Chapter 873 Like an Empty-nester
Evelyn didn't express her thoughts, fearing that Phoebe might overthink. Seeing that Theodore was still in the room, she said, "Theodore, it looks like they won't sleep well tonight. You have to work tomorrow, so go back to your room and get some rest."
Theodore stood up, "Mom, it's my fault that the kids got scared. I'll stay here tonight to help Phoebe."
Evelyn's lips moved slightly. Seeing his determined attitude, she had no choice but to agree.
After Evelyn left, Theodore noticed that Phoebe was wrapped in a bathrobe, with foam still in her hair. He said, "Go take a shower, I'll watch over them."
Phoebe looked down and saw that her bathrobe was about to come undone, and she wasn't wearing anything underneath.
Earlier, in the urgency of the situation, she hadn't had time to put on underwear. Now, facing Theodore, she felt embarrassed.
She pulled her bathrobe tighter, "I'll go take a shower then."
Theodore's expression remained calm, "Okay."
Phoebe hurried into the bathroom. Standing under the shower, her heart was still pounding. She was used to living alone and often forgot that there was an adult male in the house.
When Phoebe came out after her shower, Theodore was leaning against the bed playing on his phone. She walked over slowly and saw the game interface on his phone.
The interface was very familiar, just like three years ago, even the sound effects were the same.
"You haven't uninstalled it?" Phoebe looked at him in surprise.
This game was very monotonous. Compared to exciting mobile games like War of the Future, it had long been drowned in the tide of time. Yet Theodore still played it day after day. Didn't he find it boring?
"It's fun and helps me relax." Theodore put away his phone and looked up at her.
Under the light, her skin was delicate, and her wet hair draped over her shoulders, soaking a part of her pajamas. He stood up, "Go dry your hair."
As he spoke, he pushed her towards the bathroom.
The bathroom was very humid, with a fragrant scent of body wash lingering in the air, mixed with steam.
Theodore pushed Phoebe to stand in front of the mirror. He bent down, took out a hairdryer from the cabinet, plugged it in, and started drying her hair.
His slender fingers moved through her soft hair, occasionally touching her scalp. Phoebe felt as if she was being electrified, her body tingling.
She placed her fingers on the edge of the sink and looked at Theodore through the mirror. His gaze was intense, treating her as if she were the most precious treasure in the world.
She licked her lips, wanting to say something, but held back.
After about ten minutes, Theodore turned off the hairdryer. Phoebe's hair was completely dry. He stood behind her, winding up the cord.
"Today's incident was my oversight. I shouldn't have kept the kids at the manor." Theodore said, looking at Phoebe's reflection in the mirror.
When Hubert, Boris, and Noomi woke up crying at night, he realized that they were subconsciously afraid. No matter how much fun they had during the day, the bloody memories would resurface at night.
Phoebe turned around, her lower back against the sink. She looked up at Theodore and said, "When I went to the manor to pick them up, they were sleeping well and having fun."
Theodore was taken aback.
Phoebe continued, "So you don't need to apologize. It was an accident, and no one wanted it to happen. You don't need to take it to heart."
Theodore looked down at her quietly, "You're not blaming me?"
"Yes, I blame you," Phoebe saw his expression change and couldn't help but smile, "I blame you for blocking me here in the middle of the night to apologize. Alright, go wash up. If they wake up again in the middle of the night, we might not get any sleep."
As Phoebe spoke, she was about to leave the bathroom, but Theodore blocked her way. The next second, he lifted her onto the sink.
He placed his hands on either side of her, preventing her from jumping down, and looked into her eyes deeply, "Are you teasing me?"
Phoebe blinked. She swung her legs and said, "So what?"
Theodore stared at her, feeling that Phoebe had become bolder, daring to openly challenge him. He leaned in slightly, "You're not afraid of me anymore?"
Phoebe raised her hand, her fingers hooking onto his textured shirt, "You won't hit me now, so what should I be afraid of?"
Theodore suddenly raised his hand and grabbed the back of her neck, "You think I won't do anything to you, right?"
He was very close, his lips almost touching hers, his breath warm on her face. This almost-kissing posture was very unsettling.
Phoebe was very nervous, afraid he would kiss her.
Sensing her tension, Theodore didn't make any further moves. He just grabbed her and then let her go.
He turned to the side and started unbuttoning his shirt, preparing to take a shower.
Phoebe sat stiffly on the sink, watching his back. When he took off his shirt and threw it into the laundry basket, her eyes were drawn to the muscles on his back.
When he started unbuckling his belt, Phoebe's cheeks flushed. She quickly got off the sink and hurried out of the bathroom.
Phoebe lay on the bed, her heart still pounding. She lay there for a while, listening to the sound of water from the bathroom, and eventually fell asleep.
When Theodore came to bed after drying his hair, Phoebe was lying on her side, with Hubert, Boris, and Noomi snuggled up against her, sleeping soundly as if being close to her gave them a sense of security.
Seeing this, Theodore felt a bit sad.
His biggest regret was that Hubert, Boris, and Noomi were not his biological children, even though he treated them as his own.
Phoebe didn't know what Theodore was thinking. She was sleeping deeply. When Theodore pulled her into his arms and bit her in frustration, she just murmured and fell back into a deep sleep.
That night, Hubert, Boris, and Noomi didn't wake up again. The next day was Saturday. Phoebe got up early to pack her luggage. As soon as she moved, Theodore woke up.
The sky outside was just beginning to lighten. He pulled Phoebe back into his arms and said in a muffled voice, "It's still early. It's the weekend, sleep a bit more."
Phoebe was dragged back into his arms. She didn't dare to make too much noise, afraid of waking Hubert, Boris, and Noomi. She whispered, "I have to go on a business trip to Suncrest City today."
Suncrest City was a coastal city, where Ice and Fire was being filmed, fitting the movie's theme.
Theodore suddenly propped himself up and looked into her eyes, asking, "How long will you be gone? When will you be back?"
"I'm leaving today and will be back tomorrow."
"I'll go with you." Theodore sat up and was about to call Lawton to arrange the trip, but Phoebe stopped him.
She said, "I don't need you to come with me. Lori is coming with me. While I'm away, if you have time off, please look after the kids. I'll be back tomorrow. Don't trouble yourself with coming along."
Theodore pressed his lips together, feeling like an empty-nester, taking care of the kids and waiting for her to come home.
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