Rebirth Into My Second Chance

Max looked at me with those intense eyes that seemed to see right through me. "Some things have become too complicated to explain. Over the years, Hannah loved you, but in the end, she really did want to kill you. Yet, all this time, it was the royal family searching for you. Hannah knew, Richard knew, and in the end, Hannah chose to protect you by not revealing your identity to the royal family." Max was determined to tell me the truth.

He gently lifted me and settled me onto the couch. "Claire, I can tell you everything, but you have to promise me one thing-you cannot get involved. Otherwise, Richard's sacrifice would have been in vain." Richard's sacrifice...

Grabbing at my chest, it felt like I couldn't breathe. Amidst my anger and frustration, Max revealed the extent of Richard's sacrifices for me...

"You guys are so cruel. So utterly cruel." They never considered whether I wanted this outcome.

"When Richard orchestrated that lab explosion, I was visiting him in jail. That's when he told me. Tracey taking the blame was her own choice, and Richard getting out was all for your protection. He knew Hannah would hurt you, so he planned to take her down with him. The plane explosion was part of his plan."

My emotions were a tangled mess.

"Did he ever think about whether I wanted to be protected like this? Did he consider how bad I'd feel if I ever found out? Did he think about how that might tear me apart?"

"Yesterday, she already told you Richard didn't die." Max looked into my eyes, his gaze filled with sympathy, helplessness, and sorrow.

An outsider, yet he was deeply entangled in this mess because of me, keeping secrets and navigating dangerous waters on my behalf. I couldn't blame him; I was frustrated by my own ignorance.

"Claire, the more you know, the more danger you're in. Tracey is here now, and the royal family will definitely come for her. She's aware of their secrets, and those in power won't allow outsiders to know of their existence. So, they want her dead. Today, I'll ensure she's taken to a safe place. You need to decide whether you want to live as an ordinary person or stand against the royals."

"Didn't Richard make that choice for me? He faked his death, then eliminated all potential girls from the orphanage, making the royals believe I was dead. He sacrificed himself, and for the past six months, I've been left in peace-peace bought by Richard's actions, right?"

My heart was breaking into little bits,

and even looking at Max was hard. I

was so innocent about how the world works. Everyone said they loved me in their own way.

Richard and Hannah harmed innocent girls-that was true. Their desire to protect me was also true.

Max was actually trying to keep me safe.

But it's also true that he was keeping everything from me.

My parents abandoning me at the orphanage was a fact. Yet, they claimed it was all for my protection.

Amidst all these truths and lies, the bottom line was their intention to protect me.

"I understand, Max."

I managed a smile, but it only made him more anxious.

"Claire..."

"When you take Tracey to safety, could you also look after Kate? They're victims too, betrayed and targeted by their own families."

QUMS

I was breaking down, understanding the pain of a shattered heart.

Then, touching Max's chest, I

whispered, "Max, your heart is breaking too, isn't it? You're

burdened with too much-the legacy of the Hilton family, your duty to love me, and countless other

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responsibilities I'm not even aware of? Are you tired?"

He took my hand, his warmth something I wasn't sure I'd ever feel again.

"Claire, for you, it's all worth it."