Chapter 173 Shifting Allegiances\u00a0<\/p>\n
83\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
They walked out of the restaurant side by side, the evening air cool against their skin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina watched their retreating figures, feeling her eyes begin to sting with unshed tears.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Perhaps it was the sting of Nolan\u2019s blunt and dismissive attitude, or maybe it was the stark contrast to the praise and recognition he had once offered her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing her distress, Daniel quickly handed her a tissue. \u201cDon\u2019t cry, Sabrina. You haven\u2019t done anything wrong,\u201d he comforted her in a low voice. \u201cVincent doesn\u2019t love Scarlett. The one who lacks character is the person who stubbornly holds on when they aren\u2019t loved.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel\u2019s words provided some small comfort, and Sabrina felt a little better.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yet, an inexplicable discomfort still churned inside her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The rumor in their circles was that throughout his entire Master\u2019s and Ph.D. programs, there hadn\u2019t been a single woman consistently around Nolan. People had even whispered back then that he might not be interested in women. But later, at an academic dinner hosted by Thomas, Nolan had met Sabrina.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That evening, Sabrina had asked Nolan numerous questions about his research, and he had patiently answered every one.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To outsiders, the perennial bachelor-once deemed unlikely to settle down-seemed to have finally met the right woman.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After that, whispers spread through the medical community that Nolan had been captivated by Sabrina from their first meeting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the gossip intensified, Sabrina inevitably heard some of it. She had even allowed herself to fantasize that one day Nolan would formally ask her out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But things didn\u2019t unfold that way. Nolan never made a move; in fact, he gradually became more distant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back then, Sabrina had just finished her undergraduate degree, while Nolan was already a postdoctoral researcher.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even now, Sabrina sometimes wondered about Nolan\u2019s feelings back then.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Had he ever truly been interested in her?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later, she met Vincent and largely stopped thinking about Nolan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
14:58 Sat, Jan 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 14 dating Allegiances\u00a0<\/p>\n
But within their professional field, Nolan was in a league of his own, a respected and brilliant figure.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He must have liked her, right? Otherwise, why was she the only woman he had ever been publicly and persistently linked with?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel, unaware of the intricate thoughts swirling in Sabrina\u2019s mind, saw her continued somber expression and assumed she was still upset about her research project. \u201cSabrina, you\u2019re incredibly talented. Who needs that damn doctorate anyway?\u201d he tried to console her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Sabrina said, a sudden, fierce determination igniting within her. \u201cI will earn it. I\u2019ll graduate at the top of my class. I will outperform Scarlett. I will make Thomas recognize my worth.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing this, Daniel assumed she was primarily motivated by Nolan\u2019s harsh words, but he nonetheless responded with earnest support. \u201cWhatever you decide to do, Sabrina, just go for it. I\u2019ll help you. Vincent will help you. Harris will help you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, after Nolan and Scarlett left the restaurant together, they coincidentally ran into Abbott\u2019s car pulling up to the curb.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As Abbott got out, Vanessa hopped out from the other side.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing Scarlett and Nolan together, Vanessa froze for a second.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Remembering Scarlett breaking her action figure the previous day, Vanessa was still holding a grudge, so she didn\u2019t greet Scarlett.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But when her eyes landed on Nolan, she hesitated only a moment before walking over proactively, her voice sweet. \u201cMr. Huntley!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing this, Nolan was taken aback and glanced questioningly at Scarlett.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett merely returned his look, offering no explanation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This was the first time Vanessa had initiated a greeting with Nolan so warmly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Both Scarlett and Nolan were clearly puzzled, but Vanessa knew her reason perfectly well-it was because Nolan could help Sabrina. She had overheard Daniel saying so.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So, even though she was still angry with her mom, she knew she needed to try and get on Nolan\u2019s good side.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan crouched down to her eye level. He looked gently at Vanessa and smiled. \u201cHello, Vanessa.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa blinked her big, innocent eyes. \u201cMr. Huntley, aren\u2019t you going to have dinner with us?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan maintained his warm smile. \u201cNo, we were actually planning to go to a different\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
14:58 Sat, Jan 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 173 Shifting Allegiances\u00a0<\/p>\n
restaurant.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
82\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing this, Vanessa quickly added, \u201cBut Sabrina has some questions she really wants to ask you!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As soon as the words were out, not only Scarlett, but Nolan too, froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So that was the reason for Vanessa\u2019s sudden friendliness-it was all for Sabrina.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everything clicked into place at that moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan glanced at Scarlett. She seemed visibly hurt, turning her face away to compose herself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa was still waiting for an answer, tugging lightly on Nolan\u2019s sleeve.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan stayed crouched. He placed his hands gently on Vanessa\u2019s shoulders and asked softly, \u201cVanessa, can I ask you a question?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa nodded eagerly. \u201cOkay, Mr. Huntley, ask me anything.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan looked intently into her eyes. \u201cDo you remember what tomorrow is?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa scrunched up her little face in concentration. She thought for a long time before answering, \u201cTomorrow is Saturday, right? My teacher said Saturday is a weekend, no school.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan was very patient, trying to guide her. \u201cThink back. Around this time last year, did you anything special for someone?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
do\u00a0<\/p>\n
If he remembered correctly, Nolan recalled Scarlett once showing him a photo-Vanessa had handmade her a birthday card.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa shook her head, her expression blank. \u201cNo, I don\u2019t think so.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan felt a pang of frustration, almost mentioning the birthday card directly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett, understanding what Nolan was trying to do, felt it was ultimately pointless.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even if she pressured Vanessa into remembering, what would it really change? The genuine sentiment was already missing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.1K\u00a0<\/p>\n
W\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
14:58 Sat, Jan 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer & 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 173 Chapter 173 Shifting Allegiances\u00a0 83\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 They walked out of the […]<\/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-27537","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\/27537","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=27537"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27537\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}