Chapter 3: The Breaking Point
Patricia stepped forward, fury replacing fear. “You set us up!”
Clara tilted her head slightly. “No. I gave you opportunities.”
Her eyes hardened.
“You made your own choices.”
Patricia’s composure shattered. “You think this makes you powerful? You’re still nothing but—”
“Enough.”
The single word cut through the room like glass.
For the first time, Clara’s voice carried steel.
“You came into my space. You insulted me. You destroyed something I created with my own hands.”
She took one slow step forward.
“And you expected me to apologize.”
Patricia faltered.
Andrew reached out, desperation creeping into his voice. “Clara, we can fix this. We can start over.”
Clara looked at his hand… and didn’t take it.
May you like
“No,” she said quietly.
“We can’t.”
