\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 49 Confronting Shadows\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan replied simply, \u201cYeah.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That single word was all Scarlett needed. \u201cI see,\u201d she said understanding dawning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now it was Nolan\u2019s turn to be confused. \u201cSee what?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
80%\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
While Scarlett wasn\u2019t absolutely certain, she had a stron suspicion forming in her mind. She kept her theory to herself, however, not voicing it to Nolan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll give some serious thought to the master and PhD idea. Thank you for mentioning it to him,\u201d she said instead.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan\u2019s voice brightened noticeably upon hearing this.f Mr. Newman finds out you\u2019re considering it, he\u2019ll be over the moon. Scarlett, you\u2019ve always deserved access to the best opportunities.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Scarlett ende the call.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stood clutching her phone, her mind racing as she pieced together the reason behind Vincent\u2019s targeting of Nolan. It almost certainly traced back to the incident in Thomas\u2019 lecture that day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During the discussion session, Nolan had pointedly ignored Sabrina, directing all his attention and conversation toward Scarlett.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To an outside observer, it might have seemed insignificant, but Sabrina was Vincent\u2019s cherished darling. How could he possibly tolerate seeing his precious favorite being slighted in any way?\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the fifteenth, Scarlett returned to Oakland Villa.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her reason was singular and clear-she needed to get answers for Nolan\u2019s sake.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A medical genius of his caliber shouldn\u2019t have his career derailed simply because of his association with her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When she arrived at Oakland Villa, Vincent wasn\u2019t home yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Freya was both surprised and delighted to see Scarlett, who hadn\u2019t set foot in the house for two straight\u00a0<\/p>\n
months.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Stewart, you\u2019ve finally come home!\u201d Freya exclaimed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett offered only a faint, subdued smile in return. \u201cYs.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Stewart, I bought a whole batch of fresh groceries today. Would you like to prepare dinner yourself?\u201d Freya suggested.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was still relatively early, leaving plenty of time to cool an elaborate meal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Freya had noticed Vincent returning home regularly over the past two months, so she assumed he would likely appear tonight as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Knowing the relationship between Scarlett and Vincent was strained, she subtly hinted that Scarlett should prepare a special meal to help win back his favor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett caught the underlying suggestion in Freya\u2019s words but merely smiled again. \u201cFreya, you handle the cooking. You\u2019re well aware of my preferences and dietary restrictions.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:28 Wed, Jan 7.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 49 Confronting Shadows\u00a0<\/p>\n
80%\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Freya was taken aback, not having expected this response. \u201cMrs. Stewart, you\u2026\u201d she began, trailing off in\u00a0<\/p>\n
confusion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease, just go ahead and cook. There\u2019s no need to prepare anything excessively elaborate,\u201d Scarlett instructed calmly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the past, she would have done everything herself, but it had never made a difference-Vincent never appreciated her efforts anyway.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Frowning, Freya couldn\u2019t help but feel that Scarlett seemed like a completely different person now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After retreating to the kitchen, Freya pondered the situation and decided to take matters into her own hands by calling Vincent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Stewart, Mrs. Stewart has returned. She\u2019s preparing dinner now and is waiting for you to come home,\u201d Freya said, telling a small white lie.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In her view, they were a married couple with a child-surely their issues couldn\u2019t be beyond repair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent was working late at the office when Freya\u2019s call came through. He was genuinely surprised to hear that Scarlett had returned to Oakland Villa.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He had honestly believed she would never come back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After hanging up, Vincent saved his work, shut down his computer, and left the office.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment he stepped into the foyer of Oakland Villa he saw Scarlett descending the staircase from the second floor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett saw him too. Not a trace of warmth or pleasure crossed her face, and she made no move to come take his coat as she once would have.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She simply finished walking down the stairs in silence and took a seat at the dining table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent removed his coat and hung it by the door himself, then sat down at the table opposite her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Freya brought out the dishes, she could feel the thick, uncomfortable tension hanging between them and didn\u2019t dare say much.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. and Mrs. Stewart, dinner is served,\u201d she announced quietly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett looked up at Freya and said, \u201cFreya, could you give us some privacy, please? There\u2019s something I need to discuss with Vincent alone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Freya forced a couple of awkward chuckles and replied. Of course, right away,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once Freya had withdrawn, Scarlett didn\u2019t pick up her directly in the eye, and came straight to the point. \u201cWas\u00a0<\/p>\n
ensils. She turned to face Vincent, looked him\u00a0<\/p>\n
you who instructed Daniel to have Nolan fired?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent surmised that this Nolan must be the man Scarlett had been seen dining with on several occasions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He vaguely recalled Daniel mentioning offhandedly. \u201cI took care of that matter for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now that Scarlett was confronting him, it was clear Danel had indeed taken some form of action.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:28 Wed,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 49 Confronting Shadows\u00a0<\/p>\n
Though Vincent wasn\u2019t privy to the exact details, her accusation confirmed the essence of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat exactly are you implying?\u201d Vincent didn\u2019t bother denying it; he merely tossed the question back at\u00a0<\/p>\n
her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His evasive response only served to confirm Scarlett\u2019s suspicions. She let out a short, bitter laugh. \u201cYou\u2019re truly despicable.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh really? I\u2019m despicable?\u201d Vincent retorted, a cold edge to his voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIsn\u2019t it blatantly obvious?\u201d Scarlett shot back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just because Nolan hadn\u2019t chosen to discuss the project with Sabrina, Vincent was willing to destroy a genuine talent\u2019s entire career prospects.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent realized then that Scarlett hadn\u2019t returned because of the baby, nor for his sake. She had come back solely to confront him about that man, Nolan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But what exactly was the nature of their relationship?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why did she feel such a compelling need to stand up and fight for him?\u00a0<\/p>\n
A sharp, possessive jealousy surged within Vincent. \u201cYou should have considered the potential consequences before allowing him to get so close to you,\u201d he stated collly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It never even occurred to Scarlett that Vincent might be jealous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This was Vincent, after all-a man who needed to maintain absolute control over everything and everyone\u00a0<\/p>\n
in his orbit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was his wife, a possession, and therefore was never supposed to step out of line.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Scarlett was finished with being a pawn in his games.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNolan and I have been friends for years,\u201d she declared, her voice steady and defiant. \u201cAnd besides, who are you to think you can control who I see and what I do?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Send Gifts\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:28 Wed, Jan 7 u uu\u00a0<\/p>\n
80%\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife: Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 49 \u00a0 Chapter 49 Confronting Shadows\u00a0 Nolan replied simply, \u201cYeah.\u201d\u00a0 That single […]<\/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-27413","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\/27413","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=27413"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27413\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}