\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 177 Empty Gestures\u00a0<\/p>\n
82\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Upon hearing Sabrina\u2019s urgent words, Vincent\u2019s brow furrowed in concern. \u201cOkay, I\u2019ll be right back,\u201d he replied immediately.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After hanging up, he returned to the Theron family\u2019s table with an apologetic expression. \u201cHenry, Diana, I have some urgent matters to handle. Please let me take care of the bill for tonight\u2019s dinner.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
From start to finish, the Therons avoided making eye contact with him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Though his attitude remained respectful, no one acknowledged his\u00a0<\/p>\n
presence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent didn\u2019t press further. Turning to Scarlett, he spoke gently, \u201cFor your birthday, I\u2019ll make it up to you when I\u2019m free. I have to go now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett looked up at him, her voice even. \u201cIt\u2019s not necessary.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent\u2019s frown deepened. \u201cBe reasonable.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She wanted to say more, but he had already turned and was heading toward the host stand, clearly intending to settle the bill.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, Damian called out from nearby, \u201cMr. Stewart, wait a moment.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent paused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With a faint, confident smile, Damian continued, \u201cI just acquired this restaurant. There\u2019s no need for you to pay, Mr. Stewart. This meal is on me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing this, Vincent offered no further response and quickly left the restaurant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett resumed distributing the cake, then handed out forks to everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Diana, her okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
eyes red-rimmed with heartache for her daughter, asked softly, \u201cScarlett, are you\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett shrugged with practiced indifference. \u201cI\u2019m used to it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She knew her family was worried, but the truth was, she didn\u2019t feel as deeply affected as she once would have.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hoping to lighten the mood, she said, \u201cLet\u2019s eat the cake.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara, with frosting smeared around her mouth, declared with childish sincerity, \u201cAuntie, you\u2019re so nice. You\u2019ll definitely meet a good person, I will have a very, very, very good uncle someday.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
14:59 Sat, Jan 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 177 Empty Gestures\u00a0<\/p>\n
82\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett couldn\u2019t help but smile at Clara\u2019s innocent words.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing this, Damian leaned toward Clara and asked with mock seriousness, \u201cClara, what do\u00a0<\/p>\n
think of me? How am I?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
you\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara bit her fork, thinking carefully before replying, \u201cSir, you are good-looking, but good- looking people can be risky too.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian\u2019s smile widened. \u201cBut I\u2019m different.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara nodded thoughtfully. \u201cThen do\u00a0<\/p>\n
your best.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Listening to their exchange, Scarlett could feel the low pressure emanating from Nathan beside her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a moment\u2019s hesitation, she gently clarified to Clara, \u201cClara, Damian and I are just friends.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara let out a disappointed \u201cAh,\u201d then sighed, \u201cOh, alright then.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian turned to Scarlett and lowered his voice beside her ear. \u201cBut that might not be the case in the future.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Only Scarlett heard him. With her family present, she chose not to respond.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After finishing the cake, the dinner party came to a close.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara, exhausted from the excitement, had fallen asleep on Nathan\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the family prepared to leave the restaurant, Damian saw them off.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Only Scarlett and Violet hadn\u2019t drunk alcohol, so they were responsible for driving.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet drove off first. Just as Scarlett was about to get into her car, Damian suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her into an embrace.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Startled, Scarlett pushed against him. \u201cDamian, what are you doing now?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He pressed her against the car door, trapping her between his chest and the vehicle. Leaning close, his voice was husky from the alcohol. \u201cBaby, happy birthday.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett pushed him firmly. \u201cDamian, that\u2019s enough. Stop this act.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He loomed over her, his alcohol-laced breath warm against her skin. \u201cBaby, I prepared a surprise for you in your room. I hope you\u2019ll like it when you see it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
*****\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
14:59 Sat, Jan 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 177 Empty Gestures\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett was the last to return to the Theron Manor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
82\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
When she entered the living room, Nathan and Violet were still sitting on the sofa-it seemed they had been waiting for her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Feeling slightly apprehensive, she called out timidly, \u201cNathan, Violet.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nathan turned and fixed her with a stern look. \u201cCome here. I have questions for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His tone left no room for argument; it was clearly not going to be a pleasant conversation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since childhood, Scarlett had always been somewhat intimidated by her brother.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even though she knew he loved her deeply, that authoritative aura of his never failed to make her nervous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She walked over and stood in front of the coffee table. Violet gestured for her to sit, but Nathan spoke first, \u201cHas the divorce matter not been settled yet?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett replied, \u201cStill waiting for Vincent to sign.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nathan\u2019s frown deepened. \u201cIs he unwilling to sign? Or is there an issue with the asset division?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Truthfully, Scarlett herself didn\u2019t know why Vincent was delaying.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She shook her head, meeting Nathan\u2019s gaze. \u201cI don\u2019t know either. He hasn\u2019t discussed it with me yet.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nathan\u2019s expression darkened, his voice cold and firm. \u201cSince you\u2019ve decided to divorce, don\u2019t drag your feet.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u3002\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.1K\u00a0<\/p>\n
B\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
14:59 Sat, Jan 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Beys\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 177 \u00a0 Chapter 177 Empty Gestures\u00a0 82\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Upon hearing Sabrina\u2019s urgent […]<\/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-27541","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\/27541","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=27541"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27541\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}