Claire stood at the old park bench, her heart pounding as she saw Jake approaching. It had been months since their last bitter exchange, and the weight of unresolved anger hung between them like a storm cloud.

"Jake," Claire's voice was steady but cold. "We need to talk."

Jake's face was a mix of regret and defiance. "I figured you'd come eventually."

"Why did you lie to me about the project?" Claire's eyes bore into him. "You knew how much it meant."

Jake sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I thought I could fix it without causing trouble. I was trying to protect you."

"Protect me?" Claire’s voice cracked. "By sabotaging my work? Do you know what that did to me? To my reputation? You took away my chance to prove myself."

Jake flinched. "I was wrong. I see that now. But I never meant to hurt you."

Claire’s eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them away. "It's not just about the project, Jake. It's about trust. You broke something that can't be easily repaired."

Jake stepped closer, his expression softening. "I know. I wish I could undo it."

Claire took a deep breath, her anger morphing into a sense of finality. "I don’t need you to fix it. I just needed you to understand."

She turned and walked away, leaving Jake standing alone, grappling with the heavy silence of her departure.