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?"

faces told me they

I would've made

today, I openly said that having one more person love

Don't talk nonsense." Claude suddenly snapped at me, leaving me confused. Shouldn't he

sees me as a younger sister, and that he loves Kate. I

bite of the apple pie, hoping this declaration meant Kate

what's going on in someone's mind or what they

by me. Our family doesn't just let anyone in." Gabrielle glared at Claude before pulling me closer, offering me all

uncomfortably in her

clear: to take a stand and put Kate in

heiress,

the Hilton family, clearly looked down on

puzzled me was why Kate was so fixated on me.

milk. "This milk comes from the Hilton family's

had to be something special about this milk and apple pie since nobody else