Forbidden Passion

So, the whole scene they pictured of Noah going off on Phoebe didn't happen. 'Instead, things got real weird, real fast.

Noah just lightly grabbed Phoebe's wrist, pulling her hand over. He noticed her palm was all red and said, "My shoulder's like a rock. Look, your hand's all red." Phoebe just stood there, not knowing what to say.

When Noah looked like he was about to blow on her hand, Phoebe quickly pulled it back, stepped aside, and turned to the doctor, "Hey Doc, can you patch him up?"

The doctor, who had been watching the whole thing like it was a TV show, laughed and said, "Mr. Myers here doesn't wanna shave his head. Says it'll make him look ugly." Phoebe gave Noah a look and then smiled at the doctor, "Doc, just treat him like a kid. Do what you gotta do."

Noah was left speechless.

The doctor, holding a sterilized razor, stood in front of Noah. Noah leaned back, feeling awkward, "Doc, my looks are my bread and butter."

The doctor chuckled, "I get it, you're a celeb. Don't worry, I'll keep you looking good."

The doctor pressed down on Noah's shoulder, and the cold blade touched his scalp. Hair started falling in front of his eyes.

Noah just gave in and closed his eyes.

The wound was right by the hairline, so the doc only shaved a tiny bit. Phoebe watched the whole thing, then looked at Noah's handsome but sulking face and couldn't help but laugh. When the doctor put away the razor, Noah opened his eyes and saw Phoebe trying not to laugh. He looked totally defeated.

He must look like a mess now.

The doctor got the anesthetic ready and stitched up the wound like a pro, finishing up in no time.

He snipped the thread, slapped on some gauze, and gave Noah a shot. Then he quickly scribbled a prescription and handed it to Alfonso.

Alfonso took it and rushed off to pay the bill.

"Keep the wound dry for the next few days, no makeup, and stay away from spicy food, seafood, and heavily seasoned stuff to avoid scarring," the doctor said.

Phoebe noted everything down and helped Noah out, letting the doctor see the next patient.

In the hallway outside the clinic, Phoebe helped Noah sit on a bench. The cool and composed Noah from earlier now seemed weak and boneless, leaning comfortably against Phoebe. "Phoebe, I saw you laughing earlier. Do I look really ugly now?" Noah asked.

Phoebe had just checked out the stitched wound. The chances of scarring were low, and even if it did scar, his hair would cover it.

"No, you look super handsome, right, Lori?"

Lori nodded, "Totally, Noah. You've got that... what do they call it online? That broken, fragile charm. Yeah, the allure of fragility."

Phoebe glanced at him, "Since when did you care so much about your looks?"

Noah pursed his lips. He didn't actually care if he looked ugly; he just wanted Phoebe to pay more attention to him, to keep her eyes on him a little longer.

Noah pressed his lips together, then answered, "I've always cared."

Lori glanced at Phoebe, then at Noah, and said, "Ms. Ziegler, I heard that writing a blessing on gauze can prevent scarring. Wanna give it a shot for Noah?" Phoebe's mouth twitched. "Pretty sure that was from some TV drama. Didn't they sign on a cast?"

"Same difference. I got a pen here, but the ink is green. Noah, you cool with that?" Lori pulled out a pen from her bag, realizing she grabbed the wrong one in her rush to the hospital. She looked at Noah, a bit embarrassed. Noah shrugged. "Green's fine. I'm not picky."

Lori sighed in relief and handed the pen to Phoebe. Phoebe was speechless for a moment. Under Noah's puppy-dog eyes, she took the pen and said, "If I touch the wound, just let me know. What can I even write on this tiny gauze?" Phoebe was genuinely stumped. Nothing seemed right, so she ended up drawing two hands forming a heart.

Lori watched, grinning from ear to ear.

Lori knew Noah had a thing for Phoebe. His eyes gave it away, even though he probably thought he was being all stealthy. After the last concert, when a photo of Noah and Phoebe together hit the big screen, fans quietly made a Facebook group. Lori had secretly joined, planning to find any negative comments about Phoebe and have the PR team take them down. But once she was in, she got hooked on the fans' posts and became totally engrossed.

Noah had been lounging lazily, but when Phoebe's fingers touched his temple, it felt like a jolt of electricity shot through him. Noah sat up straight, his mind blank, until Phoebe's breath brushed over his forehead, making his heart race. Noah slightly lifted his eyes. From this angle, he could see Phoebe's lipstick-covered lips, looking perfect for kissing. Realizing his thoughts were going off the rails, Noah quickly looked down, but his ears turned a suspicious shade of red. The redness spread from his ears down to his neck. Noah felt both ashamed of his thoughts and filled with desire. Such a contradiction, yet he couldn't stop.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway, the sound of leather shoes on tiles steady and firm. Phoebe finished the last stroke and turned to look down the corridor. Theodore, dressed in a simple white shirt and black trousers, one hand in his pocket, looked dignified and aloof, like an elegant lone wolf in the jungle.

He clearly hadn't expected to see Phoebe here; his gaze darkened as he stared intently in their direction.

At that moment, Noah had his long legs stretched out, and Phoebe stood between them, one hand on Noah's forehead. Their posture was intimate, and from a certain angle, it even looked like they were about to kiss. This scene fell into Theodore's eyes, and the whirlpool in his gaze deepened, his lips curling into a cold, mocking smile.

"Am I interrupting something?" he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Not really," Phoebe replied coolly, retracting her gaze. She capped the pen and handed it back to Lori, then said to Noah, "All done. Wanna take a look?"