The usually composed Phoebe, who's always in the spotlight, was now sobbing uncontrollably. After taking some time to collect herself, she gently released me, her eyes red. "Would you... let me make up for all the time we've lost?"

Those words hit me like a bomb!

I glanced at the pendant on the table, then back at Phoebe, my fingers trembling, my mind full of questions.

I stuttered, "Ms.-Ms. Murphy... you're not joking, are you?"

"Of course not..."

Phoebe ...