Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

“Being buried together with you would only taint Phoebe’s path to heaven, Stella spoke weakly as she struggled to stand up. “Dexter, you’re bound to regret it when you finally see this. woman’s true face…”

I stood behind Stella, my voice hoarse as I uttered, “Dexter, those who betray the trust of others will go to hell.”

Dexter averted his gaze. “The truth will be revealed come the day of my wedding in two days.”

He still stubbornly chose to believe that I didn’t die yet.

After leaving the police station, Dexter released his hold on Melody’s hand. His figure looked.

forlorn.

“Dexter…” Melody noticed his unusual demeanor and held him up as he almost collided with an iron door.

Dexter waved her off, “I’m fine…”

“Dexter, is there a chance that something really did happen to Phoebe?” Melody carefully asked tentatively.

I wasn’t sure why I was following them, perhaps I longed to shred them into pieces.

“No!” Dexter suddenly lost his composure and yelled at Melody. “She’s not dead!”

Melody flinched, her face turning pale.

Realizing his outburst, Dexter massaged between his eyebrows, “I’m sorry, Melody… You go. ahead. I still have some matters to deal with.”

“Dexter… you still care about her, right?” Melody asked, tears brimming in her eyes.

“Speak clearly, Dexter!” Melody yelled and chased after him when she saw him going ahead, and tears streamed down her face. “You said Phoebe was just like a sister to you. What are you afraid of? Isn’t it perfect if she’s dead? This way, she won’t haunt us again.”

Dexter’s footsteps halted abruptly. He turned around and looked at Melody with furrowed brows, “She’s not dead! She’ll surely appear at our wedding ceremony two days later.”

“What if she doesn’t show up?” Melody nervously inquired.

“No… She’ll be here.”

Dexter kept repeating that I would appear as if he was out of his mind.

I watched him and snorted. Maybe part of him had believed that I was already dead.

Who in their right state of mind would pull out all ten of their own fingernails to put them on someone else’s body?

Dexter must know deep inside that I would scream when I saw a bug, let alone commit murder,

He wouldn’t be crazy enough to think I was the serial killer.

Seeing Melody off with the driver, Dexter walked away into the night on his own.

I followed Dexter and observed him with a sarcastic gaze,

“Shouldn’t you be relieved now that I am dead?” My voice came out raspy, fully aware that Dexter wouldn’t hear me.

Surprisingly, he halted and sharply looked in my direction before he turned back with a disheartened expression and massaged between his eyebrows.

Taking out his phone, he opened my WhatsApp chat.

For the first time, I saw my chat pinned to the top of his phone screen, a sight I found laughable. Was he afraid of not being able to find me when he wanted to taunt or humiliate me

immediately?

“Phoebe, you win.” Dexter sent me a message as he mumbled with a hoarse voice. “Come back. and as soon as you do… I’ll call off the marriage with Melody.”

He leaned against the wall as if he was doing almsgiving or pitying.

Guess the ten fingernails today really scared him.

I gave Dexter an ironic look and stood right in front of him, “You pushed me into hell when I loved you; it was you who killed me, Dexter.”

Dexter messaged me over and over again, but it’s impossible for me to reply to him anymore.

Dexter, I was dead. No one could save me now.

My hopelessness now was nothing compared to when I was alive.

I remember the day when Dexter learned of my feelings for him, his eyes were filled with disgust.

“I see you as my sister, and the Fitzgerald family provides for your needs. Is this your sick idea of gratitude?” He tore my love letter in front of me and scolded, “Focus on studying and getting into college. I don’t want to see you engaging in puppy love.”

The look in Dexter’s eyes was something that really made me desperate.

In fact, he was utterly clueless that I had moved on from my feelings for him since the day he tore my letter.

It was him who couldn’t let go of the past and would never forgive me. When I got closer to other men, he would humiliate me. When another guy confessed their feelings for me, he would. tarnish my reputation.

15:02

There was a long period of self–doubt when I wondered if I was indeed terrible for him to despise me this much.

“Phoebe… Where the hell are you?!” Dexter yelled at the top of his lungs in frustration under the nightfall. “You won, okay? You won, Phoebe. You’ve successfully scared me. Just come back. all right? Come back…”

Dexter crouched on the ground, repeatedly sending the message for me to return.

As I watched his pathetic state, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Was this karma?

Would I return now?

At that moment, I found myself anticipating Dexter’s expression when he discovered my lifeless body. I looked forward to his look when he knew that Melody was the reason for my death..

I looked forward to the day when he realized the whole truth, that it wasn’t me who had pushed her down the stairs.

I harmed nobody; instead, I was the one being bullied behind closed doors.