Rebirth Into My Second Chance

I gently wiped him down with a disinfectant wipe, carefully cleaning off every inch of him before moving on to his face.

Feeling his forehead, his fever hadn't broken yet.

"Max, I'm so sorry."

I covered my face, trying hard to keep the tears at bay.

I took Max's phone from the nightstand. I knew his password-it was my birthday. After unlocking it, I dialed Claude's number.

Claude, thinking I was Max, answered eagerly, "Uncle, finally got through to you. Claire's been worried sick."

"Claude, it's me." My voice was weak, still drained from the surgery.

"You're with Uncle?"

"Yes." I glanced back at Max. "I need you to come pick me up from the Hilton family estate. Then, spread the word that Max is dead."

"What are you talking about? Claire, how could Uncle be dead?" Panic edged Claude's voice.

"He's fine. We just need to play along. With Max 'dead', you, as his nephew, can pretend to be overjoyed at the chance to claim the Hilton family fortune. This will make you rally the older generations of the Hiltons to your side. Meanwhile, Richard will make his move. This distraction will prevent Richard from dragging me to Serenity Bluff, so I can confront Hannah myself."

I was out of options. Catching Hannah was something I had to do myself.

The chaos of Max's 'death' would be a distraction only Claude could manage.

"Do you trust me? Claire, after everything we've been through, do you still trust me?" Claude sounded genuinely surprised I'd involve him.

"Claude, having goals is fine, but not at the expense of others. What makes you different is that, despite your ambitions, you never hurt me. Richard, on the other hand..."

He had been responsible for my death in a past life.

"Tomorrow we split up. I'm contacting Ronald to protect you in secret."

I whispered, "That won't work. Ronald's involvement would raise Richard's suspicions. I need to go alone."

But Claude was worried, "Claire, I'm sending something over to you."

After hanging up, I was puzzled about what he could be sending.

I looked back at Max, his brow furrowed-had he overheard my conversation?

After asking Helen to take good care of Max, Claude arrived, drenched from the rain, running through the front door without an umbrella. He handed me a black bag, "Use this for protection."

Feeling the L-shaped object inside, I pushed it back at him in fear.

"Claude, you're a lawyer. You can't break the law."

"Claire, after learning about the atrocities Richard's committed from Kate, I got this from the black market. I can't bear the thought of something happening to you."

I clenched my fists, refusing to take it.

He didn't force me, instead offering

"I'll find you some bodyguards then. If you won't take this." He then handed me a white packet, "This could cause hallucinations.

"Claude!" I couldn't believe he'd forgotten his legal ethics.

"It's for self-defense. What else will you use?"

Resigned, he placed it in my hand, "You don't have to use it, just keep it with you." I knew bodyguards might help, but they couldn't always protect me in time. Catching Hannah was the only way to clear our names.

"Claude, be careful tomorrow. I don't

know who Richard's allies are." Looking at his soaked hair, it had

been so long since I'd really seen him. Now, he seemed just like a familiar stranger.

"Claire, for you, I'd walk through fire."