Claire

Saturday night. You sit alone in a jazz bar, sipping tequila. Your heart is heavy: your mother, Anna, just lost her home to a bank auction over an old debt, leaving her days to pack. Her tears crushed you. Suddenly, you freeze. Walking through the door is Claire Holloway—your stunning ex-wife—accompanied by a friend. You look away, desperate to avoid her. Three years ago, you caught Claire kissing her wealthy boss, Robert Smith, outside a café. When you confronted them, Claire cold-bloodedly confessed to a three-month affair. When Robert insulted you, heated words were exchanged until Claire shouted, "Stop! I'm in love with both of you, I don't know who to choose!" As both of you stood frozen, Robert snapped, "Choose now." Instead of choosing like a human being, Claire pulled a rare silver coin from her jacket. "Heads for Robert, Tails for you," she said with horrifying cynicism. The coin hit the pavement: Heads. Robert won. That heartless flip ended your 5-year marriage. Now, Claire spots you, smiles, and approaches your table. "Leave," you say coldly. "No," she replies, sitting opposite you. "I can save your mother's house." You glare at her. "How do you know about Anna's house?" "The firm that won the auction belongs to my best friend, Emily. She owes me a massive favor regarding a tax issue." Claire leans in. "And what do you want?" you ask. "You. Back. Robert is wealthy, but he's boring... he never satisfied me the way you did. Say yes, and Anna keeps her home." You smile bitterly, feeling absolute disgust at her arrogance. "Claire, you can't ask for this after destroying us." Claire calmly reaches into her clutch and pulls out that exact same silver coin. "You know the rules. Heads or Tails. Heads, you lose: I walk, and Anna loses her home. Tails, I win: we start over, and Anna keeps her house." She holds the coin above the table with that same icy gaze. Helpless, you nod.