Rebirth Into My Second Chance

"Claude, have you lost your mind?" I exclaimed, leaping to snatch the marriage certificate he flaunted with a smug look on his face. "Once we're legally married, it's all above board."

I was determined not to let my life revolve around him again, not to be at his mercy, and certainly not to become his wife.

But he coldly pushed me onto the bed.

After straightening the shirt I had crumpled in my attempt to grab the document, he shot Lydia a fierce look and commanded, "Keep an eye on her." And with that, he left.

I tried to follow, but he waved the marriage certificate, saying, "The more you resist, the faster I'll make it happen."

Frozen, I didn't move further. I knew Claude too well; he was just like Kate, ruthless and self-serving.

"Claude, you can't do this to me."

But all that came back was the echo of my own voice down the empty hallway. The house was vast, a testament to his willingness to spend.

I pleaded with Lydia to let me out.

But she just shook her head. "Ms. Claire, ever since you left, Mr. Hart has changed. He's become terrifying. He either cries over, smashes, or laughs at anything related to you for hours on end. He's nearly gone mad."

I listened but felt no empathy.

"With the mistress also gone, he's become even more dreadful. He's smashed everything in the villa. He's taken a huge blow and has become quite terrifying. And, I can't let you go. He's threatening me with my family's safety. If you disappear, my family will be in danger." I hadn't anticipated Claude's descent into madness in this life.

I thought his obsession with me was just that, an obsession.

But this was madness.

I wanted to call Richard with my phone, but Claude had taken it. I couldn't find it anywhere.

"Mr. Hart didn't want you to be lonely, so he left this tablet full of movies for you. Your phone has been taken away."

Tears filled my eyes, and my mind went blank. It seemed like all my options were exhausted.

He had cut off all my escape routes.

"Claude, I hate you." So, if I wasn't ruthless in this life, I wouldn't stand a chance. I wanted to be ordinary, but needed support.

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"Lydia, can you let me use your phone to make a call?"

She shook her head, refusing me.

"Please, I don't want to be locked away as a trophy for the rest of my life." I was about to kneel when she held me up, "Ms. Claire, I'm just a worker here. My family's lives matter too"

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She pushed me away, turned her face, and cried as she locked the door.

All that was left for me was a bed under dim lighting and a tablet without internet access.

I stumbled, telling myself to stay calm, that there had to be a way out.

Before Claude took me, I had spoken to Max, who had seen Claude's call on my phone. Not showing up for work, he would surely notice something was wrong.

I prayed that Max would realize I was missing.

Sitting on the bed, hugging my knees, surrounded by cameras monitoring every angle, Claude was making sure I couldn't escape. Max, would you come to save me in time, like you always have?

I dared not sleep, continuously praying.