Perfectly Unplanned

Chapter Nine: Unforeseen Circumstances

Dropping off the divorce papers should have been painful. And in some ways, it still was. But as Claire handed them over to the clerk at the courthouse that Monday morning, the familiar numbness she'd been carrying with her felt different—lighter, almost like shedding an old skin. For the first time in a long while, the weight on her chest had loosened just a little.

It wasn't that the pain was gone. It was still there, lurking in the background, like a faint bruise. But today, as she walked away from the courthouse, it didn't define her. There was something else at play now—a flicker of hope, a sense of possibility that felt unfamiliar but welcome. After all, today marked the start of her new position at the company—a real new start, she reminded herself.

She had spent the weekend mentally preparing for this moment, the long weekend spent alone with Max offering her the clarity she had been craving. Dropping off the papers marked the start of a new chapter. It wasn't the clean slate she had imagined months ago—back when she still believed in salvaging her marriage—but it was a new beginning nonetheless. One I'm ready for, she thought, stepping out into the crisp morning air.

Claire stepped out into the morning sun, the breeze lifting her hair as she got into her car on her way to the office. Today, the air felt crisper, and the future, though uncertain, seemed a bit less daunting. She was no longer the woman waiting for someone to come back to her, no longer the woman stuck in a marriage that had long since broken apart. She was just Claire, with her own life to live. And somehow, that was just enough.

She pulled up to the towering building where her new office awaited, and as Claire stepped inside the elevator, she found herself smiling. There was no Alex to think about, no Liam to worry over. She hadn't heard from Lila over the weekend, and that was just fine with her. She had spent her days with Max, relaxing and clearing her head. Now, she was ready to focus on herself.

As she moved around the office, settling in and adjusting to the quietness of the new space, Claire couldn't help but smile. Moving out of her old office felt like shedding a weight she hadn't realized was suffocating her. It wasn't just the physical move, but a mental shift—a chance to build something new from the ground up, without the baggage of the past holding her back.

She had finished unpacking the last of her boxes of paperwork and was just about to head out when her phone buzzed. It was an Instagram notification showing her a new post from Lila. Curious, Claire opened it and was greeted by a series of photos that made her pause.

While scrolling through Instagram in her newly unpacked office, Claire realized where Lila had been all weekend. The feed was filled with photos of pristine beaches, turquoise waters, and cocktails adorned with little umbrellas. Bahamas, Claire read. Jumping from island to island.

Her eyes widened as she flipped through the images. Lila and Mark hadn't just taken a weekend getaway—they'd extended their trip, turning it into a spontaneous island-hopping adventure. Claire shook her head, a small laugh escaping her lips. Lila had always been one for impulsive trips, but now, after everything that had happened, Claire was relieved she hadn't gone with them.

Spontaneity had landed her in enough trouble already. The last time she'd tried it, she'd ended up tangled in a mess with Liam, regretting every moment that had followed. She had learned her lesson: never again.

No more flying by the seat of my pants, she thought, scrolling past another photo of Lila and Mark toasting under a sunset. I need stability now.

She set her phone down and glanced around her new office. It was a vast improvement from her old one, bigger and brighter with large windows that overlooked the city. The view alone was enough to make her feel like she was truly moving up. The sleek leather couch in the corner, perfect for long hours of brainstorming or just decompressing. There was more privacy here, and with that, a sense of peace.