Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

My eyes welled with tears, nervous yet cautious as I spoke up. “Is it… do you not like it anymore? Has it changed?”

Dexter opened his mouth but ultimately forced down a swallow. “Give it here.”

I handed him the mango pudding with a heart full of joy.

He gave it a cold glance, snorted, and walked away.

The nanny whispered, “Miss, the young master is allergic to mangoes.”

I was stunned. “Impossible, his favorite has always been mango tapiocas…”

The nanny hesitated, then said, “Miss, the young master said he wants you to go to school alone. He said you’re not a Fitzgerald. No need for special treatment. The chauffeur… he’s been called to drive Ms. Melody Burton.”

I stood there, motionless, my eyes reddening with loss.

He once said he loved me. Why did those young feelings change upon meeting his, so–called true love?

With my backpack slung over my shoulder, I stepped out of the house alone.

“Did you tell her?” Not far from the door, I overheard Dexter speaking with the nanny.

“Sir, this will break her heart,” the nanny sighed.

Dexter asked urgently, “Did you say I had the driver pick up Melody? Was she upset?”

“She seemed quite heartbroken.”

Dexter huffed. “An act, I bet. I want to see how long she can keep this up. She’s been more venomous than a snake since we were kids, now playing the innocent doe.”

Then came the nanny’s alarmed voice, “Sir! What’s with the rash on your face? Did you eat mango? Good heavens, take an antihistamine, quick.”

The walk from the Fitzgerald estate to high school took me a full forty minutes.

“Hey, pretty girl, on your own today? Got any pocket money? The guys need cash for the internet café.” Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

On the small road outside the school, delinquents often hassled students.

Shivering, I tried to retreat from their leers.

I always thought my trembling was out of fear…

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But looking back, I think I was suppressing my excitement.

The excitement for violence.

“I don’t have any money…”

My eyes reddened as I turned to run, only to be blocked by a thug who slapped my “Got a pretty face, you.”

“Hahaha, you like her? You want to make her Gary’s girl?” The others jeered.

1.backed away in fear as they snatched my backpack.

behind.

“This necklace must be worth something,” they said as they took the money from my bag and even my necklace.

Crying, I begged them to give it back. “That was left to me by my mom.”

They taunted me, raising their arms out of reach in mockery, before riding off on their motorcycles.

I sat on the ground, sobbing, picking up my scattered books one by one.

A boy in an oversized hoodie, with a hood pulled over his head, approached. He said nothing, just bent down to help me pick up my books.

My gaze fell on the frightening tattoos on his hands, and I froze in fear, crouching on the ground.

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He panicked, hiding his hands behind him, mouth agape, his voice hoarse and unpleasant. In the end, he said nothing; just got up and ran away.

Watching his retreating figure, I snatched up my bag and fled.

Back then, I didn’t remember it was Colin. I had completely forgotten him.

All I remembered was that later that day, after school, he waited for me at the gate, wearing gloves.

He was well–covered, those trembling eyes watching me. He had gotten back everything that was stolen, and he was returning it to me.

Fearfully, I watched him, too scared to take it.

Without a word, he stuffed the items into my hands and ran off.

I didn’t even know who he was, just another forgettable passerby in my life.

I even… missed the blood at the corner of his mouth.