Melody always had a way of appearing delicate and kind, the kind of woman that sparked a protective


    instinct in any man whoid eyes on her. It was almost like a reflex for them to trust her without


    question.


    Back in the day, guys like Dexter and Hank readily took her side over mine. But her usual tricks


    seemed to have no effect on Colin, who didn’t buy any of her frail acts. To him, she might as well have


    been a she–devil.


    I had to admit, there was a certain satisfaction bubbling inside me, knowing that someone had finally


    seen through Melody’s facade, had glimpsed the real her.


    Even if that Colin was widely regarded as the town’s oddball


    But in a world where lined between reality and pretense blur, who was to say who the real madman


    was? Who was to define what was normal for the rest of us?


    “You don’t want to rile up Colin. If he loses it and ends up hurting you, it’ll be nobody’s fault but your


    own,” I warned Melody with a frosty edge to my voice.


    It was clear Melody feared Colin; she took a couple of steps back to maintain a safe distance before


    speaking in a hushed tone, “Foebe, are you sure…you don’t want to talk about Phoebe Caldwell with


    me?”


    I patted Colin’s hand, “Wait here for me, okay?”


    He seemed reluctant, but after seeing my determined look, he nodded and let go.


    I moved next to Melody, “Let’s go.”


    Colin frowned, his gaze shifting to the bodyguard who was keeping a watchful eye on us from a


    distance, “Follow her.”


    “But…” the bodyguard began in a low voice.


    “Don’t worry about me,” Colin instructed, making it clear that the bodyguard was there to protect me.


    Before we entered a secluded hallway, I nced back at Colin. He sat obediently on a bench, looking


    like he was patiently waiting for me to take him home.


    Once we were alone, I confronted Melody. “Spit it out. What do you want to say?”


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    “ver said I’d tell you everything for free.” Melody rasped. Dexter’s incident had hit her hard.


    “What do you want in exchange?” I raised an eyebrow at her.


    “Dexter’s in trouble, and I want you to use your Langley family influence to keep me safe.”


    Melody’s audacity made meugh out loud, “Ha! Who the heck do you think you are? And why exactly


    should I mobilize the Langley family resources for you? What are you, some kind of


    endangered species? Or do you think I’m a bleeding–heart animal lover?”


    Melody clenched her teeth, “Foebe, you don’t have to be so sharp–tongued. I may not have concrete


    evidence of your direct ties to the murderer, but your emtion of Phoebe, your attempts to seduce


    Colin by taking on her persona – you can’t hide the truth forever!”


    “That’s totally fine for you. You’re so thick–skinned; my sharp words couldn’t possibly make a dent,” I


    shot back, my voice heavy.


    Melody was practically unraveling, her facade teetering on the brink, “Phoebe and Colin were the real


    item! Phoebe lost some of her memory, and she wasn’t in love with Dexter – it was Colin all along.”


    I frowned, feeling a tightness in my chest, but how much of Melody’s words could I trust? “What’s your


    angle in telling me this?”


    “If you’re so set on ying Phoebe, then stay away from Dexter. He’s mine. You can’t have it all both


    Colin and Dexter. You’re being too greedy.” Seemed that Melody was jealous of me.


    She probably never foresaw Foebe stepping into the picture after getting rid of Phoebe, and still, Dexter


    wouldn’tmit to her. She was adopted by the Burton family after all; they might have raised her, but


    they weren’t about to hand over their wealth and legacy so easily. Everything she had, she needed to


    fight for herself. Her whole scheme to marry Dexter was to secure a ce in the high society.


    “Talk or don’t – I’m not fussed, weirdo,” brows furrowed, I cussed, turning to leave.


    Melody probably hadn’t expected me to stand my ground so firmly. In ast–ditch effort, she reached


    out to stop the door from closing, “Foebe!”


    Her face was ashen, devoid of color. I could tell she was desperate. With Dexter still in aa, and


    Dorian arrested and other culprits still atrge- no one was left to protect her.


    “Melody, I’ve never seen anyone beg with such an iron spine.” I said with a coldugh, leaning against


    the door, “If you’re here to ask for my protection, you’d better adopt the right posture and attitude.‘


    Melody clenched her teeth, “What do you want from me?”


    I quirked an eyebrow, “You’re begging for my help. Why not get down on your knees?”