Chapter 13
Phoebe didn't want to have any interaction with Vanessa. It was such an awkward situation when an ex-girlfriend met the current wife.
What was Theodore thinking?
Phoebe didn't want to continue talking about Vanessa, so she deliberately changed the subject. "Thanks to Mr. Reynolds' guidance, I've met a lot of people over the past two years as your secretary. This time, the major entertainment companies are willing to help our new artists because of you."
Actually, it was true. After all, Theodore was the sole heir of the Reynolds Group, and Phoebe had indeed learned a lot from him.
Theodore let out a cold laugh, showing no sign of being pleased by the compliment. Instead, he sarcastically said, "You're so hypocritical."
Phoebe shrugged. "Whatever you say."
Looking at the once again silent Theodore, Phoebe couldn't help but sigh inwardly. She and he were indeed incompatible; they would argue every time they talked. She wondered if he was like this with Vanessa too.
Then Phoebe soon found out.
The car stopped outside the airport terminal. Theodore got out first, his suit pants wrapping around his long, well-proportioned legs, the slightly tight fabric outlining the lines of his calves.
Theodore's appearance was indeed good. Even after three years of marriage, Phoebe was momentarily dazed until she heard Theodore's impatient voice, "Aren't you getting out?"
Phoebe quickly shook her head to clear away the random thoughts and hurriedly got out of the car.
Theodore, with his long legs, took big strides and soon left her behind. Phoebe had to jog to barely keep up.
When they reached the arrival gate, they found that many people were there to pick someone up.
"Who are we picking up?" Phoebe asked, panting.
Theodore looked at the exit expressionlessly and said calmly, "Vanessa. She's returning today."
Phoebe was stunned. She had confirmed with Vanessa's team and knew that Vanessa was supposed to return next week. Why was Theodore here to pick her up today?
Soon, passengers started coming out in a steady stream. Phoebe had to stand on tiptoe to look for Vanessa in the crowd.
Even though she had studied Vanessa's profile for days, it was impossible to recognize her at a glance in the crowd.
Before Phoebe could see clearly, a vibrant woman ran past her, ignoring her, and hugged Theodore. After a warm cheek-to-cheek greeting, Phoebe realized that this woman in a baseball cap, full of energy, was Vanessa.
"Theodore, I missed you so much. I'm finally back." Vanessa was still hugging Theodore. Her makeup was exquisite, and her brown hair was stunningly beautiful.
Phoebe stood next to them, watching the two embrace.
At that moment, she felt invisible, as if an entire universe separated her from them. Vanessa and Theodore appeared so loving and connected, resembling more of a couple than she and Theodore ever did.
Theodore didn't speak or push Vanessa away. He looked at her gently, as if she was his most missed lover.
Theodore's gaze touched Vanessa deeply, her eyes glistening with tear.
Back then, she had left for Nyxonia in a fit of pique, thinking Theodore would follow her because he loved her. But after waiting for two months, she received news of his marriage to another woman.
But now, seeing Theodore again, his tenderness was still the same as before. It seemed that nothing had changed.
Just as Vanessa and Theodore were gazing at each other affectionately, seemingly about to share a passionate kiss at the airport, they were interrupted by some passersby.
"Isn't that the piano queen Vanessa? She's back? Who's that handsome guy next to her? They look so good together. Is he her boyfriend?"
"Vanessa is so beautiful. She's even prettier in person than on TV. Hurry up, take a picture."
"That's a big star. Everyone, take her picture." Someone in the crowd shouted, and almost everyone took out their phones and started crowding around.
Phoebe sensed that the atmosphere around them was getting out of hand and quickly stepped forward to block the cameras.
Phoebe said to them, " Excuse me, Vanessa hasn't debuted yet, and Mr. Reynolds, you wouldn't want any scandals, right? Can you continue your reunion in the car?"
Vanessa and Theodore finally noticed Phoebe's presence. Theodore gave her a cold look, as if blaming her for interrupting his moment with Vanessa.
Suddenly, the surrounding passengers started to get restless again.
It seemed someone recognized Theodore and pointed at him.
Theodore frowned, realizing the situation was getting tricky. He quickly shielded Vanessa in his arms.
He said softly, "The car is outside. Let's go."
Nestled in Theodore's arms, Vanessa smiled happily. "Okay."
Seeing the crowd starting to surge forward, Phoebe quickly stepped in front of them. "Please don't take pictures; don't crowd; be careful."
Phoebe was pushed back by the crowd. She had to protect Vanessa and Theodore behind her while also managing Vanessa's luggage, making her look quite disheveled.
A crazed fan, seeing Phoebe blocking their way to Vanessa, angrily shoved her aside. Phoebe slipped and fell to the ground. Before she could get up, someone stepped directly on her.
The crowd, in their frenzy to chase Vanessa, didn't care what was underfoot and trampled over Phoebe's hands and legs.
"You stepped on me!" Phoebe cried out in pain, but her voice was drowned out by the surrounding cheers.
Eventually, Phoebe became numb from the pain.
She struggled to turn her head and saw Theodore, at the front of the crowd, protectively escorting Vanessa out of the airport without looking back at her even once.
Once Vanessa disappeared, the crowd gradually dispersed. Phoebe struggled to get up, her whole body burning with pain. She stood there for a while, trying to catch her breath, until her phone vibrated in her pocket, snapping her back to reality.
When she answered, Theodore's voice came through, full of blame. "Where are you?"
Phoebe's ears buzzed as she recognized his voice, her eyes filling with tears and a wave of sadness washing over her. She felt a surge of grievance, choking up and almost crying on the spot.…
"I'm still at the airport," Phoebe said, her voice trembling.
She had underestimated Vanessa's popularity in the country, not expecting that Vanessa, who hadn't officially debuted yet, already had such an incredible fan base.
Moreover, the situation was sudden. If she had known in advance that they were picking up Vanessa, she would have arranged for security measures.
On the other end of the line, there were sounds of chaos, probably fans banging on the car windows. Theodore, sounding impatient, said, "Take a cab back to the office yourself."
With that, he hung up.
Phoebe stood dazed in the airport. She put her phone back in her pocket, and her swollen hand brushed against her clothes, sending another wave of burning pain.
Looking down, she saw that her right hand was completely swollen, with several places where the skin was broken and blood was flowing everywhere, even staining her sleeve red.
Her other hand wasn't much better. She shut her eyes, pushing down the bitterness in her heart.
After a moment of contemplation, she used her willpower to stand up. She suppressed the pain in her heart, dragged Vanessa's suitcase, and limped towards the airport exit.
As Phoebe walked away, a person wearing a baseball cap emerged from behind a signboard.
The person was wrapped up tightly but spoke with venom. Seeing Phoebe's disheveled state, the woman couldn't help but laugh maliciously.
"Phoebe, you deserve this! You've been Mrs. Reynolds for three years. With Vanessa's return, it's time for you to make way."
Phoebe finally managed to get back to the office by cab. She hadn't even had a chance to tend to her injuries when Theodore called her to the top floor.
Judging by his tone, he seemed quite angry.
Phoebe didn't dare delay. She endured the pain and took the elevator upstairs. As soon as she walked into the CEO's office, before she could say a word, a file flew at her and hit her in the face.
