Rebirth Into My Second Chance

Richard said he would check me into a mental hospital.

I protested, "Richard, are you out of your mind? Why would I need to go to the mental hospital? And who are you to decide for me? I'm an adult. I don't need your guardian. What gives you the right to commit me?"

But Richard walked over, gently placed his hands on my shoulders, and looked into my eyes with a seriousness I couldn't ignore. "Claire, you're not well. Let's get you the help you need, okay?"

I thought to myself, 'Am I sick? Why would Richard, who in another life would have died for me, now be trying to send me to a mental hospital?'

"Richard, Claire is independent. It's not up to you to decide for her." Max intervened, all civility and gentlemanly restraint, without laying a finger on Richard. Instead, he came to me and asked, "Are you coming with me, or are you staying here?" Without hesitation, I placed my hand in his. "I'm leaving with you."

I'd rather believe he, too, was reborn than stay with Richard, who wanted to check me into the mental hospital.

"Max, what's wrong with Richard?"

Max swept me away, walked past Richard, and we left the hospital. It felt like I was caught in a never-ending dream where the truth was perpetually elusive.

For a moment, I even doubted my rebirth. Was it all just a figment of my imagination?

"Richard doesn't believe I had a child in my past life. He doesn't believe in reincarnation. Do you believe me? Was everything you said today true?" I was desperate for something to cling to and someone to believe me.

Max reassured me. "I believe you. Because I'm here to protect you in this life."

Looking into Max's calm, honest eyes, I found no trace of deceit. Could it all be true? But Richard said I had no child, and in this life, I wasn't pregnant yet.

It had become urgent to prove my story true and find out the monster who targeted pregnant women at the orphanage in my past life.

When Max and I reached the front door of my new apartment, I blurted out, "Max, should we have a child?"

Perhaps it was too sudden a question.

Max froze, cradling me in his arms. I wriggled free, stood on my tiptoes, and cupped his face. "Shouldn't we have a child? In my past life, I failed eachContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

to protect him. This life, I'll keep him

safe."

But Max's eyes were filled with pity. "Claire, you're talking about putting yourself in danger. I won't let you do that."

He refused to enter the apartment,

so I pressed closer, challenging him. "Didn't you say you came to this life to protect me? If you're with me, I'll be safe, won't I?"

He stepped back. "Claire, it's too risky."

I didn't give up. "Don't you want to help me catch the real killer?"

"That's a job for the police, not a price you should pay. I won't allow it." His voice rose in urgency.

In the wildest way possible, I clung to his neck, not giving him the chance to refuse, with my legs wrapped around his waist.

"Do we have to do this the crazy way?" Max asked, holding me as if ready to give in.

"Yes." I nodded firmly.

And then, he took control, setting the

stage for a different kind of revenge. "I'm terrified I'll regret this approach. I can't bear to lose you a second time."