\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 39 Unsuitable Mother\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCould you please not smoke? The smell is unbearable. Scarlett\u2019s tone was decidedly unfriendly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She couldn\u2019t help but think that if Sabrina were sitting beside him instead, he probably wouldn\u2019t even think of lighting a cigarette.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And he still had the nerve to talk about having another child.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent didn\u2019t respond. He simply sat there in silence for a long moment, then finally flicked the cigarette out the window.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He waited for the lingering smoke to dissipate completely before raising the window, sealing them back into the quiet, tense atmosphere of the car.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a prolonged and uncomfortable silence, he finally spoke, \u201cWhy did you hit him?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett made no attempt to explain herself. \u201cI did what felt was necessary. I don\u2019t owe you any justification,\u201d she stated flatly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent turned his head, his gaze cold, his voice low and controlled. \u201cYou can afford to be impulsive, but did you stop to consider the consequences for Vanessa?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
If Scarlett\u2019s actions resulted in a permanent mark on Vanessa\u2019s record, what would that mean for their daughter\u2019s future?\u00a0<\/p>\n
No matter how influential the Stewart family was, they couldn\u2019t shield her from everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett had already wrestled with this very thought back in the police station. The worry was indeed there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent had every right to be angry, but she was at least grateful the police hadn\u2019t pursued the matter further.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Still, the thought sent a fresh wave of unease through her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt won\u2019t happen again,\u201d Scarlett promised, her voice quieter now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another heavy silence descended between them, thick and suffocating.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finally, Vincent broke it, his words measured and devastatingly calm. \u201cYou truly aren\u2019t suited to be Vanessa\u2019s mother.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His tone was so matter-of-fact, as if he were merely commenting on the weather.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That single sentence seemed to erase all the years of effort, love, and sacrifice Scarlett had poured into motherhood.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A bitter, choked laugh escaped her, but as she laughed, ot, traitorous tears began to stream down her face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Frustration and hurt overwhelming her, she turned shapply toward Vincent. \u201cThen tell me, Vincent, what exactly do you want from me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had already given up Ravenshade Villa, given up he primary role in Vanessa\u2019s life, given up any real\u00a0<\/p>\n
claim to her husband\u2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent merely stared back at her, his composure a star contrast to her raw emotion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:25 Wed, Jan 7\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 39 Unsuitable Mother\u00a0<\/p>\n
They had never truly understood each other.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even in conflict, he remained infuriatingly detached.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0f66 84%L\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEver since Vanessa started kindergarten,\u201d Vincent continued, his tone accusatory, \u201cyou haven\u2019t picked her up or dropped her off a single time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett bit her lip hard, determined not to let him see how completely he was shattering her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDoesn\u2019t she have someone else to do that for her now?\u201d she retorted, her voice thick.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you are Scarlett.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett could hardly believe what she was hearing, but Vincent\u2019s expression was utterly serious, leaving no room for doubt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo now you remember I\u2019m Vanessa\u2019s mother? Do you genuinely see me as Scarlett in your eyes?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stared intently at him, desperately wanting-needing to hear his answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But, true to form, he sidestepped the question entirely. I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on with you lately. But you are Vanessa\u2019s mother. You need to start acting like it and fulfill your responsibilities toward her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Stewart family had more than enough wealth. Vincent was fully capable of providing for Vanessa on his own. But he didn\u2019t want their daughter growing up feeling the absence of a mother\u2019s love.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett\u2019s recent behavior-so out of character, missing even Vanessa\u2019s kindergarten events-was unacceptable to him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett didn\u2019t bother denying his accusations. Instead, she surprised him by agreeing. \u201cI gave birth to Vanessa. I am acutely aware of my responsibilities, and have no intention of running away from them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then she added, her voice final, \u201cIf there\u2019s nothing else, I\u2019m leaving.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her desire to escape the confines of his car was palpable, a far cry from the woman who used to wait up late, hoping for his return home.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent seemed momentarily taken aback, but as Scarlet moved to open the door, he called out, \u201cThere\u2019s a Thanksgiving parent-child event at the kindergarten. Accompany Vanessa, will you? I have an important meeting that conflicts with it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett paused, the request hanging in the air. But she had already promised Clara she would be busy. \u201cI\u2019m not available that day,\u201d she refused bluntly. \u201cFind someone else.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
With that, she pushed the car door open and stepped out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t look back. Hailing a passing taxi, she gave the driver the address for Theron Manor and slid inside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent remained in his car, watching the taxi\u2019s taillight shrink and vanish into the night, his eyes narrowed in contemplation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was strange. The Scarlett who had once \u2018revolved her entire world around their daughter had changed so profoundly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:25 Wed, Jan 7 u\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 39 Unsuitable Mother\u00a0<\/p>\n
And her attitude toward him\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Perhaps he was just overthinking it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The ringing of his phone broke his reverie. It was Sabrina.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHello? Did you manage to speak with Ms. Theron?\u201d she asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
84%\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
When the Thanksgiving event had been mentioned, Vanessa had immediately expressed her desire for Sabrina to accompany her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Sabrina had her own classes and an upcoming piano recital to prepare for. Attending a kindergarten event simply didn\u2019t fit into her schedule.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent replied tersely, \u201cShe said she\u2019s busy that day.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina hesitated, then offered, \u201cThen\u2026 perhaps I could skip my class and go with Vanessa after all?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was testing him, not genuinely wanting to sacrifice her own commitments.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kindergarten events were tedious, and Sabrina much preferred being the center of attention on a proper\u00a0<\/p>\n
stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She expected Vincent to express sympathy for her dilemma, but he surprised her by simply agreeing. \u201cAlright.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina felt like crying but forced a bright tone. \u201cOkay then, I\u2019ll make arrangements and go with Vanessa.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
*****\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Scarlett finally powered her phone back on, the screen lit up with a long list of missed calls.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nathan, Violet, Spencer, and Nolan-all had tried to reach her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was supposed to have had an afternoon clinic shift. Vanishing without any notice was a serious breach of protocol, and the hospital administration was undoubtedly preparing a formal reprimand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Send Gifts\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
H\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:25 Wed, Jan 7\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife: Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 39 \u00a0 Chapter 39 Unsuitable Mother\u00a0 \u201cCould you please not smoke? The […]<\/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-27403","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\/27403","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=27403"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27403\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}