Forbidden Passion
Chapter 648 Tit for Tat

Phoebe lugged the spaghetti over, sneaking a peek at Theodore's chiseled face. Their eyes met for a hot second in the blazing summer sunset. Theodore quickly looked away, awkwardly rubbing his thumb against the corner of his eye.

Was he getting all teary-eyed?

Phoebe bit her lip. She plopped the tray on the round table, then set up the small table on the hospital bed, and slid the tray in front of Theodore. "Whipped up some spaghetti. Dig in."

Theodore gave it a once-over.

"How'd you whip this up so fast?" he asked.

Phoebe, standing by the bed, forced a reply through gritted teeth, "You said you were starving, right? If I didn't hustle, you'd be a goner by now." Not exactly a comforting thought!

Theodore took a bite, his brow furrowing. It tasted bland, like it was just salt and oil, no other flavor.

Not the taste he remembered.

He stopped eating, looking up at her, "I get you're doing this half-heartedly, but you can't just phone it in."

Phoebe raised an eyebrow. Theodore's nitpicking was just like old times. She said coolly, "I threw it together. Eat it or don't."

"I'll eat." Theodore's cocky attitude quickly faded. He lowered his head and kept eating, "I know I'm not in great shape and need to eat light." Phoebe turned around, grabbed her bag from the round table, and said, "Take care. I got stuff to do, so I'm out."

Theodore quickly looked up, "You're not sticking around till I finish?"

Phoebe shot him a sideways glance, "Mr. Reynolds, I gotta make a living, so I won't be hanging around."

"You got work this late?" Theodore frowned.

When Phoebe was cooking, the sun had already set. Now, night had fallen, and the city lights were flickering on, but it was only about seven. Phoebe said, "I'm leaving now."

Theodore gripped his fork tightly, staring at Phoebe's back. Watching her walk out without a second thought, he angrily lifted a plate as if to chuck it. After holding it up for a while, he couldn't do it and put it back on the small table. He lowered his head and started to gobble down the food.

Phoebe walked out of the hospital room and found two bodyguards at the door. She hesitated, remembering there was no one there when she went in. Were they worried she'd off Theodore and were guarding the door to stop her from bolting?

The two bodyguards nodded at Phoebe. One of them, who Phoebe had seen two years ago, was a bodyguard Theodore had stationed at West Mountain Villas. He greeted her warmly, "Ms. Ziegler, leaving already?" "Yeah, got stuff to do."

The bodyguard looked bummed and said, "Take care."

Phoebe smiled at him and walked towards the elevator, where two more bodyguards were standing. She frowned slightly, pressed the elevator button, and stepped in.

It wasn't until the elevator doors closed and it started going down that Phoebe let out a sigh of relief. For a moment, she feared Theodore would have the bodyguards stop her, leaving her with no way out.

Phoebe rubbed her throbbing temples, thinking she might be overthinking things.

More than two years had passed, and Theodore was never short of women around him. Why would he go back to those old forced love tactics?

When the elevator hit the first floor, Phoebe strode out, her phone buzzing in her bag. She pulled it out while walking.

Someone brushed past her, but Phoebe didn't notice. She saw the caller ID and was about to answer when a somewhat familiar female voice called out, "Ms. Ziegler?"

Phoebe turned around and saw the charming Sandra. Sandra was rocking a new knee-length dress, looking as fresh as a college student, holding a fancy bag from a five-star restaurant. Phoebe nodded politely, "Ms. Ramirez, need something?"

Sandra smiled sweetly, "Ms. Ziegler, Theodore often talks about you, praising your smarts and character. He said he's never admired anyone like he does you, especially your guts." Phoebe replied coolly, "Thanks."

Sandra's smile didn't reach her eyes, "Ms. Ziegler, since you left so decisively back then, I hope you can truly let go."

Phoebe squinted at Sandra. At the charity gala that night, with the lights casting shadows, she thought she had imagined the hostility in Sandra's eyes.

Now Phoebe knew it wasn't her imagination. Sandra indeed had it out for her.

Phoebe smiled and looked away, "Ms. Ramirez, don't flatter me. I'm just an ordinary person."

Sandra's face changed, "Are you determined to compete with me?"

Phoebe didn't want to hear Sandra's nonsense. She turned to leave, but as soon as she lifted her foot, Sandra called her again, "Phoebe."

Phoebe sighed and turned back, "Ms. Ramirez, I'm not your rival in love. Don't waste your time and energy on me. Goodbye!"

Sandra clenched her fist, crumpling the fancy bag in her hand. She glared hatefully at Phoebe's retreating figure, seething with anger.

What Phoebe didn't care about was something Sandra desperately wanted but couldn't have.

Phoebe walked out of the hospital and called Guadalupe. Shortly after, Guadalupe drove up and stopped in front of her. She opened the back door and got in. "Guadalupe, take me home."

Guadalupe started the car and looked at Phoebe in the rearview mirror, "Ms. Ziegler, is the patient's condition not good?"

Phoebe thought of the more troublesome Theodore and Sandra's possessive eyes. She said indifferently, "Yeah, it's terminal and hopeless."

"That serious?" Guadalupe's heart skipped a beat, "What did the doctor say?"

If it was that serious, shouldn't they be prepping for a funeral?

Phoebe had no idea what Guadalupe was thinking. She said casually, "Keep a positive attitude, eat and drink well, and don't overthink." Phoebe was saying this to herself.

No matter what Theodore's attitude towards her was today, she shouldn't overthink or have wishful thinking. They had no future together. Guadalupe sighed, "If that's the case, there's nothing to be done. Spend more time with the patient so you don't have any regrets."

If she really spent more time with Theodore, Sandra would tear her apart. She'd better not invite trouble.

In the vast city of Kedora, it was better for them to stay well apart.