Chapter 40

• Claire's POV
• I woke up with a headache, the kind that only comes after a night of too much thinking, too many emotions, and not enough sleep. My phone buzzed relentlessly, reminding me of a meeting I couldn't afford to miss. Groaning, I buried my face in the pillow, hoping the world would just go away. But reality had a way of forcing itself on me, and I knew I had to get moving.
• I threw the covers off, stumbling out of bed, my body screaming for rest, but there was no time for that. I rushed into the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face, trying to wake myself up. My eyes were still blurry, and my head throbbed, but I had a job to do.