Forbidden Passion

Phoebe played with the kids and Ollie for a while. Then, Pamela came upstairs. She called them down for breakfast and was quite surprised to see a cat in the bedroom. "Ms. Ziegler, isn't this Mr. Reynolds' cat?" Pamela immediately recognized Ollie.

Phoebe nodded, "Yes, it will be staying with us for a few days. Pamela, I'll need you to take care of it. It's easy to look after; it just needs cat food."

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of it." Pamela, who already liked cats, felt a bit nervous knowing it was Theodore's cat.

"Thank you." Phoebe then turned to the kids, telling them to wash up. They still wanted to play with Ollie and reluctantly went to wash up, making Phoebe laugh at their reluctance.

As soon as Hubert, Boris, and Noomi left, Ollie seemed lonely and meowed at their retreating backs. Phoebe picked it up.

"Why are you so clingy?"

Ollie snuggled in her arms, looking very content. Phoebe gently stroked its back, smoothing its fur.

Hubert, Boris, and Noomi quickly finished washing up and came out. Phoebe took them and Ollie downstairs for breakfast. Evelyn frowned when she saw Ollie in Phoebe's arms.

"Why did you bring it back?" Evelyn didn't like furry animals and looked very disdainful. "The Reynolds family is going bankrupt and can't even take care of a cat?"

Phoebe put Ollie on the ground and said helplessly, "Theodore is going on a business trip for a few days, and there's no one to take care of Ollie at home, so he asked me to look after it for a couple of days." "You've been in contact with him a lot lately?" Evelyn caught the key point in her words.

Phoebe stiffened, "Not a lot, just occasionally. Mom, don't get any ideas. Look at Hubert, Boris, and Noomi."

Phoebe was afraid Evelyn would get any wrong ideas and quickly reminded her of Hubert, Boris, and Noomi's presence.

The spark in Evelyn's heart was extinguished by Phoebe's words. She gritted her teeth, "Got it, got it."

Evelyn couldn't understand why Phoebe had decided to have Hubert, Boris, and Noomi give an easy pass to that male escort who ran off after sleeping with her.

After breakfast with Hubert, Boris, and Noomi, Phoebe went back to her room to prepare all the sun and rain protection items and put them in her bag before putting on her sunglasses and heading out. Guadalupe was waiting outside in a Mercedes-Benz van. Seeing her come out, he opened the heavy car door.

"Good morning, Guadalupe." Phoebe greeted Guadalupe as she got in the car, bypassing the bar in the front and sitting in the seat. She even tested the seat's comfort.

She had to admit, the first-class seat was very comfortable. No wonder celebrities loved these vans; you could recline the seat and sleep comfortably.

Forty minutes later, the car stopped outside the only six-star hotel in Kedora. The morning sunlight was particularly bright, and Phoebe waited by the car with her sunglasses on.

Before long, Harper walked out of the hotel surrounded by four bodyguards. Phoebe took off her sunglasses and stepped forward to shake his hand, "Good morning, Mr. Ziegler. Did you sleep well last night?" Harper wasn't wearing a suit today but was dressed casually in a dark shirt and pants, looking quite youthful.

"Not bad. Coming back home, even the air feels fresh and sweet." Harper's expression was hidden behind his sunglasses, but his upturned mouth showed he was genuinely happy.

Phoebe stepped aside, "Mr. Ziegler, let's get in the car first."

"Alright."

Phoebe and Harper got into the car, while the bodyguards got into a black sedan behind them. As the car drove off, Phoebe said, "Mr. Ziegler, we're going to have breakfast now."

"Ms. Ziegler, you're from Kedora. I'll follow your arrangements today. Take me wherever you want." Harper took off his sunglasses and placed them aside, speaking gently.

Phoebe smiled, "This is my first time hosting someone as important as you. I'm worried I might not do justice to the beauty of Kedora."

"Then don't think of me as someone important," Harper replied. "Just consider me a friend visiting Kedora. Show me around without any pressure."

Phoebe laughed, "Since you put it that way, I won't hold back."

Harper laughed heartily as the street scenes outside the window blurred by. They soon arrived at their destination. Phoebe had reserved a private room last night, but Harper preferred the lively atmosphere of the main dining area. So they moved to a window seat in the bustling hall. The hall was lively, with groups of people enjoying breakfast and chatting, creating a warm and lively ambiance.

Phoebe ordered the restaurant's specialties, all Kedora-style breakfast items. The waiter quickly brought the food, filling the table.

Nearby, a young couple on vacation was taking photos. Phoebe looked at the unpretentious Harper across from her and said, "Mr. Ziegler, would you like me to take a photo for you as a memento?"

Harper was staring at the food in a daze. Hearing Phoebe's words, he instinctively agreed, and Phoebe took out her phone and aimed it at him.

"Mr. Ziegler, smile," Phoebe said with a grin, noticing his serious expression through the lens.

Harper cleared his throat and adjusted his expression, but still looked serious. Phoebe didn't want to push him further, so she pressed the shutter.

After taking the photo, she handed the phone to Harper, "Mr. Ziegler, you're very photogenic. I remember seeing you in a financial magazine in Caneda, where you were in a pristine office, wearing a white suit, the only bright spot in the room, exuding a powerful aura."

Harper glanced at the photo and said, "Compared to that photo, this one feels more lively. I like it. Send it to me later."

"Sure."

Phoebe and Harper quietly ate breakfast. Harper took a spoonful of clam chowder and remarked, "I haven't had clam chowder in years. This taste brings back so many memories."

"Is it good?" Phoebe asked.

Harper nodded, "It's good, but not exactly how I remember it. Don't be fooled by my current position at GM Corporation; I was a poor kid when I was young. My wife used to make me a bowl of Clam Chowder every day, with a bit of homemade sesame oil. It was so fragrant."

Phoebe was taken aback.

She had read Harper's biography. His wife was the daughter of a fallen duke from Caneda and had never set foot in Aestrale. How could she make Clam Chowder? "Your wife sounds wonderful." Phoebe thought that for a duchess to learn to make Aestrale's Clam Chowder for her husband, she must have deeply loved Harper. Harper took another sip of Clam Chowder, sitting in the noisy hall, seemingly lost in memories, and said, "Yes, she was a wonderful woman."noveldrama