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."

left my appointment slip behind and walked past Max, returning

relaxed. What if Max ever found out

I saw Claude lounging on my

hadn't called me Claire in ages,

up, Mr. Hart? You've secured your career and have the Goodwin family backing you. What do

approached me with something in his hand, saying, "This is for

the ring I had forcefully slipped onto my finger

me? Shouldn't you be giving it to Kate?" I glanced at it disdainfully, but he took out the ring, saying,

tried to take my hand with the ring in his, but I

know you hate me

Even if we can't be husband and wife, the

on

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, getting

of my finger brutally broken, the ring embedded in my flesh, a bloody reminder that falling for Claude or getting close