Silent Dreams Never Die — Author: John Miller 150

Chapter 150 The Emerald Bracelet 

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Finished 

After being slapped, Damian’s head snapped sharply to the side from the force of the impact. He showed no visible anger, merely pressing his tongue against the stinging spot inside his cheek where her palm had connected with his face. 

He turned back slowly to face Scarlett, his expression unreadable. “You know, Ms. Theron, I’ve never encountered a woman as utterly oblivious to her own worth as you appear to be.” 

Scarlett let out a bitter, humorless laugh that held years of accumulated pain. “So what? Are you disappointed that I don’t fit whatever fantasy you’ve constructed in your mind?” 

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears brought on by frustration and humiliation, but when she looked directly at Damian, she stubbornly refused to let them fall, determined not to give him that satisfaction. 

Damian plucked a tissue from the car’s console, pinched it elegantly between his fingers, and gently dabbed at the moisture gathering at the corners of Scarlett’s eyes. “I’m disappointed for you, Ms. Theron, not in you. There’s a significant difference.” 

Scarlett turned her face away from his touch, finding his sudden tenderness more unsettling than his usual arrogance. “Damian, I appreciate you helping me on two separate occasions, but let’s be clear-you owe me nothing, and I owe you nothing in return. We’re even.” 

Damian suddenly pulled Scarlett firmly into his arms, ignoring her resistance, and rested his chin atop her head. He held her so tightly against his chest that she couldn’t possibly break free, his arms like steel bands around her. 

His voice softened considerably, almost whispering into her hair as if sharing a secret. “No, you’re mistaken. You do owe me, whether you’re willing to acknowledge it or not.” 

Scarlett had no idea what he meant by this cryptic statement, and truthfully, she didn’t want to speculate about his intentions. She pushed against his solid, unyielding chest. “Damian, I’ve told you repeatedly-I’m a married woman. Whatever game you’re playing, I’m not interested.” 

Even if divorce was imminent, hanging over her head like a storm cloud, the legal fact remained that she and Vincent were still bound together in the eyes of the law and society. 

Damian still refused to release her from his embrace. He murmured against her hair, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone, “With Vincent’s infamous three-minute performances in the bedroom, do you genuinely believe he can satisfy a woman of your passion and intelligence?” 

Scarlett froze completely, flustered and mortified by his bluntness. “You-how dare you!” she sputtered, unable to form a coherent response. 

Damian grinned wolfishly, radiating pure arrogance and confidence. “What? Did I strike a nerve 

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Chapter 150 The Emerald Bracelet 

with that observation?” 

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Finished 

He had merely been fishing for information, testing the waters with his provocative comment, but Scarlett’s flustered reaction had confirmed his suspicion about the state of her marital intimacy. 

Scarlett refused to discuss the intimate matter further, maintaining a stubborn silence and staring fixedly ahead. 

But her silence and the blush creeping up her neck spoke volumes more than any words could have. 

Damian lowered his head, hooked a finger under Scarlett’s chin, and forced her to lock eyes with him, a teasing, knowing smile playing on his lips. “If he’s that incompetent in bed, why not give me a chance to show you what real pleasure feels like?” 

Scarlett didn’t want to answer his provocative question. She broke free from his grasp sudden jerk and reached for the car door handle, desperate for escape. 

with a 

The moment she opened it, a man with a professional camera stood directly outside. 

Damian reacted instantly with reflexes born of dealing with paparazzi, yanking Scarlett back into the car and pulling her tightly against his chest once more. 

The center console was the only barrier separating them from the front seats, creating an awkward divide. 

Scarlett ended up sprawled awkwardly across the hard console, pinned firmly against Damian’s torso with no room to maneuver. 

Worried the paparazzo might capture her face clearly, Damian enveloped her completely with his trench coat. 

Scarlett’s face was buried in Damian’s chest, her nose pressed against the fine fabric of his shirt. She could distinctly smell the faint, intriguing blend of tobacco and mint on his clothes, a scent that was uniquely his. 

The combination was surprisingly not unpleasant, much to her annoyance. 

Damian’s hand pressed firmly against Scarlett’s lower back beneath the covering coat. She knew he was doing it intentionally, taking advantage of the situation, but she didn’t dare protest or even move in her current vulnerable position. 

If the camera outside captured her identity clearly, the consequences would be catastrophic for her already precarious situation. 

She knew all too well how merciless online