Phoebe mentioned, “I heard that certain years bring bad luck. Miss Fitzroy, you will just stepped into your thirties after the New Year, won’t you?” Turning thirty was actually a far cry from being old in contemporary society.

However, compared to Phoebe’s age, Vanessa was considered a bit long in the tooth, practically an old maid by some cruel standards.

Pale as a ghost, Vanessa hadn’t expected Phoebe to hit a nerve, a woman’s age was supposed to be her secret anguish.

Especially for those nearing thirty and still single, they tended to be touchier about their age.

“What’s it to you if I’m pushing thirty, huh? Did I eat your food or something?” Vanessa spat out, not bothering to mask her hatred any longer as she glared venomously at Phoebe. Phoebe was taken aback by Vanessa’s outburst and realized she’d struck a sore spot.

“Didn’t you just have some?” Phoebe said innocently, with no malice intended. After all, her thirtieth birthday would come around eventually.

She’d merely mentioned age in passing.

Vanessa was fuming. “I ate food from Theodore’s pantry, not yours.”

“That food is part of our marital assets,” Phoebe retorted as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Theodore was secretly pleased by the inclusion of “our marital” in her words. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he watched the women argue over him, an inexplicable thrill coursing through him. He knew it wasn’t right to enjoy this immature way of guessing her true feelings for him. However, since she usually kept her feelings so well-hidden, he had to use this way to guess what she thought. Vanessa found herself at a loss for words.

She knew that continuing the argument would only give Phoebe a chance to reveal her feelings for Theodore, with no benefit to herself. So, she strategically retreated, “I’ve got a headache, I’m going to lie down.”

After Vanessa left, Phoebe just shrugged, suddenly finding the whole situation rather pointless. She grabbed her mug intending to leave when Theodore’s voice caught her ear.

“So, you scare off my company and now you’re just going to walk away?” he teased.

Phoebe paused, then leaned back against the counter, “Do you really need someone to chat with you while you wash dishes? Are you a toddler?”

“Yeah, I’m Toddler Theodore, still on the bottle,” he quipped.

Phoebe’s cheeks flushed with ire, his gaze seeming to pierce right through her, his eyes like an X-ray targeting her chest. That incorrigible man, always spewing nonsense!

With a huff, she walked away, mug in hand, without looking back.

Theodore’s eyes shimmered with amusement, finding her flustered state quite entertaining.

*

In the days that followed, Phoebe was busier than ever. Theodore had to leave on a business trip the next day, and before departing, he instructed his assistant, Lawton, to find an apartment for Vanessa, settling her out of the Imperial Apartment.

While Theodore enjoyed Phoebe’s jealousy, he didn’t want Vanessa to harbor any illusions about his interest in her, which could complicate his marriage with Phoebe.noveldrama

He hadn’t spoken to Vanessa, but Lawton informed him that she was none too pleased about moving out. Theodore just chuckled it off.

With Vanessa and Theodore out of the house and not influencing her mood, Phoebe’s days were vibrant and fulfilling. She had arranged for Prof. Clark from the Kedora Film Academy to personally teach Vanessa the art of acting. Professor Clark was a veteran in the industry with over three decades of experience, a thorough understanding of the craft, and had mentored numerous stars.

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