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

mom wants to meet

the seatbelt over me as I instinctively resisted. But a stern look from him silenced me, "You want your parents' ashes,

blow from Claude, using

I listen to you, you'll give me my parents' ashes? I want a deadline,"

had overestimated him. He scoffed, "A deadline? Claire Floyd, since

was referring to

over me riding with

ashes by right. I

spoken to him like this

on the brakes and

"Get out."

mood was unpredictable, but the moment he demanded I

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

he looking

be unrelated to me since he's

But what spot?

me, "You've been absent a lot recently, so the scholarship spot has been

make sure I

fists but

professor seemed apologetic as he handed me an invitation for an