Forbidden Passion
Chapter 168 There Are Plenty of Fish in the Sea.

Vanessa's heart sank. She looked at Lady Reynolds, then at Mrs. Reynolds, feeling the weight of their allegiance to Phoebe. It was as though the room had become colder; the warm hues of the afternoon sun did little to comfort the chill settling in her chest.

Vanessa suppressed her displeasure and said with a smile, "Grandma, you look lovely in this dress. I know a master designer; I'll arrange for her to come and make an embroidery for you."

Lady Reynolds waved her hand, "Having someone come over for just that is too much trouble. Vanessa, I appreciate the thought, but let's not bother."

"Grandma, you must have heard of her; everyone calls her Evelyn Craft," Vanessa played her trump card. Evelyn Craft was her aunt, a representative figure of the embroidery.

To have an embroidery by her would cost at least half a million and required waiting on a list for over six months.

Lady Reynolds' eyes lit up. She had heard of Evelyn Craft's reputation and had always wanted to have a design by her, "I remember your mother's sister is also named Evelyn?" "Yes, Evelyn Craft is my aunt," Vanessa said.

Lady Reynolds nodded, "Your family truly has a lot of talent. By the way, how is your mother doing?"

Vanessa lowered her eyes, "My mother is doing well. The doctor said she's recovering nicely and just needs to keep her spirits up."

Lady Reynolds was reassured, "I remember the first time I met Professor Fitzroy; she was just over forty. Now she's almost sixty; how time flies."

Hearing her sentimental tone, Vanessa quickly said, "Grandma, time is the best sediment. Look at me, I was once a teenage girl; I'm almost thirty now." Mrs. Reynolds and Lady Reynolds were both amused.

Mrs. Reynolds said, "We can't dwell on time too much. It's upsetting to think about it too deeply. Mom, the sun is getting higher; let's go back in."

"Alright, Vanessa, come in for some tea."

The three of them returned to the living room where Lucy had laid out fruits and pastries. They chatted for a while before the conversation turned back to Vanessa.

"Have you met any young men you like over the years?" Lady Reynolds inquired.

Vanessa fell silent, knowing Lady Reynolds was probing. She said, "Grandma, when I went to Poland, I actually left while in a fight with Theodore. I thought he would come to Poland to find me."

Lady Reynolds, having lived a long life, had become quite astute. She understood the subtext of Vanessa's words. She exchanged a glance with Mrs. Reynolds and said, "Ah, fate is a tricky thing, to say the least."

"Yes, so we lost each other along the way. I've never blamed him," Vanessa said despondently.

Mrs. Reynolds took her hand, "Vanessa, you're a good girl. There are plenty of fish in the sea. Don't pin all your hopes on just one."

Vanessa's heart sank. She looked at Lady Reynolds, then at Mrs. Reynolds, knowing they both sided with Phoebe.

Her heart ached, "But love is not something you can control. You can't just stop loving someone."

The two women exchanged glances, both intelligent enough to see that Vanessa hadn't gotten over Theodore, yet Theodore had been married for three years.

Was she still intending to interfere in his marriage?

Mrs. Reynolds spoke earnestly, "Vanessa, some people, once gone, are gone for good. But missing them doesn't mean you stop living. Open your heart a little wider. In the vast sea of people, there's always someone suitable for you waiting, someone who will value the love you have to give and return it tenfold."

Vanessa's heart turned ice-cold. She knew she couldn't rely on these two elders for support in her chase for Theo.