Rebirth Into My Second Chance

The next day, I returned to the lab, only to find it in ruins, a clear sign of vandalism.

Flanked by two inseparable bodyguards, a testament to Max's promise of protection, I felt a semblance of safety amidst the chaos.

Upon my arrival, Allen hastily pulled me aside, his voice laced with urgency, "You're lucky you were late. I just reached the doorstep when an explosion rocked the interior, followed by immediate flames. Had anyone been inside conducting experiments, they'd be nothing but ash now." The thought of being turned to ash made my spine tingle. The threats to my life were getting alarmingly more frequent.

"The authorities have been alerted, and detectives should be here shortly to investigate the cause. None of our materials were remotely explosive," Allen fretted before his concern took a new direction. "The materials delivered by the Hilton family this morning are all gone. That shipment was worth five million. It's unlikely the Hilton family would send a replacement. Without those materials, our project is as good as dead."

Watching Allen's distress, I couldn't empathize, my mind preoccupied with more pressing fears. If yesterday's doll was a threat and today's fire a warning, was an attempt on my life imminent? I froze with fear, clueless about the identity of my would-be killer, surrounded by danger.

At that moment, an email from Max popped up. [The information on the illegitimate child you were curious about. But remember, Claire, no matter what you find, you have me.]

His words made me hesitate to open the email. Who could this mystery person be? Someone I knew, or perhaps someone closer than I realized? That thought alone made my hand tremble even more.

As I braced myself to open the email, Richard appeared.

"Claire, are you okay?" he asked, scanning me for any injuries.

"Richard, how did you get here so fast? Did news of the explosion reach you already?" I questioned, but he had no immediate answer.

"I was on my way to bring you breakfast," Richard said, gesturing toward the bodyguards carrying an assortment of breakfast items.

Despite his gesture, I remained still, my attention caught by the injury on my hand.

He slipped my phone into my pocket, asking, "How did you hurt yourself?"

"Richard, what are you hiding from me?" I demanded, my frustration mounting.

I hoped my second chance at life would change our tragic destiny, but why did every miserable path lead back to Richard?

As he arrived, I opened the email and found the photo of the illegitimate child was unmistakably Richard. His full name was Richard Hilton.

I felt a sharp pain in my chest,

struggling to breathe, and collapsed

backward, caught by the quick

veet

response of my bodyguards. More guards emerged, forming a protective circle around me, their stance wary of Richard.

Richard's normally gentle eyes darkened in an instant. "Claire, you've always listened to me, and I've always cared the most about you. Let's talk this through

"Talk about what? About you wanting to kill me? To turn me into one of those girls from the

orphanage and burned beyond

เอนมอน

recognition? Richard, those girls et

were once cherished by theConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

headmistress, and they all looked up to you!" A sharp breath escaped my lips, followed by a rush of blood, the taste of iron flooding my mouth.