\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 40 Unexpected Reprieve\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was already mentally preparing herself for the wors, fully expecting to be dismissed from her position.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During the cab ride, she returned Spencer\u2019s call.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Jenkins,\u201d she said when he answered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cScarlett, what can I do for you?\u201d Spencer\u2019s voice sounded completely normal, even casual.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett was momentarily confused by his tone. For a brief second, she was at a loss for words.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But then Spencer continued, his voice now laced with a note of concern. \u201cHow are you feeling now? Any improvement?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett was even more puzzled. \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Spencer sounded almost apologetic. \u201cI haven\u2019t been a very attentive supervisor, have I? You were running a fever, and I still scheduled you for the clinic shift. Tell you what, I\u2019m authorizing three days of sick leave for you. Just focus on resting and recovering at home.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett couldn\u2019t decipher what Spencer was really implying. She wondered if this was his subtle way of letting her go.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstood,\u201d she replied quietly, her voice subdued.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She interpreted his words as a polite dismissal-calling \u201csick leave\u201d was merely a face-saving formality before termination.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But to be fair, she had abandoned her post without notice. She probably deserved the consequences.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as she was about to end the call, Spencer suddenly added, \u201cAnd remember to report back to work in three days, alright?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWait\u2026 what?\u201d Scarlett was utterly stunned. She even wondered if she had misheard him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was a lot of background noise on Spencer\u2019s end-It sounded like he was at a lively dinner party or social function.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cScarlett, I have to go now-I\u2019m in the middle of drinks with some people. But if you need anything else, just let me know. I\u2019ll do whatever I can to help.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
And with that, Spencer hung up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett stared at her phone, listening to the dial tone, her mind completely blank, trying to process the unexpected reprieve.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, her phone rang again. It was Nolan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She answered immediately, her voice sharp with a mix of suspicion and hope. \u201cDid you speak to Spencer on my behalf?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan didn\u2019t answer her question directly, Instead, his voice was filled with palpable concern. \u201cWhat happened today? You didn\u2019t show up for your shift, and you ignored all my calls this afternoon. Are you alright?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:25 Wed, Jan 7\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 40 Unexpected Reprieve\u00a0<\/p>\n
83%\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan had gone to the clinic that afternoon looking for her, but she was nowhere to be found. He had tried calling her repeatedly, growing more anxious with each unanswered ring.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As a fellow doctor, Nolan knew Scarlett wasn\u2019t the type irresponsibly skip work.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was certain something significant must have occurrel.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He had spent the entire afternoon worried sick, calling er incessantly. He had even stepped in to cover her shift for her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett could hear the genuine anxiety in his voice. Not wanting to worry him further, she kept her explanation brief. \u201cI got into an altercation at a restaurant. The police were involved, and I was taken to the station. I\u2019ve only just been released.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan was shocked. \u201cYou\u2026 got into a physical fight?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
In his mind, Scarlett was always the picture of composure and rationality-even-tempered, gentle, someone who never even raised her voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Unless she had been profoundly provoked, he couldn\u2019t imagine her resorting to violence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett simply replied, \u201cYes,\u201d offering no further explanation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan pressed, \u201cIs everything completely resolved? If there\u2019s anything still pending, I can\u2014\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett cut him off gently but firmly. \u201cIt\u2019s all been handled. Please don\u2019t worry.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan finally allowed himself to relax slightly, but then asked, \u201cAre you on your way home now?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I\u2019m in a taxi.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan\u2019s voice was still soft with concern. \u201cScarlett, you don\u2019t have to bottle everything up inside. Sometimes, you need to talk about it, to let it out. It might make you feel better.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Nolan. I know.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease send me a text when you arrive home safely.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI will.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After she ended the call, the dam finally broke. Scarlett urned her face toward the window, and silent tears began to stream uncontrollably down her cheeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The memory of Vincent\u2019s words in the car came flooding back, and a crushing weight settled on her chest, making it hard to breathe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had given birth to Vanessa for him, had tirelessly delicated herself to the Stewart family, and yet, in the end, she couldn\u2019t even receive a single kind word from im.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The irony was both pathetic and bitterly amusing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Upon arriving at Theron Manor, she found Nathan still waiting for her at the main entrance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you standing out here?\u201d Scarlett \u2018asked, quickering her pace to reach him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you so late getting home?\u201d Nathan countered, his brow furrowed with deep worry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:25 Wed, Jan 7\u00a0<\/p>\n
82%\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 40 Unexpected Reprieve\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not wanting to cause him undue concern, Scarlett fabriated an excuse. \u201cI had a long surgery this afternoon. I\u2019m sorry I missed your calls.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nathan looked down at his sister. Even in the dim light, he could see the lingering dampness in her eyes, though he chose not to comment on it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As they walked inside together, Nathan suddenly said, \u201cWhy don\u2019t you consider leaving the hospital and coming to work at my company? I can create any comfortable position for you. Work if you feel like it, and if you don\u2019t, you\u2019ll still receive a salary. No pressure.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Theron family\u2019s wealth and influence might not have matched the Stewarts\u2019, but thanks to Henry\u2019s and Nathan\u2019s successful endeavors, they lived a very comfortable life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even if Scarlett never worked another day, financial security would never be a concern.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But she still declined his offer. \u201cI genuinely enjoy practicing medicine. It\u2019s what I want to do.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nathan saw the determination in her eyes and didn\u2019t press the matter further.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He had always respected and supported her choices.\u00a0<\/p>\n
*****\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next day, as soon as Scarlett arrived in her department, she overheard a group of nurses chatting excitedly at the nursing station.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHave you heard the news? Someone incredibly prestigious is coming to our hospital!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Send Gifts\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
2 4\u00a0<\/p>\n
F\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\u00a0<\/p>\n
W\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0b6f\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:26 Wed,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife: Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 40 \u00a0 Chapter 40 Unexpected Reprieve\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 She was already mentally preparing […]<\/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-27404","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\/27404","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=27404"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27404\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27404"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}