Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 329: Just...give us a chance to breathe

Meanwhile, inside the lavish restaurant, Fiona waited patiently for Daniel.

Soft golden lights reflected off crystal chandeliers, casting a warm glow over the polished marble floors.

Fiona sat at a secluded table near the window, her posture composed, her expression carefully rehearsed. She had dressed with intention, an elegant gown clinging to her figure, its daring cut designed to draw attention and leave an impression.

She knew exactly what she was doing. Heads turned as servers passed by, more than a few glances lingering longer than necessary.

Ever since she had been informed that Daniel had agreed to meet her outside the company, anticipation had coursed through her.

The meeting had been delayed far too long, and the waiting only heightened her resolve. Tonight was important. Tonight, she needed him to listen.

When Daniel finally arrived, his presence shifted the air around him. Calm. Commanding. Unreadable.

Fiona rose to her feet immediately, her lips curving into a relieved smile. "Mr. Clafford," she said softly. "Thank you for coming."

He took the seat across from her without returning the smile, his gaze sharp and assessing. "You wanted to meet. Speak."

The bluntness did not faze her. If anything, she expected it.

"I know you’re angry," Fiona began, lowering her eyes as if weighed down by regret. "And I don’t blame you. What happened... it spiraled out of control."

She looked up again, her eyes glistening just enough to seem genuine. "My father is suffering a lot, Mr. Clafford. The cases you filed against his company... they’ve broken him. He barely sleeps. He barely eats. Everything he worked for is collapsing."

Daniel remained silent, his expression unchanged.

Fiona clasped her hands together on the table, leaning forward slightly. "I know I made mistake by bringing reportor to the set." she finally admitted.

"Terrible ones. But dragging this any further will only destroy more lives. Please," she said, her voice trembling, "spare us. I beg you"

She inhaled shakily, as though gathering courage. "I’m sorry," she added. "For my part in all of this. For the things I said to Anna and bringing unessacery attention on the set. If I could undo it, I would."

Her apology hung in the air, carefully crafted, layered with vulnerability and remorse. She watched him closely, gauging every flicker of reaction, every subtle shift in his gaze.

But behind the softness, behind the carefully painted guilt, Fiona’s mind was already moving several steps ahead.

She was not here to beg. She was here to distract. To lower his guard. To make him believe she was cornered, desperate, harmless.

Because while she played the role of a remorseful daughter trying to save her family, a far more wicked plan was already unfolding in the shadows. And if Daniel believed her act, even for a moment, it would give her exactly what she needed.

Daniel leaned back slightly in his chair, his fingers resting against the edge of the table as his gaze remained fixed on Fiona. There was no warmth in his eyes, only measured scrutiny.

"And why should I trust you?" he asked calmly. "How do I know this isn’t another one of your... motives?"

Fiona’s expression faltered, just for a second, before she smoothed it out. She let out a soft, almost broken laugh and shook her head.

"Mr. Clafford, if I had some hidden agenda, do you really think I would come to you like this?" she said quietly. "Alone. Outside the company. With nothing but an apology."

She met his eyes, allowing them to shimmer with restrained emotion. "I know I’ve made mistakes. I know I’ve said and done things I shouldn’t have. But I’m tired of fighting. Tired of watching my family fall apart."

Her shoulders sagged slightly, as though the weight of it all was too much to carry. "I’m not asking you to forget everything," she added. "Just... give us a chance to breathe. That’s all."

Daniel studied her in silence. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Every instinct told him to remain cautious. Fiona had never been a woman to act without purpose. And yet, the exhaustion in her voice, the way her confidence seemed stripped bare, gave him pause.

He looked away for a moment, his jaw tightening as he considered the consequences. The damage had already been done. Dragging things further might only deepen the wounds on both sides.

Finally, he looked back at her.

"I’ll consider easing the pressure," Daniel said slowly. "But understand this. If this is a lie, if I find out you’re playing me, there won’t be a second chance."

Relief washed over Fiona’s face instantly, her lips parting in a grateful smile. "Thank you, Mr. Clafford," she said softly. "You have no idea what this means."

She quickly signaled the waiter before he could say anything else. "A bottle of your finest wine," she said brightly. "We should at least celebrate a little. Tonight deserves that much."

As the waiter nodded and walked away, Fiona settled back into her seat, her smile serene, her posture relaxed.

But beneath the calm exterior, her mind was already racing.

The first step had worked.

And soon enough, this small celebration would turn into something Daniel would never see coming.

***

Daniel finished the last sip of his wine and set the glass down on the table, the faint clink echoing between them. He exhaled slowly, his gaze drifting briefly around the restaurant before returning to Fiona.

"I should leave," he said, pushing his chair back as he stood up. "This meeting is over."

Fiona did not stop him.

Instead, she watched him carefully, her fingers lightly circling the stem of her own glass. Her expression remained calm, almost pleasant, but her eyes tracked every movement he made.

Daniel took a step away from the table.

Then another.

A sudden wave of dizziness hit him without warning.

He frowned, lifting a hand to his temple as the room seemed to tilt slightly. The lights overhead blurred, their sharp edges smearing into something unfocused. His jaw clenched as he tried to steady his breathing.

"What the..." he muttered under his breath.

His footing faltered for a brief second, enough for him to stop and brace himself against the back of the chair. His pulse quickened, an unfamiliar heaviness settling into his limbs.

Behind him, Fiona rose slowly to her feet, her gaze fixed on him, unreadable.

"Daniel?" she said softly, feigning concern. "Are you alright?"

But the question came a fraction too late.

Daniel could already feel himself slipping, the strength draining from his body as the dizziness deepened into something heavier, more suffocating. His vision darkened at the edges, sounds around him fading into a dull hum.

Before he could collapse, a hand wrapped firmly around his arm, steadying him just as his knees threatened to give way. Another arm came around his back, holding him upright.

"Careful," a voice murmured close to him.

Daniel tried to focus, to register who had caught him, but his thoughts were already unraveling, consciousness slipping through his grasp no matter how hard he fought it.

The last thing he felt was the support keeping him from hitting the floor.

And then everything went dark.