Steven and the doctor came out together. The doctor was saying a few things to him, and Steven


    looked pretty happy. He came over to me and held my hand. ”


    Stephie…*


    His fingers were a little cool. His grip made my heart settle in my chest. “Is there something


    bothering you?”


    He could always see through me. I shook my head. “No, I’m fine. Let’s go home.”


    I was distracted the whole way home. Peter said that he used to be my doctor, and Ewan said that


    Peter had imed that Steven was perfectly fine while I was the one


    with the problem. What did these things mean?


    “Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Martin has organized a family gathering, saying that it’s an annual affair


    for the Lincoln family. You two have to attend,” Ewan said.


    Steven looked impatient. “What a nuisance.”


    It had urred to me that Martin would find an opportunity to aggravate Steven.


    After all, Steven had foiled Martin’s ns too many times, so Martin was probably already


    suspicious of Steven.


    He suspected that Steven was only acting like a psycho, so this was the perfect opportunity to test


    his suspicions out.


    *Steve, when we get home, I don’t want you to go anywhere. Stay with me. You have to call me


    even if you’re going to the restroom.” I held Steven’s hand, feeling a little


    worried.


    Ewan pulled up at the entrance of the Lincoln family’s residence. As soon as I got out of the car


    with Steven’s hand in mine, I saw Yasmin, who was standing a distance


    away.


    It came as a surprise to me that she could still run around like this when she was supposed to be


    under the police’s close supervision. I nced at her and sneered. She looked haggard now,


    perhaps because she was constantly living in fear.


    She had prominent dark eyebags; it looked like she hadn’t slept well in a long time.


    She approached me.


    I ignored her, wanting to head into the house with Steven.


    Yasmin said, “Stéphany.”


    I nced at her. “What?”


    She seemed to be taking a different approach today. “I came to… apologize to you, Stephany. I’m


    sorry for misunderstanding you and telling the police that you were linked to a murderer.”


    I was surprised. What had gotten into Michael and Yasmin today?


    “The police told me that there’s no doubt over the crimes Simmie’smitted, but they’re still trying


    to track down his aplices. But the fact that no one else has


    died after Simmie’s death most likely points to him being the mastermind behind


    everything.


    “I can’t remain under the police’s protection forever, which means that I need to go


    back to a normal life and job as soon as possible,” she said. She looked like she was


    ready to turn over a new leaf.


    I appraised her. “You’ve gotten off scot–free for killing Stephanie Carlson, I see.


    You’ve got a few tricks up your sleeve, don’t you?”


    I was obviously testing her patience. After a pause, she said gently, “Stephany, that wasn’t what I


    meant to do. I didn’t want to kill her; I just…”


    Seeing that I wasn’t interested in what she had to say, she switched tactics. “I’ll admit that I’m at


    fault here. Because of that, I’ll do my best to make it up to her. Since she’d loved Michael so deeply,


    I’ll spend the rest of my life by his side. I’ll love and


    care for him on her behalf.”


    I was speechless. How shameless could she be? But, I guess I knew what she was doing here


    now–she wanted to mark her territory. Was she warning me not to get close to Michael by


    pretending to be Stephanie?


    “Mrs. Ford has also epted me now, and I’ve already moved into the Ford family’s residence. I’m


    staying in Stephanie’s room, and it’s given me such a profound understanding of her love for


    Michael. I’ll make sure to keep her love for him going. Yasmin wiped her tears. “I’ll take care of


    Mrs. Ford too.” N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    I stood there and watched her performance. In the past, I would’ve been devastated.


    Now, however, it was as if I was an outsider to the situation. I was nothing but a


    spectator.


    I was even starting to think of Stephanie as someone who had nothing to do with me. I could sense


    my dislike for myself…


    I couldn’t believe that I was filled with scorn and contempt for the person I’d been back then. I could


    even feel some of my memories returning. Something… was awakening within me.


    “Has she lost her marbles?” I asked Steven softly.


    He seemed to be enjoying the show too. He looked at me and nodded seriously. “She


    does seem a little off her rocker.”


    Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out!