NovelEnglishLike a turtle retreating into its shell, | shy away from love. Especially now, thinking about someone as incredible
as Max, | can't help but feel utterly unworthy of him. His gaze flared briefly with emotion, but he chose not to
pursue the matter further. It wasn't in his nature to aggressively push forward and claim victory in one fell
swoop. He was like a serene lake, occasionally ruffled by a passing breeze but mostly calm and undisturbed.
| hurriedly finished the spaghetti on my plate and fled back to my apartment as if escaping a crscene.
Just as | opened the door, | spotted the driver from the Hilton family standing outside, ready to punch in the
access code. He was holding several insulated food containers.
His expression shifted to surprise upon seeing me. He started to say something but then his gaze shifted to Max
standing behindand he quickly changed his approach, "The head of the Hilton family sentover to drop
off shomemade soup for Dr. Hilton." | offered a polite smile and then made my exit.
Max's identity was far from that of an ordinary doctor, a fact | should have realized much sooner.
But even if he was exactly who | suspected him to be, why was he drawing close to me?
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When | woke up the next morning, Kate's call pulledfrom my slumber.
"Claire Floyd, open up."
Being woken up early by a harbinger of chaos was far from pleasant, but considering she was as much a victim
of circumstance as | was, | let her in.
"Do you believe me?"
I ran a hand through my hair, skeptical. How could I possibly trust her? In a past life, she had hired Daniel to
kidnap me, and in this life, she had him attackin a taxi.
"How can you ask that without feeling even a little guilty?" | leaned against the doorframe, making it clear |
wasn't going to invite her in.
"I swear, | didn't orchestrate the kidnapping yesterday!"
A smirk played on my lips. After overhearing her conversation with Claude at the hospital yesterday, | believed
her on this matter. "So you know who did?"
"It was my sister. She must have known | was after her, so she struck back atfirst!"
| hadn't met her sister yet; Kate had always been the one guiding me, tellingshe had a sister we could work
against together.
"Kate, I've suddenly lost all interest in collaborating with you," | said, feigning an attempt to close the door.
She stopped the door with her hand.
"Just trustone more time. | know you and Richard have been looking for Tracie from the orphanage. My sister
is the one you're seeking!"
Even though | had suspected as much, hearing it from Kate felt odd.
"Where's the proof?"
Without evidence, and suddenly weary of seeking the truth or any hidden mastermind, | decided | wanted a
simpler, normal life this taround.
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"Kate, even if you succeed, what do
you gain? She's betrothed to the
Hilton family, and once she marries into them, strengthening the Goodwin family, wouldn't that benefit you?"
"Ha! That orphan, that broomstick-riding outsider, a mistress's child, what right does she have to marry into the
Hilton family? If it weren't for her stealing my place, the Hilton bride should have been me, the jewel of the
Goodwin family," she spat, veins throbbing with anger.
Her words leftfeeling sorrowful. It seemed she wanted to seize everything.
When Claude was mine, she claimed he was her first love and tried to take him from me. Now, aiming to marry
into the Hilton family, she was after her sister's position.
"You don't love Claude anymore?"
She glanced atwith disdain. "Claire Floyd, Claude can only ever belong to me."
I slammed the door shut, realizing there was no point in arguing with someone so deluded.
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