Rebirth Into My Second Chance

I'd been walking for what seemed like hours, no cars in sight, and my phone was as dead as a doornail. Turns out, Richard had my card cut off. Man, that guy plays for keeps.

Just then, the sky decided to throw a tantrum, and a torrential downpour soaked me to the bone. The cold rain felt like a million tiny needles on my skin.

Regret washed over me, or maybe it was pure hatred for how out of control things had gotten. It always seemed like I was the one stuck in the mud, while Richard, he was more like the executioner with an axe, always staying clean.

What was I thinking? Dragging Max into this mess, and now Kate and Claude too. I thought I could trick Richard, but now, my mind's totally blank.

Desperately looking for a ride, a limo from the Hilton estate pulled up in front of me. "Ms. Claire, please get in."

Was that Helen?

Hadn't she told me I was persona non grata at the Hiltons? What was she doing here, asking me to come back?

me, handing me the umbrella, "Ms. Claire, I'm sorry. I thought if you left, Mr. Hilton would be alright. But he's badly hurt, in a coma, calling out your name. I

just knew I wasn't moving fast enough. Hearing Max was hurt had me lose all sense

the rain into Max's room, only to be stopped by Helen, "You need

for Max, thinking she had a shot if I was out of

his identity and causing a scene. We thought of you, an incredible,

been turned into an impromptu OR, with machines and IVs everywhere, his body patched up

from his

swn&

Hilton could have had his high life, serene and lofty, albeit a bit lonely.

forced myself to stay calm, put on gloves, and began disinfecting and examining his wounds,

too deep. But there might have been some infection from the journey back from

at the sight of the wounds. As a doctor, even I