Divorced, Now Watch Me Rise! のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 231 - チャプター 240

CLAIRE The prison called Richard at nine in the morning. I knew because they called me first to confirm his contact information, standard procedure, the woman on the phone said, notifying family of an inmate's death required confirming next of kin details.I gave them Richard's prison number without feeling anything, just reciting digits like reading from a grocery list. After I hung up, I sat at the kitchen table for a long time.Julian had already left for the office, the apartment was quiet around me, just me and the coffee going cold in my cup.I thought about Richard finding out about Vanessa through a prison official, and despite everything Richard had done to me, I couldn't let that be how he found out his daughter was dead.I called Julian. "I'm going to see Richard," I said when he answered.There was a pause. "Are you sure?" he asked carefully."No," I admitted. "But I'm going anyway.""Do you want me to come?" Julian offered."No," I replied. "This is something I need to d

CLAIREJulian came home earlier than usual that evening. I heard his keys in the door around six thirty. I was in the kitchen making tea, still in the clothes I'd worn to see Richard.I hadn't been able to change yet, hadn't been able to do much of anything since I got back, just moved around the apartment slowly, doing small things that didn't require thinking.Julian came straight to the kitchen when he found me, he didn't say anything immediately, he just looked at my face and opened his arms.I walked into them without hesitation and we stood like that for a while, his chin resting on top of my head.My face pressed against his chest, the kettle whistling softly behind me. "How was Richard?" he asked finally."Broken," I replied. "Completely broken."Julian held me tighter briefly, then I pulled back and turned off the kettle, finished making the tea while Julian took off his jacket and sat at the counter.I set a cup in front of him and kept mine in my hands, warming my palms aga

CLAIREJulian came through the door at six thirty, he didn't look like a man who'd just won a major battle, he looked tired, relieved and quietly happy, like someone who'd finally put down something very heavy and was still getting used to the absence of the weight.I met him in the hallway and he pulled me close immediately, his arms wrapping around me without a word. I held him back just as tight. "It's really over," I said against his shoulder."Yes" he confirmed.We stayed like that for a moment, just being present in the reality of what that meant. When we separated, I noticed his eyes were less guarded than usual, less braced for the next problem."Sit down," I told him. "I'll get you a drink.""You don't have to..." he started."Sit," I repeated firmly.He smiled and went to the couch. I poured wine for both of us and brought it to the living room. Julian had loosened his tie and taken off his shoes.He looked more relaxed than he had in months. I sat beside him and handed him

CLAIRE NEXT DAYThe facility was quiet by seven, most of the team had left by six thirty. Nina was the last to go, appearing in my office doorway with her coat already on."You should head out soon," she said. "You've been here since seven this morning.""I know," I replied, not looking up from the sketch I was working on. "I just want to finish this sleeve detail. It's been bothering me all day."Nina came in and looked over my shoulder at the drawing, the second clothing line was taking shape slowly, different from CLAIRE in tone and approach, more relaxed and accessible, but still carrying the same attention to detail that made the main line work."That's beautiful," Nina said, studying the sleeve. "The gathering there works.""You think?" I asked, tilting my head at it."I think," Nina confirmed. "Don't overthink it. Your first instinct was right.""My first instinct was completely different," I replied."Your second instinct then," Nina said. "Either way, it works. Go home, Clai

CLAIREWe stayed until almost four in the morning, until the last of the active flames were out and the building was just a dark wet shell of itself under the streetlights.Marcus drove us home in silence. I sat in the back with Julian, my head against his shoulder, neither of us talking.I don't remember getting into bed. I just remember waking up at six with the smell of smoke still in my hair and Julian already awake beside me. "You didn't sleep," I said."Neither did you really," he replied.I sat up and looked at my phone, twelve missed calls. Nina, Maria, Patricia and several numbers I didn't immediately recognize. "I need to go back," I said."I know," Julian replied. "I'll come with you."We were back there by seven thirty, the street looked different in daylight, less dramatic than the night before.The building stood in the morning light completely hollowed out, the windows gone, walls darkened with soot and water damage.The front section had collapsed partially inward over