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."

elegance and grace, making the circumstances of her death at the hands of Alan Hilton all the more tragic. I couldn't bring myself to ask

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

our laughter, he led

I hesitantly

necklace, only to take it off moments later.

I'd prefer something more

everyday wear."

my reaction, revealed, "The necklace is super flexible in its design. You can take off the centerpiece and you're

the centerpiece for me, I couldn't help but jest, "Wearing it

sweeter than

mouth

learned from Richard

with Ronald and get to the bottom of

thought the dean's mother was dead. I had no idea she was behind the

up, he held onto my shoulders and said, "However you want to sort this out, I'm with you. But no more acting on

nodded, reassured by his