Rebirth Into My Second Chance

Claude stood at the doorstep, his eyes lighting up a bit as I got out of the car, but then dimming as he caught sight of Max's ride. "Him again?"

I thought he knew Max, so I just nodded. "Yeah. What brings you here?"

Claude seemed a bit miffed when I asked that. "Weren't we supposed to go to the auction today?"

Then it hit me; yesterday, in a fit to rile him up, I had told him and Kate that I was planning to pick out my own wedding gift at the auction. Turns out, he actually took it seriously and was here to make that happen. "What's the spending limit for my wedding, Claudy?" I couldn't help but tease, enjoying the storm of emotions playing across his face - a mix of irritation and the effort to remain calm.

With a huff, he handed me a black credit card, making me pause for a moment.

In my past life, that card was given to Kate, who never missed a chance to flaunt it in front of me, especially when picking out her wedding dress with my then-husband's money. The irony was suffocating. But this time around, the card was in my hands.

"You give me the black card. What about Kate?" I took the card, figuring there was no harm in accepting it. After all, I was owed much.

"The less you know, the better," he brushed off my question with a familiar line.

Shrugging, I followed him to the car, where a dress and an auction brochure were already laid out for me.

styled, then

I nodded in agreement.

me, probably off to get

my past life, this would've

show a hint of sadness, which seemed to perplex him. He asked,

Kate, right? I'm

act now, but Claude still left

life, and now indifferent, yet he was

What a jerk!

the salon, I found Kate already there, getting pampered.

bag with the

while, Kate finally acknowledged me, "Claire, over here! I've arranged for our top stylist to take care of you." She was decked out in a flapper dress, fitting her affluent

Mr. Hart's younger sister," she said to the stylists. "Claude made me

did the stylists take my bag, discovering the pink ball gown Claude had selected for me

like this for you? It's so childish. It's like he still sees you