Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

At the Haven Hotel.

Striding into the lobby, I instantly spotted Coraline and Oscar, that sleazeball, all wrapped up in each other’s arms.

I rolled my eyes in disgust – truly, a sleaze and a scoundrel are a match made in heaven. “Hey, Foebe, you made it!” A classmate approached me with exaggerated warmth. “We heard you got hitched! Where’s your hubby? Why didn’t you bring him along?”

I didn’t respond, instead taking a seat in the lounge area. “Has everyone arrived yet?”

“Foebe, we’ve heard you married into the high society, catching the eye of the Langley family’s eldest grandson. We all agreed to bring our better halves today, but I see you’re solo… Could it be that Mr. Langley isn’t fond of you, or is the high and mighty heir not presentable enough?” The classmate teased with a mocking undertone.

I found their pettiness exhausting. In my past life, these very people bullied and tormented me at school. If I were to live through this again without standing up for myself, then all the suffering I endured before would have been in vain.

They say it’s hard to change one’s nature, but after such a life–changing ordeal, I should have had my epiphany by now.

Humans are creatures that bully the weak and suck up to the powerful.

They thought I was an easy target, and my compliance wouldn’t halt their abuse, only embolden them.

I shot back casually, leaning back on the sofa with a bored look, “You seem to have a lot of free time on your hands. Why should my husband come here to be ogled by you? He’s busy. We’re talking about a class reunion here. Are you aiming to become the other woman? Sure, the Langley family is loaded; they can afford to keep you as a side piece, but that’s if you lack the morals and integrity.”

The classmate was floored by my retort, mouth agape in disbelief for an uncomfortably long moment before she finally managed to sputter, “Foebe… Do you actually think marrying into the Langley family makes you something special? As if we don’t know the score with the Langleys.”

“Yeah, getting all high and mighty now, huh? Everyone knows you’re just a reproduction tool for the Langley family.” another classmate chimed in with scorn.

I feigned shock. “A reproduction tool? Your mother went through all that pain to have you, and you repay her by calling her a ‘reproduction tool‘? That’s so disrespectful! Aren’t you afraid of getting struck by lightning the moment you step outside?”

That classmate was stunned into silence, pointing at me, speechless.

10.48

Meanwhile, Coraline, who had been watching the drama unfold from Oscar’s embrace, frowned slightly and whispered to him, “Don’t you think she’s different now?”

It seemed they had all noticed the change in me. Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

“Hmph, got a bit of backbone after marrying into the Langley family, huh?” Oscar snidely remarked.

“The teacher’s here.”

In the private room, our teacher, now frail and confined to a wheelchair, looked pale but still exuded kindness. I’ve always trusted my sixth sense, and it told me she was one of the good

ones.

Sadly, it’s a cruel fact that good people don’t always have long lives; instead, they often endure the agony of illness. She was likely in the late stages of cancer, her body swollen with the telltale signs.

“I never thought I’d see all of you gathered here. I’m getting on in years and my health is failing. Before I go, I wanted to see you all one last time. Out of all my students, there aren’t many I can still meet,” she said with a smile, urging everyone to sit. “This reunion isn’t just because I’m unwell and wanted to see you; it’s also because of the recent serial murderer who’s been targeting our school’s students.”

She coughed, overcome with emotion. “Some of them were my students. I never imagined such a tragedy.”

“Mrs. Thompson, you’ll get better,” the class president said, rushing over to comfort her.

“That murderer will definitely be caught! I have a friend in the police department. They said the victims were all adopted from the Double–Genius Welfare House. I wanted to take this

opportunity to remind everyone to be careful, especially those who came from the orphanage,” a male classmate added.

“It’s clearly a vendetta,” another voice piped up, fear lacing their words.

“Hey, isn’t our class president from the Double–Genius Welfare House?” a girl noted.

I glanced at the class president, a tall and shy–looking fellow who seemed kind–hearted.

His face changed slightly, and he stuttered in response. “Ah, it’s been so many years since I left the orphanage. My adoptive parents took me in long ago. I don’t know anything about the murders.”

I eyed the class president suspiciously. In the group chat, he went by the name James. Perhaps he knew more than he let on.