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

stood quietly for a bit but didn't want to intrude.

stood there, and it was unclear how

in surprise, feeling like it had been ages since

the sky a deep orange. The

Edward walked side by side by the lake.

you at the hospital? Visiting someone or not feeling well?

were full of tenderness. "You

and Edward exchanged smiles and kept walking in the sunset. "How have you been

madhouse 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 lately. You must've been rough," Edward said, one hand in his pocket, still looking

the drama at the Reynolds house. She forced

"alright," it usually meant she was barely holding it together. Seeing her

too, looking confused. "What's

matter how crazy things get, remember to take care of yourself. Don't get any skinnier, or the wind might blow

at his

Phoebe said their goodbyes. As soon as they parted, Phoebe spotted Theodore leaning against the wall. Theodore's gaze

to Theodore. "When did

got here when

Edward, she was surprised he hadn't stormed over to drag

Phoebe's hand, pulling her

breath tickling her skin.

true colors. She smirked. "We talked about a lot of things.

fell

jealous, but I