Rebirth Into My Second Chance

Claude was back.

He heard me for sure; he pulled out a chair for Kate while making a sour face.

As soon as Kate sat down, Gabrielle, clearly displeased, put down her apple pie with a huff, the flaky crust crumbling instantly.

Kate knew she had upset her and quickly got up. "Mrs. Hart, I'll just leave," she said.

Gabrielle didn't respond.

Claude got frantic. "Mom, come on, don't give Kate the cold shoulder."

Gabrielle shoved the apple pie towards me. "This is from the Hilton family's personal chef, made for Claire. Their chef usually cooks only for family members, outsiders don't get a bite."

Kate, fiddling with the hem of her shirt, looked like she was about to cry, just like she did in the past. Then she'd run off, and Claude would blame me for hogging the treat and accuse me of stirring trouble with his mother. Just as tears welled up in her eyes, I intervened. "Mrs. Hart, Kate isn't an outsider. I can't finish all this by myself." As I spoke, I passed the apple pie to Kate.

I added, "Mrs. Hart, Kate is a good person, and she really loves Claudy. Isn't it better to have one more person loving Claude?"

stunned faces told me they

I

that having one more person

are you playing at? Don't talk nonsense." Claude suddenly snapped at me, leaving me confused.

loves Kate. I won't cause any more trouble. I'll stay out

my head, taking a small bite of the apple pie, hoping this declaration

going on in someone's mind or

me. Our family doesn't just let anyone in." Gabrielle glared at Claude

uncomfortably in her

clear: to take a stand and put Kate in a

the Goodwin family's heiress, was

Gabrielle, backed by the Hilton family, clearly looked down

fixated on me. Was it really just because my parents saved Claude's

handed me a glass of milk. "This milk comes from the Hilton family's pasture. Try

and apple pie since nobody else got any. Even