Rebirth Into My Second Chance

Just yesterday, my reputation came crashing down. The netizens were ablaze, urging Claude to divorce me and marry the virtuous Kate. How I wished I could tell them that I was already gone.

Finding proof of my demise would automatically annul our marriage. But this time, Claude seemed indifferent to the public outcry, a departure from his usual stance. He probably wanted to see if it would lure me to show up, easing his burden.

Yet, for two days, I hadn't even called him. I saw him staring at my WhatsApp profile picture countless times. He must be waiting for my call.

Upon hearing about my online bullying, Gabrielle stormed to the villa early in the morning to confront Claude. "I know Claire better than anyone. Those rumors of her suicide and jumping off cliffs, aren't they because of the pressure you put her under? Why didn't you stop those people from slandering her?"

Claude remained silent with his gaze fixed on his phone. Leaning in, I saw him drafting a message, but before I could read it, he deleted it.

Claude promised, "Mom, I'll bring her back."

Today was the last day, Gabrielle's birthday. If I didn't show up by then, would Claude finally realize I was dead? But if I were dead, would he mourn? Probably not, given his cold-hearted nature.

Kate was with them. Claude had protected Kate since

remember seeing this tree when I passed out. That day, I

spruces on the mountain looked identical; her

to Kate repeat her abduction story made me puzzled. She was recounting it with such calm, even though she also had fainted when kidnapped.

old friends felt

injured by those thugs. Forcing her to remember is unfair. And Claire running away, leaving Kate behind, sounds just like

run away. I

down, saying, "Rest here.

Maybe we can find Claire faster." Unable to argue, his friends went off to search for Claire. But

over, we found Kate disheveled, her hair

ran into his arms, trembling. "Claude, I was so

after Kate?" "The moment we left, they attacked Kate and ran when they heard us coming back. They came after Kate." "The only one