Rebirth Into My Second Chance

It felt like a dream. But I hadn't dreamt it for a while. Yet, it felt so real. Scarface dragged me deeper into the woods. Terrified, I tried to run, but he slashed at my fingers. I called Claude, and he coldly asked why I hadn't just died. Tears streaming, I screamed, "Claude, I hate you."

Curled up, it felt like someone embraced me, whispering comfort.

"Everything's okay."

"It's all okay now."

But I was shaking, too overwhelmed by everything.

When I woke up, I was back in my apartment bed. I knew what had happened the previous night, but waking up in my room was unexpected.

Did Max mean to say last night was nothing? Or did he not want to take responsibility? But I never expected him to. All I wanted was a child.

As I stared at my parents' urns, I wondered where to bury them. What was our hometown? What were my parents' names?

I heard they worked as bodyguards for the Hilton family. Suddenly, they were engineers in medical equipment research for the Hiltons. Was everything about my parents a secret, crafted as needed? But names couldn't just be fake. I called Richard. "Richard, what were my parents' names? The Hart family has always kept them from me."

Richard didn't hesitate, saying, "Your father was Clayton Floyd, and your mother, Lenore."

Their names were beautiful. So, was my name, Claire, a blend of theirs? A token of their love for me?

I kept asking, "And where is my hometown?"

Richard paused a long time before answering.

I sensed something was off. "Are there more secrets about my parents I shouldn't know?"

Richard sighed deeply. "Claire, I don't know much. But your parents' files were confidential. You can get their urns back from the Hilton family and ask them for more details. Alan was in charge then, and Max didn't know everything. He had just returned from overseas. Maybe some of the long-time Hilton employees would know."

My first thought was the Hilton

family's driver. He seemed about et

fifty, a confidant of Max's, someone who'd been with the Hilton family for years.

"Max gave me the urns, and I met the Hilton family's middle-aged driver, but he didn't tell me anything."

Richard sounded surprised. "Max gave you your parents' urns? The Hart family has been asking for years without success."

I was curious. "Why wouldn't Max give them?"

He answered, "Maybe the Hilton family deemed the Hart family unreliable?"

Hearing Richard talk, I felt he was idealizing Max too much.

I laughed it off. "It doesn't matter. I'm

overthinking it. I'll find a cemetery for my parents today." Looking at the

urns,

Helt

a wave of warmth.

Clayton, Lenore. So, I am Claire

Floyd.

wn?

"I've transferred some money for the cemetery plot. Do you want me to come with you?" Richard always wanted to spare me any distress. Since Richard's release, I hadn't worried about money.

I turned it down. "No, I'll manage on my own."

But as I visited the cemetery and the agent showed me around, I spotted Max and Ronald standing by a gravestone not far off.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.