Chapter 161 Midnight Intruder\u00a0<\/p>\n
83\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett snapped back to reality with a soft murmur, \u201cThank you,\u201d followed by a more hesitant, \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing the genuine guilt written across her face, Nolan offered a warm, reassuring smile. \u201cReally, it\u2019s no trouble at all. I\u2019m just glad you\u2019re okay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His kindness sent a sharp pang of regret through her-not only for the inconvenience she\u2019d caused him, but for her own poor judgment in the past. How could she have been so blind before?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan stayed close, shielding her from the lingering drizzle until they reached her car. Once she was safely inside the driver\u2019s seat, he leaned in slightly and said, \u201cDrive carefully, alright? Let me know when you get home.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett lifted her gaze to meet his. Under the warm glow of the streetlights, the misty rain cast a soft haze around them, blurring her vision just enough to match the fog in her thoughts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHere,\u201d she said suddenly, \u201clet me take your coat. I\u2019ll have it cleaned and return it to you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan shook his head gently. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it-it\u2019s just a coat.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Scarlett felt the weight of the gesture heavily. \u201cYou\u2019ve helped me so much already. Please, let me do this for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
What she didn\u2019t say\u2014but what hung clearly between them\u2014was that she didn\u2019t want the debt between them to grow any larger.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan caught her meaning instantly, sensing the deliberate distance she was placing between them. His smile faltered for just a second before he recovered gracefully. \u201cAlright then,\u201d he conceded, \u201cif it makes you feel better.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He slipped off the coat and handed it to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett placed it carefully on the passenger seat before turning back to him. \u201cYou should head back soon too-don\u2019t stay out in this weather.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan nodded. \u201cI will. By the way\u2026 are you free for a meal this weekend?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a brief pause, Scarlett replied, \u201cI should be, unless something comes up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She started the engine and drove off, leaving Nolan standing under the lamppost. He watched her taillights disappear into the night before finally getting into his own car and driving away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
14:54 Sat, Jan 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 161 Midnight Intruder\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was half past nine when Scarlett finally arrived home.\u00a0<\/p>\n
83\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara was still awake, bent over a colorful drawing at the living room table. Hearing the door, she looked up, her face brightening. \u201cAuntie!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett set down the bag containing Nolan\u2019s coat and walked over. \u201cClara, sweetie, why are you still up so late?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was waiting for you,\u201d Clara said cheerfully. \u201cI have something to tell you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett sat beside her, admiring the vibrant spring scene Clara had drawn. \u201cThis is beautiful, honey. You\u2019re so talented.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara beamed, wrapping her arms around Scarlett\u2019s. \u201cAuntie, Vanessa didn\u2019t go to school today.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett froze for a moment. She thought back to that morning-how she\u2019d gone to Ravenshade Villa to make breakfast for Vanessa, hoping to take her to school personally. It had all been for nothing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa must have stayed out late at the bar again, slept in, and simply skipped school.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A bitter smile touched Scarlett\u2019s lips. She gently brushed Clara\u2019s cheek. \u201cWell, you\u2019re a good girl, Clara. Always listen to your mom and never skip school, okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara nodded earnestly. \u201cI will! I always listen to Mom-and to you too, Auntie.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking at Clara\u2019s innocent obedience, Scarlett couldn\u2019t help but think of Vanessa again. Her own daughter used to be just as sweet and well-behaved\u2026 but that felt like a lifetime ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n
By ten o\u2019clock, Scarlett had tucked Clara into bed and finally retreated to her own room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As she opened the door, she saw a tall figure standing in the middle of the room. In the dim light, her mind jumped to Nathan. \u201cNathan?\u201d she called out instinctively.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thinking he must have come for a reason, she stepped inside and closed the door behind her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But when the man turned around, the faint light from the hallway fell across his face-and her blood ran cold. It was Damian.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDamian?\u201d Her voice came out thin and shaky. \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A slow, amused smile spread across his face. He didn\u2019t move toward her. Instead, he lay back casually on her light-blue duvet, propping his head up with one hand as he watched her with a teasing glint in his eyes. \u201cWhat else, baby? I missed you. So I came to see you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett\u2019s heart hammered in her chest as she struggled to steady her breathing. \u201cHow did\u00a0<\/p>\n
you\u00a0<\/p>\n
213\u00a0<\/p>\n
14:54 Sat, Jan 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 161 Midnight Intruder\u00a0<\/p>\n
get in?\u201d she demanded, her voice firmer now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
83\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theron Manor was staffed, and Henry and Diana were both home. There was no way he\u2019d come through the front door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Damian seemed in no hurry to answer. He lowered his head and inhaled deeply against her pillow, taking in the scent of her sheets with deliberate slowness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When he looked up again, his expression was one of pure hunger. \u201cYou smell incredible, baby,\u201d he murmured, his voice low and rough. \u201cAbsolutely intoxicating.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He ran his tongue over his lips as though savoring the taste of the air.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett stared back, panic simmering beneath her skin. \u201cDamian-answer me!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He kicked off his shoes and settled more comfortably into her bed, stretching out like he owned the place. \u201cIf you won\u2019t leave the door open for me,\u201d he said with a lazy smirk, \u201cI\u2019ll just have to find another way. It\u2019s only been a few days, but I couldn\u2019t sleep-all I could think about was you. If you won\u2019t come to me\u2026\u201d He shrugged. \u201cThen I\u2019ll come to you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.1K\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
14:54 Sat, Jan 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
Editorial Board: Our editorial team works behind the scenes to refine each chapter, maintain consistency, and deliver the best reading experience.<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 161 Chapter 161 Midnight Intruder\u00a0 83\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Scarlett snapped back to reality […]<\/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-27525","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\/27525","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=27525"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27525\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}