't end up with Chantel, there's no guarantee he'll choose you. He's never shown any interest in you beyond friendship."
Claire's eyes flashed with anger. "I won't let Chantel have the man I want. Henry belongs with me, and I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen. He will be mine, and so will the kids."
Her mother's voice dropped to a whisper. "Right now, our priority should be to get Chantel out of the picture. She's become a problem, especially now that she's with Henry."
The car continued down the road, speeding toward a new chapter in their lives. Claire felt a mix of excitement and fear about what was to come, but she was determined to push forward. She glanced at her mother, who seemed lost in thought, and then looked back out the window. The future was uncertain, but one thing was clear: she would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.
As the car moved further away from the house, Claire's mother turned to her and said, "Are you sure you're ready for this, Claire?"
Without a moment's hesitation, Claire answered, "Absolutely, Mom. There's no turning back now."
Her mother's eyes held hers for a long moment before she replied, "Alright, then. Let's see how far you're willing to go."