\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 99 Scarlett\u2019s Simple Birthday Cake\u00a0<\/p>\n
52\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett had agreed to the request with a smile initially, but when the actual day arrived, she hadn\u2019t prepared anything elaborate-just a single cake.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Honestly, even a child could manage cake this simple. Who would truly appreciate such a basic offering?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett could practically feel Vincent\u2019s mounting irritation radiating behind her, but she couldn\u2019t summon the energy to meet his gaze. She simply stated, \u201cUnderstood. Please take your seat. I\u2019ll be out momentarily.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent remained standing behind her, his patience visibly fraying.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He had no desire to create a scene with Scarlett at Stewart Manor, so he drew a deep, steadying breath, attempting to quell his rising frustration.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once he had regained some composure, he finally declared, \u201cI\u2019ll wait for you here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The cake was nearly ready regardless-what difference would a few more minutes make?\u00a0<\/p>\n
True, the cake itself was nothing extraordinary, but it had to be acknowledged that no one else had even considered stepping foot in the kitchen to contribute.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ignoring him, Scarlett focused on putting the final decorations on the cake.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as she reached to carry the plate, Vincent suddenly interjected, \u201cAllow me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett offered no resistance. \u201cVery well.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
They exited the kitchen together and entered the dining room, where Vincent placed the cake directly before Xavier.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett\u2019s eyes swept the table, taking in the already seated family members, and realized with a sinking feeling that no place had been left for her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She merely lowered her head with a faint, resigned smile and turned to fetch a spare chair, intending to position herself at the far corner of the extensive table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But before she could sit, Xavier suddenly addressed Luke sharply, \u201cLuke, move over immediately. Scarlett will sit beside Vincent.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luke\u2019s face contorted with displeasure. \u201cGrandpa, why should I be the one relegated to the corner?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy shouldn\u2019t you? You\u2019re a person, and Scarlett isn\u2019t? In this household, even if you personally had to eat on the floor, Scarlett would never be consigned to a corner. We have never mistreated our daughters-in-law. You and your brother would do well to remember that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Though his words were directed at Luke, the underlying message was unmistakably intended for Vincent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Grumbling under his breath, Luke reluctantly stood and shuffled to the corner seat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett wanted to reassure Xavier that such a minor seating arrangement wasn\u2019t worth his agitation, but she found no opportunity to speak.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:14 Thu, Jan\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 99 Scarlett\u2019s Simple Birthday Cake\u00a0<\/p>\n
As Luke moved, Lucy also wordlessly vacated the seat adjacent to Vincent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier looked up at Scarlett, his expression brimming with grandfatherly affection. \u201cScarlett, come now, sit here beside Vincent.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett glanced toward Vincent. He remained seated in stoic silence, offering no comment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Had this occurred in the past, Scarlett would have felt a sharp sting of hurt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, she simply accepted it as the norm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once she had taken her seat beside Vincent, Xavier finally gave the signal for the family to begin their meal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier instructed Vincent, \u201cVincent, serve Scarlett some of her preferred dishes. Look how thin she\u2019s become.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent offered no argument, quietly complying with the request.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He selected a tender rib and placed it in Scarlett\u2019s bowl, followed by a plump shrimp.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett looked down at the food now occupying her plate and murmured softly, \u201cThank you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her voice was so quiet only Vincent could possibly hear, but he didn\u2019t so much as glance in her direction, let alone offer any acknowledgment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The meal proceeded largely in silence. Periodically, Scarlett could feel Amanda\u2019s hostile gaze burning into her from across the table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She paid it no mind, keeping her head lowered as she ate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luke took a single bite of a dish and immediately spat it back onto his plate with a grimace. \u201cUgh, this isn\u2019t Scarlett\u2019s cooking.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett finally offered an explanation. \u201cI prepared only the cake for Grandpa tonight. None of the other dishes is my work.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luke\u2019s expression darkened considerably. \u201cThen what were you doing occupying the kitchen for so long?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
In previous years, Scarlett had always prepared the entire banquet herself, and Luke had consistently relished every dish.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But tonight was distinctly different. He had returned home specifically anticipating Scarlett\u2019s culinary efforts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett set her fork down deliberately and met Luke\u2019s gaze directly. \u201cI didn\u2019t arrive at the house until seven- thirty.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luke\u2019s frown deepened. \u201cWhat? You didn\u2019t get here until seven-thirty? Today is Grandpa\u2019s birthday! Shouldn\u2019t you have returned last night to prepare? What kind of granddaughter-in-law does that make you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett maintained eye contact with Luke. \u201cI have professional responsibilities. I couldn\u2019t return any earlier.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 99 Scarlett\u2019s Simple Birthday Cake\u00a0<\/p>\n
52)\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luke\u2019s irritation escalated, and he slammed his fork onto the table. \u201cYou have a job? What possible job could you have? My brother provides more than enough allowance to sustain you for years! Why humiliate yourself publicly and create the impression our family mistreats you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Scarlett was no longer the passive woman she once had been. She held Luke\u2019s gaze unflinchingly, enunciating each word with deliberate clarity. \u201cIf you\u2019re genuinely concerned about whether I\u2019ve been mistreated, perhaps you should direct that question to your brother.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luke was momentarily rendered speechless. He turned toward Vincent with a frustrated appeal. \u201cVincent, look at how Scarlett speaks to me-she shows me no respect whatsoever.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent glanced up briefly. \u201cEat your meal.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier had been quietly observing Luke\u2019s complaints about Scarlett. He had restrained his temper initially, wanting to see precisely how far Vincent would go.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the more Luke spoke, the more unreasonable he became, and Xavier\u2019s anger steadily mounted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finally, Xavier slammed his fork down sharply, the sound echoing through the room as he glared directly at Luke. \u201cScarlett holds a maternal-level position of respect in this family. If you cannot show her the deference she deserves, then you are no longer welcome here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
W\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:14 Thu, Jan 8 \u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife: Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 99 \u00a0 Chapter 99 Scarlett\u2019s Simple Birthday Cake\u00a0 52\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Scarlett had […]<\/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-27463","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\/27463","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=27463"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27463\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}