“You know the identity of the murderer, right?” I grabbed Steven’s hand tightly in slight agitation as


    he remained silent. “Tell me who he is.


    A look of panic crossed Steven’s face. He turned his back against me, as if he was avoiding me. “I


    don’t


    “You do know who he is!” His reaction made me anxious. He must know who the murderer is, but


    why wouldn’t he tell me?


    Steven walked ahead in avoidance as he refused to reveal who the murderer was.


    I followed him closely and questioned him repeatedly.


    But no matter how I asked, he refused to budge.


    I had thought of going to the police or telling Zion and Rachel, but right now, I was Stephany… not


    Stephanie.


    No one would believe me.


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    Furthermore, from my interactions with the murderer, I could tell that he was somehow connected


    to


    Stephanie


    If I went after the killer before finding out what was going on, I would spook him while implicating


    myself…..


    I rubbed my eyes in frustration.


    Things were bing more and moreplicated.


    I couldn’t even calm down or figure anything out right now.


    It would have been simpler if I were just an outsider. As luck would have it, Stephany was rted to


    the murderer. If I implicated myself now, it would be harder for me to investigate further in the


    future.


    “Stephie… Let’s go home.” As I struggled frustratedly in my confusion, Steven walked over and held


    my hand.


    I shook him off instinctively. “The Stephie you’re referring to is Stephanie right? I’m not Stephanie,


    I’m Stephany.”


    I couldn’t admit that I was Stephanic.


    Even Steven wouldn’t be crazy enough to believe in reincarnation.


    “You’re Stephanie! You’re her!” He grabbed my shoulders suddenly as if he’d lost his mind.


    He was hurting me. At that moment, I was fearful. It was as if he was consciously “making” me out


    to be Stephanie. Rather than recognizing me as Stephanie, it was more like he wanted Stephany to


    be


    Stephanie.


    He was just like Michael. Both of them were using Stephany, a Stephanie lookalike, as a puppet to


    avold Stephanie’s death.


    Ha, that must be why Steven had been so obedient and rxed recently.


    To him, Stephanie was no longer a person but a persona he created.


    He was truly a lunatic.


    “You are Stephanie! You must be Stephanie, you can only be Stephanie… If you’re not her, I’ll kill


    you. “He was still running amok.


    “Okay, okay… Calm down.” My shoulders were hurting badly, so I tried anxiously to calm Steven


    down and change the topic. “When did you and Stephanie know each other?”


    “Many years ago…” Steven loosened his grasp suddenly and said bitterly.


    “Where did you meet?” I continued asking.


    “The orphanage,” Steven answered.


    I looked at Steven in shock.


    Orphanage?


    What…


    That orphanage?


    My head started to pound. The pain made me crouch to the ground as I held my head in my hands


    in


    agony.


    That orphanage, those adopted red–dressed little girls, red dress…


    Perhaps that was why I found those red dresses familiar.


    My memory wasing back to me. I had an identical red dress when I was a kid.


    But when did Steven and I meet? Why didn’t I remember anything?


    A few years ago, as part of my dad’s act of charity, he sponsored kids from the orphanage and


    donated resources. I’d follow my dad to the orphanage when he was carrying out his charity work.


    Was that when I met Steven?


    Why did I have no memory of it at all?


    “Stephie…” Steven started to panic. He was starting to feel helpless after losing control. Crouching


    nervously in front of me, he said, “Let’s go home.”


    I nodded as I reached my hand out to touch his forehead. His fever was gone.


    “Carry me home…” I whispered as I tried my best to suppress my fear.


    Steven’s eyes lit up. He nodded and turned his back toward me, inviting me to climb onto his back.


    I hesitated for a moment, but I eventually got on his back.


    He was strong and tall. When he stood up, the change in gravity caused me to lose my grip


    momentarily. I hugged him tightly.


    I whispered to Steven, “Stay home. Don’t wander around, okay?”


    Martin and his people would stop at nothing to achieve their goal. Things had changed at the


    Lincoln household. After removing Steven, me, and the child I was carrying, Martin would be able to


    take over the Lincoln Group and the Lincolns‘ estate.