Rebirth Into My Second Chance

"Was it Richard who put Kearney up to stabbing you last time? That's why you didn't punish Kearney, letting him off scot-free..."

Before I could finish my sentence, Max cupped my face, sealing my lips with his, silencing the rest of my words.

Panicked, I managed to push him out of the bathtub...He kept making moves on me, but every time, I'd push him off.

"Not until you agree," I struggled to free myself from his embrace, retreating to a corner of the bathtub, distancing myself as much as I could.

"Claire Floyd, I said no," his irritation was evident.

His darkened expression made me fearful, his brows furrowed, cold droplets of water clinging to them.

"The last time, you used our newborn as a test, I agreed, and then the lab exploded. It's a hurdle I can't get over in this lifetime. I won't let you do something like this again, so it's non-negotiable."

He was fuming. He hauled himself out of the tub, his PJs all wet. Then he shouted for Helen: "Watch her!"

"If she tries to run, lock her up!"

Helen, frightened, rushed in with a towel for him and then looked at me with a worried expression, trotting over: "Claire, what on earth did you do to upset Mr. Hilton? I've never seen him lose his temper like this, not even when Kearney stabbed him. But this is the second time you've pushed him to his limit."

My eyes drooped in defeat.

"It's because I mentioned breaking up with him."

Helen looked at me as if I'd defeated her: "Why would you break up when things are fine? Mr. Hilton cares about you more than anything in this world. Aren't you practically asking for his life?"

I bit my lip, got up, changed into a dry set of pajamas, and since Max wasn't in the bedroom or the dressing room, I pushed open the door to search for him in his study.

There he stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of his study, already in a set of casual home clothes, lighting up a cigarette. This was the first time I saw Max smoke.

I knocked on the door from the

entrance. When he saw it was me he immediately put out the cigarette and opened the window to let the smoke out.

"Why are you here? You must be tired, go rest early."

He still sounded upset, but it seemed like he wasn't going to give me a hard time anymore.

"Max, is there a better way you and Ronald can think of?"

I stood in front of him, looking up at him with pleading eyes, knowing that only by acting adorably could I get him to consider my suggestion.

"Claire, no, Ronald and I will think of a way. It's not for you to risk."

He looked at me firmly, and I was

getting anxious, "But what about et

those girls? They will die. Just like in my past life, when I died so horribly..."

He sighed deeply, and I thought he was relenting, looking at him hopefully.

But his voice came out hoarse and bleak, "And what about you? If you die, what will I do? Heaven has given us a chance to start over; it won't give us another. Claire, this lifetime, we can leave this place..."

Max had already thought of escaping.

"Go rest," he didn't want to talk further, pressing a bell. Helen then knocked and entered, saying to me, "Ms. Claire, let's go back to rest." Looking at Max, who had turned his back on me, I knew this approach was futile.

But I couldn't think of any other solutions.

As I was leaving the study, Claude called me. Hesitating whether to answer or not, Helen said, "Not going to answer?"

That's when I pressed the answer button. Claude seemed drunk on the other end, repeatedly calling out my name.