“Goodnight,” I managed to say with a light heart, despite the whole mess with Samuel, as I bid Colin


    farewell for the evening.


    His hair was damp, his face pale as a ghost, and the ck jacket he wore made his delicate. features


    stand out even more, shrouded in a mysterious aura that was both intriguing and unfathomable.


    I paused at the doorway to steal a nce at him before entering my room and closing the door behind


    me.


    The Langley family had set me up in a spacious room with a plush bed and a soothing


    ambiance, but it felt strangely empty. In contrast, Colin’s little cottage somehow seemed more


    secure.


    The thought startled me; without realizing it, I was starting to see Colin in a new light.


    But the guy was a murderer, for heaven’s sake!


    Curled up in fear on my bed, I dreaded the lightning, the thunder, and now, the terrifying idea of


    empathizing with a killer like Colin.


    Then suddenly, a bolt of lightning seemed to explode right before my eyes.


    “Ah!” I screamed in terror, hugging my knees to my chest and breathing heavily.


    “Colin… go back to the orphanage and wait for me, be good.”


    “Phoebe, I’ll wait for you forever. If you don’te, I won’t leave.”


    “Phoebe, you promised you’de for me. I’ll wait at the orphanage forever.”


    Memories of the car ident–the familiar yet foreign images–flooded my mind.


    “Boom.”


    A p of thunder roared outside.


    Frightened, I scrambled out of bed, running without knowing why. By the time I came to my senses, I


    had flung open the door.


    “Aah!”


    A strong hand suddenly grabbed my wrist and yanked me against the wall, his lips crashing down on


    mine.


    The room was pitch dark, but I could feel Colin’s presence just outside the door.


    I couldn’t see his face, only sense his breath.


    He seemed frightened too, his kiss desperate, as if venting something fierce.


    I tried to push him away, but he was immovable, my eyes stinging with hot tears.


    “Liar…” He called me a liar in his frenzy. “You told me to go back to wait for you.”


    “Get off me.” I finally shoved him away and pped him across the face, leaning against the wall, my


    breathing more ragged than ever. For some reason, all my grievances came rushing. forth.


    His figure was forlorn, standing there, head bowed in silence.


    Instinctively, I wanted to reach out andfort him, shocked at my own impulse.


    What was happening to me?


    “Boom.”


    Another thunderous roar shook the room, and involuntarily, I sought refuge in Colin’s arms, crying


    harder than before.


    At that moment, all the pent–up sorrow overwhelmed me. Since my parents died in a car crash,


    everything felt like a dream.


    Colin stiffened for a second, then slowly wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight.


    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    He didn’t say a word, but I could feel him trembling.


    “Phoebe, no matter what you’ve be, I’ll find you. I’m sorry, I won’t let anyone hurt you. again,”


    Colin’s grip tightened as he spoke, his voice quivering.


    For the first time, I allowed myself topletely rely on someone else.


    “I’m scared… of the thunder. Let’s sleep here tonight,” I whispered.


    Perhaps it was my initiative that caught him off guard.


    “Ah!” Suddenly, he lifted me in his arms, and I clung to his neck, startled by his strength. He seemed so


    slender, but his muscles were surprisingly firm. Heid me down on the bed and fetched a warm towel


    to wipe my hands and feet.


    In the dim glow of the bedsidemp, I watched him.


    He was a murderer. I reminded myself.


    If he truly was the one who killed all those women, and if thew couldn’t touch him, I wouldn’t hesitate.


    I’d take justice into my own hands.