Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

Chapter 31

I remember asking Dexter once, why? By what right?

He sneered, “By right of you eating my food, drinking my drinks, and living under my roof! By right of the favors my family has done for you that you’ll never repay in a lifetime! It’s just a spot for an exchange program, so what right do you have to raise your voice at me?”

That day. I collapsed on the ground like a stray dog abandoned by its owner.

Hank, with Melody’s sister, Serena–the woman who had stolen my spot–wrapped in his arms. came up to me and trampled on me with the vilest words in the world.

She taunted, “Phoebe, you really are pathetic. My sister is the one who deserves Dexter. What are you but a lowly stain, fit for nothing?”

Hank kicked me, muttering. “My cousin said the biggest regret of his life was letting Hailey take you in.”

I sat there, my body slowly growing numb.

“Phoebe, if you dare tell my cousin about it, I’ll make your life hell,” Hank threatened, a delight in his voice as he did so in secret.

“Ah come on, even if she does, Dexter won’t believe her. Who’d trust such a woman?” Serena strutted away, her arm sporting a designer bag Dexter had bought for Melody, easily worth tens of thousands with a single swipe of his card.

Dexter always said I owed him and the Fitzgerald family, but the sum of my living and education expenses over the years with the Fitzgeralds didn’t come close to that–a few thousand bucks at most. I had a scholarship, which covered my tuition in college and sustained my basic needs.

I’d rather work night shifts at a 24–hour convenience store than spend another dime of the Fitzgerald family’s money.

What I owed Dexter was the

contract; I covered the rest, including the compensation for the workers with the insurance money from my parents‘ death and by selling our

to what he spent on Melody and her friends

with encephalitis and collapsed with a high fever

day, with a raging fever, Dexter forced me to take a physical test for Melody’s sister Serena. I told him

if you’re not dead, then go.”

15:02

in my mind, “Phoebe,

and I

I collapsed halfway through the 800 meters, skinning my arm and forehead, the pain searing.

insane–running a physical test with a forty–degree fever, like I

that Serena got caught cheating on her test and lost her spot

fury in his eyes, nearly dragging me out of bed. “Phoebe, I never

me of deceit and of being calculating, yet not a word about my fever

life. I needed money for treatment, or I might die, but my allowance was not enough

lend me

I was well, I’d work and pay

at me with disgust. “Even now, you’re still pretending, Phoebe. What a waste it is for you not to be

to the ground,

sneered, grabbing my hair. “What did you give Hank in exchange for money before? Didn’t I

at Dexter, trying to explain, “I never asked

still lying. Your mouth’s been full of lies from the start!” Dexter pushed me away and leaned against the wall, looking down on

head, tears scalding my cheeks. I knew what he was going to do to

took and vented on me, over and over. That night, the fever didn’t break, and I passed out in