Forbidden Passion

Mrs. Reynolds had always been indifferent about becoming a grandmother. None of her friends had progressed to that position, so she wasn't in a hurry. But now that Mrs. Vanderbilt had suddenly become a grandmother, seeing her unable to contain her joy while holding Benjamin, Mrs. Reynolds felt both envious and bitter.

She couldn't remain indifferent anymore.

Phoebe pursed her lips, remaining silent. She thought Theodore would come up with some excuse to brush off Mrs. Reynolds, just like he used to, but he remained quiet too. She looked up at him, the banquet hall illuminated and reflected on his handsome and sharp features. He silently stared at her, with no intention of coming to her rescue.

"I'm talking to you. Why are you looking at Theodore?" Mrs. Reynolds grew impatient, her tone becoming sharper. "Tomorrow, go to the hospital and get a check-up. Afterwards, stay at home to prepare for pregnancy."

"Mom," Phoebe felt bitter in her heart. Her mother and son, one urging her to give birth, the other not wanting her to. She was caught in the middle, torn between the two. "The company is very busy lately. I can't spare the time. Let's wait a couple of months..."

"What are you so busy with? Can't the company manage without you?" Mrs. Reynolds forcefully interrupted her, "Phoebe, don't forget, we agreed to let you marry into the Reynolds family because of Theodore's child. We don't want the Reynolds family's bloodline to be scattered outside."

Phoebe certainly didn't dare to forget. Getting pregnant before marriage had pinned her to the pillar of shame.

Phoebe's heart pounded in her chest as she saw Edward standing in the courtyard. The melody of Bach's piano piece echoed through the corridor, and she hesitated to return to the banquet hall. The night enveloped the courtyard, illuminated by a radiant glow of lights. Unfortunately, someone was already there when she arrived. Just as she was about to turn away, she heard a familiar voice behind her, calling her name, "Phoebe."

Phoebe trembled, her mind occupied with Theodore's earlier warning. She quickened her pace, desperately trying to escape.

She could hear hurried footsteps behind her, and suddenly a shadow flashed by her side, blocking her path. "Phoebe, is it that you can't bear to see me?" Edward's voice rang out.

Phoebe looked up to find herself locked in a pair of reddened eyes, filled with pain and disappointment. Her heart clenched, overwhelmed with a suffocating sadness.

"Edward, we shouldn't be meeting like this," she said. Phoebe and Edward were childhood friends, with Edward being half a month older than her. After Mrs. Vanderbilt gave birth to Edward, her health deteriorated, and she couldn't afford to nurse him herself. Therefore, they reluctantly separated.

Later, when Mrs. Ziegler gave birth to Phoebe, she ate very little, so Mrs. Vanderbilt brought Edward over to be nursed by Mrs. Ziegler. It was perhaps due to this unique intimacy that their relationship had always been special. Until that unfortunate incident occurred...

The corridor was dimly lit, casting a luminous glow on Edward's gaze as he watched her, his eyes burning with intensity. He grabbed her wrist eagerly. "Phoebe, don't go, I... I miss you so much."

Earlier in the banquet hall, he saw her with the Reynolds family from afar. He could tell that Theodore wasn't treating her well. He regretted his decision to let her go three years ago when she needed him the most. "Edward, you've had too much to drink." Phoebe forcefully pulled her wrist from his grasp, sidestepping him as she continued on her way.

"Phoebe!" Edward stood behind her, pained, and said, "I know you're not happy at all. You used to smile a lot, but tonight I haven't seen you smile once. You don't have to pretend everything is fine in front of me!" Phoebe stiffened, unable to speak, and then she saw a tall and elegant figure slowly walking into the light from the shadows.

As the light and shadow shifted, the person's features appeared cold and sharp, like a demon from hell.

"Oh?" Theodore stood next to Phoebe, his arm forcefully wrapped around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. He turned to face Edward and said, "It seems that Mr. Vanderbilt is more concerned about her happiness than her own husband." With that, he lowered his head to look at Phoebe, his dark eyes filled with malice, and said, "Why don't we show our affection so that he can rest assured?"

Phoebe was terrified, her stomach convulsed in pain.

She hadn't forgotten Theodore's warning to her. Now that he had caught her and Edward alone together, she didn't know how he would punish her.

Seeing that Theodore was about to kiss Phoebe, Edward became jealous and his eyes turned red. "Theodore, you don't even love Phoebe, so why don't you let her go?"

"Who says I don't love her?" Theodore tightened his grip on Phoebe's waist, pressing their bodies tightly together, his tone light. "Come, my dear, let me show you how much I love and care for you every night, just like I did in the past." Phoebe's face turned pale. She could tell the difference between the love he was referring to and the love she knew. He was trying to humiliate her.

Edward wasn't a fool either, and he understood naturally. Theodore deliberately humiliated Phoebe in front of him, and he couldn't contain his anger. "Theodore, you bastard..."

"Edward, could you please leave now?" Phoebe interrupted Edward.

She could smell the strong scent of alcohol on Theodore's body and knew he was in a bad mood. She was afraid that if Edward stayed here and continued to provoke him, she would be the one who would suffer in the end. "Phoebe, are you going to let him humiliate you like this?" Edward said, deeply pained. The person he treasured the most was being treated like this by another man, and he deeply regretted his actions.

"This is our private matter as a married couple," Phoebe said, emphasizing the words "married couple".

Like a bucket of cold water poured over him, extinguishing his burning anger, Edward stared blankly at the two figures that were tightly pressed together like conjoined twins.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have interfered." Edward stumbled away.

There was the sound of hurried footsteps behind him, and he soon the disappeared from the view.

Phoebe felt sad in her heart and suddenly a wave of nausea rose from her stomach. She pushed Theodore away and rushed to the trash can, vomiting.

Theodore was taken aback for a moment, then he exploded in anger. He stared intently at Phoebe, who was still retching, and said without restraint, "How?"