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."

hugged Grace. "Don't cry,

a bit but didn't want to intrude. Just as she was about to leave, she turned and saw Edward standing not far

stood there, and it was unclear

each other in surprise, feeling like it had been ages since they

sun slowly dipped below the horizon, painting the sky a deep orange. The cold

by the lake. Edward glanced at

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

full of tenderness. "You look

walking in the sunset.

of days to chill. How about you? Heard the Reynolds family's been through the wringer lately.

the drama at the Reynolds house. She forced a smile.

Phoebe too well. When she said "alright," it usually meant she was barely holding it together. Seeing her thinner cheeks, he knew she'd been

too, looking confused.

get, remember to take care of yourself.

at his words. "You

department, Edward and Phoebe 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,

slowly walked up to Theodore.

to her face. "I got here when you were walking by

Theodore's usual reaction to Edward, she was

out and grabbed Phoebe's hand, pulling her

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

had changed, but he quickly showed his true

feelings and Phoebe fell asleep in his arms, he

jealous, but I do