Chapter 36
In the evening, Phoebe returned to the apartment and saw Evelyn standing angrily outside the door.
She walked over to open the door, and as soon as Evelyn followed her inside, she raised her hand and slapped her without a word.
The sound of the slap echoed in the hallway.
Phoebe's cheek burned with pain. She covered half of her face, looking at Evelyn in disbelief. "Mom, what's your deal? Are you trying to kill me?"
"Kill you?" Evelyn was furious. "I think you're trying to push me to my death. Do you realize how many people dream of being Mrs. Reynolds, and you don't even value it? You're seriously driving me nuts. How much more do I, as your mother, have to stress about you?"
Phoebe took a deep breath, forcing back the tears that were welling up. At this moment, she didn't want to show any weakness. "I don't care whoever wants to be Mrs. Reynolds."
Evelyn gritted her teeth. "Phoebe, if you divorce Theodore, you'll be a divorced woman. Do you think you can still marry into such a good family?"
"I won't marry then, okay?" Phoebe shouted at Evelyn, her eyes red.
For years, everyone had been telling Phoebe what she should do, all for her own good, but nobody asked her if that was what she truly desired.
Phoebe was too tired. Her affection for Theodore was no longer enough to sustain her.
Phoebe just wanted to leave here, hide in a place where no one was, and come back to begin anew once she had gathered enough courage.
"You!" Evelyn raised her hand in anger once more.
Phoebe stiffened her neck and shouted, "Go ahead, hit me. If you kill me, it'll all be over."
Evelyn gritted her teeth, but she couldn't bring herself to strike. She finally let her arm fall limply. "Maybe I shouldn't have gone to Theodore back then and made him marry you. But Phoebe, you and Donovan know firsthand the pain and struggles of growing up without a dad. I don't want your kid to go through that same thing."
"You're all grown up now. From this point on, I won't meddle in your business. Do as you please. I'm done interfering," Evelyn said, feeling disheartened.
Phoebe was speechless.
Every time Evelyn tried to guilt-trip her into compliance, she saw through the tactic. This time, she wouldn't fall for it.
Evelyn turned and walked toward the elevator. After a few steps, she suddenly swayed and fell to the ground.
Phoebe heard a noise and quickly turned around. Seeing Evelyn on the ground, she was scared out of her wits.
"Mom, wake up! Don't scare me, Mom!"
Phoebe quickly called an ambulance. After hanging up, she trembled all over while waiting for it. She didn't dare to move Evelyn. "Mom, wake up. I'll do whatever you say."
Evelyn's eyelashes fluttered, and her eyelids moved. When Evelyn heard her words, she couldn't help but smile.
Phoebe was still too young to stand up against her
The ambulance arrived quickly. The medical staff put Evelyn on a stretcher, and Phoebe hurriedly grabbed her bag, followed them downstairs, and got into the ambulance.
At the hospital, Phoebe was so nervous she couldn't sit still. Before long, the doctor came out.
Phoebe quickly walked up to him. "Doctor, how is my mom?"
"It's nothing serious. She just had a sudden fainting spell due to extreme anger. But she has high blood pressure. Try to avoid stressing her out in the future," the doctor said meaningfully.
Phoebe breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, doctor."
After sending the doctor away, Phoebe went to handle the hospital admission procedures. Evelyn had already been taken back to the ward by the nurse. When Phoebe returned to the ward, Evelyn was awake and wiping her tears in bed.
As soon as Phoebe walked in, Evelyn turned her back to her.
Phoebe stood by the bed for a while and eventually compromised. "Where's that doctor at? I'll make time to see him tomorrow."
Evelyn's eyes lit up, but she snorted, "I told you I wouldn't meddle anymore. Why are you still asking about that doctor? I promised to respect your decisions."
Phoebe pressed her lips together, looking at Evelyn's back, which was brimming with joy. She shook her head helplessly. "Oh come on, don't force me to expose you."
Evelyn was speechless.
Phoebe stayed with Evelyn in the hospital until midnight when her phone suddenly vibrated. She saw it was an unknown number.
After thinking for a moment, she decided to answer it.
"Is this Mrs. Reynolds? I'm Patrick Winston. Theodore is drunk. Can you come and take him home?" A deep, elegant male voice came from the other end of the phone.
Patrick?
Phoebe quickly responded, "Where are you? I'll come right away."
Patrick gave her the address and hung up. Phoebe glanced at the soundly sleeping Evelyn, took out a sticky note to leave a message, and then headed out with her bag.
Phoebe took a cab to an entertainment club.
She made her way smoothly to the private room. When she pushed the door open, she saw that the room was large and luxuriously decorated.
Phoebe immediately noticed someone lying on the oval-shaped sofa.
Patrick was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window. When he saw Phoebe come in, he quickly extinguished his cigarette and walked over slowly. "Hey. Theodore gets really protective when he's drunk, so I had to reach out to you."
Phoebe gave an awkward smile and quickly thanked Patrick.
She looked at Theodore lying on the sofa. His face was flushed, and he had one hand on his forehead, looking very uncomfortable.
A few empty bottles were scattered on the coffee table and the floor nearby, and the room was filled with the overwhelming smell of alcohol.
She said, "Okay."
Patrick sighed in relief, picked up the coat draped over the sofa, and put on a baseball cap and mask to cover his highly recognizable handsome face.
As Patrick walked to the door, he turned back and stared at Phoebe. "I don't know what's going on between you two, but since you're married, you should try to make it work."
Phoebe was speechless.
Patrick's straightforwardness took her by surprise.
Patrick looked at her, seemingly waiting for a response.
Phoebe quickly said, "Thank you. I understand."
Patrick frowned slightly, seemingly dissatisfied with her answer, but he didn't say anything more and left.
After the door closed, Phoebe stood there in a daze for a moment. She snapped out of it when she heard Theodore say he was thirsty.
Phoebe looked around the room, poured a glass of water and placed it on the coffee table. She sat on the sofa and struggled to help Theodore sit up. "Here's some water. Drink it."
Theodore leaned against her, opened his bleary eyes, and saw her familiar profile. He gave a self-mocking smile and mumbled, "I must be crazy."
Even drunk, he could still see the face that broke his heart.
Phoebe didn't catch what he said, thinking it was just drunken rambling. She quickly picked up the cup and brought it to his lips. "Drink some water."
