?


    "No way," Ste shook her head. "Phoebe Caldwell reincarnating into Melody? Gross... Better off dead."


    The gloom of the past few days was finally lifted in that moment, drawing augh from us both.


    I bowed my head in resignation,ughing till I felt like crying. "Yeah, waking up as the person you loathe most is practically a fate worse than death." Seeing meugh, Ste reached out and took my wrist. "Don''t overthink it. She thinks she can fool everyone, but those who truly cared for Phoebe Caldwell can''t be deceived. Details and feelings are hard to mimic. Who does she think she is..."


    I too felt that Melody was fighting a losing battle.


    But her charade wasn''t for convincing us; it was aimed at Dexter and Colin.


    Dexter had long been brainwashed and manipted by Damian. It was no surprise he believed Melody was Phoebe Caldwell.


    But Colin...


    I tried calling Colin.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    He rejected my call the first time.


    He never used to do that.


    "Colin won''t be fooled by her," Ste sighed. "Phoebe... sometimes, you''ve got to try trusting someone. Constantly doubting someone is exhausting." Ste always had a knack for seeing through me.


    "And if... there really are reasons to doubt?" I still felt there were too many suspicious things about Colin.


    Hiding a murderer and secretly harboring Dorian...


    "Give unconditional trust a shot. Life''s a gamble, might as well bet big once in a while," Ste locked eyes with me before speaking again. "Let me tell you a secret."


    I nodded.


    "I actually have a thing for Robin..." Ste looked down, her ears tinting red.


    My mouth fell open, though I wasn''t really surprised; I''d sensed it.


    "What about Robin?" I whispered, feeling a bit anxious.


    Ah, the innate curiosity of women.


    "He...," Ste took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. "He doesn''t like me."


    "That''s impossible, I think he''s quite nice to you," I was shocked.


    "Phoebe, sometimes mutual feelings aren''t enough to be together. He said he doesn''t like me, and even if he did, it means he doesn''t want to be with me," Ste analyzed correctly.


    Robin''s sense of duty was too strong, and his return to the detective force was inevitable. His job was too dangerous.


    He probably didn''t want to hold Ste back.


    "The other day my mom suddenly


    showed up, found where I was renting, and knocked on the door to see Robin, I told her we were just roommates, but she wouldn''t have it, immediately started talking about arranging a marriage... wanting Robin to marry me..." Ste was helpless.


    I knew about Ste''s family situation.


    Her dad was a piece of work, and her mom was too conservative, obsessed with control.


    "Robin moved out to avoid dragging


    me into it went back to the


    barracks," Stey next to me, looking at the ceiling without strength, just like old times. "Phoebe, life is so exhausting."


    "What are you thinking?" I reached over, patting her head.


    "I think I want to get married. If I do, I can escape my mom''s control," Ste whispered.


    I understood Ste... Back in our


    college days, she''d mentioned if she


    wanted to start anew, she''d choose marriage post-graduation. If neither of us got married, we''d just stick together.


    But now, I was already married...


    To Colin, of all people.


    Ste probably felt utterly alone.


    I looked at her, feeling guilty, yet at a loss for words offort.


    "I asked him if he''d marry me, and he moved out," Steughed, but I knew she wanted to cry.


    Robin moving out of the apartment was his answer.


    They couldn''t get married.


    Robin couldn''t give Ste the life she wanted.


    "Have you guys, like, defined your rtionship? How far did it go?" I whispered.