I stepped in front of Colin, my gaze fixed warily on the group before us.
Dexter knitted his brows, a shadow crossing his face. “Ste, what game are you ying now?” “Oh,
what’s the matter? Can’t face the truth? Afraid to see whether your precious Melody is a saint or a
specter?” Ste sneered, pulling out her phone to y that damning video.
The clip showed Hank sprawled on the floor, crying out in fear, telling them to seek out Dexter. not him,
and revealing that it wasn’t Phoebe who had pushed Melody down the stairs.
Dexter’splexion turned stormy, his face darkening with each passing second.
I watched him intently, searching his eyes for a flicker of guilt or panic – something to feed the vengeful
thrill I was craving.
But there was nothing.
Throughout the ordeal, Dexter seemed to maintain a stubborn disbelief in the footage.
I scoffed inwardly. I had underestimated the depth of Dexter’s love for Melody.
But no matter; the show had only just begun.
“Ste, I know you despise Melody, but this kind of tactic, isn’t it a bit underhanded?” Dexter’s voice
wasden with disapproval.
Steughed mockingly. “Oh, really?”
Putting away her phone, Ste red at Dexter through gritted teeth. “You’re pitiful, Dexter. I wonder
how long you’ll keep shielding Melody.”
“By the way, Phoebe’s phone data was tampered with during recovery – someone had the nerve to
sabotage police evidence right from under the tech team’s nose,” Ste said, her gaze piercing Dexter.
“Your Melody, she’s no ordinary girl.”
“Ste, do you even believe the nonsense you’re spouting? She’s a person, an orphan who was
adopted. She doesn’t have the means to mess with police evidence, and even the Burtons couldn’t pull
off such a feat!” Dexter retorted with visible anger. “I failed Phoebe, and I won’t
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rest until I find the person who hurt her. But I won’t stand idly by while you make Melon’t
scapegoat!”
your
“Dexter, just drop dead,” Ste spat, then turned to me and Colin. “I’ve called the cops, you know. This
is falso
imprisonment. He’s just a suspect with mental issues who turned himself in, and without proof of his
guilt, even the police don’t have the right to detain him. Are you nning on taking thew into your
own hands?”
I backed away, guarding Colin. “Dexter, you disgust me.”
Dexter furrowed his brows, lost in thought.
16:12
Ste nced at me indifferently. “You see? He’s utterly convinced of Melody’s innocence.. Poor
Phoebe deserved better.”
Turning back to Dexter, Ste added, “Once we recover the data from Phoebe’s phone, I’d like to see
how you’ll defend Melody then.”
I held my tongue, took Colin’s hand, and walked away.
Colin’s eyes were cold as he nced back at Dexter. After a few steps, he spoke up from behind me. “I
will always…”
I paused, turning to look at him, wondering what he meant.
“I will always believe in you unconditionally and without reservation,” Colin said earnestly.
In that moment, his expression, his gaze, the way he spoke… so intense, it was overwhelming.
And just like that, it was all too easy to fall for them.
I took a deep breath, and with a bittersweet smile, I realized that maybe, just maybe, I could believe in
the words of someone who was mentally troubled.
Dexter emerged with his entourage, seemingly intent on stopping us, but Robin arrived with backup,
forcing Dexter to stand down.
As I passed by Robin, I instinctively wanted to address him as Officer Robin, but I bit my
tongue.
Robin gave me a nce, then looked at Colin. “Are you his guardian?”
I nodded.
Colin seemed rather pleased with himself, proudly mirroring my gesture.
I sighed inwardly, tightening my grip on his wrist.
Robin checked his watch. “Where was he yesterday and during the day today?”
“He was at the Langleys‘ the whole time. They’ve got security cameras that can vouch for my story,” I
told Robin.
Robin nodded. “Alright. Given his condition, you, as his guardian, need to keep a close eye on him.
Don’t let him wander off.”