Divorced, Now Watch Me Rise! のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 181 - チャプター 190

CLAIREI processed the words slowly, Ethan was out. "How?" I asked, keeping my voice steady.Julian looked up from the couch, immediately noticing I was on the phone."During medical transport to a hospital," Detective Martinez explained. "He complained of chest pains, guards took him to the emergency room.""And he just walked out?" I asked."More or less," Martinez confirmed. "Used the bathroom, climbed out a window, disappeared."Blake appeared from the kitchen, sensing something was happening. "Do you know where he went?" I pressed."Not yet," Martinez admitted. "But we have officers checking his known associates, credit card activity, everything.""You'll find him," I said.It wasn't a question. "We will," Martinez agreed. "I'm calling to inform you as a precaution, given your history with Mr. Cross.""I appreciate that," I replied."If he contacts you in any way," Martinez continued. "Call me immediately.""Of course," I agreed.After hanging up, I looked at Julian and Blake. "E

CLAIRE He disappeared to get ready, emerging fifteen minutes later in a full suit. Blake was already dressed too, grabbing his laptop."Ready?" he asked Julian."Let's go," Julian replied.They both headed for the door and Julian paused to kiss me goodbye. "Seven PM," he said again. "Don't forget.""I won't," I promised.Then they were gone. I stood in the empty kitchen, staring at the dishes, seven PM felt like a lifetime away.I spent the morning at the production facility, meeting with the new seamstresses we'd just hired, both women were experienced, one had worked for a major fashion house before it closed."Welcome to CLAIRE," I told them. "We're small but we're growing.""We're excited to be here," the older woman replied.I showed them around, introduced them to Maria and the rest of the team.By noon, they were already working on sample pieces for the spring collection. "They're good," Nina observed, watching their clean stitching."Very good," I agreed.Nina pulled out her

CLAIREAt the production facility, I sat at my desk with fresh sketch paper spread before me. The spring collection needed cohesion, a thread running through each piece.I started with color palettes, laying out fabric swatches. Lavender, soft peach, cream, pale mint. Colors that felt like early morning light.My pencil moved across the page, sketching a blouse with gathered sleeves, the neckline would be delicate, something feminine but not overly sweet.I added details, small buttons down the front, a subtle gathering at the waist. Next, a matching skirt, Midi length.I sketched the drape of the fabric, imagining how it would flow when someone walked. The pieces were coming together. I could see them as a complete look now, not just individual items.A dress followed, this one with a tiered skirt and a fitted bodice, something for evening but still approachable. I added thin straps, sketched the way the tiers would cascade.My hand cramped slightly but I kept working, this felt good

CLAIRE We sat like that for a moment, hands joined across the table. "I miss you," Julian said quietly. "Even when we're in the same room, I miss you.""I miss you too," I replied. "The version of you that isn't constantly thinking about work.""That version still exists," Julian promised. "I just forgot how to be him."I squeezed his hand. "So what do we do?" I asked. "How do we fix this?"Julian was quiet, thinking. "I need to set boundaries," he said finally. "Real ones, not just promises I don't keep.""Like what?" I pressed."Like no phone at breakfast," Julian suggested. "And home by seven PM at least three nights a week.""Can you actually do that?" I asked."I have to," Julian replied. "Because the alternative is losing what matters most.""The company matters too," I pointed out."The company matters," Julian agreed. "But you matter more."My throat felt tight. "Julian," I started."I mean it, Claire," he interrupted. "I can hire people to run Cross Industries, but I can't r

CLAIREI brought the food to the table, plating everything carefully, the chicken looked amazing, the vegetables were perfectly roasted. "This smells incredible," Julian said."Blake helped," I added."Blake helped cook?" Julian asked, looking at Blake with mock suspicion. "Who are you and what did you do with my friend?""I chopped vegetables," Blake said defensively. "It's not that impressive.""It's very impressive," Julian countered. "I've never seen you voluntarily help in a kitchen.""There's a first time for everything," Blake replied.We started eating, the conversation flowing easily. Julian told us about rescheduling his afternoon meetings, the minor panic it had caused."My assistant thought I was sick," he said. "She actually asked if she should call a doctor.""To be fair," Blake said. "You leaving work early is medically concerning.""It was three PM," Julian pointed out."Like I said," Blake replied. "Medically concerning."I laughed, watching them banter back and forth