Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

Chapter 13

That night. I didn’t go home. I curled up on a hospital bench to sleep through the night.

The next day when I woke up, I was burning up with a fever.

My phone was silent the whole night; Dexter didn’t call even once.

“Ryder…” I called him from the bench. “About that study abroad thing. I’ve made up my mind.”

“Phoebe, do you have a cold?” Ryder’s voice came through, laced with concern.

“Yeah, got caught in the rain yesterday. Feeling a bit under the weather today.”

“Where are you? I’ll drop off some cold medicine,” Ryder was worried.

“If I hand in the application form today, how soon can I leave the country?” I asked with a sense of urgency in my voice.

At that time, I had a premonition that I might not survive if I didn’t leave.

I wanted to live, to get as far away from Dexter as possible.

As long as I left, it would all be over.

“If you apply now, you can get an acceptance letter in two months. I’ll ask the professor to expedite it. Once you get the notice, I’ll buy your plane ticket,” Ryder said, his voice laced with concern. “Is the cold serious? Should I come get you?”

“No need, Ryder… I’m at the hospital. Thank you.”

that in two months, I would be able to leave Sea City forever, escape

up, I left the

alleys outside the hospital, I suddenly felt lost, unsure where to go. My parents had died in a car accident, the house was sold, and the death compensation was gone to debts. Apart from the Fitzgerald family, I had nowhere

where home was

dizzy, I found a corner to sit down, leaning against the wall and falling back

know how long I slept, but when I woke up, I found a jacket covering me. Although worn. it was clearly washed with care.

the alley was

noticed two plastic–wrapped muffins beside me.

feeling somewhat resigned. A kind soul must

Homeless?

about right.

use my stuff. So, what’s the difference between you and a beggar?”

was no

neatly folded the jacket and placed it with the muffins

kind soul returned, they would

a rustling noise to see

giving it much thought, I walked straight out of the alley and

Fitzgerald mansion, Dexter was

She hasn’t come back? She didn’t come home all night,” Hailey asked. worry etching

adult; she can’t be dead, can she?” Dexter said

stood outside the door, watching

man says his name is Ryder, your senior,” the housekeeper

for a moment,