Rebirth Into My Second Chance novel Chapter 197

Max was the definition of cool under pressure, never rattled no matter how stormy things got.

But me? I was a wreck, especially since Richard had become unrecognizable and terrifying.

"Richard, I can't go with you." I'd never confess to him that I had been reborn or that in my past life, he had ordered a hit on me. Wasn't he the real enemy?

Yet, Richard had ensnared me with love, blinding me to the truth. A shiver ran down my spine.

"Are you afraid of me? Claire, I've looked after you since we were kids. Was all my affection a lie? What kind of poison has Max been feeding you, making you hide behind him instead of coming to me?" Richard's frail frame belied the intensity of his presence. His sunken cheeks and hollow eyes made him look almost vampiric.

I said, "Richard, I'll listen to your explanation one last time."

"There's nothing to explain. My lawyer will handle it. Today, you only have to choose. Max or me?" Richard was forcing my hand.

"And what do you think?" I shot back with a cold laugh.

"So, you're keeping the baby?" Richard's words shocked everyone present, especially Max, whose calm demeanor gave way to tension. "The baby?"

"Do you want this child to be a bastard of the Hilton family? Claire, the Hilton family is an elite dynasty. They'll never acknowledge the child. Only by overturning the old guards' views can you and the baby have a future. Shouldn't you be thanking me?"

I never expected such words to come out of Richard's mouth. And it clicked why he always insisted I was mentally ill, wanting to send me to a therapist, even a mental institution.

I was just another pawn in his game. He wanted to destroy Max, using me as the weapon. Without me, Max was invincible, with no weaknesses to exploit.

So, his anger stemmed from suspicion of my fidelity.

I stayed calm. "I lied to Richard. I'm not pregnant. I’ve taken the pills Eaton gave me. And we just had sex two days ago. How could I be pregnant?"

"Richard is meticulous. He's not easily fooled," Max said, pulling me closer with a smile spreading across his face. "So, you didn't take Eaton's pills."

"That's nonsense. You sent the pills. How could I not take them? Why would I secretly carry your child?" I pushed against him, but he held me tighter, unable to suppress his laughter. "Claire, you thought you could run away with my child? I won't make the same mistakes as in the past life. From today on, you won't leave my sight."

I had rarely seen Max this possessive, except in intimate moments. "Max..."

Max looked at me. "Claire, thank you for not taking those pills."