Forbidden Passion
Chapter 554 The Deep Kiss in the Alley

Theodore scowled, "Phoebe, why are you all about Grace and not giving a damn about Madison? Madison's innocent in this mess too."

"Yeah, she's innocent, but she's been showered with way more love than Grace ever got." Phoebe's heart ached just thinking about Grace's face when she said she had no home.

Grace was supposed to be the pampered princess of the Reynolds family. If it weren't for Mason and Alva's selfishness, swapping Madison and Grace so Madison could live it up, Grace would've grown up in the Reynolds family, treated like royalty.

Now, Grace can't go back to the Sullivan family, and the Reynolds family isn't exactly rolling out the red carpet for her. Grace got the short end of the stick, big time. Madison might be innocent, but she got double the love in this whole deal.

Mason and Alva, all about giving Madison the high life, swapped her with Grace. The Reynolds family, clueless, showered Madison with love and affection.

Even when Madison stumbled into Mason and Alva's life, Mason's first move was to throw money at her.

Even with Alva in the hospital needing cash, Mason and Alva never hit Madison up for it, instead making Grace hustle for the funds.

When Grace got hit by a car and ended up in the hospital, Mason's main worry was that Grace might blow through the money meant for Alva's surgery.

But still, Mason and Alva cared about Madison's feelings. What did Grace ever do wrong?

Theodore dropped his gaze, seeing Phoebe's pissed-off expression. He knew if they kept this up, they'd end up in a shouting match.

Theodore smartly switched gears, "I'm starving. Wanna grab a bite with me?"

Phoebe blinked, surprised. She thought Theodore would keep arguing. She took a deep breath, calmed down, and asked, "Have you seen Dad yet?" Theodore nodded, "Yeah. Let's go."

He turned and headed for the hospital entrance. Phoebe hesitated but quickly caught up, walking beside him.

They found a little joint in a nearby alley.

The alley was lined with old houses, and the place had a nostalgic vibe.

The owner, Wyatt Fisher, seemed to know Theodore well. As soon as they walked in, Wyatt greeted them with a grin and led them to a window seat.

Inside, a few tables were taken, with delicious smells wafting through the air and steam rising from the dishes. It felt like a cozy, bustling hideaway, totally separate from the freezing, snowy world outside. After sitting down, Phoebe listened as Theodore and Wyatt ordered the food.

"Alright, hang tight. It'll be ready soon," Wyatt said with a smile and left.

Phoebe watched the snowflakes falling under the streetlamp outside the window. "It's snowing again. It was sunny earlier."

"Snow's better than rain," Theodore said, following her gaze.

"Snow's got this beautiful, sad vibe, while rain's just plain depressing. Snow's definitely better," Phoebe agreed. "But I don't like either. I prefer sunshine." Chasing the light was a human instinct.

Theodore looked back at her face, then smiled, "Yeah, I like the light too."

Phoebe locked eyes with him. Under the warm orange glow, Theodore's eyes were like deep, swirling pools.

Theodore said he liked the light.

But the way he was looking at her, it felt like he was saying he liked her.

Phoebe's heart started pounding. She stared at Theodore, her lips slightly parted, her mind going blank.

The waiter came over with their food, snapping them out of the charged moment.

Phoebe's throat felt dry. She grabbed her teacup, took a sip, and turned to look out the window, admiring the snowy night.

"Enjoy your meal." the waiter reminded them and left.

Theodore picked up the utensils and handed one to Phoebe. "Eat up. This stuff is best when it's hot."

Phoebe took the utensils, her fingers brushing against Theodore's, sending a jolt through her.

She absentmindedly stirred the food in her bowl.

Theodore, noticing she wasn't eating much, paused and asked, "What's up? Not your thing?"

"No," Phoebe said, lowering her head to eat. After a few bites, she realized Theodore was still staring at her, like she had something on her face. Phoebe looked up. "Why are you staring at me?"

Theodore just smiled and kept eating. Phoebe found his smile puzzling. She took another bite and said, "It's pretty good. Do you come here often?"

"Used to come here a lot with classmates back in school. After I went abroad, not so much. This place has been around for over twenty years, and the taste hasn't changed a bit," Theodore said. Phoebe glanced around. Being in a small alley, this place had a nostalgic charm, unlikely to be torn down.

Phoebe asked, "When did this place open?"

"Around '95, same year as you," Theodore said.

Phoebe's eyes lit up, feeling a sudden connection to the place. "It's a hidden gem, being open for so long." Theodore looked at her, noticing the gentle smile in her eyes. His gaze softened too. "Yeah, a real treasure."

It was unclear if he meant the restaurant or the person across from him.

After they finished eating, the snow had gotten heavier. They didn't have an umbrella, so Wyatt handed them one. "Snow's coming down hard. Take this umbrella." Theodore took the umbrella, thanked Wyatt, and they stepped into the snow.

The ground was wet, and big snowflakes fell from the dark sky, blanketing everything.

The streetlights cast a warm, yellow glow. Theodore and Phoebe shared the umbrella, walking in the snowy night, creating a romantic scene.

Theodore looked down at Phoebe walking quietly beside him. Her face was calm, and she seemed in a good mood, with a constant smile on her lips.

His heart pounded as he gradually came to a stop.

It wasn't until the light above her head fell on her that Phoebe realized Theodore had stopped. She turned, puzzled, "Why'd you stop?"

Theodore's eyes were downcast, his gaze lingering below her nose, filled with longing.

Phoebe instantly got it. She stood still, watching Theodore take a few steps closer until the umbrella once again covered her.

He kissed her deeply.