Chapter 218 Professional Distance\u00a0<\/p>\n
68\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett forced a faint smile. \u201cIt\u2019s alright. I\u2019ve\u2026 come to accept things as they are now.\u201d Some matters averen\u2019t worth forcing; it was better to let them unfold naturally.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara hopped down from the stool and wrapped her arms around Scarlett. \u201cWhen Auntie becomes someone else\u2019s mommy someday, you can just forget about Vanessa.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett didn\u2019t respond, simply stroking Clara\u2019s hair gently. Some things were difficult to explain to a child.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After holding the hug for a moment, Scarlett said she needed to go change her clothes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara said she\u2019d wait in the room for her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While Scarlett was changing, her phone chimed with a message from Claire. \u201cWant to go shopping this afternoon?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Remembering she had promised to paint with Clara, Scarlett declined. \u201cNext time. I\u2019m spending the afternoon with Clara.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claire replied, \u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett didn\u2019t respond further, but she noticed the red notification indicator on her social media app.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had a habit of browsing her friends\u2018 updates.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So, she instinctively tapped on it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After scrolling through a couple of posts, she saw Damian\u2019s.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett clicked on the photo. Seeing the injured finger, she frowned and began typing a comment under Damian\u2019s post. As a doctor, her advice was professional.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe finger wound appears quite severe. You need to go to the hospital for proper cleaning and stitches. If it was caused by rust, you\u2019ll also require a tetanus shot. This should be taken seriously.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After commenting, Scarlett took another look at the photo. Just as she was about to lock her phone, she noticed Damian\u2019s reply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you at the hospital? I\u2019ll come find you to clean it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett didn\u2019t overthink it. If she had, she might have realized that someone like Damian likely had a personal physician. Even if he didn\u2019t, the people around him would be more concerned\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
19:54 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 218 Professional Distance\u00a0<\/p>\n
68\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
about his safety than he was. And even without them, he could simply go directly to the hospital instead of seeking advice online. By the time he received an answer, he might have lost a significant amount of blood.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking at Damian\u2019s message, Scarlett simply replied, \u201cIt\u2019s the weekend. I\u2019m not at the hospital. Just go to the emergency department and register. The doctors there will take care of it for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Soon, Damian replied again, \u201cForget it then. It\u2019s not like I\u2019m going to die.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Reading this, Scarlett\u2019s frown deepened. She was about to urge him again when Clara called out, \u201cAuntie, are you ready yet?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The little girl was clearly growing impatient. The assignment was due tomorrow, and Clara was a diligent student who naturally wanted all her work completed properly and on time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett locked her phone and smiled. \u201cAll set. Let\u2019s head to the park.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara grabbed Scarlett\u2019s hand. \u201cYay! Let\u2019s go!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The two left Theron Manor together. Scarlett drove them to a nearby park.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The autumn park was vibrant and colorful, perfect for children to play and paint.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once at the park, Clara ran freely across the grass, spinning in circles as she went.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After tiring herself out, she plopped down on the ground.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett walked over, set up the easel, and handed Clara a paintbrush. \u201cWhat would you like to paint?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara nibbled on the end of the brush, thinking seriously. \u201cI want to paint maple leaves.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was a maple tree not far away, its leaves carpeting the ground, with a few even blown near their feet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett sat down beside Clara. \u201cThen paint. Whatever Clara wants to paint, just go ahead. After you\u2019re done, you can pick the best one to give to your teacher.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clara giggled happily. \u201cAuntie is the best! I love you so much, Auntie!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing her say she loved her filled Scarlett with both warmth and sorrow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If she were only an aunt, she would feel pure joy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But she wasn\u2019t. Besides being an aunt, she was also a mother. And her own daughter didn\u2019t seem to like her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
19:54 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 218 Professional Distance\u00a0<\/p>\n
(68\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as these emotions churned inside her, a tentative, questioning voice came from behind. \u201cMrs. Stewart?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing the voice, Scarlett instinctively turned around.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was surprised to see Lily, and she was holding Vanessa\u2019s hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa was wearing a pretty dress with black leggings underneath and a pair of cute sneakers. Her hair was styled in two braids, and she was holding a few maple leaves in her arms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing her daughter, Scarlett couldn\u2019t help the sting in her nose. Vanessa looked back at her but didn\u2019t call out or make any move toward her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a moment\u2019s hesitation, Scarlett averted her gaze. She looked at Lily and said with a smile, \u201cLily, what a coincidence meeting you here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
This park wasn\u2019t exactly close to Ravenshade Villa, but it wasn\u2019t terribly far either.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing Scarlett, Lily\u2019s eyes brightened. \u201cMrs. Stewart, Vanessa kept saying she was bored and anted me to bring her out for a walk, so we came here. Since you and Clara are here too, erhaps Vanessa could play with Clara?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.1K\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\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 218 Chapter 218 Professional Distance\u00a0 68\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Scarlett forced a faint smile. […]<\/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-27582","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\/27582","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=27582"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27582\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}