Forbidden Passion
Chapter 607 The Inappropriate Ring

Phoebe just stood there, watching Theodore's back fade out the door. After a bit, Riley came in with a broom, ready to clean up the mess.

Riley swept up the broken pieces and mopped up the spilled porridge. When she was done, she noticed the curtains moving and figured out why the room was so cold. She walked over and shut the window. Turning around, she saw Phoebe shivering. Riley grabbed a coat and draped it over Phoebe's shoulders.

"Phoebe, why do you keep doing this to yourself?" Riley asked.

Phoebe lowered her eyelids. The open window had let in some rain mist, which clung to her eyelashes. Maybe to Riley, she seemed ungrateful. But only Phoebe knew she didn't care about anything anymore.

Seeing Phoebe not responding, Riley couldn't help but say more, "Theodore's a good guy. He messed up before, but isn't everything fine now?" Phoebe gently closed her eyes. "Is that fine?"

Riley was taken aback.

Phoebe turned to look out the window. In the misty rain, a tall figure was bending over, searching for something in the weeds. Her voice was barely audible.

"Riley, you haven't been through it. You don't know what it's like not knowing if rescue or death will come first. Sure, you can say everything's fine and Theodore should be forgiven. I'm still alive now, but what if I had died?" Riley wanted to say, "But you didn't die," but seeing Phoebe's expression, the words stuck in her throat. "Phoebe, don't take it too seriously."

Phoebe turned her head away. "Since he chose to give up on me that day, he should just let it go completely. Why pretend to be so affectionate in front of me?"

Riley replied, "But Theodore really loves you, Phoebe. Do you remember how much he did for you when you were pregnant?"

Phoebe retorted, "No. Even if I did, it was because of the child in my womb, not purely because of me. Riley, stop trying to persuade me. I want to be alone."

Riley opened her mouth several times to try to persuade Phoebe, but in the end, she closed it helplessly.

She picked up the broom and left.

The sound of the door closing came from behind. Phoebe stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. The sky was overcast, and the sound of rain outside seemed even louder.

Phoebe lowered her head, watching Theodore search for the ring in the grass. He didn't even have an umbrella.

The rain was pouring down, soaking him to the bone. How long could Theodore endure in the rain? But what did it have to do with her?

Phoebe turned coldly and went back to bed, lying under the covers.

Theodore searched the grass for a long time, only finding a necklace hanging on a branch, but not the ring.

The pouring rain drenched him completely. Theodore stood in the downpour, forlorn and helpless, like a solitary figure lost in a storm.

Riley, wearing a raincoat and holding an umbrella, ran over. She tiptoed to hold the umbrella over Theodore's head. Seeing him soaked, she shouted, "Theodore, the rain is too heavy. Let's go back and look again when it stops." Theodore shook his head. "Riley, I won't go back until I find the ring."

Riley was anxious. "The rain is so heavy, you'll get sick. Listen, go back and change your clothes. I'll help you look, okay?"

Theodore still shook his head. "You go back. I'll look by myself."

Riley knew Theodore's character. If he didn't find the ring today, he wouldn't go back. She shoved the umbrella into Theodore's hand. "You hold the umbrella, and I'll help you look."

Theodore and Riley searched every corner of the grass in the rain, but the ring was nowhere to be found.

Maybe even the heavens felt bad for him. The rain started to ease up and finally stopped.

The clouds broke apart, and the world slowly lit up. A beam of golden light pierced through the clouds, making the rain-washed sky look all clear and pure.

Riley looked up, all surprised and happy. "Theodore, the sun's out. Look, there's a rainbow!"

Theodore straightened up and looked where Riley was pointing. A rainbow stretched across half the sky. It was the first time he had seen one.

Then a glint of light caught his eye. He looked closer and saw the ring just chilling on a leaf.

"I found it, Riley." Theodore was as happy as a kid. Even though he was soaking wet, he jumped up and grabbed the ring along with the leaf.

"Theodore, cherish what you've got back," Riley said, all meaningful. "Alright, let's head back. You're soaked. Be careful..."

Before she could finish, Theodore sneezed loudly, but it didn't kill his vibe.

He had found the ring. He and Phoebe weren't done yet!

Theodore and Riley headed back to the villa. The warm air inside made Theodore sneeze a few more times, and Riley sent him upstairs to take a bath. Theodore didn't go to the master bedroom to find Phoebe. He didn't want her to see him looking like a drowned rat.

Theodore took a bath in the guest bathroom and changed his clothes before heading to the master bedroom.

Phoebe was lying on the bed. It was unclear if she was asleep. He walked slowly to the bedside and saw her eyes closed. He sat down on the edge of the bed. Theodore took the ring out of his jacket pocket and held Phoebe's hand with the other, slowly slipping the ring onto her finger.

Phoebe opened her eyes and looked at him quietly.

Theodore looked down at her finger. The ring dangled loosely on her slender finger, unable to stay on. His eyes were full of astonishment.

Phoebe withdrew her hand, and the ring fell onto the bed, rolling several times before stopping.

She looked at Theodore and said, "What's the point of finding it? It doesn't fit me, Mr. Reynolds. This is fate; it's the predetermined outcome."

"I don't believe it!" Theodore grabbed the ring and Phoebe's hand, trying to fit the ring onto her ring finger again, but it still wouldn't stay. He was unwilling to give up. Theodore tried the ring on all of Phoebe's fingers except her pinky, even her thumb, but it wouldn't fit.

Theodore's heart ached so much he could hardly breathe. How could this be?

They had bought the ring together. Although Phoebe's fingers were swollen from frostbite at the time, they couldn't have been that much bigger. Why was it so much bigger now?

"Our marriage is like this ring and my hand. It seemed a perfect fit at first, but when you actually try it on, you realize it doesn't. Let go, Mr. Reynolds. Free me, and free yourself," Phoebe said calmly.

Theodore held Phoebe's hand, wishing he could force the ring onto her finger. His voice was hoarse and pained. "If the ring doesn't fit, it can be adjusted. Whatever you find unsatisfactory about me, I can change too. Phoebe, I beg you, don't give up on me so easily."

Phoebe turned her head away. "I'm sorry, I just want a divorce. Please, let me go, okay?"

Theodore stiffened. He mechanically raised his head to look at her, his voice full of accusation. "Phoebe, what do you want me to do? You clearly said you liked me that day. Was that all a lie?"

He had just learned of Phoebe's love for him. How could he be willing to lose her so quickly?