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."

was about to argue, a black blur zipped past her feet, making her jump and

from Ollie, who was circling her legs, to Grace's pained expression. Grace rubbed her sore

Phoebe nodded. "Alright."

Ollie, who kept pawing at her pants and sniffing her like

was trying to remember

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

a warmth in her

on a hunger strike. When she left, she was so

down and hugged Ollie, realizing it was all solid under that fluffy fur. It wasn't her imagination; Ollie had definitely packed on

still remember me?" Phoebe struggled to lift Ollie and moved to the sofa. She plopped Ollie on

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

Seeing Ollie about to go full claws-out, she quickly apologized,

body image issues. What on earth was Theodore feeding

Using the faint light from the window, she made her way to the bedroom. Luckily, the bedroom had a night light on. Grace pushed

was awkward. She had the Reynolds

just some

if she was okay living with the Reynolds family. So even though Theodore was

Theodore had a frown on his face. In the pale yellow light, his

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

with concern, "Theodore, you've got a fever. Hang in there, I'll call an

her wrist like a vice. Theodore's hoarse voice said, "Don't call an ambulance. Get the

sick, Theodore had that

called the family doctor, who was fifteen minutes away from

eyes again. Even his breath was hot. He raised his hand to