\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 8 I Don\u2019t Care\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Over at Theron Manor, the air was thick with tension. Scarlett hadn\u2019t been home in six months, and it showed-Henry and Diana sat quietly, Nathan glared at his plate, and Violet kept shooting worried glances at everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The dinner table was piled high with Scarlett\u2019s favorite foods-creamy garlic pasta, smoked salmon, even her mom\u2019s famous chocolate chip cookies for dessert. But no one was eating\u00a0<\/p>\n
much.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett had fought tooth and nail to marry Vincent. She\u2019d threatened to cut ties with her family when they\u2019d objected, told them they \u201cdidn\u2019t understand true love\u201d. But after the wedding, Vincent had never once stepped foot in Theron Manor. He\u2019d never met her dad, never hugged her mom, never even sent a birthday card.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nathan set down his fork with a clatter. His voice was sharp, laced with sarcasm. \u201cTomorrow\u2019s Richard\u2019s birthday, right? Shouldn\u2019t you be at the Stewart Manor, slaving over a stove for them? What, did they finally let you take a night off?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett didn\u2019t flinch. She\u2019d expected this-Nathan had never hidden his hatred for Vincent. She smiled, calm. \u201cFrom now on, I only celebrate Dad\u2019s birthday. Richard can fend for himself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nathan froze. He stared at her, like he was trying to figure out if she was joking. \u201cWhat are you up to? Another one of your \u2018I\u2019m gonna fix my marriage\u2019 stunts?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett shook her head. \u201cI\u2019m getting a divorce.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The room went silent. Diana\u2019s eyes filled with tears. Violet\u2019s mouth dropped open. Henry, who\u2019d barely said a word all night, finally looked up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet was the first to speak, her voice gentle. \u201cWhat about Vanessa? Are you fighting for custody?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett let out a bitter laugh. \u201cVanessa doesn\u2019t want to stay with me. I\u2019m giving it up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
It killed her to say it. Vanessa was her baby-her first, her only. But she\u2019d seen the way Vanessa looked at Sabrina, the way she\u2019d called Scarlett a \u201cbad mom\u201d, the way she\u2019d pushed Scarlett\u2019s kisses away. She couldn\u2019t force a child to love her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet squeezed her hand. She was a mom too-she knew how much this hurt. \u201cDivorce is the right choice, Scarlett. You deserve someone who treats you like a person, not a maid or a baby\u00a0<\/p>\n
machine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett nodded. \u201cI\u2019m not looking for anyone new. I just\u2026 want to be me again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was tired of being \u201cMrs. Stewart\u201d. Tired of cooking, cleaning, waiting. Tired of loving\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
15:28 Sat, Jan 3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 8 Don\u2019t Care\u00a0<\/p>\n
someone who didn\u2019t love her back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet piled more salmon onto Scarlett\u2019s plate. \u201cThis house is always your home. You\u2019re still our princess-don\u2019t you forget that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara, who\u2019d been quiet until now, piped up. \u201cAuntic, when I\u2019m bigger, I\u2019ll take care of you! I\u2019ll make you pasta every day!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Henry pushed a plate of peeled shrimp toward her-he\u2019d been peeling them one by one since dinner started, not saying a word, just making sure she had her favorite.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett\u2019s eyes watered. For five years, she\u2019d slaved for the Stewarts, and they\u2019d never said \u201cthank you\u201d. They\u2019d never peeled her shrimp, never saved her favorite food, never held her when she cried. But here, at home, she was loved-unconditionally.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Halfway through dinner, Clara pointed at the coffee table. \u201cAuntie, your phone\u2019s lighting up!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett glanced over. The screen read \u201cVincent\u201d. She\u2019d never blocked him-she\u2019d just kept her phone on silent, too tired to deal with his calls. She hesitated, then answered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cScarlett.\u201d Vincent\u2019s voice was tight, panicked. \u201cVanessa\u2019s in the hospital. She had a mango allergy-she\u2019s having trouble breathing. Get here now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett\u2019s blood ran cold. She stood up, grabbing her bag. \u201cI\u2019m on my way.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet stood too. \u201cI\u2019m coming with you. Clara, stay with your grandparents.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara frowned. \u201cNo, I want to go together!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
*****\u00a0<\/p>\n
At 10:30 p.m., Vanessa woke up in the hospital room. The first thing she saw was Scarlett sitting in a chair by the bed, her eyes red from worry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cVanessa? How do you feel?\u201d Scarlett asked, leaning forward. She\u2019d been sitting there for over an hour, watching Vanessa\u2019s chest rise and fall, scared she\u2019d stop breathing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa turned her head away. She didn\u2019t say anything-just crossed her arms, like she was still mad.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett\u2019s heart ached. She knew Vanessa wanted Sabrina, not her. She tucked the blanket around Vanessa\u2019s shoulders. \u201cI\u2019ll let you rest. I\u2019m gonna go wait outside.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She grabbed Clara\u2019s hand-Violet had stepped out to get coffee-and started to leave.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBad mom!\u201d Vanessa shouted, her voice echoing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
