Forbidden Passion

Chapter 509 Vanessa Stirred the Pot with Phoebe

Phoebe was down for the count, barely able to get a word out. One morning, right after the meeting, Brandon summoned her to his office. Phoebe knocked and walked in.

"Take a seat," Brandon said, giving her a quick once-over. Once she was settled, he got straight to it. "I heard Theodore's been MIA for a few days, and you've been running the show with the VP?" Phoebe coughed a bit, her voice all raspy. "Yeah."

Brandon's face scrunched up. "You look like crap. Have you seen a doctor?"

"I just grabbed some meds, no biggie," Phoebe shrugged.

"You kids never learn. You wait till you're half-dead before seeing a doc," Brandon grumbled, then switched gears. "So, Theodore's been with a teacher at the hospital?"

Phoebe's lips tightened. "It's Vanessa's mom."

"Unbelievable!" Brandon snapped. "He's ditching work to babysit someone else's mom, and you're just letting it slide?"

Phoebe just stared at the floor, not saying a word.

Brandon, seeing her all meek and quiet, got even more ticked off. "Phoebe, you're his wife. Grow a backbone. If you keep acting like a doormat, of course, he's gonna walk all over you." After getting chewed out by Brandon, Phoebe left his office feeling like she'd been hit by a truck.

That night, Phoebe was burning up with a fever. She was sprawled out on the couch, half-conscious, when the doorbell rang. She didn't budge.

Then came the banging on the door, so loud it cut through her fever haze, even with a pillow over her head.

Phoebe dragged herself off the couch, using it for support, and shuffled to the door.

When she opened it, there stood Vanessa and Ruby. Phoebe frowned, her voice barely a whisper, "You sure you got the right place?"

shut the door, Vanessa jammed her cane in the gap and waltzed in with a grin. "Nope, Theodore sent

Phoebe, making her throat itch and

didn't he come himself?"

even bother taking off her shoes, just stomped right onto the living room carpet. She spotted the cat tree in the corner, where Ollie was hissing at her, and a look of disgust crossed her face. "He couldn't leave, so he sent

and she shot back sarcastically, "Anyone would think it was his mom who was

"Who

fists clenched in

to hack up a lung. Instinctively, she reached out to help.

her hand hanging in

thing and sneered, "Ruby, why are you pretending to be all nice? She

and she hissed at Vanessa, "Vanessa, knock it

looked like she might keel over. She bit her lip, itching to push Phoebe's buttons more but worried it might blow up

come without giving Theodore a heads-up. If he found out she was stirring the pot, all the effort Sophia had put in for her could go down

"Ms. Ziegler, since

bedroom, Phoebe stepped in front of her, her eyes icy. "Vanessa, that's mine and Theodore's room. Even if you're dying to take my place, wait until you actually marry him." Vanessa sneered, "Oh really? We'll see about

her teeth, shooting daggers at Vanessa before turning and coughing her way

watched Phoebe's defeated figure, her heart aching to tell her the truth-that Theodore hadn't sent them for the clothes. Vanessa had eavesdropped on Theodore and Lawton's chat and decided to come mess with Phoebe. But

her thumb, and Ruby couldn't risk crossing

cat tree, glaring at Ollie, the cat Phoebe and Theodore had raised together. Jealousy burned in her eyes, especially since Ollie had the nerve to hiss

coughing echoing down the hallway, Vanessa knew she had some time. She suddenly lifted her cane and swung it at

too stunned to even scream

thought, 'Is Vanessa out of

away just in time, dodging the crutch. It crouched on the cat