Chapter 85 The Gown and the Invitation\u00a0<\/p>\n
53\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the moment he stepped across the threshold, Vincent nearly collided with Lily, who was approaching the kitchen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent instructed her tersely, \u201cScarlett has injured her hand. Go inside and assist her with the wound.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside the kitchen, Scarlett overheard the muffled voices at the door. She frowned, utterly perplexed by Vincent\u2019s sudden, uncharacteristic concern.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was no logical answer to be found, so Scarlett simply dismissed the thought from her mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A moment later, Lily entered and efficiently cleaned and dressed the small burn on her finger.\u00a0<\/p>\n
By the time the ministrations were complete, the oatmeal was perfectly cooked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As Scarlett turned off the stove, she could hear the distinct, easy cadence of Vincent and Sabrina\u2019s conversation drifting in from the hallway. She couldn\u2019t make out the words, but the tone was unmistakably relaxed and familiar, a comfortable back-and-forth that spoke of deep intimacy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yes, the difference between being loved and not being loved is a chasm as wide as the ocean.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Throughout their five years of marriage, Scarlett had never felt she could simply be her authentic self around Vincent. She was in a constant state of high alert, second-guessing her every action, perpetually anxious about whether she was behaving correctly or if she might inadvertently provoke his displeasure.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Consequently, she had lived those years in a state of perpetual tension and profound exhaustion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But no matter how hard she tried, the fundamental truth remained unchanged-Vincent simply did not love her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, Vincent abruptly walked back into the kitchen. Seeing Scarlett standing motionless by the stove, seemingly lost in thought, he grasped her arm to get her attention. \u201cAn urgent matter has come up at the office. I need to leave immediately. Once Vanessa is awake, can you take her to school?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett didn\u2019t even turn to look at him. She simply nodded, her voice flat. \u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent\u2019s gaze lingered on her profile. Her expression was placid, so utterly calm and devoid of its usual nervous energy that he found it completely unreadable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ultimately, he chose not to question her further.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He departed with Sabrina.\u00a0<\/p>\n
*****\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next afternoon, Scarlett had a rare day off from the hospital.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was just preparing to leave for the library, the book Nolan had given her tucked securely under her arm, when her phone suddenly vibrated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She glanced at the screen-it was a call from Damian.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/2\u00a0<\/p>\n
53\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 85 The Gown and the Invitation\u00a0<\/p>\n
Remembering the significant favor he had done for her recently, she felt obligated to answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Standing by the window, hugging the textbook to her chest, she asked quietly, \u201cWhat is it, Damian?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was unusually quiet on Damian\u2019s end. He adopted his characteristic, teasing drawl. \u201cHey there, beautiful. Been missing me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett\u2019s brow furrowed slightly. \u201cDamian, if you have a specific reason for calling, please just state it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t think Damian was a bad person, but his relentless, flirtatious banter was something she simply didn\u2019t know how to handle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAww, sweetheart, if you don\u2019t miss me, my poor heart is going to shatter into a million pieces,\u201d he sighed with theatrical despair, feigning profound sadness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett, at a loss for how to respond to such antics, remained silent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When it became clear she wouldn\u2019t play along, Damian finally dropped the act. \u201cAlright, alright, I\u2019ll stop teasing. I need you to accompany me to a banquet tonight.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Recalling the promise she had made him, Scarlett agreed without argument. \u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian added, \u201cI\u2019ll have an appropriate outfit delivered to you. I\u2019ll pick you up promptly at six. Someone will also contact you to handle hair and makeup.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He had clearly arranged every detail, leaving Scarlett with nothing to worry about.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright,\u201d Scarlett affirmed, holding the phone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian instantly switched back to his playful persona. \u201cOkay, gorgeous, I\u2019m hanging up now. Don\u2019t forget to think of me!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After the call ended, Scarlett hailed a taxi and returned to Theron Manor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She hadn\u2019t been home long before the promised stylists made contact.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The process of hair and makeup took nearly three hours. Scarlett\u2019s limbs grew stiff, and her backside felt numb from sitting for so long.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finally, the makeup artist stepped back and announced, \u201cMs. Theron, we are all finished. You can open your eyes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett did so and looked into the proffered mirror. Her eyes, enhanced by skillful makeup, appeared brighter and more luminous. Her teeth seemed whiter against the subtle blush that colored her cheeks, her brows were perfectly sculpted, and her lashes were curled to dramatic effect. The overall makeup was delicate and refined, making her skin appear flawlessly fair and giving her eyes a captivating depth and sparkle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Staring at the reflection of the stunning woman gazing back, Scarlett felt a wave of disorientation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It had been years-an eternity, it felt like-since she had taken the time to be professionally groomed like this. During her university days, she had been widely considered one of the most beautiful girls on campus, with no shortage of male admirers. But after meeting Vincent, all of that had gradually faded into irrelevance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
273\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 85 The Gown and the Invitation\u00a0<\/p>\n
The memory brought a sudden, unexpected sting to her eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
53\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
The makeup artist, noticing the sheen of unshed tears, asked nervously, \u201cMs. Theron, is there something unsatisfactory about the final look?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett forced a light laugh, quickly composing herself. \u201cNo, not at all. It\u2019s just\u2026 I look so different. It\u2019s a pleasant surprise, that\u2019s all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The makeup artist visibly relaxed, discreetly wiping a bead of sweat from her temple. Before arriving, Damian had made it abundantly clear that if Scarlett was not completely satisfied, there would be severe consequences.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once the makeup was confirmed, the artist helped Scarlett into the evening gown.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian had selected a brilliant, fiery red dress-bold, striking, and utterly daring. It was a style Scarlett would never have chosen for herself, convinced she couldn\u2019t carry it off. But the moment the fabric settled on her frame, the makeup artist\u2019s eyes widened with genuine admiration and a touch of envy. \u201cMs. Theron, this\u00a0<\/p>\n
gown was made for you. It fits you as if it were tailored precisely to your form.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett did, indeed, possess an excellent figure-generous curves in all the right places, balanced by a slender waist and graceful limbs. Standing before the full-length mirror, even she was taken aback by the vision she presented.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ever since Vanessa\u2019s birth, she had not attended any formal social gatherings or events.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But beneath the surface, she was still a woman. The desire to stand confidently in the spotlight, to be seen and appreciated, had never truly died.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At six o\u2019clock precisely, Damian\u2019s car pulled up at Theron Manor, right on schedule.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With a final adjustment from the makeup artist, Scarlett took a deep breath and walked out of the manor to meet him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:11 Thu, Jan 8t\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 85 Chapter 85 The Gown and the Invitation\u00a0 53\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 But the […]<\/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-27449","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\/27449","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=27449"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27449\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}