Phoebe strolled along, glancing back to see Madison crumpled on the ground, bawling her eyes out like a kid who just lost their favorite toy. A wave of sadness hit her.

When she first thought Madison might not be a real Reynolds, she kept quiet, thinking about Madison’s feelings.

Madison had grown up in the Reynolds family, living the high life and being all proud of it.

Sure, Madison was spoiled, but she wasn’t all bad, and she was just another innocent victim. Phoebe didn’t have any beef with her.

If Madison hadn’t kept messing with Grace and almost run her over, Phoebe would’ve never spilled the beans about Madison’s true identity. But what’s the use of thinking about all that now?

The damage was done, and they had to keep moving.

When you looked at life with kindness, good things came your way; when you looked at it with hate, you only got wrecked.

And Phoebe watched as Madison walked straight into her own mess.

“Theodore, call Christopher and get him to pick up Madison,” Phoebe said.

Christopher was the only one who could calm Madison down now. If he showed up, she might feel a bit better.

Theodore nodded, pulled out his phone, and called Christopher to come to the hospital and get Madison.

After giving Christopher the heads-up, Theodore hung up, pocketed his phone, and gently lifted Phoebe’s chin to check the red marks on her neck. Theodore asked, “Does it hurt?”

Phoebe shook her head. “Nah. Come on, stop frowning.”

Phoebe reached out to smooth Theodore’s furrowed brows, but a cough from behind made her quickly pull her hand back.

Phoebe then noticed Evelyn had joined them in the elevator. She looked away. “Mom, why didn’t you say anything? You scared me.”

Evelyn said, “I’m standing right here, and you didn’t even notice me. What can I do?”

Phoebe was speechless.

As they stepped out of the elevator, Evelyn, who had been holding back, finally asked, glancing cautiously at Theodore’s face, “Phoebe, did I hear wrong in the hallway? Is Miss Reynolds not Theodore’s real sister?” Evelyn had never liked Madison.

She still remembered when Phoebe and Theodore had just gotten hitched, Madison always looked down on her and constantly called her a maid.

Madison’s nasty attitude was really off-putting.

“Mom,” Phoebe called out to Evelyn, “let me take you home.”

Theodore had no intention of hiding it from Evelyn. He said, “Madison isn’t my real sister, but I watched her grow up. She’s closer to me than a real sister.”

Theodore’s words meant he didn’t want anyone to look down on Madison just because she wasn’t blood-related to the Reynolds family.

Evelyn got it. “Yeah, Theodore, you’re right. After all, you grew up together.”

They walked through the hospital lobby to the entrance, where Jack was waiting with the Maybach. Theodore said, “Jack, take Mrs. Ziegler home.” “Okay.”

Evelyn was stunned by Theodore calling her “Mrs. Ziegler.” She had lived most of her life and had never been addressed that way.

Evelyn shakily got into the car, looking at Theodore and Phoebe standing outside. She rolled down the window and said to Phoebe, “Phoebe, remember to take your medicine on time, okay?”

Phoebe saw Evelyn still fussing about her taking her meds and nodded, a bit exasperated. “Yeah, yeah, I’m taking them. You go on home now.”

Evelyn glanced at Theodore standing next to Phoebe, hesitated for a sec, but didn’t say anything. She rolled up the window, and the car drove off.

A bit later, Phoebe’s phone buzzed. She checked it.

It was a message from Evelyn, a string of “hahahaha,” practically dripping with glee.

Phoebe was speechless.

Was Evelyn really that stoked knowing Madison wasn’t a Reynolds?

Theodore noticed Phoebe staring at her phone and asked softly, “Phoebe, what’s up? Who’s texting you?”

Phoebe quickly shoved her phone back in her coat pocket. “Just some spam. Are we waiting for Christopher to show up before we bounce?”

Right after saying that, Phoebe yawned.

She was on her period, had been up for two days straight, and was super tired, yawning non-stop.

Theodore had planned to wait for Christopher and personally see him take Madison away, but seeing Phoebe so wiped out, he pulled her into his arms. He said, “Nah, let’s head home.”

Phoebe blinked, feeling sleepy and a bit out of it. Seeing Theodore’s worried face, she grabbed his hand and gave it a shake.

Phoebe reassured him, “Theodore, don’t stress about Madison. When Christopher gets here, he’ll cheer her up. You don’t need to be upset. Everything will be fine.”

Theodore felt a wave of tenderness. He held Phoebe close, his lips near her ear, and whispered, “Phoebe, a lot has happened lately, making me realize how unpredictable life is.”

Phoebe, too sleepy to keep her eyes open, felt comforted by Theodore’s faint minty scent and his voice in her ear, like a lullaby.

Theodore continued, “I thought we had all the time in the world, that we could take things slow. I was patient, thinking that as long as I kept you by my side, you’d eventually fall for me. Then, I’d tell you how I feel. But now, I can’t wait. I’m scared there won’t be time to take it slow. I’m afraid that what I want to say will get delayed by a million things, and I’ll never get the chance. So, I want to tell you now, Phoebe, I…”

Before he could finish saying “I love you,” Theodore felt a weight on his arm.

Looking down, he saw Phoebe’s head resting on his arm, her breathing steady. She was out cold.

Theodore was speechless.

He had finally worked up the nerve to confess, and Phoebe had fallen asleep. Was his preamble that boring and long-winded? Theodore stared at Phoebe’s sleeping face, wanting to pinch her cheek hard. Phoebe, did you know what you just missed?

Theodore sighed, bent down, and scooped Phoebe up in his arms, heading towards the parking lot.

Snowflakes started falling again, and the streetlights cast long shadows. Behind them, two venomous eyes were locked on them.

Vanessa’s face was pale. She never expected that while picking up takeout, she’d hear Theodore confessing to Phoebe.

Theodore never expressed his love for her verbally, even though they had been together for years. Yet, Theodore had almost said them to Phoebe just now.

She was burning with jealousy. Phoebe, the interloper, how did she deserve Theodore’s love?

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