Phoebe didn’t sleep all night. She quickly came up with a plan and texted John.

Phoebe: [John, bring the contracts for Noah, Claire, and Evan, and our legal advisor Lloyd Cooper. Meet me at the café near Horizon Wellness Hospital early tomorrow morning.] After sending the message, Phoebe stayed awake until dawn.

As the sun rose, Phoebe felt a bit renewed despite her pale skin and bloodshot eyes.

She walked into the bathroom, splashed water on her face, and tied her hair up, revealing her slender neck.

Staring at herself in the mirror, water droplets sliding down her face, she muttered, “I can’t give in. A man can be destroyed but not defeated!”

Phoebe kept repeating to herself that she couldn’t be defeated.

She quickly applied makeup, enhancing her eyebrows, high nose bridge, and full lips. The haggard looks disappeared.

Just as she walked out of the bathroom, the hospital room door opened.

Phoebe looked up and saw Theodore standing there. She paused, then walked straight to the bedside without acknowledging him.

She calmly put her makeup back in her bag. “Since you’re here, I’ll head out.”

With that, she brushed past him.

Theodore was momentarily stunned by her beauty. Just as she was about to pass him, he grabbed her wrist.

Phoebe reacted even faster, slapping his hand away. “Mr. Reynolds, please behave yourself!”

The words “I brought the cat” got stuck in Theodore’s throat. Her cold gaze hurt him, filling him with anger.

“Take care of Mom. Goodbye!” Phoebe said, opening the door and walking out.

Theodore gritted his teeth, glaring at her sharp, straight back.

He slowly clenched his fists and punched the wall.

A sigh came from behind him. “You two fought again, didn’t you? No wonder she cried so much last night. Theodore, sometimes I really don’t understand you. Do you even like her?” Theodore turned to see Taylor awake. She had been awake for a while but hadn’t made a sound.

He awkwardly looked away. “What’s the use of me liking her? She doesn’t like me.”

“She wouldn’t be upset if she dislikes you.” Taylor struggled to sit up. Theodore quickly helped her.

Taylor looked at his hands. Fortunately, it was only slightly injured. “Does self-harm make you feel better?”

Theodore hid his hand. “She’s upset because I stop her from working.”

Taylor frowned. “What are you two arguing about now?”

“Nothing much. I shouldn’t have let her work back then. Now her heart is outside, and it’s time for her to come back to the family,” Theodore said expressionlessly.

Taylor stared at him. “Phoebe isn’t a woman who relies on others. If you keep her at home, she’ll go crazy.”

Theodore stared back. “You never worked, and you lived just fine. Why can’t she?”

Taylor felt hurt. After a pause, she said, “Times are different. If I had the chance back then, I wouldn’t have stayed at home. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been the last to know he had a mistress. Do you think I’m happy?” Theodore replied, “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean it that way.”

Taylor sighed, “I don’t get what’s wrong between you two. You can’t accept her love, and she can’t accept yours. Over time, hearts will break. When she decides to leave, how will you convince her to stay?” “She won’t!” Theodore said firmly.

Taylor stared at him. “Confidence is good, while overconfidence is arrogance. You’ll regret it.”

Taylor really liked Phoebe. She was smart, sensible, and understanding. Why did she always clash with Theodore?

Theodore said, “Mom, don’t worry about us. We’re tied together for life. She can’t escape my grasp. I’ve set my sights on her!”

Outside the room, Vanessa withdrew her hand, her face gloomy. She stared at the door for a long time before wheeling herself away.

‘Theodore said he had set his sights on Phoebe. What about me? Where did he place me?’ Vanessa was filled with so much hatred that she wanted to tear Phoebe apart!

At a café near the hospital, Phoebe walked in and took off her sunglasses, brightening the place.

The waiter was stunned by her beauty. “Good morning, ma’am. What would you like to order?”

Phoebe said calmly, “I have friends who arrived earlier. Where is A24?”

The waiter replied, “This way, please. I’ll take you there.”

Phoebe nodded and followed the waiter. Many people turned to look at her as she walked by.

The waiter led her to table A24, where John and Lloyd were already waiting. They almost didn’t recognize her.

When she stopped at the table, they both stood up. John asked in disbelief, “Ms. Ziegler?”

Phoebe smiled. “Don’t you recognize me after just one day? Sit down. Waiter, I’ll have a…”

“Mocha, no milk, no sugar,” John interjected.

The waiter glanced at them, but Phoebe’s presence was so strong that he didn’t think of any romantic implications.

Phoebe sat down and looked at John. “Did you bring the papers I asked for?”

John snapped out of his daze. Although he had worked with Phoebe for over six months, he was still often stunned by her beauty, especially since she looked completely different with and without makeup. At this moment, Phoebe’s aura was almost overbearing, making her both terrifying and gorgeous, hard to look in the eyes.

“Yeah, of course.” John pushed several papers in front of her.

Phoebe took them and flipped through the contracts. She didn’t really need to; she had drafted them herself and knew the terms by heart.

She looked up at Lloyd. “Mr. Cooper, as the second party, can I terminate these three contracts early?”

Lloyd and John exchanged glances. He was surprised. “Do you want to terminate the contracts early? Are you planning to blacklist them?”

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