Taking the towel from Vanessa, Phoebe turned and went back to the bedroom. Seeing Theodore asleep on the couch, she trembled with indignation. Theodore, must you humiliate me like this?
If you prefer Vanessa, you could just ask me for a divorce. I would sign the papers without fuss and wish you two a happy life together.
But why are you treating me like this?
Phoebe’s eyes grew redder and redder as she gripped the towel, her grip tightening as if it were Theodore’s neck. With a sudden burst of anger, she threw the towel at his face.
Startled awake by the impact, Theodore sat up abruptly with a soft, eerie sensation on his skin. He quickly grabbed the object from his face and saw it was a towel. Confused, he glanced at the closed bedroom door, registering the sound of a heavy door closing just moments before.
Downstairs, Phoebe was summoned into Mrs. Reynolds’ room the moment she descended the staircase.
Brandon was out, and Mrs. Reynolds, dressed in her pajamas, sat in front of her vanity mirror applying cream to her face. She looked up as Phoebe entered, “How did you sleep last night?” “I slept okay,” Phoebe replied.
Mrs. Reynolds turned, noticing the lingering redness in Phoebe’s eyes, her brow furrowed with concern. “Was Theodore not with you last night?” Phoebe bit her lip and averted her gaze from Mrs. Reynolds, murmuring, “Yes, he was.”
Mrs. Reynolds didn’t press further. “Have you been taking your medication regularly? Your grandmother and I are eagerly waiting to spoil your kids.” “Mom, I…” Phoebe wanted to come clean to Mrs. Reynolds about her infertility and to ask for her intervention in getting a divorce from Theodore. But she knew all too well the consequences of such impulsiveness-Theodore would never let her off easily.
Mrs. Reynolds listened attentively, waiting.
Phoebe swallowed hard and finally lowered her head, “It’s nothing, I’ve been taking the medication on time. I’ll try not to disappoint you.” “Good,” Mrs. Reynolds nodded. “Now go on, Lucy has prepared some soup for you. Have a bowl before you head to work.”
“Okay.”
As Phoebe turned to leave, she caught sight of Vanessa and Theodore descending the stairs side by side. She couldn’t catch what Vanessa was saying, but Theodore’s lips curled into a hint of a smile. Instinctively, Phoebe retreated into the room until they passed. She then left through the villa’s back door. It wasn’t that she was afraid of them; she just didn’t want to sour her entire day’s mood.
Phoebe had booked a ride through a ride-hailing app earlier; when she stepped outside, she spotted a white Toyota parked out front. She slid into the car and headed to her office.
Forty minutes later, the car pulled up in front of her company’s building. She paid through the app and stepped out of the vehicle. It was early, and there were hardly any people around.
Having settled the ride fare, Phoebe was about to walk into the office building when she noticed a familiar black Mercedes parked nearby, its window half-down. In the back seat, she saw a couple entwined in an embrace, oblivious to the world around them.
Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the car; it was undeniably Brandon’s, Theodore’s father. Sitting behind the wheel was indisputably Brandon himself.
Her heart raced with anxiety. What do you do when you stumble upon your father-in-law’s affair?
She was in an undeniably awkward position. Watching Brandon exit the car, she quickly hid behind a large column, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. Thankfully, Brandon didn’t see her.