Forbidden Passion

Chapter 503 Pig-headed

Phoebe said, "If I were your mom, I'd still be stoked to have a daughter like you. Today, when I hit up my mom's for dinner, she told me she didn't remarry 'cause she was scared my bratty childhood temper would get me whacked by a

stepdad."

"Hahaha!" Cindy cracked up. "Did Evelyn really drop that bomb?"

"Yeah, she did. But honestly, I thought I was a pretty chill kid. When classmates messed with me, I'd just casually bop 'em on the head with my lunchbox," Phoebe said.

Cindy's laughter turned into a gasp as she clutched her chest. "Evelyn was onto something. Good thing she didn't remarry, or you might've actually gotten whacked by a stepdad." Phoebe just rolled her eyes.

They snuggled up on the couch. Despite the snow piling up outside, the heating inside kept them toasty. Phoebe started spilling her worries.

Cindy, propping her chin on her hand, said, "Phoebe, don't you think this whole thing's kinda fishy? It's one thing for Donovan to buy into it, but do you really think the Reynolds family had anything to do with Harper's death?" Phoebe sighed, "Nah, I'm just feeling uneasy."

"Let me break it down for you," Cindy went on. "Old newspapers from over 20 years ago, unless they were big enough to get archived in a library, wouldn't be in good shape. Forget old newspapers, can you even dig up old family photos from over 20 years ago?"

Phoebe shook her head. "Last time I was at my grandpa's place, I found a few old pics, but they were so faded you couldn't make out anything."

Cindy nodded. "Exactly. I think you should have Donovan hand over the newspaper so you can get it checked out, see if it's really from 20 years ago." Phoebe raised an eyebrow. "What are you getting at?"

Cindy shot back, "Don't you know old newspapers can be faked these days? You can whip up a retro style if you want. I bet Donovan got played."

around with something as serious as

bites right away. Even without a dad's murder, he'd

bought into it on Christmas Eve. She cleared her throat and said, "Honestly, I've always thought the murder was a smokescreen, and the real goal was something else." Cindy nodded. "Didn't you just mention it? At the Christmas Eve party,

Phoebe's eyes lit up, her thoughts suddenly clicking

"Exactly." Cindy nodded.

hadn't connected it to Vanessa at first. Ever since she almost shoved Vanessa out of the hospital window, Vanessa had kept

about hurting herself to get

she let

my dad died

dig that up, it wouldn't be hard. Phoebe, what I'm worried about now is that this is just the start. I'm afraid she'll use Donovan to pull off stuff you can't

raised an eyebrow. "What's on

she got Donovan so convinced that my dad's accident was tied to

"Easy. Once a guy falls in love, he is blind, especially someone like Donovan with his hopeless romantic streak. Remember how he owed a million bucks to a woman he knew for less than three months in Starfall

sudden thought hitting her. She looked at Cindy with wide eyes. "Donovan wouldn't be dating Vanessa,

brow. "Oh my, if Vanessa was dating Donovan,

Phoebe nodded, "Good point."

love, and his new flame is probably

got out of a relationship, and he's already dating again? How does he

her shoulder. "You can't understand a guy starved

"I really underestimated Vanessa. She's even got her claws into Donovan. I thought she

won't quit." Cindy looked at her seriously. "This whole thing is a wake-up call, Phoebe. Don't