Rebirth Into My Second Chance

Chapter 201

"Max Hilton... it hurts so much."

Tears began to shake free, streaming down my face.

"Where does it hurt? Huh?" He stopped in his tracks, his panic palpable as he searched for the source of my pain.

"It's my heart, Max. I never imagined you'd be so badly hurt. I thought you didn't care about me, only about your family's interests. That's why you didn't come to see me for an entire month."

My vision blurred with tears, Max's features becoming indistinct.

He gently held my face, his laughter soft as he kissed away my tears. "Stop crying, I'm right here, aren't I?"

I wrapped my arms around him, my sobs growing louder. "Max, I'm so sorry. Maybe I should never have gotten involved with you back at the orphanage. Then you wouldn't have to suffer like this. You could have been the head of the Hilton family, easily securing a powerful alliance with the Goodwins, without having to fight everyone for it."

He stroked my hair soothingly and comforted me, saying, "Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me. Without you, there would be no 'me' today. The Hiltons don't get to dictate my life." He sounded so confident.

My crying stopped as I began to unbutton his shirt, wanting to inspect his wounds, to see who had operated on him and whether they had done a good job.

at my Claire,

didn't correct him. Instead, I was buoyed by him calling me 'his Claire.' It felt like finding solid ground after being

trying to sound casual. Yet, seeing the bright red scar across

Richard Price and

for this?

to you?" No wonder Richard had been too busy to

past, as long as we're

vast windows closed, and under the dim light of the

the darkness, his

like safeguarding

his low

soft moans, all

longing pouring

the night.

know how I fell asleep, only that after what felt like ages, Max carried me to the bath, and

he held me

I murmured, "Max, do you love

in his sleep, he nodded, murmuring, "Of