Rebirth Snatching Back My Stolen Luck novel Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Maybe it was both.

Even if I knew that he might just be saying what he thought I wanted to hear, I still couldn’t help but think that maybe I was overthinking everything.

Maybe he really wasn’t interested in me.

With that, I leaned back in my seat, crossed my arms, and shut my eyes.

“Since you’re not interested, then there’s no reason for you to call me that,” I said softly, referring to the nickname.

Silence met my words.

I resisted the urge to open my eyes and check his reaction. To see what he looked like in that moment.

O

Just when I thought the conversation was over, I heard him speak again.

“Then do you have a middle name? One that’s rarely used?”

Still on this?

Le

I cracked one eye open and turned to look at his side profile in bewilderment.

What exactly was running through his mind?

Objectively speaking, if he really was interested in me, and I’d just subtly rejected him, then he shouldn’t have both- ered asking this question.

It didn’t make sense.

Yet he did.

On the other hand, if he truly wasn’t interested, then why ask at all?

That made his intention

even harder to understand.

As if he didn’t sense my confusion, he threw me a sidelong glance and said casually.

“You don’t have one?”

“It’s fine if you don’t. I’ll just have to come up with a new name myself.”

I didn’t even know how to respond to that.

He was persistent. And pretty thick–skinned too.

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But speaking of a middle name…

I did have one. Something I’d almost forgotten existed, until he brought it up.

“Elise.”

I said it quietly. My voice barely above a whisper.

And before he could react, I shut my eyes again, not entirely sure why.

“Elise,” he echoed softly.

There was something tender, affectionate in the way he said it.

“I like it. I’ll call you that from now on.”

I didn’t say a word, but the corners of my lips involuntarily curved up slightly, betraying what I truly felt.

1:00 PM

The car drove into the Caldwell Mansion and came to a stop in front of the house.

“Thanks for today,” I said, reaching for the door.

S

Dean stopped me to ask. “When will you be moving in?”

I thought for a moment. “Probably in a few days. I haven’t decided yet.”

“Alright. Just let me know when you’re ready. If you’ve got a lot of stuff, I can help you move it with my car, or ar- range for a moving company.”

Although I was fairly certain I wouldn’t need the latter, I didn’t turn him down outright and just nodded.

“Okay. I will.”

Without further ado, I stepped out of the car and walked toward the house.

I could feel his gaze

him drive off.

on me the entire time, but I didn’t look back. Not until I’d stepped into the mansion and heard

Only then did I glance just in time to catch the last glimpse of his car disappearing down the drive-

way.

LILITH

“Miss, you’re back.”

Over my should

I ran into Uncle Theo the moment I stepped into the living room.

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“Yes, good afternoon,” I greeted with a smile.

His face lit up with a wrinkled grin. “I got your gifts from Tessa yesterday. They were thoughtful. Thank you.”

I waved a hand dismissively. “It’s nothing, really. Just a small token for all the care you’ve shown me over the years.”

“You really are grown up now,” he said, his smile deepening.

“Of course,” I winked playfully. “I’m twenty–two already. I’ve been an adult for a while now.”

He nodded, a little wistfully. “Yes, you’re right. How time flies.”

“I still remember when you were just a little baby, babbling all day long… and now-” he looked at me with quiet nostalgia-“you’re already a young lady.”

I walked over and took his arm, swinging it playfully like I used to when I was younger. “Everyone grows up eventu- ally, Uncle Theo.”

“I guess I’m just slowly realizing that now.”

“You’ll get used to it eventually,” I teased, and the nostalgia in his eyes softened.

Then, lowering his voice, he leaned toward me and whispered conspiratorially, “And honestly, I quite like this new version of you. At least now I can rest easy, knowing you won’t be getting bullied out there all by yourself.”

His words made me teary eyed. Although he didn’t say it outright, I knew he meant to say he was on my side no mat- ter what.

“Thank you, Uncle Theo,” I murmured, my voice thick with emotion.

He patted my hand gently, but a second later, he slipped back into butler mode.

“Ah, yes. The mall delivered your shopping orders this morning.”

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Chapter 38

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