Forbidden Passion

The top floor of the company building belongs to the CEO's office, off-limits to anyone without permission.

Phoebe Ziegler was almost half-naked; her skirt hiked up and bunched around her waist. She lay numbly on the desk, her body shaking under the man's savage thrusts.

"Bitch! Didn't you come to me just to get fucked?"

This man was Phoebe's husband, Theodore Reynolds, also the owner of this building.

But she felt no tenderness at all from this sex.

Phoebe bit her lip, holding back any sound as tears welled up in her eyes. Since that incident, their marriage had been hanging by a thread, and Phoebe couldn't shake the feeling that Theodore harbored deep resentment towards her.

Theodore, not hearing her moans, slapped her butt hard with one hand and grabbed her face with the other, forcing her to look at him.

"You come to me acting like a slut, begging for it. Why aren't you making any noise? Such a buzzkill."

Theodore gave her two hard slaps as punishment.

Phoebe's cheeks turned red from the slaps, and she had to cooperate more by arching her buttocks to match Theodore's movements.

With a low growl, Theodore ejaculated.

Theodore stepped back, panting, his half-unbuttoned shirt revealing eight solid abs, making him look both wild and roguish.

He offered no post-coital tenderness, just looked down at Phoebe with cold eyes. Theodore lit a cigarette, casually picked up a towel nearby, and wrapped it around his waist, tossing a white pill onto the desk.

"Take the pill!" Theodore's tone was commanding.

Though Phoebe was physically and mentally exhausted, she forced herself to get off the desk. Her legs wobbled as she stepped onto the carpet, and she had to grab the desk to avoid falling.

She picked up the clothes scattered on the floor, put them on, and didn't need to glance at the pill on the desk to recognize it as a contraceptive.

After every time they had sex, Theodore made her take a contraceptive pill.

Theodore was extremely cautious, fearing she might get pregnant again.

But Theodore didn't know that she could never get pregnant again.

Phoebe looked up at Theodore, her eyes pleading, and said timidly, "I was still in my safe period yesterday. Can I skip the pill?"

She had a special constitution and was allergic to many drug ingredients, especially contraceptives. Every time she took one, her stomach would feel terrible for a long time.

"Don't want to take it? Phoebe, are you still hoping to get pregnant with my child?" Theodore patted her face and sneered.

It was as if he was mocking Phoebe's wishful thinking.

Phoebe's hands at her sides gradually clenched into fists. Theodore always knew how to hurt her. Holding back her tears, she timidly said, "No, I' not."

"You better not!"

Theodore stepped closer, pressing hard on her lower abdomen. "Phoebe, know your role. You're just a toy to me! You don't have the right to have my child."

Phoebe paused, her heart clenching in her chest.

Expressionless, she clenched her teeth, popped the white pill into her mouth, and swallowed it dry.

The bitterness spread across her tongue, her throat stung, but the ache in her heart overshadowed it all.

They had married because of the pregnancy. Although their marriage wasn't as sweet as other newlyweds, they respected each other.

But due to an accident, she had a miscarriage. Since then, Theodore had only hatred for her.

Theodore blamed her for losing the child.

They had been married for only three years, and Theodore had tormented her for all three.

Theodore watched her finish the pill, his gaze lingering on her lower abdomen for two seconds.

He said coldly, "Tonight, you're coming with me to the Vanderbilt family's banquet."

Phoebe was stunned.

No wonder Theodore had suddenly lost his temper earlier. That invitation must have come from the Vanderbilt family.

It had been three years, and it seemed Theodore still hadn't forgotten the past.

Sadness washed over Phoebe as that incident cast a lingering shadow on their hearts. Theodore's disdain had taken root, and she bore the weight of self-blame.

The impact of that incident on them would probably never go away.

"I understand." Phoebe put on her clothes and walked toward the door.

Theodore grabbed her hand, his other hand pinching her face, giving her a dark, warning gaze.

"If you dare to talk to Edward Vanderbilt alone tonight, you're done," Theodore said coldly, his voice dripping with menace, sending shivers down Phoebe's spine.

After speaking, Theodore let go of her. Phoebe fell to the ground.

Phoebe's weary body gave out, her stomach cramping from the contraceptive. She clumsily rose from the floor and quietly left.

