NovelEnglishChapter 179
The air grew still, and | found myself frozen on the couch, my fingers tensing momentarily. “What?”
| thought | must have heard wrong.
But can memories be mistaken, too?
| remember during my senior year of high school, already overwhelmed by academic pressure, I'd fall asleep the
moment | got into the car.
In my memory, Dad drove for what seemed like an eternity. | couldn't recall where we were headed, only that |
was in the car, lying across my mom's lap, sleeping soundly.
“Turn the music down, Phoebe’s asleep,” my mom whispered, chastising Dad in a gentle
murmur.
“Ethan Langley and | are meeting at Prosperity Heights Bridge before heading over together.” Dad replied.
| couldn’t remember exactly what Dad said next, only that | felt a rush of excitement-someone was waiting for
us.
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“Is that Ethan's car?” asked Mom.
“The orphanage has raised two prodigies; the high-ups are paying close attention. This event is a perfect chance
to make snoise, get more people involved in charity, and bring greater attention to the plight of children left
behind in orphanages...”
“Boom!”
The moment Dad pulled the car over, a deafening crash engulfed us.
A violent force nearly hurledfrom my seat.
“Phoebe...”
The last thing | remember was Mom's tight embrace, shelteringin her arms. Her blood mingling with mine.
“Phoebe...”
“Survive...”
“Phoebe... Phoebe!”
After that, my memory is blank. The crash leftdazed; tseemed to stand still, and | couldn't tell how long
it had been.
All | remember is waking up to Dexter by my side, with him calling out my nover and over.
And | vaguely recall the silhouette of someone-someone who dashed into the flames,
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Chapter 179
fearlessly entering the car to save my parents.
And then, slowly, that silhouette merged with Dexter in my mind.
Could it be that my memories deceive me?
“That day was the award ceremony for the Double-Genius Welfare House, a coming-of-age celebration for the
kids. | was supposed to meet Phoebe’s parents there. We saw the accident on the bridge. It was Phoebe’s
parents... and the eldest Langley child, Ethan. It was a horrific crash: a dump truck going the wrong way, a semi
overloaded in the rear. Ethan's family died on the spot. A teenager ran into the fire to save Phoebe, they said.”
Hailey spoke softly, her voice breaking. “But when Phoebe woke up, she couldn’t remember who saved her. She
thought it was Dexter, and | wanted to tell her the truth, but Dexter admitted to it. | was shocked, but | didn't
interfere too much with the kids* affairs. | never imagined... it would hurt Phoebe.”
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| sat, stunned and rigid, as Hailey continued, my head pounding as if it were about to split open. It turns out
memories can indeed be deceiving.
Especially under great trauma, the brain can fabricate false memories from the moments before
unconsciousness.
I had always thought Dexter saved me, and | believed it without a doubt.
Because when | asked Dexter, he confirmed it.
“Dexter has always been starved of love because of his relationship with his father. He doesn’t know how to love
someone; he only knows possession,” Hailey wiped away tears. “He's fond of Phoebe, even if he doesn’t say it. |
can tell. Phoebe’s mom and | were close friends, and we had arranged a marriage for our children to be
formalized when they were older.
Dexter is rebellious and has his own way of doing things. If he didn’t like Phoebe, he would have rejected the
arrangement long ago. But he didn’t, and that’s how | knew he cared for her. But he’s so stubborn-he clearly has
feelings for her, yet he refuses to admit it...”
“Hailey, the Dexter you know and the Dexter I've heard about from Phoebe seem like two very different people,”
| interrupted, struggling to believe that Dexter could truly love.
“Love isn’t about possession or causing pain. All Dexter has brought Phoebe is hurt,” | shook my head and spoke
again. “No matter his reasons, he’s lied to Phoebe and caused her endless suffering.”
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