Rebirth Into My Second Chance

It all boiled down to the mystery man behind Kate's actions. And then there was the question of who fathered the child in my previous life.

But Claude wouldn't let me leave. Every step I took back only made him grip my wrist tighter, dragging me toward the mansion.

I yelled at him. "Let go!"

"Clair, I don't owe you anything, but you owe me a big one!" His sudden harsh turn and lifting me over his shoulder, ignoring my struggles, only quickened his pace.

"Claude, I don't love you!" I thought saying that would repel him.

But he said, "It doesn't matter. You only need to be mine."

He threw me onto the couch on the first floor, pinning my wrists with one hand and his legs pressing against mine.

I cried, "I hate you, Claude, I hate you..."

When I felt desperate, the mansion's door suddenly opened. As Claude rose to see, I grabbed a couch cushion and hurled it at him. Taking advantage of his brief shock, I bolted for the door.

The mansion's doors flew open, and a stream of bodyguards in black suits rushed in. Backlit by the light, the man in the middle seemed like my savior. He quickened his pace, reaching out to embrace me.

The familiar scent of sandalwood relaxed my tense nerves instantly. Perhaps it was all too much for one night. I couldn't bear it and just collapsed into his arms. I could hear the chaos around me.

Claude's enraged voice stood out. "You can't take her away! She's mine! What makes you think you can just take anyone you want?"

"Maximilian Hilton, I will surpass you one day."

I strained to open my eyes to see if this man was the MH I thought of. But my eyelids were too heavy.

He wrapped a coat around me, and I immediately felt much warmer or perhaps safer and couldn't help but snuggle closer.

He whispered, "It's fine now."

And then, I could no longer hear Claude's roar. Everything quieted down, and even the wind stopped.

Then, I fell into a deep sleep in his arms. In the dream, my parents smiled and said, "Play nicely with Richard. We'll come to get you soon."

Then I heard the orphanage matron say, "Claire, your parents sacrificed themselves to save someone."

My dream world crumbled, and I woke up crying. "Dad, Mom, where should I go to find you?"

When I woke up, I found myself in my apartment bed. Barefoot, I wandered out of the room and saw Ronald directing several maids to tidy up my place.

Ronald turned to me, "Awake? IContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

arranged a cleanup to thank you for

your crucial clue last night. Someone did try to kill Daniel, but the perpetrator killed himself when caught. We noticed a forest tattoo on their bodies, a clue to their mastermind."

I leaned weakly against the door frame, nodding absently at Ronald's words.

"Could it be the Goodwin family?" I handed Ronald the recording from last night. As he listened, Kate's voice sent chills down my spine.

"I'll arrange for Kate's interrogation as soon as possible. Dr. Hilton said

you should rest at home. No need to

go towork. He'll take care of your internship report."

Leaving the maids behind, Ronald was about to leave when I asked, "Was it Max who saved me last night?"

Ronald scratched his head. "What are you talking about? It was me who saved you."

I stepped forward, grabbed Ronald's shirt, and sniffed him. "It's not the same scent. It wasn't you."

Just then, the door clicked open.

Max saw me clinging to Ronald, sniffing him, and his face turned

stormy. I quickly stepped back, forgetting Ronald was Max's man.