Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

“Heh…consider yourself lucky not to have been killed, picking a fight with a mentally ill patient with aggressive tendencies. You must have a death wish,” the officer chided.

The middle–aged man was visibly shaken, his loud protests now silenced.

Eric glanced at Caleb and spoke respectfully. “Young Master, we can go home now.”

Caleb reached out and took my hand, whispering, “Phoebe… let’s head back.”

I was inexplicably irked, unsure of the source of my annoyance.

At the door, the little girl’s family had arrived to pick her up. They looked well–off, which put my mind at ease.

“See you around, Miss, Mr. handsome,” the little girl waved before being ushered into the car by a man who had quite the presence and wasn’t too hard on the eyes.

“Thanks for everything,” the man said, a perfect gentleman, expressing his gratitude to both me and Caleb.

“No sweat,” I replied with a casual smile, keeping it polite.

Caleb, however, was on high alert, keeping me firmly behind him.

The man gave Caleb a nod and a smile. “I’ll leave you be, then.”

Even after they had driven off, Caleb was still as protective as a wolf with its cub.

I sighed and nudged him into the car.

During the drive home, Caleb dozed off, resting peacefully against the car window.

Watching Caleb in his tranquil state, I was momentarily captivated by his serene beauty.

“Madam, I apologize for the fright. Young Master’s condition…it’s just how it is. But he rarely has episodes as long as he’s not provoked,” Eric explained in hushed tones.

Silent, I waited until we got home, coaxed Caleb into taking his cold medicine, and made sure he was tucked into bed before I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Eric, how long have you known Colin?” I ventured as we stepped out of the room to chat.

“I’ve known him since he was fourteen, in the Genius Class,” Eric replied. That was the year the Langley family discovered Caleb.

“What was he like back then?” I was genuinely curious about the teenage Caleb, in the prime of his youth.

“Young Master was brilliant, like a beacon wherever he stood,” Eric said wistfully. “But in a powerful family, excellence can be a curse.”

Eric’s words carried deeper meaning.

10:11

After some thought, I delicately broached the subject. “When did they find out about his mental health issues?”

“It was when he was nineteen, after a traumatic event,” Eric led me to a small room in the attic and opened the door. Inside the dusty room were keepsakes from Colin’s past.This is property © NôvelDrama.Org.

Photos, awards, trophies, and certificates filled the space.

I stood in shock, taking in a room full of accolades, unable to speak.

“These were collected by his father Ethan Langley. He truly cared for Mr. Caleb in his own restrained way,” Eric explained, pointing to a particular photo. “This is from Mr. Caleb’s first year in the Genius Class.”

Looking at the boy in the photo, I suddenly felt a headache.

He looked so familiar…

He had a bright smile and clear eyes. The young Colin was the epitome of innocence. Holding a trophy, he stood out in any crowd.

“Did he… fast–track through his bachelor’s and master’s?” I mused, looking at Caleb’s certificates, but it made sense given his early college admission and the likelihood of him being in his late teens.

Nonetheless, with Caleb’s extensive minor subjects and straight A’s, it was clear envy was part

of his story.

“What’s this?” In the corner, I spotted a group photo taken at an orphanage.

“That’s from the orphanage’s farewell when Mr. Caleb got his Genius Class placement,” Eric said, pride evident in his smile.

#

It was clear he saw Colin as his own child.

Holding the photo, I scrutinized it thoroughly. Despite the changes people undergo as they grow, I could still recognize the features.

There, in the back row, was Foebe’s class president James. The very James I had met at a class reunion.

So, James had not been adopted before the twin star genius had shocked the entire Sea City.

“Did the Langley family really only find Colin after his genius was recognized?” I asked, my voice heavy with suspicion, sensing a conspiracy.