Rebirth Into My Second Chance

I had to find Richard. But my spirit was fading fast, my upper half almost dissolving into thin air. Was I about to vanish from this world, never to uncover the final truth or witness the day they cleared my name?

'Richard, where are you? Can you come to me, please? I'm fading away.' I muttered to myself. 'Please don't risk yourself for me again, okay? You already spent time behind bars because of Claude's scheme. It was all for me. You shouldn't ruin your life a second time for me!'

It seemed all I could do was cry. I really couldn't do anything else. I stayed at the police station, watching them pore over surveillance footage, waiting for Richard to make another threatening call. But Richard never called.

Claude even showed up at the station, pacing back and forth. He never seemed this worried when I went missing. But when Kate got kidnapped, he was in a frenzy. Suddenly, I wanted to see how far Claude would go for Kate.

"It's been twelve hours. How much time did the kidnapper give you?" Ronald asked Claude.

"Just twelve hours," Claude replied with a frown.

Ronald muttered a curse, then said, "Let's wait a bit more for the kidnapper to ring up."

But Claude got anxious and stood up, saying to Ronald, "Let's hold a press conference now. Tell the kidnapper I'll do as he asks. Otherwise, Kate's grandma might fear the worst."

Ronald's forehead twitched with irritation, and he scoffed, "Your reaction is unusual. Your wife, Claire Floyd, has been missing for days, and you're calm. But the moment your first love is in trouble, you panic."

Claude's face darkened with anger. "Mr. Collins, I've told you. Kate is kind-hearted, while Claire is cunning and willing to do anything to achieve her goals. You see now what she's capable of. She's kidnapped Kate and is trying to ruin her reputation!"

Ronald didn't respond but signaled to a junior detective, who went off to arrange for some journalists for the press conference.

you just made,

Claude snorted in acknowledgment.

getting into trouble because I couldn't think of anyone else who would go to such lengths for

kids in the orphanage. My parents were always away, protecting Claude, so they were hardly ever home. They were close with the orphanage director, and since Richard and I were friends, they had me stay there.

I was happy, like

role to everyone there. He ensured was well taken care of and gave me the best of everything, though, Ke often said those were

and the other caretakers taught us to read and write, told us stories, and taught us moral values. So, it wasn't as Claude had claimed that kids from the orphanage grew up with skewed morals.

parents died,

didn't provide any

just giving some

my parents' ashes, saying I was too young to know what

What if your parents didn't die in a

was too young to

parents' work was confidential. Staying at the orphanage

the Hart family, died protecting Claude, the director just sighed. "I have no way to help you. I only wish for you all to grow

moment, I was also at

had been

died. Everything