Rebirth Into My Second Chance

She gently touched the chain around my ankle, her voice laced with concern, "Does it hurt? Mr. Hart gave me the key. He said you could be free as long as you stay put. I know this is his way of testing me."

As she spoke, Lydia pulled out a key and unlocked the shackle that had been cutting into my skin, leaving behind angry red marks.

"Mr. Hart cares for you. But why did it come to this? This way of showing love is terrifying." Lydia seemed even more conflicted than I was. Why did Claude resort to such extremes despite his intentions to treat me well? "Lydia, this is selfish love, focused only on satisfying his desires," I said softly.

I helped Lydia onto the bed, grabbing the antiseptic to dab at the whip marks crisscrossing her back.

Claude was that kind of person. He could be ruthless to anyone but would never lay a finger on me. Yet, I didn't find any pride in that. I only thought he was mad. The Claude I knew cherished his reputation above all. It was no wonder Gabrielle warned that Kate's ambitions could end Claude.

After Lydia got her wounds treated, she relaxed and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Lydia still endured such torment in her forties. When I arrived at the Hart family, Lydia was already there, always looking after Claude and me. Whether I was sick with a fever or a cold, Lydia would stay by my side, covering me with blankets and wiping my sweat away. So, in my past life, how could she betray the family, letting me fall into disgrace?

Then it hit me. If Lydia hadn't done those things in my past life, and it was Kate who framed her, did Claude drive her away not because he believed Kate but because he couldn't stand anyone hurting me?

Even though it was my wishful thinking, I couldn't help but lean toward that interpretation. That version of Claude was even more frightening. He couldn't love properly but possessed the heart of a lover. Getting close to someone like him was a disaster.

I got up, put away the chains, and took a moment to look around the villa. Photos from my childhood were in many places, which meant Claude had prepared this villa long ago.

He once said he'd return to Elmwood Springs with me if he ever gave up everything. The thought sent shivers down my spine.

The love that came too late was worse than indifference. I would have felt moved before, thinking Claude loved me deeply.

But at the moment, I only felt fear. This kind of obsessive love was horrible. If I ever tried to run away, how many people would suffer because of it?

Claude knew I was soft-hearted and would never abandon Lydia, so he took his anger out on her as a warning. If I dared to misbehave, he'd torment Lydia.

I should have realized sooner that

this was the kind of person Claude was. Just like in my past life, when he thought Richard and I had an affair, he had Richard thrown into jail but didn't lay a finger on me. Even my spot in graduate school was left untouched.

A voice sounded from behind, "What are you looking at?"

1.n

I tensed up, my whole body on edge. Claude hadn't left at all. He gave the key to Lydia to see if I would try to run away again. He needed to confirm that I wouldn't dare leave Elmwood Springs before he could really let his guard down.

I couldn't bring myself to turn around.

But then his hand wrapped around my shoulder, pointing at a photo on the wall. This one's from when you first came to the Hart family, holding my hand and calling me Claudy."