Forbidden Passion
Chapter 709 I'm Doing Charity

Ethan was hiccuping from all the crying. Even though he was a year older than Hubert, Boris, and Noomi, he was way smaller. Now that his fever had gone down, his face wasn't as red, but he still looked pale and skinny, even smaller than Hubert.

Phoebe's heart broke, especially when she saw the clothes Ethan had just changed out of.

Ethan's clothes looked okay on the outside, but inside, they were full of patches.

It was clear that Ethan and Ruby had been through some rough times these past few years.

Phoebe walked over to the bed and saw that Ethan had finally stopped crying and had fallen back asleep in Ruby's arms. Phoebe asked quietly, "What are you planning to do now?"

Ruby gently laid the sleeping Ethan back on the bed, making sure he felt secure. She lightly patted his small arm to let him know she was there with him.

Staring at Ethan's face, which looked so much like Donovan's, Ruby said, "I just want to raise him healthy. I don't care about anything else."

"The area near the cemetery is too gloomy and not a good place for a kid to grow up. If you don't mind, you can move in with me," Phoebe said, unable to bear the thought of Ruby and Ethan struggling outside.

If Phoebe hadn't run into them, it would be one thing, but now that she had, she couldn't let them suffer any longer.

Ruby suddenly looked up at Phoebe, then lowered her gaze. "I don't need your pity."

"You've fallen this far and still care about your pride," Phoebe said, then softened her tone when she saw Ruby's pale face. "I'm not pitying you. I just can't stand to see Ethan grow up in such a place. If Donovan were still alive, he wouldn't let you two suffer either."

Tears unexpectedly rolled down Ruby's face. She quickly looked up, trying to hold them back.

Phoebe said, "If you don't want to live with us, you can stay at the Golden Apartment. There's a vacant unit there right now."

Phoebe deeply understood how hard it was for a woman to raise a child alone, which made her admire Ruby's courage even more.

Ruby was once a privileged girl, but she lost everything to raise Ethan. Even if Ruby had done things to wrong her and Donovan in the past, it should all be forgiven now.

Ruby stayed silent, wiping her tears.

Seeing this, Phoebe said, "If you won't think for yourself, think for Ethan. Do you really want him to keep living in such a weird place?"

Looking at the frail Ethan, Ruby was finally persuaded by Phoebe. She said with a weary smile, "Okay."

Phoebe breathed a sigh of relief. She and Ruby exchanged WhatsApp contacts and phone numbers before she and Theodore left the hospital room.

Standing in the hallway, Phoebe felt uneasy. She was afraid Ruby might sneak away with Ethan while she was gone, so she didn't dare leave the hospital. Theodore seemed to read her mind and said, "She won't leave."

Phoebe looked at him, confused.

Leaning against the wall, Theodore said, "She's been on the run for three years, suffering and enduring hardships. If you hadn't shown up, she would have continued living hopelessly. But you've given her hope. She wants her child to be better cared for, so she won't refuse your offer."

Phoebe said, still confused, "You seem to know her well?"

Theodore shook his head and said, "You were so focused on Ethan that you didn't pay much attention to her. You didn't notice that her clothes were washed out, her fingers were cracked and wrinkled, her nails were worn down, and even her shoes had been patched several times. Her life these past few years might have been worse than you imagined."

Phoebe really hadn't paid much attention to Ruby. Even though she had temporarily set aside her resentment towards Ruby for Ethan's sake, she hadn't really noticed her. Hearing Theodore's words now, Phoebe felt a wave of sadness.

"Donovan is dead. She could have had an abortion and continued her privileged life. Why did she do this?" Phoebe couldn't wrap her head around it.

Ruby was clearly a selfish person. She had approached Donovan for Vanessa's sake and schemed against him. Why would she choose to have Donovan's child? Theodore tapped Phoebe's forehead and said, "You usually seem smart. How can you not see that she did it out of love?"

Phoebe fell silent.

Hearing this from Theodore was a bit of a shock. Phoebe tilted her head to avoid Theodore's finger and looked seriously at his chiseled, handsome face.

"Mr. Reynolds, thank you for your help today."

Theodore was about to speak when his phone rang. Phoebe took the opportunity to wave at him and walked away gracefully.

Theodore glared at her back as he answered the call, his tone not very pleasant. "What is it?"

Phoebe went to a nearby mall to shop at a baby store, buying new clothes and toys for Ethan. Remembering what Theodore had said about Ruby's clothes being washed out, she also went to the women's section and bought Ruby some new clothes and shoes.

Two hours later, Phoebe returned to the hospital room with bags in hand.

Ruby saw Phoebe return with so many shopping bags. Those things were from brands she had seen countless times over the past two years but couldn't afford to buy.

Ruby's eyes reddened as she glared at Phoebe. "What are you doing?"

Phoebe didn't bother with pleasantries. "Can't you see? These are for Ethan, and yours are just incidental."

Ruby clenched her fists and said in anger, "Take them away. We don't need them."

"Ruby, I told you, this isn't about you." Phoebe placed the items on the bedside table and looked down at Ethan. "He's really thin. How have you been raising him?" Those words hit Ruby where it hurt the most. She was furious. "Phoebe, I don't need you telling me how to raise my child. If you have too much money to spend, go do charity." "I am doing charity. Can't you see?" Phoebe remained calm, even a bit nonchalant, despite Ruby's anger.

After all, she had Ruby in a bind now.

Ruby was furious but had no way to deal with Phoebe, so she sat aside, sulking. Phoebe didn't try to comfort her and instead sat there replying to messages.

Phoebe had a bunch of messages waiting for her on WhatsApp. After replying to them all, half an hour had passed. She put away her phone and asked Ruby, "Are you hungry?" Ruby replied in anger, "No."

"Oh, then I'll just order for myself." Phoebe took out her phone and placed an order. When she looked up, she saw that Ruby was even angrier.

This Ruby had much more spirit than the one Phoebe had seen at the cemetery earlier.

Phoebe put her phone aside and studied Ruby. Ruby had short hair now, and her skin had deteriorated significantly over the past three years, likely due to a lack of proper care. Ruby's features hadn't changed much, but her demeanor had. If they met on the street, Phoebe might not recognize Ruby at first glance.

Phoebe hesitated and said, "How have you been living these past few years?"