Forbidden Passion

Chapter 656 Kept Her Fingerprint

Phoebe finally caved to Grace's nagging. She locked up the car, stashed the keys and phone, and strolled through the 'hood, ending up downstairs. The path was so burned into her brain she could probably walk it blindfolded.

Phoebe let out a big sigh.

What had done was done, so why kept stressing over it?

She stepped into the building and rode the elevator up. As soon as the doors slid open on the top floor, there was Grace, pacing like a maniac. Grace practically yanked her out of the elevator. "Phoebe, you finally made it. Another minute and I was gonna call you."

"Yeah, sorry." Phoebe hustled after Grace to the apartment door.

Same old dark gray carpet, colorful oil paintings in the hall, and that familiar sofa set by the entrance. It was like stepping back in time two years. Nothing had changed.

"It's cool, I was hoping you'd help me with this anyway." Grace didn't seem to notice Phoebe's weird vibe. She opened the fingerprint lock and stood there, all jittery. "Phoebe, go ahead, press it." Phoebe's fingers twitched at her side. Without waiting for Grace to push her again, she stuck her index finger on the scanner.

The door clicked open.

Phoebe was floored.

Grace beamed at her, practically bouncing. "Phoebe, it worked! I told you, Theodore kept your fingerprints, waiting for you to come back."

Phoebe stood there, staring at her finger, thinking the lock must be glitching. She'd used this scanner for four years; it had to be old data, not that Theodore hadn't wiped it.

"Come on, let's check it out." Grace tugged at Phoebe, but then felt a tug on her wrist. She turned, confused. "Phoebe?"

Phoebe gently pulled her hand back. "You go ahead, I'll wait here."

face fell. Just as she was about to argue, a black blur zipped past her feet, making her

shifting from Ollie, who was circling her legs, to Grace's pained expression. Grace rubbed her sore spot and shook her head.

Phoebe nodded. "Alright."

Phoebe looked down at Ollie, who kept pawing at

was

bit, Ollie seemed to recognize her. It let out a few soft meows,

a warmth

strike. When she left, she was so

realizing it was all solid under that fluffy fur. It wasn't her

Ollie and moved to the sofa. She plopped Ollie on her lap

to look like Garfield from the cartoons. "What's Theodore feeding you to make you so chunky?" Ollie, clearly not a fan of being called 'chunky,' had been all chill until now. Suddenly, it bristled and

about to go full claws-out, she quickly apologized, "Sorry, you're not chunky at

What on

and she had no clue where the light switches were. Using the faint light from the window, she made her way to the bedroom. Luckily, the bedroom had a night light on. Grace pushed the

was awkward. She had the Reynolds blood, but they didn't treat her

was just some stranger

with the Reynolds family. So even though Theodore was always distant, Grace felt closer to him than

middle of the bed, Theodore had a frown on his face.

saw it was sweat. She put her hand on Theodore's forehead, feeling a palmful of sweat and a

got a fever. Hang

hot hand gripped her wrist like a vice. Theodore's hoarse voice said, "Don't call an

to me." Even sick,

to argue and called the family doctor, who was fifteen minutes away from Imperial

was hot. He raised