Rebirth Into My Second Chance

When Max ushered me into the apartment, I was still in a state of resistance, but the sight that greeted me inside left me utterly speechless. The chauffeur for the Hilton family was already seated on the sofa, his posture impeccable. When we entered, he immediately rose to his feet.

I was still in Max's arms, unsure how to face the situation, and my face flushed instantly.

However, I felt a lump in my throat when I saw the two urns the chauffeur was holding in his arms.

Max had said he'd get them for me whenever I wanted. And true to his word, he'd made it his first order of business upon returning to Crestview Metropolis.

He gently set me down, a mysterious smile still on his lips. As Max motioned for me to take the urns, I felt my feet too heavy to move. Why did it seem so easy to obtain something I had longed for yet never received? The Hilton family's chauffeur came up to me. "Ms. Claire, Mr. Hilton asked me to bring over your parents' ashes."

I had almost forgotten to reach out to take them.

The chauffeur continued, "The ashes have been kept at the Hilton family's private cemetery with the highest honors. They weren't given to the Hart family earlier because..."

"Ahem..." Max cleared his throat lightly from behind me, prompting the chauffeur to halt his explanation and hand me the urns.

Max and I remained in the room. Suddenly, I was unable to hold back my

blame for their death. Nor did I know from whom

straightened me up, placing the urns gently on the table, calling my name with a seriousness I

on behalf of my father. I'll accept it if you want the

Is that why you got close to me?" My lips pursed, yet I couldn't bring

to approach you, so I arranged for the school to assign you as my student," he confessed, seemingly unwilling

need some time to think." With those words, I bent down to take my parents' ashes back into my

night in a daze after returning to my apartment.

en

Richard didn't come looking for me; he just sent a message that said, "I'm

"Are you

head, even though he

know why Max is going to this launch? He's missed others that were way more important and valuable." "Why?" I asked,