Forbidden Passion
Chapter 442 Do You Love Theodore?

The room went dead silent.

Phoebe stared blankly at Theodore, who was lying stiff on top of her. Warm blood oozed from the base of his skull, dripping down his neck onto her face.

Terrified, Phoebe looked at the crystal bedside lamp in her hand. One of its edges was stained with blood. Panicking, she threw it to the floor with a dull thud. Downstairs, Taylor heard the noise and sat up in shock. It sounded like it came from Theodore's room.

Throwing on a coat hurriedly, she dashed out and hustled upstairs. There, she found Christopher lingering by the doorway, his expression filled with uncertainty. Christopher's room was next to Theodore and Phoebe's. Despite the soundproofing, he had heard some noises.

Seeing Christopher's awkward look, Taylor knew what was going on inside. She said, "I'll check first. You wait a moment."

The bedroom was silent. Phoebe lay on the bed, pale, with blood dripping from Theodore's chin onto her face. Phoebe wasn't usually squeamish, but now she felt weak and her lips trembled.

She didn't dare to move, fearing any movement would make Theodore stop breathing.

Theodore's face grew paler from blood loss. He looked at Phoebe's terrified expression and gave a strange smile. "Phoebe, do you really want me dead?" he asked.

Tears welled up in Phoebe's eyes. "No, I just wanted you to stop. I didn't mean to."

Hurried footsteps approached. Theodore quickly grabbed the blanket to cover Phoebe.

"What happened?" Taylor rushed in and saw the blood on Theodore's neck. "Theodore, why are you bleeding?"

Then she noticed the awkward position of Theodore and Phoebe. Theodore's body was covered in bite marks, his face still flushed, but his eyes fierce. From Taylor's angle, she couldn't see Phoebe, who was hidden by Theodore.

A crystal bedside lamp lay on the floor, its edges stained with blood. It wasn't hard to guess what had happened.

"Mom, don't shout, or you'll wake Grandma," Theodore said, grabbing a shirt and putting it on, his expression calm.

Phoebe had hit him hard. When he got out of bed, he wobbled. Taylor quickly supported him. "Theodore, your head is bleeding. Get it treated."

Theodore touched the back of his head, his hand coming away bloody. He glanced at Phoebe hiding under the blanket and then followed Taylor out.

Once they left, Phoebe quickly got out of bed. She picked up her torn nightgown, wrapped herself in a blanket, grabbed some clothes from the wardrobe, and hurried downstairs.

On this long winter night, Sarah slept well and wasn't awakened by the commotion.

In the living room, Taylor stopped Theodore's bleeding. The wound wasn't deep and didn't need stitches, but the amount of blood was alarming.

As Taylor treated Theodore's wound, she said, "You two are adults. How can you be so reckless? It'll be so embarrassing if this gets out!"

Theodore sat on the sofa, sullen and silent despite Taylor's scolding.

"Phoebe is so heartless. Look at this wound. If it were any deeper, you'd be in the hospital for days," Taylor complained.

"Mom, you should go rest. Leave me alone for a while," Theodore said, signaling his need for solitude.

Tonight's situation wasn't all on Phoebe. He was mad and wanted her to feel it too, so he let loose. That punch really sobered him up, saving the night from who knows what could've gone down. Taylor wanted to say more but, seeing Theodore's tired face, she sighed. "You should sleep in the guest room tonight. Don't bother Phoebe."

Theodore remained silent.

Taylor stayed a few more minutes before heading upstairs. She saw Phoebe standing on the stairs, looking like she wanted to come down but was too scared.

"Let him be alone for a while. Phoebe, come with me," Taylor said helplessly.

Phoebe glanced at Theodore on the sofa. He looked a bit better than before. She bit her lip and followed Taylor.

In the bedroom, Taylor sat on a chair, noticing the finger marks on Phoebe's neck. "Tell me, what happened?"

What could Phoebe say? She couldn't just blurt out, "Theodore wanted to kill me, and I was all about staying alive, so I hit him with the lamp."

Seeing her silence, Taylor felt exhausted. "Young people are impulsive. Luckily, the wound isn't deep. If you had hit him harder and paralyzed him, what would you do then?" Phoebe bit her lip, her hands clenched into fists. Hearing Taylor's words, she felt a sense of fear.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," Phoebe replied.

"Don't be so impulsive in the future. If you're wronged, come to me directly," Taylor sighed. "Go back to sleep. I'll talk to him later."

Phoebe lowered her head and apologized again.

Taylor waved her hand wearily, signaling her to leave.

Phoebe's lips moved, but she ultimately turned and walked towards the door. Just as she touched the doorknob, Taylor's voice came from behind. "Phoebe, do you love Theodore?" Phoebe froze, unable to give Taylor a definite answer for a long time. Taylor looked at her back and sighed again. "Alright, I understand. You can go now."

Phoebe opened the door and went back to the bedroom, only to find Theodore, who had been sitting on the sofa downstairs, now sitting on the edge of the bed.

Phoebe bit her lip. She was still afraid of Theodore, but leaving now would be even more inappropriate. She stood by the door, unsure of what to do.

Theodore glanced at her indifferently and sat on the edge of the bed for a while longer. He touched his cigarette pack but ultimately resisted, lying down on the bed instead. Phoebe stood at the bedroom door for a long time before closing it and slowly walking to the bed, lying down along the edge.

On the wide bed, both of them lay along the edges, with enough space in the middle for three or four more people, clearly divided.

After lying there for a while, Phoebe suddenly turned to Theodore. In the warm yellow light, the wound on the back of his head was particularly glaring.

This was the first time she had resisted so fiercely, almost making a grave mistake. Phoebe closed her eyes and thought, 'we can't go on like this anymore.'