Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

Colin’s hand was clearly injured, a sign of deliberate harm. He couldn’t use a fork, so he was clumsily holding his bowl between his palms. Hesitant at first, he finally set the bowl aside and retreated into a corner in silence.

I softened my expression and reached out to him. “Let me take a look at your hand.”

Colin was naturally guarded, but after a long pause, he gingerly extended his injured hand to me. Seizing the opportunity, I examined it closely from all angles, relieved to find no trace of the scarlet birthmark that belonged to the person who had tried to end my life.

Clearly, he wasn’t the one who killed me, but he was undoubtedly linked to the crime. If not the accomplice, then certainly a co–conspirator.

The serial killings, my parents‘ demise, the memories I’d lost after the car accident…

So many truths… elusively complex, yet seemingly within grasp.

What was the true story?

“Does it hurt?” I asked Colin, looking up to win his favor.

His response was quiet, his large, beautiful eyes reflecting a mix of innocence and intensity.

“Who did this to your fingers?” I couldn’t help but feel a chill at the sight of the deep, turned–out wounds on each of his fingertips.

The Langley family must all be twisted to treat him like this.

“To prevent my escape,” Colin said, nodding towards the window.

Glancing outside, I noted the height. Three stories up. Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

Indeed, with his fingers in such a state, and the burns on his feet unhealed, escape was impossible.

I took a deep breath, anger rising within me. “Your wounds need treatment, or they’ll get infected!”

“Open the door! If you want him to father an heir, at least let him get medical treatment! Are you even human?” I shouted at the door, but no one outside responded.

Colin just watched me, and as I pounded on the door in frustration, he finally spoke. “Phoebe… how did your parents die?”

“In a car crash…” I blurted out without thinking.

But after speaking, I tensed. As Phoebe, my parents had died in a car crash, but as Foebe, my parents were still very much alive.

“I… I just said that. I wish they’d die in a crash,” I backpedaled awkwardly.

Colin didn’t respond, but then he smiled. “Phoebe…” he called my name again.

I turned to face him.

“They won’t open the door,” Colin said as he stood and slowly moved towards me.

Instinctively, I retreated from his approach, still fearful on some level.

He stopped, not wanting to frighten me. After an uncomfortable pause, he spoke up. “Do you want… to get out?”

I nodded. Of course I wanted out. I couldn’t stay trapped here forever, a mere breeding instrument. Only by getting out could I unravel the truth, tear away Melody’s hypocritical facade, and expose her for my demise!

“They’ll let you out once you have the child,” Colin said, picking up a pregnancy test from the table and handing it to me.

I hesitated, knowing he was right, but the thought was unbearable. I couldn’t bear the child of a murderer.

After a long silence, I turned to scour the room for anything of value. Opening the first drawer, I found two marriage certificates bearing my name – no, Foebe’s name – and Colin’s.

“Caleb Langley? That name…” I muttered under my breath, feeling a sense of déjà vu.

Tossing the certificates back into the drawer, it took me a moment to realize – marriage certificates! Foebe and this lunatic… they were legally wed!

“Phoebe…” Colin called my name again, noticing my distraction.

I turned back to him, struggling to maintain a calm and gentle demeanor. “Is there something you need?”

“We need a baby.” he said cautiously, not wanting to

scare me. “To help you get out,” he added. It seemed he believed the quickest way to secure my release was through pregnancy.

Perhaps Foebe had been scheming for a long time, and Colin thought she also desired a child.