CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT - The Honeymoon Phase

It was nearly midnight when Mason finally made it home. He entered the apartment quietly, half-expecting Claire to be asleep. Instead, he found her sitting on the couch, a determined look on her face. "Mason," she said, her voice steady. "We need to talk." Mason felt a flicker of apprehension at her tone, but he nodded, sinking into the armchair across from her. "Okay. What's on your mind?" Claire took a deep breath. "This isn't working, Mason. Us, I mean. The way things have been going... I feel like I'm losing you. Like I'm losing myself." Mason's heart clenched at the pain in her voice. "Claire, I... I know things have been difficult lately. But it's just temporary. Once this lawsuit is over—" "And when will that be?" Claire interrupted, her frustration evident. "How long am I supposed to wait for you to come back to me? I moved here to be with you, Mason. To build a life together. But right now, it feels like I'm just an afterthought in your life." The accusation stung, but M