?


    It seemed to be the perfect opportunity for Naomi, making her ims more credible.


    The Phoebe who had died was not the real Phoebe.


    The real Phoebe had lost her memory in a car ident four years ago and had been taken away by the organization.


    "Colin, do you believe what Naomi says?" Bran echoed the question swirling in my mind.


    Colin didn''t respond, just nced at me.


    I felt a sourness in my nose, a void of safety enveloping me.


    "Why are you sitting between me and my wife?" Colin finally spoke, his voice heavy with an unspoken threat.


    I instinctively looked up, my eyes slightly reddened.


    Just then, Colin kicked Bran lightly and grabbed my hand. "I want to sit next to Phoebe."


    The passenger side, Finn mockingly mimicked Colin, shaking his head, "I want to sit next to Phoebe..."


    Forced to switch seats, Colin ended up in the middle.


    "I was thinking, why did the organization suddenly release Naomi as this maternal figure and rece Phoebe with a new subject... Their goal must be to reim the ''Foebe Larson'' subject, release a new clone, and then... temporarily halt operations,ying low until the time is right to resume?" Colin whispered.


    Finn gave Colin a thumbs up. "That''s exactly what I was thinking."


    Colin squeezed my hand tighter. "That means... Phoebe could be in danger."


    They would definitely use every means to take me away.


    "I think... maybe Naomi is telling the truth. The Phoebe isn''t really Phoebe; what she holds is the real Phoebe." I stared out the car window, speaking again. "Colin, the Phoebe you love, maybe she never loved anyone else; she''s still Phoebe..."


    If this was the conclusion, it would be the best ending for Colin.


    "Phoebe..." Colin tightened his grip on my fingers.


    I nced at him, my heart in turmoil.


    ...


    Naomi''s car stopped in front of a vi in the outskirts of Sea City.


    It was on a hill, surrounded by serene beauty.


    Stepping out of the car, I saw her standing on the second floor.


    She wore a white dress, her hair billowing in the wind.


    My heart clenched, and my steps faltered.


    She wasn''t just simr to Phoebe; she was an exact replica.


    She also looked our way, her gaze finally settling on me.


    Our eyes met, my heartbeat racing.


    A clone and an identical twin...


    A terrifying experiment, indeed.


    Colin was also stunned, involuntarily drawn into the yard.


    Robin cursed in shock, turning to Finn. "Damn... If I hadn''t seen Phoebe''s body with my own eyes, I''d believe she was Phoebe herself."


    Finn frowned. "Don''t you find it terrifying? If Phoebe''s body hadn''t been discovered, finding her, with identical DNA, no one would believe the real Phoebe was dead..."


    If Dexter hadn''t seen Phoebe''s body and firmly believed she wasn''t dead, encountering this woman, he would have been the first to fully believe Phoebe was alive.


    The thought was chilling.


    Was this why Phoebe''s body was disyed in a ss showcase after her death, making her demise public?


    Did she not want to die anonymously, to be reced?


    "Did Phoebe ptan all this? Is it


    et


    possible that Phoebemitted suicide..." Finn whispered. "No... Could the real Phoebe have been the mastermind behind the serial


    ve


    killings? What we found in the ruins was enough..."


    "Shush!" Robin frowned, cutting Finn off.


    Finn paused, then fell silent.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Bran followed, his gaze fixed on the woman upstairs.


    et


    "She''s Caleb''s Phoebe... You''re already doubting yourself, aren''t you?" Naomi stood behind me, whispering again. "Caleb''s Phoebe should be pure, both in soul and body, not someone who fell in love with Dexter, who had Dexter''s child..."


    "Shut up!" I admit, her words enraged me, my emotions spiraling out of control.


    My whole body was trembling.


    Yet, I couldn''t refute her, feeling more like I wasshing out in frustration.


    "Defective, meant to be reimed, you should just quietly disappear, leaving the pure and whole Phoebe for Caleb. The organization will then retreat, going into hiding worldwide. Caleb and Phoebe can live out their band lives in peace. This is the chance the organization is offering you


    Sacrifice yourself,e with us, and the organization will spare Caleb, giving him a clean andplete Phoebe."


    Naomi spoke again, her offer temptingly cruel.