Chapter 35 - Rebecca's Return
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Six months after her accident, Rebecca walked into Claire’s loft leaning on a sleek, carbon-fiber cane.
She looked thinner, but the sharp, aggressive edge that used to define her every movement had softened into something resembling genuine peace.
"This place is incredible," Rebecca breathed, looking up at the high ceilings and the exposed brick. "It feels like... you."
"Thank you," Claire smiled, pouring two cups of tea. "How is the physical therapy going?"
Rebecca grunted, sitting carefully on the new, incredibly comfortable couch.
"It’s brutal. The therapist is a sadist. But I walked three blocks yesterday without stopping."
"That’s fantastic."
Rebecca took a sip of her tea, her eyes scanning the room before settling on Claire.
"I officially resigned from the advisory board today," Rebecca announced quietly.
Claire stopped mid-sip.
"You stepped down entirely?"
"I did." Rebecca leaned back against the cushions. "Mother was surprisingly supportive. Or, at least, she didn't threaten to disinherit me."
"That is high praise from Evelyn."
"It is," Rebecca laughed softly. "I realized that sitting in those meetings, arguing over percentage points and legacy branding... it was literally killing me before the car accident almost did."
"What are you going to do now?"
"I don't know," Rebecca admitted, sounding genuinely thrilled by the uncertainty. "I might travel. I might learn how to paint. I might just sit on my porch and annoy my neighbors."
"You excel at annoying people," Claire teased gently.
"I do," Rebecca agreed proudly. She looked at Claire, a sudden, fierce gratitude in her eyes.
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"You showed me it was possible, Claire. To just... walk away from the machine and survive."
"We both survived," Claire corrected. "Now we just get to live."
