Rebirth Into My Second Chance

Surrounded by mountains with a river in front and no bridge in sight, escape seemed an impossible feat without a helicopter. "Claire Floyd, wouldn't it be easier to just wait here for me?"

I spat in his face in response.

"Claude, Richard will find me soon enough!"

But my words only made him laugh. "Him? He's spread too thin."

"What have you done to him!" Panic set in.

"Nothing, he's exactly where he wants to be. Claire Floyd, consider this a warning: don't you dare show concern for another man when I'm around!"

As he spoke, he gestured towards Lydia who was being held behind him. "She helped you escape, did she? Cut off one of her fingers!"

The guard didn't hesitate, and Lydia's finger was severed in an instant.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

"No!" I screamed.

But by the time I crawled over to her, Lydia was already in excruciating pain, clenching her hand, her face contorted in agony as tears streamed down her face.

"Claude, you're heartless. Lydia has watched over you since you were a child."

"She watched over you too. It's your fault for trying to run, she's being punished because of you."

I managed to break free from the guard's grip and crawled to Lydia, picking up her finger and shouted at Claude, "Give me the first aid kit now. We can still reattach it if you act quickly." But Claude kicked the finger out of my hand.

"Claire Floyd, this is your punishment. Listen well."

"It was my decision to run. Reattach Lydia's finger, I'll accept whatever punishment you decide!"

She was suffering because of me; I couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

Lydia, her lips pale and trembling with pain, whispered, "Claire... Miss... save me."

"I will." I picked up her finger again, facing Claude defiantly.

"Claude, don't make me lose respect for you. The first aid kit, now!"

He clenched his jaw, locking eyes with me fiercely before finally gesturing for the guard to hand over the first aid kit.

He had prepared for this, knowing I wouldn't leave Lydia's side, even having a first aid kit ready, anticipating cutting off her finger.

"Are you willing to throw away your law degree for this?!" I couldn't help but feel sorry for him; all the effort he put into earning his law degree, now tarnished by his actions

"Do you care about me?"

elmet

He grabbed my chin, but I pulled away, kneeling down to perform makeshift surgery on Lydia,

disinfecting and stitching he wound

as best as I could.

Claude watched over me with a metal chain in his hand the entire time.

I knew escaping would be even harder after this.

As soon as I finished treating Lydia, she was taken away, and Claude dragged me back to my room.

He locked my ankles together with a chain.

After doing all this, he suddenly smiled at me, then leaned down, cupped my face, and kissed my forehead.

I turned my head away, struggling.

But he seemed reassured and let me go.

"Behave, or next time it won't be so easy."

His finger traced down my face, lifting into a smile. "Richard can't save you. Oh, and Max called you once, then never again. Is that the man you chose? To leave me for them?"

Considering Max's indifferent nature, one call was probably more than I could have hoped for.

"Claude, Max is my mentor. If he notices I've suddenly disappeared, do you think he won't call the police?"