Rebirth Into My Second Chance

Kate's mouth hung open, ready to protest, but was cut off by Gabrielle's furious table slam. "Wasting perfectly good milk like that. Is that what the Goodwin family taught you?" "Mrs. Hart, I didn't..."

Watching Kate struggle to defend herself without much fight, I found a twisted pleasure in making her path even more difficult.

"Enough already, it's just a glass of milk. Getting a cow from my uncle wouldn't be a problem," Claude stood up for Kate and quickly pulled her away from the scene, leaving just Gabrielle and me behind.

Pointing at their retreating figures, Gabrielle hissed, "Kate will be the death of me one day," then turned to me with tears edging her voice, "Claire, I know you fancy Claude, but you must see, that Kate Goodwin has ambitions. She's not as fragile as she appears. Claude's been deceived. I want you to bring him back to us."

I forced a half-hearted smile.

Claude's heart was never mine to bring back.

Some people, once their heart decides to leave, not even a team of horses can pull it back.

"Mrs. Hart, I'll see what I can do."

I feigned agreement, fearing her retaliation otherwise.

She sighed, dropping the subject.

"Mrs. Hart, next month is Memorial Day. I'm grown now; I should visit my parents' graves, don't you think?" My words caught Gabrielle off guard.

Her tea-stirring became erratic as she dodged the topic, "No rush. Settle your affairs with Claude first."

"Sure."

lightly, sensing my parents' past was filled with secrets known only to

play along with their game,

need to stay at the college for a while. The commute from here is just too

already

near

the

university, planning to uset

given

years to buy it.

the lease

the

with Claude. I worry about opportunists

I'll do my best. But are you sure you won't

cancer was no secret to me, beyond the help of even the best doctors. "Let's wait

down, defeated.

me in my past life,

past life are

a few essentials, I left for my

conveniently located near the university and Century Wellness Hospital, a perfect fit for me. Most

signing the lease, the