The Vanderbilt family was one of the four major wealthy families in Kedora, with assets worth billions of dollars. The banquet was attended by various celebrities and tycoons, all dressed in luxurious attire. Media had already gathered at the entrance, hoping to capture the headlines of the night.

Tonight's banquet was all about celebrating the birth of the heir to the Vanderbilt family, Brian Vanderbilt, and his wife Bianca Vanderbilt's child.

Phoebe, dressed in a modest black dress, followed Theodore out of the black Maybach and saw a couple at the hotel entrance.

Several guests were gathered around Bianca, playing with the baby in her arms.

Brian immediately spotted Phoebe and Theodore and enthusiastically greeted them.

"Theodore, Phoebe, long time no see. Bianca, bring our baby, Benjamin Vanderbilt over to show them."

Brian was beaming with joy, pulling Theodore by the arm, his face full of the happiness of being a new father. "Theodore, the baby is just too adorable, so tiny and soft. No matter how hard my day is, as soon as I come home and see him, all my fatigue disappears. You and Phoebe should hurry up and have one too."

As Theodore saw Brian's smile, a sense of bitterness washed over him.

His expression suddenly darkened.

Phoebe felt Theodore's unhappy and quickly handed over the prepared gift. "Thank you for your concern, Brian, Bianca. This is a gift for Benjamin."

"Why the gift?" Bianca teased, shaking her head with a smile. "Phoebe, you're my sister. No need to be all formal like a guest."

Though Bianca called her a sister, Phoebe had no blood relation to the Vanderbilt family.

Phoebe had grown up with the Vanderbilt family because her mother, Evelyn Ziegler, had been the nanny who took care of Brian and Edward since they were kids. So, Phoebe, Brian, and Edward had grown up together, and Brian and Edward treated her like a sister.

Brian smiled and patted Phoebe's shoulder. Noticing her thin frame, he frowned with concern.

"Phoebe, you look so pale and thinner. Have you been having any trouble lately?"

Theodore's face grew even darker. Brian's words clearly implied that he hadn't been taking good care of Phoebe.

He let out a cold laugh and sarcastically said, "Maybe I'm keeping her on a strict diet."

Brian chuckled awkwardly, unaware of his misstep. He just thought Theodore might be in a bad mood, so he ceased his concern for Phoebe and ushered them into the hotel.

Brian said, "Theodore, don't joke around. You two go ahead inside; we'll be there shortly."

Theodore walked into the hotel with a sour expression, and Phoebe trailed behind cautiously. When he was in a foul mood, she bore the brunt of his anger.

The banquet hall was filled with guests.

As the heir of the Reynolds family, Theodore standing casually in any corner would still draw attention.

Not only because Theodore came from a prestigious family with considerable wealth, but also because his appearance was highly attractive.

Theodore looked impeccable in his suit, showcasing his impressive physique. A black tie with a silver clip and a handkerchief in his pocket added to his air of sophistication and restraint.

But only Phoebe knew that once Theodore took off his clothes, he was nothing short of a tyrant, with no gentlemanly demeanor at all.

"Theodore, why are you so late?" Taylor Morgan, dressed in haute couture and adorned with a dazzling diamond necklace, walked over. She gave Phoebe a once-over, her expression critical, her brows furrowing. "Phoebe. Are you going for the 'homeless chic' look today? Don't you know today is a big day for the Reynolds family?"

Phoebe didn't argue with her; she always knew Taylor didn't like her.

If she hadn't been pregnant with Theodore's child back then, Taylor would never have allowed a nanny's daughter to marry into the Reynolds family.

So, under Taylor's insistence, she and Theodore only got a marriage certificate without a wedding. Except for close family, almost no one knew Phoebe was Theodore's wife and the daughter-in-law of the Reynolds family.

Phoebe glanced down at her dress.

"I think it's quite nice," she said with a gentle smile.

"Forget it." Taylor couldn't be bothered to lecture Phoebe about her attire at the moment. She stared at Phoebe and said, "You saw Benjamin when you came in, right?"

"Yes, I did," Phoebe replied.

Taylor didn't waste any more words with Phoebe and got straight to the point. "In your first year of marriage, Theodore said you needed to take care of your health and weren't fit to have children. Now it's been three years. Isn't it time for you to quit your job and focus on getting pregnant?"