Chapter 25
<Chapter> Chapter 25</Chapter>
Vanessa sat down on a nearby chair, first surveying the room before fixing her gaze on Phoebe, her disdain evident.
"I heard you were unconscious for another two days?" Vanessa's tone was flat, but there was a hint of schadenfreude.
Phoebe coldly replied, "Thanks to you."
That day, Phoebe was facing Edward, and she was sure Edward approached them without any aggression.
If it weren't for Vanessa, none of this would have happened.
Vanessa didn't dwell on that day's events and changed the subject. "Why hold a grudge? You seem to be recovering well."
Phoebe licked her lips and snorted, "Not dead yet."
"Really? That's quite a pity." Vanessa sighed, as if genuinely regretting not killing Phoebe.
Phoebe was speechless. Vanessa's malice was truly eye-opening.
Phoebe didn't want to entangle with Vanessa any further and coldly asked, "So, Miss Fitzroy, did you come here today just to see if I'm dead?"
Vanessa smiled and said, "Ms. Ziegler, don't be so hostile. I came to visit you today and also have a few things to say."
Phoebe sneered, "Stop pretending. Go ahead!"
Vanessa said, "I pushed you into the pool that day to test who Theodore would rescue first. Being married for three years and spending every day together, it's natural to have feelings, so I had to get my answer by this way."
"Are you crazy?" Phoebe was completely enraged by Vanessa, her eyes red.
Vanessa didn't get angry; instead, she smiled smugly. "Yes, I am quite crazy. So you definitely don't want to see how far I'll go to win Theodore back, do you?"
Phoebe looked at Vanessa's crazed expression and smiled. "Then I really want to see what you plan to do."
Vanessa stared at Phoebe. She didn't intend to provoke Phoebe's defiance; she just wanted Phoebe to know she was ruthless, to make Phoebe fear her mentally. But she underestimated Phoebe.
All the things Vanessa had done in the past few days were just to teach Phoebe a lesson, to show her the gap between them. But instead of scaring Phoebe, it ignited her fighting spirit.
Vanessa shook her head to clear her thoughts. She had to completely ruined Phoebe's hope.
"Phoebe, Edward still loves you. That day he fought Theodore for you. Didn't that move you at all? Phoebe, there are plenty of good men in this world. Why are you so fixated on Theodore?"
Phoebe pressed her lips tightly.
She had to admit, Vanessa was indeed very skilled at manipulating people.
On the day they fell into the water, Theodore saved Vanessa first, which was a fatal blow to Phoebe.
Then, in the garden below the hospital, Vanessa framed her, and Theodore still chose Vanessa, leaving Phoebe alone by the lake, making her disappointed again.
Finally, in the hospital corridor, Vanessa deliberately misled Theodore, causing him to fight Edward. Phoebe had no choice but to take the punch for Edward.
As a result, Theodore would definitely think Phoebe still had feelings for Edward. Even if Theodore had any remaining affection for her, it would turn into resentment and anger.
Moreover, Theodore never loved her.
"Miss Fitzroy, you're quite the schemer," Phoebe said with a sarcastic smile.
Vanessa was taken aback. She knew Phoebe was smart. Phoebe just thought about the events of the past few days, and then she connected the dots and understood Vanessa's intentions.
Phoebe didn't disappoint her; she was indeed an interesting opponent.
Only if they were evenly matched would Vanessa not feel humiliated because Phoebe had taken Theodore back then. Phoebe might seem weak, but she was actually very formidable.
Vanessa mocked, "Ms. Ziegler, didn't you marry Theodore because you were pregnant?"
Phoebe's lips moved, but she didn't argue.
Because it was true.
Vanessa saw Phoebe's downcast mood and felt a surge of satisfaction. She stood up triumphantly. "Ms. Ziegler, get some rest. I'm looking forward to your counterattack."
"You bitch; how shameless!" At that moment, Evelyn burst through the door, pointing at Vanessa's nose and cursing angrily.
Evelyn had been eavesdropping outside the door and finally understood what had happened to Phoebe over the past few days. She was furious. How could mistresses be so brazen nowadays?
Vanessa remained unflustered. "Who was it that shamelessly slept with my boyfriend? It's your daughter."
Phoebe's fury had peaked, and she decided not to hold back anymore. She coldly looked at Vanessa and said, "Maybe my memory is failing me, but wasn't it you who abandoned Theodore first?"
Evelyn, emboldened by Phoebe's words, chimed in, "Exactly, you abandoned Theodore. Can't he marry someone else?"
Vanessa didn't expect Phoebe's counterattack to be so swift and sharp. For a moment, she was caught off guard. Upon hearing Phoebe and Evelyn's coordinated retorts, she was furious but didn't know how to respond. She could only leave with a darkened expression.
Evelyn was still fuming. "Damn it! I told you this woman was trouble! Phoebe, don't let her shake you. You are Theodore's rightful wife now."
Phoebe rubbed her temples. "I'm tired. Please leave."
When Evelyn saw Phoebe's exhausted expression, she didn't say anything more, but she was seething with hatred for Vanessa.
But with Phoebe's current negative attitude, how could she deal with the aggressive Vanessa?
‘Is she planning to divorce Theodore and rekindle her old flame with Edward?' Evelyn suddenly thought and couldn't help but glance at Phoebe out of the corner of her eye.
She needed to have a talk with Edward.
Phoebe stayed in the hospital for another two days. Many people came to visit her, even Madison, who had always been at odds with Phoebe, was brought by Christopher. But Theodore was nowhere to be seen.
When Phoebe asked about it, everyone looked uncomfortable. Taylor only said that Theodore was on a business trip.
But when Carol visited, she let it slip that Theodore had been in Kedora the whole time.
Phoebe had already guessed that Theodore hadn't gone anywhere; he just didn't want to see her.
That was fine; she didn't want to see him either.
Phoebe was almost fully recovered and insisted on being discharged and going home.
Evelyn couldn't argue with her and went to handle the discharge procedures.
As soon as Evelyn was about to leave, Edward arrived.
Phoebe was surprised to see him walk in and was momentarily at a loss.
The bruises on Edward's face had faded a bit, but he looked very haggard. He stood by the bedside and asked with deep concern, "Phoebe, are you okay?"
Edward had stayed by Phoebe's bedside during her two days of unconsciousness. But somehow, the Vanderbilt family found out about his fight with Theodore and his constant presence by Phoebe's bedside, and they sent Brian to take him home.
Edward was confined at home until today when Brian finally let him out. As soon as he was free, he rushed to the hospital.
When Phoebe saw the injuries on Edward's face, she felt a pang of guilt and could only nod, "I'm much better. Don't worry about me. And don't dwell on what happened that day."
A flash of pain crossed Edward's eyes. "Do you think saying that will make me feel better? Phoebe, you're being too cruel to me."
Phoebe lowered her head. "I'm very sorry about what happened three years ago. You can blame me, hate me, it's okay, just please don't be good to me anymore."
She no longer deserved his kindness. The more gentle Edward was to her, the more guilty Phoebe felt.
Edward suddenly became agitated. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Phoebe's waist. "Phoebe, I love you!"
"Edward, let go of me." Phoebe was startled and struggled.
"I won't!" Edward held her tighter, as if trying to release all the longing of the past three years. He shouted, "Phoebe, Vanessa is back. Why not you divorce Theodore and let everything return to how it was?"
A cold laugh suddenly came from the doorway. "It seems I came at a bad time, interrupting your little love scene."
