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?"

like every nerve in my body was

mom

a stern look from him silenced me, "You want your parents'

this low blow from Claude, using what I cared about most to

my parents' ashes? I want a deadline," I tried to negotiate

He scoffed, "A deadline? Claire Floyd,

referring

anger over me riding with Max

none of your business. You should give me my parents' ashes by right. I

spoken to

the brakes

"Get out."

moment he demanded I leave, I didn't

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

was he looking

unrelated to me since he's a

But what spot?

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

was to make sure I didn't get that

my fists but

as he handed me an invitation for an