Chapter 254 Retreat Into the Cold Night\u00a0<\/p>\n
67\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett looked at him and for a moment felt herself getting pulled in. She quickly averted her gaze and stepped back, putting space between them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What does a guy like Damian even want, saying such things to me? She couldn\u2019t figure it out and didn\u2019t dare believe him. The world was full of smooth talk and empty promises. Believing him would only lead to getting hurt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She\u2019d managed to put some distance between them, but she could still feel his eyes on her, following her every move.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The dance floor filled up. Zachary, Vincent, and Daniel quickly found partners.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett stood at the edge of the crowd. A few people tried to make conversation, but she just offered polite smiles, showing no interest in joining the dancing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian remained beside her, a silent, watchful presence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The room was lively and loud, but none of the excitement felt like it was meant for her. She felt utterly out of place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the stage, Sabrina was playing the piano. She seemed to be in her element, a soft glow around her as she commanded everyone\u2019s attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett suddenly remembered what Daniel had said\u2014that Sabrina was the kind of person who excelled anywhere. It seemed true. Sabrina always knew how to be the center of attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett couldn\u2019t take it anymore and decided to slip outside for some air. But just as she turned, a sharp, startled scream cut through the music behind her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instinctively, she looked back and saw Vincent push past his dance partner, rushing through the crowd toward the stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the platform, Sabrina appeared to have been struck by a small, falling object from the lighting rig. She had crumpled to the floor and wasn\u2019t moving.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent vaulted onto the stage and gathered Sabrina into his arms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel rushed up too, his voice tense with alarm. \u201cSabrina!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Caleb was right behind him, calling out worriedly, \u201cSabrina, you okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent lifted Sabrina carefully. \u201cDaniel, Caleb\u2013go get the car started, now,\u201d he directed, his voice tight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
13\u00a0<\/p>\n
19:59 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 254 Retreat Into the Cold Night\u00a0<\/p>\n
(67)\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
The two men responded immediately, hurrying toward the exit. As they rushed past Scarlett, they stirred a gust of air that brushed against her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian moved swiftly, shielding Scarlett from the jostling crowd with his body.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everyone was so focused on Sabrina that they were gone in a frantic, hurried blur.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After such an unsettling accident, Ethan quickly worked to reassure the remaining guests before leaving for the hospital himself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With the host gone, there was no reason for Scarlett to stay. She turned and made her way outside. Damian followed close behind, his hand closing firmly around hers. \u201cI\u2019ll take you home,\u201d he stated, leaving no room for argument.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett didn\u2019t resist, letting him lead the way.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The drive back was quiet. Damian didn\u2019t say a word to her. Scarlett didn\u2019t know what was on his mind and didn\u2019t ask.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When the car finally stopped in front of Theron Manor and Scarlett moved to open her door, Damian spoke up, his tone uncharacteristically sulky, \u201cWhy are you giving me the silent treatment?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett paused, turning to look at him with genuine confusion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing her blank expression, Damian glanced away, as if the words were difficult. \u201cIf it\u2019s because of what I said earlier\u2026 just forget I said it. Pretend it never happened.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was terrified that his confession had scared her off, that she\u2019d retreat completely and he\u2019d lose any chance with her. He wanted her\u2013badly\u2013but he wouldn\u2019t force the issue. He never should have let those words out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett hadn\u2019t expected him to bring that up. It wasn\u2019t that she was giving him the silent treatment; she just didn\u2019t want to complicate her life any further.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She studied his profile for a long moment before speaking softly. \u201cDamian, you\u2019re a good guy. We can be friends.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing this, Damian\u2019s expression tightened. He shook his head, his earlier retreat instantly revoked. \u201cThen I take it back. I\u2019m not taking back what I said.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett was taken aback. \u201cYou\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian stared straight ahead, refusing to look at her. \u201cJust get out of the car.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Feeling a pang of helplessness, she tried again. \u201cDamian, come on. Don\u2019t be like this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
19:59 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 254 Retreat Into the Cold Night\u00a0<\/p>\n
67\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
He finally turned to face her. In the shadowy interior of the car, a roguish, defiant smile touched his lips. \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, sweetheart?\u201d he asked, his voice dropping to a low, teasing murmur. \u201cNot getting out? Does that mean you want to come home with me instead?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He made a show of reaching for the ignition.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing that, Scarlett quickly pushed the door open and\u00a0<\/p>\n
got out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian watched her stand on the curb. He rolled down the passenger window, all trace of his previous teasing gone, replaced by a quiet, protective seriousness. \u201cGo on inside. I\u2019ll wait until you\u2019re in.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His changeable nature was exactly why Scarlett found it impossible to trust his words.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without another word, she turned and walked up the path to the manor\u2019s entrance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian watched her figure disappear inside, then slumped back in his seat. He lifted a hand and pinched the bridge of his nose, a weary gesture.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the heavy silence, he pulled a cigarette from the console. He brought it to his lips, then paused. He remembered Scarlett mentioning once that she hated the smell of smoke. With a soft sigh, he tossed the unlit cigarette back down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.1K\u00a0<\/p>\n
W\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 254 Chapter 254 Retreat Into the Cold Night\u00a0 67\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Scarlett looked […]<\/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-27618","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\/27618","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=27618"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27618\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27618"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27618"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27618"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}