Rebirth Into My Second Chance

To them, my parents' lives were dirt cheap. My existence was initially a threat to them, then something to plug the media's mouth with.

"So, you still want me to help Claude?" I wanted to see how far the Hart family would go to use me.

"Could you please beg the Hilton family for us?" The pleading in Gabrielle's eyes was almost comical.

I scoffed, "Mrs. Hart, aren't you confused? You're the daughter of the Hilton family, not me. What am I to the Hilton family?"

The Hilton family wouldn't even acknowledge my parents as their own.

"Claude told you the truth last night, and the Hilton family believes he's unworthy of their backing, so they crushed him and destroyed everything he had."

I stood up, and my laugh was uglier than tears. From start to finish, Gabrielle didn't care about how Claude humiliated me the previous night, nor did she inquire about what Kate did to me. Instead, she kept shifting the blame to the Hilton family, urging me to plead with them.

I asked, "What am I supposed to beg the Hilton family for?"

"Tell the Hilton family that you won't pursue what Claude did to you last night, nor your parents' deaths, and they'll surely spare him." Gabrielle also stood up, but her emotions got the better of her, causing her to cough violently, dabbing her mouth with a handkerchief, coughing up blood before continuing, "I don't have much time left. I can give up everything, but Claude is my life. Claire, please help me. And I know Claude cares for you. He's with Kate to reach a higher status and spite the Hilton family. You're the one who truly matches Claude."

In the past life, they accused me of morally blackmailing Claude. In this life, they were trying to guilt-trip me. Yet, my parents died because they were too kind, trying to save Claude, not because of some nefarious plot. Alan found it shameful his daughter married someone from the lower echelons of society, refusing to acknowledge it.

So, who was to blame?

'Blame it on too much of my parents' kindness,' I supposed.

I turned her down. "Mrs. Hart, I'm sorry, but I can't help you. Please leave."

Even if I did know someone from the Hilton family, I would keep my distance. Or perhaps, once I retrieve my parents' ashes, I wouldn't even want an apology.

It was a cruel twist of fate. Maybe we should blame the Hilton family's overwhelming power, causing a ripple effect.

My parents lost their lives, Richard went to jail to protect me, and my foster mother passed away from the shock. I, too, have died once in a way.

"Claire..." Gabrielle tried to say more,

but I covered my ears. "Yet my

parents ultimately died trying to save Claude! Even if the Hilton family's power caused this, I won't help you anymore. Please leave."

I needed time to process everything. My parents' ashes were in Alan's possession. How could a nobody like me retrieve them?

After Gabrielle left, disheartened, I

blankly stared at the phone's headlines. [Renowned dancer and the jewel of the Goodwin Group, Kate, charged with assault, now in custody.]

Who could make the Goodwin family abandon their precious daughter, leaving her unprotected?

I should have been happy. After all,

in my previous life, I longed to see those who hurt me face their downfall This life, with Claude in crisis and Kate behind bars, wasn't this a moment for joy? Yet, I couldn't muster the least happiness, feeling like my fate was in someone else's hands.