Chapter 34
“Stella!” Hank and several of his brothers, the Fitzgeralds, rushed forward, trying to stop Stella.
But trailing not far behind her was Robin.
Robin furrowed his brows. “Quiet down, everyone.”
The cops were already lying in wait all around, eager to see if I’d show up.
I found it amusing: I was right there in their midst. Unfortunately for them, no one could see me. “Dexter, you’re the reason she’s gone. She’s not coming back!”
But as time ticked by, second by second. There was still no sign of me, not even a whisper around the corners of the reception hall that Dexter had filled with his own people.
Nothing, absolutely nothing.
For some reason, Dexter lost his cool, dropping Melody and the guests like a hot potato, ready
to bolt.
“Dexter…” Melody’s eyes were rimmed with red as she followed him. “The guests are here, and my family’s here, so you can’t do this! You promised me…”
“Sorry, Melody, I can’t marry you.” Dexter plucked the boutonniere from his lapel and walked away without looking back.
“Dexter!” Melody watched his retreating figure, her voice laced with desperation. “You’ll never find Phoebe! She’s dead!”
After her outburst, Melody seemed to regret her words, her face turned ashen, her eyes wide with panic.
Dexter stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Melody. “What do you know?”
Melody was gasping for air, trying to change the subject. “I just… I spoke out of turn. Dexter, stop this madness, and come inside with me. My parents are waiting.”
Dexter’s frown deepened, his expression darkening as he approached her. “Do you know something? Spit it out!” Dexter was on the edge, gripping Melody’s shoulders, demanding
answers.
I’d never seen Dexter so rough with Melody before, and it was quite unsettling to watch.
I stood to the side, smirking coldly. Of course, she knew. She knew I was already dead.
“On the night of the 13th and 14th, we had Phoebe dress up in a red dress and sent her to Flare Alley. Why then did she show up on Tangle Lane the next day?” Dexter’s voice was a low growl of interrogation.
I didn’t know if he’d uncovered something, but I was surprised to see Dexter actually
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suspecting Melody.
“I… I don’t know,” Melody stammered, taking a step back.
Dexter clenched his fists, watching Melody intently, silent.
Robin and Stella were still waiting. Waiting for my appearance and arrival.
“Phoebe will definitely show up. She loves Dexter so much. She loves him shamelessly, so how could she not appear.” Hank was still muttering under his breath.
They all firmly believed that someone like me, who loved Dexter to the core, would surely show up to crash the wedding.
But what puzzled me was that it was supposed to be Dexter and Melody’s wedding, yet only Melody’s family was present. None of Dexter’s kin showed up, not even Hailey.
“Dexter, we found nothing.” Dexter’s buddies had arrived and were also shaking their heads, saying they had scoured the place thoroughly and hadn’t seen me.
The wedding was nearly over, and I still hadn’t appeared.
“Dexter, time’s almost up, why aren’t you two coming in? Relatives and friends are all waiting.” Melody’s mother called from the entrance of the banquet hall.
Melody seemed guilt–ridden, pleadingly looking at Dexter. “Please, Dexter, I didn’t know my sister would tell everyone in the family about the wedding. Now all my relatives know and have come. I had no choice.”
“I told you, this wedding was just a ploy to draw Phoebe out!” Dexter’s voice was laden with shadows.
Robin glanced at Dexter, signaling his team to stand down.
Continuing to wait here was pointless…
I would not be coming.
The moment my fingernail was found on that body, the cops knew I couldn’t come back. Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
But since Dexter insisted I wasn’t dead, they were just going through the motions.
“Dexter… she’s not coming back. Are you happy now.” Stella’s face was pale, her own obsession crumbling in that moment.
Dejectedly following Robin, she tread slowly. “She’s not coming back, she’s not coming back.”
“Officer Robin! We’ve got that Colin guy!”
The cops had raided places all night long and hadn’t caught Collin. And today, he just happened. to show up at the wedding.