Chapter 277 Oatmeal and Rejection\u00a0<\/p>\n
66\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Maria reached the kitchen, she saw the blood on Vincent\u2019s forehead and hurried over. \u201cVincent, are you all right? Why would she hit you like that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent didn\u2019t answer. He brushed aside her helping hand without a word.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A trickle of blood slid down his temple into his eye. He blinked, his expression cold, and walked out of the kitchen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maria was briefly taken aback by his dismissal, but a moment later, a satisfied smile spread across her face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
*****\u00a0<\/p>\n
By the time Scarlett left Ravenshade Villa, daylight had fully broken outside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The weather was grim that morning\u2013the sky was heavy and overcast, the air damp and chilly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was nearly time for her shift, but thinking of Vanessa still in the hospital, Scarlett decided to call Spencer. She requested three days off, and after a brief explanation, it was approved.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her next thought was to get Vanessa something to eat. She went to several diners and caf\u00e9s before finally finding a place that served oatmeal she was satisfied with.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When she returned to the hospital room, Vanessa was still asleep.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett sat quietly beside the bed, watching her daughter\u2019s pale face. Her heart ached, tight and heavy in her chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
About half an hour later, Vanessa\u2019s eyes fluttered open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing Scarlett there, she felt a flicker of gladness inside, but she couldn\u2019t bring herself to say \u201cMommy\u201c.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett didn\u2019t press her. Instead, she asked gently, \u201cAre you feeling any better?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She reached over and touched Vanessa\u2019s forehead. It felt cooler than before.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa swallowed with difficulty\u2013her throat burned as if lined with blades. Her eyes reddened, and tears slipped out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Knowing she was uncomfortable, Scarlett softened her voice. \u201cI brought you some oatmeal. Try a little, then you can rest some more.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa gave a small nod. \u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:02 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 277 Oatmeal and Rejection\u00a0<\/p>\n
La 66\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett helped her sit up, fixed her pillows, and helped her wash her face and hands before carefully feeding her a spoonful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But as soon as the oatmeal touched her tongue, Vanessa gagged and spat it back out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett quickly caught it with a napkin. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, sweetie? You don\u2019t like it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa\u2019s lower lip trembled. \u201cThis isn\u2019t yours. I want the oatmeal you make.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The memory of the spilled breakfast twisted sharply inside Scarlett. She kept her voice calm. \u201cJust try a little for now, Vanessa. I\u2019ll make you something nice for lunch, okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa looked up at her mother\u2013she saw the tired shadows under Scarlett\u2019s eyes, but instead of sympathy, she felt a surge of resentment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was sick, and her mother couldn\u2019t even be bothered to make her oatmeal. Didn\u2019t she care at all?\u00a0<\/p>\n
The thought filled her with a hot, wounded anger.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If her mother didn\u2019t care, then she didn\u2019t want her here either.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa turned onto her side, facing away from Scarlett. \u201cYou can go do your own things. Daddy and Sabrina can stay with me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even then, Scarlett tried to explain patiently. \u201cVanessa, I\u2019m a pediatric surgeon. I know how these flu cases go\u2013the fever can last three to five days, and the first few are the most important. I\u2019ve already taken time off. I\u2019ll stay with you for the next three days.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She sounded almost pleading, but Vanessa wasn\u2019t moved. \u201cI don\u2019t need you to.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJust one day, then. Just today.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa held her ground. \u201cReally, I don\u2019t need you. Go away.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A cold numbness spread through Scarlett\u2019s chest. Still, she stayed. Even if Vanessa didn\u2019t want her, even if she was ignored, she couldn\u2019t leave her daughter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She\u2019d rethink after the first critical days passed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If she wasn\u2019t here watching closely those first forty\u2013eight hours, a high fever could turn dangerous fast. Scarlett had seen it happen\u2013children seized by febrile convulsions, lives changed in moments.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even if she was divorcing Vincent, Vanessa was her daughter, the one she\u2019d carried and brought into this world. How could she ever stop loving her?\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:02 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 277 Oatmeal and Rejection.\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
66\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
So she stayed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa didn\u2019t eat breakfast. Seeing Scarlett wouldn\u2019t leave, she stopped arguing and just lay quietly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
By late morning, Scarlett was about to call Vincent\u2013to ask him to come stay with Vanessa while she went home to prepare lunch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But before she could dial, the hospital room door opened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett turned and saw Vincent walk in, followed closely by Sabrina.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina was carrying a small insulated lunch bag.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment Vanessa spotted them, even in her weakened state, her face brightened. \u201cDaddy! Sabrina! You came!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent and Sabrina moved to the bedside together. Silently, Scarlett stepped back toward the\u00a0<\/p>\n
corner.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As she did, her hand at her side tightened slowly into a fist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment Sabrina sat down, Vanessa pushed herself up and wrapped her arms around her. \u201cSabrina, I missed you so much. You finally came to see me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.1K\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 277 Chapter 277 Oatmeal and Rejection\u00a0 66\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 When Maria reached the […]<\/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-27641","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\/27641","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=27641"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27641\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}