Reborn in the Enemy's Embrace

Dexter furrowed his brows. Juliet’s current behavior was eerily reminiscent of Sophia Milford’s demeanor before she lost her memory.

"Peter Jones created a ’Sophia Milford’, knowing you’d fall for it," Juliet said indifferently, then glanced at the time. "Dexter, I’m running out of time."

Dexter warily stared at Juliet and responded in a low tone, "Your acting isn’t very convincing."

"I never claimed to be anyone." Juliet sneered, gazing at Dexter. "Are you afraid? Afraid that I might be the real Sophia Milford, knowing that everything you’ve said to her is just a lie?"

Dexter clenched his fists tightly.

Juliet spoke solemnly as she approached Dexter, "Dexter, you and I are born to be monsters with souls of demons. We lack emotions, destined to be free from emotional attachments."

"The emotions and love we experienced in the past were nothing but facades and imitations of ordinary people’s lives. You wouldn’t... actually believe it, would you?"

She then cast a sharp gaze at me and added, "Honestly, I dislike this body immensely. But what I detest even more... is being impersonated."

My heart skipped a beat. I never knew Juliet was so talented in acting. She seemed like an entirely different person.

"Don’t forget our plan," Juliet reminded Dexter.

"What plan? Remind me," Dexter casually gazed at Juliet, raising his hand to shield me, preventing me from making eye contact with her.

I hid behind him, feeling inexplicably nervous.

Juliet chuckled, replying with just two words, "Project Zero."

Dexter visibly stiffened. Perhaps this was a secret known only to him and Sophia Milford.

I stared at Juliet in astonishment, wondering how she had discovered such a secret.

Meanwhile, Joel, who had been leaning against the main door, picked up a stone from the ground and hurled it at Juliet. She noticed it but failed to evade it.

Joel chuckled and remarked, "If it were her, she’d have caught that stone in her hand."

"Fool... " Juliet mocked Joel. "Sophia Milford’s body was genetically enhanced. Do you think this body of mine now is anything of excellence?"

Joel furrowed his brows in silence.

"Recite pi." Dexter calmly requested, maintaining eye contact with Juliet.

Physical abilities might change according to the body, but a reincarnated soul wouldn’t forget what it was familiar with.

I was stunned, gaping. If Dexter asked me to recite pi, I definitely couldn’t.

"3.14159265358979323... " Juliet casually recited the numbers, her expression unchanged.

After a while, she nonchalantly added, "Was that enough? I can do this all day if you want."

If this was truly an act, she obviously had come prepared, putting effort into memorizing all that.

Dexter turned to me and said, "Now, you recite."

I opened my mouth, pointing at myself.

Seriously? How was I supposed to recite pi? All I knew was 3.14.

Panicked by Dexter’s skepticism, I began to question myself.

Could it be possible that I wasn’t the person I thought I was? Nonsense.

"Dexter... Don’t believe her. I overheard Peter and Mrs. Coleman’s conversation. They must have found a way to help Juliet impersonate me. I— " I explained anxiously.

"Can you prove that you’re Sophia Milford?" Dexter interrupted with a probing question.

My mouth fell open; I couldn’t provide any proof since I had no memories of Dexter or anything from my past.

"If you don’t believe me... just go ahead and call me a fake then," I replied in a low tone, turning away in despair, feeling utterly foolish.

I had to admit that Peter had done an impressive job in preparing Juliet to imitate me.

"Dexter, you should have believed me the moment I mentioned Project Zero and the secret of soul reincarnation. It seems your intellect has been compromised by her influence during my absence." Juliet remarked solemnly before adding, "See you tomorrow at 10 am, the usual place."

With that, Juliet left.

Joel glanced at Juliet and then at me, commenting "That one seems more like her."

Obviously, even he found that Juliet’s current behavior was reminiscent of Sophia Milford’s in the past.

"What do you think?" Joel asked Dexter, who remained still, watching Juliet’s departing figure.

Hiding behind the door, my heart raced with anxiety.

I feared Dexter would doubt me for who I was. The growing unease consumed me, worrying that I might be suspected and unrecognized.

Was this how Dexter had felt? When I doubted and questioned him, and even misunderstood him...

Clasping my hands tightly together nervously, I pondered how to convince Dexter to believe me.

However, my memories failed me. I had forgotten too much, unable to recall Dexter or anything from our time at the orphanage.

Joel was right; I wasn’t smart enough, perhaps even foolish, always causing trouble for others. Nevertheless, I still had no idea of what kind of person I was in the past; Juliet probably knew better than me.

Overwhelmed by fear, tears welled up behind the door.

"Are you listening?" Joel asked, furrowing his brows at Dexter’s silence. "Obviously, that Juliet looks more like the real thing."

"Then, you might want to calm yourself down with some shit," Dexter snorted coldly.

"Dexter Black, quit with that attitude," Joel said, a little worked up.

"If you think she’s Sophia Milford, then go after her. You know where our usual place is too," Dexter replied in a low voice before turning to leave.

Joel stubbornly held onto him. "I’m not doubting your judgment. But look at the one inside. She’s nothing like the old her."

Dexter chuckled. "That’s exactly why she’s her."

"I think you’re bewitched." Joel frowned. "Love makes people blind, but turns you into an idiot."

"If she were the Sophia Milford we know, would she come here exposing herself voluntarily? Would she make such a big fuss, announcing her existence? Not to mention that you, an outsider, were present too," Dexter said indifferently as he entered the house.

"What if she figures that I— "

Joel wanted to say something but Dexter impatiently interrupted him, "From the moment she showed a strong sense of competition, she broke her disguise."

Dexter had intentionally set a trap, luring Juliet into the pi-reciting competition

Even if Peter had convinced Juliet that she was Sophia Milford with hypnosis, he could never change the competitive nature ingrained in her.

"Why didn’t you say it earlier?" Joel frowned, muttering under his breath, "You made me look like an idiot."

"You’re not exactly the brightest," Dexter retorted, pushing Joel’s hand away.

"Will it kill you to tell me more?" Joel’s youthful pride couldn’t allow Dexter to play mysterious. "Are you planning to play along with Juliet’s deception?"

Dexter shot Joel a glare. "I need to go comfort my wife now."

Joel gasped and asked, "Did I just play a part in your flirting game?"

"What nonsense are you blabbering?" Dexter furrowed his brows, unable to comprehend his ramblings.

"That’s how we youngsters say it nowadays. You’re getting old, you know?" Joel boasted, leaning against the wall.

Ignoring Joel, Dexter entered the house and found me sobbing behind the door.

I hadn’t quite caught their earlier whispers, only hearing Joel’s sarcastic remark about Dexter getting old.

I strongly disagreed with that remark, though. Dexter looked absolutely stunning, with no sign of aging.

Feeling embarrassed and awkward, I averted my gaze, trying to hide the fact that I cried from being falsely accused.

Dexter glanced at me, seeming to want to say something, but I cut him off.

"If you believe what Juliet said, I’ll just leave now."

I dared not to meet Dexter’s deep gaze, so I couldn’t discern the emotions shown on his face.

"Where will you go?" he asked softly.

"None of your business. I’ll go wherever I want," I retorted, pushing past Dexter and limping to get my stuff.

What was the point of explaining, anyway?