Forbidden Passion
Chapter 580 Questioning Vanessa

With Evelyn's heads-up, Phoebe didn't dare to mess around anymore. As soon as Evelyn bounced, she snagged the car keys and hit the road. The city was soaking up the sun. Phoebe cruised over to the car shop, and the staff, spotting her in a BMW, rolled out the red carpet. Phoebe wandered around the shop, then whipped out her phone and showed a pic of Vanessa to the receptionist. "Seen her around?"

The receptionist took one look and nodded. "Oh yeah, hard to miss someone that stunning. I took a few more glances."

Phoebe dug deeper, "What was she here for?"

The receptionist scratched his head. "I didn't help her out; my buddy did. But he quit. Heard he hit the jackpot and went back home to tie the knot." Phoebe's knuckles popped.

"Got his contact info?" she asked.

The receptionist shook his head. "No, we weren't tight. What do you need him for? If it's about your car, we've got folks here who are even better. I can hook you up." Phoebe's lips tightened, her eyes icy. "Thanks, but I need something else. Can you check something for me?"

"Sure, shoot," the receptionist said.

Phoebe gave him Donovan's license plate number and asked who worked on Donovan's car that day. The receptionist quickly confirmed it was the guy who quit. Leaving the shop, Phoebe stood under the blazing sun, feeling a chill run down her spine. She was almost sure now that Donovan's death was tied to Vanessa. Phoebe drove to the hospital where Vanessa had been hanging out with Sophia lately.

Didn't take long to spot Vanessa in the hallway. Phoebe stormed over, grabbed her, and slapped her hard.

Vanessa, stunned, held her burning cheek, staring at Phoebe in shock.

"Phoebe, what the hell?" she yelled.

Phoebe glared. "Vanessa, did you have anything to do with Donovan's death?"

Vanessa's eyes darted. She shoved Phoebe away, pissed. "What crap are you spewing? I had no beef with Donovan. Why would I kill him?" Phoebe pulled out her phone and showed Vanessa a pic from the car shop. "Then why were you at the shop the day Donovan's car got serviced?" Vanessa looked at the pic, feeling a pit in her stomach, but still denied it. "I wasn't there."

"If you weren't there, then who the hell is this?" Phoebe couldn't believe Vanessa's denial and hated her even more.

Vanessa said, "How should I know? Maybe you faked it. Phoebe, if you've got proof, let the cops take me."

Phoebe grabbed her, eyes blazing. "Vanessa, that was a human life. If you've got the guts, come at me. Why'd you kill Donovan?"

Vanessa lowered her arms, glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and whispered in Phoebe's ear, "Because he was in the way."

Phoebe's eyes widened in shock. She suddenly shoved Vanessa hard. Vanessa saw the nurse coming and collapsed to the floor.

Her cane clattered to the floor.

The nurse rushed over, crouched in front of Vanessa, and reached out to help her. "Miss Fitzroy, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Vanessa said pitifully, shaking her head. She looked up at Phoebe, tears in her eyes. "Phoebe, you've already taken Theodore from me. I have nothing left. Why won't you leave me alone? Do you really want to drive me to my death?" Phoebe glared at Vanessa. "You're shifting the blame," she accused.

"I know Theodore still loves me deeply, but what can I do? I can't control who he loves," Vanessa said, tears welling up.

The nurse's gaze towards Phoebe changed instantly.

Phoebe felt a pang in her heart. Theodore had been staying at the hospital day and night, accompanying Vanessa.

She leaned in slightly, staring into Vanessa's eyes. "Vanessa, I won't let you off that easily."

If she couldn't send Vanessa to jail, she would make her pay in her own way.

Blissville Estates welcomed an unexpected guest. Daisy knocked on Marlowe's door. When Marlowe saw her, she was momentarily stunned and instinctively looked behind him.

Daisy knew what she was looking for. She said, "Mr. Brandon Reynolds didn't come."

Marlowe's eyes dimmed. She stepped aside to let Daisy in. Bishop came out with a cane, and Daisy greeted him before sitting on the sofa.

"Since both of you are here, I'll convey Mr. Brandon Reynolds' message." Daisy took out a share transfer agreement from a file bag and pushed it in front of Bishop.

Daisy spoke, "I'm here on behalf of Mr. Brandon Reynolds to inform you both that, out of gratitude for Ms. Black's decade-long companionship and the birth of Mr. Bishop Reynolds, he is transferring one percent of his shares to Mr. Bishop Reynolds."

Bishop was furious on the spot. "How many shares did you say?"

"One percent," Daisy repeated.

Bishop was livid. He slapped the coffee table and stood up, enraged. "What does he take us for?"

Marlowe's face turned pale. A month ago, Brandon had promised to transfer 10% of the Reynolds Group's shares to Bishop. Now it was down to just 1%.

"How can Brandon do this to us? Bishop is his biological child," Marlowe cried, unable to accept the sudden change.

Bishop glared at Daisy. "Tell him to come and say it to our faces."

Daisy looked at Brandon and Marlowe, realizing they had been abandoned. She spoke less politely. "You should take what you can get. If you keep making a fuss, you might not even get this 1%."

Bishop's face twisted with rage. He picked up the share transfer agreement and threw it at Daisy. "Damn it, that bastard, I'll make him regret this. Get out!"

Daisy had been with Brandon for many years, and everyone treated her with respect. Now, being humiliated by Bishop, she stood up, placed the transfer agreement on the coffee table, and maintained her composure.

She said, "Mr. Bishop Reynolds, take my advice. The 1% of the Reynolds Group's shares is a gift. Don't be ungrateful." With that, Daisy turned and left.

As soon as she stepped out, she heard the sound of things being smashed inside. Daisy shook her head in the hallway.

Inside the apartment, Bishop stood amidst the mess. He looked at the share transfer agreement, bent down to tear it up, but Marlowe snatched it away. "Bishop, don't act on impulse. Having this 1% is better than having nothing," Marlowe said, holding back her pain.

She realized she had been blind, being Brandon's mistress for over a decade. She thought Brandon loved her, and for that love, she could endure anything. But now, she finally understood. If she didn't love herself, how could she expect others to love her?