Forbidden Passion

Perched precariously on the toilet seat, Phoebe scrubbed at her face with fervor. Her heart pounded in her chest, a relentless drum echoing her confusion. Why had Theodore posed such a question to her? What response was he seeking? She pulled her knees to her chest, her mind a whirlwind of uncertainty. How could she respond without betraying her own feelings or disappointing him? Time seemed to stretch out, her legs growing numb from her prolonged stay in the bathroom. Eventually, she rose and exited. The bedroom was bathed in a soft, dim light. Phoebe walked to the edge of the bed, gently lifting the covers before slipping beneath them. A thought crossed her mind, 'Theodore should be asleep by now, shouldn't he?' A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she prepared to turn over, only to freeze when the figure beside her stirred. His warm body pressed against hers, his arms encircling her in a firm embrace. Phoebe's first instinct was to struggle, but a low voice murmured in her ear, "Don't move, just sleep." Realizing that he wouldn't do anything else, she relaxed into his hold, his arm heavy and unignorable on her waist. She had assumed sleep would elude her, but within mere minutes, she had drifted off into a peaceful slumber. When Phoebe awoke the following morning, Theodore's side of the bed was empty. The previous night's embrace felt like a fleeting dream, leaving her with a sense of inexplicable disappointment. She lingered in bed for a while longer before rising to freshen up. Downstairs in the living room, Vanessa was sprawled on the couch, her face pale and drawn from the aftermath of a hangover. Madison kept her company. seated beside her. "Vanessa, why did my brother bring you back?" Madison's voice was barely above a whisper. Their initial plan had been to entice Theodore out and have Vanessa do everything in her power to keep him away. If he didn't return home overnight, their plan would be a success. Vanessa massaged her throbbing temples, a sense of shame washing over her. Theodore had carried her back to his car the previous night. She had feigned drunkenness, clinging to him, but before she could even attempt a kiss, he had pushed her away with force. She had collided with the doorknob, the pain causing her to black out, only to awaken when he laid her on the bed. She had overheard him instructing Phoebe to fetch water to clean her up, and he hadn't visited her room since. She was left wondering why Theodore hadn't simply arranged for her to stay at a hotel, instead of bringing her back to the Reynolds Mansion. This wasn't the Imperial Apartment where only Theodore and Phoebe resided. Her presence could easily irritate Phoebe here. The Reynolds Mansion was home to the elders, and Vanessa couldn't help but wonder how they would perceive her if they saw her being brought home in a drunken stupor in the middle of the night. Especially when she had run into Mrs. Reynolds, who was an early riser, on her way downstairs. The older woman's face had darkened at the sight of her. "Don't ask me. Ask your brother," Vanessa retorted. Madison's eyes sparkled with excitement. "My brother brought you back to show Phoebe. Maybe they had a big fight last night."Vanessa shot her a glance, thinking Madison was too naive. If they had indeed had a big fight, wouldn't Theodore have come downstairs by now? As this thought crossed her mind, Theodore's figure came into view. Vanessa sat up straighter, her eyes following Theodore who was dressed in workout clothes, seemingly ready for a morning run. Seeing him descend the stairs looking so refreshed, with no hint of a quarrel with Phoebe, Vanessa's spirits plummeted. She had gone to great lengths to stage a drunken spectacle, hoping to gain Theodore's sympathy and strike a blow at Phoebe. But her efforts seemed to have been in vain, leaving her seething with frustration.