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.

left Helen in charge

Max, so I trusted her completely

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

fists: "Last night,

not when I didn't know how much he

and unsteady, leaning against the wall. He reached out to steady me, and I trembled at

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

those

is a stroke of luck," he said, helping me sit down. "You loved the lobster yesterday, so¶ made lobster

breakfast."

glanced at it and said, "Crab is cold in nature; it could cause

paused for a moment, then said, "Then

you cook instead? It's been a while, hasn't

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

prepared for

for me all along? A final breakfast?" He ignored my question, busying

packet of pills

pocket but ultimately decided