Oh, the irony.


    “Look, I’ve gotta run; I’m not in the mood for your BS,” I said, eager to hang up the phone and end the


    absurd conversation.


    you


    “You really think I don’t have evidence of your ties to the murderer, Foebe? Just wait, I’ll drag down with


    me even if it’s thest thing I do,” Melody hissed, her voice seething with malice. “Don’t get too smug.


    I’ve helped Dexter before, and for old time’s sake, he’ll take care


    of me.”


    “He won’t leave me for you. You’re just a passing fancy to him,” Melody continued, fooling no one but


    herself.


    “Oh wow, good for you. Good luck with that,” I said with a smirk.


    With that, I hung up the phone.


    I had ns for Melody, ns to make her life miserable, every waking moment filled with dread and


    suspicion. But there was no need to rush.


    Revenge is a dish best served cold, and I intended to cook Melody slowly, letting her feel the torment I


    had endured a hundredfold.


    “Mr. Caleb sure does adore his wife. He’s been fasting all day, just waiting for her. He won’t touch a bite


    until shees home.”


    I overheard the babysitters gossiping as I descended the stairs.


    They were talking about Colin, how he hadn’t eaten since breakfast, waiting for me. He had been


    waiting all through the noon and hadn’t stopped.


    I sighed as I stepped out of the Langley estate.


    Why was Colin so adamant about waiting for me?


    What was I to him, really?


    “Hey, James, sorry to hit you up out of the blue. I’ve got some questions about our school days that I


    need to ask you for work,” I said, calling James as soon as I was outside.


    I wanted to start digging into the past to uncover what really happened at the orphanage.


    “Sure thing. Let’s meet at the Corner Café,” I said after he agreed.


    Stepping out of the Langley estate, I hailed a cab.


    I


    As soon as I got in, I nced in the rear–view mirror and noticed a ck car trailing me.


    “Driver, take the next left,” I instructed, trying to shake the tail.


    The car behind us took the same left.


    “Now, make a right,” I directed again.


    The car continued to follow.


    I randomly picked a spot to stop, and the car stopped nearby.


    Clearly, someone was tracking me.


    I didn’t head straight to the Corner Café, not wanting to drag James into whatever this was, especially


    since he, too, was from the orphanage.


    Though his number was way down the list, it would take some time for the murderer to reach


    him.


    After getting out of the cab, I pretended to touch up my makeup, stealthily surveying the


    situation.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    A few men got out of the car and mingled with the crowd, their eyes fixed on me.


    I ducked into a restroom, put my hair up, and slipped out amid a group of chatting girls, losing my


    pursuers for the moment.


    I had no idea who these people were, but they were definitely not on the up–and–up.


    They couldn’t be from the Langley family. Ever since I’d given their bodyguard a piece of my mind, Eric


    would’ve told me if anyone was meant to follow me.


    These guys? They were not Eric’s men.


    After ensuring I wasn’t followed through the mall, I slipped out the back and made my way to


    the café.


    When I entered, James was already there. He greeted me quietly, concern etched in his face. “Foebe,


    what’s going on with youtely? Mister told me to be wary of you, said you’re showing signs of


    betrayal.”


    James looked genuinely worried.


    My heart skipped a beat. What did he mean?


    Betrayal?