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.

I left Helen in charge of looking after Max.

I knew Helen wouldn't harm Max, so I trusted her completely and had someone loudly announce my return to my apartment.

Richard had installed surveillance in my apartment, but he 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 down my spine.

I turned away, clenching my fists: "Last night, I went to see Max one last time."

I knew no excuse would convince him, not when I didn't know how much he already knew.

I feigned a sad expression, my steps light and unsteady, leaning against the wall. He reached out to steady me, and I trembled at his touch.

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

"Well, surviving those injuries to

make it back to Crestview Metropolis is a stroke of luck," he said, helping me sit down. "You loved the lobster yesterday, so¶ made lobster and crab for

breakfast."

I glanced at it and said, "Crab is cold in nature; it could cause a miscarriage."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Then let's go out to eat."

I laughed through tears. "Why don't you cook instead? It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Richard seemed taken aback by my suggestion but still opened the fridge, which, despite his long absence, was stocked with fresh ingredients.

He had prepared for everything.

"You planned to cook for me all along? A final breakfast?" He ignored my question, busying himself in the kitchen.

I fingered the packet of pills in my

pocket but ultimately decided

against it. He handed me a bowl of

chicken noodle soup, and seeing me

hesitate with my cutlery, asked "Debating whether to drug me?"

QUMS

I couldn't help but scoff. If he knew about Claude's dealings in the black market, then he must know I'd been with Claude at the Hilton family's place.

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Panic set in. If Claude had declared Max dead, would Richard suspect?

Sure enough, after finishing his soup without seeing me eat, he asked, "Don't you want to eat what your brother made anymore?" That got me to start eating. "Richard, what do you really want?"

He reached out, touching my head, "I want you."

I looked at him, and he continued, smiling, "All the powerful families in Crestview Metropolis, they all deserve to die."

"Max is gone. I can't eat. Let's go to Serenity Bluff instead."