Chapter 172 A Chilled Encounter\u00a0<\/p>\n
83\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent didn\u2019t reply until the afternoon, his message brief and impersonal. \u201cI\u2019m on a business trip. I\u2019ll contact you when I\u2019m back.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Reading the text, a wave of frustration washed over Scarlett. The whole situation felt unnecessarily drawn out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If Vincent was truly willing, finalizing the divorce could be remarkably straightforward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So was his reluctance the issue, or was he genuinely just that busy?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Given how deeply he cared for Sabrina, outright refusal didn\u2019t seem to fit. It had to be his schedule.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since Vincent was tied up, hounding him further felt pointless. She redirected her focus, burying herself in her textbooks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a full day with her nose in books at the library, her eyes felt gritty and strained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That evening, her phone buzzed with a call from Nolan. \u201cScarlett, are you free to grab some dinner?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Considering her empty evening, Scarlett agreed. \u201cSure, that sounds good.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI can pick you up,\u201d Nolan offered. \u201cAre you still at the library?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett was already standing, packing her bag. \u201cIt\u2019s alright, Nolan. I can meet you there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan\u2019s chuckle came through the line. \u201cOkay then. I\u2019ll text you the address.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After receiving the location, Scarlett made a quick stop back at the Theron Manor to drop off her heavy study materials.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan arrived at the reserved restaurant right at 6:30 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He knew tomorrow was Scarlett\u2019s birthday. He also suspected she would likely be occupied with family celebrations then, so he had planned this dinner a day early to celebrate with her alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was glancing over the menu when the hostess near the entrance cheerfully greeted new arrivals. \u201cWelcome!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing the commotion, Nolan looked up instinctively, a soft, anticipatory smile already forming in his eyes, thinking it was Scarlett.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The smile, however, vanished almost as quickly as it appeared.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
14:57 Sat, Jan 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 172 A Chilled Encounter\u00a0<\/p>\n
The people walking in weren\u2019t Scarlett, but Daniel and Sabrina.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0e1c\u0e25 83\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
As they entered, Sabrina\u2019s eyes scanned the room and landed on Nolan. She made a beeline for his table, offering a bright, familiar greeting. \u201cNolan! What a surprise.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan\u2019s expression cooled, his reply curt. \u201cSabrina.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina exchanged a quick, meaningful glance with Daniel, who stood slightly behind her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After that silent communication, she gestured to the empty chairs at Nolan\u2019s table. \u201cSince we\u2019ve all run into each other here, such a coincidence! Would you mind if we joined you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan didn\u2019t even look up from his menu, his refusal blunt and unequivocal. \u201cYes, I would mind.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina\u2019s polished smile stiffened on her face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel, meanwhile, looked like he was about to explode, his temper clearly fraying, but Sabrina shot him a subtle, warning look, shaking her head almost imperceptibly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Recovering her composure, Sabrina tried again, her tone carefully respectful. \u201cNolan, we\u2019re both Thomas\u2019 prot\u00e9g\u00e9s. I\u2019ve always looked up to you in the field. I actually have a few complex case questions I\u2019ve been struggling with. I\u2019d be incredibly grateful if I could borrow a few moments of your expertise.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing this, Nolan closed his menu. He looked directly at Sabrina, a faint, cynical smile playing on his lips. \u201cI really don\u2019t think my qualifications are sufficient for you to be seeking my advice.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes held a superficial politeness that didn\u2019t mask the distinct chill and mockery beneath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel had finally heard enough. \u201cNolan,\u201d he snapped, his voice low and angry, \u201cwho the hell do\u00a0<\/p>\n
think you are?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
you\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, the hostess\u2019 cheerful greeting echoed again. \u201cWelcome!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan\u2019s gaze instinctively darted toward the entrance. This time, it was Scarlett walking in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Following Nolan\u2019s line of sight, Sabrina also spotted her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan completely ignored Daniel\u2019s outburst. Seeing Scarlett had arrived, he stood up and leveled a cool gaze at Daniel. \u201cMr. Lennox, I have no need to put on airs. And I certainly have no obligation to offer explanations to someone with a compromised professional reputation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t name names, but the target of his comment was glaringly obvious to everyone present.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
14:57 Sat, Jan 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 172 A Chilled Encounter\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina knew the barb was meant for her. She was taken aback by Nolan\u2019s open hostility.\u00a0<\/p>\n
83\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
They moved in the same medical circles; it was a small world. Sabrina had always admired Nolan, and he had certainly known of her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At dinners hosted by their shared mentor, Thomas, they had even sat at the same table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She vividly remembered Nolan once complimenting her, calling her a promising talent in surgery\u2014not just intelligent and composed but also remarkably diligent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Those words of praise still echoed in her memory, yet now, he looked at her with such palpable disdain.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Was this sudden contempt because of Scarlett?\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Scarlett was just a medical student, a junior resident. How could Nolan possibly develop such animosity towards her because of someone like that?\u00a0<\/p>\n
There had to be some misunderstanding. Scarlett must have poisoned his mind against her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As these thoughts raced through her mind, Sabrina looked at Nolan, eager to explain herself, but she saw him already walking away from the table and heading straight for Scarlett.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cScarlett,\u201d Nolan said as he reached her side, his voice having shed all its earlier coldness, replaced now by a gentle warmth. \u201cLet\u2019s find somewhere else to eat.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett looked up at him. She understood he was trying to shield her from an uncomfortable situation, and she felt a surge of gratitude. She offered him a small, appreciative smile. \u201cOkay. Whatever you think is best.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan naturally took the light jacket she was carrying and held it for her to slip into. \u201cIt\u2019s gotten chilly out. Don\u2019t catch a cold.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d Scarlett said softly, her smile lingering as they turned to leave together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.1K\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
14:58 Sat, Jan 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\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 172 Chapter 172 A Chilled Encounter\u00a0 83\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Vincent didn\u2019t reply until […]<\/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-27536","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\/27536","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=27536"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27536\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}