Rebirth Into My Second Chance

I couldn't help feeling a surge of hope when Max stepped into the picture.

Thanks to him, the puzzle of my death seemed to be getting solved faster. They had nailed the killer, inching closer to identifying my charred remains as the wronged spirit sentenced by my husband's hand. "If we've got the culprit, the rest is up to you," Max said, stretching leisurely before sipping his whiskey, an air of detachment about him as if he'd have stayed out of it if not for Ronald roping him in. But regardless, I felt grateful for Max's involvement.

"Once we sort the paperwork tomorrow, I'll call you. If the DNA confirms it's Claire Floyd, we'll have this case cracked wide open!" said Ronald.

Ronald's dedication to uncovering the truth about my fate had not gone unnoticed, and I was thankful for it. My spirit decided to stick with Ronald, eager for the truth to emerge.

When Scar Man and his crew got nabbed outside the bar, Claude and his childhood friends stepped out from their private room and ran into Ronald and his team.

Claude nodded politely at Ronald, who, though indifferent, returned the gesture with a courteous smile.

With his gaze fixed on Scar Man, Claude recognized them from an earlier confrontation and asked, "Mr. Collins, what's their offense?"

"They're linked to Claire's case. We need to bring them in for questioning. I hope, Mr. Hart, you can stand before me tomorrow just as well," Ronald replied, eyeing Claude.

With a smirk, Claude shot back, "The innocent have got nothing to be scared of."

As Scar Man passed Claude, he burst into laughter, mouthing a question that struck a nerve. "Do you want Claire or Kate?"

Claude sensed something amiss, his connection to Kate puzzling him.

Yet, before any further reaction, a truck barreled out of nowhere, slamming into the vehicle carrying Scar Man and his accomplices, igniting a ferocious fire, which had thrown Ronald ten feet away, and Ronald struggled to his feet amid curses. My spirit froze, witnessing the lengths someone would go to conceal the truth of my death.

Scar Man's sudden demise, were my

the flames, feeling my

death to remain a mystery, with Scar Man's orchestrator

other detectives, Ronald stood up, furiously checked his phone, and got called back

his realization of the situation's gravity setting in. Every lead tied to Claire seemed cursed

He approached Ronald, suggesting,

Claire. As a

member, I believe she's

The more you

might harm."

I thought, 'Is Claude implying the explosion was my doing?

dismissive of

to avoid divorce at all costs, even fabricating tales to gain the Hart family's

wondering if Claude could get more above himself. Even the detectives

expression darkened with every

the best lawyer in Crestview Metropolis. What a shame." Ronald spat out a mouthful of blood and turned

Claude snorted toward his retreating figure. "Claire's parents died saving me. She had no

hearing Claude, Ronald stopped in his tracks. They didn't know this accident well, thinking it might be some clue to

continued, "To

into the family, she used every trick and everyone around. After all these years together, I thought Claire had given up on revenge. However,

as a spiteful spirit, a story I knew too