“No need, this is something she should do,” Theodore responded.

“But Miss Ziegler looks really tired. How about we order takeout or go out to eat instead and let Miss Ziegler rest?” Vanessa could hardly contain her joy inside. See, she knew Theodore only saw Phoebe as a nanny with benefits; there was no way he could have any romantic feelings for her.

“Takeout isn’t hygienic. Let’s go out, the kitchen will be filled with a greasy smell soon,” Theodore said, heading out of the kitchen.

Vanessa had no choice but to come down from the high stool, weakly saying, “Miss Ziegler, thank you for your hard work.”

Phoebe, holding a potato in her hand, made a motion as if to throw it at Vanessa’s face, frightening Vanessa until she turned pale and hurriedly ducked out of the room. Watching Vanessa’s flustered retreat, Phoebe couldn’t help but laugh heartily, dissipating much of the frustration that had been building in her chest.

Outside the kitchen, Theodore heard Phoebe’s cheerful laughter. His brow furrowed, and then he saw Vanessa running out of the kitchen.

“What happened?”

Vanessa touched her chest pitifully and said, “Theodore, Miss Ziegler threw a potato at me, but luckily, I ran fast.”

Theodore pinched the bridge of his nose, “Vanessa, Phoebe isn’t that childish.”

Vanessa looked stunned; her eyes filled with sorrow as her lips began to quiver, “Theodore, what do you mean by that? You don’t believe me?”

Theodore pressed his lips into a tight straight line and an impatient look crossed his features, though Vanessa completely missed it.

She looked pitiful, “I know, ever since I came back to the country, I’ve been nothing but trouble for you. I don’t even know what’s wrong with me. I try so hard to do everything right, but somehow, I just mess up everything. Maybe I shouldn’t have come back, maybe I shouldn’t appear in front of you again.”

Theodore’s fists, which were clenched at his sides, finally relaxed, and he gently patted her shoulder, “Don’t overthink it. Everyone is tired today; I’ll ask Jack to drive you home.”

Vanessa opened her mouth but saw him retracting his hand and picking up his phone to call Jack.

She felt a bitter pain in her heart.

She was happy when he forced Phoebe to cook for them earlier, thinking that in his heart, Phoebe was just a dispensable nanny.

Besides accompanying him in bed, she was there to serve his daily life, and he shouldn’t have any other intentions. But now, she wasn’t so sure.

Even she couldn’t discern Theodore’s true feelings towards Phoebe was it love, hate, or a complicated mix of both?

Phoebe made a pot of ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ stew; whatever she found in the fridge went into it. After cooking, she served it up in two large bowls. Even though it was eye-wateringly spicy and had poor presentation, at least it was not lethal.

Standing in the dining room, she called out, “Dinner’s ready.”

As she turned to get the rice, she saw Theodore coming from the living room side and noticed Vanessa was absent.

Placing the rice on the table, she asked, “Where’s Miss Fitzroy? Isn’t she eating? I made this especially for her.”

Theodore saw the big bowls of slop that looked like pig feed on the table and frowned. He was still thinking about the steak from before. “What on earth did you cook?”

Phoebe said, “It’s a bit of this and that; can’t you tell?”

Theodore looked at her coolly, “Phoebe, did you do this on purpose?”

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