Rebirth Into My Second Chance

In the end, I never got to taste Max's barbecue ribs.

Because I fled. My heart was wrestling with itself, torn between fear that Max was truly Maximilian, and the dread that he wasn't. How was I to find the real Maximilian? So, I made up an excuse and left early.

Wandering aimlessly through the streets alone.

When I longed for home, the orphanage had undergone a complete makeover.

When I missed my parents, not even a memorial stone was to be found.

No wonder in my past life, even in death, I was a restless spirit with nowhere to go.

I looked up, hoping to see the moon, but it was obscured by clouds.

After aimlessly wandering for a while, I returned to the base of my apartment building and instinctively looked up at Max's apartment. No lights were on; he sure went to bed early. Stepping out of the elevator, I saw Claude standing at my door, no longer needing a wheelchair after a few days of recovery.

"What are you doing here?"

I immediately pressed the elevator button, ready to jump back in if he tried anything funny.

"Claire, let's talk," he said, moving closer, causing me to step back.

"Claude, what's there to talk about? We have no feelings, no complications between us. We're strangers now."

have you given your feelings to?

me against the elevator

"I don't know him."

how did he take you away

indeed Maximilian who had rescued me from the villa

even if I did know him, what's it

can like anyone, be with anyone, but not him." Claude grabbed my wrist and dragged me to

QUMS

right to control me!" I struggled to free my

me. Is it because you met Maximilian? Do you only like people with power and despise me?" The Claude I knew had made a name for himself in the legal world

was the first time I

poverty had left him feeling inferior

then we can talk." I feared he might do something drastic, so I decided to play along

he let go with a cold

a man like

orphan like you. How about I buy you a mansion in Elmwood Springs and you

where he once said he'd

all your plotting was just to turn me into

feelings for me were nothing but

can't let