211\u00a0<\/p>\n
15:28 Sat, Jan 3\u00a0<\/p>\n
46\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 81 Don\u2019t Care\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u767d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara pulled her hand away. She marched over to the bed, her hands on her hips. \u201cVanessa! That\u2019s not nice! Auntie drove all the way here to see you-how dare you call her a bad mom!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa\u2019s face turned red. \u201cFatty! Mind your own business!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara\u2019s lower lip trembled-she hated being called fat more than anything. \u201cYou\u2019re just a spoiled brat! My aunt loves you, and you\u2019re being mean!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa burst into tears. \u201cFatty! Fatty! No one will ever love you!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cVanessa, apologize to Clara!\u201d Scarlett said, stepping in. She pulled Clara behind her, her voice firm. This was too much-Vanessa couldn\u2019t talk to her cousin like that, not when Clara had only been nice to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa cried harder. Just then, Vincent walked in, holding a cup of water. When he saw Vanessa sobbing, he rushed over, picking her up. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, baby? Did Mom hurt you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa clung to him, her tears soaking his shirt. \u201cMom yelled at me! She took Clara\u2019s side!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent glared at Scarlett, his eyes like ice. \u201cIs this how you parent? Yelling at a sick kid?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett met his gaze, calm. She didn\u2019t flinch, didn\u2019t apologize. \u201cI didn\u2019t do anything wrong. Vanessa called Clara fat-twice. She needed to be told off. If you think that\u2019s \u2018hurting her, then\u00a0<\/p>\n
fine. I don\u2019t care.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent was shocked. This wasn\u2019t the Scarlett he knew-the quiet, compliant woman who never argued, who always apologized even when she was right. This Scarlett was different-cold, sharp, unafraid.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIs this how you raise our daughter?\u201d he snapped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett shrugged. \u201cYep. That\u2019s me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He clenched his jaw. \u201cWhen I said Sabrina would be a better mom, I was right.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett nodded. \u201cYeah. You were.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent froze. He\u2019d expected her to fight, to cry, to beg him to take it back. But she\u2019d agreed. Like it didn\u2019t matter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before he could say anything else, Scarlett spoke, her voice sharp, \u201cYou all act like you know what\u2019s best for Vanessa-better than her own mom. But none of you knew she was allergic to mangoes. Did Sabrina know? Did you? I told you, years ago-no mangoes, no pineapple, no nuts. But you forgot. Because you don\u2019t care about her, not really. You just care about having a \u2018perfect\u2019 little girl to show off.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent\u2019s face turned pale. He hadn\u2019t forgotten-not exactly. He\u2019d just\u2026 never paid attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
15:28 Sat, Jan 3 \u2191\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 8 I Don\u2019t Care\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
46\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett had mentioned allergies before, but it had been years ago, and he\u2019d been busy with work, with Sabrina, with everything but his daughter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett didn\u2019t wait for him to respond. She listed off Vanessa\u2019s needs, her voice clear and steady. \u201cShe needs to wash her hair every other day-her scalp gets dry. She needs her flu shot next week. She can\u2019t drink cold milk before bed-it gives her stomachaches. She hates broccoli, but she needs to eat one bite a day. She\u2019s scared of thunder-you need to stay with her when it rains.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She paused, looking at him. \u201cWe\u2019re getting divorced. You need to know this stuff. For Vanessa\u2019s sake.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
With that, she grabbed Clara\u2019s hand and walked out. She didn\u2019t look back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent stood there, holding Vanessa, staring at the door. For the first time in years, he felt something-something other than anger or indifference.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Guilt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
WHICH 4\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\u00a0<\/p>\n
15:28 Sat, Jan 3 \u2191\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife. Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 8 \u00a0 Chapter 8 I Don\u2019t Care\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Over at Theron Manor, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[81],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27372","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-impossible-condition-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27372","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27372"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27372\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27372"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27372"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27372"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}