\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 36 The Only Harbor\u00a0<\/p>\n
84%\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maybe that laugh held a hint of contempt. Maybe he thought she was overreacting, or just being difficult on purpose. But none of that mattered to her now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What mattered was this-she\u2019d never set foot back in Oakland Villa on the fifteenth of any month again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And the truth that she\u2019d once carried Vincent\u2019s second child? That would stay a secret, buried forever in the deepest corner of her heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, Sabrina called out again, \u201cVincent, come dry Vanessa\u2019s hair!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cComing,\u201d he replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He cast one last glance at Scarlett, but offered no further words before turning to go upstairs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett stood motionless for a long while, until Lily approached and asked gently, \u201cMrs. Stewart, shall I prepare the guest room for you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Snapping out of her thoughts, Scarlett shook her head. \u201cNo, that won\u2019t be necessary.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The room where she\u2019d shared so many nights with Vanessa didn\u2019t feel like hers anymore. It was Vincent\u2019s now. Sabrina\u2019s, too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett walked out of Ravenshade Villa, got in her car, and cried until she had no tears left. She knew she probably looked ridiculous-but she needed this release. She couldn\u2019t keep all that pain locked up inside her forever.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t until she was totally drained that she finally turned the key in the ignition and drove slowly back to Theron Manor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Right now, it was the only place she had left to go.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luckily, the Therons had never made her feel like an outsider.\u00a0<\/p>\n
By the time she got back, midnight had long passed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As she parked, she noticed a figure pacing anxiously by the front entrance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She paused, then recognized him-it was Nathan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He saw her too. He stood silently, watching his younger ister approach.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Only when she was near, and he was certain she was unarmed, did he finally turn to go inside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But just then, Scarlett called out, \u201cNathan.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stopped, his voice slightly rough. \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
All the hurt she had been holding back suddenly overflowed. She threw herself into his arms, sobbing, \u201cYou\u2019re all I have left. Please, don\u2019t ever abandon me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nathan\u2019s heart ached. He raised a hand, gently patting her back before ruflling her soft hair. \u201cSo you finally realize you made a mistake, huh?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice was heavy with pain and helplessness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:25 Wed, Jan 7 uu u\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 36 The Only Harbor\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett buried her face in his pajamas, which carried the faint, clean scent of laundry detergent, wiping her tears and runny nose without care. \u201cI was such a fool. I had to hit rock bottom before I\u2019d turn back.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her crying was broken, uneven.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nathan couldn\u2019t bring himself to scold her further. \u201cAlright, that\u2019s enough crying. If it wasn\u2019t meant to be, then it wasn\u2019t. Forcing things only brings more pain.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett shook her head. \u201cI understand now. I\u2019m just worried about Mom and Dad.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t be.\u201d Nathan reassured her. \u201cI\u2019ll talk to them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett nodded, though her tears kept falling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nathan wiped them away with his thumb. \u201cYou look awful when you cry. Cut it out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett managed a weak, teary smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Under the large tree in the courtyard, Violet and Clara stood watching.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara ran over and hugged Scarlett tightly. \u201cAuntie, I\u2019ll take care of you when you\u2019re old. I can be your daughter from now on.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett bent down and gently pinched Clara\u2019s chubby cheeks. \u201cI make MY own money. I don\u2019t need you to support me. I\u2019ll save up to buy you a wedding dress someday.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara giggled, then turned to Violet, who had moved to stand beside Nathan. \u201cMom, I want you and Auntie to come to my school\u2019s Thanksgiving event! My teacher said if I do well in the performance, I\u2019ll get a little sticker as a prize. And next semester, I might even get to host the opening ceremony!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet leaned lightly against Nathan, smiling softly. \u201cWell, you\u2019ll have to ask your aunt if she\u2019s willing to go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara looked up at Scarlett, her eyes full of hope.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett stroked Clara\u2019s cheek and agreed warmly, \u201cAlright, I will do whatever you ask.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara was so thrilled she began spinning and jumping on the spot.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to get that sticker! I\u2019m going to be the best!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After cheering, she dashed back into the manor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet smiled at Scarlett. \u201cClara\u2019s been wanting to invite you for a long time. Now that you\u2019ve agreed, she\u2019s over the moon.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs long as Clara is happy, I\u2019ll go with her,\u201d Scarlett replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet could tell Scarlett had a lot on her mind, likely exhausted from dealing with Vanessa earlier, so she didn\u2019t press further.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cScarlett, you\u2019ve come home. There\u2019s nothing you can\u2019t overcome. We\u2019re all here for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett smiled gratefully. \u201cYes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next morning, Scarlett arrived at the hospital early. She had swapped shifts with a colleague and was\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/7\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:25 Wed, Jan 7 w.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 36 The Only Harbor\u00a0<\/p>\n
covering the outpatient clinic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She worked in pediatric surgery, though the patient flow was generally light.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But at nine o\u2019clock, an adult patient walked in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The person was bundled up in a mask and hat, completely concealing the appearance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett checked the computer-there was no appointment under that name.\u00a0<\/p>\n
84%\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Assuming he had come to the wrong place, she was about to speak when the person suddenly pulled down the mask.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment Scarlett saw the face before her, she shot to her feet in shock.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire! What\u2026 What happened to you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Send Gifts\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:25 Wed, Jan\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife: Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 36 \u00a0 Chapter 36 The Only Harbor\u00a0 84%\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Maybe that laugh […]<\/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-27400","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\/27400","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=27400"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27400\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}