Page 29 of Reborn to Love You

If Niccolò had asked her this a rebirth ago, she would have been able to deny it in all honesty. But after what he had revealed the last time—

She found herself shaking her head even though she knew how much she sucked at lying. “I never—” All she wanted was to stop him from hurting.

“Basta così!” That’s enough!

But instead, she seemed to have made everything worse.

“When I ask you what’s wrong,” Niccolò said harshly, “I’m not expecting anything for myself.”

And now...

“When I tell you I want to help, it’s not to destroy your marriage.”

All she could do was cry.

“I’m asking...because I don’t like knowing you’re hurting. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

That was what she wanted, too.

Because even now...

She couldn’t get it out of her mind.

The sight of Niccolò bleeding to his death.

And that was what she wanted to prevent at all costs.

She didn’t want him hurt again, least of all because of her, and so...

“I w-wasn’t lying at all,” Payton heard herself choke out. “I’m r-really okay. And I’m s-sure you were only joking about your f-feelings.”

Silence.

And Payton found herself clutching her chest because it was hurting so, so bad.

“That’s your way of saying there’s no chance for us at all.”

Her head jerked up at his words.

“Isn’t it?”

And her tears...just wouldn’t stop falling as she made herself nod.

Because what he said was true, and it wasn’t just because she was married.

There was no chance for them at all...since Payton seemed destined to die, no matter what.

Chapter Six

OKAY, THIS IS IT.

One last shot.

Live or die.

Payton angrily wiped the last of her tears and cracked her knuckles. In her previous rebirth, she had turned down Niccolò’s offer to pay for her hotel. In this last life of hers...

Of course, she had still turned his offer down. Instead, Payton had paid for it herself, and well...