Rebirth Into My Second Chance

I clamped my hands over my ears, refusing to listen. Max, who'd sworn he'd rather die than surrender, was still lying in bed, and I just couldn't bear the thought of going through that again. There were too many people I wanted to save. But I was utterly powerless.

"Claude, don't you die on me," I said before turning and running away.

But at that moment, Claude was actually smiling as he handed a black bag to his bodyguard.

It wasn't until the next day when I used what was in the bag that I understood.

I spent the night beside Max, feeling his body temperature gradually fall.

"Max, you gotta wake up soon, buddy. If you do, we might just have won this thing."

I rested my head on his arm, the one without wounds, and felt his warmth. It was the only comfort I had these past few days.

Without him, life felt empty and meaningless. I fell asleep by his side, and in my dreams, I felt someone kiss my forehead.

I smiled in my sleep.

The next morning, I woke up early to find Max unchanged. He was in no condition to move, but I figured he'd be safe now with the Hilton family.

Helen in charge

so I trusted her completely and had someone loudly announce my return

hadn't come looking for me last night, probably delayed by something. When I opened the door, Richard was there, setting up breakfast. "Decided to come back, huh?" He didn't meet my gaze, but the coldness in his eyes sent a shiver

my fists: "Last night, I went to see

excuse would convince him, not when I didn't know how much he already

feigned a sad expression, my steps light and unsteady, leaning against the wall. He reached out to

do it?" The thought of Max covered in knife wounds, the pain he must've endured... How could

surviving those

it back to Crestview Metropolis is a stroke of luck," he said, helping me

breakfast."

glanced at it and said, "Crab is

moment, then said, "Then

"Why don't you cook instead? It's

but still opened the fridge, which, despite his long absence, was stocked

prepared

along? A final breakfast?" He ignored my question,

fingered the packet of pills in

pocket but ultimately decided