Chapter 164 Empty Excuses\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
83\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t use his usual teasing \u201cbaby\u201d this time-he said her name, as if to emphasize he meant every word.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, hearing him speak with such sincerity, Scarlett had to admit she felt something stir inside her. Yet she still found it difficult to fully believe him. Deep down, she wondered- did it even matter if he was being genuine?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even if he were serious, she wouldn\u2019t be with him. And if he weren\u2019t, it changed nothing for her either.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a long silence, she finally replied, \u201cDamian, if you don\u2019t leave now, I\u2019m really going to call for someone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He released her hand. \u201cI\u2019ll go after you\u00a0<\/p>\n
fall asleep.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She turned to face him. \u201cHow am I supposed to sleep with you here?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian seemed caught off guard by her response, but then he nodded slowly. \u201cAlright, I\u2019ll go\u00a0<\/p>\n
now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett didn\u2019t answer, simply watching him in silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A faint smile returned to his lips. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair, his voice softening. \u201cGet some rest. I\u2019m heading out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett gave a noncommittal hum, offering no further reply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing her indifferent attitude, Damian couldn\u2019t resist one last tease. \u201cNext time I visit your room, I hope it won\u2019t have to be in secret.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, before she could react, he smoothly snatched Nolan\u2019s coat from her hand, moved to the window, and grabbed what appeared to be a rope hanging from above. In one fluid motion, he swung himself out through the window.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A second later, he was pulled upward and disappeared into the night.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian was gone-and he had taken Nolan\u2019s coat with him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett walked over to the window, closed it firmly, and drew the curtains shut.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was destined to be a restless night.\u00a0<\/p>\n
*****\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
14:55 Sat, Jan 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 164 Empty Excuses\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0e41\u0e25\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next day, shortly after Scarlett finished her morning rounds and returned to her office, her phone rang. It was Vincent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it?\u201d she answered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent\u2019s voice was calm. \u201cGrandpa says he misses Vanessa. He wants to see her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett replied indifferently, \u201cThen take Vanessa to see him. You don\u2019t need to tell me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was a slight pause before Vincent continued, \u201cGrandpa meant for you to bring Vanessa to see him.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett fell silent for a moment, then responded flatly, \u201cI see.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent added, \u201cAfter you finish work, come to Ravenshade Villa to pick up Vanessa.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett agreed. \u201cFine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That evening, after her shift ended, Scarlett drove straight to Ravenshade Villa.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When she arrived, Vanessa was already waiting, dressed and ready to go. She carried a small backpack and held two other small bags in her hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett didn\u2019t ask what was inside them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent carried the backpack and bags out, escorting Vanessa to Scarlett\u2019s car. He leaned down and spoke gently to his daughter, \u201cBe good and listen to your mom at Great-Grandpa\u2019s house. He\u2019s getting older, so keep him company and chat with him a bit more, alright?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa nodded obediently. \u201cI know, Dad.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After Vincent closed the car door, Scarlett rolled down the driver\u2019s side window. She looked at him curiously. \u201cAren\u2019t you coming?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI have something to take care of tonight,\u201d he replied. \u201cI\u2019ll visit Grandpa another time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett didn\u2019t press further. She began to raise the window, preparing to drive off.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But just then, Vincent spoke again, \u201cOh, and if Grandpa asks later, just tell him I\u2019m discussing business with Daniel and the others.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett gave a quiet \u201cHmm\u201d in response.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the car pulled away, Vincent got into his own vehicle,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Throughout the drive to the Stewart Manor, Scarlett didn\u2019t attempt to make conversation with Vanessa, and Vanessa didn\u2019t speak to her either.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
14:56 Sat, Jan 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 164 Empty Excuses\u00a0<\/p>\n
(3)\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
The traffic was unusually heavy that night, and the car moved slowly, stopping and starting in the endless stream of red taillights.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Surprisingly, Scarlett\u2019s patience held\u2014she didn\u2019t lose her temper even once.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While stopped at a red light, she glanced sideways and spotted Vincent\u2019s car in the right lane ahead.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He wasn\u2019t alone. Sabrina was seated in the passenger seat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The two seemed to be engaged in a pleasant conversation. From time to time, Sabrina would cover her mouth and laugh, her demeanor noticeably coy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And Vincent-he was smiling too. It was a relaxed, easy smile Scarlett had never seen on him before.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Watching them, Scarlett found herself unintentionally staring, her thoughts drifting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was so lost in the scene that she didn\u2019t notice the light had turned green.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Behind her, a chorus of impatient car horns began to blare.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa, startled, urged her anxiously, \u201cMom, what are you doing? The light\u2019s green!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Snapping back to reality, Scarlett stepped on the accelerator and drove forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When they arrived at the Stewart Manor, Xavier greeted Scarlett warmly and asked how she had been lately.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After they exchanged a few pleasantries, Scarlett headed to the kitchen, thinking she\u2019d prepare a few dishes for Xavier.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the living room, Vanessa chatted and laughed with Xavier, keeping the old man company.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After dinner, Scarlett stayed in the living room with Xavier while Vanessa played with building blocks nearby.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But before long, they heard Vanessa cry out suddenly, \u201cMom, it hurts! My stomach really hurts!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing her daughter\u2019s pained voice, Scarlett rushed over. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, honey?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa\u2019s face was contorted with pain, tears streaming down her cheeks. \u201cMom, I want to go back to Ravenshade Villa. My stomach hurts so bad.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Assuming it was another flare-up of her lymph node issue, Scarlett agreed without hesitation. \u201cOkay, sweetheart. I will take you back right now.\u201d\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 164 Chapter 164 Empty Excuses\u00a0 :\u00a0 83\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 He didn\u2019t use his […]<\/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-27528","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\/27528","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=27528"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27528\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27528"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27528"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27528"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}