Forbidden Passion
Chapter 443 You're Awesome

Phoebe lay on the bed, eyes squinting, unable to sleep. Her mind was racing, trying to figure out her next move.

Her thoughts were a mess. The fight with Theodore today felt like a make-or-break moment.

She touched her neck gently, the feeling of suffocation still lingering. For a second, she thought Theodore really wanted to kill her. Theodore hated her!

But mixed in with that hate, there was something else. Was it grief, despair, pain, or desire?

In that suffocating moment, she felt a strange warmth, like she was about to touch Theodore's true feelings.

But then, everything shattered.

Maybe it was all just an illusion.

How could Theodore possibly like her?

Phoebe closed her eyes. She knew she wouldn't sleep tonight. Her eyes ached from being shut, yet sleep remained elusive.

The first light of morning crept into the room. The mattress shifted as Theodore got up. Phoebe's eyelashes fluttered as she heard his footsteps fade away, finally disappearing behind the door. She opened her eyes and sighed. Her nerves, tense all night, finally relaxed.

Yesterday's fight with Theodore had left a heavy atmosphere at home. The servants, who had heard the commotion, didn't dare to check.

Seeing Theodore's grim face in the morning, everyone guessed what had happened.

The house had been tense lately. They thought Taylor and Brandon would be the first to have issues, but it turned out to be Phoebe and Theodore.

"Did Theodore leave?" Taylor asked.

"He skipped breakfast and left," Riley said quietly, watching Taylor's reaction. "He looked really unhappy, with dark circles under his eyes. Probably didn't sleep much."

Taylor paused, thinking of the gash on Theodore's head. "If Sarah asks, don't mention it. No need to worry her."

Theodore almost had his head split open by Phoebe. Taylor felt bad enough, let alone Sarah, who adored him.

Riley nodded. "I won't say anything."

Phoebe came downstairs not long after. She looked unsteady, with dark circles under her eyes, clearly not having slept well.

Taylor, initially annoyed, softened upon observing Phoebe's tired appearance. Waving her over, she inquired, "Rough night? Lack of sleep?"

Phoebe, voice hoarse and head lowered, confessed, "I couldn't sleep. How's Theodore? How's his head?"

Taylor looked at her and exaggerated, "The cut's pretty deep. I told him to go to the hospital, but he just put on a band-aid. What's a band-aid gonna do for a deep cut?"

Phoebe felt even guiltier, lowering her head more. "I'll check on him at the office later."

"Phoebe," Taylor said, "I don't know what happened last night, but marriage is about tolerance. You've been married over three years, almost four. The first two years were fine; why so many issues now?" Phoebe bit her lip, unable to respond.

Taylor sighed. "Phoebe, no two people are naturally compatible. You have to work at it, especially in marriage. Couples argue, but unless it's a big deal, don't talk about separation, okay?"

Phoebe hesitated, the words "I want a divorce" lingering on her tongue. She refrained, realizing that uttering them now might push Theodore over the edge.

Yet, the prospect of staying in the marriage felt equally untenable.

"I understand," Phoebe said.

Taylor smiled, relieved. "Good girl, go have breakfast."

As Phoebe entered the dining room, Madison came downstairs.

Taylor motioned for Madison to join them and requested her to drive Phoebe to the office. Since the family car had been taken for maintenance earlier that morning, Phoebe found herself without a means of transportation. After breakfast, they left.

Madison, wearing a coat and a beret, looked youthful as she drove out of the estate.

"I heard you hit Theodore last night?" Madison glanced at Phoebe, who had closed her eyes to rest in the passenger seat. She had a wound on her mouth, seemingly from a bite.

Phoebe wore a turtleneck sweater to cover the marks on her neck.

Her eyelids twitched at Madison's words. Detecting the schadenfreude, she said, "So don't mess with me."

Madison replied, "Well, you're actually awesome!"

The car was silent for a few seconds before Madison spoke again, "Phoebe, do you know what happened to the last person who dared to hit Theodore?" Phoebe replied, "I'm still alive."

Madison sneered, "You're just lucky you're a woman. Theodore never hits women. Otherwise, do you think you'd be sitting here in one piece?" Phoebe stayed silent.

Madison looked at her and said, "You really have guts. Aren't you afraid of pushing Theodore completely towards Vanessa?"

"You're noisy." Phoebe put on her headphones, not wanting to talk.

Madison gripped the steering wheel tighter, feeling Phoebe was ungrateful. Phoebe had married such an excellent man like Theodore; what more could she want? "Just keep causing trouble," Madison gritted her teeth, then stepped on the gas, making the car roar forward.

An hour later, they arrived at the Reynolds Group's underground parking lot. Phoebe got out and took the elevator upstairs with Madison.

The elevator stopped on the first floor, and there was a wheelchair outside. The person pushing it was Theodore.

Phoebe's gaze swept over Vanessa and landed on Theodore's face. Unsure if it was her imagination, Phoebe sensed an even greater chill emanating from Theodore.

Her grip tightened around her bag as Phoebe and Theodore shared a fleeting, almost imperceptible glance. However, Theodore's gaze barely lingered on her before moving away. Vanessa, in the wheelchair, wore light makeup and looked stunning. She greeted Madison and Phoebe warmly, "Hello, Madison, Ms. Ziegler."

Madison was pleasantly surprised. "Vanessa, you're discharged. That's great. Theodore, hurry and bring Vanessa in. So you went out early to pick up Vanessa."

Madison's words had a hint of provocation. She pulled Phoebe back to make room for Theodore and Vanessa to enter the elevator.