Forbidden Passion
Chapter 567 I'll Come Pick up Phoebe

Phoebe got locked outta the kitchen. After a sec of thinking, she strolled into the living room and plopped down on the single sofa farthest from Theodore.

They both sat there, quiet as mice, with the TV blaring in the background. Neither of them gave a damn about the other.

Some variety show was on. After some fancy piano tunes, the host showed up. The folks on the show were tight, totally getting each other's jokes. In no time, they had the audience cracking up. Phoebe wanted to laugh, but she just couldn't. The people on stage seemed like they were just trying too hard.

Outta nowhere, her phone buzzed. Phoebe checked it and saw Cindy was calling. After a quick pause, she got up and headed to the balcony to take the call.

Cindy's voice was all careful, like she was walking on eggshells, "Hey, Phoebe, I heard Donovan's dead. Is that true?"

Phoebe leaned against the wall. The balcony was colder than inside, and the chill was getting to her.

She replied, "Yeah."

It took Cindy a while to speak again, "How could this happen? I was shocked when I heard. Phoebe, this must be really tough for Evelyn, right?"

Phoebe stared at her toes, "She's gotta accept it eventually."

The dead were gone, and the living had no choice but to deal with it.

Cindy could sense Phoebe's low mood and felt a pang of sadness, "Phoebe, wanna go out for a drink with me?"

Phoebe glanced at the floor-to-ceiling window on the balcony, seeing Theodore still on the sofa.

She really didn't wanna be around Theodore right now.

Phoebe pinched the bridge of her nose and said, "Okay, come pick me up."

After hanging up, Phoebe stayed on the balcony a bit longer until she was freezing. Then she went back into the living room. Theodore looked over at her.

Phoebe instinctively tightened her grip on her phone. She was actually pretty scared of Theodore. Despite his calm look now, he could be terrifying when he got mad. She said, "Cindy needs me for something. I'm heading out."

With that, Phoebe grabbed a down jacket from the coat rack and made for the door, letting Theodore know without asking for his permission.

Surprisingly, Theodore didn't stop her. He just watched as she left. Only after the door had been closed for a while did he look away and turn off the boring TV with the remote. When Phoebe got outside the apartment complex, Cindy's car was already there. She hopped in, the warmth inside making her sneeze.

Cindy noticed Phoebe's pale face and couldn't help but worry, "Why do you look so beat?"

Phoebe buckled up and said, "Let's go."

Cindy started the car and drove off. They didn't go far, just to a quiet, cozy bar.

The bar wasn't crowded. They sat at the counter, and the bartender, a buddy of Cindy's, made them each a drink.

"You're in such a state, Evelyn must be even more upset. I should check on her," Cindy said softly, looking at Phoebe.

Phoebe shook her head, "No need. You know my mom. Your visit would just make her more upset."

"But I can't just ignore it," Cindy insisted.

Cindy and Phoebe had been tight for almost a decade. Back in school, Cindy practically lived at Phoebe's place. Evelyn would whip up meals for her, and Donovan always had her back. Now, with Donovan's accident, if Cindy shrugged them off, it made her seem kinda heartless.

Phoebe sighed, "Give it a few more days."

"What exactly went down with Donovan? Wasn't he working at Mr. Reynolds' company after he got back? How could he just be gone?" Cindy frowned. Phoebe traced the rim of her glass, staring at the sunset-colored drink, "The roads were icy 'cause of the snow, and his car went into the sea." "In this weather," Cindy muttered.

Even in summer, falling into the sea was a death sentence, let alone in winter.

Phoebe said bitterly, "Yeah, in this weather, falling into the sea, even ten lives wouldn't be enough. It just leaves us, the ones left behind, in misery."

Cindy didn't know what to say. She rubbed Phoebe's back and said, "Phoebe, you and Evelyn gotta stay strong."

Phoebe took a sip of her drink. The liquid burned her throat, making her cough. Cindy quickly patted her back.

Cindy spoke, "Don't chug it down, this stuff can knock you out fast."

"It's good to get drunk. Then I won't feel so sad," Phoebe said, taking another sip and choking on her tears. The hardest thing to accept in this world was parting through death.

Phoebe ended up drinking too much. She lay on the table, mumbling her complaints. "Honestly, I'm really jealous of Donovan. He was carefree since childhood, never shouldering any family responsibilities. I remember he flunked his entrance exams. He could've gone to a good school but ended up at a worse one. The tuition for the worse schools in Kedora was almost twice as expensive as the good ones. But Donovan didn't wanna repeat a year, so my mom had to grit her teeth and pay his tuition. After paying for him, there wasn't much left for me. I was just starting high school, and the teachers suggested we take extra classes, but my mom couldn't afford it. I could barely afford high school, let alone extra classes. My mom wanted me to go to vocational school so I could start earning money quickly. I refused, and we had a big fight. In the end, I had to study and tutor on weekends to make ends meet."

Phoebe continued, "I worked so hard to pay for my tuition and living expenses, while Donovan practically wasted his college years. Every time I think of him asking my mom for money so confidently, I get furious. Even when he caused big trouble in Starfall City and came back, my mom didn't say a harsh word to him. I have a lot of resentment and anger towards him, but knowing he fell into the sea and his body was never found, I'm really sad."

She added, "I don't want him dead. I want him alive, causing me trouble now and then, forcing me to clean up his mess. I don't want to be in a situation where I can't even find him to argue with."

Cindy listened quietly to Phoebe's outpouring until she fell asleep on the bar counter.

Cindy sighed and was about to ask someone to help her get Phoebe to the car when her phone suddenly vibrated. She answered it, and Theodore's deep voice came through. "Where are you? I'll come pick up Phoebe."

Cindy gave him the address, hung up, and asked for a blanket to cover Phoebe. Not long after, Theodore walked in, bringing a gust of cold wind with him. He looked dashing as he approached them and frowned when he saw Phoebe asleep on the bar counter.

He asked, "How much did she drink?"