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?"

nerve in my body was about to

mom

look from him silenced me, "You want

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

I listen to you, you'll give me my parents'

I had overestimated him. He scoffed, "A deadline? Claire Floyd, since when did you start making

was referring to

anger over me riding with Max

me my parents' ashes by right. I don't owe you; if anything, you owe

to him like this

on the brakes and

"Get out."

moment he demanded

I left, I overheard him calling his assistant, "Find out

was he

must be unrelated to me since he's a lawyer, needing to

But what spot?

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

make

clenched my fists but said

he handed me an invitation