Rebirth Into My Second Chance novel Chapter 30

"Want a smoke?" Ronald tossed a cigarette toward Max, who caught it effortlessly but placed it on the desk, saying, "No smoking here."

Ronald sighed, pocketing the cigarette as he continued, "About the surgery, could you possibly..."

Before Ronald could finish, Max interrupted, "I've done you a favor and squared away our debts from that hotel incident."

His tone was detached, sounding as if the matter bore no relevance to him, merely repaying a favor to Ronald.

"Not enough. If I hadn't gotten you to Room 6088 at the hotel, you'd be six feet under by now. After all, the hitman was waiting for you in Room 6188. Saving your life isn't something you can repay so easily," Ronald suddenly played the scoundrel card.

I stood there, stunned.

Room 6088 again. Was it the same hotel I visited last time? But there was no way to know.

"I’m not good enough to do that. You want a life, and I'll owe you one," Max coldly refused.

"Not good enough? Then, no one in the country is! Don't think I don't know who you are, Max!" Ronald's words were cryptic to me.

But Max didn't stop, just shrugged it off. "Not interested. I don't mess with stuff that doesn't catch my eye."

Ronald had to pull out a tempting offer, shouting at Max's retreating figure, "I know you're investigating who entered Room 6088. Help me save Scar Man, and I'll help you find out which woman was in Room 6088!"

That made Max pause. Without turning, he said, "Deal."

Ronald smiled, lighting a cigarette and then putting it back.

He shouted again toward Max, "This is making huge waves in the news. Everyone's guessing whether Scar Man is the killer or if Claire is. Saving him is like saving Claire."

When did the narrative shift to me being the criminal? It must be Claude! That day, he told Ronald to look elsewhere, implying I could be involved in such heinous acts. Only he would doubt his wife like that. My disdain for Claude grew.

My spirit followed Ronald to the crime scene, skeptical of finding any new evidence.

But they were the police, never giving up on any lead. As they dug through the charred remains, they uncovered a metal hatch, untouched by the fire but warped.

"It's a hatch! Could there be a basement?" A junior detective called Ronald over, who managed to open the deformed hatch with great effort. Inside, they found a body, not burned but suffocated over time.

I was shocked to recognize the face, even in decay, as one of my kidnappers. Scar Man's scars made him memorable. And in the darkness, only the occasional moonlight revealed their faces.