Rebirth Into My Second Chance

I stood there, silently tuning in to their conversation.

It turned out many were somewhat aware of the events from years back. I had been living in my bubble, not probing into the past.

As I pondered it, Kate went toward me all by herself. "What are you doing here? I thought you didn't want to work with me. Who even invited you? Want me to have security throw you out?"

Gone were the days when she'd put on a pretense before me. She was showing her true colors.

"No collaboration, but I got an invite," I replied, sipping my drink casually.

Kate scanned the room, her gaze finally settling on Richard. "So, a convict brought you in, huh?"

"Watch your mouth," I shot back. Richard was my shield and somehow my Achilles' heel, too.

with her. Guess who?" Her hinting gaze toward Richard made me uneasy. No wonder Richard had an invitation. Kate had deliberately given it to him. So, could the Goodwin family's heiress be the Tracie Richard had been searching

his searching, Richard learned that she was the fiancée of the head

to find Richard and leave this

Instinctively, I turned back and

hurtful memories came flooding back, disgusting and painful. So, I splashed the orange

Hearing the commotion, Richard

over. I didn't feel like explaining anything to him. Seeing him approach, I grabbed his hand, "Let's go. We

me, so we started to

wouldn't let us, ordering her people to stop us. "Claire,

rejected it. "Impossible. You started it.

Tracey showed up. But apologizing to someone like Kate?

move," I