Melody’s forehead was adorned with a bandage, making her look fragile and innocent.


    Her voice was choked with emotion, barely above a whisper. “Dexter.”


    Dexter was visibly irritated and snapped at Ste, “This is none of your business; you’ve got no right to


    stick your nose in my affairs. I’d advise you to stop agitating her!”


    I hid behind the door, listening until the hallway fell silent, then made my way to the window to watch


    Ste and Robin walk away.


    Dexter had a point; the Langley residence was no longer safe, but here, here was a temporary


    sanctuary.


    “Knock, knock, knock.”


    Someone rapped on the door.


    Without waiting for an invitation, they barged in.


    It was Melody.


    She stood there, probing cautiously. “Foebe? You don’t seriously believe… that you’re Phoebe now, do


    you?”


    I cocked my head to the side, feigning confusion. “What are you talking about? Who’s Foebe? I’m


    Phoebe.”


    Melody’s face darkened a shade, her hands clenched tight. “Foebe, cut the act! You’re not Phoebe; you


    never were. Damian’s hypnotherapy never worked on you because you’ve been ying Dexter all


    along!”


    1 couldn’t help butugh. “Aren’t you the clever one?”


    Melody stared at me in shock. “So it’s true. You’ve been faking it. You never had amnesia.”


    “Yep, I was just ying my part, giving Dexter what he wanted the perfect Phoebe,” I said with a light


    chuckle, stepping closer to her.


    Melody red at me with venom. “Foebe, Caleb’s gone, and now you’re setting your sights on Dexter,


    aren’t you? I won’t let you seed. I’ll protect Dexter.”


    “Such devotion. Let’s see how you’re nning to do that,” I said with a smirk, my hand reaching for


    Melody’s throat. “Caleb isn’t dead. And if he were, I’d make sure you all joined him.”


    Caleb wasn’t dead. He wasing for me.


    Melody’s eyes widened with terror as she struggled in vain; she was no match for me.


    I could strangle her.


    Just snap her neck, and it would all be over.


    “Ah!” Dexter burst through the door, and I instantly released my grip, pping myself across the face in


    a mimicry of the old Melody, covering my face and shaking my head with tears. “Dexter, she… I don’t


    understand. She’s talking about Foebe, but who is that?”


    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    Dexter’s face turned to stone, a surge of anger directed at Melody. “Melody!”


    Melody clutched her throat, panic–stricken, looking at Dexter.


    “Dexter, she’s faking it, she is Foebe with an F, she…”


    “Shut up!” To my surprise, Dexter pped Melody across the face.


    I watched, a smile curling my lips.


    So this was how it felt, watching Dextersh out at me through Melody’s eyes.


    Was this karma?


    “Dexter, you hit me…” Melody’s voice wasced with disbelief, her hand covering her cheek as if she


    never expected Dexter to turn on her for me. Sobbing, she turned and ran away.


    Dexter turned back to me, his expression a mix of confusion and panic. “Phoebe, don’t listen to her


    nonsense. It took me so long to find you again.”


    His voice trembled as he pulled me into a tight embrace.


    He said It took him so long to find me again?


    Howughable.


    “Phoebe, I won’t let you go again; I won’t be fooled by her anymore. I’ll trust you, Phoebe… only you,”


    he said, his voice choking with emotion as if he truly intended to make amends for all his past wrongs.


    Too bad, all I felt was his words buzzing annoyingly.