"Look, we can't go after Kate right now." Claude eased his grip, seeing my defensive stance, and said in a calm,
almost soothing voice.
I laughed bitterly. "So, you're the bad guy in all this, aren't you? You always knew Kate was hurting me, didn't
you?"
Living through this life for the second time, | finally saw Claude for who he truly was. For his business empire, he
would go to any lengths.
'What am | even searching for in this life?' | wanted to uncover who was pulling Kate's strings, but even that
person couldn't be as cruel as my husband, knowing fully well | was in harm's way and doing nothing to save me.
| offered, "Claude, givemy parents’ ashes. Let's cut all ties. My family will have nothing to do with you from
here on out!"
The only thing | wanted from the Hart family was my parents’ ashes, to give them a proper resting place.
"No can do," Claude shot back firmly.
| looked at him. "Are you afraid of the backlash? Don't worry. | won't let anyone know how heartless and insane
you've been."
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Without another word, Claude grabbed my throat and pinnedagainst the wall. "I want the empire, and | want
you."
His desperation was palpable as he suddenly tore at my clothes and bit my neck. "Who were you with that night
at the hotel, huh?"
His voice was cold, threatening. | froze, overwhelmed by the humiliation.
Trying to push him away was futile. He was relentless. "Claire, | didn't want to resort to this, but you're making it
hard. You should have been mine."
| shouted, "Claude, you're disgusting. Letgo."
But his actions didn't stop. "I'll be engaged to Kate, and you'll stay with me."
It was the splan as before. No wonder Claude wanted to keeptrapped, not allowingto leave,
because, with Kate, he could achieve his grand plans. And | was just an object to be possessed. "No..." |
struggled, but his grip was too forceful. "Claude, I'll never be your lover. Not even in death."
He sneered, holdingtighter. "Still want your parents' ashes?"
"My parents wouldn't wantto
suffer like this, even in death. They'd rather forsake their ashes thanhurt.grabbed a nearby watering can and
smashed it
Whet
against his head, fueled by a lifetime
of hatred to break free and fun.
But Claude laughed behind me. "Don't you want to know how your parents died?"
| crumbled, feeling as if lead was poured into my legs, kneeling on the ground.
The mystery of my parents’ death was a thorn in my heart, and | desperately wanted to know. But the only ones
who knew the truth were the Hart family.
"It was the Hilton family." Claude suddenly revealed the truth.
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| looked back at him, and he leaned back in his chair, looking somewhat sane.
"Your parents worked for the Hilton family, who sent them to capture my mother, and your parents did die saving
Hilton family f they hadn't insisted on taking my mother away, my father would still be alive!"
The truth I'd been seeking for two lifetimes was laid bare.
Claude said, "Claire, their deaths had nothing to do with me. | never asked them to save me."
| laughed through my tears. Then, a cold breeze hit me, makingshiver in my torn shirt.
"So, my parents died for nothing?"
"If you want to settle debts, go to the Hilton family The ashes, too, should be with them. The Hart family was
only a distraction, a topic for the media. The Hilton family knew,
everything but said not
Claude stood up and advanced toward me. "Why not stay? You still owe a life
debt to my father."
All my goals and reasons for this second life seemed to vanish then. My parents’ deaths were an accident. Their
ashes were with the Hilton family. And even the truth about Kate's betrayal was out in the open.