Forbidden Passion

Chapter 41 He is a married man

Phoebe stood in her room, helping Lucy make the bed. Her expression was somber. "Phoebe, the matriarch is certainly on your side," Lucy assured her. Phoebe remained silent.

Seeing Phoebe's desolation, Lucy continued, "The moment she heard you fell into the water, she rushed back. She genuinely cares for you. She insisted Miss Fitzroy stay the night to prevent Theodore from having to escort her home late at night. Alone together at such an hour, who knows what might happen?"

Lucy didn't have to say more; Phoebe grasped the unspoken concern.

But a second later, her heart sank.

Even her grandmother was wary of Theodore and Vanessa's possible indiscretions, a testament to how deep their past relationship must have been. Now, with Vanessa staying over, if Theodore harbored any old feelings, wouldn't proximity breed temptation?

Once the bedding was neatly arranged, Lucy patted Phoebe's shoulder. "You've got to be proactive, Phoebe. Don't float through life like a goddess who's above it all."

Phoebe's cheeks flushed with an intense red, the topic steering into awkward territory that left her feeling bewildered and embarrassed.

freshen up. After showering and getting out, she sat in front of the vanity mirror, dabbing her face dry, when suddenly, the bedroom door swung open from the outside. Hearing the noise, she glanced over and saw Theodore, hands casually in his

made a beeline towards her, she pretended to be engrossed in patting her face,

behind her, intently studying her reflection in the mirror, his focus so

she asked, voice tinted with a mix

in, his chin nearly resting on her shoulder, they were so close that she could feel the warmth radiating from him, causing her pores

still like a cat grasped by the claws

"Wh-"

images. Unabashed, he meticulously took in every detail of Phoebe's features

over her eyes, ears, and lips, predatory and invasive, making Phoebe's heart race. She had rarely dared to examine Theodore closely; his presence was so overpowering that even the contours of

gaze, she struggled to believe that she had been with this man

really," she said with

her chin with his well-proportioned fingers, his displeasure

gazing closely, he realized when Phoebe was aloof, she mirrored his own cool demeanor. Turning to