Rebirth Into My Second Chance

I didn't back down, not one bit. Instead, I faced her threats head-on, grabbing her wrist in a firm grip.

"You know, you've started to mimic Max so much now that it makes me want to throttle you!"

The more jealous she became, the happier I felt.

After all, I had come to understand that she was the one person I was destined to take down in this lifetime.

I was determined to dig up every shred of evidence of her crimes, to seek justice for all those she had harmed!

"Tracey, you wouldn't dare kill me now."

She sneered, her nostrils flaring as she shook off my grip and put down the knife.

But what she didn't know was that Max was already making his way down the corridor. Being more familiar with the surroundings, I knew it would only take Max a couple of steps to see us.

I quickly took the knife from her hand and with a swift motion, slashed it lightly across my wrist.

What Max saw when he arrived was Tracey cornering me against the wall, with my wrist bleeding from a cut.

"Ouch..." I clutched my wrist, slowly sliding down the wall.

Sure enough, before Tracey could even turn to curse at me, Max pushed her aside and started to bandage my hand with calm efficiency.

"Dr. Hilton, Dr. Goodwin didn't mean it. She was just showing me how to use a foreign scalpel, and I accidentally cut myself because I wasn't holding it properly."

Lying with absolute perfection was my forte.

"You lie!" She didn't argue, nor did she panic. A real pro.

"Yes, I lied. It was Dr. Goodwin who cut me. I didn't want Dr. Hilton to misunderstand you, so I defended you. But since you're not appreciative, let's just forget it."

All the while, Max bandaged me up smirking, his back to Kate, fully aware that my cut was shallow and would heal quickly even without the bandages. Yet, he still played along, wrapping my wrist in thick gauze.

I couldn't keep up the act any longer

and shifted the focus to Max: "Dr.

Hilton, I was supposed to be at the hospital today, but you insisted of bringing me here. If I'm not

welcome, then I'll just head back to

the hospital."

He helped me up, his face wearing a slight smile that vanished the moment he turned to Tracey, saying, "That's enough for today."

It felt like I was receiving that unique favoritism usually reserved for the main character in those rebirth dramas.

Wasn't Tracey supposed to be the one with a script? And wasn't she engaged to Maximilian?

Yet, Max seemed utterly indifferent.

"Dr. Hilton, I really didn't mean to hurt her." Tracey attempted to explain at the last minute.

But Max simply said, "It doesn't matter."

As we were leaving, I couldn't resist sticking my tongue out at Tracey.

She had never faced death; how could she understand that to survive, one could twist the truth and resort to any means necessary?

But such tactics were only meant for someone as vile as her.

Life, at other times, demanded generosity and justice.

It was just a matter of finding the evidence.

I deliberately looped my arm through Max's, leaning in to whisper, "I heard about this Seafood Chowder place downtown. They serve this amazing seafood broth fondue. Shall we give it a try?"

I thought he was just teasing, expecting someone like him to say no.

But he agreed.

So was it true that he cherished the memory of a simple candy I gave him in our younger, more innocent days? Had I healed some part of him?

"Max, have you been lying to me

about something?" I wanted to give him another chance to admit he was indeed Maximilian. Perhaps then, I might truly let go of the fact that he was a Hilton.