Forbidden Passion
Chapter 531 Ties That Bind

The ambulance screeched to a halt, and the paramedics jumped out, scooping Brandon onto a stretcher and hustling him back inside. The doc inside yelled, "We need a family member!"

Theodore, just in a dark gray sweater 'cause he used his coat to keep Brandon warm in the snow, stumbled a bit. Phoebe grabbed his arm to steady him. Theodore shot her a look, his eyes all sad and stuff. Phoebe squeezed his arm and said, "You go. Mom and I will catch up."

He nodded and made a beeline for the ambulance.

By then, Bishop was already there, about to ditch his crutch and climb in when someone yanked him back by the collar.

Theodore shoved him without a word, making Bishop stumble. If Daisy hadn't caught him, he would've face-planted.

Bishop yelled, "Theodore, I'm the eldest son of the Reynolds family!"

Theodore didn't even look at him; he just hopped into the ambulance and sat next to Brandon. The doors slammed shut, and they sped off.

Bishop was fuming, shaking with anger. Daisy said, "Mr. Reynolds, you should bail out Ms. Black first."

Bishop, still raging, looked at Taylor and hobbled over with his crutch. "If anything happens to my dad, you're gonna pay."

"Bishop!" Phoebe snapped, glaring at him. He sneered and walked off.

Daisy hurried over and said, "Mrs. Taylor Reynolds, I drove here. Let me take you and Mrs. Phoebe Reynolds to the hospital."

Taylor, too worried to care about grudges, nodded.

Phoebe helped Taylor to the parking lot and into the Rolls-Royce. Daisy started driving and casually chatted, "Mr. Reynolds was just telling me about Mrs. Reynolds' childhood. Said you were a little troublemaker, always scared of the police 'cause your parents said they'd take naughty kids away. He wanted to get you out of the station quick, afraid you'd cry."

Tears welled up in Taylor's eyes. "He still remembers?"

Daisy added, "He remembers everything. Lately, he hasn't been sleeping well. He's not heartless. That's why he can't be cold to Ms. Black, who gave him a son."

Taylor covered her eyes, not wanting anyone to see her cry. "Daisy, stop making excuses for him."

Daisy realized she said too much and went quiet, focusing on driving.

When they got to the hospital, Brandon was already in the ER. A nurse handed Theodore a stack of consent forms to sign.

He signed them without a word. The nurse took the forms and disappeared into the ER, leaving them outside with their worries.

Phoebe rushed over to Theodore, checking his face. "How's Brandon?"

"I don't know. They're still working on him." Theodore rubbed his temples. "Brandon's the founder of the Reynolds Group. We need to keep this from the media." "I'll handle it," Phoebe said.

Just as Phoebe was about to leave, Theodore grabbed her wrist. She looked at him, confused. "What's up?"

Theodore was super anxious. He'd seen the docs working on Brandon in the ambulance, and they weren't optimistic. Even if they saved him, a cerebral hemorrhage could mean paralysis.

But he didn't want to freak Phoebe out. "I promised no regrets, but with everything going on today..."

"I get it, we can grab bubble tea anytime. Don't sweat it," Phoebe reassured him.

Phoebe felt a bit touched. Even now, Theodore remembered he owed her a bubble tea. She didn't crave it as much anymore.

Theodore's quiet gaze made her heart ache.

Phoebe leaned in and hugged him gently. "It's gonna be okay. Don't worry. I'll handle the company stuff with Mr. Gray."

As she pulled away, Theodore hugged her tight for a second, as if he were drawing strength from it, and then let her go. "Go ahead," he said.

If the news about Brandon got out, the company's stock would tank. Phoebe and Curtis worked all night to keep it under wraps.

Phoebe was beat, but thinking of Brandon still in surgery, she rushed to the hospital.

She brought some easy-to-digest food. Theodore and Taylor had been there all night and needed to eat.

Just as she arrived, the ER doors opened. Phoebe followed Theodore and the others as they rushed to the chief surgeon.

The chief surgeon took off his mask, looking at their anxious faces before focusing on Theodore. "Mr. Reynolds' surgery went well. The bleeding's mostly controlled. He's in the ICU now. If he does well, he can move to a regular ward." His optimistic tone eased everyone's worries.

"When can I see him?" Taylor asked, wiping away tears. Despite everything, she and Brandon were still married, and this ordeal had softened her resentment.

"In about 12 hours. If he wakes up, you can visit," the surgeon said.

"Thank you, doctor," Taylor replied.

After the doctor left, Phoebe handed out the food. "Taylor, you've been here all night. Eat something."

Taylor stared blankly at the now darkened surgical light.

Phoebe looked at Theodore. He took the food and gently guided Taylor to a bench.

"You need to eat. If you get sick before he gets out of the ICU, Phoebe and I will be worried sick," Theodore said.

Taylor's eyes softened, and she took the porridge, eating in small bites.

She had no appetite, forcing herself to eat a few bites. She choked, tears and snot streaming down her face. "When Brandon was around, he drove me nuts. Now that he's in there, I realize how much he means to me. Thirty years of marriage isn't something you just let go of."

Phoebe felt a wave of empathy. Even with just over three years of marriage to Theodore, she found it hard to let go.