A frown creased Theodore’s brow as he questioned, “Phoebe, do you harbor some misunderstanding about Vanessa?”

His words stirred a tumult within Phoebe, exacerbating her discomfort. She responded with a sneer, “Let’s just call it a misunderstanding then. I’m feeling rather fatigued. Have the discharge procedures been finalized?”Theodore studied her for a moment before speaking with grave seriousness. “Vanessa is a kind soul. She wouldn’t even harm an ant, let alone you. Please don’t perceive her in such a light. She’s aware it would distress you.” Phoebe was left speechless.Theodore’s naive understanding of Vanessa was the reason he could utter such words.

Phoebe felt a wave of desolation wash over her and she turned away, not wishing to hear more. In truth, her anger was fueled by Theodore’s unfounded trust in Vanessa, a trust that stung her heart like a needle.”I want to be discharged,” she declared. Theodore, looking at her helplessly, handed her a towel to prevent her clothes from getting wet and said, “Alright, Lawton has already taken care of the discharge procedures.”As the sound of Theodore’s retreating footsteps echoed in the room, Phoebe stared blankly at the simple patterns on the floor tiles. She had thought that their relationship had evolved over the past two days. But a few words had reset everything back to the beginning.

In Theodore’s eyes, Vanessa was as innocent as freshly fallen snow. She wouldn’t even harm an ant, so how could she possibly be scheming against her? If Phoebe were to contest this, it would only result in humiliation and leave her feeling even more frigid.Fortunately, Lawton soon returned with the completed discharge papers. As Phoebe rose from the bed, Theodore extended a hand to assist her, but she evaded him. His hand hung in mid-air, and a chill permeated the room.Sensing the tension, Lawton quickly gathered the luggage and made his way out of the ward. “Theodore, Mrs. Reynolds, I’ll go start the car and wait for you,” he said, before making a swift exit. Once they were alone, Theodore became more assertive. He slipped one hand under Phoebe’s armpit and the other beneath her knees, lifting her into his arms.

Phoebe instinctively clutched at his shirt as she felt herself being lifted, fearful that he might drop her. His voice sounded in her ear, “What’s wrong with you?”Phoebe bit her lip and remained silent. She didn’t want to further irritate him, lest she speak ill of the person he cared for, which would only make her appear unreasonable. Theodore, unable to comprehend her current mood, refrained from saying much. He simply carried her out of the ward. The journey home was a silent one, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken words. Lawton drove in the front, sitting rigidly upright, not daring to steal a glance in the rearview mirror. Upon reaching the Imperial Apartment, they drove straight to the underground parking lot and stopped in front of the elevator. As Phoebe opened the door to exit, Theodore’s phone rang.

After a brief exchange, he hung up, his face etched with grim lines. He stepped out of the car and said to Phoebe, “You go on and rest. I have some matters to attend to. I’ll be back in the evening.”Phoebe didn’t inquire about his destination. She silently collected her luggage and walked into the elevator. Theodore watched as the elevator doors slowly closed. He retrieved a cigarette from his coat pocket, lit it, and allowed some of his frustration to dissipate.Once he finished his cigarette, he crushed the butt under his shoe before getting back into the car and instructing Lawton, “Take me to that hotel.”

That hotel he referred to was the one where Phoebe had her accident.

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