Chapter 33 The ambulance arrived, and they took Melody away. I watched as Dexter cradled Melody in his arms, anxiety etched on his face, while he shot me at vicious glare. Everyone there backed up Melody’s story, saying it was me who pushed her down the stairs. Even the Fitzgerald family’s housekeeper took their side. In that moment, I felt lost in a fog, even doubting myself. Had I actually… pushed her? I had fallen into a trap of my own making. I didn’t know how to explain. Explaining felt wrong. but so did staying silent. I curled up at the bottom of the staircase, waiting for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, in the wee hours of the morning, Dexter returned. With teary eyes, I stood up and choked out, “Dexter… it wasn’t me.” “Slap!” His hand struck my face, and my ear rang with the force of it. My nose bled, my hearing muffled–my eardrum must have burst. He had put all his strength into that slap. “Do you have any idea Serena is insisting on calling the cops? You’ve committed assault!” Dexter hauled me up from the floor and dragged me into the study. “Phoebe, have I spoiled you too much? Now you think you can get away with breaking the law? What’s next? Are you going to become a murderer?” I clutched my face, looking at Dexter, wishing he would believe me. I pleaded through my tears, shaking my head. “Dexter… it wasn’t me, it really wasn’t.” But he didn’t believe me. “Hank saw it! Hank was there, and it wasn’t me. I didn’t push her, I swear!” I was desperate. almost kneeling down. But it wasn’t to be. “It was Hank who said he saw you push Melody down the stairs! And you still deny it!” Dexter’s words sent a chill through me. Right, how could I be so naive to think Hank would stand up for truth and justice on my behalf? From the start, it was always them spreading rumors, tearing me down. “If Melody doesn’t forgive you when she wakes up, you’re going to jail,” Dexter said, his voice cold as he threatened to lock me up. 15.02 I was scared and indignant. After my parents died, I worked hard and studied hard. Everything I had achieved was earned bit by bit. I refused to let it all be destroyed. “I won’t go to jail. I didn’t push her!” I stared at Dexter In terror, my breathing erratic. Fearfully, I stood up, finding some unknown courage to push him away and frantically flee the Fitzgerald mansion. I ran from what I once thought was heaven, only to discover it was hell. I hid in a dark alleyway for a long time. I was terrified, feeling utterly alone in that moment. I don’t remember when I fell asleep, nor who covered me with a tattered but clean blanket, and left a cheap but spotless cup of cocoa and a lollipop beside me. It wasn’t the first time someone had given me a lollipop in the dark. When my parents were alive, and I would storm out of the house in a tantrum, I always woke up to find a lollipop by my side. “Who are you…” I murmured, scanning the surroundings. Who was this person, always there, silently watching over me? “If you’re not human, could you take me away? I’m too scared… too scared even to end it all myself. I didn’t dare die. If I could have died, I would have joined my parents on the day of their accident. I saw their blood mix with shattered glass. They told me, Phoebe, you have to live on, carry our love, keep living, and show us the future of this world. I couldn’t dare die; I carried too much. Dexter had people search for me for days to no avail. Today was his wedding to Melody, and the venue was far from lively. Perhaps it was just my imagination, but Melody and Dexter didn’t seem happy. “Dexter, she’s not coming back.” Stella arrived, sneering as she looked at the wedding photo of Dexter and Melody and kicked it. “Truly revolting.”