Forbidden Passion

Chapter 553 I'm Not Jealous, But I Do Want You

Watching Taylor sprint after Grace, Brandon zeroed in on Phoebe and blurted, "Phoebe, what the heck are you up to?" "Dad, I get it, this is a lot to swallow, but the paternity test is legit. If you can't trust me, trust the report," Phoebe replied. She felt a wave of disappointment, not for herself, but for Grace.

Brandon was livid. "I'm asking why you stirred up all this mess. What's your game here? Isn't this family already a circus?" "What do you think I'm trying to do?" Phoebe shot back.

Brandon was stunned by her comeback, his anger boiling over. "How would I know what you're scheming? We've treated you well, and if you dare to cause trouble, you will not be welcome in this family." With that, Brandon stormed off.

Phoebe stood there, frozen. Did Brandon totally misunderstand her? If she really wanted to stir the pot, would the Reynolds family still be this calm?

Taylor finally caught up with Grace, noticing her red eyes and tears. Her heart ached. "Grace, your dad just found out the truth. We gotta give him some time to process it, right?"

Grace wiped her tears. "I know my sudden appearance makes you all feel like I'm crashing your harmonious family. Don't worry; I won't mess up your lives. Once I'm better, I'll leave."

Taylor felt a sharp pang in her heart. "Grace, don't say stuff that hurts me."

Grace turned away, but the tears kept coming.

Lying in the hospital bed these days, Grace had done a lot of thinking. She used to have Mason and Alva. Watching them hustle, selling fish to make ends meet, all she could do was study hard. Grace had planned that once she got into college, she'd make a ton of money, close the fish shop, and take Mason and Alva on a world tour.

But Madison's arrival had flipped her world upside down.

Now that she knew Mason and Alva weren't her parents and she didn't belong with the Sullivan family, she was suddenly a ghost, unable to return to the Sullivans and unwelcome with the Reynoldses. "Grace," Taylor gently held Grace's hand, "you are a Reynolds. Once you get better, come home with me, okay?"

Grace looked at Taylor, desperation in her eyes. She wanted to pull her hand away but ultimately gave in to her inner weakness.

Grace cried like a child. "I have no home. I'm homeless now. The Sullivans aren't my family, and the Reynoldses don't want anything to do with me. I have no home."

She hugged Grace. "Don't cry, Grace. Our

didn't want to intrude.

there, and it was unclear how long he had

each other in surprise, feeling like

dipped below the horizon, painting the sky a

side by side by the

her head. "Why are you at the hospital? Visiting someone or not feeling well?

of

Edward exchanged smiles and kept walking in the

with year-end stuff, but I finally got a couple of days to chill. How about you? Heard the Reynolds family's been through the wringer

of the drama at the Reynolds house. She forced a smile. "It's

barely holding it together. Seeing

looking

take care of yourself. Don't get any skinnier, or the wind might

his words.

said their goodbyes. As soon as they parted, Phoebe spotted Theodore leaning against the wall. Theodore's gaze went past her, locking onto Edward's retreating figure. His eyes were intense, and it was hard to tell what

to Theodore. "When did

gaze to her face. "I got

an eyebrow. Given Theodore's usual reaction to Edward, she was surprised he hadn't stormed

hand, pulling her close. She stumbled into

chin on her shoulder, his warm breath tickling her skin. "Phoebe, what were

but he quickly showed his true colors.

Phoebe fell asleep in his

not jealous, but I