Rebirth Into My Second Chance

"Let her go," he said, shifting to the side, his voice low as he addressed Kate.

But Kate scoffed, "Claude, it seems you've forgotten where we stand in our little dynamic. Who holds the reins here, huh? Without me, where would you be? Are you still not over her, feeling sorry I made her apologize?"

Amid the public scene, Kate's words to Claude were like a spectacle of madness, stripping him of his dignity. If it were the old days, he wouldn't have stood for it. But it seemed like he had been blackballed in the industry, only to be saved by the influence of Kate's family. "Kate, that's enough," he said, anger seeping through his restraint.

Kate didn't let it go. "Claire, you will apologize to me in front of everyone here today."

The crowd around them murmured, "Isn't that the saviors' child of the Hart family? The original fiancée of Mr. Hart?"

"No wonder Ms. Kate is making it hard for her. She's got the looks and figure that outshine Kate."

"Mr. Hart sure missed the mark. With a beauty like that, I wouldn't mind..."

I clenched my fists. The elite were no different from the dregs. Their concern for a woman's looks disgusted me. I hated being objectified and didn't want to give them the satisfaction of seeing me appear weak.

apology hurt if it had to come to that, channel all my past

"Ms. Kate, Ms. Tracey said you should stop the nonsense, or Mr. Goodwin will

Kate's anger turned to fury, but her arrogance deflated. "Claire, you

She probably didn't want to be seen in such a mess. Or

leaving

got you so scared that you wanted to

together, silent. After a moment, I asked, "You've been looking for Tracie, right? Do you still love her? Or do you want an

en

at my absurd questions, "Claire, Tracie

to

power and that she didn't want to see him tonight.

must have her reasons," Richard said, comforting himself with a sad, hopeless