Forbidden Passion
Chapter 586 Phoebe Was Kidnapped

As the sun dipped and the neon lights flickered on, Phoebe had been parked in that coffee shop for what felt like forever, her coffee long gone cold. Vanessa strutted in, fashionably late as always.

A shadow loomed, and Phoebe didn't even need to glance up. That overpowering floral perfume screamed Vanessa.

She stiffly set her paper cup down and slowly lifted her gaze to meet Vanessa's.

Vanessa was decked out in a down jacket plastered with Chanel logos, her makeup on point, making Phoebe look like she'd been through the wringer. Vanessa leaned back, eyes drifting to the passersby outside, then back to Phoebe.

"Phoebe, you have no idea how much I hated you when I heard Theodore married you four years ago," Vanessa said, cool as a cucumber.

Phoebe dropped her eyes, a smirk playing on her lips, "Did you kill Donovan?"

"Hold your horses," Vanessa said smoothly, "Hear me out. We might never get another chance to chat like this."

Phoebe's fists clenched. She wanted to bolt, but she also needed the truth.

Vanessa eyed Phoebe's puffy eyes. She'd been crying, and that made Vanessa feel pretty damn good.

"I've known Theodore forever. We were high school sweethearts. He was my first love. I loved him more than anyone, but he married you? Why? You're just a maid's daughter. What right do you have to marry him, to take the spot I've been dreaming of all these years?"

Vanessa went on, "Remember that day on the second-floor terrace of the Reynolds Mansion? I really wished you'd fallen to your death. Then you wouldn't have been in the way of me and Theodore getting back together."

Phoebe's knuckles cracked as she clenched her fists. She stared at Vanessa's twisted, ferocious face, thinking how ugly she looked.

Even if Vanessa wore the fanciest clothes and makeup, with a heart that ugly, how could she be truly beautiful?

"So you couldn't hurt me, so you killed Donovan, right?" Phoebe shot back.

Vanessa shook her head, like she was laughing at Phoebe's naivety, "You say I killed Donovan, then show me the evidence and bring me to justice."

"Phoebe, you so easily took away what should have been mine! If it weren't for you, I would have smoothly returned to his side. It's all because of you. What right do you have?" Vanessa's face looked fragile and crazed in the shifting light. Phoebe stared at her blankly. Hatred had corroded Vanessa's face like a toxin, turning what was once a charming face into something sinister and terrifying.

Phoebe's voice was strained, "I never intended to take anything from you. It was you who rejected him first, abandoned him later. How can you blame others for your mistakes? Vanessa, the person you miss won't wait for you in the same place. Don't you understand that?"

Vanessa yelled, "If you hadn't seduced him and gotten pregnant with his child, would he have married you? Phoebe, what right do you have to criticize me!"

Phoebe pinched the bridge of her nose, tired of continuing this conversation with Vanessa, "Are you finished? Can we get to the point?"

Vanessa raised her head sinisterly, looking at Phoebe with a smile, her eyes clearly filled with malice.

"I did remember something, but it's not about Donovan. It's about you. Do you know who caused your miscarriage back then?"

Phoebe's heart skipped a beat, her eyes locked on Vanessa.

Vanessa nodded with a sly grin, "Yep, it was tied to me, but I didn't pull the strings. It was Ruby. She wanted Theodore to misunderstand that you had an affair with Edward, but she ended up dealing with the kid in your belly too. Heard you haven't been able to get pregnant again these past three years and have been popping pills lately. Could it be you can't have kids anymore?"

Phoebe's heartbeat pounded like a drum, her ears buzzing. She stared at Vanessa in disbelief, "What did you just say?"

Vanessa looked at her with mock pity, "Phoebe, Ruby is not on your side.. She set you up when you had no clue."

Phoebe shot back, "Why are you telling me this? Isn't Ruby your bestie?" She glared at Vanessa, not buying her sudden kindness.

"Because seeing your shocked face is priceless." Vanessa laughed as she got up, leaning on a cane as she strutted out of the coffee shop.

Phoebe sat there, frozen, watching Vanessa's figure fade away. Her clenched fists slowly relaxed.

Realizing she'd been played by someone like Vanessa left Phoebe in a daze, unsure whether to pity herself or Theodore.

Phoebe stayed in the coffee shop for what felt like forever until a waiter came over to remind her they were closing. Only then did she drag herself out.

The midnight street was bone-chillingly cold, with barely anyone around. Phoebe, dressed lightly, walked along the sidewalk.

Her heart raced as she wandered the empty street, her mind a whirlwind, feeling lost in the vast world with no clear direction.

A car suddenly screeched to a stop by the curb, and two men in black got out, heading straight for Phoebe.

Phoebe's gut screamed danger, and she bolted.

These guys were after her.

In high heels and freezing from the cold, she didn't get far before someone yanked her hair, pulling her back.

Her scalp screamed in pain, but she didn't stop fighting. She reached back to scratch at the attacker's eyes, but before she could, a hand clamped over her mouth and nose.

A nasty gas filled her lungs. By the time she realized what it was and tried to hold her breath, it was too late.

Phoebe's vision went black, and her raised hand fell limp as she lost consciousness.

"Hurry, get her in the car before anyone sees." One of the men in black bent down to scoop Phoebe up, while the other nervously scanned the area.

The car by the curb reversed to meet them, and they quickly shoved Phoebe inside. In less than a minute, the car sped off, vanishing into the night.

Theodore got back to the Imperial Apartment. The place was pitch dark. He flicked on the light and walked in. Ollie jumped down from the cat tree and darted over to him.

It bit Theodore's pant leg, dragging him towards the cat bowl, meowing like it was starving.

Theodore sighed, walked over, picked up the cat food, and filled the bowl. Ollie immediately let go of his pant leg and started munching.

Theodore squatted next to Ollie, watching it eat with gusto. He muttered, "Phoebe still not back? It's so late. Did she run away again?"

He checked his watch. It was almost midnight. Frowning, he headed to the master bedroom. He pushed the door open and walked in. The room was empty. Phoebe really hadn't come home.