\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 83 Catching Up\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their conversation flowed effortlessly, weaving through shared memories of their university days, the demanding nature of their medical studies, the immense challenges of pursuing graduate degrees and doctorates, and the nerve-wracking experience of performing their first solo surgeries.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan proved to be an animated storyteller, regaling her with a series of humorous and insightful anecdotes from his own professional journey.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Naturally, he didn\u2019t neglect to offer Scarlett practical advice for her upcoming academic endeavors, though he was careful not to dwell excessively on the pressures of graduate school, keenly aware of not wanting to overwhelm her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The atmosphere between them was lively, comfortable, and refreshingly easygoing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett realized it had been a very long time since she had felt so genuinely at ease and unguarded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Listening to Nolan recount the various struggles inherent to advanced medical training, Scarlett felt a complex mix of sympathy for his past challenges and a sharp, poignant twinge of envy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If I hadn\u2019t chosen marriage back then, if I had continued my studies instead, how different might my life be now?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Perhaps she would now be moving in the same professional circles as Nolan, her career equally advanced.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But she knew such thoughts were merely wistful speculation, a path not taken.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had already missed one crucial opportunity. This time, she was determined to seize the second chance Thomas was extending to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As their meal was drawing to a close, Nolan placed a small, carefully wrapped parcel on the table between them. He smiled warmly at Scarlett. \u201cI\u2019ve put a few essential reference books in here for you. Take your time studying them. I\u2019ve already gone through and highlighted the most critical sections. With your foundational knowledge and intellect, three months of dedicated preparation will be more than enough for you to rank among the successful candidates.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett accepted the gift, a wave of profound gratitude washing over her. \u201cThank you, Nolan. Truly.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan offered her an encouraging smile, expressing his eagerness to soon see her become a significant and respected figure within the medical community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, at the restaurant\u2019s entrance, Vincent and Sabrina made their way inside together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A waiter, recognizing Vincent immediately, hurried over to greet them. \u201cMr. Stewart, your usual table?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent replied with his characteristic cool detachment, \u201cYes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRight this way, Mr. Stewart, Ms. Monroe.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The waiter led them to a table situated two booths behind where Scarlett and Nolan were seated. The distance and the restaurant\u2019s ambient noise ensured neither party could clearly hear the other\u2019s conversation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett was seated with her back to the newcomers. As Vincent settled into his seat, his gaze swept casually\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:09 Thu, Jan 8\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 83 Catching Up\u00a0<\/p>\n
across the room and, to his mild surprise, landed on the familiar profile of Scarlett.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He registered her presence but deliberately suppressed any reaction.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
After all, Scarlett had already given her word that she would return to Ravenshade Villa whenever Vanessa required her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Therefore, in his mind, no further connection or obligation existed between them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Having reached this conclusion, Vincent simply chose to ignore Scarlett\u2019s presence entirely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina, seated directly across from Vincent and engrossed in the menu, remained completely unaware of\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the other side of the restaurant, however, Nolan had a clear view of Vincent and Sabrina\u2019s arrival.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since Nolan and Vincent were now facing each other indirectly, both men acknowledged the other\u2019s presence with a fleeting glance, yet neither saw fit to mention it to their respective companions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After they had placed their order, Vincent handed the tablet back to the waiter and added a specific request. \u201cAnd a glass of water for the lady, please. With just a small amount of sugar.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The waiter beamed. \u201cSo attentive to your girlfriend\u2019s preferences, Mr. Stewart. It\u2019s very sweet.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina\u2019s cheeks flushed with a delicate pink at the waiter\u2019s assumption, while Vincent maintained his composed demeanor, offering neither confirmation nor denial of the implied relationship.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When their food arrived, Vincent was in the midst of serving a portion to Sabrina when his eyes inadvertently drifted toward Scarlett once more. She appeared to be laughing at something Nolan had said, her head bowed slightly, one hand covering her mouth. Her laughter was light, clear, and utterly\u00a0<\/p>\n
unselfconscious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In his memory, Scarlett\u2019s laughter had always seemed ingratiating and forced when directed at him, a sound he had found intensely irritating.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But this laughter\u2026 it was different. It sounded genuine, carefree.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He couldn\u2019t pinpoint the exact reason, but a sudden, sharp wave of irritation washed over him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina, perceptive as always, noticed the subtle shift in his mood. \u201cIs everything alright, Vincent?\u201d she asked quietly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent forced a thin smile. \u201cIt\u2019s nothing. You mentioned you were hungry. Let\u2019s eat.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina, sensing his desire to drop the subject, simply nodded. \u201cAlright.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A short while later, Scarlett and Nolan concluded their meal and stood to leave together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Perhaps deliberately aiming to avoid an awkward encounter between Scarlett and Vincent, Nolan subtly guided her toward a different exit, one that wouldn\u2019t take them past Vincent\u2019s table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent observed their departure from the corner of his eye but offered no outward reaction, internally dismissing the entire scene.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:09 Thu, Jan 8\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 83 Catching Up\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Let Scarlett do as she pleases. As long as Vanessa\u2019s well-being is secured, her actions are of no consequence to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next morning, true to her revised schedule, Scarlett arrived at Ravenshade Villa early once again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her presence wasn\u2019t solely driven by the agreement with Vincent; a deeper, maternal sense of duty had also taken root. She felt she owed it to Vanessa to be present and reliable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even if Vanessa\u2019s affection for her had waned, the fact remained that she was her mother, and with that came an inherent responsibility.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Over the past few days, Scarlett\u2019s perspective on \u201cbeing good to Vanessa\u201d had undergone a subtle but significant shift.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had come to view it not as a transactional obligation to Vincent, but simply as the right thing to do for her child.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With this change in mindset, the act of preparing breakfast for Vanessa no longer felt strained or performative.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This morning, she had prepared pancake and a pot of slowly simmered oatmeal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While washing her hands at the sink, Scarlett suddenly felt an unexpected draft of cool air against her back, followed by the distinct, soft sound of a zipper sliding down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The dress she was wearing featured a back zipper. Evidently, as she had bent over repeatedly while shaping the pancake, the zipper had gradually worked its way loose, now exposing a significant portion of her back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was at that precise moment that Vincent returned from his morning run. Seeing the kitchen lights ablaze, and with the memory of Scarlett\u2019s dinner with Nolan the previous night fresh in his mind, he found himself curiously wondering if she would still honor her commitment to prepare Vanessa\u2019s breakfast. He walked toward the kitchen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
B\u00a0<\/p>\n
373\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:09 Thu, Jan 8\u00a0<\/p>\n
G\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 83 \u00a0 Chapter 83 Catching Up\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Their conversation flowed effortlessly, weaving […]<\/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-27447","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\/27447","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=27447"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27447\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27447"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27447"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27447"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}