Chapter 226 The Fall and the Promise\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett worked her regular shift that day. In the afternoon, after she was finished, she called Xavier.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He answered cheerfully. \u201cScarlett, my\u00a0<\/p>\n
dear!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She spoke softly, \u201cGrandpa, will you be home tonight?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier replied warmly, \u201cOf course I will.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a brief hesitation, Scarlett said, \u201cGrandpa, I\u2019d like to come by the estate. There\u2019s something I need to discuss with you in person.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier felt a twinge of unease but agreed without hesitation. \u201cAlright, I\u2019ll be waiting for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After her shift, Scarlett drove directly to Stewart Manor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As soon as she stepped through the front door, she heard panicked voices from the staff. \u201cMr. Xavier Stewart has fallen! Quick, call everyone!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The entire household descended into chaos.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alarmed, Scarlett rushed toward the commotion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier had collapsed on the flagstone pathway in the garden. The back of his head was bleeding, and he lay completely unconscious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Remembering her medical training, Scarlett didn\u2019t attempt to move him. She immediately called 911 for an ambulance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the hospital, emergency room doctors worked urgently to stabilize him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett called Vincent to inform him that Xavier had been hospitalized after a serious fall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He arrived at the hospital within minutes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as he reached the emergency area, the doors swung open. A doctor in scrubs and glasses approached Scarlett and Vincent. \u201cMr. Xavier Stewart is conscious. He\u2019s asking for both of you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett felt a knot tighten in her stomach. She had a good idea what he wanted to say, but now wasn\u2019t the time for arguments. She had to go in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nothing was more important than his wellbeing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside the ER, Xavier was connected to multiple monitors and an IV.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
19:55 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 226 The Fall and the Promise\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Z68)\u2022\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
The room carried the sharp, sterile scent of antiseptic and medication.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Machines beeped rhythmically in the background.\u00a0<\/p>\n
*\u00a0<\/p>\n
As a doctor herself, Scarlett understood all too well how critical his condition was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She and Vincent approached the bedside. Xavier\u2019s face was pale, his eyes barely open. He looked fragile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His lips moved faintly as he whispered, \u201cScarlett\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She quickly took his hand, her eyes moist. \u201cI\u2019m right here, Grandpa.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was Xavier who had originally encouraged and supported her marriage to Vincent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett had always been grateful to him. It was his insistence that had made it possible for her to marry the man she loved.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even if things hadn\u2019t turned out as she\u2019d hoped, back then, his blessing had meant everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And throughout their five years of marriage, Xavier had never been anything but kind to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had never forgotten that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier patted her hand weakly, then turned toward Vincent. \u201cVincent.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent placed his hand over his grandfather\u2019s.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier pressed their hands together, his voice raspy. \u201cI\u2019m old. I don\u2019t have many years left. I don\u2019t ask for much. I just want you two to be happy. Give me another great\u2013grandchild\u2014then I can rest in peace.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett had expected this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent, however, didn\u2019t agree right away. \u201cLuke and Lucy are old enough to start their own families. If you want to hold a baby, you need to focus on getting better so you can hold theirs.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier choked, coughing violently. One of the monitors began beeping urgently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett quickly soothed his chest. \u201cGrandpa, please calm down. Take slow, deep breaths.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a moment, his breathing steadied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent didn\u2019t dare say anything else, his eyes fixed on his grandfather with clear concern.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier glared at him. \u201cI want your and Scarlett\u2019s child. The others are too young\u2013I\u2019m afraid I\u00a0<\/p>\n
213\u00a0<\/p>\n
19:55 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 226 The Fall and the Promise\u00a0<\/p>\n
won\u2019t live long enough to see theirs.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent was silent for a long moment before finally relenting. \u201cAlright. We\u2019ll do our best.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
68\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett shot him a sharp look, but with Xavier\u2019s life hanging in the balance, she bit back her\u00a0<\/p>\n
anger.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They didn\u2019t get to stay much longer before the medical staff asked them to step out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Outside, Vincent took Scarlett\u2019s arm. \u201cCome with me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Confused, she followed him out to the hallway.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They stopped by the railing overlooking the hospital atrium. Vincent pulled out a cigarette and\u00a0<\/p>\n
lit it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The glow burned brightly in the dim corridor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett didn\u2019t speak, simply watched him. His face was shadowed, difficult to read.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He took a long drag before asking, \u201cWhy did you go back tonight?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett told him the truth. \u201cI went to ask Grandpa for our marriage certificate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent threw his cigarette down and crushed it under his shoe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cScarlett, you actually went to Grandpa for the certificate? Do you even understand why he took it in the first place?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She could hear the anger in his voice, but she didn\u2019t back down. \u201cVincent, I\u2019ve never hidden my intentions. I told you I want a divorce. You\u2019re the one refusing to cooperate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.1K\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\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 226 Chapter 226 The Fall and the Promise\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Scarlett worked her […]<\/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-27590","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\/27590","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=27590"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27590\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27590"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27590"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27590"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}