Rebirth Into My Second Chance

"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.

"Take it back for autopsy." After

finding the new evidence, Ronald seemed more confident. "This case isn't as simple as we thought

Soon, the coroner shared the grim findings with Ronald. "There's no mistake. The dead man's nails and hair had Claire's DNA!"

The revelation sent a chill through the room.

"So, Claude was right. Was this all Claire's doing? My God, what was she planning? So many lives!"

"Claire must be behind these deaths and bizarre incidents. She must have an accomplice."

"She's lost her mind! The Hart family refused her, and now, she's on a spree?"

"Is Kate next?"

The police station buzzed with speculation.

How could explain it wasn't me, that the dead were the real villains, and their harassment explained my DNA on them? And how could, already dead, target Kate?

"It wasn't me. I couldn't kill anyone!" I pleaded with Ronald, hoping for his belief.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

Ronald remained silent, glancing at the mysterious DNA report confirming the victim was Claire. "Keep looking. It might not be her."

I breathed a sigh of relief. Ronald still believed in me, even in death.

But my relief was short-lived as Ronald's phone rang.

"Ronald, Kate's been kidnapped. They demanded I declare Kate a homewrecker and admit Claire was innocent. It has to be Claire targeting Kate like this!" Claude's voice was desperate, sounding like he'd strangle me on sight.

I looked at Ronald, hoping for his continued trust.

But this time, he ordered, "Issue a nationwide alert for Claire Floyd!"

So, he, too, believed I could be the criminal.

'Who would kidnap Kate at such a time?' I thought.

Suddenly, Richard came to mind. It had to be him, acting out of desperation for me!