Chapter 18
On her way back, Phoebe received a call from Taylor.
"Are you guys home? I'll drop by in a bit and bring over some gifts from friends," Taylor said on the other end of the line.
Before Phoebe could refuse, Taylor hung up. She always did things decidedly, not really caring about others' feelings.
Phoebe had to quicken her pace to get home, but by the time she reached the apartment door, Taylor was already waiting there.
"Did you change your door code again?" Taylor, dressed in a red dress and high heels, looked elegant and regal.
Phoebe quickly entered the code. "Mr. Reynolds changed it."
Talking about the code change made Phoebe feel a bit embarrassed.
Once, the housekeeper forgot her phone and came back to get it, only to catch them making love in the living room. Although the housekeeper ran off immediately, the incident left Theodore with a serious psychological shadow.
In a fit of anger, Theodore not only fired the housekeeper but also changed the code and even ordered Phoebe not to tell anyone to prevent the housekeeper from coming and going as she pleased.
"Do you usually call Theodore Mr. Reynolds?" Taylor was surprised to hear Phoebe call him that for the first time. She teased, "You young folks always enjoy playing some naughty games."
Phoebe's face turned red immediately.
The door opened, and Phoebe quickly let Taylor in, then moved the boxes stacked at the door inside. The boxes weren't big but were particularly heavy. Phoebe had to exert a lot of effort to move them inside. After that, she didn't even have time to catch her breath before finding a pair of slippers for Taylor and placing them in front of her.
"The boxes are so heavy, Mom. Did you prepare a lot?" Phoebe asked.
Taylor laughed, "It's nothing special."
Taylor changed into the slippers and walked in, her eyes catching the orange shopping bag in Phoebe's hand. "Did you go shopping today?"
"Yeah," Phoebe had planned to give Taylor her birthday gift the day before her birthday, but since it was only a couple of days away, she decided to give it to her now. "Mom, I bought you a birthday gift. See if you like it."
Taylor often shopped at Hermès, and seeing the size of the bag, she knew what kind of bag it was. She took it with a delighted expression and eagerly opened the box.
"Whatever you give me, I'll be happy," Taylor said as she opened the bag and took out a Birkin bag. She smiled so widely.
"Phoebe, you're so thoughtful. I heard this bag is hard to get, with only a few available worldwide." Taylor truly loved the bag, admiring it from every angle, clearly reluctant to put it down.
"As long as you like it."
"I love it; I really do!" Taylor emphasized.
Taylor slung the bag over her shoulder, striking a graceful pose. "Phoebe, take a few photos of me. I want to show off on social media."
Phoebe picked up her phone and took several photos of Taylor. After the photoshoot, Taylor couldn't wait to enjoy the photos with her.
Taylor was stunned when she saw the photos. "Phoebe, you take photos well. Did you study photography?"
"No, I joined the photography club in school and went out shooting with a group of like-minded classmates for a while," Phoebe said modestly.
"Your skills are on point," remarked Taylor as she scrolled through the photos. In the pictures, she stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, bathed in the warm, golden light of the setting sun. The red dress and the diamond-studded Birkin bag made her look both wealthy and elegant.
After choosing a picture, Taylor swiftly shared it on social media, then casually set her phone aside. Phoebe sat beside her, quietly relishing this rare moment of tranquility.
Suddenly, Taylor put the bag down and looked at Phoebe with a serious expression. "Phoebe, be honest with me. Is there something wrong between you and Theodore?"
Phoebe was taken aback. Did Taylor know?
"Mom, why do you ask?" Phoebe tried to stay calm and asked tentatively.
Taylor questioned her discontentedly, "I heard Vanessa is back, and they've been very close lately. Are you completely unaware of this?"
Phoebe breathed a sigh of relief but then felt a pang of bitterness. She lowered her eyes. "I know."
"Why don't you do anything about it?" Taylor stared at her, a bit agitated. "Phoebe, whatever the reason for marrying Theodore, now that you're a couple, you need to work on this marriage. Or you'll regret it later."
Phoebe felt a bitter taste in her heart. "I understand."
Taylor spoke earnestly, "You're a good girl, always taking care of our feelings and making us happy. Phoebe, I initially had doubts about you marrying Theodore, but over time, I've come to understand your true self. . You're gentle, kind, and respectful to us. I've long accepted you as my daughter-in-law. Since you two got married, you should focus more on him. If you do, won't he cherish you? He will definitely love you."
Upon seeing Phoebe's expression, Taylor sighed and decided not to continue lecturing her. She didn't stay long, having a small talk with Phoebe, and then left.
Phoebe sat on the couch, holding her phone in a daze, thinking about many things. All along, she had played a passive role in her relationship with Theodore.
If she took the initiative to maintain this relationship, would things be different?
For the first time, she took the initiative to call Theodore.
The call was quickly answered, and Phoebe's heart pounded as she instinctively wanted to speak. But to her surprise, it wasn't Theodore who answered.
"Ms. Ziegler, are you looking for Theodore? He's not available to take your call right now. You can tell me if there's anything you need," Vanessa's voice was still as gentle and charming as ever. It was very quiet on her end, making the sound of running water particularly loud, as if someone was taking a shower.
Phoebe's heart tightened, and her chest felt like it was being hammered. She instinctively gripped her phone.
Before she could speak, Vanessa's suggestive words came through, and the sound of water on the other end growing clearer. "Theodore, is the water temperature good, or is it too hot?"
Then, Theodore's deep and hoarse voice came through the phone. "The water is a bit hot. I'll adjust it. You can come in later."
Phoebe abruptly hung up the phone, her heart suddenly aching intensely.
She wanted to follow Taylor's advice and take the initiative to maintain this marriage, but it was already too late.
