Forbidden Passion

Chapter 30 The Wise Lady Reynolds

Because sometimes reality speaks louder than words.

Vanessa stood up. "Miss Ziegler, rest up. I'm looking forward to your comeback."

"Hey, have you no shame?" Mrs. Ziegler burst in, pointing accusingly at Vanessa.

She'd been fuming outside, eavesdropping. Were mistresses so brazen these days?

Vanessa remained cool and collected. "Auntie, it was your daughter who stole someone's love. It's pretty clear who lacks shame."

Phoebe looked at her coldly. "My memory might be failing, but wasn't it Miss Fitzroy who left Theodore first? There's no basis for your accusation."

She refused to carry that burden!

Mrs. Ziegler, bolstered by her daughter's words, retorted, "Yeah, you left Theodore. Can't he marry someone else?"

left, her face turning a

"What in the world? I knew there was something off about that woman. Phoebe, you can't let her get to you. You are

she harbored a seething resentment toward Vanessa. She had always known Vanessa's return spelled trouble. And Phoebe's lackluster response? Surely, she wasn't

Lord, she needed to

*

and Christopher twice, and Theodore's father Brandon stopped by once. Theodore was

Carol hinted on Messenger that Theodore was

the truth. He didn't want

didn't want to see him

injuries Phoebe had suffered, that caused her to cough up blood, were mostly

otherwise, Mrs. Ziegler had

sooner had she left than Edward

her room. His facial bruises had faded, but his expression bore marks of weariness. He stood by her bedside and asked softly, "Phoebe, how are

been unconscious, Edward had remained by her side. Somehow the Vanderbilts had caught wind of his fight with Theodore, and the fact that he was keeping a vigil

brother finally