\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 31 A Promise of Comfort\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina gave Vanessa a hug, gently rubbing her back. She wasn\u2019t entirely sure what had upset the little girl, but she softened her voice as much as she could. \u201cIt\u2019s okay. From now on, I\u2019ll be the one to take you to kindergarten. No more crying, deal?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa had mostly calmed down, but quiet sobs still shook her small frame, her shoulders trembling with each hiccup.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, Vincent approached. He bent down and gave abrina\u2019s shoulder a light pat. \u201cYou talk to her,\u201d he murmured.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina glanced back at him, a slight smile touching her lips. \u201cAlright, I\u2019ve got this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Taking Vanessa\u2019s hand, Sabrina said, \u201cVanessa, can we have a little chat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nearby, Scarlett had been standing and watching the entire time, observing every interaction between Vanessa and Sabrina.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa nodded, sniffling. \u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina took a tissue and gently wiped Vanessa\u2019s nose, her tone warm. \u201cYour mom would like you to go back with her to visit your grandparents. Would you like to go?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing this, Vanessa instinctively looked over at Scarlet, who stood a short distance away, clothes making her seem almost faded into the background.\u00a0<\/p>\n
her simple\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Scarlett had called earlier, a tiny spark of happiness had flickered inside Vanessa.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But then she remembered being late that morning because of her mom, and that made her feel upset all over again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without really thinking, the words just tumbled out. \u201cSabrina, I don\u2019t want to go. I want to go home and take a bath.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She hadn\u2019t had one last night and was convinced she smelled unpleasant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This was the response Sabrina had expected, but she patiently coaxed her anyway. \u201cHow about just for one night? When the weekend comes, your dad and I will take you out somewhere fun. How does that sound?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The promise of an outing was tempting, but Vanessa hel her ground. \u201cI don\u2019t want to. I want to go back to Ravenshade Villa. I want to sleep in my big, soft bed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina smiled and gently pinched Vanessa\u2019s cheek. \u201cJust one night. This weekend, you can choose anywhere you want to go, and I\u2019ll take you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa was finally swayed. She held up her little finger Pinky promise.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina linked her pinky with Vanessa\u2019s. After the promise was sealed, she stood up and exchanged a look with Vincent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Understanding, Vincent said to Vanessa, \u201cJust tell me where you want to go, and I\u2019ll make all the arrangements beforehand.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa jumped up, clapping her hands with delight. \u201cYy! That\u2019s awesome!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:24 Wed, Jan 7 W.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 31 A Promise of Comfort\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0f25 86%u\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
The three of them stood together, their warm, family-like dynamic drawing admiring glances from passersby.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett stood off to the side, listening to strangers comment on what a perfect match Vincent and Sabrina made. A numb emptiness settled over her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She tried to block out the voices, but they still managed to grate on her nerves.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t until Sabrina called her name, \u201cMs. Theron?\u201d that Scarlett snapped out of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her eyes were slightly red-rimmed as she looked at Sabrina, whose radiance stood in stark contrast to her own worn-out appearance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They stood face-to-face, yet their lives were worlds apart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett couldn\u2019t pretend it didn\u2019t hurt. Her heart ached, and she felt her voice might tremble if she spoke. \u201cYes?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cVanessa agreed,\u201d Sabrina informed her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett\u2019s lips quivered. For a moment, she almost said \u201cthank you,\u201d but then she caught herself-thank her for what?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina was her husband\u2019s lover, and now her own daughter was becoming attached to her too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The two people who mattered most to her had both been charmed by Sabrina. What exactly was there to be thankful for?\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the end, she remained silent. She simply held her hand out to Vanessa, her voice cool and her demeanor distant, a far cry from her previous self. \u201cVanessa, let\u2019s go.\u00a0<\/p>\n
11\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa stared at the outstretched hand for a long moment, seeming confused. It was only when Sabrina gave her a little nudge that she cautiously took it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett led Vanessa to the car, helped her with her backpack, buckled her into the seat, and then got in to drive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the way back to Theron Manor, Henry called to ask what Vanessa liked to eat. Scarlett avoided giving a direct answer, simply telling him not to put himself out\u00a0<\/p>\n
She knew Vanessa wasn\u2019t coming back willingly, and she didn\u2019t want her parents getting too attached.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once the divorce with Vincent was finalized, Vanessa would naturally drift apart from them too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett didn\u2019t exchange a single unnecessary word with Vanessa during the entire drive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the back seat, Vanessa just played games on her phon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At seven-thirty, Scarlett pulled the car over a mile from Theron Manor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She watched her daughter in the rearview mirror. After long, quiet sigh, she finally called her name. \u201cVanessa.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa didn\u2019t look up from her phone, but she replied, note of displeasure in her voice. \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett made an effort to keep her patience. \u201cDon\u2019t play on your phone in the car. It\u2019s not good for your\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/2\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:24 Wed, Jan 7\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 31 A Promise of Comfort\u00a0<\/p>\n
eyes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa was a little annoyed, but she put her phone down anyway.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett turned in her seat to look at her properly. \u201cMom wants to talk to you about something.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett had been so cold lately, but tonight she was actually speaking gently. Vanessa couldn\u2019t help feeling a slight shift inside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Knowing Vanessa was perceptive, Scarlett didn\u2019t ask bluntly what was wrong. Instead, she chose her words carefully, gently steering the conversation. \u201cAre you happy at Sunshine Kindergarten?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Send Gifts\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:24 Wed, Jan 7\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife: Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 31 \u00a0 Chapter 31 A Promise of Comfort\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Sabrina gave Vanessa […]<\/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-27395","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\/27395","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=27395"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27395\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}