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.”

I would be able to leave Sea City forever, escape this

hanging up, I left the

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

know where home was

found a corner to sit down, leaning against the wall and falling back into a groggy sleep.

found a

around; the

two plastic–wrapped muffins beside

somewhat resigned. A kind soul must have mistaken me for a homeless

Homeless?

seemed about right.

“You live in my house, eat my food, and use my stuff. So, what’s the difference between you and

no difference.

and placed it with the muffins on

soul returned, they would probably take it

and took a few steps, then turned around at a

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

to the Fitzgerald mansion,

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

an adult; she can’t be dead, can

stood outside the door, watching Dexter’s impatient demeanor, and

there’s someone at the door for you. The man says his name is Ryder,

for a moment,