Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

Chapter 30

“You’re nothing but a ball and chain, so stop hanging around my cousin.”

It was my freshman year at college, and Hank and I were classmates. We weren’t in the same faculty, but we shared the newbie status. I’ve always been a softie, so I let his comment–slide without a fuss.

But Hank was relentless. “Phoebe, why so high and mighty every single day? You’re just a nobody but a little tramp kept by the Fitzgerald family. My cousin’s just keeping you warm at night, and do why you think you’re some kind of lady?”

The people around Hank snickered, “Sure, she’s a lady. But she’s ‘Lady Escort“.”

I felt my face flush with humiliation, the sting of tears threatening to show.

Hank, with his entourage, circled me and spewed insults.

Desperate to escape, I turned and saw Dexter standing nearby, his face stormy.

I looked at him and pleaded for help.

But it was the first time he looked at me with such cold indifference; his gaze was filled with disgust before he turned and walked away.

Because he did nothing, Hank grew bolder in his harassment.

Then, on a crisp autumn day during my twentieth year, at the birthday gala for Dexter’s mother, Hank found his moment and pinned me down in the shrubbery of the back garden.

“Phoebe, so many men have had a piece of you. Why

當

have all the fun. Let me in on the

tried to push him off, but he was

scream, but his hand clamped

and I’ll kill you.” He

wasn’t afraid to die, but he

you’ve got the hots for my cousin. The Fitzgeralds took you in out of charity, and you bite the hand that feeds you, thinking you can trap him with some marriage contract.” Hank sneered. He continued as he watched me struggle, “I’ll tell you the truth, Dexter sent me to teach you a lesson,

fighting. My eyes were filled

his grip on my wrists and started

15.02

grabbed a rock from the ground and smashed it against his

pain flashing in his

a long time. Until

had to

I had to leave.

dying at the hands of the Fitzgeralds. I would be dying by

relentlessly, striving for honors and scholarships, but no matter how hard I tried,

spread that Dexter was with the campus belle, Melody. They were

who plotted against her, slandered

he was labeling me promiscuous, claiming I threw myself at men and almost hit on him.