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."

of his mother's elegance and grace, making the circumstances of her death at the hands of Alan Hilton all the more tragic.

Hilton performing surgeries with this necklace on. The patients would

our laughter, he led

where I hesitantly tried

it off moments later.

I'd prefer something more

everyday wear."

design. You can take off the

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

sweeter than honey: "You

mouth to hide

I learned from

safe, to work with Ronald and get to the bottom of

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

said, "However you want to sort

reassured by his protective