Chapter 23 A Cold Call\u00a0<\/p>\n
B\u00a0<\/p>\n
45\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u767d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
The teacher always said, \u201cIf you mess up, own up to it. That way, you might still walk away with a gold star.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett had no idea what was going through Vanessa\u2019s head-and honestly, she didn\u2019t care to play guesswork. If Vanessa didn\u2019t want to answer the phone, Scarlett wasn\u2019t about to badger her into it. Just as she reached to end the call, Vincent suddenly dropped his voice, sharp and cold. \u201cVanessa Stewart.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He used her full name. That was a dead giveaway-he was furious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa had always been a little scared of Vincent. She flinched at the sound of her name, but still mumbled defiantly, \u201cDad, Mom\u2019s the one who messed up! She didn\u2019t even say sorry to Sabrina. I\u2019m not taking her call.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett heard every word, and confusion washed over her. \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d she blurted out, her voice tight with frustration.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent tore his glare away from Vanessa and snapped back into the phone, \u201cWhat do you think?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before Scarlett could wrap her head around his words, a soft, warm voice-Sabrina\u2019s-filtered through from Vincent\u2019s side. \u201cVanessa, time for your bath. You\u2019ve got school bright and early tomorrow.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That was the last straw. Scarlett didn\u2019t even bother hanging up gently-she just ended the call, her fingers trembling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stood at her vanity, her legs suddenly wobbly, like the floor beneath her had shifted. She had to grip the edge of the counter to keep from stumbling, her reflection in the mirror looking pale and unsteady. Vanessa\u2019s words had cut her deep-sharp, like a knife to the chest. What had she done, exactly, to make her own daughter think she was the one in the wrong?\u00a0<\/p>\n
And Vincent? Sabrina? The thought of them made her sick to her stomach. She\u2019d barely stepped away from being Vincent\u2019s wife, and they were already acting like they belonged together-shacked up, like she\u2019d never even existed. Vincent probably \u201cworked overtime\u201d in Sabrina\u2019s bed, she thought bitterly. With her? He\u2019d only ever given her those rushed, cold three minutes, like she was an afterthought.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next morning, Vincent rolled out of bed and headed downstairs, only to find Vanessa already picking at her breakfast. He slid into a chair at the table, but didn\u2019t so much as glance at her-his jaw tight, his mood still sour from the night before.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa kept her head down, poking at her toast, well aware Vincent was angry. She\u2019d ignored Scarlett\u2019s call on purpose last night, and even though Vincent hadn\u2019t yelled or punished her, his\u00a0<\/p>\n
15:30 Sat, Jan 3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 23 A Cold Call\u00a0<\/p>\n
46\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
silence was louder than any scolding. After he\u2019d hung up, he hadn\u2019t said goodnight, hadn\u2019t checked on her-nothing. She knew that look, that cold shoulder. He was mad. Really, truly mad.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDad\u2026\u201d she finally whispered, turning her head toward him slowly, her voice soft, like she was tiptoeing around a minefield.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, Vincent\u2019s phone rang. He didn\u2019t even acknowledge Vanessa-he just grabbed the phone and swiped to answer. It was a call from Stewart Manor, his grandfather, Xavier\u2019s number flashing on the screen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier\u2019s voice boomed through the speaker, gruff and full of irritation. \u201cYou and Scarlett haven\u2019t brought Vanessa to see me in six months! My birthday\u2019s coming up, and I\u2019ve got plans with the guys-but what, if I didn\u2019t call, you\u2019d just let this old man rot alone? You\u2019re even gonna take away my chance to see my great-granddaughter and granddaughter-in-law now?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier had always been short-tempered, but he held all the power in the family. He\u2019d built the Stewart Group from the ground up-without him, they\u2019d never be the most influential family in town. Vincent had grown up living with Xavier, and their bond was tight-closer than with anyone else. If it hadn\u2019t been for Xavier\u2019s insistence, Vincent would\u2019ve never agreed to marry Scarlett, not even if she\u2019d held a knife to his throat. But when Xavier spoke, Vincent had no choice but to listen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing Xavier\u2019s hurt, sharp words, Vincent let out a half-hearted chuckle, his tone softening a little. \u201cWe\u2019ll swing by when we get a free minute, Grandpa.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier wasn\u2019t having it. \u201cA free minute? When\u2019s that gonna be, Vincent? Don\u2019t feed me that garbage. I want a real date. If you don\u2019t bring your wife and my great-granddaughter over here, don\u2019t bother showing your face again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent was used to Xavier\u2019s dramatic threats, but he still frowned, knowing he couldn\u2019t brush this off. \u201cHow about in the next couple of days?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier didn\u2019t care about his excuses. \u201cTonight,\u201d he barked, firm and final.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent hesitated, his mind racing-tonight was supposed to be\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
He started to say something, \u201cTonight might be a little-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Xavier cut him off, his voice sharper than ever, \u201cIf you wanna let me die alone in this big house, then fine. Go right ahead.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then he hung up, the line going dead with a click, loud enough to echo through Vincent\u2019s phone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent stared at the screen for a second, silent, his jaw set. When he finally set the phone down, Vanessa had scooted her chair closer, her eyes wide. \u201cDad, was that Great-Grandpa?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
15:30 Sat, Jan 3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 23 A Cold Call\u00a0<\/p>\n
46\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u767d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
They were father and daughter, after all-grudges between them never lasted long. Vincent finally looked at her, his expression softening a touch. \u201cYeah. He says he wants to see you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa\u2019s face lit up, her legs swinging back and forth under the table. \u201cYay! I haven\u2019t seen him forever-I miss him so much!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier had always spoiled Vanessa rotten. Whatever she wanted-her favorite snacks, the latest toys, even silly little trinkets-he\u2019d get it for her without a second thought. Vincent had always thought Xavier coddled her too much, which was why he didn\u2019t take her to Stewart Manor very often.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Watching Vanessa\u2019s excitement, Vincent decided to be upfront. \u201cMom\u2019s gonna come too.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa\u2019s smile faded instantly. She pouted, crossing her arms. \u201cThen I don\u2019t wanna go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent didn\u2019t push her-instead, he pulled out the one card he knew would work. \u201cIf you don\u2019t go, Great-Grandpa\u2019s gonna be really sad. You don\u2019t wanna make him upset, do you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa\u2019s resolve crumbled right away. She sighed, nodding slowly. \u201cOkay\u2026 I\u2019ll go with you, Dad.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0441\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u1218\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/23\u00a0<\/p>\n
15:31 Sat, Jan 3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 23 Chapter 23 A Cold Call\u00a0 B\u00a0 45\u00a0 \u767d\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 The teacher […]<\/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-27387","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\/27387","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=27387"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27387\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27387"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27387"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27387"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}