\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 98 The Unwelcome Gift\u00a0<\/p>\n
52\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier accepted the gift box, his eyes crinkling at the corners with genuine pleasure. \u201cExcellent, you always know exactly what to choose, Scarlett. I truly appreciate this, I really do.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett\u2019s gaze drifted sideways, taking in the array of extravagant gifts displayed on the nearby table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There were pieces of agate, strings of pearls, emerald ornaments, antique vases, and even what appeared to be original famous paintings\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Every conceivable luxury was represented, each item undoubtedly worth a small fortune.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her own humble offering was by far the most modest present there-the kind that might normally cause someone embarrassment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Though Xavier claimed to like it, Scarlett understood he was primarily expressing sympathy for her situation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent had remained seated on the sofa since arriving at the Stewart Manor, head bowed as he fiddled with his phone. It was impossible to tell whether he was handling work matters or exchanging messages with Sabrina.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett observed him discreetly. He showed no apparent interest in what she had prepared for his grandfather.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As for Lucy, she didn\u2019t harbor the same active dislike toward Scarlett that Amanda did, but neither was she particularly warm. She maintained a polite, somewhat distant civility and nothing more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beyond greeting Scarlett when she first entered, Lucy hadn\u2019t spoken another word to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Amanda had three children. Vincent was the eldest, while Lucy and Luke were twins, with Lucy being born first, thus claiming the position of older sister.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Both Lucy and Luke were only twenty-two, still completing their university studies. Lucy was pursuing medicine, while Luke was majoring in finance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, when it came to their academic approaches, Lucy demonstrated clear focus and dedication, whereas Luke seemed content to merely drift through his studies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite being twins, their personalities couldn\u2019t have been more different.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Scarlett entered the kitchen, the household staff greeted her with respectful murmurs of \u201cMrs. Stewart\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She acknowledged them with a nod before setting to work preparing cake for Xavier.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Midway through her cooking, Luke finally returned home.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The young man sported shockingly blond-dyed hair and several letters tattooed along his forearm-likely someone\u2019s initials.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luke bore no resemblance to Vincent\u2019s composed demeanor. He radiated restless adolescent energy, like a youth who hadn\u2019t quite matured, carrying a distinct air of rebellion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:13 Thu, Jan 8 G.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 98 The Unwelcome Gift\u00a0<\/p>\n
52\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0f22 \u0f26\u0f21\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
He strode into the living room and offered greetings to each family member in turn. \u201cGrandpa, Dad, Mom, Vincent, Lucy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After completing his perfunctory greetings, his eyes scanned the room. Not spotting Scarlett, he collapsed onto the sofa beside Vincent, throwing his legs up onto the coffee table and leaning his head back against the cushions with an audible sigh.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luke looked particularly pleased with himself. \u201cExcellent, Scarlett\u2019s cooking again. I\u2019m definitely in for a treat tonight.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucy delivered a sharp kick to his shin. \u201cGet your feet off the furniture. And stop acting so entitled-Scarlett isn\u2019t the family housemaid.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the youngest member of the Stewart family, Luke was undoubtedly the most indulged, which had cultivated a certain brattish quality in his behavior.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This also meant he generally did whatever he pleased.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Within the Stewart family, aside from Vincent himself, Luke feared no one.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So when Lucy kicked him, he barely flinched, not even bothering to open his eyes to look at her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier observed Luke\u2019s behavior and tapped his cane sharply against the floor. \u201cLuke, go assist with bringing the dishes out from the kitchen.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luke protested immediately, \u201cGrandpa, I\u2019m not a servant. Let Scarlett handle it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier\u2019s voice hardened. \u201cShe is not a servant either.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing Xavier\u2019s rising anger, Luke reluctantly straightened his posture.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He wasn\u2019t exactly afraid of Xavier, but Xavier was a family elder deserving of basic respect.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Still, he couldn\u2019t resist muttering under his breath, \u201cIt\u2019s not like she hasn\u2019t done it all before anyway.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier\u2019s hearing wasn\u2019t what it used to be, so he missed Luke\u2019s quiet remark, merely continuing to glare at Luke with evident displeasure.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent overheard Luke\u2019s disrespectful comment about Scarlett but showed no visible reaction.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To be perfectly honest, Luke wasn\u2019t entirely wrong-Scarlett had performed these tasks countless times before.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With the evening growing late, Richard finally called everyone to the dining table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett still hadn\u2019t emerged from the kitchen, but Xavier acquiesced to Richard\u2019s suggestion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If they delayed any further, dinner would stretch unreasonably late.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everyone took their seats, yet Scarlett remained conspicuously absent from the kitchen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier began to grow concerned, turning to Vincent with instruction. \u201cGo check on Scarlett in the kitchen. Tell her to stop fussing over perfection and come join everyone for the meal.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:13 Thu, Jan 8\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 98 The Unwelcome Gift\u00a0<\/p>\n
52\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent responded coolly, \u201cGrandpa, she\u2019ll emerge when the cake is finished. There\u2019s no need for us to wait for her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier\u2019s expression darkened considerably. \u201cIf you refuse to go, then I will do so myself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He began the laborious process of pushing himself up from his chair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Worried about Xavier\u2019s mobility, Vincent quickly rose to his feet. \u201cGrandpa, I\u2019ll go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier offered no argument, merely nodding his consent..\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Vincent walked in, Scarlett had the cake done and was already decorating it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned and spotted Vincent. \u201cThe cake is almost done,\u201d she informed him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent\u2019s expression remained cold, his tone distinctly unfriendly. \u201cStop obsessing over details. Grandpa is waiting for you to join everyone at the table.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He felt distinct annoyance toward Scarlett. He had provided her ample advance notice about Xavier\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
birthday and specifically mentioned that Xavier wanted her to cook.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u5408\u00a0<\/p>\n
W\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:14 Thu, Jan 8 G\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 98 \u00a0 Chapter 98 The Unwelcome Gift\u00a0 52\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Xavier accepted 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-27462","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\/27462","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=27462"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27462\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27462"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27462"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27462"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}