Chapter 24
"Phoebe, Phoebe, are you awake?" A slightly annoying female voice sounded in her ear, causing Phoebe to frown slowly.
"Mom, I don't want to go," Phoebe was still trapped in her childhood dream.
Evelyn slapped Phoebe on the arm. "If you're awake, open your eyes. Stop pretending."
The burning pain in her arm jolted Phoebe fully awake. She opened her eyes, and the lush mountains and wide fields were gone.
A blindingly white ceiling came into view, and she smelled a strong scent of disinfectant.
Evelyn's nagging continued in her ear. "Phoebe, you're Theodore's wife now. Why are you still involved with Edward? Aren't you afraid of people gossiping behind your back?"
Phoebe couldn't take it anymore and hurriedly shouted, "When did I ever involved with him?"
"Then why did I hear that you got hurt because of Edward?" Evelyn stared intently into Phoebe's eyes, asking suspiciously.
Phoebe was at a loss for words. She had indeed thrown herself in front of Edward to block that punch out of guilt; she couldn't just stand by and watch him get hurt because of her.
Moreover, it was clear that Evelyn and Theodore had already stopped, but Vanessa had deliberately shouted something to stir things up.
If Theodore punched Edward again, how could the Reynolds family and the Vanderbilt Family coexist peacefully in the future?
Evelyn's voice immediately became aggressive. "Phoebe, I've told you long ago to stay away from Edward, but you just wouldn't listen."
Phoebe had just woken up and was being scolded by Evelyn. Her ears were ringing, and it felt like her head was about to explode. "Mom, I'm begging you; can you stop?"
Upon seeing her pale face, Evelyn couldn't help but feel a bit of pity. "Alright, alright, I won't say anymore. I made some soup for you. Let me help you sit up and drink some."
Phoebe was very weak, and Evelyn brought the soup to her mouth.
Phoebe tried to reach out to take it, but Evelyn slapped her hand away. "You are so weak. I'll feed you."
As Phoebe drank the soup, she asked, "What time is it today? I feel like I've been asleep for a long time."
"You've been unconscious for two days." Evelyn glared at her. "Phoebe, tell me honestly, how did you and Ms. Fitzroy fall from the second-floor terrace that day? Luckily, there was a swimming pool below, or you'd be either dead or crippled by now."
Phoebe thought that she had made up for a year's worth of sleep this time.
"What did Vanessa say?" Phoebe asked instead of answering directly.
Evelyn's expression became a bit uneasy. "She kept crying and said she didn't know how she fell from the terrace. When pressed, she told us to ask you."
Phoebe didn't notice Evelyn's expression. She sneered, as expected, Vanessa wanted to pin the blame on her.
Vanessa was indeed clever. By saying nothing and letting everyone ask Phoebe, she shifted the responsibility onto Phoebe. This preemptive move made people more suspicious of Phoebe.
By the time Phoebe explained, everyone would already doubt the truth of her words. Having been unconscious for several days, she had lost the initiative. In people's subconscious minds, they already believed Vanessa. Now, it was useless no matter what Phoebe said. Vanessa, who said nothing, would appear more innocent and pure.
Upon hearing her sneer, Evelyn quickly asked, "What are you laughing at? What exactly happened that day?"
"I don't want to talk about it." Phoebe knew Evelyn's temper. If she told Evelyn that Vanessa had pulled her down, Evelyn would definitely make a scene.
"I'm your mother, and you're still hiding things from me?" Evelyn stared at Phoebe in disbelief. "Even if you did push her, I'd still stand by you as your mother."
"Mom!" Phoebe raised her voice. "Why would I push her?"
"Isn't she Theodore's first love? It's understandable if you pushed her out of jealousy," Evelyn said awkwardly.
"Even you think that way about me. What do you think others will think?" Phoebe interrupted her coldly.
Evelyn was like this—she seemed clever on the surface but was always stupid about important matters. Yet, she still prided herself on her intelligence.
Realizing her mistake, Evelyn slapped her forehead. "What nonsense am I talking about? Phoebe, if you didn't push her, then how did you both fall?"
Actually, on the day of the incident, Evelyn had already caused a scene in Vanessa's ward.
Vanessa was rescued first and didn't really need to be in the hospital. But Sophia and James were worried; after all, Vanessa had fallen from the second floor, and no one could guarantee there wouldn't be any aftereffects.
Phoebe had been underwater longer and was still unconscious, but Vanessa was awake. To understand what had happened, they naturally went to Vanessa first.
When Evelyn heard that Phoebe had almost drowned, she impulsively went to confront Vanessa. Theodore was also in the room at the time, and Evelyn said many harsh things, making the situation very ugly.
In the end, it was Theodore who forcibly pulled Evelyn out of Vanessa's room.
Not getting any answers from Vanessa, Evelyn was still upset and decided to ask Phoebe.
However, no matter what the truth was, Evelyn would always stand by Phoebe in front of others.
"Stop asking, just give me the soup. I'll drink it myself," Phoebe didn't want to continue this topic with Evelyn and reached for the bowl, but Evelyn avoided her.
Suppressing her curiosity, Evelyn fed all the soup to Phoebe. Even at the end, she couldn't help but ask, "You really didn't push her?"
"Mom!"
Evelyn quickly said, "I get it, Phoebe. But Theodore is a good man. That bitch ain't someone to mess with. You can't win Theodore over like this."
Phoebe leaned back against the pillow, rolling her eyes without saying a word.
"The best way to win a man over is to have his child. Theodore is a responsible person. As long as you're pregnant, he won't mess with other woman," Evelyn urged anxiously.
Phoebe felt utterly exhausted.
No matter the topic, it always circled back to having children. Evelyn was hopeless.
Suddenly, the door to the ward was pushed open from the outside. Both Evelyn and Phoebe looked up to see Vanessa standing at the door.
Phoebe squinted her eyes, trying to guess Vanessa's purpose for this visit.
When Phoebe first saw Vanessa on the big screen, she thought she was stunning and talented.
But after several confrontations, Phoebe realized Vanessa was nothing but a bitch. The more innocent and harmless Vanessa appeared on the outside, the more sinister she was on the inside.
"I'm here to see Ms. Ziegler." Vanessa stood at the door with a bouquet of flowers looking gentle and polite, completely different from the crazed person on the terrace that day.
Evelyn glanced at Phoebe with a hint of wariness and said coldly, "Phoebe is tired. You should come back another day."
"I'll just say a few words and then leave," Vanessa said firmly, stepping in with the flowers.
Phoebe pursed her lips and said to Evelyn, "Mom, can you go ask the doctor when I can be discharged?"
Evelyn paused, but she said nothing. She turned and left, closing the door behind her. Phoebe had always known her mind, and since she had made up her mind, Evelyn didn't want to interfere too much.
However, Evelyn was still cautious. She first made a show of walking away, then tiptoed back and pressed her ear against the door to eavesdrop.
Phoebe raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Vanessa's exquisite makeup. Vanessa was such a beauty; perhaps no one would ever suspect she was a poisonous flower.
"Miss Fitzroy, you must be feeling quite pleased with yourself right now, huh?" Phoebe asked with a cold smile.
