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."

necklace spoke volumes of his mother's elegance and grace, making the circumstances of her death at the hands of Alan Hilton all

surgeries

he

where I

necklace, only to take it off moments

I'd prefer something more

everyday wear."

super flexible in its design. You can take off the centerpiece and you're just left

couldn't help but jest,

was sweeter than honey: "You are my

mouth to

feeling a profound sense of contentment. "Max, I need to see Ronald. I learned

to work with Ronald

dead. I had no idea she was

said, "However you want to sort this out, I'm

by his protective