Chapter 264 Trinkets and Whispered Promises\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett shot Damian a look. \u201cWhy on earth would I be thinking about him?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing her defensive reaction, Damian thought to himself that she must still care, or she wouldn\u2019t protest so strongly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But so what? He wasn\u2019t going to dwell on it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
By the time Damian drove them to the downtown, it was well past midnight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
66\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even at that hour, the area was alive with energy. Crowds still drifted along the cobblestone paths. Many young women wore vintage\u2013inspired outfits, and the sidewalks were lined with little carts and stalls selling all sorts of trinkets\u2013handmade jewelry, pendants, bracelets, painted fans, and various local snacks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The district at night had a different charm than during the day\u2013more intimate, bathed in the warm glow of string lights and lanterns, full of murmured conversations and the enticing smells of food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As Scarlett and Damian walked past one such stall selling small crafts, the vendor called out to them. \u201cSir, how about a little something for your lady?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing the word \u201clady\u201c, a peculiar warmth bloomed in Damian\u2019s chest. A smile instantly spread across his face. He stopped in front of the stall and turned to Scarlett. \u201cSee anything you like? Pick one. It\u2019s on me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett glanced over the display. Among the various handmade items, her gaze settled on a delicate, miniature model of a water mill, intricately crafted from wood and tiny stones.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Noticing her interest, the vendor quickly picked it up. \u201cYou have excellent taste, ma\u2019am. This is one of our finest pieces.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing that, Scarlett hesitated, her hand pausing mid\u2013reach.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian caught her hesitation and immediately said to the vendor, \u201cWe\u2019ll take it. Wrap please.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
it up,\u00a0<\/p>\n
He genuinely wanted to get it for her\u2013it was rare to see her show interest in anything lately.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett tried to stop him. \u201cDamian, it\u2019s okay. Don\u2019t worry about it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He ignored her protest, pulling out his wallet. Before the vendor could even state a price, Damian handed over several bills. \u201cWill this cover it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was far more than the item was worth. The vendor\u2019s smile widened considerably as he\u00a0<\/p>\n
13\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:01 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 264 Trinkets and Whispered Promises\u00a0<\/p>\n
66\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
accepted the money. \u201cOh, absolutely, sir! Thank you!\u201d He carefully placed the water mill into a small gift bag and handed it to Damian. \u201cYou\u2019re very generous to your lady. She must be very happy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Taking the bag, Damian couldn\u2019t suppress a smirk. He leaned in slightly and said in a mock- conspiratorial tone to the vendor, \u201cShe\u2019s not my lady\u2026 yet. But give it time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The vendor chuckled. \u201cWell then, best of luck to you, sir. May you succeed soon.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian clicked his tongue playfully. \u201cOh, I plan on it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He turned and offered the bag to Scarlett. \u201cHere. It\u2019s a done deal now. You have to take it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett looked at the bag, hesitated for another second, then finally accepted it. \u201cThank you,\u201d she said softly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian smiled down at her. \u201cDon\u2019t just thank me with words. If you\u2019re really grateful, you should show it with actions, don\u2019t you think?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett knew what he was hinting at, but she played along seriously. \u201cWhat kind of action did you have in mind?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing her earnest expression, the flirtatious reply that was on the tip of his tongue died away. He wanted to say, \u201cBe with me,\u201d but it felt too crude, too disrespectful to say as a joke when she looked so sincere.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So, he changed course. \u201cThen come make a wish with me. Release one of those lanterns.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett had braced for something else. His actual suggestion caught her off guard. She paused, then nodded. \u201cAlright.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian took her free hand and led her through the thinning crowd toward the river\u2019s edge.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Under a canopy by the water, there was a small booth selling paper, pens, and an assortment of floating wish lanterns. A hand\u2013painted sign read, \u201cWrite your heart\u2019s desire. Set it afloat. Let the night carry your prayer.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The attendant saw them approaching and stood up. \u201cLooking to make a wish tonight?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian nodded. \u201cYes. We\u2019ll need some paper and pens, and two of your largest lanterns, please.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course!\u201d the attendant said happily, gathering the items. \u201cThat\u2019ll be 145 dollars even.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian tapped his phone to pay. Once the transaction was complete, the man handed them two flat\u2013packed paper lanterns, along with sheets of thick paper and two pens.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:01 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 264 Trinkets and Whispered Promises\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett took the paper and pen. \u201cWe write our wishes on this?\u201d she asked, confirming.\u00a0<\/p>\n
66\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian nodded. \u201cThat\u2019s the idea. Write down whatever you want most. Then we\u2019ll light them and let them go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A faint, wistful smile touched Scarlett\u2019s lips. \u201cThere are no gods out there listening, you know. It\u2019s just\u2026 a nice thought.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian stopped unpacking his lantern. He turned to look at her. In the soft lantern light, with a few strands of hair fallen across her cheek as she looked down, she appeared quietly pensive, almost fragile. She held the pen, her gaze distant, lost in some private thought.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing her drift away, Damian smiled softly. His voice was low, meant only for her. \u201cWho says you need a god?\u201d he murmured. \u201cCan\u2019t I be the one who makes it come true?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.1K\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 264 Chapter 264 Trinkets and Whispered Promises\u00a0 Scarlett shot Damian a look. […]<\/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-27628","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\/27628","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=27628"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27628\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27628"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27628"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27628"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}