Forbidden Passion

Chapter 44 Mary refused

"It's late. We should get back," Theodore said.

They walked back along the path, Vanessa sidling up close to him, creating an intimacy between them. "How are you settling in since you've been back?" Theodore inquired.

"Yeah," Vanessa glanced sideways at him. The sparse moonlight draped over him, casting a silvery glow.

"It's just that since the day I fell into the water, I can't sleep well at night, I'm constantly waking up from nightmares."

Theodore commented, "That's a normal reaction humans have after experiencing a traumatic event. If it gets worse, I suggest you see a therapist."

"A therapist?" Vanessa gaped at him, incredulous. "I'm not that bad off. It might just be because my window faces the pool, and that keeps me up."

bit scared. Can you wait until I fall asleep before you

had still wandered into her room, and Vanessa couldn't wait to see if

Theodore returned to his room. After a refreshing shower,

the darkness, Phoebe's

ceased soon after, but Phoebe

up, grabbed the tablet from her nightstand, and continued watching a reality show in the dark.

a night spent staring at the screen, Phoebe's eyes were sore. Post-rinse, the mirror reflected her red-rimmed eyes,

fresh, light makeup that concealed her exhaustion. Passing through the sitting room, she noticed Theodore curled up on the couch, seemingly too tall for the space, his legs akimbo. Without

open, as if the person had been lying in wait just behind it. When Vanessa saw it was Phoebe, her face fleetingly fell, then quickly

toyed with the towel in her hand, her tone suggestive, "Theodore left

towel, indeed one of Theodore's, and clenched her jaw before

curious about what happened between