\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 108 Truth in the Shadows\u00a0<\/p>\n
finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
His features were sharply defined, with striking bone structure and profound, enigmatic eyes that seemed to conceal untold depths. He looked down at her, his brow slightly furrowed-likely questioning her presence here.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She suspected he might even think she was following him, given her past behavior.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel, standing nearby, radiated visible anger. He clearly had more to say, but at that moment, Claire approached.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElias, Scarlett, so this is where you\u2019ve been.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claire naturally positioned herself beside Elias, linking her arm through his. Simultaneously, she detected the tension radiating from him. When she turned to observe Scarlett, she also noticed Vincent\u2019s presence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Though unaware of the specific details, Claire immediately understood that Scarlett and Elias must have clashed again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, with Vincent involved, the situation became more complicated, so she refrained from questioning. Instead, she quietly suggested to Elias, \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elias, feeling guilty and worried Scarlett might reveal something to Claire, readily agreed. \u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After they departed together, Scarlett considered leaving the dining area as well. But the moment she took a step, Daniel sneered contemptuously, \u201cScarlett, you\u2019re even more promiscuous than Damian ever was, aren\u2019t you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett halted and turned back, her expression amused. \u201cWhat exactly are you implying?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel didn\u2019t mince words. \u201cYou\u2019re nothing but trash.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His insult didn\u2019t faze Scarlett. More curious about Vincent\u2019s reaction, she glanced toward him. But Vincent behaved as though he hadn\u2019t heard Daniel at all, his attention completely absorbed by his phone as his fingers flew across the screen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t need to speculate-she knew he was messaging Sabrina.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel\u2019s insults clearly held no significance for him. In his worldview, any of his friends possessed the right to disrespect her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The treatment differed entirely for Sabrina, whom all his friends addressed respectfully.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Contemplating this double standard, Scarlett felt bitter amusement rising. Yet facing their collective disdain and insults, she understood she alone could mount her defense.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She lifted her chin and met Daniel\u2019s gaze, mirroring his mocking tone. \u201cYou call me trash, but does that description not fit you equally well?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel deliberately drawled his response. \u201cThe situations are entirely different. I don\u2019t entertain multiple romantic interests simultaneously.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett shrugged, a cool smile playing on her lips. \u201cThat sounds remarkably like the pot calling the kettle,\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 108 Truth in the Shadows\u00a0<\/p>\n
black.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Having delivered this retort, she cast Daniel one final disdainful look before glancing at Vincent\u2013still engrossed in his texting. A sharp pang struck her heart. A bitter laugh escaped her before she turned and walked away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As she exited the dining area, she heard someone calling her name. \u201cScarlett!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Turning, she found Claire standing beneath a nearby tree.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAren\u2019t you heading home yet?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claire replied, \u201cI was waiting for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett approached, her expression neutral. \u201cIf you have something to say, please say it directly.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claire sensed Scarlett\u2019s emotional distance but pressed on regardless. \u201cI just spoke with Elias. He mentioned you saw him exchanging numbers with another woman. But Scarlett, it was merely adding a contact-it doesn\u2019t imply he\u2019ll actually pursue anything. You attempted to strike him in public. He\u2019s a man with considerable pride, you must understand\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett immediately grasped Claire\u2019s implication and countered sharply, \u201cSo you\u2019re suggesting I was at fault?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claire quickly clarified, \u201cScarlett, that\u2019s not what I meant. I understand you\u2019re protecting me, but he\u2019s my future husband and you\u2019re my closest friend. I cannot bear this continued misunderstanding between you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Misunderstanding?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing that word ignited fresh irritation within Scarlett. She didn\u2019t temper her response. \u201cIf he genuinely intended to marry you, he wouldn\u2019t keep you waiting indefinitely. You understand better than anyone exactly how many years you\u2019ve invested in this relationship.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claire lowered her head, her voice dropping to a fragile whisper. \u201cScarlett, he will marry me eventually.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett felt weary of the circular conversation. \u201cHow are you planning to get home?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll just hail a taxi.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s Elias? Shouldn\u2019t he be accompanying you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claire hesitated before responding, \u201cI told him to go on ahead without me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The unspoken reason hung between them-Claire had orchestrated this separation to prevent another confrontation between Scarlett and Elias.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett didn\u2019t press for further explanation. \u201cLet me drive you home,\u201d she offered simply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During the car ride, Claire kept weaving through their shared memories, her voice soft with nostalgia. Scarlett felt her eyes growing moist, the familiar ache returning to her chest. While she understood the depth of Claire\u2019s feelings, her own judgment of Elias remained unchanged-no amount of sentimental recollection could alter what she knew to be true about his character.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When they reached Claire\u2019s apartment complex, Scarlett waited until her friend had safely disappeared\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 108 Truth in the Shadows\u00a0<\/p>\n
through the glass doors before preparing to drive away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as she was about to shift gears, a sudden tapping sound on her window made her jump.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Turning, she was genuinely surprised to find Nolan standing beside her car.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
She quickly lowered the window, confusion evident in her voice. \u201cNolan? What are you doing in this neighborhood?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan stood casually dressed, leaning down to peer into the vehicle. The evening shadows partially obscured his features, yet somehow this half-light accentuated his handsome profile, making him appear even more striking than usual.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 108 \u00a0 Chapter 108 Truth in the Shadows\u00a0 finished\u00a0 His features were […]<\/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-27472","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\/27472","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=27472"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27472\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27472"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27472"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27472"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}