Rebirth Into My Second Chance

Claude was back.

He heard me for sure; he pulled out a chair for Kate while making a sour face.

As soon as Kate sat down, Gabrielle, clearly displeased, put down her apple pie with a huff, the flaky crust crumbling instantly.

Kate knew she had upset her and quickly got up. "Mrs. Hart, I'll just leave," she said.

Gabrielle didn't respond.

Claude got frantic. "Mom, come on, don't give Kate the cold shoulder."

Gabrielle shoved the apple pie towards me. "This is from the Hilton family's personal chef, made for Claire. Their chef usually cooks only for family members, outsiders don't get a bite."

Kate, fiddling with the hem of her shirt, looked like she was about to cry, just like she did in the past. Then she'd run off, and Claude would blame me for hogging the treat and accuse me of stirring trouble with his mother. Just as tears welled up in her eyes, I intervened. "Mrs. Hart, Kate isn't an outsider. I can't finish all this by myself." As I spoke, I passed the apple pie to Kate.

I added, "Mrs. Hart, Kate is a good person, and she really loves Claudy. Isn't it better to have one more person loving Claude?"

Their stunned faces told me they weren't expecting that.

Back in the day, I would've made a scene.

But today, I openly said that having one more person love Claude was better.

"What are you playing at? Don't talk nonsense." Claude suddenly snapped at me, leaving me confused. Shouldn't he be happy?

"I've always known Claudy sees me as a younger sister, and that he loves Kate. I won't cause any more trouble. I'll stay out of your way. That should make you happy."

I lowered my head, taking a small bite of the apple pie, hoping this declaration meant Kate would stop targeting me.

You never know what's going on in someone's mind or what they might plot next.

"Claire, I know you've been wronged. Come sit by me. Our family doesn't just let anyone in." Gabrielle glared at Claude before pulling me closer, offering me all sorts of delicacies. en

Kate shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

My goal was clear: to take a stand and put Kate in a tough spot.

Kate, the Goodwin family's heiress, was well-known in Crestview Metropolis.

But Gabrielle, backed by the Hilton family, clearly looked down on her.

What puzzled me was why Kate was so fixated on me. Was it really just because my parents saved Claude's life?

Gabrielle handed me a glass of milk. "This milk comes from the Hilton family's pasture. Try it, see if it tastes different."

There had to be something special about this milk and apple pie since nobody else got any. Even if it was precious, it wouldn't be for me alone.

So, I handed the milk to Kate. "Kate, you have it. You must be tired from golfing. Drink some milk to replenish your energy."

"Well..." She paused, and just as she

pushed it back, I let go all of a

sudden. The milk spilled all ove

table, mostly on Kate, while I quickly got out of the way.

I started to tear up before Kate could. "Mrs. Hart, it wasn't on purpose, I thought it was too good

for me to keep to myself. I really didn't mean it. Kate, I'm so sorry."