Chapter 561
Phoebe jolted awake to a gut-wrenching scream. She shot up from the couch, still groggy, but her body was on autopilot, racing towards the noise. She banged her leg on the coffee table but didn’t give a damn, limping as she rushed in.
Theodore stood there, looking lost, while Evelyn was on the bed, face buried in the blanket, sobbing like the world was ending.
Pain flashed in Phoebe’s eyes. She stormed over and yanked Theodore away. “What the hell did you say to my mom?”
Phoebe’s face was a mix of anger and accusation.
Theodore looked down at her, his voice steady. “I just told her the truth.”
Phoebe’s glare could’ve melted steel. “Mr. Reynolds, get out. None of us want you here right now.”
Theodore frowned. “Phoebe.”
“Do I need to drag you out myself?” Phoebe turned her head, giving him the cold shoulder. She knew she was being unreasonable.
But every time she saw Theodore, it reminded her that Donovan was gone. She couldn’t help but blame him.
Theodore stared at her for a long moment, then looked away and left without a word.
As the door clicked shut, Phoebe swayed and sat by the bed, looking at the heartbroken Evelyn. “Cry if you need to.”
Evelyn lifted her head, eyes full of despair. “Phoebe, this can’t be true, right? How could Donovan be dead?”
Phoebe clenched her fists and looked down, silent.
Seeing this, Evelyn wailed, “No, this can’t be true. Why did this happen? Poor Donovan!”
Evelyn’s cries were gut-wrenching. Phoebe was in agony, silently shedding tears beside her until Evelyn’s sobs finally subsided. Evelyn hoarsely asked, “Is Donovan really gone?”
Phoebe looked up, her gaze meeting Evelyn’s puffy eyes, and the glimmer of hope within them. It felt like something was stuck in her throat. After a long pause, Phoebe finally managed to whisper, “Yes.”
Evelyn closed her eyes in grief. “Your father was lost at sea years ago, and we never even found his body. Now even Donovan…”
“Mom, I’m still here with you.” Phoebe leaned in to hug Evelyn. “I’ll take care of you in Donovan’s place. Please don’t be too sad.” Evelyn wiped away her tears and pulled away from Phoebe’s embrace. She gently touched the five finger marks on Phoebe’s cheek. Phoebe turned her head away, sorrowful.
Evelyn withdrew her hand and said, “Phoebe, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hit you. Donovan is dead, and you’re hurting too, yet I blamed you.”
Tears welled up in Phoebe’s eyes. She took a deep breath. “I’m fine. If it makes you feel better, you can hit me as much as you want.”
“Are you trying to upset me?” Evelyn glared at her.
Evelyn had always favored Donovan, but that didn’t mean she didn’t love Phoebe. She held Phoebe’s hand. “Don’t let yourself suffer like this anymore. You’re all I have left.” Phoebe lowered her head, tears streaming down. “Mom, I’m sorry. I couldn’t protect Donovan. If only I had been stronger.”
“My sweet child,” Evelyn said through her tears. “Donovan was your brother. He was supposed to protect you.”
Phoebe looked up and hugged Evelyn tightly, both of them crying out their sorrow and grief.
Outside the hospital room, Theodore leaned against the wall, listening to the cries inside. He banged his head against the cold wall in frustration.
If he could, he wouldn’t want Phoebe to shed a single tear.
But in the face of life and death, no matter his status or wealth, all of it seemed so insignificant.
If Theodore had known that pushing Donovan to grow would result in his death, he would never have done it. Because any problem that money could solve was not a problem at all. When Taylor heard that Donovan was lost at sea and Evelyn was hospitalized from grief, she hurriedly helped Brandon downstairs to visit.
Evelyn, wearing a hospital gown, had turned gray overnight. Her face was more wrinkled, looking as if she had aged ten years.
Seeing Brandon and Taylor come in, Evelyn tried to get out of bed to greet them, but Taylor quickly walked over and held her down. “Don’t move, Evelyn. We’re just here to see you.”
Evelyn was not as desperate and helpless as she had been in the morning. She sat back down and said, “It’s truly gracious of you to visit me in person. Phoebe, get Brandon and Taylor some water.” “There’s no need for that. We couldn’t just sit upstairs and pretend nothing was happening after all this.” Taylor quickly said.
Phoebe brought over some chairs, and after Brandon and Taylor sat down, she went to pour two cups of tea.
Taylor sighed. “I said there’s no need for tea, Phoebe. You sit down too. You look so worn out. You must have been having a hard time these past few days.”
Phoebe’s eyes burned, and she shook her head. “I’m fine, Taylor.”
“How did he fall into the sea, Evelyn? If there’s anything we can do to help, you must let us know. We’re family, and we should help each other.” Taylor held Evelyn’s hand. Seeing Evelyn’s sorrowful expression, Taylor, being a mother herself, could empathize.
Evelyn kept saying thank you.
Although Phoebe had married into the Reynolds family, Evelyn had never dared to consider the Reynolds family as her own. She always felt inferior in their presence.
Now, Taylor’s comforting words made Evelyn feel much better.
Brandon didn’t see Theodore in the hospital room and frowned in displeasure. “With such a big incident, where is Theodore?”
Evelyn was afraid Brandon and Taylor would blame Theodore, so she quickly said, “Theodore was here earlier. He just stepped out for a bit.”
“Evelyn, don’t cover for Theodore. Is he upstairs with Vanessa again? With such a major issue at hand, he remains indifferent and spends all his time with another woman. He’s a disgrace to the Reynolds family.” Brandon said angrily. “Honey.” Taylor quickly shot Brandon a glance. Wasn’t he just adding to Phoebe’s distress by saying this now?
Brandon pressed his lips together and said no more.
But Evelyn pondered Brandon’s words deeply. After Brandon and Taylor left, Evelyn looked at Phoebe and asked, “Phoebe, what did Brandon mean by that?”
Phoebe changed the subject. “Mom, are you hungry? I’ll get you something to eat.”
“Stop right there!” Evelyn glared at Phoebe’s back. “I asked you, what’s going on with you and Theodore? He spends all his time with another woman, and you seem indifferent.”
Phoebe gritted her teeth and turned to look at Evelyn. “Mom, with everything going on, how can you still care about my relationship with him?”