\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 73 The Unwilling Return\u00a0<\/p>\n
53\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan paid no heed to Damian\u2019s provocations-his attention remained fixed solely on Scarlett.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett met his gaze and finally spoke softly, \u201cNolan, you should go home and get some rest now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan\u2019s expression was full of concern. \u201cBut what if they come back?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A faint, weary smile touched Scarlett\u2019s lips. \u201cI know Vincent. Once he\u2019s made an exit, he won\u2019t return.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing her determination, Nolan had no choice but to relent. If Scarlett didn\u2019t wish for him to stay, he couldn\u2019t very well force his presence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Moreover, it was indeed improper for an unmarried man and woman to remain alone together so late at night.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the end, both Damian and Nolan departed together, leaving Scarlett in the suddenly quiet room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett sank onto the small couch, sitting in stillness for a long time, unable to dispel the deep sense of unease coiling in her heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent\u2019s cold threat before he left echoed in her mind. She knew him all too well-he was a man who always followed through on his words.\u00a0<\/p>\n
*****\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the car, Daniel couldn\u2019t let the matter rest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cVincent, are you really just going to let this slide?\u201d he pressed, his voice tight with frustration.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent sat in the passenger seat, his demeanor as unreadably calm as ever. His reply was flat. \u201cYes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel was exasperated. \u201cCome on. Are you really going to let Scarlett make a fool of you-not just once, but twice now?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent stared out the window at the passing darkness, a cigarette held loosely between his fingers. The burning tip glowed a fierce red in the night.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His face was mostly obscured by shadow, and his voice was barely a murmur. \u201cShe is Vanessa\u2019s mother. Vanessa needs her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
This only frustrated Daniel further. \u201cVincent, what\u2019s so lacking about Sabrina? If you have Sabrina, why do you still need Scarlett in the picture?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent was silent for a long moment, the only sound the hum of the engine. Finally, he answered, \u201cShe is the one who carried and gave birth to Vanessa.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you\u2019re just going to swallow your pride? Accept this humiliation?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent\u2019s voice remained even, devoid of emotion. \u201cI only want what is best for Vanessa\u2019s well-being.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That was the rationale he voiced aloud. Yet, somewhere deep within, a dissonant note vibrated-a feeling that this explanation wasn\u2019t the entire truth, that something else was unsettled within him, though he\u00a0<\/p>\n
173\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 73 The Unwilling Return\u00a0<\/p>\n
couldn\u2019t quite name it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
53\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel let out a long, resigned sigh. He knew Vincent well enough to understand that further argument was futile, so he let the subject drop.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next morning, after the previous night\u2019s drama, Killian called Scarlett early.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cScarlett, you can return to your position at the main hospital now,\u201d he informed her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett was in the middle of seeing patients at the small rural clinic when she received the call. Surprisingly, she felt little emotion-no relief, no joy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a brief moment, she considered asking him outright. \u201cWho is it that gave the order to send me away? And who is it that now grants me permission to return?\u201d But the questions died on her lips before they could be spoken.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There seemed little point in seeking answers anymore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She couldn\u2019t abandon her patients mid-shift, so Scarlett didn\u2019t immediately depart for Rivergate that day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That evening, Clara called her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They engaged in light, cheerful chatter initially, but when a housemaid entered to tell Clara it was time for her bath, Scarlett finally asked, \u201cClara, where is your mom?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara\u2019s voice took on a slight pout. \u201cMom got a phone call during dinner. I think the brand she was supposed to endorse gave the deal to someone else at the last minute. She left in such a hurry she didn\u2019t even finish her meal.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A wave of foreboding washed over Scarlett. \u201cAnd your dad?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara replied, \u201cDad hasn\u2019t come home all day.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Remembering Vincent\u2019s cold threat, Scarlett\u2019s anxiety intensified.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Both Violet and Nathan adored their daughter. Even during their busiest periods, at least one of them would typically be home to spend the evening with her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But tonight, neither parent was present. Something was definitely wrong.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAuntie, I have to go take my bath now,\u201d Clara said. \u201cI\u2019ll call you again tomorrow.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett murmured a distracted goodbye and ended the call.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her eyes fell upon\u00a0<\/p>\n
her half-packed suitcase sitting in the corner. She knew then that she could no longer\u00a0<\/p>\n
afford to wait.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She immediately called Nolan, and the two of them drove through the night to return to Rivergate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Upon their arrival, Nolan dropped Scarlett off at the gates of Theron Manor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Henry and Diana, seeing Nolan, warmly invited him in for a late-night snack, but Scarlett gently declined on his behalf. \u201cDad, Mom, Nolan needs to get proper rest. It\u2019s very late already; we shouldn\u2019t keep him.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
273\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:07 Thu, Jan 8\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 73 The Unwilling Return\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan understood that Scarlett\u2019s sudden return was likely pressured by Vincent\u2019s actions, and he sensed she needed private time to speak with her family.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He took the hint gracefully. \u201cMr. and Mrs. Theron, I\u2019ll certainly come to visit properly another time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Henry and Diana didn\u2019t press further, smiling and waving as Nolan drove away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next morning, Scarlett rose early and had breakfast in the dining room. She had intended to gently question her family about the situation, but to her surprise, neither Violet nor Nathan was present for the morning meal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Left with no alternative, she headed to the hospital to complete her formal reinstatement procedures.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After her shift ended, Scarlett was the first to return to Theron Manor that evening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
By around eight o\u2019clock, the rest of the family had finally trickled home.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once the household staff had set the dining table, everyone sat down to dinner as was their usual custom.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara was ecstatic. She diligently peeled shrimp for Scarlett, poured her water, and chirped happily about how wonderful it was that Scarlett was home and the whole family could be together always.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet smiled along, but the warmth didn\u2019t quite reach her eyes. Nathan was much the same-making a visible effort to appear calm and normal, but the strain beneath the surface was palpable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Henry and Diana were unusually quiet throughout the meal. The more they all tried to pretend everything was fine, the more glaringly obvious it became that something was amiss.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They said nothing of their troubles, but Scarlett saw through the charade immediately.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was clear that Nathan\u2019s and Violet\u2019s careers had been impacted by Vincent\u2019s interference.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They were putting on a brave face, determined not to worry her, but their silent act only confirmed her fears.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:07 Thu, Jan 8\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife: Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 73 \u00a0 Chapter 73 The Unwilling Return\u00a0 53\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Nolan paid no […]<\/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-27437","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\/27437","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=27437"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27437\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27437"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27437"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27437"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}