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?"

told me they weren't expecting

day, I would've

having one more person love

Claude suddenly snapped at

sees me as a younger sister, and that he loves Kate. I won't cause any more trouble. I'll stay out of your way. That should make

bite of the apple pie, hoping this declaration

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

doesn't just let anyone in."

shifted uncomfortably in

goal was clear: to take a stand and

Goodwin family's heiress, was well-known

Hilton family, clearly looked

me. Was it really just because my parents saved

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

be something special about this milk and apple pie since nobody else got any. Even