Chapter 52 The Stage of Contrasts\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe Auntic!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, sweetheart, let\u2019s go home for dinner. I will peel some shrimp for you later.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYay, that\u2019s awesome!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
77%\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Across the street, Sam held the car door open, but Vanessa remained frozen in place, her mind elsewhere.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Stewart?\u201d he prompted gently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa snapped back to the present, but her eyes were ready glistening with unshed tears.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had overheard every word of the warm exchange between Scarlett and Clara.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett was so patient and gentle with Clara, yet whenever Vanessa called, she would end the conversation after just a few curt sentences.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It truly felt like Scarlett didn\u2019t love her anymore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She hadn\u2019t always been like this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Stewart, do you still wish to speak with Mrs. Stewar?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A sharp pang of hurt shot through Vanessa\u2019s chest. \u201cNo,\u201d he said, her voice thick with emotion. \u201cI want to go back to Ravenshade Villa. I want to see Sabrina.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
If Scarlett didn\u2019t love her anymore, then she wouldn\u2019t keep chasing after her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina was better anyway. Sabrina cared about her, paid attention to her feelings.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But during the drive back to Ravenshade Villa, Vanessa till couldn\u2019t make sense of it. Silent tears traced paths down her cheeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why had Scarlett changed so suddenly?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett used to adore her. How could those feelings just vanish?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fine. If Scarlett didn\u2019t want her, she still had Sabrina.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina was the one who treated her the best.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dinner had been postponed at Theron Manor, waiting for Scarlett\u2019s return.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, the whole family sat around the dining table, the mosphere lively with laughter and conversation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara was seated contentedly between Scarlett and Viole. Both Scarlett and Violet kept piling food onto her plate and diligently peeling shrimp for her. She was so issfully happy her eyes crinkled into joyful little\u00a0<\/p>\n
crescent moons.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, Auntie, tomorrow is the Thanksgiving performance! I\u2019m so excited, but I\u2019m really nervous too!\u201d Clara confessed, licking her fingers as she bounced between anticipation and anxiety.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:30 Wed, Jan 7 u\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 52 The Stage of Contrasts\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett offered a soft smile, though a heaviness settled her heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet spoke to Clara in a gentle, reassuring tone, \u201cTomorrow, both Mom and Auntie will be there in the audience. There\u2019s no need to be scared, just do your very best. If you earn a sticker as a reward, that\u2019s wonderful. But even if you don\u2019t, you\u2019ll always be the best in our eyes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara giggled, her little heart swelling with happy anticipation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suddenly, she turned to Scarlett, a shadow of concern in her big eyes. \u201cAuntie, are you really sure it will be okay tomorrow?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t the first time Clara had asked Scarlett this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She and Vanessa attended the same kindergarten, but tomorrow, Scarlett wouldn\u2019t be accompanying Vanessa to the event-she would be there for Clara instead.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While this made Clara incredibly happy, a small part of her worried about how Vanessa might feel.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett had wrestled with this dilemma herself. Initially she hadn\u2019t even realized both children went to the same kindergarten; she only found out when Clara mentioned it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Besides, she had given her promise to Clara first.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And if she was completely honest with herself, Vanessa robably didn\u2019t need or want her there anymore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a moment\u2019s reflection, Scarlett smiled reassuringly at Clara. \u201cIt will be perfectly fine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She longed to be there for her own daughter, but her daughter seemingly had no use for her now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their relationship would likely never return to what it once was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If only I hadn\u2019t overheard Vanessa saying those hurtful words. If only I didn\u2019t know that the person Vanessa values most is Sabrina\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
But life, she knew, was not made of \u201cif onlys\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
*****\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next morning, Clara woke up bursting with excitement. She roused Violet first, then scampered off to wake Scarlett.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Today was the big event. The teacher had said the children could have their makeup done either at home or at school.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet, a former model, naturally intended to do her daughter\u2019s makeup herself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They needed to arrive at the school before 8:30 AM, so Violet was already up and preparing by six.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After Clara\u2019s enthusiastic wake-up call, Scarlett got up as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet carefully applied Clara\u2019s makeup, helped her into an adorable dress, and styled her hair into two neat little braids, finishing the look with pretty hairbands. When Clara skipped around, the ribbons fluttered charmingly in the air, making her look even more delightful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once Clara was fully ready, Violet headed to Scarlett\u2019s rom.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:30 Wed, Jan 7\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 52 The Stage of Contrasts\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cScarlett, let me do your makeup for you,\u201d Violet offered\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett was already dressed in comfortable clothes and baseball cap.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was familiar with how these kindergarten events worked-there would be dancing and parent-child activities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t a day for dressing up; comfort was paramount for playing properly with the children.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cViolet, I think I\u2019ll skip the makeup today. I\u2019ll likely be playing games with Clara later,\u201d Scarlett replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had once imagined attending parent-child events with Vanessa countless times, even browsing ideas online for fun activities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But now that her own daughter was actually in kindergarten, she felt like an outsider, an unnecessary\u00a0<\/p>\n
presence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At least she could still participate fully with Clara.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet understood the complex emotions behind Scarlett\u2019s words. She smiled warmly, \u201cPlaying games doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t look your best! Besides, putting on makeup is for yourself. When you look pretty, you feel good from the inside out. Come on, let me give you a light, fresh, natural look.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett found she couldn\u2019t refuse such a kind offer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ever since Vanessa was born, Scarlett had rarely worn makeup. Fortunately, she had been blessed with good skin, so she didn\u2019t look much older than her peers even without it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But with just a few skillful touches from Violet, her features were subtly enhanced, making her appear noticeably younger, brighter, and more vibrant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Send Gifts\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:30 Wed, Jan 7\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 52 Chapter 52 The Stage of Contrasts\u00a0 \u201cI believe Auntic!\u201d\u00a0 \u201cCome on, […]<\/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-27416","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\/27416","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=27416"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27416\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}