Rebirth Into My Second Chance

When Kate decided to stay, insisting she'd move in, Claude nodded in agreement.

In the past, I would have let Kate stay without a word. Thinking back, I was too meek and submissive. And that only led to tragedy, with my unborn child paying the ultimate price.

I was chosen from the heavens above to be a mother, yet I couldn't protect my own.

Things could have been different if I had signed those divorce papers earlier and left the bustling Crestview Metropolis behind.

If I could start over again, I wouldn't have fallen for Claude, competed with Kate, or owed anything to the Hart family.

There Kate was, sitting between me and Claude, peeling imported grapes and handing them to Claude, who was buried in work, not refusing the gesture.

When Kate began peeling a mango to feed Claude, he caught the scent and frowned, "Why is there a mango?"

A small smile crept on my face, thinking maybe he remembered my mango allergy.

As a child, I had a severe allergic reaction to a mango cake, and Claude rushed me to the hospital just in time. I thought he cared.

mango into the trash, turning to him with wide, innocent eyes.

Just like durian, not

from the house, remembering my allergy, but it was only his dislike. He never really cared

the knife and clung to Claude. "Claude, I think I

by profession, Claude scoffed at the superstitious notion but then joked about keeping me tethered even in death, "If she returns,

control me, Claude? You're heartless," I scoffed, though he

clap of thunder roared as if in

Claude answered to find officers in raincoats, led by Ronald, issuing an arrest for the suspected murder of me, Claire Floyd, based on forensic evidence linking a child to

calm until the evidence pointed

police officer said they'd mishandled the evidence and dismissed the case against Claude and Kate, and they were free to

in the same case. He scratched his head and checked the reports, trying to figure

disbelief wrote all over Claude's face. "I know she's still alive. I know she won't

there, crying my eyes

The evidence of my demise was palpable That was my unborn child. Things went to a dead end when getting close to the truth, just like someone had claimed my severed ring finger

home but still couldn't reach me. He texted me, threatening to divorce my spirit if I didn't

helplessly, regretting that I