Chapter 7

Phoebe fought desperately, biting through the man's hand as he tried to muffle her screams, but her cries were swallowed by the driving rain.

The man pinned her down, shoving a gag into her mouth before tying her up with a rope.

He ripped viciously at her clothes. Knives, axes, and other tools lay beside him.

Rain lashed relentlessly against Phoebe's eyes as she stared up in pure terror at the bloodthirsty man looming over her.

She knew what was coming—violation, followed by death.

Yet she refused to accept it. She had just found the courage to walk away from a failed marriage and was finally ready to start over. She couldn't die like this.

Phoebe thrashed wildly beneath him, but the man pinned her down, raining blow after blow across her body.

With blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, she watched in despair as he began to unbuckle his pants.

Right then, a gunshot rang out in the distance.

The man froze. A flash of vicious intent crossed his eyes as he snatched up the axe and swung it straight toward Phoebe's head.

Another gunshot rang out, and the axe clattered to the ground right beside her ear.

Reuben led a squad of men charging in, tackling and subduing the attacker.

He stripped off his jacket, scooped the trembling Phoebe into his arms, and pulled her tight against his chest. "It's over now. You're safe. I'm sorry, Phoebe. I got here too late."

The gag was pulled from her mouth. Buried in Reuben's embrace, Phoebe gasped for air before finally breaking down. She grabbed his collar and sobbed uncontrollably.

As she watched the bound criminal hauled away, the sheer tension finally drained out of her, and she slipped into unconsciousness.

…

She woke up in a ward. Staring blankly at the glaring white lights overhead, she recalled the previous night's nightmare.

She started to sit up when she heard Emma's voice drifting in from the hallway. "Reuben, your plan was absolute genius. Dressing Mrs. Lane up in a red dress flushed that serial killer right out into the open. He'll never hurt anyone again! I heard you're getting a commendation for this—"

"Stop," Reuben replied evenly. "This case was solved through everyone's combined effort. It wasn't just my doing."

Phoebe felt as though she'd been struck by lightning.

Everything that happened last night—the dress he gave her, the birthday dinner, the way he left her stranded at the restaurant—was just a setup to use her as bait?

It was a trap for the serial killer, and everyone had known about it except her.

Reuben walked into the ward. "Phoebe, you've been through a lot. Take it easy and get some rest—"

A sharp slap cracked across Reuben's face, cutting him off mid-sentence.

His head snapped to the side from the blow. Tasting blood in his mouth, he frowned. "Phoebe, you—"

He turned back to see tears streaming down her face.

Her voice trembled with raw fury. "Reuben, how could you? How could you use me as bait without even asking me?"

Reuben fell silent for a few seconds. "I'm sorry. I should have talked to you first. But Phoebe…"

His gaze turned earnest. "If you hadn't torched Emma's files out of petty jealousy, we wouldn't have had to go this far just to get a suspect profile. We did this to catch the serial killer faster and stop anyone else from getting hurt. You have to understand."

A crushing wave of exhaustion washed over Phoebe.

She felt too tired to even speak. She simply stared at Reuben with a hollow, numb expression. "I understand. Now get out. I want to rest."

With that, she closed her eyes and lay down, refusing to say another word.

Reuben sighed softly, then murmured, "Get some rest, then."

As his footsteps faded down the hall, Phoebe opened her eyes, got out of bed, and discharged herself.

The moment she got home, the phone rang.

Picking it up, she heard an unfamiliar woman's voice. "Is this Ms. Phoebe Graham? I'm just calling to let you know your divorce has been finalized. Your certificate is ready. Please bring your documents when you come to pick it up."

Her divorce… was finally official.

And today was the exact day she was supposed to leave for the delegation in Marlowe.

Phoebe tightened her grip on the receiver, her voice barely a whisper. "Got it. I'll be right there."

She went back to her room, hauled out her packed suitcase, and glanced around the apartment they had shared for five years.

She had already cleared out every last trace of herself and Macey, leaving nothing behind.

From this moment on, she was wiping herself entirely from Reuben's life. They were finished, once and for all.

Phoebe turned on her heel and walked out the door without a single glance back.

…

Phoebe collected her divorce certificate at the county courthouse.

The radio nearby was broadcasting the news. A report announced the capture of the rainy-night serial killer and praised the police officers who had helped crack the case.

When Reuben's name crackled through the speakers, Phoebe handed the clerk his office phone number. "Could you please let him know to come collect it in person?"

After that, she headed straight to the dance troupe to meet up with her two traveling companions and head for the airport.

The rain had cleared, leaving a beautiful sky behind.

Her new life was finally beginning.