Rebirth Into My Second Chance

I hadn't touched my dessert fork, instead rubbing my wrist and glancing at the clock. "Claude, you need to take me home. I won't tell Max about today. You know how Max is; he forgave your past behavior because you helped me while he was away from Crestview Metropolis, plus you're his nephew, but I can't say if he'll forgive you this time."

"I don't plan on waiting for his forgiveness," Claude replied, his voice firm. "If I don't act now, I'll lose you forever. Uncle Max is tied up because Garrett, his brother, got badly injured, and he's rushing over there. You can check your phone."

He handed me his phone, and I saw the numerous missed calls from Max. Then Claude showed me a message from Max, saying he was headed to Serythia. "Uncle told me to take good care of you, so that's what I'm doing."

As he stepped closer, I instinctively slapped him. "Claude, don't push it."

He held his cheek where I'd hit him, still wearing that infuriating smile. "With a ring on, your slap hurts a bit more."

Suddenly, he grabbed my hand, yanking off the ring Max had given me last night, clutching it tightly in his fist.

I didn't want to confront him any longer. I got up and hurried to check on Kate, who'd just been rescued, quickening my pace.

Through the glass doors, I caught a glimpse of Claude watching me, a smug grin on his face as if he had already won.

Kate sat on the floor, her eyes filled with regret as I approached. "Claire, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have taken you there. We wouldn't have run into that jerk otherwise."

I hugged her, whispering in her ear, "I'll pretend to go along with him. You find a way to escape. There's a small balcony in the back garden you can jump from—I used to do it all the time. Max is tangled up with Serythia's people. Go find Allen Ramsey; he'll come to rescue us."

Allen Ramsey might not hate me, but he definitely had it out for Claude.

Just as I finished speaking, Claude returned. "Claire, I've let Kate go, like I promised. So, shall we head to the courthouse and make it official?"

I clenched my fists gently, knowing leaving might give Kate a chance to escape. "Claude, if you think a

e without love

possible,

then let's go."

He approached, tossing the ring he'd been holding into the sink. "I'll get you a new one. This one's bad luck."

Claude seemed thrilled, like a villain who'd just achieved his misguided dream grinning and pulling

pink notebook from a dra uka

in the

living room.

"You always loved keeping notes."

J.ne

I instantly regretted my old habit and reached to snatch it, but Claude pulled back into the drawer. "Proofnoveldrama

of Claire's love for me-I can't just let

that go." on

A relic of my misguided past, a lifelong regret.

"Claude, I admit I once loved you, but don't read too much into it. I don't care for you anymore."

"That's fine. We've got plenty of time."

As I left Claude's mansion, I dared not look back, hoping desperately that Kate had managed to escape.

"Claude, do you think Max would kill you when he returns?"