Chapter 10
Theodore's words echoed like thunder in Phoebe's ears, her face turning pale as her heart wrenched in pain.
In a fit of pique, she grabbed the medicine on the bedside table and gulped it down in one go. The bitter liquid burned her throat, causing her stomach to cramp.
She fought the urge to vomit, stood up, and walked to the door with the bowl in hand. "I'll take the bowl downstairs."
It was, of course, an excuse. With such a heated argument, there was no way they could share a bed tonight.
As the door closed behind her, Phoebe heard the sound of something heavy hitting the floor. She had no idea what had borne the brunt of Theodore's anger.
Phoebe stood in the hallway for a moment until she gradually calmed down. Only then did she start walking downstairs.
In the living room, Taylor and Karen were still chatting. Upon seeing Phoebe come down with the bowl, Karen quickly stood up to take it. "Phoebe, why did you bring it down yourself?"
Phoebe forced a small smile. "I wanted to take a walk outside, so I brought the bowl down with me."
"It's so late, why go out? It's dangerous. Where's Theodore? Let him go with you," Taylor said from the side.
Taylor was indeed not pleased that Phoebe had become Theodore's wife, but Theodore had gotten Phoebe pregnant, after all.
The men of the Reynolds family had to be responsible for their actions.
Now that Phoebe had married into the Reynolds family, as long as she gave Taylor a cute grandson, Taylor could accept that Phoebe was just a nanny's daughter.
Three years ago, Phoebe experienced a heartbreaking miscarriage with her first child. Since then, Theodore and Phoebe had not been able to have any more children. Finally, they had convinced Theodore and Phoebe to try again, and they couldn't afford any further setbacks.
Brian and Bianca seemed quite loving. Although Taylor had been unhappy with Phoebe marrying into the Reynolds family from the start, there was nothing she could do since Theodore insisted on marrying her. At least Theodore and Phoebe had lived peacefully for several years, and Phoebe was a good wife.
The old grievances between Taylor and Phoebe had mostly dissipated.
Now, the only thing Taylor longed for was to have a grandchild soon.
Phoebe stared at her shoes. Taylor, aside from constantly urging them to have a baby, was actually a very romantic and simple person. She had prepared matching slippers and pajamas for her and Theodore. Though Taylor had a sharp tongue, she wasn't a bad person. In the years Phoebe had been married into the Reynolds family, Taylor had never wronged her.
The miscarriage back then had already caused Taylor much pain. If she knew that Phoebe and Theodore had been at odds for the past two and a half years, it would hurt her.
For a moment, Phoebe felt a deep sense of guilt toward Taylor.
"Theodore has been working all day; let's not bother him. I'll just walk around the yard," Phoebe said calmly.
After Phoebe watched Phoebe leave the house, Karen leaned in close to Taylor and whispered, "I just saw Phoebe's eyes were red. Do you think they had a fight?"
Taylor frowned as if she had thought of something. "I'll go check."
The Reynolds Mansion was large. Phoebe walked to the lakeside, the wind blowing through her hair, finally making her feel better. Then her phone started vibrating.
Over and over again, Phoebe didn't need to look to know who was calling. The only person this persistent was Evelyn.
Without a doubt, if she didn't answer, Evelyn would call all night.
Phoebe took a deep breath and answered the call.
Evelyn complained, "Phoebe, what's wrong with you? I've been calling you all day, why didn't you answer?"
"Mom," Phoebe held the phone away slightly, feeling a wave of exhaustion. "Can you stop bothering me?"
"Bothering you?" Evelyn's voice grew sharp. "You push away my care and see it as a bother. Phoebe, has my care become a bother to you? I'm your mother!""
Phoebe bit her lip lightly, the irritation in her heart making it hard to control her emotions. She couldn't help but raise her voice as well. "Are you really concerned about me? Only you're concerned about if I am Mrs. Reynolds. If you truly cared about me, you wouldn't have gone behind my back to Theodore and forced him to marry me!"
