CLAIRE

The next few days passed in a strange blur, somewhere between slow and fast, like I was watching my life happen from a distance.

The news cycle continued without me, reporters still called but I didn't answer, my lawyer handled everything while I tried to focus on what I could control. My business.

Orders kept coming in steadily, not explosively but consistently, two hundred and thirty-seven became three hundred, then three fifty, then four hundred.

Nina called every day with updates, shipments going out, customers leaving reviews, everything running smoothly.

I threw myself into work, designing new pieces, planning the next collection, responding to customer messages personally. It was...