\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 77 The Morning After\u00a0<\/p>\n
S\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent and Sabrina stood beneath the spectacular fireworks display, both tilting their heads back to watch the brilliant colors explode across the night sky. From behind, their silhouettes against the shimmering backdrop looked like a perfectly matched couple.\u00a0<\/p>\n
[Oh my god, look at all those fireworks! They must be going on forever, right?]\u00a0<\/p>\n
[I heard the show lasted a full thirty minutes, and every sequence was completely unique.]\u00a0<\/p>\n
[That must have cost an absolute fortune!]\u00a0<\/p>\n
[Not as much as you\u2019d think, actually. My family\u2019s in the pyrotechnics business. For a display of that scale and duration, I\u2019d estimate around ten million dollars.]\u00a0<\/p>\n
[Ten million? That\u2019s how the ultra-rich live, I guess. Just the fireworks alone cost more than I could earn in my entire lifetime.]\u00a0<\/p>\n
As she scrolled through the news coverage, Scarlett finally understood why Vincent hadn\u2019t returned to Ravenshade Villa that night.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No matter how demanding his schedule, Vincent typically made it a point to be wherever Vanessa was. The fact that Vanessa was home alone while he was absent could only mean he was engaged in something he deemed exceptionally important.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett had never imagined that his \u201cexceptionally important\u201d engagement was throwing an extravagant birthday celebration for Sabrina.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He had actually left their young daughter at home, unsupervised, for this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The thought sent a sharp, bitter pang through her. Then another, more visceral thought struck her- perhaps at this very moment, Vincent and Sabrina were entangled in an intimate embrace, lost in passion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On a romantic night like this, fueled by champagne and fireworks, it would be a wasted opportunity not to consummate the atmosphere.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The more her mind conjured these images, the more a burning sensation prickled behind her eyes. She couldn\u2019t suppress the choked sob that escaped her lips, and silent tears began to trace paths down her cheeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The sound of her quiet crying stirred Vanessa from her sleep. The little girl rolled over and mumbled drowsily, \u201cMom, can you please not play on your phone in the middle of the night? The light and the noise are keeping me awake.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett quickly switched off her phone, plunging the room into darkness. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, sweetheart,\u201d she whispered. \u201cI\u2019ll go sleep in the guest room.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa, already halfway back to dreamland, simply rolled over again, completely missing Scarlett\u2019s soft apology and promise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett sat up in the dimness, staring at Vanessa\u2019s sleeping form for a long, long time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Remembering how Vanessa had claimed Vincent was \u201cworking late\u201d the previous night, she found the\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:07 Thu, Jan 8\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 77 The Morning After\u00a0<\/p>\n
situation tragically laughable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To Vanessa, it was painfully obvious whose feelings and reputation were deemed more worthy of protection.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ultimately, Scarlett slipped out of bed and left Vanessa\u2019s room, seeking the solitude of the guest room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She spent the entire night awake there, relentlessly scrolling through every article, photo, and video detailing Vincent and Sabrina\u2019s very public celebration.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the first hints of dawn painted the sky, Scarlett abandoned any pretense of sleep. She rose and mechanically began preparing breakfast for Vanessa.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She made a simple oatmeal and fried a few sticks of churro, the fried dough Vanessa usually enjoyed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once everything was ready and laid out on the dining table, Scarlett went back upstairs to gently wake Vanessa and help her with her morning routine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After Vanessa had washed up and dressed, mother and daughter descended the stairs together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as they entered the dining room, Lily\u2019s voice rang out from the main entrance, \u201cGood morning, Mr. Stewart. Good morning, Ms. Monroe.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett froze for a fraction of a second. When she looked toward the doorway, she saw a stunningly attractive couple stepping inside, bathed in the soft morning light.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina, who must have spotted Scarlett immediately, discreetly released her hold on Vincent\u2019s arm just before they crossed the threshold.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett watched their entrance without flinching. Vincent looked utterly relaxed, a faint, contented smile playing on his lips. Sabrina\u2019s cheeks were flushed a delicate pink, her entire demeanor radiating a glow that suggested she had been very thoroughly and recently satisfied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett\u2019s gaze dropped, and she noticed a new, exquisite pale green\/emerald bracelet adorning Sabrina\u2019s wrist. It caught the light, sparkling with an undeniable, expensive sheen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent didn\u2019t even glance in Scarlett\u2019s direction as he entered. Instead, he addressed Lily directly. \u201cPrepare some nutritious dishes for this afternoon. Sabrina had a rather\u2026 strenuous night. She needs something restorative.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lily\u2019s face paled slightly at the blatant implication, but she could only bow her head and reply, \u201cYes, Mr. Stewart.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett was a woman of the world; she understood perfectly well what Vincent\u2019s words-and Sabrina\u2019s glowing appearance-signified.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On a night like the one they\u2019d just had, such an outcome was almost inevitable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Vanessa saw Sabrina return, she instinctively tried to pull her hand free from Scarlett\u2019s grasp, but Scarlett held on just a little tighter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa didn\u2019t struggle further. Instead, she beamed at Vincent. \u201cDad, you must be so tired from working so late! You should go get some rest. Mom is taking me to school today.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:07 Thu, Jan 8,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 77 The Morning After\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent walked over and affectionately ruffled Vanessa\u2019s hair. \u201cYou\u2019re a good girl, Vanessa.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa nuzzled into his palm like an affectionate kitten. \u201cI\u2019ll always be good for you, Dad.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then she turned her attention back to Scarlett. \u201cMom, let\u2019s eat breakfast now. I\u2019m hungry.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett looked down at Vanessa\u2019s upturned face, a fresh ache piercing her heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Was Vanessa, even at her young age, already learning to cover for her father, constructing an elaborate pretense that he had been working rather than spending the night in another woman\u2019s arms?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMom?\u201d Vanessa shook Scarlett\u2019s arm gently when she seemed to drift away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett snapped back to the present, forcing a soft smile onto her lips. \u201cYes, of course. Let\u2019s eat.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa led Scarlett to the table. While Scarlett was busy serving the oatmeal into bowls, the little girl quickly turned and blew a discreet, affectionate kiss in Sabrina\u2019s direction.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett caught the gesture out of the corner of her eye but said nothing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She placed a bowl of the plain oatmeal in front of Vanessa. \u201cHere you go, sweetheart. Eat up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa glanced down at the simple, unadorned oatmeal and her face fell slightly. \u201cMom, isn\u2019t there anything else to go with this? It\u2019s a bit plain.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett didn\u2019t answer Vanessa\u2019s question. Instead, her gaze shifted to Vincent, who was just about to escort Sabrina upstairs. Her voice, clear and firm, cut across the room. \u201cVincent. I need to speak with you. Now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:08\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jan\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 77 \u00a0 Chapter 77 The Morning After\u00a0 S\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Vincent and Sabrina […]<\/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-27441","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\/27441","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=27441"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27441\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}