Rebirth Into My Second Chance

Chapter 223

He dropped to one knee before me, a hopeful glint in his eyes. "Can I propose to you with my mom's favorite piece of jewelry, this vintage emerald necklace?"

The memory of Helen recounting how his mother was brutally murdered right in front of Max, her heart literally ripped out by her own husband, pushed me to my knees to embrace him tightly. "Max, it must have hurt so much, didn't it?"

His chin rested in the crook of my shoulder, a vulnerable gesture.

"Claire, it was agonizing, so utterly helpless."

His voice had a raw pang of pain in it, giving me the chills. My hurt was nothing compared to what he was going through.

"Max, it's all behind us now, right?"

Without a word, he leaned into me, seeking comfort in our closeness, as if we were each other's refuge against the chill of the world.

He gently lifted me up to sit on the bed, then retrieved the emerald necklace-a family heirloom of remarkable size and beauty.

"This piece seems almost too extravagant."

making the circumstances of her death at the hands of Alan Hilton all the more tragic. I couldn't bring myself

his face, smiling. "Imagine Mrs. Hilton performing surgeries with this necklace on. The patients would be so

our laughter, he led me

I hesitantly tried

only to take it off moments later. "Let's save

I'd prefer something more

everyday wear."

flexible in its design. You can

me, I couldn't help but jest, "Wearing it makes me feel like I'm about to

sweeter than

my mouth to

to see Ronald. I learned from Richard that the dean's

"I wanted to keep you safe, to work with Ronald and get to the bottom of this before involving you... But now

thought the dean's mother was dead. I had no idea she was behind the murders, even targeting

my shoulders and said, "However you want to sort this out,

by his protective