Rebirth Into My Second Chance

"Dr. Hilton..." With no other choice, I climbed out of the car, under the watchful eyes of Claude and Kate, and took the passenger seat.

Claude looked lost in thought, a trace of displeasure flickering across his face.

As I hastily moved to the passenger side, Max said, "I never told you my name."

That caught me off-guard.

Rubbing my head, I remained silent.

Max didn't press further.

"Just drop me off nearby, I can walk to school from there," I suggested, thinking it would be a good opportunity to ask my advisor about an internship. Without much ado, Max actually pulled over and let me out.

Watching his car drive away without hesitation, I breathed a sigh of relief, wondering how I was going to explain knowing his name.

Lost in thought, I approached the school gates.

There was Claude, standing at the entrance once again, but this time, Kate wasn't by his side.

I couldn't believe how often he'd appeared in my life just from last night to now, seeking me out personally for the third time.

He spotted me, his long legs carrying him quickly in my direction, and without a word, he pulled me into his car.

"Claude, what are you doing?"

every nerve in my

home. My mom wants to meet

resisted. But a stern look from him silenced me, "You want your

stared at him, disgusted by this low blow from Claude, using what I cared about

parents' ashes?

overestimated him. He scoffed, "A deadline? Claire Floyd, since when did you start making demands? Because of

referring to

anger over me

my parents' ashes by right. I don't owe

had never spoken to

the

"Get out."

moment

left, I overheard him calling his assistant, "Find out everything. And make

he

me since

But what spot?

met with my professor, he regretfully informed me, "You've been absent a lot recently, so the scholarship spot has been

was to make sure I didn't

fists

apologetic as he handed me an invitation for an