Part 9/11:
The next morning, Clara was gone, and the builder closed the door on her lies. Despite her turbulent departure, he felt a profound sense of peace—free from deceit and transactional love. Her plan to "disappear into her childhood bedroom," to fail upwards, was thwarted by his deliberate, strategic demolition.
The fallout was swift; Clara faced social shaming and professional rejection as her deception came to light. She moved back with her parents, a stark contrast to the career she had falsely portrayed. Meanwhile, he’s thriving—his business expanding, and Evelyn emerging as a talented, recognized designer, with their partnership evolving into something more authentic and rooted in mutual respect.