Forbidden Passion

Theodore grabbed Phoebe's hand and yanked her into his arms, a cheeky grin spreading across his face. "Cut it out, Evelyn's watching us."

Evelyn, catching sight of the two, felt a warm fuzziness inside and chuckled. "Don't mind me. Keep on with your lovey-dovey stuff, just act like I'm invisible." Phoebe, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks under Evelyn's gaze, tried to pull her hand away, but Theodore held on tight.

She shot him a quick look, and he just smiled back, his eyes locked onto hers.

Phoebe's ears turned red, and her heart started racing like crazy.

Evelyn watched the silent exchange between them, feeling all warm and fuzzy. Over the years, she knew Phoebe hadn't been truly happy.

Every time they met, Phoebe looked tired, and Evelyn had even regretted pushing her to marry Theodore back then.

With Phoebe's skills, she could've raised a kid just fine on her own. Evelyn just didn't want her to go through too much hardship.

Now, seeing Theodore and Phoebe getting along better, Evelyn felt she hadn't messed up. If they had a kid, they'd be a happy little family of three.

Theodore and Phoebe took the elevator down. It was still snowing outside, and the car wasn't parked at the entrance. Theodore told Phoebe and Evelyn to wait at the door while he went to get the car. Watching Theodore walk into the snow, his tall figure slowly disappearing, Phoebe finally got a moment alone with Evelyn. She asked the question that had been bugging her. "Mom, how did Dad die back then?"

Evelyn was caught off guard. "Why are you asking this now? Donovan asked me the same thing a few days ago."

Phoebe frowned. "I was too young when Dad passed away, and I don't know the details. So I wanted to ask."

Evelyn sighed. "Your dad used to be a teacher with a bright future. I married him because he had a stable life. But after Donovan was born, Harper suddenly wanted to quit his job and go into business. He ignored my protests and went for it." Phoebe listened quietly. "And then?"

Evelyn continued, "Business isn't easy. The first year, your dad lost everything and was too embarrassed to come back. The second year, he made some money, came back for a few days, and left again. Our family was really struggling, and your grandparents Zieglers said he was unreliable. When Harper came back again, they wouldn't let him in."

Phoebe watched the snowflakes swirling around, lost in thought.

Evelyn added, "Then there was a famine, and we had no income. Harper was out of touch, so I took Donovan and found work as a maid for the Vanderbilt family. Later, Harper came back, said he had made money and wouldn't let us suffer anymore. I believed him and forgave him. Then you were born. Harper said he would close his business in the south, but he never returned."

It was the first time Phoebe heard Evelyn talk about Harper. Phoebe thought, 'Was Dad really that unreliable?'

Phoebe asked, "How did you know he was lost at sea?"

Evelyn replied, "A fellow townsman told me. He said the ship sank, and no one survived. I was devastated, but what could I do? You and Donovan were so young. I couldn't leave you behind."

Phoebe glanced at Evelyn, who stood in the doorway's light, the lines on her face showing the wear and tear of time.

"Didn't you ever try to find him later?" Phoebe asked.

Evelyn sighed. "I did. I wanted to get his stuff back, so I asked that fellow townsman to help me out. I found the shipping company, but they said I had no proof I was your dad's family, so they wouldn't give me his belongings or any compensation. I had no choice but to come back."

Phoebe was taken aback. "Mom, I remember someone chasing after you when I was little. You never remarried. Is it because you never accepted that Dad was really gone?"

Evelyn playfully slapped Phoebe's arm. "I didn't remarry because of your bad temper. If you had a stepfather, he would've straightened you out."

Phoebe couldn't help but laugh. She had been a stubborn, strong-willed kid, not exactly easy to deal with.

Evelyn laughed, too. "Phoebe, your dad's death was just an accident, nothing more. You and Theodore should be happy together, okay?"

Phoebe was caught off guard.

Just as she was about to ask more, a black Range Rover pulled up. Evelyn gave her a gentle push. "Get in the car. Come home more often when you can." Phoebe stood in the snow, watching Evelyn wave at her, her heart sinking into an endless icy pit. She thought, 'What did Mom mean by her last words?'

The car slowly drove out of Golden Apartment. Phoebe didn't look away until Evelyn's building was out of sight.

"Don't want to go home with me that much?" Theodore's amused voice snapped Phoebe back to reality. She turned to Theodore, Evelyn's words still echoing in her ears. She wondered, 'Am I overthinking? Or has Donovan made me start to doubt that Dad's death was just an accident?'

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Theodore's palm covered her eyelids. "Phoebe, every time you look at me like that, it makes me nervous."

Phoebe obediently closed her eyes, her lashes brushing against his palm, her eyelids itching. "Theodore, did your family ever have a shipping company?" Theodore looked at her, puzzled. "Even now, the Reynolds Group has a transportation company, not just shipping. What's up?"

Phoebe replied, "Just curious."

Theodore withdrew his hand, his eyes on the road ahead, his voice cold but firm. "Phoebe, if there's anything, you gotta tell me. Don't keep it to yourself." Phoebe nodded. "Okay."

The car drove into Imperial Apartment. Phoebe got a call from Cindy. They hadn't been in touch for a while. Cindy had gone back home and brought some local goodies for her, asking her to come over and get them. Feeling a bit chaotic inside, Phoebe decided to seek Cindy's advice and asked Theodore to take her to Cindy's apartment.

Cindy had just returned, and there were two large suitcases at the door, filled with local specialties. Phoebe almost tripped over them as she entered.

Phoebe teased, "Cindy, did you go home for the holidays or for a heist?"

Cindy invited Phoebe in. "My mom was afraid I'd go hungry and insisted on stuffing my suitcases. It cost me a lot to ship these."

Phoebe replied, "They care about you, afraid you'll suffer out and miss home. Put yourself in their shoes."

Cindy clung to Phoebe's arm, acting spoiled. "If my mom had a considerate daughter like you, she'd laugh in her sleep."