The air suddenly grew quiet, and Phoebe could hear her own rapid breathing.
She finally said it.
She finally felt a bit of relief. These words had been buried in her heart for so long, and she hadn't told anyone.
She and Theodore had been married for three years. What was the point of dwelling on how they got married? These words, filled with countless grievances and heartache, were finally all vented today.
"So, this is what you think of me, Phoebe." After a long pause, Evelyn's voice finally sounded again.
"Isn't it?" Phoebe hadn't intended to argue with Evelyn, but recently she had been harboring too much resentment and unwillingness. Now she couldn't hold back anymore.
Phoebe continued, "I told you back then, I didn't need to rely on anyone. I could take care of myself and the child. Why did you have to go to Theodore?"
This marriage was a mistake from the start. Forcing it would only make things worse. How could they ever be happy?
So Phoebe understood why Theodore hated her, but she didn't want this either. When she got pregnant, she just wanted to leave with the baby.
But she hadn't expected Evelyn to find Theodore.
Evelyn had never heard such sharp words from Phoebe. She was stunned for a moment and then softened her tone. "What else could I do if I didn't go to Theodore? Did you want to marry Edward? Phoebe, the Vanderbilts would never approve of a woman getting pregnant before marriage."
"I never wanted to marry Edward." Phoebe's eyes hurt so much that closing them brought tears. Even now, thinking about that night, she felt heart-wrenching pain.
Cheating! That word hit Phoebe like a dagger, deeply piercing her heart, making her eyes well up with tears and causing unbearable pain.
To this day, she couldn't forget that night's experience.
Three years ago, Theodore took Phoebe to a business banquet. At the dinner, he even took a few drinks for her.
Theodore had once told Phoebe that his secretary didn't need to take drinks for him. If there ever came a day when he needed his secretary to do that, then the Reynolds Group would be close to bankruptcy.
Later, Theodore got drunk, and Phoebe had to help him to a hotel room to rest.
Theodore was so heavy that when they entered the room, they both tripped over the carpet and fell to the floor.
By the time Phoebe realized what was happening, Theodore was already on top of her.
Drunk Theodore was not as cold and stern as usual; he seemed particularly wild.
Theodore pinned her to the ground, tearing at her clothes and grabbing her breasts forcefully. She immediately struggled.
But her struggle was in vain and only made Theodore more excited. He pinned her down hard and forcibly violated her.
"Phoebe, you are my daughter. I know what you're thinking," Evelyn said. "Even if this hadn't happened, Delilah would never have agreed to let Edward marry you."
Phoebe felt a sudden wave of dizziness, struggling to keep her balance. She gripped the railing beside her and blurted out, "I've said it once; I never had any desire to marry Edward!"
Evelyn just sighed softly. "Phoebe, whether you believe it or not, going to Theodore and making him decide to marry you was the best choice for you."
Phoebe couldn't listen anymore. She angrily hung up the phone, leaning on the railing. Her already aching stomach felt worse, and she suddenly started vomiting violently.
Taylor went upstairs and knocked on the door several times, but there was no response.
She frowned and softly called through the door, "Theodore, I need to talk to you!"
After a long silence, Theodore finally spoke, "Come in."
Taylor pushed the door open and saw Theodore standing on the balcony, surrounded by white smoke.
His silhouette looked desolate and lonely. The once high-spirited man now seemed particularly forlorn in the night.
Taylor walked through the bedroom to Theodore's side and took the cigarette from his hand.
Theodore turned around abruptly. Seeing it was her, the light in his eyes dimmed instantly. He licked his dry lips, the taste of nicotine lingering in his mouth, which was a bit bitter.
"Mom, why did you come up?"
Taylor extinguished the cigarette, smelling the smoke on him. She frowned. "Didn't I tell you to quit smoking? Why are you still smoking?"
Theodore gripped the railing with both hands and said, "I was upset, so I smoked a couple more."
"Is it because Vanessa is coming back?" Taylor asked softly, looking at Theodore's sad eyes. "Did you and Phoebe argue because of her?"
