Rebirth Into My Second Chance

Max gave me a faint smile. "Nightmare?"

I nodded, the word "home" still echoing in my mind. I shook my head, trying to dismiss the thought. It was just a dream, not a past life or anything. It was probably because I've been thinking too much about where my dad came from, weaving dreams to confuse myself. Suddenly, it hit me. "Max, in that past life, how could you let go of everything and choose to die with me?"

He gently ruffled my hair. "I'd do it in this life too."

"Ugh... don't talk like that. It's bad luck."

Leaning against him, I glanced out the window at the mountains and asked, "Max, have they found Richard and Hannah's bodies?"

Richard was my brother, and Hannah was my aunt, a fact I had no idea how to explain to Max.

My background was already complicated enough without being related to a murderer thrown into the mix. How could Max deal with all that gossip?

"They haven't been found. There's still hope they're alive, and the search continues."

Max helped me sit up. "Feeling any discomfort?"

I shook my head just as his assistant knocked and entered. "Mr. Hilton, the group has mostly turned against us. But we still hold the majority of shares, so they can't really do much."

I frowned slightly, managing to catch the gist of what the assistant was saying despite his quiet tone.

Max nodded towards me. "Hungry? Let's get something to eat first."

"You have things to handle; go ahead," I said, noticing the assistant's urgent look.

But Max didn't budge.

"Mr. Hilton, this is really urgent," the assistant pressed, then turned to me, "Ms. Claire, could you please talk some sense into Mr. Hilton?"

Then he left, closing the door behind him.

I looked at Max, who seemed unbothered as he held out several menus. "These are from your favorite restaurants nearby. I had them send over their menus. See anything you like?"

"Is the Hilton Group in trouble?

Claude?" recalled asking Claude to

spread the news of Max's 'death

during my visit to Serenity Bluff, hoping he'd stabilize the situation with the group.

But now, with Claude missing and the assistant's worried look, it was clear the group was in trouble.

"It's fine. If Claude wants it, he can have it."

He seemed so indifferent to

corporate assets, more like someone in love than a

businessman. It reminded me of my dream where Claude said his life's goal was Max.

But Max would die for a woman.

I was about to hug him when a sudden pain in my stomach stopped me cold. It felt like my insides had just plummeted.

Touching my belly in fear, I asked, "Max, what about our baby?"

He quickly came to my side, lifting me back onto the bed, concern etched on his face.

"The baby?" I insisted, holding onto him.

He just frowned, not answering.

I knew then.

Sometimes, pain comes later because, at that moment, all I felt was emptiness. I didn't know how to express my despair.

I had lost something. It felt like everything.

Why did I lose it? Was it because I

didn't cherish it, or didn't fight for it? It felt like everything was out

control. my

The room fell into a heavy silence.

"Max, I think I want to move to Evergreen Health Center for a while."

He looked at me, surprised by my request, but he didn't argue.

I wanted to help save more people, to do some good.