Rebirth Into My Second Chance

When the woman walked out of the clinic, she was so unremarkable that one might forget her in a crowd. So, Max was into that kind of girl.

The woman crossed my path to stand beside Max, saying, "Dr. Hilton, I'm so sorry to have you bring me here. My husband's heart surgery is in your hands now." That was when I felt like being metaphorically slapped in the face.

Max had deliberately held back, waiting for this moment to humble me, hadn't he?

"Dr. Hilton, is she related to one of your patients?" I blurted out, realizing my error and feeling the need to apologize.

But Max just cracked a cryptic smile. "It's your turn now."

I chuckled nervously. "Yeah, okay."

He didn't ask about the child or if I had a boyfriend. His smile seemed to suggest that my check-up wouldn't go as planned.

Feeling his intense gaze, I lost my nerve just as I was about to turn the doorknob. "Forget it. It's just a minor issue. No need for a check-up."

my appointment slip behind and walked past Max, returning to the

What if Max ever found out

entering my office, I saw Claude lounging on my sofa.

left for abroad, he hadn't called me Claire

and have the Goodwin family backing you. What do you want

something in his hand, saying, "This

I had forcefully

it disdainfully, but he took out the ring, saying, "I intended

take my hand with the ring in

know you hate me now,

meant for you before Kate returned. Even if we can't be husband and wife, the sentiment remains, and this ring belongs to you. His words felt like a punch to

on

the ring was for me, and he even got a size smaller. The irony hit even harder, and I realized that even without Kate coming back, he stiff wouldn't have really understood me,

I refused to take it. Seeing the ring reminded me of my finger brutally broken, the ring embedded in my flesh, a bloody reminder that falling for Claude or getting close to him only