Forbidden Passion

After dinner, Phoebe played with Ethan for a while before taking him upstairs for a bath. Halfway through, Theodore walked in.

He leaned against the sink, his gaze sweeping over the black lingerie hanging on the rack, deep in thought.

Phoebe had washed the lingerie, which meant she was either wearing nothing under her robe or the sexy lingerie he had prepared for her.

Either way, it aroused Theodore, making his throat dry.

Phoebe turned around and saw Theodore staring at her lingerie. Her cheeks flushed, and she couldn't help but cough lightly, "Why did you come in?"

"I came to check on you." Theodore's gaze remained on Phoebe's rosy cheeks, the warm light instantly arousing him.

Phoebe felt uneasy under Theodore's gaze. She averted her eyes, thinking that the bathroom was a place where intimacy could easily develop.

She lifted Ethan out of the water and wrapped him in a towel, "All done, Ethan. You smell so nice. Let's get you dressed."

Fortunately, when she brought Ethan to the bathroom, she had carried a bag with his clothes, a bottle, formula, and two sets of clean clothes.

As she passed by Theodore, he reached out to take the child, "Let me hold him."

Ethan was still afraid of Theodore and didn't dare move while in his arms. Phoebe followed them to the bed.

Theodore found a clean set of clothes in the bag. After drying Ethan off, Theodore helped him get dressed.

As it got later, Ethan yawned.

Phoebe took out the bottle and formula and said to Theodore, "Could you watch him for a moment? I'll go downstairs to prepare his formula."

"Go ahead."

Phoebe turned and went downstairs.

In the guest room, only Theodore and Ethan were left. Ethan sat on the bed, playing with his fingers. Theodore looked at the two-year-old child, who had no toys, unsure how entertain him.

He sat on the edge of the bed, watching Ethan lower his head, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. Theodore moved closer, "Are you very afraid of me?"

Ethan flinched and scooted backward, almost falling off the edge of the bed.

Fortunately, Theodore was quick and pulled Ethan back.

He sighed, "I'm not that scary. Why are you so afraid of me? I don't bite."

Ethan mumbled, "I know you don't bite. I'm afraid you'll hit me."

Theodore couldn't help but laugh. He teased Ethan, "Do I look like someone who would hit children?"

Ethan mustered the courage to look at him and then honestly nodded, "Yes."

Theodore knew he looked intimidating when he was serious, but he tried to be less so around children.

At least the last time he took Ollie to Lakeview Estates, the two kids they ran into weren't afraid of him.

Thinking of those kids reminded him of the photo he saw on Carol's Feed today. He took out his phone and messaged Carol.

[Carol, send me that photo from this morning.]

Carol had just finished her bath when she received Theodore's message. It took her a moment to realize which photo he was talking about.

She searched her Feed but found that her friend had already deleted it, and she hadn't saved the photo.

She paced around her room, thinking about how to respond to Theodore. After some thought, she decided to be straightforward.

[Mr. Reynolds, my friend deleted it. If you really want the photo, should I ask my friend for it?]

Theodore thought it might be inappropriate to ask his secretary to request a photo from a stranger.

Theodore replied: [Never mind, it's not necessary.]

Actually, when Phoebe heard Theodore mention that Carol saw a photo of her and the triplets on Feed, she had already contacted the twins' mother to delete the photo.

Fortunately, Phoebe had been proactive. Otherwise, if Theodore had seen the photo a few more times, he might have made some unwelcome connections. Theodore tossed his phone on the bed. He had intended to use the photo to bond with Ethan, but now he had to think of another way.

Theodore, who never flinched at billion-dollar projects, was now trying to figure out how to please a child—a scenario that would be laughable if told.

"You played with the triplets today. Do you like them?"

"I like them. I'm older than them. My mom said I should take care of my younger siblings." Ethan relaxed a bit at the mention of the triplets. Have you met them?"

Theodore nodded, "I have. By the way, my cat is still at your Aunt Phoebe's house. Do you like cats?"

"I do. The triplets like them too," Ethan said. "Hubert even fought with the cat for its bed and got scolded by Grandma."

Theodore felt something was off. The triplets seemed to visit Phoebe's house often, familiar enough for Evelyn to scold them.

Hubert?

Was he the chubby one? He did seem to like cats, clinging to Ollie that afternoon. So, he probably went to Phoebe's house to play with the cat.

But Theodore had seen Hubert and the nanny outside the Golden Apartment before. It was quite late. Were they visiting the Golden Apartment?

From what Ethan said, the triplets should live in Lakeview Estates. But it was strange; he

had never seen their parents, only the nannies taking them out.

And in the photo he saw today, there were only the triplets, no parents. Usually, in such group photos, the parents would be included.

"Have you met the triplets' parents?"

"They don't have a dad, just like me. They only have a mom, and their mom is.." Ethan was interrupted when the door suddenly opened.

"Ethan." Phoebe walked in, looking flustered.

Seeing Phoebe, Ethan remembered he had promised her not to mention the triplets to Theodore.

Ethan became a bit scared, "Aunt Phoebe, I..."

"Ethan, drink your milk first." Phoebe cut him off, her heart racing, not daring to look at Theodore.noveldrama

Did Theodore hear what Ethan was about to say? Would he suspect anything?

Phoebe had been too careless.

Kids couldn't remember their promises. She shouldn't have left Ethan alone with Theodore. She felt the urge to slap her own flushed cheeks out of nervousness.

But Theodore was staring at her, making her afraid to move.

Phoebe pursed her lips, put the bottle's nipple in Ethan's mouth, and turned calmly to Theodore, "Mr. Reynolds, Ethan and I need to rest now."

Theodore squinted. They had shared a bed for four years. There was no way he couldn't notice Phoebe's odd behavior after all that time together.

But what was Phoebe hiding?