Forbidden Passion
Chapter 695 A Long-Planned Scheme

Phoebe suddenly got this bad feeling and said, "That dress is worth a million bucks. What do you think?" Evelyn replied, "We're in deep trouble."

There was a loud thud, followed by Hubert, Boris, and Noomi urgently calling for Evelyn.

Phoebe's heart skipped a beat. She called out for Evelyn a few times, but there was no answer, and the call dropped. Phoebe couldn't sit still any longer. She grabbed her bag and rushed out.

As she passed the secretary's desk, she said, "Call me if anything comes up. Also, have Guadalupe meet me downstairs."

Lori didn't even have time to respond before Phoebe hurried off, clearly in a rush.

Lori quickly called Guadalupe to bring the car around.

Phoebe rushed home and, as she walked in, saw Pamela sitting quietly on the couch with the kids, while Evelyn stood there, hands on her hips, scolding them. "That dress is worth a million dollars, and every diamond on it is real. I can't believe you guys were playing with those diamonds! Do you have any idea how much that dress costs? You little rascals!"

The kids sat there obediently, but one curious child couldn't help but ask, "Grandma, what's a diamond?"

Evelyn, mid-rant, almost lost her train of thought. "A diamond is that shiny stone you were just playing with."

Seeing Evelyn answer questions, Boris chimed in, "What's a rascal? Can we play with it?"

Evelyn was so mad she almost fainted. These were the most difficult kids she'd ever dealt with. She scolded them, but they didn't seem to care.

Just as Evelyn was about to lose it, Phoebe walked in and said, "Mom, it's okay. They're still young and don't understand."

Evelyn, still fuming, saw Phoebe and slapped her on the shoulder. "How could you leave that expensive dress on the couch? They took all the diamonds off to play with."

A dress worth a million dollars-Evelyn had never seen that much money in her life.

Phoebe took the slap and signaled Pamela to take the kids to the playroom. Once the kids were gone, she coaxed Evelyn to sit down.

"Here, have some water to calm down." Phoebe handed Evelyn a glass of water.

Evelyn, having scolded for so long, was parched. She drank the water, still feeling distressed.

"You idiot, do you have nowhere else to spend money? Buying such an expensive dress. Once I sew the diamonds back on, you should return it."

"Did you find all the diamonds?" Phoebe asked, concerned.

Phoebe had been worried that the kids might have swallowed the diamonds, especially Hubert, who liked to taste everything.

But seeing Evelyn fuming and the kids sitting fine, Phoebe thought they probably hadn't swallowed any diamonds. Otherwise, she'd be worried about them having stomach issues.

"I found them," Evelyn said, calming down a bit. "Can it be returned?"

Phoebe scratched her nose. She could have washed it and returned it to Theodore, but now it seemed impossible.

Phoebe said, "Just keep it. Noomi can wear it when she grows up."

Evelyn slapped her arm again, saying, "Do you know how hard it is to earn money? I think you'll squander everything we have."

Phoebe sighed, "Mom, I went to a really important event last night. To get noticed, I had to invest in my outfit and jewelry."

Evelyn wasn't unreasonable. She knew that in the entertainment industry, people wore expensive clothes and jewelry. Phoebe's company was just starting and needed these things to make an impression. Evelyn sighed, "You could try selling this dress online."

"I'll give it a try." Phoebe didn't want Evelyn to worry. She agreed, and after Evelyn went upstairs with the diamonds, she collapsed on the couch, feeling a headache coming on.

After a while, Phoebe took out her phone and opened her WhatsApp chat with Theodore. After hesitating for a long time, she sent a message.

Phoebe: [Hey, the dress got ruined. Can you give me your account number so I can transfer the money to you?]

After a long time, Theodore replied with a string of numbers.

Phoebe looked at the numbers. She didn't have over a million dollars in her account. How was she going to handle this?

Phoebe wished she could go back and stop herself from sending that message.

She was silent for so long that the chat showed Theodore was typing. After a while, her phone buzzed.

Theodore: [If you don't have the money, I don't mind other forms of payment.]

Phoebe saw the message and threw her phone onto the couch. Theodore had given her his bank account so readily, waiting for this moment.

Phoebe thought to herself, 'Well done, Theodore, never missing a chance to benefit yourself!'

Phoebe stared at the ceiling for a while, then got up, went upstairs, took a necklace worth over a million dollars from the safe, and put it in her bag. She drove to the Reynolds Group. An hour later, Phoebe arrived at the Reynolds Group.

Phoebe walked into the lobby, and the receptionist quickly stood up. Seeing her take off her sunglasses, she immediately recognized her. "Ms. Ziegler."

Phoebe nodded, "Hello, I'm here to see Mr. Reynolds. Is he in?"

"Yes, he is." The receptionist had been informed that if Phoebe came to see Theodore, she should be allowed up without any delay.

Phoebe took the elevator up without any obstacles. When she stood in the CEO's office where she had worked for four years, everything looked the same as when she left.

All the good and bad memories came flooding back. Phoebe gripped her bag strap, regretting her hasty decision to come to Theodore's territory.

At that moment, a group of people came out of the conference room. Most of them were familiar faces, and they all recognized Phoebe.

"Isn't this Ms. Ziegler? I heard you started a company back home. How's it going?" Curtis greeted her warmly.

With Curtis taking the lead, the others couldn't pretend not to know Phoebe and nodded in greeting.

Theodore stood nearby and cleared his throat. Everyone got the hint and said their goodbyes to Phoebe. After they left, Theodore slowly walked over to Phoebe. Theodore said with a beaming smile, "What brings you here today?"

Phoebe looked at the handsome and enigmatic Theodore and said, "I came to return Mr. Reynolds' million dollars."