Jaxon looked at me, his mocking smile slowly morphing into a mask of terror. “Phoebe Caldwell...” The fact that he called out Phoebe Caldwell meant he knew me, and seeing me struck fear into his heart “You... you didn't die...” Jaxon's voice was laced with fear as he scrambled away from me, suddenly making a mad dash for it.
I blinked, turning to Colin. "He seems really scared of me.” Colin took my hand, whispering, "He's mistaken you for ‘someone else. Let's go home.
“Thank you,” Jaxon's wife muttered, her body bruised and battered, a trickle of blood staining her lips.
“He's abusive. You can call the cops or get a divorce,” | said softly, not wanting to meddle too much, and turned to leave with Colin. “There comes a time when enough is enough.” | faintly heard Zoe say behind us.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtWhen | looked back, she was still standing there, foolishly ‘comforting the battered woman.
“Colin,” | said, trailing behind him, feeling puzzled by his attitude towards Zoe. “Zoe is Carter's sister, right? You could easily pull her out of this mess, even if she disagrees.” “Everyone has their own path in life, and we shouldn't impose.” Colin said sternly. | frowned, not quite understanding ‘I've tried to send her money through the butler many times, but she refuses it. | even had people forcibly take her away to give her a better life. Yet every time, she manages to return here, insisting on earning her keep through her so-called labor..." Colin looked visibly upset.
He had tried to help Zoe numerous times, but she was adamant about living her life her way. | was stunned for a moment, then fell silent.
On the way back with Colin, | stared out the window, my mind filled with my mother’s journal entries. She wrote that Colin had a violent streak, that he abused me.
“Did you take me away when | was eighteen? Did you imprison and abuse me? Is that true?” | asked softly.
Colin glangéd at me, obviously aware |. had read the journal.
He tightened his grip on my hand, ¢ whispering, * ‘If | say no, wouldyou believe me?" Content belongs to Drama.Org - “Then who was it?” | asked, wanting to believe him.
But once again, he averted his gaze.
Avoiding the question again...
“Still protecting him,” | said with a bitter laugh, pulling away from Colin The photos showed me barely alive, my wrists shackled.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm| couldn't fathom what | had endured,-but whoever had put me throug that was no different from a murderer. Colin was shielding-a orinpinal, the very person wha had hurt | me.
“Phoebe...” Colin reached out to me again.
But | stepped back.
“I'm just tired,” | said as the car stopped in front of the mansion.
I wanted to go home. | hadn't taken many steps when | saw Dexter.
The disappearance of Melody had kept Dexter quiet for a while, but now he was back. “Phoebe...” Dexter grabbed my wrist. his confidence palpable. “I found Imara.” | paused, looking up at him Imara, the nanny who had taken care of me at home.
A memory from my past.
She had started looking after me when | was ten. After my parents. died in acar crash, when the maney ran out, | had to let her go. After that, | was taken in by the Fitzgerald family.
“She can prove who kidnapped and abused you. It was him,” Dexter said, his voice low, convinced he could now take me away from here.