\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 80 Terms of Surrender\u00a0<\/p>\n
53\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had already braced herself for his answer, yet hearing the cold, unadorned truth still managed to send a fresh, sharp pang through Scarlett\u2019s heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stubbornly pressed Vincent, her voice tight. \u201cWhy? Why are you doing this?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent offered no explanation. He simply averted his gaze and stated dismissively, \u201cNo particular reason.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Unable to decipher his motives and struggling to contain her rising frustration, Scarlett demanded, \u201cWhat is it that you actually want from me, Vincent?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent remained silent for a long, heavy moment. Finally, his eyes met hers again. \u201cVanessa needs you,\u201d he stated, as if that single sentence explained everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He had used this exact reasoning before, just prior to her being sent to the countryside-that Vanessa missed her cooking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suddenly, the pieces clicked into place for Scarlett. A flood of recent memories rushed back, providing a bitter context.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo,\u201d she began, her voice laced with cold understanding, \u201cif I fulfill my role as Vanessa\u2019s mother to your satisfaction, you will cease your attacks on my family?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent\u2019s gaze remained steady on her. \u201cYes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The bluntness of his confirmation caught Scarlett off guard, stunning her into momentary silence. \u201cAlright,\u201d she finally acquiesced, the word tasting like ash.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent\u2019s reply was a noncommittal grunt. \u201cMm.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even after reaching this unsettling agreement, Scarlett felt no sense of security. She needed specifics. \u201cHow long will it take for you to lift the pressure from Nathan and Violet? When will their careers be safe?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent\u2019s answer was deliberately vague, designed to keep her off-balance. \u201cThat depends entirely on your performance.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing this, the stark reality of her position settled over her-Vincent would always hold the power in their dynamic. He controlled the terms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But she was backed into a corner, with no viable alternatives. A profound sense of helplessness washed over her as she silently accepted his conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There seemed to be little left to discuss, yet Scarlett felt compelled to voice the question that had been gnawing at her. \u201cWhy have you been deliberately avoiding me ever since I returned? You wouldn\u2019t even grant me a few minutes to discuss this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent\u2019s answer was another quiet, infuriating evasion. \u201cNo reason.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He certainly couldn\u2019t tell her the truth-that every time he looked at her, the image of her with Damian flashed in his mind, stirring a possessiveness and anger he refused to acknowledge.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But in the end, his reasons were irrelevant. He claimed there was none, and Scarlett lacked the energy to\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:08 Thu, Jan 8 G\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 80 Terms of Surrender\u00a0<\/p>\n
pry further.\u00a0<\/p>\n
53\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
She simply looked at him, her expression solemn and resolute. \u201cI am Vanessa\u2019s mother. I will fulfill the responsibilities that come with that title. But that is all I will do.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her tone was flat and devoid of emotion, a stark contrast to the warmth and joy she had once radiated when speaking of their daughter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Having said her piece, Scarlett stood up and walked purposefully toward the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent watched her retreating figure, a nagging feeling that she had changed profoundly tugging at him, though he couldn\u2019t quite pinpoint the exact nature of the transformation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Outside the private room, as Scarlett opened the door, she found Damian leaning casually against the doorframe. An unlit cigarette dangled from his fingers. His cool, assessing gaze was fixed on Daniel and Harris, who stood a short distance away, his posture radiating a confidence that suggested he could handle both of them single-handedly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was clear something had transpired in the hallway. Both Daniel and Harris looked thoroughly irritated and on edge.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Undoubtedly, a significant confrontation had occurred outside while Scarlett and Vincent were talking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Judging by the territorial way Damian held the space, he had clearly emerged the victor in whatever exchange had taken place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was a time when Scarlett would have gone out of her way to be deferential to Daniel and Harris. Now, she found she couldn\u2019t muster even a shred of regard for them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Witnessing the visible frustration Damian had provoked in them afforded her a small, private sense of satisfaction.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t grant Daniel or Harris so much as a glance. Instead, she turned directly to Damian. \u201cMr. Langley, let\u2019s go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian immediately stepped forward and wrapped a firm, possessive arm around Scarlett\u2019s waist. He leaned in close, inhaling the faint, sweet scent of her shampoo as if savoring a rare perfume, his expression one of pure, unadulterated appreciation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a moment of this, he smirked and replied, \u201cAnything you say, sweetheart.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His proximity was overwhelming. Scarlett instinctively brought her hand up to push his arm away, but he only tightened his grip. \u201cCome on, babe,\u201d he murmured, his voice a low tease, \u201cwe\u2019ve got an audience. Humor me a little, won\u2019t you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett let her hand fall back to her side, resigning herself to his hold.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s just a body. And it\u2019s only an arm around my waist. It means nothing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But to Daniel and Harris, the sight of Damian holding Scarlett in such an intimate, claiming manner was a blatant and galling provocation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel, never one to filter his thoughts, was boiling over. He immediately spat out, \u201cUtterly shameless.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
THU\u00a0<\/p>\n
C\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\u00a0<\/p>\n
|||\u00a0<\/p>\n
O\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:08 Thu, Jan 8\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 80 Terms of Surrender\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian heard the insult but, instead of taking offense, he threw his head back and laughed, a loud, theatrical sound that seemed deliberately designed to escalate the tension.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Emboldened, Daniel suddenly shouted at Scarlett\u2019s retreating back, \u201cScarlett! Do you have any idea how many women Damian has been with?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett halted her steps but didn\u2019t turn around. Her voice was eerily calm when she replied, \u201cI have no idea, nor do I care to know.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel let out a derisive laugh and took a step closer. \u201cYou think shacking up with him will lead to a good life? Let me enlighten you-you\u2019re just the latest rose in his endless garden. You\u2019ll be discarded like all the others.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett remained silent, refusing to be drawn into his taunts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel mistook her silence for scare. He was about to launch another verbal assault when Damian smoothly shifted position, placing himself squarely as a shield between Scarlett and Daniel.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He looked at Daniel with a mocking, raised eyebrow. \u201cWell, well, Mr. Lennox. You seem to know an awful lot about my personal life. Tell me, am I one of the roses in your garden, too?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel shot him a venomous glare. \u201cWho\u2019s even talking to you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian\u2019s amusement only seemed to grow. \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter? Did I strike a little too close to home?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel\u2019s face darkened with pure fury. He barked out the name like a curse. \u201cDamian!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:08\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thu, Jah\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife: Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 80 \u00a0 Chapter 80 Terms of Surrender\u00a0 53\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 She had already […]<\/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-27444","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\/27444","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=27444"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27444\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}