Forbidden Passion
Chapter 60 Where’s Phoebe?

Carol and Phoebe had somewhat of a personal relationship. "Don't worry, I have the emergency contact that she left behind. I'll give you the number," she said.

John received the phone number and immediately dialed it before even leaving the CEO's office. Mrs. Ziegler heard that her daughter hadn't been to the company for three days and her phone was off. She felt a pang in her heart and suddenly had a bad feeling.

She quickly hailed a taxi and went to the Imperial Apartment. No one answered when she knocked on the door, so she called Theodore. The phone rang for a long time before someone answered. Mrs. Ziegler, couldn't care less about her usual fear of Theodore and straightforwardly said.

"Theodore, I haven't been able to reach Phoebe for several days. Her phone is off, and I came to the Imperial Apartment to find her, but no one answered the door. I'm worried that something might have happened to her. Can you give me the electronic lock code for the house?"

Theodore reported a series of numbers, and didn't ask about Phoebe's situation before saying, "Then I'll hang up."

Mrs. Ziegler quickly replied, "Okay, you go ahead and do what you need to do."

After hanging up the phone, Mrs. Ziegler entered the password, and with a beep, the door opened. She walked in hurriedly, shivering from the excessively cold air inside the house.

"Why is the air conditioning set so low? It's freezing!" Mrs. Ziegler sneezed as she walked in. She couldn't help but notice how cold the home felt, like an ice cellar with no signs of life. "Phoebe, Phoebe, are you home?" Mrs. Ziegler leaned over at the bedroom door, rarely visiting the Imperial Apartment.

Phoebe and the others were always busy, hardly ever at home during the day. Plus, Mrs. Ziegler had a natural fear of Theodore, and always felt that he wouldn't appreciate her interference. She stood at the door for a while but eventually mustered up the courage to walk in.

The bedroom curtains were drawn, so she walked over and used the remote control to open them, allowing sunlight to flood in from outside. No one was in bed, and the bathroom was empty too. After searching around, Mrs. Ziegler found Phoebe sitting on the floor in the dressing room.

Phoebe's complexion looked worn-out, with lips pale and blue, sunken eye sockets, dull eyes reflecting a tinge of blue, completely devoid of any liveliness. Mrs. Ziegler rushed over in a single stride, kneeling beside her without daring to touch her. "Phoebe, what's wrong? Phoebe, please don't scare me."

Phoebe's eyes remained fixed and motionless, her whole being devoid of life. She didn't react to Mrs. Ziegler's words at all. Terrified, Mrs. Ziegler tremblingly placed her hand under Phoebe's nostrils and felt the faint breath. Her heart pounded back into her chest with force.

"What kind of horror movie are you acting out in broad daylight? You scared me to death!" Mrs. Ziegler slapped her, causing Phoebe to collapse like a ragdoll onto the ground, motionless. Momentarily stunned, Mrs. Ziegler hurriedly crawled over and lifted her up, repeating, "Phoebe, Phoebe..."

Mrs. Ziegler screamed her name, tears streaming down her face, but Phoebe's eyes never opened again. Fearfully, she quickly called for an ambulance.

After Phoebe was taken to the hospital and the doctor finished the examination, he removed his mask and said to Mrs. Ziegler, "The patient was too exhausted and fell asleep."

He continued, "Besides a slow heartbeat, there are no other symptoms. However, it seems she hasn't eaten anything in several days. We have administered a nutrient injection, but it would be best for her family to prepare some light porridge to aid her, when she wakes up."

"Okay, okay, I'll prepare that right away. Thank you, doctor," Mrs. Ziegler nodded quickly.

As the doctor left, Mrs. Ziegler saw the nurse pushing the bed out with Phoebe lying on it, her pale face almost blending into the bed sheets beneath her. Mrs. Ziegler couldn't help but cry, wondering why Phoebe was so desperate and subjecting herself to such cruelty.