Chapter 3

After I passed out from pain that night, the sun after the rain shone brightly when I woke up the next day.

As I struggled to get up, I noticed that the blood between my legs had dried up.

That was when I heard Yvie sobbing and went to the living room to see her trembling. "I'm so scared, Martin. What should we do? The killer is after me… I don't wanna die!"

Beside her, Evan Zich, one of Martin's friends, nodded at him. "We checked the cameras—it's true. Should we call the cops?"

"No!" Yvie cried out right then, shaking her head repeatedly in terror. "Don't do it! He's a monster—he only picks young women, but the cops couldn't get him even after he left six bodies… If we push him too far…"

"It's alright, Yvie," Martin assured her softly as he wrapped his arms around her.

I stood there, watching awkwardly and numb, unsure if I should stay or leave.

It was clear that he was capable of being gentle—it was just that he would never be gentle with me.

That was when Evan asked, "Wait, Yvie—you said you were walking down an alley on Wisteria Lane, didn't you? What were you wearing at the time?"

"A red dress," Yvie replied and turned to me. "Bea…"

I stayed silent and looked away, limping towards the kitchen as I wanted something to eat, just as I heard Evan say, "Actually, I have a plan. Martin, we can lure the killer out of hiding, and then we can take him to the cops. That's the safer option, in case things get out of hand and he comes for Yvie."

Martin nodded. "Tell me more."

Evan grinned in turn. "Let's have someone wear that red dress and go to that alley down Wisteria Lane. There are cameras everywhere—we just have to keep a close eye on things, and we'll be fine."

Martin frowned. "That sounds terrible. What, are you going to make your girlfriend do it?"

That was when Yvie noticed me again and called out softly, "You look so pale, Bea. Are you alright?"

"Why are you worried about her?" Martin snorted in annoyance as he hugged Yvie tightly. "She almost killed you."

I was just getting some warm water to drink, but the pain in my heart extended throughout my body.

That was when Evan clapped his hands together. "Right, we can send her! She almost killed Yvie—she owes her that much! It's her penance!

"Right! She also resembles Yvie, so she's perfect!"

I turned toward Martin in panic.

I was hoping he would refuse, since he knew I was scared of the dark and wouldn't send me out there in the middle of the night.

However, he was silent for a moment before he leveled a cool glare at me. "You have to do it. You owe Yvie that much."

Those words left me with a chill creeping up my feet, extending throughout my body.

I dropped my glass, and the hot water splashed all over me, but I didn't seem to feel it.

Ten years.

I had spent ten years with that man, but I had never really reached his heart.

On the other hand, Yvie had done it effortlessly.

"No, I won't go…" I shook my head in refusal—I was not about to joke around with my life!

"Martin, don't push her." Yvie's eyes quickly reddened, and there were tears welling up in them. "She didn't mean to push me down the stairs—"

"Don't take her side!" Martin suddenly snapped.

Even as Yvie flinched in shock, he was already on his feet and charging at me, even as I shook my head repeatedly in fear. "No! I'm not going!"

"That's not up to you!" he bellowed, clearly having made up his mind.

Still, he paused, and his tone softened as he said, "We'll be watching—you'll live. Just do this, and you'll no longer owe Yvie anything, while I won't bother you and will consider that you've turned over a new leaf."

He was gaslighting me, but somehow, I still believed him.

Hanging my head as scalding tears welled up in my eyes, I asked, "A-Are you really going to keep me safe?"

"Nonsense." He snorted in annoyance.

Amid my despair, I looked up at him. "I don't owe Yvie a thing, but can you promise me one thing after you catch the killer?"

I wasn't bargaining—I had something I needed to tell him, but his softened expression faded in an instant. "Don't push it."

I hung my head in silence—I didn't belong in the Fitzgerald family in the first place.

Having lived with them, I grew to fear Martin as much as I loved him.

Eventually, I nodded. "Alright, I'll go… We'll call it even on you saving my life back then."

I left my life in his hands, looking forward to when this was over, and I'd annul our engagement myself.

After that, I'd go abroad and leave the Fitzgeralds forever, while he'd be free…