\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 28 Xavier Rescues Vanessa\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Vanessa wouldn\u2019t listen-not a single word. She screamed, \u201cGet lost! I don\u2019t need you telling me what to do! You\u2019re not my mom!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The maid was out of ideas. With no other choice, she pulled out her phone and called Vincent, her hands. shaking a little.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He answered right away, his voice sharp with the edge of a busy workday. \u201cWhat\u2019s the problem?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The maid\u2019s forehead was damp with sweat. \u201cMr. Stewart Vanessa woke up crying, and she won\u2019t let me help her wash up or do her hair. I was thinking\u2026 maybe you could call Mrs. Stewart and ask her to come home a little early? She\u2019s still not back yet.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent\u2019s tone shifted, a hint of anxiety creeping in. \u201cShe hasn\u2019t come back? At all?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The maid nodded, even though he couldn\u2019t see her. \u201cNo. Not yet.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent paused for a few seconds, clearly thinking. Then he said, \u201cPut Vanessa on the phone. I\u2019ll talk to her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course,\u201d the maid replied, then held the phone out to Vanessa. \u201cMiss, it\u2019s your dad. He wants to talk to you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa was still fuming, but she snatched the phone from the maid\u2019s hand, her face scrunched up in a scowl.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDad\u2026\u201d Her voice was hoarse from crying, thick with hurt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you crying?\u201d Vincent\u2019s voice wasn\u2019t gentle-not even a little. It was sharp, like he was annoyed at the interruption.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa could tell he was angry, so she mumbled, picking at the edge of her pajama top. \u201cYou left without saying goodbye. I woke up and you were gone\u2026 That\u2019s why I cried.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent didn\u2019t bother explaining-didn\u2019t say he\u2019d had an early meeting, didn\u2019t say he\u2019d thought she\u2019d still be asleep. He just gave an order, firm and final. \u201cListen to me. Let the maid help you wash up and fix your hair. When your mom gets home, she\u2019ll take you to school. That\u2019s non-negotiable.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa\u2019s lower lip trembled. She tried to argue, \u201cBut I don\u2019t-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent cut her off, his tone leaving no room for protest \u201cThat\u2019s final, Vanessa.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Whatever Vanessa had been about to say died in her throat. His sharpness shut her up instantly. She hung her head, her voice small. \u201cFine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent softened just a little-enough to add, \u201cI\u2019ll call your mom right now and tell her to come home to take you. If you don\u2019t want to talk to her, you don\u2019t have to. But she\u2019s still your mom, and she\u2019s responsible for you. Taking you to school is her job.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. \u201cGot it, Dad.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent hung up, then immediately dialed Scarlett\u2019s number. But it went to voicemail-no answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At that moment, Scarlett was at the hospital, buried in patients. Her phone was on silent in her bag, and there was already a line of people waiting in her office. She hadn\u2019t heard it ring at all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:23 Wed, Jan 7\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 28 Xavier Rescues Vanessa\u00a0<\/p>\n
Firashed\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent frowned, assuming she\u2019d left her phone at Stewart Manor when she\u2019d gone out with Xavier. He didn\u2019t call again. Instead, he sent her a text, \u201cTake Vanessa to school. I\u2019m already at work and can\u2019t make it\u00a0<\/p>\n
The maid managed to get Vanessa ready-she washed her face, brushed her teeth, and braided her hair into two neat little pigtails, tying each with a pink bow. She even got Vanessa to eat a few bites of toast and drink a glass of milk.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But they waited. Eight o\u2019clock came and went, then eight twenty. It was almost time to leave for school, and Scarlett still hadn\u2019t shown up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The maid started to panic. She hurried outside, craning her neck to look down the driveway, as if Scarlett would magically appear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, Xavier shuffled into the front hall, leaning on his cane. He saw the maid rushing around, her face flustered, and frowned. \u201cWhat\u2019s all this hurry? Why are you so worked up?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The maid glanced over Xavier\u2019s shoulder, hoping to see Scarlett behind him-but there was no one. Confusion and worry mixed in her voice. \u201cSir, where\u2019s Mrs. Stewart? Vanessa\u2019s been waiting for her to take her to school, and we\u2019re already gonna be late. I just\u2026 I don\u2019t get why she\u2019s not back yet-doesn\u2019t she care about being on time?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier didn\u2019t have time to scold the maid for speaking ill of Scarlett. His own frown deepened. \u201cScarlett left almost an hour ago. She had to get to the hospital for work. Isn\u2019t Vincent still upstairs? Why isn\u2019t he taking Vanessa to school?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The maid\u2019s eyes went wide. She looked even more anxious now. \u201cMr. Stewart left too, early this morning. He told me to tell Mrs. Stewart she had to take Vanessa to school. He said he couldn\u2019t do it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier slammed his cane against the floor, the sound echoing in the hall. His voice rose, sharp with anger. \u201cScarlett\u2019s been gone for an hour! What the hell is Vincent thinking? Can\u2019t he even take care of his own kid? That\u2019s his daughter too!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa heard the maid and Xavier talking from the living room. Her lower lip trembled, and then she burst into tears-loud, wailing sobs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBad mom! Bad mom!\u201d She screamed it over and over, her little fists balled up at her sides.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier\u2019s heart ached when he heard her cry. He didn\u2019t even stop to correct her-to tell her Scarlett had left for work, that it wasn\u2019t her fault. He just hurried into the living room, scooped Vanessa up into his arms, and held her close.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s okay, Vanessa. Shhh, it\u2019s all right,\u201d he cooed, patting her back gently. \u201cI will take you to school. Don\u2019t cry.. sweetie. I\u2019ll even stop for your favorite strawberry milk on the way, okay? It\u2019s all going to be fine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa kept sobbing, her face pressed into Xavier\u2019s shoulder. He rocked her back and forth, whispering soft comforts, until finally-after several minutes-her cries lied down to quiet hiccups.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the end, Xavier had his driver take them to preschool By the time they pulled up to the gate, it was already nine o\u2019clock. Through the fence, they could see the other kids dancing in the yard, laughing and singing to a nursery rhyme.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa stood at the gate, her backpack slung over one shoulder, her eyes still puffy from crying. The teacher who usually greeted her, who always gave her a bug-was busy leading the dance, and none of the other kids looked over to say \u201cgood morning\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The security guard noticed her, stood up from his chair and walked over to open the gate. He smiled\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:23 Wed, Jan 7 u\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 28 Xavier Rescues Vanessa\u00a0<\/p>\n
kindly. \u201cVanessa! You\u2019re a little late today, huh? Did you sleep in?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
86%1\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
As soon as she heard the word \u201clate\u201d, tears welled up in Vanessa\u2019s eyes again. She buried her face in Xavier\u2019s hand and started crying harder. Usually, Sabrina would drop her off bright and early-never late. Back then, the teachers would always praise her for being on time, and would stick a little sticker on her forehead. Now? She was the late one, and no one even cared.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Send Gifts\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:23 Wed, Jan 7\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife: Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 28 \u00a0 Chapter 28 Xavier Rescues Vanessa\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 But Vanessa wouldn\u2019t listen-not […]<\/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-27392","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\/27392","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=27392"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27392\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27392"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27392"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27392"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}