\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 24 Reluctant Visit\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent offered a faint, tight smile and said nothing more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
46\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
By the time breakfast was halfway done, he pulled out his phone and dialed Scarlett. He rarely reached out to her first-even more, he hadn\u2019t saved her number with a name. He\u2019d just memorized the last few digits, scrolling through his call log until he found the right one.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The phone rang, and Scarlett picked up within seconds.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d Her voice was sharp, edged with impatience-like she didn\u2019t have time for whatever he was calling about.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent paused for a split second, as if weighing his words, before finally speaking. \u201cGrandpa wants us to come to Stewart Manor tonight. He said he misses Vanessa\u2026 and you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett was behind the wheel at that moment, driving to work. When she heard his words, she froze for a heartbeat, her hands tightening on the steering wheel. Then she replied, her voice quiet and a little hoarse, \u201cGot it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She wasn\u2019t agreeing for Vincent, or even for Vanessa. She was doing it for Xavier-for the kindness he\u2019d always shown her. She owed him that much. Xavier was the only one in the entire Stewart family who\u2019d ever treated her like a real person, not just a trophy wife or Vanessa\u2019s mother. That was a debt she\u2019d never forget.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent wasn\u2019t surprised she\u2019d said yes. He just added, \u201cI\u2019ll come pick you up this afternoon.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett didn\u2019t hesitate. \u201cNo need. I\u2019ll drive myself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That caught Vincent off guard. Normally, if he\u2019d offered to pick her up, she would\u2019ve been over the moon-so happy she might\u2019ve even teared up. But now? She sounded calm, almost detached, like his offer didn\u2019t matter one way or the other.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t push it. Instead, he said, \u201cThen swing by and get Vanessa on your way.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett\u2019s answer was quick. \u201cIt\u2019s not on my way. You get her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She knew Vincent probably couldn\u2019t even name the hospital where she worked, let alone find it. Her workplace and Vanessa\u2019s preschool were on complete opposite sides of town-if she detoured to pick up Vanessa before heading to Stewart Manor, she\u2019d be stuck in traffic for hours. But that \u201cnot on my way\u201d line was just an excuse. The real truth? Scarlett didn\u2019t want to get too close to Vanessa anymore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She\u2019d risked her life to give birth to that little girl. She\u2019d stayed up with her through fevers, read her bedtime stories every night, and tried to be the best mom she could. But now? All Vanessa cared about was herself-siding with Sabrina, ignoring her calls, even calling her the one who\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
15:31 Sat, Jan 3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 24 Reluctant Visit\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
146\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cmessed up\u201d. If her own daughter didn\u2019t care about her, why should she keep bending over backward for nothing? Besides, she thought bitterly, Vanessa probably didn\u2019t even want her to pick her up anyway.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent went quiet on the other end, but Scarlett had already ended the call.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Outside, the driver waited by the car, but Vanessa hadn\u2019t left yet. She\u2019d hung back, hovering near the door, waiting for Vincent to finish his call. She was still mad at Scarlett-mad about the fight with Sabrina, mad that her mom wouldn\u2019t apologize-but a tiny part of her had hoped Scarlett might try to make things right. Then she\u2019d heard Scarlett tell Vincent she wouldn\u2019t come pick her up, and that anger flared up again. It didn\u2019t matter if she\u2019d wanted Scarlett to pick her up or not-her mom had said no before she even asked. That stung.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent slipped his phone into his pocket and noticed Vanessa still standing there. He frowned, confused. \u201cWhy aren\u2019t you in the car yet?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa pouted, her lower lip sticking out. \u201cMom\u2019s so spoiled, and it\u2019s your fault, Dad.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Spoiled? Vincent blinked. He\u2019d never spoiled Scarlett-not once. He\u2019d barely even shown her kindness. But he didn\u2019t bother arguing with a kid. He just sighed and said, \u201cGo to school. I\u2019ll pick you up this afternoon.\u201d With that, he straightened his tie and headed upstairs, leaving Vanessa alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa sat at the kitchen table for a minute longer, kicking her legs. When she finally hopped down, she muttered under her breath, so quiet only she could hear, \u201cHmph. I don\u2019t even want a mom like that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
**\u00a0<\/p>\n
***\u00a0<\/p>\n
By six o\u2019clock that evening, Scarlett was just about to clock out of work when a child with a broken leg was wheeled into the ER, screaming in pain. The injury looked serious-compound fracture, the nurse said-so Scarlett stayed late to help the on-call doctor stabilize the leg and prep the kid for surgery. By the time she was done, it was past seven.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She changed out of her white coat, grabbed her bag, and hurried downstairs, then drove straight to Stewart Manor. Even with her foot on the gas, it was already past eight when she pulled into the driveway.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The housekeepers spotted her the second she walked through the door and swarmed over, greeting her warmly-\u201cMrs. Stewart, you\u2019re here! Shall I get you a cup of coffee?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett smiled and shook her head, thanking them as she made her way toward the main hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as she reached the doorway, Xavier\u2019s loud, angry voice boomed out. \u201cScarlett\u2019s still not here, and you didn\u2019t even think to call her? What woman wants a man who can\u2019t be bothered to check in? You\u2019re as cold as a block of wood, Vincent! Who would ever like you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
15:31 Sat, Jan 3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 24 Reluctant Visit\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside, Vincent sat on the leather couch, head down, scrolling through his phone-business news, by the look of it. It was anyone\u2019s guess if he was even listening to Xavier. Either didn\u2019t react-no eye roll, no sigh, nothing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
way,\u00a0<\/p>\n
he\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa sat at a small table in the corner, playing a game of solitaire with a deck of cards. When she heard Xavier yelling at Vincent, she looked up and said, her voice serious for a kid her age, \u201cGreat-Grandpa, it\u2019s not Dad\u2019s fault! Mom\u2019s just late \u2019cause she forgot the time. Dad cares-he just doesn\u2019t show it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett heard Vanessa\u2019s words from the doorway, but she didn\u2019t flinch. This was how her daughter was now\u2014always taking Vincent\u2019s side, always making excuses for him, even when he was wrong. She\u2019d gotten used to it, but that didn\u2019t make it hurt any less. So much for her \u201clittle angel. More like a little traitor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t want to listen to Vanessa defend Vincent anymore, so she stepped into the hall, her shoes clicking against the marble floor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier saw her instantly and jumped up from his chair, hurrying over. \u201cScarlett! There What took you so long tonight?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
you are!\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett forced a soft smile, explaining gently, \u201cWe had an emergency patient at the hospital\u2014 little kid with a broken leg. I couldn\u2019t leave until we got him sorted.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa heard Scarlett\u2019s voice and stiffened, her hands freezing mid-card. But she didn\u2019t turn around. She sat there, back straight, waiting-waiting for Scarlett to come over, to greet her first, to apologize. This was Xavier\u2019s house. Scarlett wouldn\u2019t dare ignore her here. Even if she had to fake it, she\u2019d at least pretend to care.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Scarlett didn\u2019t even glance in her direction. It was like Vanessa wasn\u2019t there at all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
15:31 Sat, Jan 3\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
45\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 24 \u00a0 Chapter 24 Reluctant Visit\u00a0 Vincent offered a faint, tight smile […]<\/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-27388","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\/27388","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=27388"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27388\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27388"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}