Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

"Are you gonna miss me if I leave?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He didn't say anything, but his eyes were shattering.

"If it hurts you, then just make me stay," I pleaded, my voice cracking as I stretched my arms out to Colin.

Why did he always feel so insecure?

All he had to do was say the word, and I wouldn't go anywhere.

Colin just looked at me, not uttering a sound, but pulled me into a tight embrace, his gaze icy as it fixed on Dexter.

Dexter looked upset. "Caleb, let's see how long you can keep this act up."

At that moment, Dexter might've gotten why I had such a hard time with Melody.

Because no matter what I did, Dexter always stood by Melody first. Content held by NôvelDrama.Org.

Seeing it from another angle, maybe he was the one who couldn't handle it first.

"Back then... did Phoebe beg you too, begging you to believe her?" Colin finally spoke, a warning edge to his voice directed at Dexter. "But you chose Melody, and pushed Phoebe to the brink, didn't you?"

Colin pressed my head against his chest, possessively, not allowing me to see Dexter. His voice was hoarse and heavy with a dark oppression. "You're right. I'm no fool. The charade was to survive the cracks, to live past twenty. That's my life, not for someone like you to judge."

Dexter frowned, clearly feeling the weight of Caleb's presence.

Robin and Stella were just as shocked, staring at Colin.

Had he been pretending all along?

"From now on, I'm gonna protect her my way. She's mine, and I won't let go," Colin declared, tightening his grip on me as if staking his claim.

"Oh really?" Dexter scoffed. "If Henry was that easy to handle, you wouldn't have played the fool for so long. Think you've grown wings now? That kid was just another piece in your game against Henry, right? From the start, you never intended for 'Foebe Larson's' kid to survive. It's all part of your plan."

Dexter pulled out his phone. "The Langley family estate battle, Julian killing your kid, and now the press suddenly siding with you—don't tell me this isn't your doing. Those reporters were your pawns from the get-go, shielding you from Henry's reach!"

Colin remained silent, done with explanations.

I looked up at Colin, my eyes jumping with realization.

So, he wasn't the fool after all.

Was everything Dexter said true?

Was this all part of his grand scheme? Including me and this child?

To take over everything the Langley family had, he'd been plotting from the start?

My gaze heated up, and I instinctively took a step back.

I felt lost. Death was confusing, rebirth was confusing, and now even trust was a maze.

With so many memories lost, I couldn't even trust myself.

"Turns out you're no fool, how cool is that," Stella exclaimed, her thought process clearly different from the rest of us. "Does this mean you can really protect Phoebe now..."

But seeing the tension between Colin and me, Stella's confidence waned.

Robin tugged at Stella, signaling her to pipe down.

Seeing my doubt in Colin, Dexter seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "I told you, I'd never lie to you. I'll let you make your own mistakes as long as you're safe, and when you see things clearly, just come back. I'll always be here."

Dexter stepped closer, addressing me again. "Make sure you read your parents' journals when you get a chance."

At the mention of the journals, Colin's head snapped up, his eyes reflecting panic, as if he feared something.

"Phoebe..." he said anxiously. "Don't read them. Don't believe them."

Dexter's cold eyes met Caleb's. "What's wrong? You scared?"