Rebirth Into My Second Chance

In that instant, I could almost see the tears Kate was fighting back, her emotions teetering on the edge before she pulled them back in.

Claude, with a thoughtful look, glanced over at Kate and remarked, "Kate, why don't you take her over for a bite?"Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Reluctantly, Kate tugged at my hand, saying, "There's an array of delicious cupcakes on the other side, let's go check them out. Don't be mad at me. Pick whatever you like, and it's on me."

Lips pursed, I fished out a sleek black card from my purse: "Claudy handed me the black card."

Kate's face went through a whole range of emotions, like scenes changing fast in a movie.

In a past life, she had feigned an injury from being pushed down the stairs by me, sobbing just to tug at Claude's heartstrings and secure the black card for herself.

This time, perhaps because I had altered my life's trajectory from the get-go, I had beaten her to the punch.

Clutching her champagne glass, it seemed she could crush it with the slightest grip.

Yet, her face remained adorned with an elegant smile. "I always said Claude dotes on you the most. Tonight's your chance to milk Claudy for all he's worth, don't feel bad about his bank account. He's raking in plenty from a single case these days, plus the Goodwin family's backing him up. Taking care of you is no sweat off his back."

I understood her insinuations but shrugged it off without making a fuss.

Soon after, she spotted some friends and sauntered over to greet them, leaving me alone in the lounge area.

Feeling utterly bored, I stood up just as a group of Claude's childhood friends approached me.

Armed with the memories of my past life, I instinctively stepped back, bumping into a cake stand, causing a clattering noise.

"Isn't that Claude's leech?"

"Exactly. Always clinging to Claude, must have made a scene to get invited to the party."

I gritted my teeth and stayed silent while they pushed me into a corner.

"Claire Floyd, you look pretty today."

One of them brazenly sized me up, even attempting to snatch the blazer off my shoulders. When I raised my hand to push him away, he grabbed my wrist with a rogue's audacity.

"Missed pick up

at the hotel last time to

to Heard you were c

late partying. Dressed up so

today for a round with me?"

In my previous life, Claude's friends always pegged me as a party animal, humiliating me time and again in the clubs.

Especially this man named Carl, who now at the party dared to blatantly grab my chin painfully.

"Get your filthy hands off."

I slapped his hand away, about to kick him when I saw Claude and Kate approaching.

Instead, I feigned a stumble, dramatically falling into his arms before bursting into tears: "Don't touch me, Claudy, save me."

But Carl, unaware of Claude's arrival, got even more reckless: "Oh, let's see what color the outfit under this blazer is."

"No, please, Claudy, where are you? I'm so scared."

The very next second, Carl was sent flying with a kick from Claude, who then pulled me into his embrace.

"Carl, what the heck do you think you're doing?!"

Carl, nursing his kicked backside

and wincing in pain, pointed at me and cursed: "Claude, after all these years as brothers, you kick me for this bitch? That's too much! Clearly, she was throwing herself at me."

"Claudy, I'm terrified."

I trembled even more, mastering the art of manipulation I had learned from Kate in my past lifetime.

As expected, Claude, infuriated, told Carl, "Don't let me catch you touching her again. Get lost."