Chapter Four

CLAIRE

Four years had passed since my world had shattered. Claire Darlington—the woman who had been humiliated, betrayed, and discarded—was gone. In her place stood Clara Everson, CEO of Erebos Pharmaceutical. Sharp, focused, unyielding. Every scar, every sleepless night, every moment of pain had carved her into someone who could survive… and even thrive. My company had grown from a modest lab into a powerhouse, and every achievement reminded me that I could exist on my own terms. That I could command my life, and no one could take that away.

And yet… nothing grounded me like Liam, my son. His laughter could melt even the heaviest shadows in my chest, his trust a fragile, beautiful tether that reminded me why I fought so fiercely.

The afternoon sunlight poured through the apartment windows, dust motes floating lazily in the golden glow. Liam was crouched on the living room floor, engrossed in his fortress of blocks. Knights, dragons, and towers rose under his careful hands, each piece a testament to the worlds only children could imagine.

“Careful with that tower!” I warned, crouching beside him.

“Mom! Don’t worry. Tiger is guarding the fortress,” he said, lifting his stuffed dragon triumphantly. His grin was radiant, untainted by the complexities of the world, and it made my chest ache with a bittersweet warmth.

I smiled softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. “Alright, little general. Tiger has his orders. But don’t let the fortress fall.”

For an hour, we battled imaginary dragons, rescued captured knights, and staged daring escapes. Liam’s laughter echoed off the walls, a symphony of innocence that seemed to hold the room—and my heart—together. In those moments, the world outside ceased to exist: Jason, Sasha, Darlington Holdings, the betrayals of the past—all vanished.

“Mom! I almost finished the tower!” Liam shouted, balancing a block on the spire with wide, determined eyes.

I chuckled, a sound lighter than I’d realized I could still make. “Careful! That’s the tallest one yet. One wrong move and…” I gestured dramatically as the tower wobbled precariously.

He gasped and steadied it. “Mom, you’re not supposed to tell Tiger what to do!”

I ruffled his hair, laughter softening into tenderness. “Noted. Tiger’s in charge. I’ll follow his orders.”

Just as Liam prepared another “attack,” my phone buzzed sharply on the nearby table. I glanced at it, hesitating with a small pang of guilt. “Liam, play carefully, okay? Mommy will be right back,” I said, standing. My voice wavered slightly despite my effort at calm.

Elena, my assistant, answered on the line.

“Ma’am,” she said, her tone steady but insistent. “Darlington Holdings isn’t giving up. They’ve offered a billion dollars upfront to collaborate with you. They’re serious.”

I let out a quiet, measured breath. A billion dollars. Tempting, certainly—but my mind recoiled at the thought of Darlington Holdings’ strings, the hidden motives, the manipulation waiting beneath the surface. I wasn’t ready to deal with them yet—not Jason, not the past, not the chaos they always brought—not until it was time.

There was a pause. Elena’s next words carried a different weight. “Also… tonight’s dinner with Edward. He sent over the dress himself. He’s very insistent that you wear it.”

I let out a soft sigh, running a hand across my forehead. Edward. Polite. Charming. Persistent. A man I had met at a business dinner years ago, who had quietly, respectfully pursued me ever since. I had never had the time. And truthfully, I had no interest. Romance was a luxury my life could not afford.

Still… a curious tug stirred inside me, a flicker of anticipation I couldn’t ignore. Not desire, exactly—more like the reminder that some things could not be fully controlled, some moments could not be planned or predicted.

“Thank you, Elena,” I said softly. “Tell Darlington Holdings no. I’m not interested.”

“Yes, ma’am. And… don’t forget tonight. Edward sent a car. It’s waiting for you. Just dinner.”

I nodded, forcing a faint smile I didn’t fully feel.

In the quiet of my room, I slipped into the emerald-green dress Edward had sent. Liam peeked in, rubbing his eyes.

“Mom! You look like a real hero!” he whispered, awe in his tiny voice.

I chuckled, brushing another loose strand of hair from my face, my heart tightening at the bittersweet pang of leaving him even for a few hours. “Just going to a party, little hero. Maybe I’ll save a few dragons while I’m there.”

He giggled, returning to his fortress. “Don’t forget to have fun!”

“I won’t,” I promised, though guilt coiled alongside a strange, flickering anticipation in my stomach.

The housekeeper appeared at the doorway. “Ms. Everson, the car Edward sent is here. Liam is ready for you to leave him in my care.”

I scooped Liam into my arms, holding him a moment longer than necessary, memorizing the warmth of his small body against mine. “Be good, Liam. Mommy will be back soon.”

He hugged me tightly, little arms clinging as though he could anchor me. “Don’t forget to have fun, Mom.”

“I won’t,” I whispered, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. A tremor of tension fled in that simple gesture, replaced by a quiet, private solace.

Outside, the sleek black car gleamed under the fading sun. I smoothed the folds of my dress, inhaling a breath that carried both anticipation and a hesitant thrill. The familiar hum of the engine beneath me made my chest tighten—not with fear, but with the tension of stepping into something unknown.

I opened the door.

“Good evening, Ms. Everson,” the driver said, calm and measured. “Shall we?”

I nodded, sliding into the leather seat, letting the coolness settle against me. The faint scent of the car mingled with the subtle perfume of the dress, grounding me in the moment.

I exhaled slowly, allowing the rhythm of the city to wash over me. Lights blurred past, indifferent yet alive. For a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to breathe, to simply exist, carried forward by the motion of the car—and by Liam’s laughter echoing in my mind.

Straightening in the seat, a quiet resolve settled over me. No matter what the night held, I would face it on my terms like I always had.