Rebirth Into My Second Chance

Growing up together, Richard had a quirky way of waking me up whenever I clung to my bed sheets too dearly. He'd sneak up to my bedside and tickle my nose with a feather. It got me up quicker than any alarm clock ever could. So, naturally, my mind often flickered to thoughts of Richard.

But my attempts to avoid these memories only seemed to spur on a more passionate invasion of my personal space.

Cold yet soft lips pressed against mine, sending a numbing sensation through my body. I pounded on the guy's chest, exclaiming, "Richard, what the hell are you doing?" "Richard, you jerk!"

The more loudly I protested, the more forceful he became.

"Richard, how could you do this to me? It hurts." Tears welled up in my eyes as a terrifying realization hit me. Then, I realized that Richard was in prison because of Claude at this very moment.

Boom! It was like a splash of cold water on my face. "Turn on the lights! Who are you?"

Panic set in. Who had entered my room and crossed those intimate boundaries?

"Claire, is Richard all you ever think about?"

Suddenly, all went quiet, and I was overwhelmed by a sense of emptiness.

Out of the silence, a deep voice I knew all too well and that chilled me to the bone, pierced the air. It was Claude!

wide awake in an

bedside lamp

saw Claude as exposed as I was, hands

the bed, I curled up, hugging my knees, stuttering, "Claude, I didn't mean to... I just... I had some warm milk. I

fled his room barefoot, not daring to meet his fierce gaze

blur, but by dawn, I heard Claude disposing of everything in his room that I had touched, the bedding, mattress, even the furniture, replacing them all. His disdain

we took no precautions. As I tried sneaking out to get emergency contraception, a servant stopped me, relaying Claude's orders that I was not to

called Richard's assistant, who was there to help me. I asked him to get me the morning-after

assistant arrived

Beacon Hollow's

questioning why I

from outside when the Hart family provided for

tone made me

the food container tore, spilling its contents and revealing the pill. Caught, a servant triumphantly presented

was a swift kick, silencing the

it back!" I demanded, reaching