Forbidden Passion
Chapter 608 Phoebe Went on a Hunger Strike

Phoebe's face went ghost-white. She must've been outta her mind to say that.

If she hadn't blurted it out, would Theodore still be using it against her now?

But seriously, what did her love for Theodore even matter?

She spilled her guts in a life-or-death moment, thinking she might never get another shot. Yet Theodore, knowing how she felt, still ditched her to save Vanessa.

Phoebe kept telling herself not to hold a grudge, but she couldn't. Every time she woke up from a nightmare in the middle of the night, she could feel her intense hatred for Theodore. She couldn't forgive him.

"I don't like you," Phoebe insisted.

Theodore was stunned. He slowly lifted his head to look at her, disbelief in his eyes, and his voice was very soft, "What did you say?"

Phoebe looked at Theodore expressionlessly, "That was just a stopgap measure. I knew Vanessa and I were kidnapped at the same time, and I knew you could only raise five hundred million dollars in one day to save one person. I wanted to increase my chances of being saved, so I said that on purpose."

Theodore's eyes instantly turned terrifying, "You're lying!"

Phoebe met Theodore's gaze without flinching, "Mr. Reynolds, if I really liked you, would I have waited until that day to say it?"

Theodore gripped Phoebe's hand tightly, as if clinging to a final hope. He said, "No, you're lying. You clearly said you liked me. I couldn't have heard it wrong."

Phoebe shook her head, looking at him with pity, "Stop deceiving yourself. How could I possibly like someone who forced himself on me? Am I out of my mind? Think about these past four years. Have you ever treated me like a person?"

Theodore called, "Phoebe."

"No, you haven't." Phoebe gently shook her head, "You desired intimacy and took it as you pleased, discarding me whenever it suited you. Did you ever ask if I was willing? After the miscarriage, did you think you were the only one who was sad? Did you think I was heartless and not sad at all? But did you ever care about my feelings? No, you didn't! When you were unhappy, you could hurt me without restraint. Your mind was full of yourself, only caring about your own happiness, because you only saw me as your possession. I had to please you and satisfy you at all times."

Theodore's eyes turned red, pleading, "It's not like that, Phoebe. I like you. I just couldn't accept your indifference to my feelings. I made mistakes in the past three years. Forgive me, give me another chance, okay?"

"I'm not here to settle scores with you. You know me, I don't really care about these things. I don't want to go against you; I just want to live a little more comfortably. Now that I've said it, you know I never liked you. Let's part ways amicably. Don't let it get to the point where we can't stand each other. It won't look good for either of us." Phoebe's heart was bleeding.

Phoebe's words pierced Theodore's heart like a steel knife, making it hard for him to breathe. "Phoebe, don't talk like that. I know you're just trying to anger me. I'll treat you well from now on."

Phoebe coldly withdrew her hand. Her eyes welled with tears, and her nose was sore. She suppressed her emotions, not wanting Theodore to see.

Phoebe said, "Let go. There's no future for us."

Tears welled up in Theodore's eyes, bloodshot and filled with despair. He clutched a plain ring in his palm.

Theodore retorted, "I will only let you go if I'm dead!"

With that, Theodore turned and stumbled out of the master bedroom.

The room went dead quiet. Phoebe leaned weakly against the headboard. Theodore's refusal to let go was no surprise.

The usual tricks weren't gonna cut it. She had to go hardcore; otherwise, Theodore would never let her go.

Phoebe kicked off a hunger strike that night. Riley brought her food to the master bedroom, but she didn't touch it.

At first, Riley thought Phoebe just wasn't hungry and didn't think much of it. But when she brought porridge and snacks the next morning and Phoebe still hadn't eaten, she started to get suspicious. "Phoebe, you didn't eat last night or this morning. Is the food not to your taste?" Riley stood by the bed, looking at Phoebe with concern.

Phoebe, who grew up poor, wasn't picky about food and always ate heartily. Every time she came back to the estate, it would light a fire under Riley's passion for cooking.

But Phoebe hadn't eaten for two meals straight. Was Riley's cooking really that bad?

Lying in bed, Phoebe felt the discomfort of the hunger strike, but for the sake of her freedom, she could endure it!

"I have no appetite, Riley. You don't need to make me any more food. I don't want to eat anything. Take it away." Phoebe thought painfully, if it wasn't taken away soon, she might cave on the hunger strike. Riley wanted to persuade Phoebe but didn't know how, so she took the tray out.

As soon as Riley closed the door, she saw the guest room door across the hall open. Theodore walked out, accompanied by a low cough, his chiseled face showing an unusual flush.

Riley spoke, "Theodore, you have a cold. Go back and lie down. I'll call the doctor."

Theodore felt dizzy. He had started to have a fever the night before but didn't think much of it, assuming a night's sleep would cure it.

But after getting caught in the rain on a cold day, even the strongest body couldn't withstand it. Reality quickly taught him a lesson.

"I'm fine." Theodore's voice was hoarse. His eyes fell on the untouched food on Riley's tray.

Theodore frowned, "Didn't she eat?"

"No, she hasn't eaten a bite since last night," Riley sighed, "She's already weak from her injuries. How can her body take it if she doesn't eat?"

Theodore vaguely guessed what Phoebe was trying to do. She wanted to use a hunger strike to force him into a divorce. His face darkened, and he suddenly started coughing violently.

Seeing Theodore shaking with each cough, his cheeks flushed, Riley quickly put the tray on a nearby cabinet and reached out to help him.

Riley comforted, "Theodore, take it easy."

Theodore coughed so hard it felt like his lungs would come out. He finally caught his breath, his throat burning with pain. "I'm going to see her."

Riley looked at him worriedly, "But you..."

Theodore didn't give Riley a chance to speak. He pushed open the master bedroom door, coughing into his fist, and strode in.

Riley watched the door close in front of her, her heart aching.

Ever since Phoebe was discharged from the hospital, there hadn't been a single peaceful day in this house. What should she do? If this continued, and something happened to Theodore or Phoebe, how could she possibly explain it to Taylor? Phoebe lay with her eyes closed, hearing the muffled coughs. Her eyelids twitched slightly. Theodore was usually very healthy; if it weren't for the rain yesterday, he wouldn't have caught a cold.