Rebirth Into My Second Chance

Max held me close, his chin resting on my shoulder. For some reason, I felt his vulnerability and didn't resist.

"Let's forget the blood test and head back," I coaxed him like one would soothe a child.

I thought, 'They say men become boys in front of the women they love. Is Max the same?'

Max announced, "From today, we're staying with the Hilton family."

"Aren't the Hiltons just a bunch of old geezers out to get me and the baby?" Thinking of the stubborn old guards at the Hilton family made me shake my head. Safety came first. "Those old fogies don't get to stay in Hilton Mansion," Max smirked, aiming for another hug, which I playfully pushed away. "It's inappropriate. What would people think?" Richard proposed, "Registering our marriage would make it respectable. Would I have that honor?"

A gust of wind swept through, tousling my hair and stirring my emotions. Max chuckled and helped tuck the disheveled strands behind my ear.

In my past life, Claude wouldn't marry me, even if it meant divorce. In this life, Claude would rather have me as the other woman than make me his wife.

In this life and the last, it was the first time someone had wanted to marry me because he felt lucky to have a child with me.

"It's too soon. I'm not ready yet." I shrank back. "Max, I want to find myself first. I don't know if I can stand on the same starting line as you, but I don't want to be who I am right now."

I'd lost everything. All I had left was myself. I needed to become a better version of myself to protect the unborn child instead of just relying on others.

"I've had the lab buy new equipment. If you want to continue your research, I'll support you." Max had prepared everything for me.

"Okay." I wanted to refuse because I considered leaving Crestview to trace my parents' steps. I wondered if my grandparents were still alive and if they had been waiting all

these years for my parents' return.

QUMSContent bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

But then I remembered Richard was after Max, and I couldn't leave Max. "Take me back to my apartment. I need to grab some clothes and stuff."

"We have everything at home. I

moved out of the apartment last month and planned to get you everything ready. I had planned to pick you up the next day, but you had gone. I thought you still loved Claude." Max's lips revealed a hint of jealousy in his smile.

"Claude is your nephew, right? You don't like him, do you?" I teased.

"He doesn't know his place. He shouldn't have hurt you. In my past life, I gave way to him." Max looked at me with a hint of regret.

So, he had been paying attention to

me since his last life, but back then, I loved Cłaude, so he stepped back. But then I died. He desperately searched, only to find my charred body still carrying his child

I was curious. "In the past life, what was Claude's reaction to my death?"

Max answered lightly, "He knelt at your grave and cried for days."

I raised an eyebrow. "Did Claude not erect a tombstone with 'Beloved wife, Claire Floyd' on it?"

"He was afraid I'd kill him, so he didn't dare." I could feel Max's murderous vibe as he said that. It was no wonder they called Max the Grim Reaper.

"So, you set up my tombstone, huh?" I tiptoed, rewarding his cheek with a soft kiss.

They say the wife of this life is the person who buried you in your past life. In my case, the person who buried me in my past life became the biggest blessing of this one.

I had no idea what the future might hold, but first, I owed Max for giving me a place to rest in peace. "Max, thank you for giving me a grave, a place to set my soul."