Mr.Brightside

Chapter 50

 Clara's Resolve

The next few days passed in a blur of preparation. Every morning after Jack left for the workshop and Olivia headed off to preschool, I found myself diving deeper into the project with Ethan. The nerves that had initially come with the decision had subsided, replaced by a focused determination. This was my chance to create something new, something bold, and I was ready to give it everything I had.

Ethan and I had already started bouncing ideas off each other. His energy was contagious, and as much as I'd been wary of this collaboration, I couldn't help but feel a growing excitement. He pushed me in ways I hadn't expected, challenging me to think beyond my usual style and approach. It was invigorating, even though it meant leaving behind some of the comfort zones I had clung to for so long.

But beneath the surface, the tension between Jack and me still lingered. Every night, we danced around the subject of my collaboration, careful to avoid the elephant in the room. Jack was supportive—at least outwardly—but I knew him too well. He was struggling, and I didn't know how to help him through it.

Ethan's Visit

It was late afternoon when Ethan showed up unannounced. I was in the studio, sketching rough concepts for a new piece when the doorbell rang. My heart skipped a beat when I saw him standing on the front porch, his usual confident smile in place.

"Hey," I said, surprised. "I wasn't expecting you."

"Sorry for dropping by without notice," Ethan replied, his smile widening. "I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd see how things were going."

I stepped aside to let him in, gesturing toward the studio. "Come on in. I've been working on a few things."

He followed me inside, his eyes immediately scanning the room, taking in the sketches scattered across the table and the half-finished canvas leaning against the wall. "This is great, Clara. Really great."

"Thanks," I said, unable to hide the pride in my voice. "I'm still refining the ideas, but I think we're on the right track."

Ethan picked up one of the sketches, studying it closely. "I love this direction. It's different from what I expected, but in a good way. You're really pushing your boundaries."

"That's the goal," I said, feeling a spark of excitement at his approval. "I want this to be something new, something that stands out."

"And it will be," Ethan said, his voice full of confidence. "We'll make sure of it."

We spent the next hour going over ideas, refining concepts, and discussing logistics. It felt good—productive. But as we wrapped up, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease creeping in. I glanced at the clock, realizing Jack would be home soon.

Ethan seemed to sense my hesitation. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah," I said quickly, then sighed. "It's just... Jack. He's been supportive, but I can tell this whole thing is hard for him."

Ethan nodded, leaning against the worktable. "I get it. Change is hard, especially when it feels like one person is moving in a different direction. But you can't hold yourself back because of that, Clara. You deserve this—both of you do."

"I know," I said, rubbing my temples. "But it's complicated."

"Of course it is," Ethan said gently. "But from what you've told me, Jack's a good guy. He'll come around. Just give it time."

I nodded, though his words didn't fully ease the tension inside me. "Thanks, Ethan. I appreciate that."

"Anytime," he said, his smile returning. "And hey, don't hesitate to call if you need anything. We're in this together."

As Ethan left, I stood in the doorway, watching his car disappear down the street. I couldn't shake the strange feeling in my chest. I was doing what I needed to do for my career, but at what cost?

The Confrontation

Jack came home not long after Ethan had left. I could tell the moment he walked through the door that something was off. His shoulders were tense, his expression guarded. He set his bag down and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, but there was a distance in his eyes that hadn't been there before.

"How was your day?" I asked, trying to keep my voice light.

"Busy," Jack replied, his tone clipped. "Greg called again. He wants more changes. Honestly, I'm not sure how much more of this I can take."

I frowned, stepping closer to him. "Why don't you tell him that? You've already gone above and beyond for him."

Jack sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's not that simple, Clara. He's paying me well, and we need the money. I can't just walk away."

"I know," I said softly, reaching out to touch his arm. "But you're burning yourself out, Jack. You need to set some boundaries."

"Like you're setting boundaries with Ethan?" The words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop them, and immediately, the room felt colder.

I blinked, taken aback. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Jack exhaled sharply, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "I saw Ethan's car outside when I got home. He was here, wasn't he?"

"Yes," I admitted, crossing my arms. "He stopped by to go over some ideas. That's all."

"That's all?" Jack repeated, his voice tinged with bitterness. "Clara, I'm trying to be supportive, but it feels like you're moving ahead with this whole thing, and I'm just... stuck. You're spending all this time with Ethan, and I barely see you anymore."

My heart sank at his words, guilt gnawing at me. "Jack, this is important to me. You know that. It's not about spending time with Ethan—it's about the work."

"I get that," Jack said, his voice softening slightly. "But it doesn't change how it feels. You're growing, moving forward, and I'm just... stuck in the same place, doing the same thing. And it feels like you're leaving me behind."

I stepped closer to him, placing my hands on his chest. "I'm not leaving you behind. I need you, Jack. We're in this together. But I also need to do this for myself—for my career."

Jack closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. "I know. And I want to be there for you. But it's hard, Clara. It's hard watching you change and grow while I feel like I'm just spinning my wheels."

I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him close. "You're not stuck, Jack. You're building something amazing with your work. But we both need to figure out how to balance this. I don't want to lose what we have."

Jack held me tightly, his breath warm against my hair. "I don't want to lose you, either."

We stood there in silence, holding on to each other, both of us knowing that the road ahead wasn't going to be easy. But we were willing to fight for it, for us.

Finding Balance

The next morning, I woke up with a renewed sense of determination. Jack and I still had a long way to go, but we had taken the first step. We had talked, really talked, and that was something. It wasn't perfect, but it was progress.

As I got ready for the day, I glanced at the sketches on the table, feeling a surge of excitement. This project with Ethan was important—it was a chance for me to grow as an artist, to push myself beyond my limits. But it wasn't more important than my family. I needed to find a way to balance both, to make space for Jack and Olivia without sacrificing my career.

I wasn't sure how I was going to do it, but I knew one thing for sure: I wasn't going to let either of them slip away.

We would make it work.

We had to.

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