\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 210 Protective Stances\u00a0<\/p>\n
81\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent held Vanessa closer, pressing her against his chest. His expression was cold, his gaze icy as it settled on Damian. \u201cThis is a private family matter. It has nothing to do with you, Mr. Langley.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian let out a disdainful snort. \u201cHah. Don\u2019t say I didn\u2019t warn you, Mr. Stewart. Having affairs during marriage might not be illegal, but acting against a woman\u2019s will\u2026 that\u2019s crossing a line.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing Damian\u2019s words from behind him, Scarlett instinctively reached out and tugged gently on his sleeve, whispering, \u201cDamian, let\u2019s just go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t want to cause a scene or waste time arguing pointlessly with Vincent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian looked down at her fingers clutching his sleeve, and his expression softened immediately. He turned, took Eric\u2019s hand, and said to her, \u201cAlright.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett took Clara\u2019s hand. \u201cClara, we\u2019re heading home now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
With that, their group walked away together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent watched them leave, the muscles along his jawline tightening visibly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa looked up and saw Scarlett holding Clara\u2019s hand, the younger girl skipping happily beside her. The sight felt sharp and irritating to her eyes, stirring a wave of resentment within her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Wrapping her arms tighter around Vincent\u2019s neck, Vanessa said in a small, slightly sour voice, \u201cDaddy, let\u2019s go home. My leg hurts a little.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Concerned, Vincent carefully set her down on a nearby bench to examine the injury. Once satisfied it wasn\u2019t inflamed, he picked her up and left the theme park.\u00a0<\/p>\n
*****\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian, holding Eric\u2019s hand, walked behind Scarlett and Clara.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once they were a reasonable distance away, Damian bent down and whispered to Eric, \u201cEric, go ask Ms. Theron if you can join them for dinner tonight.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Eric immediately drooped. \u201cBut Mr. Langley, you promised! You said if I came out with you today, you\u2019d take me to the haunted house! Why are we talking about dinner now?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Worried his voice was too loud, Damian quickly crouched down, covered Eric\u2019s mouth gently, and made a \u201cshush\u201d gesture.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
15:07 Sat, Jan 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 210 Protective Stances\u00a0<\/p>\n
Eric understood and nodded quickly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
81\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once Damian released him, he gave Eric\u2019s head an affectionate pat. \u201cOnce I sort out his\u2026 situation, I\u2019ll definitely take you to the haunted house. To all the best ones in town.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Eric rolled his eyes at Damian. \u201cXavier, you\u2019re all talk.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian clasped his hands together in a playful pleading gesture. \u201cPlease? Do this one thing for me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Eric\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
eyes shifted thoughtfully before he reluctantly agreed. \u201cAlright, fine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But then another thought occurred to him. \u201cBut Mr. Langley, Clara is really fierce! I want to be friends with her, but I\u2019m kinda scared to talk to her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian had already noticed Eric was somewhat intimidated by Clara. But he also knew that while Clara might seem tough, she was actually a very kind-hearted and well-behaved child.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He couldn\u2019t help but reflect on his own past. If only he had been more determined, more insistent on fighting for what he wanted before Scarlett married Vincent\u2026 then maybe things wouldn\u2019t be so complicated now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But back then, Scarlett was so deeply in love with Vincent that Damian felt he had no choice but to step back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If he had known it would end like this, he would have fought for her with everything he had.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So, stroking Eric\u2019s cheek gently, Damian said seriously, \u201cListen, a real man does what he believes is right. Don\u2019t wait until later to realize you should have acted, and then live with regret.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was telling this to Eric, but also, deeply, to himself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Eric nodded. \u201cOkay, I understand.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gathering his courage, he trotted up behind Scarlett and Clara. \u201cMs. Theron!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett stopped and turned to look at him. \u201cYes, Eric? What is it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Eric looked up at her earnestly. \u201cMs. Theron, I want to have dinner with you tonight.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before Scarlett could respond, Clara cut in firmly, \u201cEric, my mom just called. She wants me and\u00a0<\/p>\n
Auntie to come home for dinner.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Eric\u2019s face fell. \u201cHuh?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing his disappointed expression, Clara couldn\u2019t help her sharp tone. \u201cWhat? If we can\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
15:07 Sat, Jan 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 210 Protective Stances\u00a0<\/p>\n
today, we\u2019ll do it another time! There will be plenty of chances later.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Faced with Clara\u2019s stern look, Eric instinctively glanced back at Damian for support.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00c161)\u00a0<\/p>\n
81\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian wasn\u2019t about to let this opportunity slip away. He signaled frantically with his eyes for Eric to plead with Scarlett directly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Eric turned back to Scarlett. \u201cPlease, Ms. Theron? Can\u2019t you come?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara had had enough. She raised her voice at Eric. \u201cEric, you\u2019re being difficult! I told you, we have to go home for dinner!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Eric instantly backed down. \u201cO-okay then\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing Clara being a bit too harsh, Scarlett gently reminded her, \u201cClara, speak nicely to Eric.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara mumbled an \u201cOkay\u201d and stepped back to stand beside Scarlett.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett crouched down to Eric\u2019s eye level and rubbed his shoulder reassuringly. \u201cEric, let\u2019s have dinner together next time, okay? Next time, it\u2019ll be my treat.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.1K\u00a0<\/p>\n
H\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\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 210 \u00a0 Chapter 210 Protective Stances\u00a0 81\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Vincent held Vanessa closer, […]<\/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-27574","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\/27574","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=27574"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27574\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27574"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27574"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27574"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}