Chapter 23
Theodore and Edward had both turned into beasts driven by jealousy. How could a few words separate them?
Theodore stared intently at Edward, his patience exhausted. Without a word, he clenched his fist and swung it at Edward's face.
Edward wouldn't back down.
Ever since Theodore took Phoebe away three years ago, Edward had hated him.
Theodore had used despicable means to take Phoebe, and now he didn't even cherish her, getting involved with other women. Edward wished he could tear Theodore apart.
Because of the relationship between their families, Edward had always suppressed his anger. Now that Theodore had threw the first punch, Edward was ready to unleash the anger he'd been holding back for years.
Theodore and Edward lunged at each other viciously, but even in their madness, they were careful to avoid Phoebe.
In that intense brawl, their anger and hatred reached a peak, resembling two ferocious beasts locked in combat.
Soon, both Theodore and Edward were injured.
Phoebe stood there, stunned. She had no idea how things had escalated to this point.
"Phoebe, what are you standing there for? Pull them apart!" Vanessa stood nearby, anxiously pacing.
She had never seen Theodore so violent and brutal.
Ironically, the person who brought out this side of him was Phoebe.
Phoebe snapped out of her daze and hurried forward to break up the fight.
"Stop fighting, stop fighting."
The commotion was so loud that it drew the attention of the patients' families in the ward
. They all came out to watch, seeing Theodore and Edward fighting like madmen, eyes red with rage. No one dared to intervene.
Seeing that Theodore and Edward were fighting more fiercely, Phoebe, despite the danger, forced her way between them.
Unexpectedly, both Theodore and Edward lost their minds at this moment that one of them kicked Phoebe, causing her to fall to the ground with a painful groan.
Theodore and Edward stopped frozen and both looked at Phoebe.
Phoebe was too weak. She clutched her chest and coughed violently. The kick had nearly knocked the wind out of her, and she clutched her chest, coughing hard.
Theodore pushed Edward aside, leaped up from the ground, and quickly walked over to Phoebe. "Are you hurt? Let me take you to the doctor."
Phoebe was still coughing, tears streaming down her face from the pain.
Vanessa looked at Theodore's handsome face, now covered in bruises, and her eyes and heart were filled with jealousy.
Why?
What did Phoebe do to deserve Theodore, who was usually so restrained and composed, to lose his composure and fight Edward for her?
When Edward got up and walk toward them, Vanessa suddenly shouted, "Edward, what are you doing? Theodore, watch out!"
At that moment, Theodore had his back to Edward. Upon hearing Vanessa's shout, he thought Edward still wanted to hit him. His anger reached its peak, and without thinking, he turned and swung a punch at Edward.
Edward didn't expect Theodore to suddenly attack. When the fists came at him, he had no time to dodge.
"Edward, watch out!" Suddenly, a figure rushed over and knocked Edward aside.
The next second, the sound of bones breaking echoed in everyone's ears. Phoebe let out a scream and was sent flying, landing hard on the ground. She curled up in pain, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
Time seemed to stand still. Theodore was still in the posture of throwing a punch, not expecting Phoebe to take the hit for Edward.
How much must she love Edward to protect him from any harm?
"Phoebe, Phoebe." Edward rushed over and carefully picked Phoebe up, his movements gentle as if afraid of hurting her.
"Doctor, Phoebe is hurt, doctor." The usually elegant Edward was now completely panicked, disregarding his own status as he shouted down the hallway, his voice full of fear and panic.
Phoebe coughed violently, her consciousness slipping. As Edward carried her past Theodore, she widened her eyes to meet his gaze.
In that moment, Theodore stood there quietly, his expression a mix of anger and, more prominently, fear. He seemed to want to follow, but when he saw the blood at the corner of Phoebe's mouth, his outstretched hand trembled and recoiled as if bitten by a snake.
Phoebe thought she was wrong. How could someone like Theodore, who was always so composed, show fear? She wanted to take a closer look, but her eyelids grew heavier until
darkness completely consumed her.
Vanessa watched as Edward ran off with Phoebe. She quickly walked over to Theodore, anxiously grabbing his fist that was still frozen in mid-air.
"Theodore, you're seriously hurt. Let's go get you bandaged, okay?"
Theodore shook off her hand and turned to leave without a word.
"Theodore, Theodore." Vanessa took a few steps after him, watching helplessly as Theodore disappeared into the crowd. She stood there, despondent.
"Damn Phoebe!" Vanessa screamed, at that moment truly wishing Phoebe would drown in a pool.
In a daze, Phoebe had a dream. She dreamt of playing with Evelyn at her grandfather Gonzalo Ziegler's house in the countryside when they were children.
She ran through the fields, picking wildflowers to make wreaths, eating wild fruits, and somehow wandered into the mountains. The towering trees blocked out the sun, and she belatedly felt scared.
Just as Phoebe was about to head back, she suddenly heard faint cries for help from the woods.
The voice grew closer. She parted the waist-high wild grass and saw a finely dressed young boy standing not far away.
The young boy looked a few years older than her. Phoebe had never seen someone so handsome.
He saw her too, his eyes lighting up. "Hey, help me. Go get an adult. I stepped into a bear trap."
The boy's face was beautiful, with smudges of dirt that didn't detract from his looks. Phoebe walked over and saw his shiny, polished shoes, the bear trap having pierced the leather, with blood seeping out.
She squatted by his feet and said, "Your foot is injured. We need to get the trap off."
"Can you do it?"
Phoebe nodded. "Yes, my grandpa taught me. Hold on, I'll help you right away."
"Okay."
Phoebe studied the trap for a while and then started to pry it open, but she was too weak. Even with the right technique, it was still difficult.
In the end, she was sweating profusely, her hands cut by the trap, but she finally managed to get it off and toss it aside.
The boy sat on the ground, glanced at her injured hands, and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to wrap them.
"I'm sorry for getting you hurt," the boy said, feeling guilty.
Phoebe uttered, "It's okay, but your foot is injured. How are we going to get back? It's quite far from town."
When night fell, there might be wild beasts here.
Finally, Phoebe said, "I'll carry you to town."
The young boy initially refused, but after much persuasion from Phoebe, he reluctantly let her carry him down the mountain.
They stumbled and fell along the way, getting covered in dirt. After much effort, they finally reached the road. Phoebe, panting heavily, set him down by the roadside. "I'll go get an adult. Wait here for me."
The boy watched Phoebe run off. For some reason, he had a sudden premonition that he might never see her again.
He quickly shouted after her, "What's your name?"
Phoebe turned back, her smile radiant. "Mia, my name is Mia."
