Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

Chapter 263

As the evening sky began to deepen into a dusky hue, Melody returned to the Fitzgerald residence, a place that seemed to pull her back like a magnet she couldn’t resist.

The word on the street was that Hailey had come down with a nasty bout of arthritis and had jetted off to Sunya Bay to soak up some sun and recuperate. With a heart heavy with worry for Dexter, she had given her blessings for Melody to stay on at the Fitzgeralds‘ to keep an eye on him. She had even made it clear that if Dexter was on board, she would gladly welcome Melody into the family fold.

The Gordian knot that seemed unsolvable was now untied.

Melody should have been over the moon, just a hop, skip, and a jump away from her heart’s desire. Surely, Dexter’s slap wasn’t enough to send her packing.

From the upstairs balcony, I watched Melody with a smirk. If a single slap could send her running, the game wouldn’t be half as fun.

Years of underhanded schemes and slanders from her directed at me within the Fitzgerald household had built up a debt of revenge that was due. To settle for anything less than giving Melody a taste of extreme payback would hardly seem fair, would it?

“Dexter… I’m sorry, I was out of line earlier,” Melody cooed apologetically, the queen of playing coy. “Phoebe was trying to rile me up, and I lost my cool. Hailey asked me to take care of you, and since you’re fresh out of the hospital and still healing, I need to be here for you.”

Dexter, who seemed eager to leave, glanced at his watch and frowned. “Wendy is more than capable of taking care of things here. Phoebe just pointed out that you’re not exactly stable at the, moment. Maybe it’s best if you head back.”

“Dexter…” Melody’s voice was a mix of a choke and tension. “You know as well as I do that not all of the murderers have been caught. If I go back now, it could be the end of me.”

Dexter fell silent, perhaps out of a sliver of lingering affection.

Ridiculous.

I watched the exchange between Melody and Dexter with icy detachment.

“I’m stepping out for a bit. Don’t go picking fights with Phoebe,” Dexter finally said, not dismissing her but quickly moving to leave..

Melody shot a glance my way, her eyes brimming with warning and loathing.

I flashed her a smile and descended the stairs gracefully.

“Why do we have a new maid?” I taunted Melody, unable to resist poking the bear.

She looked like she wanted to devour me, slamming a glass of warm milk on the table with spite. “Drink up.” “I wouldn’t dare touch anything you’ve offered. If I fall ill, Dexter would be the one suffering,” I said, propping my chin on my hand, never taking my eyes off her.

Melody was seething, her breath/uneven with rage. But she was a master at playing the victim, not one to crumble after being framed just once.

She reined in her anger, settling beside me with a facade of calm. “Foebe, since we’re both bored, why don’t, we chat?”

“What about?” I asked, keeping my smile firmly in place.

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11.17

Let’s talk about Phoebe and Colin, Melody said, her smile chilling. “Do you know why Phoebe had to die? 1 had a hunch that the murderer would target her because everyone who ever crossed or wronged Colin ended up dead…”

I frowned, my fingers tensing up.

“Phoebe deserved it more than anyone,” Melody continued, leaning back in her chair. “Colin adored her, but she forgot him and fell for someone else.”

“You’ve heard about the orphanage fire, right?” she asked, toying with a lighter in her hands. “Someone couldn’t stand the gloom a genius cast over everyone and decided to lock them up and scare them with a little fire. But they didn’t count on the old dorm’s faulty wiring turning a small flame into an inferno.”

I struggled to restrain the urge to lash out at her, listening as she went on.

“That day, Colin survived. The firefighters and police found him protected in a corner by a charred body.” Melody shook her head in feigned pity. “Their bond must have been strong. Carter shielded Colin with his body, burned beyond recognition, yet he never moved from that spot, protecting Colin to the very end.” “In the aftermath, Colin was severely burned but alive, while Carter… was gone,” she sighed.

As Melody spoke, my body tensed with barely contained fury, trembling with the effort to remain calm.