Forbidden Passion
Chapter 396 Mr. Reynolds' Sweet Nothings

Theodore had never really thought about it before and was momentarily speechless, realizing it wasn't impossible.

Theodore: [Isn't this a bit much?]

Patrick didn't hold back. Patrick: [How long has WhatsApp been around, and you just posted your first status? Living in the past much?] The conversation veered off course, and they ended up arguing in the chat, only to realize it was pointless.

Theodore: [I'm going to sleep with my wife now. Have fun.]

Patrick sent a bunch of speechless emojis, which Theodore mocked. He put his phone on the coffee table and looked at the sleeping Phoebe. Theodore thought for a moment and checked Phoebe's status updates. She had a lot, but most were work-related and boring.

He exited WhatsApp, looked at Phoebe's peaceful face, and whispered, "How did you make your status updates even more boring than mine?" After Vanessa posted a photo of her wearing a diamond ring, she kept checking her phone.

Vanessa knew Phoebe wouldn't block her, just like she secretly followed Phoebe's updates. Whatever Phoebe posted, Vanessa would sneak a peek. Almost everyone had such secret thoughts, and Vanessa was no exception.

So when she saw the photos Phoebe posted of the cat and Theodore, Vanessa wanted to smash her phone. She opened the image of Theodore.

It was a side of Vanessa had never seen before relaxed and at ease. He had said he was allergic to cat hair, yet he patiently installed a cat tree.

Especially when she thought about the cat calling Theodore "Papa" and Phoebe "Mommy," Vanessa was jealous that she could scream.

Why did Theodore have to treat her this way?

Phoebe's status update didn't hurt Vanessa the most. Her heart broke more when Theodore made a status update.

Everyone knew Theodore never posted status updates. In the first year they dated, when WhatsApp was launched, everyone was sharing their lives, boyfriends, and happiness in their status updates. Vanessa naturally followed suit. She remembered making a couple's profile picture with Theodore, using a cool white paper image like his.

Later, her classmates and friends were all sharing their lives, but Theodore never posted a single status update. She even asked him why he didn't post.

At that moment, Theodore's response was that there was nothing noteworthy to share. He believed his life didn't require showcasing to others.

Years passed, and Theodore never posted a status update. But tonight, he posted his first one, with no text, just a photo.

The photo was of Phoebe and his cat.

Vanessa felt on the verge of madness as she scrolled through comments from certain classmates she was connected with. Her heart seemed drenched in acid, searing with anguish.

She muttered, "Theodore, how could you hurt me like this?"

The next day, sunlight streamed through the window, falling on the sill. Phoebe felt something stepping on her.

She opened her eyes and met Ollie's amber cat eyes, which startled her. She quickly sat up from the sofa.

Her movement scared the timid Ollie, who shrank back into the corner of the sofa, meowing at her. Phoebe was amused.

"I shouldn't have named you Ollie but Scaredy-Cat," she said, then noticed someone beside her. She turned to see Theodore sitting on the carpet, his head resting on her leg, breathing evenly. She was stunned. Why was Theodore sleeping here?

The golden sunlight streamed in, and Theodore's eyelashes fluttered. Phoebe quickly looked away, catching a glimpse of him slowly opening his eyes.

Still sleepy, Theodore yawned. Seeing she was awake, he gave her a completely unguarded smile. "Good morning!"

Phoebe was momentarily stunned, not knowing how to respond to Theodore. His smile was so harmless and gentle that she didn't have time to put up her defenses. "Good morning!" Theodore turned around, knelt on one knee on the carpet, and naturally leaned in to give Phoebe a light peck on the cheek. "It's so nice to wake up and see you."

Phoebe was dumbfounded, feeling the warmth spreading from the spot Theodore kissed, her cheeks heating up.

Phoebe stared blankly ahead, almost not knowing how to react.

After the kiss, Theodore felt a bit embarrassed. They had done more intimate things before, and he never felt shy.

But this simple kiss on her cheek made Theodore uncontrollably shy. He stood up and asked her, pretending to be calm. "Does your stomach still hurt?"

Phoebe snapped back to reality, her heart racing in her chest. She hurriedly said, "No, it doesn't hurt anymore."

"Okay, I'll go take a shower first." Theodore felt relieved. He calmly walked towards the bedroom, but once in the bathroom, he realized he was so nervous he forgot to wear his slippers. Theodore was speechless.

What was he doing? They had done more intimate things, so why did a kiss on Phoebe's cheek make him so flustered that he forgot to wear shoes?

How embarrassing!

Phoebe sat on the sofa in a daze for a while, her mind still in a fog. 'Why did Theodore suddenly kiss my cheek?'

Phoebe's mind was a mess, and she couldn't figure it out. She finally concluded that he wasn't fully awake, or she had just imagined it.

Phoebe mentally prepared herself, went to the kitchen to cook some porridge, and then went to wash up.

After a while, Theodore came out of the bedroom, wearing a white shirt and a dark gray suit, looking cold and mature.

Phoebe brought out two bowls of porridge, glanced at him, and her eyes involuntarily brightened.

Phoebe was shocked by Theodore's features every day for over three years. It was an unusual life experience.

Theodore pulled out a chair and sat next to her. He said, "I have to go back to the estate tonight. If it's too late, I might not come back."

Phoebe calculated the days in her mind. It wasn't Friday. "Is it about Dad?"

Phoebe hadn't gone to the company for the past two days, and there were many rumors. Some people would inevitably bring the matter to Taylor's attention, and it couldn't be kept from Taylor forever. Theodore nodded. "Mom doesn't know yet, but it can't be kept from her forever. I'll handle it. It's better if you're not there."

Phoebe lowered her head and silently drank her porridge. She knew it would have been better if she hadn't been there, but Theodore's direct exclusion hurt her. Phoebe said, "If you need me, I can..."

"No need," Theodore quickly replied. "The house has been unsettled lately. If there's an outsider present, Mom will feel even more embarrassed. Let's wait a while." Phoebe intended to speak up but was halted by the weight of the message conveyed by his words.

She bitterly thought, 'Yes, I am an outsider, so it's better not to be there.'