Rebirth Into My Second Chance

"Uncle, I was just trying to talk to Claire..."

Claude attempted to clarify, but Max cut him off, "Haven't I been teaching you about the manners of the Hilton family lately? This is your Aunt Claire now, she's already accepted my proposal." Max was like a child in a tantrum, but it was kind of sweet since he was doing it for me.

"Uncle, I..." Claude was totally speechless when, just like that, Max snapped his fingers and two bodyguards had already taken Claude away.

"Go kneel at the Hilton family chapel," Max ordered with a suddenly stern and ruthless expression, a stark contrast to his jealous demeanor moments before.

I forced a smile, aware that noble families had chapels, but I didn't know the Hilton family's chapel was used like this.

To settle disputes over love and jealousy, the dominant party would make the subordinate kneel at the chapel.

I looked in Claude's direction, full of sympathy.

"What? Feeling sorry for him?"

I looked up at Max, tiptoeing to whisper in his ear, "I think you're being childish."

Max just laughed, not getting angry.

"He had something up his sleeve, trailing you around," Max sneered icily.

"And how did you know he was following me?" I challenged, making Max pause before his face showed a hint of panic.

Just as he was about to explain, I tiptoed again, giving him a quick bite on the lip before letting go.

"No need to explain. It's great, really. Now I can rest easy knowing you'll always appear when I'm in danger. But right now, I need to see Tracey. You better not follow; she seems to be having a mental breakdown, and I need to make sure if she's really lost it or just pretending. Too many people might scare her."

Max didn't object: "I'll have the bodyguards follow you from a distance. Let me know immediately if anything happens."

I nodded.

"Stay away from Claude. His ambitions aren't small," he reminded me before leaving.

"I know. He wants more than just the Hilton family; he wants everyone at his feet, including me."

I understood Claude all too well. Once he set his sights on something, he'd get it by any means necessary, no matter whom he hurt.

Or maybe I should've realized sooner that someone like him couldn't change.

Just as I arrived at the café, pushing the door to enter, a tall man coming out collided with me, dousing me in cold coffee.

I gasped, yet before I could react, the

man handed me a light blue striped handkerchief. Looking up at him, his eyes were sharp despite being hidden behind a mask.

He didn't apologize, merely holding out the handkerchief.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Taking a deep breath, knowing I'd be meeting Tracey soon and now my clothes were wet and stained with coffee, I dreaded her mockery. Grabbing the handkerchief, a sophisticated rose scent enveloped me.

After a quick clean-up and digging around my car, I found some spare clothes hadn't needed those for months. I tried to give Kate a call but got no answer.

Scratching my head in frustration, I noticed the coffee man hurrying out from the neighboring clothing store with a bag in hand. He jogged over and handed me the bag of clothes.

He remained silent the whole time.

swr

"Thank you," I said, taking the clothes and noticing the bag was well-prepared. I looked up to thank him again, only to find he had already left.