Rebirth Into My Second Chance

"Claire..." Max murmured against my neck, clearly wanting to steer away from the conversation. His gentle touch was enough to distract my sensitive mind.

He slowly moved downwards, his intentions clear...

Just as things were heating up, there was a knock on the door. "Silas, open up! Silas! Max!" Garrett's voice grew increasingly impatient.

Max sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he gently set me on the bed. "Hold on," he said, striding to the door and swinging it open to Garrett's insistent pleas.

"Brother, do I really have to be king?" Garrett burst out. "I don't want to marry Lily, that crazy tomboy!"

"And let me tell you, I was with little Claire last night and she feels much nicer. Can I just choose her instead?"

"Get lost." Max's voice was ice-cold, and Garrett immediately straightened up.

"Look, you've avenged Mom, and that person is gone. Didn't you promise me you'd swap back once that was done? Bro, you can't just break your word."

"Are you finished?" Max asked flatly.

Garrett nodded, bewildered. "Yeah, I'm done."

Bang-

I heard the door slam shut.

Max really didn't hold back with his brother.

Curious, I moved to check if Garrett was still standing outside in tears, but Max, full of a brooding intensity, hoisted me up over his shoulder. I struggled to break free, confused by this sudden change. "What are you doing, Max? I liked the gentle Max, not this brute."

But Max wasn't listening. He tossed me onto the bed, kneeling between my legs, his fingers gripping my chin with a smirk that sent a shiver down my spine. "So, he held you last night?"

I froze, a cold sweat beading my back. "I thought it was you in the room. When he pulled me in, he hugged me. But he's so bony, it hurt. And I knew it wasn't you because you smell like sandalwood, and he... Ugh..."

My words were silenced by his kiss, as if he was reminding me not to wander around at night without thinking.

I realized my mistake.

.n

But before could apologize, he bit me, hard, yelped, pushing him away, But he swiftly pulled off his tie, binding my wrists. "Max, what are you doing?"

"Are you comparing me to Garrett?"

I was nearly scared out of my wits, thinking he was punishing me for such a thing.

"Jerk," I kicked at him, but he caughtnoveldrama

my ankle, flipping me over. I tried to toss my hair out of my face, only for him to attack my neck againo

"Max, you wouldn't dare..."

He did dare...

"It hurts..."

Resistance was futile. The only option was to soften and plead, and he finally

relented, cradling me and planting soft kisses in my hair.

"Where else did he touch you?"

"Nowhere. He was nearly frozen to death; what could he do to me?"

eine

Max brushed my hair aside, noticing the faint mark on my neck from where Garrett had grabbed me "He choked you? He must have a death

wish."

At that moment, I realized how tender and caring Max was with me, yet how cold

and ruthless he could be with others, even his own brother.

"Max, I ran into something. It wasn't him."

I didn't want Max and Garrett at odds, but he simply grunted and kept at it,

tormenting me until I was exhausted.

Only when I was too tired to move did he leave, as I drifted into sleep.

I pulled the blanket over my head, silently praying for Garrett.

Hopefully, he wouldn't get too much of a beating.