Forbidden Passion
Chapter 448 Do You Want to Commit Murder?

The hotel was short on rooms, and since Phoebe and Theodore were last-minute additions, they were left without one. Orlando, sweating with anxiety, found them waiting in the simple lobby.

He pulled Phoebe aside and said, "Ms. Ziegler, here's the situation: the hotel is fully booked. I found a nearby resident who can lend us a place for the night. It's that white house we passed. So, either you and Mr. Reynolds stay there, or you two share a single room."

That single room was meant for Orlando, but if Theodore stayed, Orlando could crash at the resident's place.

Before Phoebe could respond, Theodore said, "I'll share the room with Phoebe. You stay with the resident."

Orlando was surprised and gave Phoebe a knowing look, thinking, 'So, the rumors about Theodore being Phoebe's sugar daddy turned out to be true.'

He handed the room key to Phoebe, grabbed his toiletries, and left with the resident.

Phoebe remembered Orlando's look and felt a bit uncomfortable, even though she was used to it.

It was late, so they kept things simple. Phoebe got two boxed meals and brought them back. Theodore opened the window to air out the freezing room, clearly unhappy with the hotel's cleanliness due to his germophobia. Phoebe placed the meals on a shabby wooden board attached to the wall and said, "It's just boxed meals. Eat while it's hot."

Theodore frowned but didn't complain. He took a few bites and then set it aside, heading to the bathroom to undress.

The shower was separated by a semi-transparent glass door with simple patterns. Phoebe, holding her meal, looked up and saw Theodore's tall, well-built figure in the bathroom.

She almost dropped her meal, thinking, 'No wonder Orlando gave me that look. Even if we were married, this is too awkward!'

Theodore noticed Phoebe staring and, confident in his physique, turned on the hot water and knocked on the glass door.

Phoebe snapped out of it, blushed, and quickly looked away.

When Theodore finished his shower, Phoebe had already thrown out both meals and closed the window. She heard him come out but didn't look up, grabbing her things to head to the bathroom.

Orlando had mentioned that conditions would get harsher as they traveled further, so Phoebe wanted to shower while there was still hot water. But seeing the semi-transparent door, she didn't have the courage to undress in front of Theodore. She quickly washed up and came out to find Theodore sitting on the bed, playing a game.

Phoebe said, "You showered earlier, and the band-aid on your head probably came off. I brought disinfectant and medicine for your wound."

Without a word, Theodore glanced up, silently giving his approval, before turning around. Phoebe rummaged through her suitcase for the disinfectant and medicine. Her fingers brushed through Theodore's short hair, which was slightly stiff and tickled her fingertips.

She found the wound hidden at his hairline, washed white by the water. It was quite long, showing she had hit him hard last night.

Phoebe sprayed disinfectant on the wound, and Theodore gasped in pain. She quickly asked, "Does it hurt a lot?"

Theodore gritted his teeth, enduring the sharp pain, and frowned. "Are you trying to kill me?" Phoebe knew he was in real pain. She leaned in and gently blew on the back of his head.

The cool breeze on his scalp made Theodore's skin tingle. He grabbed Phoebe and said with a stern face, "Are you trying to seduce me again?"

Phoebe saw the sparks in Theodore's eyes and felt a pang of fear. "The wound needs to be disinfected, or it could get infected. I'll help you apply the medicine."

She broke free from his grip, knelt behind him, and gently applied the medicine with a cotton swab.

By the time she finished, it was very late, and they had to leave early the next morning.

Phoebe said, "Good night."

Seeing Phoebe turn sideways with her back to him, Theodore turned off his phone and got into bed.

The bed was small, and once they lay down, Theodore's arm inevitably touched Phoebe.

Theodore's breathing gradually became heavier. He turned to Phoebe, her back to him, exuding a sense of rejection. He closed his eyes and turned his back to her. That night, they both slept peacefully.

Morning bird calls woke Phoebe. She opened her eyes to find herself in Theodore's arms.

A faint scent of body wash lingered in the air. It wasn't Theodore's usual fresh mint scent, but it still smelled good.

Phoebe gently disentangled herself from Theodore's embrace, slipped into her sweater and puffy jacket, then made her way to the bathroom to freshen up. With nimble steps, she silently exited the room.

At this hour, while others slept, Phoebe quietly fixed two bowls of oatmeal, two slices of bread, and two eggs for Theodore, knowing he'd be hungry after not eating much the previous night.

When she returned, Theodore was already dressed, with one side of his hair slightly sticking up. He must have tried to flatten it with water but failed.

"Come have breakfast. Once we got in the mountains, conditions will be harsher, and you'll need food to keep warm," Phoebe urged, laying out the breakfast.

This time, Theodore didn't complain. He took a piece of bread and sat on the bed, eating it slowly with the oatmeal.

"How did you sleep last night?" Theodore suddenly asked.

Phoebe was taken aback. Despite her exhaustion, she had dozed off quickly and slept soundly until morning. "I slept well. How about you?" she replied, curious. Theodore rubbed his arm and said ambiguously, "I didn't sleep well."

"Do you have trouble sleeping in new places?" Phoebe asked.

Theodore looked at her and said, "Someone kept snuggling into my arms last night. I couldn't push her away. Later, she even used my arm as a pillow. Now my arm is sore. Can you massage it for me after breakfast?" Phoebe was speechless.